The Canadian Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, won the Canadian election on Tuesday, after the Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, had held a <a href="https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca/poilievre-opens-25-point-lead-over-trudeau-being-best-equipped-deal-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">25-point lead</a> among decided voters in December.
As of Tuesday morning, the Liberal party won 154 seats with 43.5% of the vote. Despite not winning the election, Poilievre’s Conservatives achieved their best result in years, <a href="https://enr.elections.ca/National.aspx?lang=e">garnering</a> 41.4% of the vote and adding 20 seats. However, Poilievre lost his seat in Parliament, which could jeopardize his role as leader of the Conservative Party.
An Ipsos poll conducted last December found that the Conservative Party garnered 20% of the vote, while the Liberals, led by then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, tied with the New Democratic Party (NDP) at 20%. At the time, the Liberals had the lowest share of the popular vote since 2011. But by mid-April, a Nanos poll showed the Liberals leading by six percentage points.
Poilievre’s lead in the polls shrank as President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canada and made sarcastic remarks calling Canada the “51st state.” Trump <a href="https://fortune.com/2024/12/04/trump-joking-canada-become-51st-state-canadian-minister/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">referred</a> to Canada as the “51st state” at a dinner with Trudeau at Mar-a-Lago last December after the Canadian prime minister stated his concern about Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on Canada.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc commented, “The president was telling jokes. The president was teasing us. It was, of course, on that issue, in no way a serious comment.”
In late December, Poilievre, seeing Canadians react defensively to Trump’s comments, <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/article/poilievre-to-trump-canada-will-never-be-the-51st-state/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responded</a>, “I have the strength and the smarts to stand up for this country and my message to incoming President Trump is that first and foremost, Canada will never be the 51st state of the U.S.”
In early January, Trudeau resigned, saying he would stay on until a new leader of his party was chosen. After Carney was selected to replace Trudeau in mid-March, he <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g2y7969gyo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">consistently said</a> that Trump &#8220;wants to break us so America can own us.”
After he was sworn in, Trump <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/business/economy/trump-tariff-timeline.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> he would implement an additional 25 percent tariffs on Canadian imports; on February 1, he announced 25 percent tariffs on virtually all imports from Canada. On February 3, he announced a 30-day pause on those tariffs. On February 27, he said the tariffs against Canada would go into effect on March 4 “as scheduled.” On March 5, he said he would pause tariffs on cars coming into the U.S. for one month. On April 9, he said he would pause all reciprocal tariffs for 90 days, and make them 10% across the board.
In mid-March, Trump told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham. “I’d rather deal with a Liberal than a Conservative. The Conservative that’s running is stupidly no friend of mine. I don’t know him but he’s said negative things. When he’s said negative things I couldn’t care less. I think it’s easier to deal, actually, with a Liberal.”
Poilievre responded, “Last night, President Donald Trump endorsed Mark Carney. Why? Because, as Trump said, he’s ‘easier’ to deal with, and knows that I will be a tough negotiator and always put Canada First. Carney is weak and would cave to Trump’s demands, just like he did when he moved his company headquarters from Canada to New York City. Canadians don’t want a weak and conflicted leader. They want a strong Prime Minister who will put Canada First.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Last night, President Donald Trump endorsed Mark Carney.
Why? Because, as Trump said, he’s “easier” to deal with, and knows that I will be a tough negotiator and always put Canada First. Carney is weak and would cave to Trump’s demands, just like he did when he moved his company… <a href="https://t.co/Dv6FgyyLYg">pic.twitter.com/Dv6FgyyLYg</a>
&mdash; Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) <a href="https://twitter.com/PierrePoilievre/status/1902291230035185971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
On Monday, the day of the election, Trump again <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114415618596069518" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> on Truth Social about Canada becoming a state:
<blockquote>
Good luck to the Great people of Canada. Elect the man who has the strength and wisdom to cut your taxes in half, increase your military power, for free, to the highest level in the World, have your Car, Steel, Aluminum, Lumber, Energy, and all other businesses, QUADRUPLE in size, WITH ZERO TARIFFS OR TAXES, if Canada becomes the cherished 51st. State of the United States of America. No more artificially drawn line from many years ago. Look how beautiful this land mass would be. Free access with NO BORDER. ALL POSITIVES WITH NO NEGATIVES. IT WAS MEANT TO BE! America can no longer subsidize Canada with the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars a year that we have been spending in the past. It makes no sense unless Canada is a State!
</blockquote>
As Canadian voters went to the polls on Monday, Poilievre, a hard-line conservative, wrote on X, “President Trump, stay out of our election. The only people who will decide the future of Canada are Canadians at the ballot box. Canada will always be proud, sovereign and independent and we will NEVER be the 51st state. Today Canadians can vote for change so we can strengthen our country, stand on our own two feet and stand up to America from a position of strength.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
President Trump, stay out of our election. The only people who will decide the future of Canada are Canadians at the ballot box.
Canada will always be proud, sovereign and independent and we will NEVER be the 51st state.
Today Canadians can vote for change so we can strengthen…
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) <a href="https://twitter.com/PierrePoilievre/status/1916854056183644583?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
To form a majority in the Parliament of Canada, a party must gather 172 seats. According to <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/federal-election-2025/article/ctv-news-declares-liberal-minority-singh-to-step-down-as-ndp-leader-live-updates-here/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CTV News</a> and the<a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/livestory/canada-election-ndp-leader-jagmeet-singh-announces-resignation-with-liberals-projected-to-win-4th-term-9.6738893?ts=1745892659755" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> CBC</a>, the Liberal Party won enough seats to form a minority government. They will have to unite with the Leftist NDP and the Green Party to form a majority government. As of Tuesday morning, with <a href="https://enr.elections.ca/National.aspx?lang=e">almost all of the votes recorded</a>, the Liberals were projected to win 168 seats compared to the Conservatives 144, the Quebecois Party 23, the NDP seven seats and the Green party one. The Liberals only need four more seats, while the NDP would have the four to give them.

