Last month, Zohran Mamdani won the mayoral race in New York. In January, he will take office. This campaign opened up the imagination for progressives not only in New York but across the world.

In this episode, Sarah Shahid speaks with Emily Lemmerman, an organizer, member of the Democratic Socialists of America, and formerly the Communications Director in Zohran Mamdani’s State Assembly office. They discuss what opportunities and challenges a campaign like Mamdani’s provides for socialists interested in raising the confidence of the working class.

Further reading:

“Zohran Mamdani Is Winning the Battle. Here’s How He Can Win the War” by Eric Blanc, Emily Lemmerman, and Wen Zhuang

“What’s left of Canadian social democracy?” By David Bush

This episode was produced in Tkaronto on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.

It was produced by Sarah Shahid, Spencer Bridgman, and Josh Frame. With original music by Benjamin Bilgen.

To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.

Mail deliveries in Canada have been disrupted after postal workers across the country walked off the job. The strike comes after the Canadian government authorized widespread reforms to Canada Post that would shut post offices and end door-to-door deliveries for millions of people. The government intends to replace postal workers with community mailboxes, speed up deliveries using subcontracted gig labour, and quietly hand over profitable routes to private couriers.

Far more than a fight for improved wages and improved working conditions, the strike is about the rights of Canadians to good public services, and about resisting the destruction of good unionized jobs through privatization. This strike comes alongside other action across Canada to fight increasing privatization of public services.

To discuss all of this, the CUPW strike, the fight to protect public services and public service workers, and what is at stake if we lose Canada Post, Spring member Hiva sat down in Hamilton with CUPW members Dawnie, Kevin, and Karl.

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to discuss these ideas in person, as well as learn new ones and connect with other socialists from across Canada, please join us at the TMU student centre in Toronto from the 24th to 26th of October for Spring's annual Red October conference.

Red October is a whole weekend of socialist ideas and strategy, with more than 25 sessions spread over six courses. Click this link to get your tickets - redoctober.ca

This podcast was recorded on the traditional territory of many nations including Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples.

It was produced by Carlie Macfie, Hiva Nematollahi and Josh Frame, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen.

To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.

Mark Carney’s recent commitment to increase Canada’s military spending to 5% of the country’s GDP by 2036 is the most ambitious investment into national defence in Canada’s history since the Second World War. It comes hand-in-hand with his announcement to cut federal spending by 7.5% by next year.

In today’s episode, Spring members Samuel Tetelepta and Alex Hunsberger unpack why Canada and countries across the world are pivoting to an arms economy and how that ultimately goes against the interest of the working class.

Please consider donating to Spring Magazine’s annual fund drive at https://www.gofundme.com/f/spring-magazines-2025-fund-drive. This money supports the production of more episodes like this and the overall activity of Spring magazine.

If you want to check out Spring Radio’s series on Pierre Poillievre:

• Part 1 - Justinflation feat. Pam Frache: https://open.spotify.com/episode/70FWaAGyiO0nJxC3mcuKZ5?si=8d7ac2a942d14925
• Part 2 - Housing feat. Ricardo Tranjan: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6zP3h9aMG5yq6MuEAgqJKn?si=20e5f290e3374526
• Part 3 - Immigration feat. Harshill and Vedanth: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1GPcsjWgodzi3yoMYwjAmr?si=90a213525595450b
• Part 4 - Federal Election Debrief: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3bOxf7fBgyGh9hmBJy8uOG?si=29ff9f188c474738

This episode was produced in Tkaronto on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.

It was produced by Meaghan Boisjoli, Sarah Shahid, and Josh Frame. With original music by Benjamin Bilgen.

To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.

When we began this mini-series, Pierre Poilievre and the conservatives were looking like they could win big if an election were to be held. However, the Liberal Party’s political fortunes changed in early 2025, as the threat of tariffs consumed Canadian political conversation, an unpopular Trudeau resigned, and Mark Carney became the new leader of the party.

With polls looking good for the Liberals and the race thrown open, Carney called a quick election and pulled off yet another win at the ballot box, leading the Liberals to a fourth term in office and a minority government.

The success of the Liberals has been hailed as a miraculous political resurrection, whilst, in a shock result, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre lost the seat he had held since 2004, even as his party performed better than expected.

