The Buzz April 5th 2025: Meet the Minds Behind the Campaigns

The Buzz April 5th 2025: Meet the Minds Behind the Campaigns

Welcome to the weekend and welcome to The Buzz.

Week two of the “consequential” election campaign is behind us now and again lots to talk about.

How many of these names do you know or remember? Keith Davey, Lowell Murray, Jim Coutts, Jody White, Pat Gossage, Jock Osler, Bill Fox, Eddie Goldenberg, Robin Sears, Jenni Byrne, Ian Brodie, Gerry Butts, Kory Teneycke, Fred DeLorey.

If you are a close follower of politics in Canada then you’ve probably heard of some of them, the older you are probably most of them. Who are they? They are just a few of the men and women behind the political leaders who have run for the top office in the land over the last sixty years or so. Therefore, for most Canadians, they are unknown. And that’s the way it’s supposed to be. They’re not running for anything, but they sure can have an impact for those who are running.

They do all sorts of stuff… candidate selection, advertising, speeches and statements.

From where the leader goes during a campaign, to what they say when they get there, to who they share the stage with. And finally, they are critical to debate preparation. A lot of things, if not everything, ride on the decisions these people make. Campaigns aren’t long, and no matter how much work and planning were taken before a campaign, it’s what happens in the five weeks before Canadians vote, that can determine much of the outcome.

The top people behind the scenes for any campaign can look like heroes when it’s over, or bums if the result is a disaster. Occasionally they become a target during the campaign if things seem to be going sideways. Sideways is a nice way of describing what’s happened to the Conservatives in the last two months – from a massive 25-point lead to about an eight-point deficit this week.

So, what to do if your name is Jenni Byrne, a veteran and a winner of campaigns past?

She’s the top player, if not the only in Pierre Poilievre’s inner circle. For the last week her strategy has been second guessed by other past and present Conservatives. There have been indications of a pivot in some areas but for the most part, she and Poilievre are holding steady, they’re “not for turning” as Margaret Thatcher used to say. “What should we know about Jenni Byrne?” was the question asked this week at Macleans, an old employer of mine. That resulted in this lengthy profile by Simon Lewson. Check it out, you may have to give your email to access it, but you shouldn’t have to pay anything:

Jenni Byrne’s Big Gamble Read >

Tim Powers is a Conservative strategist who spends a lot of time on tv and radio panels fighting the good fight for his party.

He has some interesting thoughts on the Poilievre situation this week in a piece he wrote for The Hill Times:

🔒 Poilievre’s predicament: can he wait out the Carney-public puppy love? Read >

So, after all the weeks, months even, of bluster on the tariff threat, we now know what Donald Trump’s detailed plan is.

And more importantly, how it’s going to affect us. I’ve got some good pieces on just that, plus how it is impacting the campaign, starting with Susan Delacourt in the Toronto Star:

🔒 Donald Trump Gives Mark Carney Another Chance to Wear His Prime Minister Hat Read >

Meanwhile, over at the virtual table where Conservatives strategists past and present meet, they just wish Donald Trump would button his lip (or language much stronger!).

Here’s former Harper Communications Director, Andrew MacDougall:

MacDougall: If Trump shuts up now, Conservatives have a shot at regaining edge Read >

When is the last time you read a piece or heard a friend say, “I don’t have a problem with tariffs.” ?

In other words, a good neutral piece making an argument for tariffs. Okay, The Buzz has that piece. Just in case you wanted something from someone on that side of the issue other than Trump:

Behind the Curtain: You gotta believe Read >

There’s more to the tariff story of course, and how it fits in the political story unfolding in the country. Catch up with Chantal Hebert and Rob Russo on the Friday Good Talk panel with our YouTube broadcast which you can find here.

Also, our Tuesday Smoke, Mirrors and the Truth panel with Fred DeLorey and Bruce Anderson which you can find right here.

I’m sure you heard about how flights to the US by Canadians are way down, down seventy percent.

That’s a huge drop. Well guess what else is happening? More than a few Canadians who own properties in the States are moving towards selling them. They’ve had it. Look at this on msn.com:

Canadian snowbirds are selling their U.S. homes Read >

One of the reasons we ended up with Donald Trump is because of Joe Biden.

We all know what happened to the former Democratic President but what we still aren’t sure of is what kind of shape he was in during his final year on the job. The rumours suggested he was, at best, extremely fragile. Now at least one person who was very close to the 46th President is speaking out. And it’s not pretty. This in The Guardian:

In a new book, top Biden aide describes ‘out of it’ president before Trump debate Read >

To the Middle East for a moment now.

There was so much hope when the ceasefire took hold between Israel and Hamas a month or so ago. So much hope. But it didn’t last and once again the streets of Gaza are filled with death and destruction.

There was a remarkable opinion piece in the Washington Post the other day, written by a resident of Gaza that may not change your mind about what is happening there, but it will make you think:

🔒 Why I and thousands of my fellow Gazans say Hamas' tyranny must end Read >

Well, here’s something the world hasn’t heard since May of 1945.

And it too is a sign of the times we are in right now. German forces have been activated on foreign soil. Here’s how it was reported in Britain:

German army in first permanent deployment abroad since WW2 – on Putin's doorstep Read >

Okay, I wasn’t sure whether to include this, so caution is suggested before opening.

It’s an AI story about The Beatles. John and George to be exact. AI was asked to visualize what the two deceased Beatles would look like if they were still alive today. Maybe we only want to remember them the way they were, but if not then click on this:

John Lennon and George Harrison pictured 'now' in startling AI images Read >

The Buzz will be back in seven days.

The Buzz is a weekly publication from National Newswatch that shares insights and commentary on the week’s developments in politics, news and current affairs.