MixCollage-29-Apr-2025-12-20-PM-6405

Canadian Liberal Party Retains Power, Defeats Conservatives

Canada

Donald Trump

Elections

Pierre Poilevre

Politics

The approval of leftist leaders in Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom has surged since President Donald Trump took office in January and began implementing his economic and foreign policy agendas.
The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/trump-world-left-leaders-polling-43095b2f?mod=hp_lead_pos6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on Thursday that the reaction to the beginning of Trump&#8217;s second administration has given new life to liberal leaders who previously looked destined for defeat in upcoming elections. Trump&#8217;s massive tariffs imposed on nearly every country in the world are the top issue that appears to be driving support for leftist leaders.
The biggest swing following Trump&#8217;s inauguration came in Canada, where the ruling Liberal Party appeared dead in the water until Trump imposed a tariff on Canadian goods and suggested making Canada the 51st state.
Trump&#8217;s policies and attitude toward Canada have appeared to turn the upcoming prime minister election on its head — shifting from a likely flip to the Conservative Party to potentially remaining in the hands of the Liberal Party and leftist Prime Minister Mark Carney. The Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, were ahead of the Liberals by more than 20 points in the polls, but now the Liberals lead by around 4 points, according to the WSJ. Poilievre and his Conservative Party hope to gain back support among Canadians, who will go to the polls on Monday.
In Australia, which is holding elections on May 3, Left-leaning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is now ahead in the polls by more than 10 points after trailing his conservative opponent, Peter Dutton, by six points in January. The jump in support for Albanese coincides with Australians losing trust in the U.S. government, according to polling results from the Lowy Institute. The think tank found that only 36% of Australians have any level of trust in the United States to act responsibly, the WSJ reported. That was down from 56% last year.
The United Kingdom&#8217;s Left-leaning Labour Party is still struggling with its approval rating, sitting at just 29%, but that&#8217;s an 8-point increase from February. The upward trend in approval for the British Labour Party followed Prime Minister Keir Starmer&#8217;s meeting with Trump at the White House in late February to discuss tariffs and the war in Ukraine. Starmer has <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3ev43vqj49o" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vowed</a> to &#8220;only strike a [trade] deal&#8221; with Trump &#8220;if it&#8217;s in the national interest.&#8221; Earlier this month, an Ipsos poll showed a 17-point drop in the number of Britons who agreed that the United Kingdom has a &#8220;special relationship&#8221; with the United States, down to 30%.
Conservative leaders in Canada and Australia are trying to navigate Trump&#8217;s policies as they seek to regain support ahead of their elections. Poilievre, a popular figure on the Canadian Right, has pushed &#8220;Canada First&#8221; campaign messaging, similar to Trump&#8217;s &#8220;America First&#8221; slogan. The Canadian parliamentarian has also amassed a large following among Canadian and some American conservatives for his viral critiques of the legacy media and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Despite his similarities to Trump, Poilievre has been careful to differentiate himself from the U.S. president and has strongly opposed Trump&#8217;s tariffs that are now affecting the Canadian economy, calling Trump&#8217;s move &#8220;historic mistreatment of Canada.&#8221; Poilievre&#8217;s strategy is showing signs of success, as the Conservative Party has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/conservative-party-surges-ahead-of-canadian-election-as-concerns-over-trump-seem-to-wane-poll" target="_blank" rel="noopener">regained</a> some ground on the Liberals, according to a CTV News-Globe and Mail-Nanos poll released earlier this week. According to the survey, Conservatives have narrowed the gap from 5.6 points to 3.6 points.
Dutton, the Australian conservative candidate, has pushed policies similar to those implemented by Trump, such as seeking to radically cut government spending. Dutton, however, has called Trump comparisons a &#8220;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/05/donald-trump-in-the-white-house-seemed-like-a-plus-for-peter-dutton-but-after-this-week-maybe-not-so-much" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sledge</a>&#8221; used to attack him, adding that “the government doesn’t have a good story to tell.”

