AI and album covers: Click through to read the identical prompts I gave to ChatGPT and Gemini to create a semi-fictional album cover and why I loved what Gemini figured out #AI substack.com/@davidakin/n...

🆕 From me in South Africa: Carney says “constructive” discussions ongoing on pipeline deal from Alberta to BC North Coast www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPco...

▶︎ Diffusion century. ▶︎ May Explains. ▶︎ Ukraine plan. Publishing from the #g20 summit in Johannesburg 🇿🇦today: The 🇨🇦 #cdnpoli 📰 Roundup for SUN NOV 23 open.substack.com/pub/davidaki...

Seconds after SA Pres Cyril Ramaphosa formally closed the 2025 #g20 summit in Johannesburg, 🇨🇦 PM Carney was the first to congratulate him on chairing the first such summit held on the African continent. That's 🇧🇷 Pres Lula on the left who, as last year's G20 chair, was sitting to Ramaphosa's right.

PMO spox says PM Carney spoke to Zelenskyy today. Turkey's Erdogan tells #G20 reporters he'll speak to Putin Monday. Spain PM Sanchez says US "peace" plan needs to be "thoroughly reviewed."

There have been 20 in-person #G20 summits. And I've been present in-person to cover 10 of them! The 10th is here in Jo'burg SA. Historic because no G20 has ever been held in Africa. But, sadly, SA were not great hosts. Friendly but from credentials to transportation a nightmare logistically. #G20

So the big confidence vote as to whether the #HOC supports the government's budgetary and fiscal policy is set to begin at 1845 ET.

Just now in QP, something I've never seen: the Liberals gave up one of their QP slots to ask a question to GPC MP Elizabeth May. And PM Carney -- who normally only answers questions from leaders of recognized party leaders -- answered May. My gut says: May is voting for #bdgt45

▶︎ Vote day. ▶︎ Gen Z politicos. ▶︎ Rail bomb. The 🇨🇦 #cdnpoli 📰 Roundup for MON NOV 17 open.substack.com/pub/davidaki...

LPC whip has asked caucus to be in HoC in person for Monday’s vote though some may not be able to be present. E.g. E Lambropoulos just gave birth (congrats!) and may need to vote online. Am told some NDP MPs will be absent and will vote online. No word from CPC or BQ. #cdnpoli

▶︎ China warning. ▶︎ Eby wins. ▶︎ Chile's choice. The 🇨🇦 #cdnpoli 📰 Roundup for SUN NOV 16 open.substack.com/pub/davidaki...

From a Pollara survey earlier this year: Trust in Media #media

🌟 The government could fall on Monday! So … 🧠 "David Akin's Roundup" is his hand-picked pieces of #cdnpoli #media and content. 📚 Join 2,300 #cdnpoli insiders and subscribe now — FREE — and feed your curiosity! 🍽️ davidakin.substack.com/

▶︎ Barely sustainable. ▶︎ Budget vote. ▶︎ G20 upended. The 🇨🇦 #cdnpoli 📰 Roundup for SAT NOV 15 open.substack.com/pub/davidaki...

Ahead of the #G20 in J'burg SA, police are clearning homeless encampments near the summit site by telling the homeless to "go home". #HeadSlap www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...

NYT: Builders Find Hardship in Trump’s Tariffs and Deportations: Material costs are rising, workers are scarce and customers are delaying new construction plans. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/02/b... (🎁 link)

▶︎ Investigator quits. ▶︎ Alberta's hope. ▶︎ Ukraine corruption. The 🇨🇦 #cdnpoli 📰 Roundup for THU NOV 13 open.substack.com/pub/davidaki...

Did you catch Mark Carney’s smile and body language when he was asked on Monday about the Sisson Mine? Here’s what that project is all about and what “national project” status could mean: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Fantastic database project: Arctic Military Activity Tracker from CSIS. (No, not that CSIS. The think tank CSIS) arcticmilitarytracker.csis.org

For journos, academics, NGOs, etc looking for government records in Nova Scotia, a good breakdown here from privacy lawyer David Fraser of the overhaul of provincial FOIP/FOI/ATI laws. "There’s some good, some bad and some changes that I’m indifferent to." youtu.be/3v2F9u3IRlo?... via @YouTube

▶︎ More projects. ▶︎ Unwanted Legault. ▶︎ Venezuela mobilizes. The #cdnpoli Roundup for WED NOV 12 open.substack.com/pub/davidaki...

CPC has long dominated #cdnpoli $raising but in the last 2 quarters, #LPC is catching up. This chart shows LPC $raising totals as a total of what the CPC raised. For 25Q3, LPC was at 92%. Carney became leader in Q1. Poilievre became Ldr in 22Q3. Data: Elections Canada. Calculations & Chart: Me.

▶︎ Budget polls. ▶︎ Party fundraising. ▶︎ BBC scandal. The 🇨🇦 #cdnpoli 📰 Roundup for MON NOV 10 open.substack.com/pub/davidaki...

▶︎ Budget polls. ▶︎ Party fundraising. ▶︎ BBC scandal. The 🇨🇦 #cdnpoli 📰 Roundup for MON NOV 10 open.substack.com/pub/davidaki...

