Whiskey & Cream for March 27th, 2021.


Host: Ari Shapiro



0:39-9:35: "When a strong minority silences a weak majority"



Oh, the glorious absurdity that remains Israeli politics. And now with their fourth election in two years, the world's most genuine version of participatory democracy once again finds itself rudderless and at cross purposes. Benjamin Netanyahu remains the quintessential "Teflon" braggadocio incumbent who's cobbled together a vast network of unholy alliances that not only betray his ideological views, but cements his place as an irredeemable opportunistic force during vulnerable and perilous times.


Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom) is a Middle East correspondent with The Economist and the author of How Long Will Israel Survive? The Threat From Within. For him, Israel remains a fascinating study into how the more things change, the more they stay the same. In his recent book, he postulates and laments on the very historical and spiritually existential reality that's gripped the nation for the better part of multiple generations.



9:35-18:54: "Synonymous with baseball, he reveals only truths"



True admirers of the Toronto Blue Jays have long coveted the history and lore associated with the only baseball franchise in Canada. So when a local favourite sportscaster whose voice had become a staple with the radio broadcast and whose literary prowess established him as a trusted authority was unceremoniously let go by the media company that owns the team..the outrage was palpable and fierce.


Mike Wilner (@Wilnerness) is a baseball columnist and podcaster who writes for the Toronto Star. His passion and love for the game is not only entrenched in the hearts and minds of countless fans who have come to appreciate his talents, but is also on display with a measure of humility when he's recognized as the voice that was synonymous with the team for the better part of two decades.



18:55-27:34: "An explosion of false and misleading narratives"



North Americans recoiled with horror at the site of yet another mass shooting in the United States. This time, it was the turn of Boulder, Colorado - and once again, the familiar narrative of racially motivated violence permeated the media cyber-waves as we steel ourselves to the white noise of conspiratorial conjecture and the relentless spread of social media disinformation.



Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) is a European journalist investigating online disinformation, conspiracy theories, and extremism for the BBC. He's mortified that not only does social media allow others to chronicle and display chillingly brutal acts of criminality, but that it sets yet another standard of exhibitionist viewing that does nothing more than sensationalize our appetite for violence rather than provide ointment for our grief.



27:35-33:15: "I haven't seen a winning baseball or hockey team in my lifetime"



It took a mid-season pandemic swoon for the Toronto Maple Leafs to realize their own limitations; that they remain an offensive juggernaut constrained only by the limitations of their goaltending. While Frederik Andersen has yet to win a single playoff round and the feel-good story of Jack Campbell refuses to go away, it's not hard to imagine a scenario where the team rides the hottest hand available - especially if that hand has a catchy nickname and is beloved by teammates.


Braydon Holmyard (@BraydonHolmyard) is a sports writer and editor for The Toronto Star. For him, the triumvirate of pro sports teams in the city has opened up endless possibilities for glory and escapism; that's why he remains vigilant that the local Original Six franchise in particular might make him forget this pandemic altogether.


33:15-40:52: "It's about unspoken hockey integrity"



When veteran NHL referee Tim Peel was caught articulating his thoughts on camera recently, the mountain of outrage that was generated by the subsequent viral video was as predictable as it was disturbing. Sure, he was scheduled to retire by season's end and was perfectly positioned to be the sacrificial lamb in this particular controversy, but the heavy-handed, sanctimonious manner in which disciplinarian Colin Campbell and the rest of the league responded to the issue at hand seems to mirror the level of self-righteous overreaction that's become magnified in our modern social media culture.



Matt Best (@bestofmatt) is a video producer and podcaster who does work with the Mayo Media Network, Penalty Box Radio and Locked on Predators. His decision to expose evidence over YouTube of a professional league's unwritten rule that's frequently manipulated and generally accepted by fans as "a part of the game" ended up creating precisely the kind of quagmire that the NHL was looking to avoid.



“Whiskey & Cream Theme” written and performed by Chris Henderson.