UK Prime Minister Meets With President Trump In Washington

These Leftist World Leaders Saw A Surge In Support After Trump Took Office

Australia

Executive

Global Politics

United Kingdom

Canada&#8217;s Conservative party has narrowed the gap with Prime Minister Mark Carney&#8217;s ruling Liberals to only 3.6 percentage points, just four days before Monday&#8217;s national election.
According to a rolling three-day CTV News-Globe and Mail-Nanos poll, the Liberals hold 42.9% support with the Conservatives at 39.3%.
The 3.6-point gap has narrowed significantly from 5.6 points just a day earlier, a significant momentum shift toward opposition leader Pierre Poilievre&#8217;s campaign focused on economic concerns and public safety under Liberal governance.
&#8220;We can&#8217;t afford a fourth Liberal term of rising costs and crime,&#8221; Poilievre <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canada-election-race-tightens-conservatives-narrow-gap-with-liberals-poll-says-2025-04-24/">told</a> reporters in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Thursday, pledging to scrap electric-vehicle sales mandates, per Reuters.
His campaign has emphasized domestic issues, while Carney has focused heavily on U.S. tariffs and potential “threats” posed by President Trump.
Paul Thomas, a professor emeritus at the University of Manitoba, suggests the polls may be tightening because of the &#8220;diminished sense of crisis&#8221; regarding relations between the United States and Canada.
He noted that voters&#8217; focus appears to be shifting back to cost-of-living concerns, while Poilievre&#8217;s softening of his campaign tone may also be attracting support.
The Conservative surge follows the release of the party&#8217;s extensive platform and the two candidates’ debates last week.
In recent years, Canada has implemented a federal carbon tax, stricter gun control measures, and substantially increased immigration targets – policies that opposition parties argue have contributed to the country&#8217;s cost-of-living crisis.
While Carney has made United States relations the centerpiece of his campaign, his rhetoric in recent weeks has become increasingly dramatic in an attempt to exploit the fear of American overreach that many Canadians appear to have.
“In this crisis, we have to prepare for America’s threats to our very sovereignty. They want our land, our resources, they want our water, they want our country,” Carney alarmingly <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/19/mark-carney-unveils-plan-to-trump-proof-canada-00299654">declared,</a> per Politico.
Even with a popular vote victory, pollsters caution that the Liberals might secure only a minority government, leaving Carney dependent on smaller parties to govern.
The New Democratic Party, currently polling at 7.2%, could become the kingmaker in a closely contested parliament.
This shift, combined with the Conservative Party&#8217;s recently released detailed economic plan, appears to be resonating with voters concerned about domestic issues.
The election represents a clear contrast between Carney&#8217;s focus on external threats and international relations versus Poilievre&#8217;s emphasis on so0-called kitchen table economic concerns.
With just days remaining before Canadians cast their ballots, both campaigns are intensifying get-out-the-vote efforts in key battleground districts, particularly in suburban areas around Toronto and Vancouver, where elections are typically decided.
The three-day CTV News-Globe and Mail-Nanos poll was conducted among 2,000 eligible voters from April 18 to 21, and has a margin of error of 2.3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, per Reuters.

CANADA-VOTE-POLITICS-DEBATE

Conservative Party Surges Ahead Of Canadian Election As Concerns Over Trump Seem To Wane: Poll

Pierre Poilievre

Tariffs

World

Canadian indie rock band The New Pornographers has reacted to news of their drummer, Joseph Seiders, being arrested for possession of child pornography by immediately cutting ties with him.
A <a href="https://www.riversidesheriff.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=6286">press release</a> from the Riverside County Sheriff’s office said that Seiders was arrested after a call was placed on April 7, asserting suspicious activity at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Palm Desert, California. Officers took a statement from an 11-year-old boy who told them that an “unknown male adult” had recorded him on a cell phone while he was using the bathroom.
Then, on April 9, a man was seen entering and exiting the restroom at the same Chick-fil-A, accompanied by juvenile males.
“Believing the male was the suspect from the previous incident, law enforcement was contacted. Upon arrival, deputies located the suspect, identified as 44-year-old Joseph Seiders of Palm Desert, and took him into custody,” the release said. 
Officers conducted an investigation and served search warrants on Seiders’ residence, vehicle, and cell phone, where they reportedly found evidence implicating Seiders in both incidents at the fast food restaurant and “additional crimes,” including the possession of child pornography.
Seiders was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio, California, for possession of child pornography, annoying/molesting a child, invasion of privacy, and attempted invasion of privacy, the press release said. The drummer is being held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility with bail set at $1 million. He is scheduled to appear in court on April 22.
The band The New Pornographers addressed the incident on Instagram, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIkred2RbaJ/">writing</a>, “Everyone in the band is absolutely shocked, horrified and devastated by the news of the charges against Joe Seiders — and we have immediately severed all ties with him. Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by his actions.”
The New Pornographers are a Canadian indie rock band formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1997. They&#8217;re known for their power pop sound, harmonies, and collaborative approach, which often includes multiple lead singers. Despite their name, their songs are usually not risque, but rather use wordplay to convey deep emotion.

Joe Seiders

‘The New Pornographers’ Drummer Arrested For Child Porn, Band Cuts Ties

'The New Pornographers' Drummer Arrested For Child Porn, Band Cuts Ties

California

Child pornography

Crime

Entertainment

U.S.

