Tô Lâm, president and general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam visited Canada on September 24. It was Canada's first official state visit of 2026 and the first time Canada welcomed a Vietnamese president to the country. Though the visit largely flew under the radar, the visit signalled a new chapter in Canada-Vietnam relations. Why did arch-capitalist Prime Minister Mark Carney build a bridge with communist Vietnam? Mike Tatarski, Ho Chi Minh-based independent journalist behind the Vietnam Weekly podcast and newsletter, joins Scott to discuss Vietnam's geopolitical approach, their response to Trump tariffs and what this visit means for both countries moving forward.

RSVP Here to Join The Catch Live in Toronto October 27

Check out Vietnam Weekly

Follow Mike on Bluesky

Follow Scott on Bluesky

Sources and further reading:

https://readthecatch.ca/canada-and-vietnam-bffs-ft-mike-tatarski-podcast

Artwork by Zo at Studio Bonjourhi

Intro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Protestors chanted slogans condemning a former Israeli ambassador who defended military killings and mocked Palestinian victims. Leader of a federal party with five seats uses Yom Kippur to denounce the state committing violence in the name of his religion. Both of these are obscured, distorted and lambasted as pinnacles of antisemitism by pro-Israel voices. Three years into a Zionist genocide, outrage is continually directed at those who oppose Israel's extermination campaign, written under the guise of concern for antisemitism. Alex Cosh, news editor at The Maple, joins Scott to desntangle the overarching Zionism in the latest attacks in the right-wing press.

Follow Alex on Bluesky

Follow Scott on Bluesky

Sources and further reading:

https://readthecatch.ca/zionist-canadian-outlets-throw-their-weight-around-ft-alex-cosh-podcast

Artwork by Zo at Studio Bonjourhi

Intro Music: Vigilante - Cross Dog

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eric Wickham, Ontario reporter for PressProgress helps Scott explain how you can help The Catch succeed in the future by spreading the show with your friends and starting a paid subscription.

RSVP for our first ever live event here.

More info about our Subscriber-Drive here: https://readthecatch.ca/october-kickstarts-the-catchs-first-official-subscriber-drive

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.