Premier Smith’s PragerU guest appearance set to add embarrassment to Alberta
By Lethbridge Herald on March 12, 2025.
POINT OF VIEW – Editor Scott Sakatch
As a journalist, I try my best to be politically neutral (in what I write, at least; those who know me personally would say otherwise) because I believe the media should always take pains to present all sides of an argument. So when Premier Danielle Smith decided to meet with then newly-elected U.S. President Donald Trump at his Florida home in January, I kept my grubby little fingers off the keyboard. While I have my own personal opinions about the Great Puffed Cheeto, I also knew that the argument could easily be made in favour of handling him with kid gloves and trying to get ahead of the tariffs.
After all, his threat was (obviously) very real and Smith knew they could have devastating impact on Alberta’s economy. Sure, it might not have been the best way to spend taxpayer dollars, especially in hindsight, but the potential benefits of the trip were enough for me to give Smith the benefit of the doubt. There were more than enough Roasters and letter writers who were more than happy to offer their opinions in the Herald.
But then I found out a couple of days ago that Smith was headed back to Florida at the end of March. Only this time, she’s not going to meet with Golfy McFelon at Mar-A-Lago for more “negotiations.” This isn’t about “cowboy diplomacy” or trade barriers or keeping Alberta’s economy from being destroyed by random, arbitrary sanctions imposed by someone who knows less about the economy than the average fifth-grader and who is single-handedly threatening the viability of my retirement savings…
Ahem. Sorry, I’ll try to keep focused here.
No, this trip, as far as I can determine, is solely about “owning the libs lol.”
Smith is scheduled to be a guest at a fundraiser event for an entity called Prager University. Its name tends to be shortened to “PragerU” for two reasons: first, it’s more punchy, and second, it’s no more a university than I am the point guard for the Toronto Raptors. PragerU is a non-profit advocacy group named for Dennis Prager, the right-wing radio host who founded it in 2009. I’m sure it’s a complete coincidence that it appeared right after the election of America’s first Black president, but again, I digress. PragerU is almost entirely funded by ultra-wealthy right-wing donors who have a not-so-vested interest in making sure their tax cuts stay nice and juicy.
These days, PragerU’s most recognizable face belongs to one Ben Shapiro, a right-wing media figure who appears to spend all day, every day online. What’s he doing there, you ask? He’s actively, gleefully and mockingly spreading misinformation. I say gleefully because he doesn’t just lie, he lies with a big, smug smirk on his face, a look that practically dares you to contradict him because he literally has all day to argue, while the rest of us have to make a living.
I’m not talking about having a different opinion, ie: tax cuts for the wealthy are good while Social Security is bad. Arguments (flimsy thought they may be) can be made for and against both sides there. I’m talking about flat-out lies, the kind that you told your mom when you were a kid and knocked over the flower pot, and you conjured up a whopper about the giant dog that ran past and there were police chasing it and you were just trying to get out of the way so really, you were the hero there.
Why do I say that? Because Shapiro is quite literally paid to parrot every single nonsensical thing that comes out of Donald Trump’s mouth (or his thumbs, when he’s sitting on his gold toilet and Freedom-Socialling). Everything that Trump believes, Shapiro will back up loudly, and with a zealous energy that’s truly frightening to watch. And he’s everywhere online, from social media to YouTube. In short, he’s a misinformation disseminating machine. He’s Rush Limbaugh, except with fewer scruples.
And that’s where I draw the line. The premier of the province I love has chosen to give legitimacy to a person who carries the water for the man trying to ruin our economy. She is going to sit down and chew the fat with a guy who jeeringly calls Canada the 51st state. Worst of all, she’s sharing a stage with someone who lies for a living.
I don’t care what your political stripe is: this is not okay, and it’s not normal. We have to stop acting like it is. Unless and until we do, Alberta continue to be an embarrassment to the rest of the country.
13-12
She is despicable and not to be trusted in any way, an opportunist, and a Trump lackey.
It appears the NDP has found a new parrot in the Herald to use to spread misinformation against the government of Alberta. I preferred Al Beeber, but now the Herald has sunk further into the abyss! I have noted how sales have fallen in the last year?
While journalists are under tight deadlines (now 24/7 with the rise of social media), pressure from funders, and constant criticism from audiences, their role also carries immense responsibility to report events ethically.
Given this responsibility, it is critical to understand some of the basic principles of journalism that underlie effective and ethical reporting. The Society of Professional Journalists has laid out four guidelines in its code of ethics:1
1. Seek truth and report it
2. Minimize harm
3. Act independently
4. Be accountable and transparent
It is very disheartening to see the Herald show such bias for the NDP!
You must be a prophet, able to see into the future and already know what the Premier’s reason to speak on behalf of our business community at this meeting! The fact that you have assumed why the Premier is speaking to this group exposes your lack of basic journalism, in which you should back up your reporting with facts, not whims!
