Today's News: Getting a grip - on the scattered complexity of US wars now, and on the impact of the Liberal majority

From Phillips's Newsletter 

Getting a Grip on all of Trump's Wars?

Our son follows a "This Week in World War 2" podcast and when I hear it I am struck by the scattered complexity of that war - events going on simultaneously in theatres in Europe, Ukraine, Greece, the Baltics, Libya, Africa, Europe, the Philippines, India-Burma, Hong-Kong, on the Atlantic and Pacific.
I'm feeling like that now -- we seem to be reaching a level of scattered complexity in today's conflicts too, where I find it all too nonsensical and its increasingly hard to keep track of how they affect Canada in some manner or that Canada is dealing with-- we have the Russia-Ukraine War, Israel-Hamas/Gaza War, Trump's tariff wars, US-Venezuela War, the US-Israel-Iran War, Lebanon-Israel War, and the US blockade of Cuba. 

I also think that America's ICE Gestapo are making war on the American people, with raids, arrests with no warrants, disappearances, and concentration camps now being built across the United States.

And Trump seems to be declaring war against the Pope now too.
So maybe its just me, but I am finding it increasingly difficult to get a grip on what is going on with all of Trump's wars -- I don't spend all day on social media, so when I open it up I often see that he has announced something, or lied about doing something else, then I realize it already got changed, or everybody just ignored it, or something just fell apart again.

When it comes to the Iran War, I can't follow whether Hormuz is open, or closed, or partly open, or closed for some countries, or open only for China, or something else. And I don't know if the Houthis are also blocking Red Sea shipping. According to Phillips P. OBrien - see the illustration above - the financial markets aren't taking Trump very seriously anymore.

Apparently Europe is due to run out of aviation fuel in six weeks. So what happens next?
Is Venezuela OK? Is anyone helping Gaza now? Is Cuba getting any supplies? Will American concentration camps be operational before the midterms or can individual communities stop them? Will American immigrants try to escape to Canada, and will the Carney government be merciful or cruel?
I just read in the New York Times that there is going to be a cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon (gift link) and maybe also Hezbollah. And talks are on-going between the US and Iran, I guess, though Hegseth is still blustering about bombing.
I'm pretty sure Trump or Hegseth can screw this up somehow:

Via REUTERS: “A Pakistani security source told Reuters: A deal between the US and Iran is close, with talks in their final phase. Backchannel diplomacy via Pakistan is ongoing, alongside direct contact between technical teams. He said that next round will be more of a deal signing ceremony.”

- Yashar Ali

Read on Substack

And about those financial markets:

Apparently the dudes behind the biggest financial institutions in the world follow absolutely no news except the few Truth Social posts that make it to Fox.

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— 🗽LOLGOP🗽 (@thefarce.org) April 16, 2026 at 7:33 PM

Stock markets represent the combined judgements of millions of investors with a fearsome interest in being right. My judgement is just stuff I think. It is obvious that I should be extremely cautious in dismissing the judgements of markets. Which is why I say the following only a soft mutter not intended to be heard by others: The markets have lost their flipping minds.

- Dan Gardner

Read on Substack

Today's News: Carney and his majority know how to play this game

Cartoon by Greg Parry, The Tyee

I don't have a lengthy post tonight, but I saw some very good clips today about Carney and his new majority government so I thought I would share them.

First, Carney and Poilievre were jousting in the House on Wednesday and I think Carney unhorsed him.

View on Threads

Good reads: about Carney, about Elbows Up, about Trump, about Iran, plus other interesting stuff like Bieber and cabbages and character and Google

The Bookworm Carl Spitzweg 1850 

I found several "good reads" today and a few good posts too, so I thought I would share them.

About Carney

View on Threads

Today's News: Carney gets his majority, Mamdani does the right stuff, while Trump just trips over his own big mouth. Plus Epstein-Gate Update and Canada Good News

Mark Carney is showing the world how to do politics better:

View on Threads

The CBC At Issue panel tonight couldn't find much to criticize about Carney's wins - except for their lingering regret that they won't have an election campaign to talk about for four more years! 

