The Bureau Podcast

This week on The Bureau, we examine one of the most urgent and politically charged stories in Canada: the crisis surrounding government-issued “safer supply.”I’m joined by Adam Zivo, the investigative reporter who broke many of the key stories exposing the unintended—and often devastating—consequences of Canada’s drug policy experiment. Together, we unpack how federal and provincial “safer supply” programs, originally designed as harm-reduction tools, have instead become conduits for organized crime. In some regions, like London, Ontario—where fentanyl once had little presence—the program has triggered an influx of potent opioids and fueled new criminal markets.We’ll explore what’s really happening on the ground, why this issue matters in Canada’s federal election on Monday, and which political parties are pledging to reverse course—or maintain the status quo, even as overdose deaths surge and fentanyl floods our streets.The Bureau is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebureau.news/subscribe

Welcome back to The Bureau.Today we’re joined by independent journalist Adam Zivo, whose reporting has shed powerful light on one of Canada’s most controversial policies: the “safer supply” opioid program. Meant to save lives, these programs have been exploited by organized crime—making the fentanyl crisis worse, not better.Right now, Adam is reporting from Serbia, where massive student-led protests are challenging a deeply entrenched system many describe as a mafia state. These protests are historic—not just for Serbia, but for the global moment we’re in.Serbia’s government has close ties with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a sweeping plan by Chinese President Xi Jinping to grow China’s global influence through foreign investment and infrastructure. But American intelligence sees a darker side to the Belt and Road—saying it’s also about setting up military footholds and corruption networks to boost Beijing’s plans to replace Washington as global hegemon.In our conversation, Adam gives us a critical breakdown of what’s happening on the ground, beginning with the dramatic collapse of a train station built under the Belt and Road. It’s a striking symbol of what’s to come as the United States steps back from global leadership, and China fills the gap with its own brand of "foreign aid" that carries dangerous strings attached.The Bureau is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Here’s what we cover:What’s Happening in Serbia* Collapse of a major train station built by a Chinese firm under the Belt and Road Initiative* Student protestors attacked by the government* Protests grow throughout November:* Students reject political leaders — they organize through public forums called plenums* They rotate spokespersons and emphasize peaceful resistance — even cleaning up after protests* Their movement is not tied to any political party* They issue four initial demands:* Release government spending documents* Investigate and charge those who attacked protestors* Drop charges against protestors* Increase the education budget by 20%* Their non-political, disciplined approach draws wide support* By December:* 100,000 protestors join across the country* 50 university faculties shut down* President Vučić tries to paint the protests as a “colour revolution” (a foreign-backed plot)Into 2025: The Movement Grows* In January, thousands of students begin marching nationwide — joined and protected by biker gangs, who support the protests and are respected in rural areas* By March, more than 300,000 people — nearly 5% of Serbia’s population — are protesting* National railways are shut down by mysterious bomb threats* Protestors face hooligan attacks, firecrackers, and even a sound cannon — which the government denies using* Students add a fifth demand: Investigate the use of sound cannons* Meanwhile, opposition parties are calling for a new interim government made up of neutral technocrats, and fresh elections* This demand is gaining some support among the wider protest movement* President Vučić has rejected the ideaBig Questions Ahead* Can the student movement stay independent of party politics?* Will they form a new political force — or ally with the opposition?The Deeper History Behind It All* Serbia has struggled with organized crime and corruption since the 1990s* Under Slobodan Milošević, the country grew more nationalistic and authoritarian, fueling brutal wars in Bosnia and Kosovo* Aleksandar Vučić, Serbia’s current president, was once Minister of Information under Milošević (1998–2000)* He was part of the far-right Serbian Radical Party* During his time, journalists were murdered, foreign media was banned, and independent outlets were heavily punished* After student protests helped bring down Milošević, reformer Zoran Đinđić became Prime Minister in the early 2000s* He was assassinated in 2003 by mafia-linked police and elites* Vučić later rebranded himself as a pro-European moderate* In 2012, his Serbian Progressive Party won elections and formed a minority government — launching his rise to full power This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebureau.news/subscribe

In this discussion with Jason James, a few weeks before Mark Carney became Canada’s prime minister—securing nearly 90 percent of votes in the opaque Liberal Party contest to replace Justin Trudeau—I explained why I cautiously explored Carney’s role in international multilaterals and investments where Beijing’s influence is evident, such as the World Economic Forum. Our conversation also touches on my assessment of the growing collision course between Washington and Beijing, which may partly explain President Donald Trump’s wrecking-ball approach to international alliances, supply chains, and diplomacy.“This is, tragically, like 1938,” I said. “It seems like that’s where we are. And if you understand that, whatever your interest is in the world—if you have some time for geopolitics—I’m not saying the confusion goes away, but the fog starts to lift.”The Bureau is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebureau.news/subscribe

