Jen Gerson

Calgary

Host, OPPO at CANADALAND

Freelance Writer at Freelance

Writer at The Line

Co-founder of @the_lineca. Chaotic Neutral. National Treasure. One-time trash cake ambassador. You know I'm right.

Articles

Jen Gerson: A government of children

1 week ago | open.substack.com | Jen Gerson

By: Jen GersonI think what continues to astonish me the most about the election of Donald J. Trump to the White House isn't that the Americans put their faith in a strongman. Many insecure democracies have done so before, and for a variety of reasons. No, what amazes me is that they picked a strongman who was so weak. I mean, just look at this guy. Look at the guys with whom he has surrounded himself to run the most powerful country on the planet.
King Charles in Canada: a message to Trump?

1 week ago | eurotopics.net | Jen Gerson

The Canadians can consider themselves lucky to have the monarchy, writes The Guardian: “King Charles III is a potent symbol of Canada's history and system of government; a system and government that stand in contrast to the flailing republicanism of the US. The monarchy is a distinctly Canadian symbol, free of partisan affiliation, and thus an institution all Canadians can celebrate after a rancorous election, regardless of which party they voted for.
Jen Gerson: A few thoughts on leadership

3 weeks ago | open.substack.com | Jen Gerson

By: Jen GersonIf there's one rule I've gleaned from writing about politics over the past decade, it's this: you get ate by the dragon you ride in on. Left, right, up, down, it doesn't matter. Pandering to reactionary or revolutionary elements is mistaking a foundation of sand for stone. You can win by tapping this energy for a while. But you can't actually govern people who won’t be satisfied, regardless of how legitimate their grievances may be.
Jen Gerson: A few thoughts on leadership

3 weeks ago | readtheline.ca | Jen Gerson

By: Jen GersonIf there's one rule I've gleaned from writing about politics over the past decade, it's this: you get ate by the dragon you ride in on. Left, right, up, down, it doesn't matter. Pandering to reactionary or revolutionary elements is mistaking a foundation of sand for stone. You can win by tapping this energy for a while. But you can't actually govern people who won’t be satisfied, regardless of how legitimate their grievances may be.
Jen Gerson: Whither the change agent?

1 month ago | readtheline.ca | Jen Gerson

Note: The Line itself will not be making any endorsements, but The Line’s editors will be publishing final columns under their own bylines ahead of Monday’s vote. Here’s the first. By: Jen GersonI had an almost-pleasant thought after watching last week's English language debate: that it wasn't obvious to me whether Mark Carney or Pierre Poilievre would be worse for the country.
Jen Gerson: Whither the change agent?

1 month ago | open.substack.com | Jen Gerson

Note: The Line itself will not be making any endorsements, but The Line’s editors will be publishing final columns under their own bylines ahead of Monday’s vote. Here’s the first. By: Jen GersonI had an almost-pleasant thought after watching last week's English language debate: that it wasn't obvious to me whether Mark Carney or Pierre Poilievre would be worse for the country.
If Danielle Smith wants to play Canada’s ‘good cop,’ she needs to actually get on the team

1 month ago | thespec.com | Jen Gerson

Per the mould befitting most popular Albertan premiers, Danielle Smith is a polarizing figure everywhere except the province in which she was elected. And sometimes even there. She was chosen to act as a tribune of a geographical grievance, one who is championed precisely for her assertive and frank nature. Such a person is going to provoke a whole range of emotions from the rest of the country, from ire to outright anger.
Jen Gerson: We are not sending our best

2 months ago | readtheline.ca | Jen Gerson

By: Jen GersonAlberta’s periodic bursts of secessionist sentiment operate a little like the aurora that occasionally flash across the prairie sky, in tune with decades-long solar flare cycles. The phenomenon is always fascinating, yet it's always impossible to know how seriously to take it. It waxes and wanes in line with a number of factors, only some of which can be predicted — oil prices, the partisan stripe of the federal government, and the introduction of new regulations.
"The Next Canadian PM" with Jen Gerson

Mar 6, 2025 | uncomfortableconversations.substack.com | Josh Szeps |Jen Gerson

Justin Trudeau's political career will end this weekend when his replacement is elected as the Canadian Liberal leader. This happens at a moment of extraordinary uncertainty for Canadians. As the U.S. launches a painful trade war, Canadians are being forced to rethink their economic and strategic future. What's going on up there? Who are the candidates you need to know? How do they perceive the Trump tariffs? is a writer who worked for the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail.
Jen Gerson: Cursing the sun in winter

Nov 27, 2024 | readtheline.ca | Jen Gerson

By: Jen GersonA fair warning right off the top: this is going to be a departure from my usual kind of column. I want to write about feelings. Not my forte, but bear with me. There’s a lot happening in the world at the moment, from the election of Donald Trump, and the implications of that for the wider world; to the ongoing wars in Israel and Ukraine; to everyday fears about getting the rent paid and the pantry stocked.