The BQ, 2025Q3, had 956 donors who gave an average of $108.29. CPC was 53,725 donors/average of $78.80. LPC had most donor — 77,064 — but they gave just $38.39 on average. NDP 30,677 / average of $28.64. The per capita donations for the CPC, LPC, NDP were the lowest in a decade. #cdnpoli

Ever since Yves-François Blanchet became BQ leader in 2019, his party has consistently improved per-capita $ donations to the BQ. In fact, on a per capita basis, the BQ has led all parties in the last 3 quarters. Data: Elections Canada. Chart: Akin. #cdnpoli

Good roundup piece: NYT: Is A.I. a Journalist or Just a Newsroom Tool? www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/b... (🎁 link) #media

Reuters investigation: Internal documents show Meta is earning billions of dollars from a deluge of fraudulent ads www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11... #media

▶︎ Leadership questions. ▶︎ Houston disgusted. ▶︎Moe stays. The 🇨🇦 #cdnpoli 📰 Roundup for SAT NOV 8 open.substack.com/pub/davidaki...

HELP WANTED: We need a producer on my program --- Canada's most watched national newscast -- GLOBAL NATIONAL. Job posting: jobs.dayforcehcm.com/en-US/coruse... #media

🆕 #cdnpoli LEGER DECIDED VOTERS QUEBEC ONLY | #LPC 40% #BQ 32 % #CPC 20% #NDP 4% | Oct 31-Nov 2 n=372 online

🆕 #cdnpoli LEGER DECIDED VOTERS | #LPC 43% #CPC 38% #NDP 7% | Oct 31-Nov 2 n=1,381 online

In a social media post, Pierre Poilievre says his MP Matt Jeneroux will quit "next spring". Kind of implies Jeneroux will be there for confidence vote on NOV 17. Jeneroux not responding to questions about his NOV 17 intentions as of 2000 ET. www.facebook.com/422580029229...

3 MPs have now quit on Pierre Poilievre: Alain Rayes to sit as an Independent; d’Entremont to the Liberals; Jeneroux to leave the House. #cdnpoli

The Liberals are expected to win their first confidence vote on the budget this evening when 7 NDP MPs join with169 voting Liberal MPs to vote down a Conservative amendment to the budget. #cdnpoli

NYT: Republicans Point Fingers After Their Losses, but Not at Trump: Casting around for culprits, leaders in the party blamed their candidates, the government shutdown and a weak economic message. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/u... (🎁 link)

📚 The 45th Parliament is hard at work! Join 2,300+ who get a daily dose of #cdnpoli knowledge delivered to their inbox? 📩 "David Akin's Roundup" — a clippings newsletter 📰 — is FREE! Read today’s edition and SUBSCRIBE 👉davidakin.substack.com/

Budget 2025 confidence vote to happen MON NOV 17, per Govt House Leader. Let’s say it fails. Carney visits GG Nov 18 for elxn which by law could only be held MON DEC 29 or MON JAN 5. Merry Christmas!

Has any province ever produced so many CPC—>LPC floor crossers as NS? Scott Brison. Bill Casey. And now Chris d’Entremont. Quite a Bluenose tradition! (Mind you: Tim Houston's PCs pulled over a couple of key NS LIBs ahead of the last NS elxn) #cdnpoli #nspoli

B.C. won’t launch anti-tariff U.S. ads until ‘aligned’ with Ottawa: premier globalnews.ca/news/1150874... #cdnpoli #bcpoli

And here's the link :) wapo.st/4oklfvh

A Post investigation shows where hidden rivers in the sky are fueling deadly floods (Some really cool graphics in this presentation.) | WaPo (🎁 link)

▶︎ Budget poll. ▶︎ Brand Mamdani. ▶︎ Power shortage. The 🇨🇦 #cdnpoli 📰 Roundup for SUN NOV 2 open.substack.com/pub/davidaki...

G&M: Public service braces for billions in spending cuts ahead of Tuesday’s budget www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/d50cc45... (🎁 link)

Spectacular #ATI fail: Dec 12 2018: Request filed to to Indigenous Services Canada (Sec 7 of the Act: Govt must respond within 30 days.) Sep 14 2022: Dept: Still want records? Me: Yes. Sep 29 2025: Dept: If you don’t confirm you still records, we’ll cancel request. Me: I still want the records.

▶︎ So Sorry. ▶︎ Budget push. ▶︎ ICE Scans. The 🇨🇦 #cdnpoli 📰 Roundup for SAT NOV 1 open.substack.com/pub/davidaki...

I have a BlueSky list going of MPs (some staffers, some premiers etc). It's right here. Do you know of an MP or Parliament Hill staffer we should add to this list? bsky.app/profile/davi...

Team Hanley is wishing you a boo-tiful and safe #Halloween!    Double the treats tonight — Halloween and the @bluejays game! ⚾👻 Go Jays Go!

▶︎ Rate cut. ▶︎ Doctor call. ▶︎ Sub tour. The 🇨🇦 #cdnpoli 📰 Roundup for THU OCT 30 open.substack.com/pub/davidaki...

PM Carney/Trump sat across from each other at an APEC leaders' dinner today in Korea. Colleague Mackenzie Gray, in Korea to cover the APEC summit, asked PM Carney: "How was dinner Prime Minister? You chatted with the President at all?" Carney: "A very good conversation. Always pleasant."