To discuss the election results, their implications for the Canadian working class, and what the future holds for organizing and Canadian politics, Spring member Josh Frame sat down with Pam Frache, coordinator of the Justice for Workers Campaign and organiser at the Workers Action Centre. Full transcript of this episode will be available shortly.

To support more episodes like this, please consider donating to Spring's annual fund drive. We put every penny to good use!

The housing system is designed to make the people at the top richer while the rest of us struggle to pay rent or afford a mortgage. The only way the system will improve is if the working class organize to challenge the status quo.

In today’s episode, we talk with Chiara Padovani, an organizer who has been challenging corporate landlords and building tenant power with her neighbours.

Follow Chiara at https://www.instagram.com/chipadovani/ and https://x.com/chipadovani

Follow the York South-Weston Tenant Union at https://www.instagram.com/yswtenantunion and https://x.com/YSWtenants

Spring Radio episode with Ricardo Tranjan on the tenant class: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6zP3h9aMG5yq6MuEAgqJKn?si=edf88d69841b4794

Spring Radio episode with YSW Tenant Union: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4sbroZfLKurguz14PFGxri?si=9a861cb604a248d2

Join us at the Toronto Peoples’ March for Housing Justice on June 14 @ 1pm at 230 Sherbourne.

This episode was produced in Tkaronto on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.

It was produced by Krisna Saravanamuttu, Spencer Bridgman, and Ayan Tani. With original music by Benjamin Bilgen.

To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.

Donald Trump’s tariffs have set the whole global economy in a frenzy. The trade war is escalating and countries, including Canada, are retaliating with heightened nationalism. In the upcoming federal election in Canada, tariffs and Trump are the most central issue. But what does it mean for workers and the working class? Who benefits from the current economic instability in the world? And who pays the price?

In this episode, Spring members David Bush and Deena Newaz sit down to understand what tariffs mean for the international working class, how it is playing out in Canada, and how we can build a workers-first response. We also grapple with emerging debates on the left about nationalism, free trade, and the centrality of the labour movement.

You can find the transcript for this episode here.

To read and learn more about this topic, check out a series of articles published on Spring Magazine:

• Trade Wars and Class Wars by David Bush: https://springmag.ca/trade-wars-and-class-wars
• Trump, Tariffs, and Return of the National Question: https://springmag.ca/trump-tariffs-and-the-return-of-the-national-question
• The banker or the bully: Carney is no alternative to Poilievre by Jesse McLaren: https://springmag.ca/the-banker-or-the-bully-carney-is-no-alternative-to-poilievre
• International solidarity is the answer to Trump’s tariffs by Santiago Moran-Izquierado: https://springmag.ca/international-solidarity-is-the-answer-to-trumps-tariffs

To learn more about the ‘‘No One Left Behind’ campaign visit https://www.justice4workers.org/tariffemergency

This episode was produced in Tkaronto on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.

It was produced by Carlie Macfie and Sarah Shahid. With original music by Benjamin Bilgen.

To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.

In this episode, we analyze Pierre Poilievre’s anti-immigration rhetoric and the broader political landscape, including policies and messaging from the federal Liberals, Doug Ford, and Donald Trump.

Spring member Samuel Tetelepta sat down with migrant student organizers Harshill and Vedanth to discuss why we need solidarity, not scapegoating, in this critical moment.

Episode links:

Migrant Students United: https://www.instagram.com/migrantstudentsunited/

Migrant Workers for Change: https://www.instagram.com/migrantworkersalliance/ https://x.com/MWACCanada

Naujawan Support Network: https://www.instagram.com/naujawansupportnetwork/

Vedanth's social: https://www.instagram.com/septum_ring/

‘No One Left Behind’ campaign: https://www.justice4workers.org/tariffemergency

This episode was produced in Tkaronto on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.

It was produced by Samuel Tetelpta, Spencer Bridgman, and Ayan Tani. With original music by Benjamin Bilgen.

To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.

In this episode we speak with Independent Ontario MPP Sarah Jama about her removal from the Ontario NDP caucus after calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and her ongoing re-election campaign in Hamilton Centre as an independent.

We explore the importance of elections, their limitations under capitalism, and why organizing a strong working-class movement remains crucial regardless of who is in power.

To read and listen to more from Spring, and to find out how to join the Spring Socialist Network, please go to SpringMag.ca.

This episode was produced in Tkaronto on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.

It was produced by Sarah Jessica, Carlie Macfie, and Sarah Nafisa Shahid, with original music by Benjamin Bilgen.