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is aggressively courting Canadian tourists, painting the state as a safe haven from the Trump administration.
Newsom launched a tourism campaign targeted at Canadians on Monday as the state attempts to bring back tourists who have canceled vacations in the United States over President Donald Trump&#8217;s treatment of Canada. In one video message, Newsom said California and Canada &#8220;have always shared so much in common.&#8221;
“Sure, you-know-who is trying to stir things up back in D.C., but don’t let that ruin your beach plans,” the governor added. “California is the ultimate playground — over 2,000 miles from Washington and a world away in mindset. From our iconic beaches and national parks to world-class wine, food, and outdoor adventure — there’s something here for everyone.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="#California Launches #Tourism Campaign Welcoming #Canadians  #shorts #visitcalifornia #canada #news" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6b_p6TMduT8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
“Here in California, we have plenty of sunshine and a whole lot of love for our neighbors up north,” Newsom stated at the end of the video.
As Trump hits Canada with a 25% tariff and repeatedly suggests that the nation should become the 51st state, some Canadians are nixing their plans to travel to the United States. Last year, nearly two million Canadians visited California, spending around $3.7 billion in the Golden State, the governor&#8217;s office stated, according to The Los Angeles Times.
Canada has also started a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/canada-buys-ads-in-a-dozen-states-against-trumps-tariffs?author=Tim+Pearce&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Canada+Buys+Ads+In+A+Dozen+States+Against+Trump%E2%80%99s+Tariffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">billboard campaign</a> in the United States against Trump&#8217;s tariffs. According to Global Affairs Canada spokesman John Babcock, the billboards are part of an “educational campaign to inform Americans” about the costs of tariffs.
Earlier this month, the Canadian government retaliated with a 25% tariff on over $20 billion worth of U.S. goods.
Despite President Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-agree-on-many-things-trump-had-extremely-productive-call-with-canadas-new-liberal-pm?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98We+Agree+On+Many+Things%E2%80%99%3A+Trump+Had+%E2%80%98Extremely+Productive+Call%E2%80%99+With+Canada%E2%80%99s+New+Liberal+PM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a> he had an &#8220;extremely productive call&#8221; with Canada&#8217;s new Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney, the trade war between the two countries has shown no signs of cooling down in the near future.
In the meantime, Newsom — who is expected to run for president in 2028 — is reaching out to Canadian tourists and seeking to further develop economic and political relationships with Canada. On Monday, the governor <a href="https://x.com/CAgovernor/status/1911871226504790514" target="_blank" rel="noopener">met</a> with British Columbia Premier David Eby &#8220;to discuss opportunities for expanding California&#8217;s partnership with British Columbia on climate &amp; trade.&#8221;
&#8220;As tariffs threaten jobs &amp; businesses on both sides of the border, California remains a steady, reliable partner open for business,&#8221; Newsom said.

Gavin Newsom/Canadians

‘So Much In Common’: Newsom Courts Canadians With New Tourism Campaign

Gavin Newsom

Tourism

Longtime MSNBC host Chris Matthews appeared baffled by President Donald Trump&#8217;s implementation of tariffs against Canada, asking how Americans were supposed to work around the fact that the United States imports a lot of lumber from its northern neighbor.
&#8220;We get so much of our lumber, our two-by-fours from — from Canada,&#8221; Matthews said during a Wednesday appearance on MSNBC&#8217;s &#8220;Morning Joe.&#8221; &#8220;What are we going to do? Have more lumber made in the United States now?&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Chris Matthews on MSNBC: 
&quot;We get so much of our lumber, our two by fours from from Canada&#8230;.What are we going to do? Have more lumber made in the United States now?!&quot;
&quot;What is our plan now&#8230;? We&#39;re going to create more wood. Is that it?!&quot;
&quot;Are we going to make more wood in… <a href="https://t.co/cVlvJ6SvEu">pic.twitter.com/cVlvJ6SvEu</a>
&mdash; Townhall.com (@townhallcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1909966727754268917?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;This other thing — I watched on the evening news last night, one of the other networks, and I watched the issue of lumber,&#8221; Matthews explained. &#8220;Now, you see, we get so much of our lumber, our two-by-fours from — from Canada. That&#8217;s where we get it from. Canada! We get our newsprint from up there, for newspapers. The fact is, we get — what are we going to do? Have more lumber made in the United States now?!&#8221;
&#8220;What is our plan now?&#8221; Matthews continued in the same vein. &#8220;Oh, we&#8217;re not going to import wood, so we&#8217;re going to make more wood? We&#8217;re going to create more wood. Is that it?! I don&#8217;t think we&#8217;re in a position to simply replicate the imports coming into this country with our own products. It can&#8217;t always be done. And I think — wood&#8217;s an example of that. Wood. Are we going to make more wood in this country because of our trade deal?! I don&#8217;t think so.&#8221;
Social media hit back, reminding Matthews of an Executive Action from the Trump Administration dated March 1, kickstarting the &#8220;Immediate Expansion of Timber Production&#8221; in the United States.
&#8220;That’s the idea,&#8221; an X post read.
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That’s the idea <a href="https://t.co/XiWPAfWyeD">https://t.co/XiWPAfWyeD</a> <a href="https://t.co/K5wtirWlpy">pic.twitter.com/K5wtirWlpy</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1909983848609329222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Chris Matthews is unaware of the existence of trees in the United States,&#8221; Jim Verdi posted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Chris Matthews is unaware of the existence of trees in the United States. 🤡🤡 <a href="https://t.co/MCpflHWcIm">https://t.co/MCpflHWcIm</a>
&mdash; Jim Verdi (@jjverdi) <a href="https://twitter.com/jjverdi/status/1909989218761220558?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Townhall&#8217;s Matt Vespa added, &#8220;Market illiteracy is one thing. I don’t know what this is … we impose tariffs and libs think wood vanishes. Globalist mind rot is a thing.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
market illiteracy is one thing
I don’t know what this is … we impose tariffs and libs think wood vanishes 
Globalist mind rot is a thing <a href="https://t.co/TBin8FqwNc">https://t.co/TBin8FqwNc</a>
&mdash; Matt Vespa (@mVespa1) <a href="https://twitter.com/mVespa1/status/1910002611639496862?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Chris Matthews

