The biggest name in Alberta talk radio, Danielle Smith, will be joining the Western Standard’s staff as the new host of the Danielle Smith Show..Her program will be broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 9 a.m. MST across the Western Standard’s digital channels on Facebook, YouTube, Rumble, and podcast networks..This exciting new program will focus on issues of public policy that are of concern to Westerners generally, and to Albertans in particular. Importantly, her Saturday shows will be long-form interviews using the Joe Rogan Experience model. This will allow her to probe issues and individuals in-depth, rather than the quick ‘soundbite’ format that is required on shorter programs where interviews rarely last more than 20 minutes..This is a good — but still curious — fit for us. Western Standard employees are required to not hold membership in any political party, but we have waived this condition in Danielle’s case for several reasons..Firstly, Danielle’s contract requires that her program focus on issues of public policy, and not be used as a platform for partisan political activity. Danielle proved capable of this balancing act while she was on the air with QR770, and I have the utmost confidence that she can do it at the Western Standard..Secondly, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has a weekly call-in show on QR770 right now where no such prohibition on partisan political activity is in place. As the UCP faces sharp internal divisions right now, we felt it was important to ensure that those in power are not the only ones with a platform to speak regularly. Alberta’s conservatives have more than one viewpoint as to how our home should be governed right now, and we want to give a platform to other important and thoughtful voices..Thirdly, Danielle’s contract will end the moment any formal campaign begins for either a general election or an internal party leadership race..Danielle and I have some history that needed to be resolved before we came to this agreement..When she crossed the floor from the Wildrose to the Progressive Conservatives in December 2014, I took it personally. Very, very personally..I had just started a job as vice-president of the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC) and had a strong inclination to run for the Wildrose in the election that was supposed to be in 2016. I believed in my bones that the 44-year-old PC dynasty was corrupt beyond redemption and the defection of two-thirds of the Wildrose caucus was a great betrayal..I promptly quit my new job and ran for the Wildrose nomination in Strathmore-Brooks. While I did that, I spent long hours in Danielle’s Highwood constituency getting people to sign the ‘Recall Danielle’ petition. When she lost the PC nomination in Highwood, nobody cheered louder than me..When she landed a job at QR770 as host of the Danielle Smith Show, I was livid. I pushed hard for the Wildrose to boycott the show. When I lost that internal battle, I still refused to go on her show, and sent angry (and admittedly rude) emails whenever I was invited on. When Kenney launched his campaign to merge the Wildrose and PC parties, I insisted to him that he blast her if he went on her show, and he did..But, she grew on me. Her show was the only thing worth listening to on the radio in Alberta. She had great guests and cut to the heart of the matter. I listened to her show — angry at myself for doing so — without telling anyone until I eventually gave in and made the odd appearance..Little by little, I began to forgive her for what she did. She owned up to her actions, was contrite, and did her best to make amends. It didn’t fix what she had done, but it’s all anyone can do when they make an error..By the time she left QR770, she had earnedmy respect. She was the only one on the air — and one of a very small number in the mainstream media — that would challenge the government’s official COVID-19 response. She had experts on her show, from both sides. She understood that COVID-19 was serious, but did not justify the systematic demolition of our fundamental liberties. She took on the Kenney government — which she had heretofore been very supportive — for jailing pastors, beating up kids playing hockey, closing businesses, and locking people in their homes. Speaking her mind openly was not a wise career move if she wished to have a long and prosperous stay in the mainstream media, but it showed courage..That courage is the main reason why we have reached an agreement to bring the Danielle Smith Show to the Western Standard. Here, she is free to speak frankly. She is free to speak controversially, and she is free to speak uncensored..Derek Fildebrandt is Publisher of the Western Standard.,.dfildebrandt@westernstandard.news
The biggest name in Alberta talk radio, Danielle Smith, will be joining the Western Standard’s staff as the new host of the Danielle Smith Show..Her program will be broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 9 a.m. MST across the Western Standard’s digital channels on Facebook, YouTube, Rumble, and podcast networks..This exciting new program will focus on issues of public policy that are of concern to Westerners generally, and to Albertans in particular. Importantly, her Saturday shows will be long-form interviews using the Joe Rogan Experience model. This will allow her to probe issues and individuals in-depth, rather than the quick ‘soundbite’ format that is required on shorter programs where interviews rarely last more than 20 minutes..This is a good — but still curious — fit for us. Western Standard employees are required to not hold membership in any political party, but we have waived this condition in Danielle’s case for several reasons..Firstly, Danielle’s contract requires that her program focus on issues of public policy, and not be used as a platform for partisan political activity. Danielle proved capable of this balancing act while she was on the air with QR770, and I have the utmost confidence that she can do it at the Western Standard..Secondly, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has a weekly call-in show on QR770 right now where no such prohibition on partisan political activity is in place. As the UCP faces sharp internal divisions right now, we felt it was important to ensure that those in power are not the only ones with a platform to speak regularly. Alberta’s conservatives have more than one viewpoint as to how our home should be governed right now, and we want to give a platform to other important and thoughtful voices..Thirdly, Danielle’s contract will end the moment any formal campaign begins for either a general election or an internal party leadership race..Danielle and I have some history that needed to be resolved before we came to this agreement..When she crossed the floor from the Wildrose to the Progressive Conservatives in December 2014, I took it personally. Very, very personally..I had just started a job as vice-president of the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC) and had a strong inclination to run for the Wildrose in the election that was supposed to be in 2016. I believed in my bones that the 44-year-old PC dynasty was corrupt beyond redemption and the defection of two-thirds of the Wildrose caucus was a great betrayal..I promptly quit my new job and ran for the Wildrose nomination in Strathmore-Brooks. While I did that, I spent long hours in Danielle’s Highwood constituency getting people to sign the ‘Recall Danielle’ petition. When she lost the PC nomination in Highwood, nobody cheered louder than me..When she landed a job at QR770 as host of the Danielle Smith Show, I was livid. I pushed hard for the Wildrose to boycott the show. When I lost that internal battle, I still refused to go on her show, and sent angry (and admittedly rude) emails whenever I was invited on. When Kenney launched his campaign to merge the Wildrose and PC parties, I insisted to him that he blast her if he went on her show, and he did..But, she grew on me. Her show was the only thing worth listening to on the radio in Alberta. She had great guests and cut to the heart of the matter. I listened to her show — angry at myself for doing so — without telling anyone until I eventually gave in and made the odd appearance..Little by little, I began to forgive her for what she did. She owned up to her actions, was contrite, and did her best to make amends. It didn’t fix what she had done, but it’s all anyone can do when they make an error..By the time she left QR770, she had earnedmy respect. She was the only one on the air — and one of a very small number in the mainstream media — that would challenge the government’s official COVID-19 response. She had experts on her show, from both sides. She understood that COVID-19 was serious, but did not justify the systematic demolition of our fundamental liberties. She took on the Kenney government — which she had heretofore been very supportive — for jailing pastors, beating up kids playing hockey, closing businesses, and locking people in their homes. Speaking her mind openly was not a wise career move if she wished to have a long and prosperous stay in the mainstream media, but it showed courage..That courage is the main reason why we have reached an agreement to bring the Danielle Smith Show to the Western Standard. Here, she is free to speak frankly. She is free to speak controversially, and she is free to speak uncensored..Derek Fildebrandt is Publisher of the Western Standard.,.dfildebrandt@westernstandard.news
