Show Notes
Most voters know what a candidate promises. But how many know who is standing behind them? In this episode of The Watch Floor, Sarah Adams looks beyond the campaign slogans to examine the political coalitions forming around candidates in the 2026 elections. What starts with very real concerns about rent, housing, healthcare, wages, and affordability leads to a larger question: who else sees an opportunity in the political coalition those issues create? Following the trail from candidate endorsements to political organizing, Sarah examines the overlap between Democratic Socialists of America and CAIR Action in several races, then goes another layer down into federal court records, the Holy Land Foundation terrorism-financing case, and the documented history involving CAIR, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Hamas. The point isn't to tell you who to vote for. It's to remind you to look past the candidate, understand the coalition helping put them in power, and ask what everyone in that coalition hopes to gain when they win.
More from The Watch Floor with Sarah Adams
What makes someone embrace violent extremism? What does it take to walk away from it? And how do we prevent the next generation from being recruited? In this episode of The Watch Floor, former CIA Targeting Officer Sarah Adams sits down with Mubin Shaikh, a former Islamist extremist who became an undercover counterterrorism operative and helped dismantle one of Canada's most significant domestic terrorist plots, the Toronto 18. Mubin takes us inside his extraordinary journey, from growing up between two very different worlds in Canada and traveling to Pakistan, where he encountered the Taliban, to embracing radical ideology and eventually rejecting it. He explains how he went from being part of extremist circles to working with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), infiltrating a terrorist network planning attacks on Canadian soil. But this conversation goes beyond his undercover work. We examine how radicalization happens, why young people are particularly vulnerable to extremist recruitment, how terrorist organizations exploit the internet, and what actually works when it comes to countering violent extremism. Today, Mubin works to prevent radicalization and help individuals leave extremist movements, including through his involvement with Parents for Peace, an organization providing families, communities, and professionals with the tools and support needed to recognize warning signs and intervene before violence occurs. This is a conversation about the realities of radicalization, the intelligence work required to stop terrorist attacks, and why prevention must be part of the counterterrorism mission. LEARN MORE AND SUPPORT THE MISSION Parents for Peace: https://www.parents4peace.org/ Parents for Peace offers confidential support to families concerned about radicalization, along with intervention services, education, and training to help prevent violent extremism. READ MUBIN SHAIKH'S BOOK Undercover Jihadi: Inside the Toronto 18 An account of his journey through radicalization, his undercover intelligence work, and the terrorist plot he helped disrupt. Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NMR9T46
Is Canada doing enough to confront the terrorist threat, and what has the West failed to learn from more than two decades of counterterrorism operations? This week on The Watch Floor, I’m joined by Phil Gurski, a 32-year veteran of Canada’s intelligence community, former analyst with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and Communications Security Establishment (CSE), author, and host of Canadian Intelligence Eh! We discuss his newest book, 9/11: The Unfinished Battle, and why the threat from jihadist terrorism is far from over. Our conversation examines the terrorist threat facing Canada, the consequences of releasing convicted terrorists back into society, the role of social networks in radicalization, and how accusations of Islamophobia can complicate legitimate terrorism investigations. We also discuss the loss of experienced intelligence professionals, the consequences of Western counterterrorism policies, and why understanding how terrorist organizations recruit, operate, and adapt remains critical to preventing future attacks. Phil brings decades of intelligence experience and a Canadian perspective to a threat that extends well beyond Canada's borders. Learn More About Phil Gurski 📖 Buy Phil's New Book: 9/11: The Unfinished Battle: Why Jihadi Terrorism Is Stronger, Wider, and Far From Over https://a.co/d/06MexgNF 🎙️ Listen to Canadian Intelligence Eh! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4NTG9pHoct7Rtuhq0cXmsY Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/canadian-intelligence-eh/id1455756173 Podcast Archive: https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/category/podcast/ Connect with Phil Website: https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/ X: https://twitter.com/borealissaves LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
How safe are our schools, and are we doing enough to protect the children inside them? In this episode of The Watch Floor, I sit down with Wayne Black, a veteran security expert and author of School Insecurity, to discuss what effective school security actually looks like and where schools are falling short. Wayne brings more than 45 years of experience in law enforcement, protective security, and threat assessments. He previously served as Security Advisor and Protection Detail Leader for former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, led security assessments for the Department of Homeland Security, and has conducted protective operations and threat assessments around the world. We discuss the importance of keeping attackers outside school buildings, why security cameras alone are not enough, the role of behavioral threat assessments, and why training and preparation matter long before an emergency occurs. As Wayne explains, “The side with the best plan wins.” School safety requires more than technology, policies, and good intentions. It requires identifying vulnerabilities, understanding threats, and developing plans that work when they are needed most. Learn more about Wayne Black: https://www.wayneblack.com Get his book, School Insecurity: https://a.co/d/03U6plc5
In this episode of The Watch Floor, I sit down with Steven Al Ebadi, a U.S. Army veteran, former intelligence officer, combat linguist, and journalist whose career includes supporting U.S. Army Special Operations Forces, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and the FBI. We discuss his journey from Iraq to serving alongside U.S. forces, the experiences that shaped his career, and his work in intelligence and journalism. Our conversation also covers the consequences of decisions made during the Iraq War, the threats he has faced, and his reporting on the war in Ukraine. Follow Steven Al Ebadi: X: https://x.com/Alladdin1983 Substack: https://substack.com/@alladdin1983 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StevenAlEbadi
What would you do if someone opened fire outside your church? Would you recognize signs of a potential threat? And if your children were in Sunday school when an emergency started, would you know how they were being protected? In this episode of The Watch Floor, former CIA Targeting Officer Sarah Adams walks through the threats facing churches and religious communities, from terrorism and targeted violence to suspicious surveillance, theft, arson, and threatening individuals. Drawing on real attacks and her experience briefing churches on security, Sarah explains what warning signs to recognize, when to report suspicious activity, and how to make decisions when a threat becomes an emergency. The episode also covers protecting children's ministries, responding to an active shooter, handling suspicious packages, medical preparedness, and the steps churches can take now to protect their congregations. This is a practical episode for churchgoers, pastors, volunteers, and security teams to save, share, and revisit. Because recognizing a threat is only the beginning. Knowing what to do next could save lives.