Pop goes the party leaders As the election nears, leaders answer pop culture questions By: Jen Zoratti Posted: 5:57 PM CDT Wednesday, Sep. 27, 2023 Last Modified: 10:30 AM CDT Thursday, Sep. 28, 2023 Updates

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This article was published 27/09/2023 (711 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

You’ve heard them on policy. Now, it’s time to hear from the party leaders on pop culture.

We subjected NDP Leader Wab Kinew, Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont and PC Leader Heather Stefanson to a lightning round of questions to learn a little more about them via their pop-culture prowess and how they spend their (minimal) spare time.

Read on to find out whose first concert was the Police (more than one!), who knows what the Sea Bears’ mascot’s name is (we’re 0 for 3), who is a binge watcher, who had trouble remembering that person from that thing and who is too busy to read but not too busy to rewatch both seasons of TV’s hottest show.

And who, crucially, knows what “Girl Dinner” is.

Barbie, Oppenheimer, or Barbenheimer? What did you see this summer?

Kinew: Barbie. It was actually one of the best movies I’ve seen recently. Their marketing did a good job of not giving away how surprising and thoughtful and how much depth there was to it.

Lamont: I didn’t see either of them. I was too busy. But I’d love to see Barbie and Oppenheimer.

Stefanson: I didn’t see Barbie in the theatre, but I did download it and watched it over a few days. I liked it. I think it’s got some good messages in there. It’s a little goofy, but it was fun. (For clarification, she rented it via Prime Video.)

What’s the last local arts production you saw?

Kinew: My wife Lisa and I went to the last Salsa Sundays at True North Square. So, somewhat of local production.

Lamont: I think it was either the WSO or if it was MTC, it was The Rez Sisters, Tomson Highway’s play.

Stefanson: I was at the Winnipeg Art Gallery recently. I was at a women-in-leadership event there and so it was great to just get in and see some of the exhibits.

Did you get tickets for Bruce Springsteen? If so, where are you sitting?

(In, uh, 2024; the Boss announced Wednesday all his 2023 dates are postponed, including his Nov. 10 Winnipeg date.)

Kinew: No. I’m definitely a fan but, yeah, I think the ticket prices maybe made me think twice.

Lamont: Yes I did. I’ll get to see him in his prime. And I don’t know, probably in the nosebleeds somewhere.

Stefanson: I haven’t, but I’d like to. Is it sold out?

What was your first concert?

Kinew: My first big concert I think was New Kids on the Block. In ‘90? Or ‘91? Around there.

Lamont: The Police, 1983.

Stefanson: First concert was the Police — that’s really dating myself. And the other one was David Bowie. Like Grade 7 or something.

What do you think will top your Spotify Wrapped this year? If you don’t listen to Spotify, what’s an album or song you have on repeat?

Kinew: It would be (American country singer) Zach Bryan. I’ve listened to it just, like, incessantly. I have a very understanding staff who are supportive of my Zach Bryan playlists.

Lamont: I don’t listen to Spotify. I don’t support Joe Rogan. And I don’t support streaming. I don’t think companies should steal music.

On repeat, I’m trying to think, there’s a bunch of them. Lately, there’s an old song by Cheap Trick called Southern Girls that’s really good.

Stefanson: Spotify I listen to actually all the time, but my favourite is really Tom Petty I Won’t Back Down. I love country music though, too, so I love their top country hits playlists.

You’re heading into Election Day. What’s your go-to hype song?

Kinew: There’s actually this Canadian artist named Aysanabee and he’s got a song, We Were Here. And it’s not your traditional hype song, but it’s just got this amazing, dramatic vibe to it that I like to listen to when we have to do speech prep or head to an event.

 

Lamont: Sabotage by the Beastie Boys.

Stefanson: It’s Tom Petty, I Won’t Back Down.

Have you ever made a viral TikTok recipe?

Kinew: Yes. We made the TikTok pasta, if folks remember that. It was like the penne with the tomatoes and feta cheese, cooked in a casserole. I did it with my son who was the one who showed it to me from Tik Tok and yeah, he did a good job. It was good.

Lamont: No, no I have not. I don’t trust the cooking on TikTok. And I don’t have it on my phone anymore for security reasons, so…

Stefanson: No, I haven’t. I’ve watched a lot of them, though. They’re very funny.

This next one tests your slang acumen. Do you know what “Girl Dinner” is?

Kinew: I still haven’t figured out what it is.

Lamont: Yes, I do. It’s when you eat, like, a grape and a Triscuit and a piece of cheese. With a garnish of some kind. It’s just a whole bunch of little things you throw together. (Correct!)

Stefanson: Wine? (Also an acceptable answer!)

What’s the last book you read?

