The fake news origins of Justin Trudeau’s “deep sorrow” over Fidel Castro. A weekend of ridicule for Trudeau's hot take made way for some historical context and deeper reflection from the PM. Although Fidel was at Pierre’s funeral in 2000, that photo of the deceased dictator holding a Trudeau baby isn't what it seems.

Kellie Leitch’s rhetoric train keeps rolling over the detractors. Former PM Joe Clark lamented Leitch's political stylings—which she spun to make him seem out of touch. As Leitch increasingly channels Donald Trump, the resulting media attention might make her a shoo-in for the Conservative leadership.

Richard Spencer says the TTC inspired his white nationalism. CityNews reporter Avery Haines, who claims Spencer hit on her during the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, decided to call him for a follow-up. Spencer explained that he lived in Toronto about six years ago, and that being the only white person on a TTC bus prompted him to start his infamous website, which has made him the standard bearer for America's racist right wing.

National Post ditches its daily dose of anonymous opinion. The brightest side to the recent Postmedia cutbacks is the flagship's decision to limit official position statements to the Saturday edition, for the most part. They tried to do this before. “A single elderly reader noticed,” tweeted former Post comment editor Jonathan Kay, “and [Paul] Godfrey made me put them back.”


Today's edition of 12:36 is brought to you by Headline Coffee, a new coffee subscription service brewed up by the Toronto Star that delivers a new Fairtrade certified and often organic coffee to your door every month. For Cyber Monday, try Headline Coffee for yourself and get 50 per cent off your first two months.


Circle K takeover is starting to get real. The final winks of Couche-Tard’s night owl mascot have begun, with Mac’s stores starting to stock products featuring the new globalized logo—introduced in an insanely overblown corporate video. The signage swtiching is also now underway. (Couche-Tard recently bought 279 Esso gas stations—but they're keeping that brand.)

Phil Collins revival to reach insufferable new summit of post-irony. The legacy of the Genesis drummer is a welcome subject for revisitation, even if the renewed attention threatens to prolong the craze for parading around Greenpoint with papier-mâché replicas of his head. (“Phil Collins Day” started in 2007, but hipsters got tired of it by 2015.) Now that Toronto has a retro-‘80s dive bar, it's our turn.

Maureen Holloway is replacing Erin Davis at CHFI. Q107's afternoon drive host signed off Friday, promising to turn up elsewhere. Her new gig hasn't been announced yet, but it's a good bet that she'll end up as a co-host for Darren B. Lamb, on CHFI. (The days of competing radio personalities being mortal enemies is clearly a thing of the past.)

Word of the moment

câlins gratuit

A man offering “Free Hugs” on his T-shirt in both official languages at Metro stations around Montreal for the past year has been fined $101.




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