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews Struggles To Wrap His Brain Around The Fact That Trees Grow In America

MSNBC's Chris Matthews Struggles To Wrap His Brain Around The Fact That Trees Grow In America

Economy

Media

MSNBC

A <a href="https://adfinternational.org/campaign/support-billboard-chris" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Canadian father</a> recently sat before an Australian tribunal in Melbourne for five days because he shared an article from <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13119521/Sex-secrets-trans-kinky-Australian-bondage-bestiality-nudism-drugs-sex-change.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Mail</a> in an X post last year.
Let that sink in.
Chris Elston, better known as &#8220;<a href="https://x.com/BillboardChris" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Billboard Chris</a>,&#8221; flew halfway around the world to defend not only his own free speech rights, but also those of all people. He is <a href="https://adfinternational.org/cases/billboard-chris-australia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pushing back</a> against an order from Australia’s eSafety Commissioner. The order demanded X censor Chris’ February 2024 post criticizing the appointment of a transgender activist to a World Health Organization panel of experts, citing the Daily Mail <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13119521/Sex-secrets-trans-kinky-Australian-bondage-bestiality-nudism-drugs-sex-change.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">article</a> titled &#8220;Kinky secrets of UN trans expert REVEALED&#8221;
Linking to an article from one of the most-read news websites in the world, the post was <a href="https://x.com/Rob_ADFIntl/status/1906643539754205575" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deemed</a> by eSafety to be “cyber-abuse material targeted at an Australian adult.” X initially resisted pressure to censor the content in any way but later geo-blocked the post in Australia when hit with a formal takedown notice. Billboard Chris, with legal support from ADF International, is challenging that order, and X joined in a separate suit.
This isn’t about one post. It’s about whether governments should be able to censor lawful expression because they don’t like the content — in this case, the rejection of gender ideology. 
The hearing at the Melbourne Administrative Review Tribunal spanned five days and took in over 2,000 pages of documents. Meanwhile, the complainant, Teddy Cook, never even appeared before the tribunal.
<a href="https://x.com/Rob_ADFIntl/status/1906643539754205575" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Day one</a> revealed how thin the complaint truly was. eSafety’s lawyers claimed that part of the problem was that Chris had revealed Cook’s place of work and posted private images. Chris, however, simply reposted the Daily Mail’s piece, which named Cook’s workplace (a detail already publicly available online) and, as anyone who uses social media knows, the featured images were pulled from Daily Mail article, not supplied by Chris. It becomes more ridiculous still. The Daily Mail had obtained the photos from Cook’s own social media. The argument didn’t just collapse under scrutiny — it exposed the flimsy foundation apparently sufficient for this bureaucracy to suppress dissent.
By <a href="https://x.com/Rob_ADFIntl/status/1907084293513318811" target="_blank" rel="noopener">day two</a>, it was clear how detached from reality the process had become. There was no evidence of actual harm. Cook, just nine days after the post, had tweeted: “living my best life.” But here we were, with psychiatrists and professors flown in to dissect whether a single X post could legally be considered “likely … intended to have an effect of causing serious harm”.
Chris testified to the Tribunal about the issue at the core of his advocacy: “It’s damaging to teach children they are born in the wrong body &#8230; children are beautiful just as they are. No drugs or scalpels needed.” Asked whether he was trying to provoke outrage, he responded: “No. I want to provoke discussion.”
That matters. Under Australia’s Online Safety Act, takedown orders can only be issued if content is not only offensive, but also “likely …intended to have an effect of causing serious harm.&#8221; However, eSafety seemed to argue that intent is largely irrelevant. If someone feels offended, even by public information, that alone might justify censorship.
On <a href="https://x.com/Rob_ADFIntl/status/1907754476250792285" target="_blank" rel="noopener">days three and four</a>, several more expert witnesses took the stand. eSafety’s own expert — a digital communications professor — asserted that biologically accurate terms are “harmful,” and that children should be able to choose their gender around age 12. Note Australian taxpayers are footing the bill for this expertise — reportedly more than $10,000 for just this one.
The final day brought closing submissions and a stark contrast in worldviews. eSafety argued the Tribunal should view the post in isolation, ignoring the broader debate, and insisted that Teddy Cook — a WHO-appointed expert and activist — shouldn’t be considered a public figure. Chris’ legal team, along with X, pushed back: any fair assessment must consider the wider social and political context. This wasn’t targeted abuse — it was participation in a critical public conversation.
This case is a warning to all who value free expression. If a Canadian citizen can be silenced in Australia for sharing a news article on U.S.-based platform X, then clearly, censorship is no longer bound by borders. What’s to stop any other government — from Canada to the EU to China — from deciding your speech “harms” someone abroad and demanding it be taken down too?
This is exactly how global censorship metastasizes: bureaucracies leveraging international tech companies to enforce vague, ideological speech codes on people who never voted for them, under laws they never consented to. And the more they get away with it, the bolder they become.
Fortunately, X put up a robust legal defense, and Chris, with the legal backing of ADF International and the Human Rights Law Alliance, was unequivocal in his message: he will not be censored as he fights to put an end to the evils of gender ideology.
Most evidently, gender ideology needs censorship to survive, and that is why Chris has been targeted. He hasn’t gone before this tribunal to protect himself — he’s doing it to protect the right of every person to tell the truth.
This is a test case with global consequences. Billboard Chris’ censorship challenge shows us exactly where we’re headed if we don’t defend free speech: toward a world where bureaucrats silence opinions they don’t like, even from the other side of the globe. It’s a world where truth must be approved, and feelings outweigh facts. That’s not just anti-democratic — it’s dangerous. Because once a government crosses the line of international censorship, there’s no saying where it will stop.
* * *
Robert Clarke is a barrister and director of advocacy for ADF International, which is supporting the case of Billboard Chris in Australia. Follow him on X at <a href="https://x.com/Rob_ADFIntl?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rob_ADFIntl.</a>
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

