Each week, the Maclean’s politics team and Cormac MacSweeney sit down to hash out the week’s news in Ottawa. Expect incisive analysis and commentary, as well as interviews with the biggest newsmakers of the last seven days. This week we have interviews with House Government Leader Peter Van Loan and NDP Leader Tom Mulcair. John speaks with Olivia Chow, John and Aaron comment on the return of Parliament, Michael Petrou and Aaron talk about Stephen Harper’s trip to Israel, and Paul talks to economist Mike Moffatt about the iPod tax.

Cormac MacSweeney, Parliament Hill bureau chief for 1310 News

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THE HEADLINES

ON OLIVIA Does she want to run for mayor?

ON ISRAEL Harper’s misleading speech at the Knesset

ON THE IPOD TAX An economist is finally vindicated

ON HARPER, 24/7 The PM’s underwhelming week-in-review

ON CHRÉTIEN The former PM celebrates his 80th

SOUNDS OF CHRÉTIEN Seen and heard at the birthday bash

THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE WAR

The five-years-and-counting Keystone XL pipeline saga is among the highest-profile environmental controversies to engulf North America in the 21st century. It has bred mistrust between Ottawa and Washington, and led a wary Prime Minister to press for a historic turning away from our largest trading partner towards markets entire oceans away.

Yet even as its consequences mount, the full story of the Keystone XL dispute remains misunderstood. Attention has focused on Hollywood stars protesting the oil sands, and a standoff between Obama and Republicans over jobs and energy security. The storm around Keystone XL is remarkable not least because of where it began: in a thoroughly Republican state of rural conservatism Nebraska and with one tall, reserved rancher in particular who would become the face of the fight.

Maclean’s Washington Correspondent Luiza Ch. Savage reports on the untold story of the Keystone pipeline war and how one rancher has killed Canada’s oil sands dream.

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