“Everything I hate must be the NDP”
A record breaker, 62 down votes, Proves Dennis Bremners points. I give this paper maybe a year for survival and it goes to 3 days a week. Then off into the online oblivion marketplace. The paper will die and slow and pathetic death and the NDP can claim victory in silencing a once proud publication.
don’t blame the herald, blame the prov’l ndp and pm trudeau, right? one wonders if they ear also responsible for your dislike of all things based on compassion, sustainability, and sharing. might you have simply been punted from kindergarten rather passed on merit?
congrats! you have garnered the highest net neg entry i am aware of in this forum. and given harold p and his numerous accounts and his tireless work to send out multiple negs to those supporting sustainability and compassion, and upvotes to all else, you have set a new standard for low.
One good reason why I no longer read the Lethbridge Herald anymore, unless someone shares the latest PRO-NDP rants with me. Hearing NDP propaganda from an editor is why we no longer support the Lethbridge Herald and I am not alone.
You would prefer the Ford approach, who found out rather quickly he knew nothing about Trump’s method of operations the other day?
To have media tear down our government while we are under in a war that could devastate our province, shows how desperate you are! Using the your platform to sway constituents, with factless information shows you are no longer a professional organization! Just as the NDP destroyed BC, it will bring down the Lethbridge Herald. This just in – Lethbridge is not a majority NDP and Miyashiro only won by 1200 votes in a constituency that had 36,000 electors. Lethbridge West is a NDP stronghold and yet he only won by 1200 votes. But go ahead, spew NDP propaganda!
Only fools and Carney, believe we can win a trade war with the US! Diplomacy has only had a chance for a few weeks, but everyone else wants to go nuclear now, like a drunk in a bar fight! There is plenty of time to use extreme measures, and now is not the time. But the NDP only know one thing, attack, no matter what, so they can get in power! What are all those with their hands out going to do when we are in the impending world war coming soon and there is no extra money to allow them to live off of society and cancel all of they social programs?
You will understand in the next few years! Standing united could have helped us all!
I stand for our Premier and do not assume what she is saying in those talks! No talk of the trips Premier Notley made to the US often! United We Stand, Divided We Fall!
Totally agree and am saying so rather than a click on the plus because the NDP is out with a vengeance on “ticks” -50 so far for you, I am jealous, well done!
If Smith going to the US for Alberta makes her despicable, what about Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek heading to the oil and gas conference in Houston, Texas, amid tensions between North America’s largest trading partners. After all, she is the Mayor of Calgary not one from Texas or the US?
Will you here from the propaganda machine on this? Unlikely!
How did Fords shoot first approach work?
Doug Ford has seriously upset Donald Trump
Diplomacy works better in the beginning, but Doug Ford only brought out Trump’s ire against Canada further!
Our Premier is on the right track communicating with all Americans that she knows impact views on the President, not just a small chosen group! All Americans need to know what can happen in a tariff war, and they can make an impact. What about the NDP SACPA propaganda machine?? Are you telling me they are any better than PragerU? You want to talk about misinformation?
“Diplomacy works better in the beginning….” That’s what Neville Chamberlain thought. How did that turn out?
Well I see we replaced one NDP schill with another. The “New” editor should do some research on Line 5 and what would happen to Ontario and Quebec before shooting his face off. You understand little about what is needed to keep the Ontario/Quebec machinery running and understand even less as to what Trumps made objective is!
Secondly, I find it interesting that Ben Shapiro spouts off the virtues verbertim from the bible. So by calling him out, you are offending at least 4 people that still follow the holy book and the 90,000 that pretend too (after doing there own edits). Bending Ben Shapiro’s ear, to get to the Trumps ear is a bad idea because….you think its “embarassing”? I find your thoughts embarrasing, does diplomacy, and good ole political manipulation, have no place in the Lethbridge Herald now, unless NDP diplomacy and political manipulations?
What you are defending is the woke, those that believe that men dressed as girls should be able to move through little girl washrooms. You are defending care for everyone who enjoys self inflicted wounds over and over again and get paid with taxpayer money to do it. You choose to support those that intentionally destroy our society, unless of course someone sets fire or craps in your front door.then the LH self righteous flagulation of our politicians occurs with the pointed “quill”! Welcome to the NDP paper, …. you’ll do well
You use an atypical counter argument that has nothing to do with the discussion at hand, and then believe you made the best point, you should make a wonderful editor for this NDP platform!
To help you out line 5 drops down to Wisconsin/Michigan and then crosses to Sarnia refineries. It delivers 540,000 bbls a day to Superior Wisconsin. If our Premier becomes punitive and squeezes Trump with oil, how long do you think it will take him to walk over and shut the valve off at the Bridge to Sarnia? So please do some research before suggesting ANY negotiations are a betrayal. Not that I think Ontario/Quebec are worth saving because they never bothered with us…but were Canadian, even if they choose to be one when convenient, they are still Canadians!
Lots of NDP floating here today, so should break the record for negative ticks, go woke go!!!
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly!
-The nice thing about being an editor is you can vet out all the negative reactions to your stupid comments and still look smart in the paper you publish.
– ahhhhhh the good ole days of Germany where only one side counts….right?
-You criticize the Right for being too Right but sit on the hard edge of the far Left…its amusing!
-The obvious reason you are outraged is “your Nutbar” is not the leader of Alberta and has to wait his turn!
-Lastly, we owe a debt of thanks to the Local NDP, LH and the West Side. They finally stopped Myashiro from flipping parties and ridings so we did not have to listen to his multi-party flipping political beliefs any longer, thank you for giving him a home!