MixCollage-07-Apr-2025-01-02-PM-8595

He Shared A Link On X. Now He’s In An Australian Court.

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF)

Free Speech

Gender

gender ideology

Opinion

Social Media Censorship

Twitter

Canada is running a billboard campaign in the United States against President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The Canadian government has purchased billboards across a dozen states and Washington, D.C., that carry the message: “Tariffs are a tax.” The campaign began after Trump in February threatened Canada and Mexico with 25% tariffs.
Global Affairs Canada spokesman John Babcock said that the billboards are part of an “educational campaign to inform Americans” about the costs of tariffs, according to Michigan’s <a href="https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2025/04/canadian-government-behind-anti-tariff-billboard-ads-in-michigan.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MLive</a>.
“Tariffs are a tax on hard-working Americans in their daily lives. They lead to increased costs on everyday essentials, including fuel and groceries,” Babcock said in a statement.
Last month, Trump imposed sweeping 25% tariffs on Canadian goods with exceptions for those goods negotiated under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Canadian energy received a lower 10% tariff.
Last week, Trump announced more tariffs on dozens of countries in a special Rose Garden event billed by the White House as “Liberation Day.” The tariffs to be implemented against each country were <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/03/economy/reciprocal-tariff-math/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">calculated</a> with a simple formula of a country’s trade deficit divided by its exports to the United States. That number was then divided in half to arrive at the tariff rate that Trump would be implementing.
“Taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years,” Trump said during the announcement. “But it is not going to happen anymore.”
“[T]he United States administration announced a series of unwarranted and unjustified tariffs that will fundamentally change the international trading system. While some important elements of the Canada U.S. trade relationship have been preserved, new tariffs on automobiles have now entered into force. These are on top of the previously announced tariffs, including those on steel and aluminum, which remain in place,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office said in a <a href="https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2025/04/03/canada-announces-new-countermeasures-response-tariffs-from-united-states" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> after the announcement of the “Liberation Day” tariff rates.
“The U.S. tariffs will do harm to American workers and businesses, but Canada will also be impacted, with every Canadian feeling the effects. The Government of Canada’s position has always been clear: we will fight these tariffs, protect our workers, and build the strongest economy in the G7,” the statement continued.

Mark Carney

Canada Buys Ads In A Dozen States Against Trump’s Tariffs

Canada’s laws against assisted suicide are getting looser.
In February 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada, in the case Carter v. Canada, <a href="https://decisions.scc-csc.ca/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/14637/index.do" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ruled</a> that section 14 and paragraph 241(b) of the Criminal Code were unconstitutional because they banned physicians from assisting in the consensual death of another person. In 2016, the country introduced Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), a process that allowed someone found eligible by being terminally ill to be assisted by a medical practitioner in ending their life.
But in 2021, the need to be terminally ill was removed, and by March 2027, MAID may be used by people suffering from mental illness, but no physical illness.
In 2023, Canada had 15,343 MAID deaths, roughly one in every 20 deaths in Canada, one of the highest percentages in the world. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3wxq28znpqo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to the BBC</a>, roughly 96% of MAID deaths occur as “reasonably foreseeable,” such as someone suffering from cancer whose death is imminent or someone with Alzheimer&#8217;s, while the other 4% stem from people whose suffering is intolerable to them.
“I wouldn&#8217;t even call it a slippery slope,” Dr Ramona Coelho, who serves on a Maid Death Review Committee in Ontario, said. “Canada has fallen off a cliff.”
“When people have suicidal ideations, we used to meet them with counseling and care, and for people with terminal illness and other diseases we could mitigate that suffering and help them have a better life,” she continued. “Yet now we are seeing that as an appropriate request to die and ending their lives very quickly.”
Australia, New Zealand, Spain, and Austria have all implemented assisted dying laws since 2015. In the United States, assisted suicide is <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1dpwg1lq9yo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">legal in 10 states</a> and Washington, D.C. The way was paved by in Oregon in 1997. Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg also permit assisted suicide.
The Canadian government <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-services-benefits/medical-assistance-dying.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">states</a>, “If the medical practitioners assessing your request for MAID determine that your death is not reasonably foreseeable, there are extra safeguards that must be met before medical assistance in dying can be provided.” It adds:
<blockquote>
One of the 2 medical practitioners who provides an assessment must have expertise in the medical condition that is causing your unbearable suffering. If neither of them have this expertise, they must consult another practitioner with expertise in the medical condition during the assessment process. You must be informed of available means to relieve your suffering, and offered consultations with professionals who provide services including, where appropriate: palliative care, community services, counselling services, and mental health and disability support services.
You and your practitioners must have discussed reasonable and available means to relieve your suffering, and all agree that you have seriously considered those means. Your eligibility assessment must take a minimum of 90 days, unless the assessments have been completed sooner and you are at immediate risk of losing your capacity to consent. Immediately before you receive medical assistance in dying, the practitioner must give you an opportunity to withdraw your request, and ensure that you give express consent to receive medical assistance in dying.
</blockquote>

