Mayson

I asked the White House what the U.S. President wants to see in order for trade talks with Canada to resume. I was sent this statement:

This was the journey behind our reporting trip to #Chad Navigating red tape, costly travel, and complex logistics underscored how difficult it is for journalists to reach places like this - to document the impact of the war in #Sudan Read our piece @TheAtlantic @anneapplebaum 📽️@caitlinkells

This piece wound up being published on Canada Day, by pure coincidence. I might have added one final observation, had I known. A decade-plus abroad has ways of affecting how you see your own country. Here’s a personal example: When I moved to the US, I prepared by reading the biographies of 7 or 8 American presidents, 2 books on the development of the US constitution, and 1 on presidents’ executive powers. To understand the institutions I was covering. To my enduring regret, I did not do this before moving to Ottawa, earlier in my career. No cramming on Baldwin-La Fontaine, responsible government, parliamentary democracy, or the confederation debates. And in that, sadly, I’m probably quite typical. We’re citizens of a country that doesn’t know, or tell, its own story very well. If I could start all over again, that’s one thing I would change. Because there’s a corrosive consequence of this tendency: A country that too often defines itself by its neighbour, as a negative image of that neighbour; for better or worse, depending on the topic or on the speaker, as “Not The U.S.” I increasingly came to detest that over a decade abroad — seeing that brand of nationalism as destructive and self-defeating, as a drag on our politics and policy debates. We would chuckle when we saw Canadian politicians doing something strictly to emulate, or to repudiate, the Americans, depending on the circumstances. But that impulse makes sense — if voters know the U.S. story better than their own, that story will shape our politics. So that’s what I’m thinking this Canada Day. Of adding a few volumes to my library that should’ve been there years ago.

Preliminary US report says bombing sealed off entrances to two Iranian sites but did not collapse underground buildings, meaning nuclear program set back only a few months. @julianbarnes @helenecooper @EricSchmittNYT @ronenbergman @maggieNYT @jonathanvswan nytimes.com/2025/06/24/us/…

Canadian ambassador says there's a 'good path forward' to a trade deal with the U.S. cbc.ca/news/politics/… Find out more at nationalnewswatch.com

One of the nice things about appearing on Canadian TV is that we get to slow down and dig in for more than a soundbite. And so if you're trying to figure out how to make sense of the economic news from the past few days, this might be helpful: youtu.be/bWLMWRZPQaA?t=…

The White House has handed a paper list of all the specific tariff rates for other countries to be hit by reciprocal tariffs — Canada is not mentioned on paper. HOWEVER Trump has also announced a new 10% baseline tariff which could apply to Canada (or at least seems so).

Mark Carney to speak after being sworn in as Canada’s 24th prime minister #cdnpoli

Justin Trudeau's annual Christmas message encourages Canadians to give thanks for "all that is good in the world" and check in on those who have not had an easy time this year. cbc.ca/news/politics/…

Hong Kong police on Tuesday announced a fresh round of arrest warrants for six activists based overseas — including two Canadian citizens — with bounties set at $185,000 for information leading to their arrests. cbc.ca/1.7418476

Insurgents in Syria advance towards Damascus | Power & Politics. @CBCNews - Canada My commentary last night. youtu.be/aPZoSUwK-NM?si… via @YouTube

NEW -- since the fall of #Hama yesterday, #Syria is witnessing extraordinary developments. #Assad's future now looks VERY much in question. A 🧵:

Ukraine cleared to use armour donated by Canada on Russian territory. #cdnpoli #RussiaUkraineWar cbc.ca/news/politics/…

Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, Paul Whelan. Free. Amazing. #IStandWithEvan

The Bank of Canada cuts by 25 basis points

Moscow court rejects latest appeal by detained WSJ reporter goodmorningamerica.com/news/video/mos… via @GMA

A big thanks to @MaysonMaharaj and the team from @PnPCBC for inviting me to yet another fantastic Parliamentary Press Gallery Dinner 🙌 With increased threats to journalists worldwide and cuts to the industry in 🇨🇦, a robust and free media has never been more important #cdnpoli

The Canadian Embassy in Damascus was damaged in an Israeli air strike that killed two Iranian generals. No 🇨🇦 staff were present. So far, neither Canadian nor Israeli officials will say whether Israel warned Canada in advance of the deadly strike. cbc.ca/news/politics/…

It’s Monday, April 1, 2024. WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich was detained by the FSB Mar 29, 2023. One year and three days ago 'I'm in awe of my brother,' Danielle told CBC ca.news.yahoo.com/im-awe-brother… JOURNALISM IS NOT A CRIME FREE EVAN NOW! #IStandWithEvan

U.S. special envoy hopeful for deal to free Evan Gershkovich from Russia in next 90 days - YouTube youtube.com/watch?v=ku4ZDT…