March 30, 2025
Good morning Calgary and community,
As a dedicated reader of our publication you already know this, but we at the Calgary Journal have been doing some major fact-checking lately. Curious about the reliability of political rhetoric, fad weight-loss trends, or the competence of self-driving Teslas (among other topics)? Be sure to visit the site and peruse some of our articles, which are so numerous we can’t fit them all into the newsletter every week.
In a world brimming with misinformation, the best thing we can do is know things. As your newsletter editors, Alyssa and I are making sure we all keep learning together; this week’s lesson we’ve gleaned from top U.S national security officials who have demonstrated the importance of knowing who is in the group chat before sharing sensitive information. Stay tuned.
In this newsletter:
- In the news
- In the city (the choice is yours: music, comedy, or murder)
- In the country
- Get to know your editor: Mia Bare
Stay sharp out there,
-Stephanie Gabriel, newsletter editor
Calgary Journal fact-checking
Fact-checking UCP’s Bill 18 rhetoric versus new law’s reality for Alberta universities
The governing United Conservative Party promised that Bill 18—the Provincial Priorities Act—would empower it to […]
Fact-checking if mixing caffeine and ADHD drugs ‘is a good idea’
TikToker suggests drinking caffeine to manage ADHD symptoms but does it actually work?
Fact-checking Poilievre’s claim about ‘money printing’ triggering inflation
Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre sat perched on a riser in January with Jordan Peterson […]
In the city:
April through May
If you fancy yourself a sleuth, put your skills to the test at Heritage Park’s Murder at the park: a wedding to die for. More than dinner and a show, this whodunnit features musical performances and offers guests the chance to crack the case to win a prize.
April 3
David Bowie fans, head to the Jack Singer Concert Hall for a live recreation of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
April 5
Ari Shafir, your potential new favourite comedian, is playing at McEwan Hall this Saturday. His team writes to leave your sensitive friend at home, warning that this is not a family-friendly event.
In the country (and beyond):
You’ve already heard about “Signalgate” – when U.S. national security officials inadvertently added editor-in-chief of the Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, to a group chat formed around the discussion of a pending, active, then successful U.S. military operation in Yemen. The Atlantic (paywalled)
- Goldberg and others have noted that hosting the discussion on the Signal app violated the Espionage Act. Trump administration officials maintain that the messages did not contain classified information, so no law was broken. CBC
- The Guardian wrote Thursday that the Federal Records Act and the Presidential Records Act are also primary areas of legal concern. The global news organization added that those involved would face no meaningful legal consequences. The Guardian
The Liberals are leading the pack in anticipation of the Canadian federal election on April 28, according to this CBC poll.
- On Friday, Mark Carney and Donald Trump had a phone call that, afterward, they both described as pleasant and constructive. CBC
- In response to Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on Canada’s auto industry, which will begin on April 2, Carney told Trump that Canada would implement retaliatory tariffs. CBC
- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and American right-wing commentator Ben Shapiro spent part of the week at a fundraiser for the media company PragerU. Alberta NDP criticized her decision while bringing up Shapiro’s controversial opinions, like his supposed climate change denial. CTV
- Smith is already facing criticism for asking the U.S. to drop tariffs because they “seem to be benefiting the liberals.” CTV
Get to know our editors: Mia Bare
Find Mia’s work here
Q: Why did you want to go into journalism?
My dad got me into it when I was younger. He would have to go to work early in the morning and come home late at night, so in the mornings I would sneak into the living room at 4:30 a.m. to watch the news with him. Every night, after my mom put me to bed, I would sneak out of bed to watch the 11 p.m. news with him. It became ingrained in my schedule, and eventually I wanted to be like the people I would watch every morning and night.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
I love to spend time with my dachshund
Q: What is your favourite piece you’ve written for the Calgary Journal?
My favourite would have been the compassionate intervention piece. I think a lot of people can relate to the piece. It struck a tough root with me, and I’m sure a lot of others can relate too
Be a social butterfly!
We love social media, and we’re sure you do too. Chantel Belisle, our social media editor, is working hard to produce quality content on the Calgary Journals’ social channels for you, check out our social content here!
Any time you see an article published on the Calgary Journal website that you enjoy, please don’t be afraid to share it with your network — our reporters and editorial team appreciate the exposure. We’re actively working to improve our social media engagement and newsletter subscriber numbers. So please share, share, share!