Disabled People Demonstrate Against Assisted Dying in London

Canada Becoming Less Strict About Assisted Suicide

Assisted Suicide

Mental Illness

Social Issues

On Wednesday evening, a handful of Republicans in the Senate joined forces with Democrats and independents on Wednesday to pass a measure subverting the Trump administration&#8217;s 25% tariffs on Canadian goods.
The Senate voted 51-48 in favor of a <a href="https://www.kaine.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/ros25392.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resolution</a> from Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) that, if enacted, would terminate the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/02/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-imposes-tariffs-on-imports-from-canada-mexico-and-china/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">national emergency declaration</a> employed by President Donald Trump to impose tariffs on Canada earlier this year.
Despite the Senate&#8217;s rebuke, Kaine&#8217;s resolution faces significant challenges, as it needs approval from the GOP-led House to take effect — an unlikely prospect. Additionally, Trump indicated he would veto the resolution if it reached his desk.
Senate Republicans who <a href="https://x.com/SenatePress/status/1907578012867940509" target="_blank" rel="noopener">broke ranks</a> to support Kaine&#8217;s resolution included Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Rand Paul (R-KY). Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) did not vote.
&#8220;The Maine economy is integrated with Canada, our most important trading partner,&#8221; Collins <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KvDcrFi0PY" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on the Senate floor, adding later, &#8220;The tariffs on Canada would be detrimental to many Maine families and our local economies.&#8221;
Collins acknowledged sharing Trump&#8217;s goal of &#8220;stemming the tide of dangerous fentanyl that flows into the United States,&#8221; but insisted that, &#8220;unlike Mexico and China&#8221; — two other countries targeted for tariffs — &#8220;Canada is not complicit in this crisis.&#8221;
In an <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114266599439835683" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> on Truth Social before the vote, Trump called out the GOP defectors by name, urging them to reject a &#8220;ploy of the Dems to show and expose the weakness of certain Republicans&#8221; and encouraging people in their states to contact their senators.
Trump contended that Canada was facilitating the flow of fentanyl into the United States and emphasized that Kaine&#8217;s resolution is &#8220;not going anywhere because the House will never approve it and I, as your President, will never sign it.&#8221;
Earlier this year, Trump imposed 25% tariffs on some imports from Canada, arguing that the U.S. neighbor was not doing enough to curb the trafficking of drugs such as fentanyl. Canada <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/12/canada-tariffs-steel-aluminum-trump-computers.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responded</a> by announcing 25% retaliatory tariffs.
The penalties against Canada preceded Trump&#8217;s &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; announcement of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-unleashes-liberation-day-tariffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reciprocal tariffs</a> on dozens of other countries around the world during an event in the White House Rose Garden on Wednesday afternoon.
When Kaine <a href="https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-klobuchar-and-warner-formally-file-legislation-to-undo-president-trumps-senseless-taxes-on-canadian-goods" target="_blank" rel="noopener">filed</a> the resolution on Canada tariffs with Sens. Amy Klobucher (D-MN) and Mark Warner (D-VA), he said the measure was privileged, meaning the Republican-controlled Senate was required to vote on it in the coming weeks.
They <a href="https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-klobuchar-and-warner-announce-expected-vote-timing-on-their-bill-to-undo-canada-tariffs-that-will-raise-costs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">argued</a> that tariffs against Canada have disrupted the United States economy in a way that raises costs for American consumers, harms workers and businesses, strains a key trade partnership, and ignites a destructive trade war.
On the GOP side, McConnell <a href="https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/contributors/2025/02/12/trump-tariffs-damage-kentucky-economy-bourbon-mcconnell/78393549007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> of higher prices and harm to Kentucky industries, Paul <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yx2MD3iOAiY" target="_blank" rel="noopener">objected</a> to the use of emergency authority for tariffs, and Murkowski pondered why the U.S. was <a href="https://x.com/highbrow_nobrow/status/1902855339902390661" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;fighting&#8221;</a> Canada while &#8220;making nice&#8221; with Russia.
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY) said in a statement after the vote on Wednesday that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) had already declared Kaine’s resolution dead on arrival in the House, and it will never reach Trump’s desk.
Kaine’s &#8220;goal&#8221; was &#8220;to undermine President Trump’s successful work to secure the Northern Border,&#8221; he said, adding, &#8220;This meaningless messaging resolution will not stop Senate Republicans from making America’s communities safer.&#8221;