Thanks for coming to The Bureau, where we provide some of the most sophisticated geopolitical analysis in the world—especially in these turbulent times.That’s the theme today: many Canadians are shocked and concerned by reports that the Trump administration may be considering cutting Canada out of the Five Eyes alliance, imposing border adjustments, and even referring to Canada as the '51st state.' So, what is really going on here?Chris Meyer, a former U.S. official who, like me, has spent the past decade studying China’s global influence operations, has some interesting advice for Canadians and our elected MPs (and Liberal-leader elect Mark Carney.)In our conversation, the concept of cognitive dissonance emerges—two competing ideas, each containing some truth, yet their contradictions breed confusion and chaos. On one side is Trump’s sledgehammer rhetoric, coupled with his tactical, transactional approach to ‘deal-making’—a style that risks inflicting lasting damage on one of the most vital modern democratic alliances: the Canada-U.S. relationship. Beyond that, it threatens to undermine the post-World War II Anglo intelligence alliance.On the other, there’s the stark reality that Canada has deep border and port vulnerabilities to China and organized crime—issues that have long raised concerns within U.S. administrations, past and present, as I know from my reporting. And that concern is only growing as the risk of a larger war involving China, Taiwan, Russia, and Europe intensifies.The Bureau is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Currently, Meyer serves as the head of the U.S. Micronesia Council and is the founder of WideFountain, a platform for in-depth geopolitical analysis.A passionate China observer since age 16, Meyer studied East Asian Studies at George Washington University, where he wrote a thesis on the geopolitical dimensions of China’s Special Economic Zones.His career includes:* Five years in sales and marketing with a U.S. Fortune 500 company.* Service in the U.S. diplomatic corps as an Asia expert at the Development Finance Corporation (DFC).* Consulting on U.S. government projects, particularly in Micronesia.* Founding an edtech company, patenting innovative products, and building supply chains in Taiwan and China. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebureau.news/subscribe

I wasn't surprised by the Financial Times report indicating that Peter Navarro, a senior Trump administration official known for his ultra-hawkish stance on China, was circulating plans to limit U.S. national security exposure to Canada. The U.S. perceives Canada as the weakest link in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance due to its vulnerabilities to Chinese infiltration. Two weeks ago, a military source shared a report with me confirming that similar discussions were taking place within the U.S. national security and military community, pointing directly to Navarro. And according to my military source, expelling Canada from Five Eyes is just one of several actions under discussion.As I’ve discussed before, this aligns with broader U.S. concerns—for example, the People's Liberation Army's breach of Canada’s Level 4 Lab in Winnipeg and the inexplicable return of the main suspects Dr. Qiu and Keding Cheng to China after allegedly transferring sensitive bioweapon research to Wuhan. The fact that Canada also partnered with CanSino, a PLA-linked company, on a COVID-19 vaccine only deepens those concerns. CanSino was part of the Winnipeg Lab breach plot according to CSIS. This isn’t speculation—it’s open-source fact. As I reported a year ago:The CSIS report adds Qiu was "dismissive" when asked if she thought her collaborations with WIV and other Chinese institutions involved in the Thousand Talents program including CanSino Biologics "have assisted the capabilities of the PLA."Now, think about what the U.S. government knows that we don’t?In this discussion with Jason James of BNN—recorded before FT broke this Five Eyes exclusion story—I answered his question about what the Trump administration really means when it warns of Canada’s fentanyl vulnerabilities. As Trump escalates economic pressure and even suggests Canada should become the 51st state, his trade adviser Navarro is dismissing the report on Canada’s removal from Five Eyes as ‘crazy stuff.’ But make no mistake. Before the Financial Times report, I already had sources pointing to these exact concerns—now they’re out in the open. Canada needs to take these concerns seriously and act accordingly.The Bureau is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebureau.news/subscribe

In this explosive interview, B.C. Mayor Brad West reveals sensitive details from his 2023 meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, including Blinken’s unsettling claim that American agencies are holding back intelligence from Canada. “They’ve lost confidence,” West says, adding that U.S. officials are stunned by how much access major figures in Asian organized crime have to Canada’s political class.Listen to the interview, and stay tuned to The Bureau for continuing coverage of this developing story.The Bureau is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebureau.news/subscribe

In this interview, Jason James of BNN Podcast asked me for a detailed breakdown of the Hogue Commission’s impact on the Asian diaspora—communities seeking protection after years of neglect from Canada’s federal government and courts.Sadly, I found that Hogue’s conclusions are already being weaponized against Conservative nomination candidate Kenny Chiu in Richmond, a key Vancouver-area riding targeted by Beijing’s Ministry of State Security.I explained that in 2021, Chiu’s Liberal opponent, Parm Bains, benefited from United Front Work Department support. Now, Liberal leadership frontrunner Mark Carney has appeared alongside Bains in Richmond—where a known United Front leader was seen apparently mobilizing support for Carney and Bains ahead of the next Canadian election.Meanwhile, Chiu’s opponent for the Conservative nomination is using Justice Hogue’s final report to accuse him of racism.My word for this: Egregious.[Clarification: B.C.’s Commission into Money Laundering actually had 101 Recommendations, which I argue, should be implemented to respond to the Trump Administration’s fentanyl concerns in Canada.]The Bureau is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebureau.news/subscribe

In this episode with former U.S. official Christopher Meyer, we discuss the takedown of General Secretary Xi’s main rival, Bo Xilai, and growing resistance to Xi’s leadership in Beijing. The Bureau is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Currently, Meyer serves as the head of the U.S. Micronesia Council and is the founder of WideFountain, a platform for in-depth geopolitical analysis.A passionate China observer since age 16, Meyer studied East Asian Studies at George Washington University, where he wrote a thesis on the geopolitical dimensions of China’s Special Economic Zones.His career includes:* Five years in sales and marketing with a U.S. Fortune 500 company.* Service in the U.S. diplomatic corps as an Asia expert at the Development Finance Corporation (DFC).* Consulting on U.S. government projects, particularly in Micronesia.* Founding an edtech company, patenting innovative products, and building supply chains in Taiwan and China.In 2018, Meyer began focused research into Chinese strategic corruption and political warfare, deepening his expertise in CCP influence operations. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebureau.news/subscribe

The Bureau is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebureau.news/subscribe

The Bureau is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thebureau.news/subscribe