Kinew: The last book I read personally was Belichick, about the football coach Bill Belichick. But the last book that I read most recently would have been a bedtime story to our youngest. Mapping Sam. I got it at Whodunit? Bookstore on Lilac. It’s just about this cat who wanders through the neighbourhood but it has different maps to position him on the street, on the planet, in the universe. It’s pretty cool.

Lamont: The last book I read… I’m trying to remember. I have no time to read books anymore. I probably listen to podcasts more. If it were an audio book, it would be Alan Partridge. From the Oasthouse.

Stefanson: I’d have to say it’s actually Maggie Thatcher’s The Downing Street Years, which is an old one, but it’s one that I dug up more recently just being in this fairly recent job that I’ve taken over.

What’s the last TV series you binged? Or enjoyed in moderation; you’re busy.

Kinew: I think The Last of Us was the last one I watched start to finish, but the last thing that I actually binged on TV would have been NFL RedZone.

Lamont: The Bear. I’m just about to finish my second watch-through the entire series. It’s really incredible.

Stefanson: Succession.

Did you watch Succession? If so, which Roy child is the worst Roy child?

Kinew: I did. OK, actually that was probably more recent than The Last of Us. What’s Macaulay Culkin’s brother’s character’s name, Kieran Culkin’s character? Roman. Romulus.

Lamont: No. It’s too much like real life.

Stefanson: Kendall. Yeah, I think it’s Kendall.

Do you have any comfort watches? Like a movie or TV show you watch over and over again?

Kinew: Probably just sports. Like if I wanted to sit down and look on my phone or iPad, I’ll put on hockey or football.

Lamont: Yeah, I do. I mean, I think Star Wars would be one. There’s a great movie called Local Hero, which is a really incredible, really beautiful movie from the ’80s, a funny comedy.

Stefanson: Indiana Jones I tend to go back to. And, you know, crime series and things along those lines.

Who is your favourite onscreen politician?

Kinew: What is Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s character’s name in Veep? (It’s Selina Meyer.) Selina Meyer! She’s got my vote.

Lamont: Probably Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

Stefanson: “What was that series… House of Cards. I love House of Cards and the woman who takes over. What was her name? Not Meryl Streep. (It’s Robin Wright.) Yes! Her character’s name. (It’s Claire Underwood.) Yes, Claire!”

We have a new sports team, the Sea Bears. It has a mascot. What is the mascot’s name?

Kinew: I am in a photo with him on my Instagram so I should definitely know this.

Lamont: Ralph. No, I have no idea.

Stefanson: Oh my goodness. I’ve been to the games and it’s… Sea Bear. (He is a Sea Bear, but his name is Churchill.)

Where’s the best place you’ve eaten on the campaign trail?

Kinew: My wife and I celebrated our anniversary during the campaign trail so it wasn’t a campaign stop or anything like that. But we went to Sushi Ya on Corydon, which is my favourite sushi place.

Lamont: There’s a place right in St. Boniface called Nola, which is really incredible.

Stefanson: The most recent one I’ve been to, because it’s a go-to for our family, is Rae & Jerry’s.

You’re getting ice cream. Are you going to BDI or Sargent Sundae?

Kinew: I like BDI and it’s in my constituency too. Pretty proud to be the MLA there.

Lamont: I’d go to Sargent Sundae, actually, it’s my go-to.

Stefanson: BDI.

What’s your coffee order, and where are you getting it?

Kinew: Well, in most communities, I would just go to Tims and grab a double-double because you can get that everywhere in the province.

Lamont: Just a cappuccino from Café Postal in St. B.

Stefanson: It’s an almond milk latte from Starbucks.

How do you keep fit and have fun?

Kinew: In non-campaign times I’d like to play some sports, like hockey. Right now, I’m just doing some runs and bike rides and backyard weights.

Lamont: I have a pretty severe back injury so I walk.

Stefanson: I walk my dogs, because they certainly allow me to have a lot of fun and they walk me.

Do you play Wordle?

Kinew: No. My wife is really good at Scrabble and is so dominant that I’ve given up any Scrabble-type game.

Lamont: I do, yes.

Stefanson: No.

We’ll close with another slang term. Can you define Oxford’s Word of the Year in 2022, “goblin mode”?

Kinew: Goblin mode? Is it like… nah, I don’t even want to guess.

Lamont: Goblin mode. Yeah, it’s when somebody’s just really like freaking out and going crazy. Like in a video game. (It’s not.)

Stefanson: No.

*After I tell them that Goblin Mode is when you basically revert to a state of self-indulgence and laziness and live in your sweatpants, eat dinner directly out of the pot and just give up essentially*

Kinew: I have so many more questions.

Lamont: I totally disapprove of that.

Stefanson, laughing: Oh, well that sounds… great.

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jen.zoratti@winnipegfreepress.com