And they also couldn't resist speculating if Poilievre would wise up. 

My prediction: Not!

Sunday Funday: What a week, more funny stuff, Getting Old(er), Carney Hat-Trick, TrumpWatch, Animal Crackers

What a week

View on Threads

A bit of humor for you to brighten your day.

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— Texas Paul (@realtexaspaul.com) April 11, 2026 at 11:41 AM

Today's News: Moon Joy comes down to earth, plus some good sports stories, Poilievre's political obit, and Canada Good News

They're back! Hooray!

They're back! Damn...
Because for a few days we had Moon Joy. But now that the astronauts are safely back, its back to doomscrolling I guess. When I saw this Finding Nemo photo 🠅 on Threads tonight, it really spoke to my mood right now.
But that said, everyone was glad to see them safe:

View on Threads

View on Threads

Today's News: Whither the Liberals?, Melania talk, Trump talk, Iran War talk, Pope Leo talk, Artemis II Briefing, and Hot Daddy Summer

MP Gladu enters Liberal Party Conversion Therapy, by Graeme MacKay 

"Whither the Liberals?" after the Gladu crossing 

The At Issue panel tonight (with Rob Shaw from CHEK TV Victoria)

TLDW: "If Gladu is accessible to the Liberals, then who isn't?" 

But the CBC At Issue panel persists in discussing "whither the Liberals?" in an academic way - they still don't seem to where Carney is coming from or where he is going. He is saving Canada from Trump, and nothing else actually matters. To get a majority government so he can get his agenda passed without having to negotiate, then he'll do whatever it takes.

View on Threads

Today's News: Comics roundup, Liberal majority nears, Iran ceasefire ceases, Pope Leo won't be silenced, plus Carney talks to Artemis II

Comic roundup
I found lots of good comics about Wednesday's events.

Today's News: It used to be called "brinksmanship" but now its just called TACO Tuesday. Plus Artemis II Briefing

It used to be called "brinksmanship"

What Trump did to the world on Tuesday used to be called "brinksmanship" during the Cold War.
Now its just called TACO Tuesday.
It was a stupid and dangerous tactic then, and its even more stupid and dangerous now - Trump is nuts himself and he is surrounded by sycophants whose actions he cannot anticipate or control. Iran is just as desperate.
It was a terrible, frightening day.

This post has plot twists, cliffhangers, and no adult supervision.

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— 𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕖 𝔾𝕦𝕣𝕝 (@sundaedivine.lol) April 7, 2026 at 6:46 AM

Today's News: Rumours of floor-crossings, plus Artemis II Briefing and Canada Good News

Rumours of floor-crossings 

Ten might be crossing the floor? Wow. I would expect that idiotic "justify your shadow cabinet job" email didn't go over very well.

View on Threads

View on Threads

Sunday Funday: Happy Easter and other good stuff, plus posts about Getting Old(er), Artemis II Briefing, Carney Hat Trick, TrumpWatch, Animal Crackers

In honour of Easter weekend, a bunch of "Last Supper" pictures.

First, the original, by DaVinci:

Next, the tributes:

House MD

Mel Brooks:

Lost season 6 cast:

The Sopranos:

Weekly Wrap-up: On Poilievre and his inept leadership, On NATO and Trump, plus some Canada Good News and Friday's Artemis II Briefing

About Poilievre and his inept leadership 

Two months ago, people predicted that Poilievre would win his leadership vote but actually be weakened by his experience. Now, that is proving to be the case. Stunts like flying to Europe and chatting with Joe Rogan aren't impressing his colleagues, and neither is his leadership style.

