We have a new trade war between America and Canada. America and Canada are cultural and economic allies, and now we have this historic trade war. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Canada is at war with America on trade. There has been the ending of weeks of talks with the Trump administration over Trump's move to impose a 50 percent tariff on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, representing 5 percent of the $380 billion in Canadian exports to America. Canada is America's closest trading partner. This trade war benefits China as China has a massive economic power involved in the world like China's important exports to America. America, invoked for the first time, a provision of the 1930 Tariff Act, (or the Smoot-Hawley Act), which played a destructive role in the trade wars of the 1930s. This policy contributed to the Great Depression.
Carney ended discussions with America after the U.S. side introduced last minute changes that Canada viewed as unfair. Doug Ford, the hard right Tory premier of Ontario, a center of Canadian industry gave support for Carney's strong response. Trump indirectly wanted Canada to be the 51st state if it wants to avoid U.S. tariffs. Even the conservative Wall Street Journal criticized Trump's tariffs against Canada and Mexico. This trade war and Trump's obsession with tariff will cause more economic problems as tariffs raise costs, lay off customers, and increase the price of goods and services. The Iranian War has elevated inflation too as imperialism has economically devastating consequences. We are opposed the MAGA agenda of economic warfare against sovereign countries that doesn't benefit America either.
Trump has an obsession with silencing his critics. The Paramount-Warner Brothers proposed merger is still going on. Trump tried to silence Jon Stewart and John Oliver. Now, Larry Ellison (one of the wealthiest people in America) and his son David are close to deciding whether to promote the merger or not. California Attorney General Rob Bonita sued over the merger, alleging it violated a century-old antitrust law. His lawsuit is joined by 11 other state Attorneys Generals and the Writers' Guild of America. Trump want Allison to control a giant media monopoly, including CBS News, CNN, Comedy Central, HBO, and even TikTok (where 1 out of 5 American now get their news) to try to silence criticism of Trump. The Ellisons control much of CBS, CBS News, etc. We don't desire media monopoly to deciding our views. CBS's 60 Minutes fired Scott Pelley, because he and other senior producers refused to align with the Trump MAGA agenda. Trump has attacked CNN, including its reporters, with incentive and disrespect. Trump's puppet, Pete Hegseth, criticized CNN for reporting that the Trump administration underestimated Iran's ability to disrupt global oil traffic by closing the Strait of Hormuz. We have about $40 trillion debt (by lending the government money with bond money instead of paying the government high taxes) because many of the super-rich promote trickle-down economics that allow the super-rich to record profits and the working class, poor, etc. to experience a rough experience.
The meeting between Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of Trump and one of his closest advisers, is bizarre. They held this meeting at a private space in New York City, offered up by a mutual friend of the two men. The New York Times reported that the meeting dealt with finding common ground on domestic issues like housing, immigration, and the cost of living, as well as foreign policy issues. Kushner has met with Netanyahu, Hamas, the Saudi Crown Prince, and the Iranians. This meeting shows that some members of both major parties have worked together on many issues. There is a concern that such meetings will promote a corporate status quo instead of true human liberation. This meeting shows the higher than 50 percent chance of having a Democratic-led House. If this is a reality, Jeffries could be the House Majority Speaker. While this is going on, Trump wants to promote a national security emergency if necessary to try to steal the 2026 midterm elections. We can't do business with a fascist Trump regime who laws have cut benefits and harmed many lives in America.
Yesterday was the passing of Dolly Parton. She was one of the major architects of modern-day country music. She had flair, charisma, and compassion for fellow human beings. For decades, she earned accolades like 11 Grammy Awards, three Emmy Awards, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. Yet, her greatest accomplishments revolve around her using programs and other avenues to help the sick, show compassion to the hurting, and be humble in her gifts and talents. She lived in Tennessee, and she loved her home state of Tennessee, because Tennessee has some of the greatest home-and-country spirit in American society. From the people to the food, Tennessee is one major part of American culture. From the 1960s to the 2020s, she made music and even worked with Beyoncé on her Cowboy Carter album. She promoted feminism and has been on movies to promote that ideal like 9 to 5 in 1980. A lot of people don't know that she can play the dulcimer, autoharp, guitar, banjo, electric guitar, fiddle, piano, recorder, and saxophone. In our time of great political polarization, the vast majority of Americans give great credit to Dolly Parton's contributions to country music and philanthropy. Therefore, in this imperfect world, we should be much humbler and more compassionate with each other while standing up for our core values of integrity, strength, justice, and liberty for all.
I send my condolences to the family and fans of Dolly Parton.
By Timothy
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