A special edition of our regular Monday look at the international scene as retired Lt Col Alexander Vindman gives us his sense of developments between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin and what it means to Russia and Ukraine. He also has words of advice for Canada on how to handle Trump's America.  Then Janice Stein gives us her take on Vindman's take.

It was bad enough last week when Doug Ford told Pierre Poilievre he didn't have time to campaign for him. But now Ford's top strategist says Poilievre is heading for defeat unless he changes his campaign. And he has the polls to back that up. On the face of it the Conservative leader has big crowds, but behind the scenes it sounds like chaos in the ranks. What's really happening -- Chantal Hebert and Rob Russo have their say.

Every week we get lots of letters but none more so than this week. You are dialed in on this election campaign and you have lots you want discussed. We've had so many emails from coast to coast to coast with your concerns that we have enough for a few weeks on this issue. Plus the Random Ranter is here with his thoughts on a certain Premier -- Danielle Smith in Alberta.

Encore episode. As the candidates scramble around the country, they have five weeks to impress voters. And while it's a national election it's received interest on an international scale. How much of that interest also involves interference? More than most Canadians suspect according to our regular guest, Dr Janice Stein of the University of Toronto's Munk School. That and more from her today.

It's only been forty-eight hours and opening impressions rarely last long, but what about these? How damaging was Danielle Smith's US interview to Pierre Poilievre? What about Mark Carney's yes then no on the TVA debate? And more. Bruce Anderson and Fred DeLorey are here with their spin.

As the candidates scramble around the country, they have five weeks to impress voters. And while its a national election its received interest on an international scale. How much of that interest also involves interference? More than most Canadians suspect according to our regular Monday guest, Dr Janice Stein of the University of Toronto's Munk School. That and more from her today.

The election will be called this weekend and the country's voters will be determining Canada's future. There could be as many as six main leaders but the main contest will be between Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre. Are they ready for the five or six weeks ahead? Chantal Hebert and Rob Russo are here for some Good Talk on that.

Week Two of your letters under the title, "What's on your mind". Mostly it's about our differences with our neighbor and long time ally The United States. Canadians remain angry and very concerned about what may lie ahead. But some of you have ideas and you suggest them. Plus the Random Ranter is here with his view on what Pierre Poilievre has to say.

Encore episode. We always get letters when we ask for them but never quite like this week. The question was the old fallback --What's On Your Mind? Well, you responded in record numbers, and in all cases they seem to deal with the situation Canada finds itself in with its neighbour, the United States, and specifically its President. The Random Ranter stays single focused too.

There seems to be a poll a day recently and while they're each a bit different, there is one common theme. The Liberals are back and the race between them and the Conservatives is very tight. Long gone are the huge leads the Conservatives had. And the NDP? -- they've collapsed. So how are the political pros responding to this? That's the question for Smoke, Mirrors and The Truth panelists Bruce Anderson from the Liberals and Fred DeLorey from the Conservatives.