Althia Raj

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is shuffling his deck, sending Elon Musk-style letters to his shadow ministers asking them to prove their worth.
Monday’s email was referred to by one Conservative as “DOGE-like” — a reference to Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” which sent emails to U.S. federal government workers last year demanding that they list their past week’s accomplishments or resign.
This email from Poilievre’s office was met with a shrug by some, but others saw it as insulting — and further proof their leader is out of touch with his caucus.
“It’s ridiculous!” said one MP, among several granted anonymity to speak candidly about internal party affairs. “There’s a lot of malcontents.”
“Pierre has two good weeks in a year and he’s back to default mode of, ‘Prove yourself every five minutes,’” said another MP. “If you are going to do a shuffle, just do one. Don’t play this stupid game.”
The email to Conservative shadow ministers asked them to give examples of their best social media posts, media interviews, and examples of how they have public reach in their portfolios. It also asked if they were still interested in remaining in their roles.
For those who aren’t among Poilievre’s favourite few, the need to showcase media interviews they weren’t given permission to give was seen as particularly bewildering. Even those who don’t believe they’ll be shuffled were annoyed by the exercise and the message it sent.
It’s the latest expression of frustration from Poilievre’s caucus. Since January’s convention in Calgary, which was intended to settle the leadership question — Poilievre received 87.4 per cent of delegate support — the mood internally is bleak, described by several as “dispirited.”
Many Tory MPs have concluded their leader will never win, that he cannot offer an alternative proposal to the one Canadians already rejected.
“How much time and effort do you put into a leader who can’t win?” asked a third MP.
“They’ve got no strategy,” concluded another caucus member.
Conservative MPs are tired of sitting in opposition benches....

Today's News: Conservatives talking - Ford, Poilievre and Scheer. Plus Artemis II Briefing and good news about Ayla Lucas

Conservatives talking

A lot of the news I read today was just various Conservatives talking. So here they are:

Doug Ford
Thursday in the Toronto Star

Premier Doug Ford is appealing for political “certainty” in Canada ahead of contentious trade negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ford, in Texas on a trade mission to promote Ontario, stressed “it was the right move” when he called an early Ontario election last year to give his government a stronger hand against Trump.
“Again, it goes back to certainty,” the premier told the Star in a wide-ranging interview Thursday.
“It’s no different than the federal government. They have three byelections, and if they win them, then they’ll have a majority. And again, a magical word in both countries is everyone wants certainty. Everyone wants to move forward,” said Ford. That was a reference to byelections in Toronto’s University—Rosedale and Scarborough Southwest and the suburban Montreal-area riding of Terrebonne on April 13.
Prime Minister Mark Carney will secure a majority government if his Liberals win two of the three.
Should they sweep all three, the governing party would not need Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia to break a tie vote in the Commons.
“I just believe in majority governments,” said Ford, noting his Progressive Conservatives have won three in a row at Queen’s Park.
“As far as I’m concerned Prime Minister Carney is a good man. He’s a very astute business person. He’s a sharp guy,” he said, noting their relationship got off to a great start 13 months ago over breakfast at Wally’s Grill in the premier’s Etobicoke North riding.
“I’ll never forget when I met him the first time, the first words out of his mouth: ‘I’m more conservative than you.’ And I said: ‘well that sounds good.’”...
While the Tory premier — who has had his differences with federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre — insisted he was agnostic in the byelections, he expressed hope the Bloc Québécois does “absolutely not” prevail in Terrebonne....

Today's News: Do Trump and Miller and Poilievre ever get tired of losing? Plus, April Fools, Kit-Kat Kaper, The Launch! and Canada Good News

February 28:

April 1:

Will Trump ever get tired of losing?

Sent this free piece out yesterday morning, but Trump's speech confirmed it. Trump is stuck in Iran. He would like to leave, but as of now he cannot because Iran will not do what he wants. So, all he can do is babble and possibly escalate. Plus it helps Putin, so for Trump that's good.

- Phillips P. OBrien

Read on Substack

Today's News: The comedians will save us; Canada Good News; Epstein Scandal-Gate; Trans Day of Visibility

The comedians will save us all!

Anyone else notice this? Mainstream journalists have forgotten their duty to speak truth to power. It is why it is one of the rights written into the Constitution. Political cartoonists are the real and true heroes of the moment.

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— Mark T. Sneed (@marktsneed.bsky.social) March 30, 2026 at 4:01 AM