🇨🇦 Canada Just Rejected MAGA

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan is joined by longtime friend and grappling legend Stephan Kesting for a raw, unfiltered conversation about Canada’s 2025 federal election. They unpack how the rise of MAGA-style politics north of the border sparked a national backlash, ultimately reshaping Canadian leadership—and exposing fractures in the martial arts world.

⸻

👥 Featuring:

Steve Kwan ‪@bjjmentalmodels‬
Stephan Kesting ‪@StephanKesting‬

⸻

🧠 Topics We Cover:

• Why Trump’s threats to Canada changed the outcome of the election
• The rise—and rejection—of MAGA politics in Canadian culture
• How COVID and the Freedom Convoy broke the Jiu-Jitsu community
• What American martial artists need to understand about their influence abroad
• Whether Canada can still trust its southern neighbor

⸻

📖 Chapters:

00:00 Canadian Elections and Political Landscape
09:08 Trudeau's Downfall and the Rise of Mark Carney
17:58 The Freedom Convoy and Its Impact on Society
32:58 The Division in the Martial Arts Community
35:12 The Impact of Information Bubbles
39:32 Reality Check: The Pandemic's Influence
43:15 Political Dynamics in Canada
50:05 The Future of Canadian Politics
57:25 Cross-Border Relations and Travel Concerns
01:02:09 Understanding Perspectives: The Info Bubble Challenge