Today's News: International Women's Day, some good Canadian stuff, latest on the US/Israel War, and Paralympics Catch-up

Sunday was International Women's Day - enjoy these:

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And here's a great thread story:

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And from the comments to this thread:

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Some good Canadian stuff

So I asked Threads to change my algorithm to give me more Canadian stuff.  Here are some of the posts they sent me, plus some other Canadian news:

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I hadn't realized this was nation-wide now:

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Since the members were elected and sworn in last year, the first full sitting is officially underway for Nunavut’s new Legislative Assembly.

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— APTN News (@aptnnews.bsky.social) March 9, 2026 at 5:35 PM

An update on the US/Israel War Against Iran:
Trump's usual pattern is this.

🤷🏼

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— The Tennessee Holler (@thetnholler.bsky.social) March 9, 2026 at 6:03 PM

So maybe Trump is shutting it down early:

Thesis, antithesis, synthesis

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— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw.bsky.social) March 9, 2026 at 8:11 PM

Or maybe not:

Trump is upbeat while the stock market is trading, but suddenly pessimistic when it closes. This is brazen market manipulation.

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— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@mrsbettybowers.bsky.social) March 9, 2026 at 7:21 PM

So… mission accomplished then ?

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— The Tennessee Holler (@thetnholler.bsky.social) March 9, 2026 at 11:50 AM

Even if you hated the Supreme Leader, if a foreign power bombed your cities, destroyed your infrastructure, killed hundreds of your country’s children in schools (and refused to apologize), turned the sky into black oily rain, and unleashed chaos and crime in your neighborhood by bombing police stations … how on earth would you or could you rise up and risk your life to support the American and Israeli monsters who are doing this kind of thing? Who are openly bragging about their ability to bring “death and destruction?” Did anyone think any of this through at all?

- Andrew Sullivan

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Because the White House made a ridiculous "warrior" video, Iran has replied:

Meme war.

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— Duane Bratt🇨🇦 (@duanebratt.bsky.social) March 9, 2026 at 9:13 AM

Heather Cox Richardson writes in her March 9, 2026 post:

It has become clear that Trump had no plan in Iran other than to strike it, knock out the leaders he didn’t like, and hope the Iranian people would rise up and put in place new leaders he could deal with. It was supposed to look like what happened in Venezuela in January,...
Andrew Egger of The Bulwark explains that the Trump administration didn’t bother to have a theory for why the U.S. was going to war with Iran, or to explain to the American people why such a war would be a good thing, because they didn’t think there was going to be a war, just a fast, hard strike that would enable the U.S. to put a new Iranian leader in place.
But the initial Israeli strikes killed most of the people the administration hoped would replace 86-year-old hardline ayatollah Ali Khamenei as supreme leader, and yesterday Iran proclaimed as his successor Khamenei’s 56-year-old son Mojtaba Khamenei despite Trump’s statement that “Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me.” Mojtaba Khamenei is thought to be even more extreme a hardliner than his father....
Wall Street Journal national security reporter Alex Ward reported today that according to current and former U.S. officials, “President Trump has told aides he would back the killing of new Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei if he proves unwilling to cede to U.S. demands, such as ending Iran’s nuclear development.”
This morning, Joe Wallace, Summer Said, Rebecca Feng, and Georgi Kantchev of the Wall Street Journal wrote an article titled “The Long-Feared Persian Gulf Oil Squeeze Is Upon Us,” warning that the stoppage of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has set off “the most severe energy crisis since the 1970s and [is] threatening the global economy.” Ships move not only oil but also fertilizer used for crops around the globe through that strait...
....once the market had closed, Trump changed his tune, telling House Republicans, “We have won in many ways, but not enough. We go forward more determined than ever to achieve ultimate victory that will end this long-running danger once and for all.” When asked at a later news conference if the war would be over this week, Mr. Trump said, “No.”
This evening, Trump’s account posted: “If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far. Additionally, we will take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again—Death, Fire, and Fury will reign [sic] upon them—But I hope, and pray, that it does not happen! This is a gift from the United States of America to China, and all of those Nations that heavily use the Hormuz Strait. Hopefully, it is a gesture that will be greatly appreciated.”
Aaron Rupar of Public Notice commented: “Trump is completely flailing. He didn’t anticipate the economic blowback and now he’s trying to undo the past 10 days and contain the damage.”

And there is still a huge debate in social media about whether dozens of US troops have been killed or captured. The reports don't seem credible, though I am now wondering why Trump spoke to Putin for an hour on Monday. 

Also, a useful exchange in the House of Commons:

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand responds to Michael Chong’s accusation that the government has issued contradictory statements about joint U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran.

- Scott Robertson

Read on Substack

Paralympics Catch-up

Sunday:

THREE MORE MEDALS FOR CANADA INCLUDING THEIR FIRST GOLD 🍁 🥇 Natalie Wilkie wins GOLD in Women’s Individual Standing 🥈 Mark Arendz wins SILVER in Men’s Individual Standing 🥉 Tyler Turner wins BRONZE in Men’s Snowboard Cross SB-LL1 #MilanoCortina2026 | #Paralympics

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— TSN (@tsnofficial.bsky.social) March 8, 2026 at 9:51 AM

Biathlon gold for Natalie Wilkie

Mark Arendz silver Biathlon individual, standing

Tyler Turner bronze in Snowboard cross


Monday:

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Kalle Ericksson and guide Sierra Smith, Bronze in Men's visually impaired Super-G


More posts about the Paralympics: 

Canada scores SIX in one end against Norway thanks to amazing shot by Jon Thurston on Sunday - the best curling shot you will ever see!

Olympic curling: elaborate sweeping operation to tweak the path of the thrown rock, constant screaming, plus an earth-shaking controversy about tapping the rocks post-release to influence direction Paralympic curling: just huckin it down there, don't see what the big deal is, works just fine

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— Rodger Sherman (@rodger.bsky.social) March 9, 2026 at 7:42 AM

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A fascinating video showing how Ericksson and Smith visualize the course:

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