Murray Wood: Riders’ revenge, Putin optics, storm beauty

In this Friday “Who’s Hot and Who’s Not,” Murray Wood looks at the Riders’ shot at payback in Calgary, Trudeau’s red-carpet optics with Putin, and storm clouds that were both destructive and beautiful.

Murray Wood delivers sharp, insightful commentary with a blend of wit, skepticism and straight talk. Whether he’s exposing political maneuvering, celebrating cultural icons or unpacking life’s everyday quirks, he never holds back.

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Listen to more commentary from Murray Wood:

Thurs., Aug. 21: An Ontario man was charged for allegedly assaulting an intruder in his home, sparking wide reaction this week. Murray Wood says self-defence should be a legitimate legal argument, within reason.

Wed., Aug. 20: How young is too young to bring children to a stadium? After taking his six-year-old grandson to watch the Riders, Murray Wood is still recovering from trying to explain the rules alongside a competing sound system.

Tues. Aug. 19: Many wanted suspects share a common trait: face or neck tattoos. These are often not benign but symbols like teardrops or words such as “insane.” As Murray Wood explains, such markings make fugitives far easier to spot, yet they also serve as permanent labels that strip away any chance of blending into society or finding legitimate work.

Mon., Aug. 18: The Saskatchewan Roughriders flattened the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at a sold-out Mosaic Stadium to improve their record to 8-1. Murray Wood says Rider games should be packed; it’s all part of being from Saskatchewan. He says Saturday’s game proved the Riders are the heart of the CFL, and the fans who bleed green and white are, too.

Fri., Aug. 15:  Every Friday, Murray Wood takes a look at the week’s news and decides who’s hot… and who’s not. This week’s list includes the disruptions because of the labour dispute at Air Canada and the red-hot Riders.

Thurs., August 14: Dear China… Um, yeah, can you fill out this TPS report? That’d be great. Murray Wood says Canada should get tough in the face of China bullying tactics, the latest of which saw a big tariff slapped on canola.