The Stupid! It Burns!

First, the most serious story today in Canada was the Alberta wildfires -- and I'm not sure whether this newest development is stupid, or criminal, or maybe both, but tonight there were reports that even though the Alberta wildfires continue to burn, some municipalities will be allowing evacuated people to return to their homes in spite of the risk:

In Alberta, residents evacuated from wildfires are being told they must return home and "live with fires" in a clear parallel to covid messaging. Covid infection propaganda has opened the door, enabling dangers formerly considered intolerable to be recast as inescapable https://t.co/xhjnbYgcBW

— Nate Bear (@NateB_Panic) May 11, 2023

WATCH: The decision in one #AB county to send wildfire evacuees back home - and the calculated risks they must take. That is our story for @CBCTheNational: https://t.co/3u2DeFWjx8

— Julia Wong (@JuliaWongCBC) May 11, 2023

And in spite of the irrational anger from this rancher at this meeting in Grande Prairie, I did think he had a point about how he needs better communications from the municipality to show whether livestock is at risk, etc:

Meanwhile, in Grande Prairie…

“You can’t keep us out of the evacuation zone, this is just like COVID and we’re not going to listen, put your efforts into posting pictures (not fighting the fires) or we’re gonna go in, what are you gonna do?”#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/PseFKr4LWT

— The Breakdown (@TheBreakdownAB) May 9, 2023

Because if Covid has taught us anything, it is the importance of improving communications between government and people.

Next, the goofiest and least serious story in Canada today was the passport design kerfluffle -- another ridiculous rage-farming attempt by Poilievre and the boys to get everybody riled up against Trudeau!

In the US, a presidential candidate was found to have sexually assaulted a woman in a department store, a Nazi death squad devotee murdered kids in a mall, & a Congressman is arrested for fraud—

Meanwhile in 🇨🇦, we changed our passport illustrations

— Sandy Garossino 🇨🇦🌻 (@Garossino) May 10, 2023

VIDEO of new Canadian passport features. #Canada 🍁🇨🇦

Announcing the new Canadian passport design! https://t.co/Rqvl61ZYSE via @YouTube

— Cheryl in Nova Scotia 🍁🇨🇦🦞 (@mini_bubbly) May 10, 2023

Part of the "controversy" was actually funny:

Canada has unveiled a new design to the Canadian Passport.

My first thoughts are that it’s too big.. pic.twitter.com/t6sM3oXkxx

— David C (@DGCroadguy) May 10, 2023

Absolutely loving all the "The passport is too big" jokes. Don't stop. https://t.co/Mnra1EJ0nP

— Les Perreaux (@perreaux) May 10, 2023

But then Jen Gerson and Andrew Coyne and even The Legion got sucked into the CPC outrage machine. They should be feeling a little embarrassed about how easily they were played.

Jen Gerson: the definitive voice of design in Canada.

Alternative position: partisan hack rage-farmer.

You decide. #cdnmediafailed #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/kwLNyic6UQ

— David Brown (@OrbitStudios) May 10, 2023

And that was the day that Andrew Coyne morphed into Rex Murphy. https://t.co/3LidG6GpLx

— CC (@canadiancynic) May 10, 2023

Yes the change of a passport is the most important thing we need to be discussing right now🤦‍♀️ #PierrePoilievreIsAbsurd

— C__Dill🌷🇨🇦🇺🇦🏳️‍🌈 (@19Mensch63) May 10, 2023

#BREAKING:

The Liberal government has added an optional image to the new passport design to ensure conservatives feel included:#cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/NZemcOIHR2

— Dean from Winnipeg (@Dean_Winnipeg) May 10, 2023

BREAKING: Newly designed Canadian passport erases country's passport-based history learning system

— Walking Eagle News (@TheEagleist) May 10, 2023

Everyone had already forgotten about this, but people complained 10 years ago about the passport design that was introduced then, too, when the Harper government redesigned it -- and that was because they added way too much white settler history.

People complain about a new passport design every time. It's nothing new. https://t.co/CGRbGMeLoN

— Derek (@TorcityD) May 10, 2023

Finally, tonight was the Trump "town hall" on CNN - and it is now time to revive #ETTD (Everything Trump Touches Dies) because that is what will happen to CNN:

So as I scrolled through hashtags, trending topics and replies tonight, I noticed three distinct groups of people.

The largest group was absolutely appalled that @CNN would allow this dangerous lie-fest, and extremely disappointed in @kaitlancollins. CNN angered their viewers.

— Khashoggi’s Ghost 🇺🇦🌻 (@UROCKlive1) May 11, 2023

Regardless of which group you may relate to, it seemed pretty certain that @CNN did themselves no favors tonight, and whatever the ratings for their townhall turn out to be, I'd be willing to bet their overall viewership goes down over the next few weeks.

— Khashoggi’s Ghost 🇺🇦🌻 (@UROCKlive1) May 11, 2023

Trump will do for CNN what he’s done to all of his other businesses. https://t.co/sVxpmDJTBg

— Tea Pain (@TeaPainUSA) May 11, 2023

American media always seem to think that THIS time they will be able to hold Trump to account!
No reporter has ever done it, bc he doesn't consider himself accountable for anything he says.
It's like interviewing a lizard, & watching him flick out his tongue to catch flies.

— Cathie from Canada 🇨🇦 😷🏳️‍🌈 (@CathieCanada) May 11, 2023

The more I read about what is happening in the United States, the more I worry about it:

I can't stop staring at this map.
There's a 20 year gap in life expectancy between deep red areas of the US, like the southeast, and blue areas like New England. Your lifespan in the US relates directly to where you live and how it's governed. https://t.co/44nXMocc4o

— Ethan Zuckerman (@EthanZ) May 9, 2023