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine

Four Senate Republicans Vote With Dems To Upend Trump’s Canada Tariffs

Congress

Mitch McConnell

Susan Collins

Tim Kaine

Trade War

U.S. Senate

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stood before reporters on Monday and listed off multiple tariffs imposed on American products by foreign nations, arguing that the &#8220;unfair trade practices&#8221; need to come to an end.
Leavitt pointed to massive tariffs from the European Union, Japan, India, and Canada, saying, &#8220;It&#8217;s time for reciprocity.&#8221; President Donald Trump is preparing to announce a round of reciprocal tariffs on April 2, a day he has labeled &#8220;Liberation Day in America.&#8221;
&#8220;If you look at the unfair trade practices that we have: 50% from the European Union on American dairy. You have a 700% tariff from Japan on American rice. You have a 100% tariff from India on American agricultural products. You have nearly a 300% tariff from Canada on American butter and American cheese,&#8221; Leavitt said, holding up a chart on a piece of paper. &#8220;This makes it virtually impossible for American products to be imported into these markets, and it puts a lot of Americans out of business and out of work over the past several decades.&#8221;
Countries often impose tariffs on foreign goods to protect industries that are vital to their economies. As the world&#8217;s largest economic powerhouse, the United States has allowed foreign imports to flood its markets while American exports have been on the receiving end of stiff tariffs. The Trump administration argues that the tariff discrepancy is unfair and hurts American companies and workers. Leavitt promised that Trump will bring &#8220;historic change&#8221; to America&#8217;s trade relationships with his actions on Wednesday.
&#8220;Unfortunately, these countries have been ripping off our country for far too long,&#8221; the press secretary said. &#8220;And they&#8217;ve made their disdain, I think, for the American worker quite clear.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a> details the unfair trade practices that are hurting American business:
&#8211; 50% tariff from the EU on American dairy &#8211; 700% tariff from Japan on rice &#8211; 100% tariff from India on agricultural products
&quot;This makes it virtually impossible for American products to be… <a href="https://t.co/PI9inicgdX">pic.twitter.com/PI9inicgdX</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1906762630498267464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Last week, Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tariffs-very-strongly-work-trump-announces-21-billion-hyundai-investment-in-u-s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">credited</a> tariffs for bringing manufacturing jobs to American soil after South Korean carmaker Hyundai announced it will invest $21 billion in the United States over the next four years. Other major foreign companies, such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Japan’s SoftBank, recently announced multi-billion-dollar investments in U.S. manufacturing.
As Trump gears up to impose more tariffs on foreign trade partners, the White House is trying to calm fears about the tariffs putting more financial strain on Americans. During an interview with Shannon Bream on &#8220;Fox News Sunday,&#8221; White House senior counselor for trade and manufacturing Peter Navarro <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tariff-escalation-wont-cause-inflation-foreigners-will-eat-most-of-it-trump-trade-counselor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that &#8220;foreigners are going to eat most&#8221; of the tariff burden.
&#8220;They have to; we’re the biggest market in the world, Shannon,” he added. “And they have to be here. They have to be here. And so they’re going to cut their prices to absorb that.”

Karoline Leavitt

‘It’s Time For Reciprocity’: Leavitt Shows List Of ‘Unfair’ Tariffs Targeting American Products

European Union

India

Japan

Trump Administration

President Donald Trump said on Friday that he spoke with Canada&#8217;s new prime minister, Mark Carney, during an &#8220;extremely productive call&#8221; shortly after Carney said that Canada&#8217;s &#8220;old relationship&#8221; with the United States &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/canadas-new-pm-says-old-relationship-with-u-s-is-over-we-have-power?topStoryPosition=undefined" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is over</a>.&#8221;
Trump and Carney spoke over the phone as the two neighboring countries seek an agreement on fair trade. The president said he would meet with Carney after Canada holds its election at the end of April. Carney won the spot at the top of the Liberal Party after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stepped down amid rising tensions with the Trump administration.
&#8220;I just finished speaking with Prime Minister Mark Carney, of Canada. It was an extremely productive call, we agree on many things, and will be meeting immediately after Canada’s upcoming Election to work on elements of Politics, Business, and all other factors, that will end up being great for both the United States of America and Canada. Thank you for your attention to this matter!&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114240691141784921" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> on Truth Social.
During a press conference on Thursday, Carney vowed to “fight the U.S. tariffs with retaliatory trade actions of our own that will have maximum impact in the United States and minimum impacts here in Canada.” The prime minister faces Conservative Pierre Poilievre in the country&#8217;s upcoming election as both parties attempt to firmly push back on Trump&#8217;s tariffs. Canadian consumers and workers will likely take the brunt of U.S. tariffs as 75% of Canadian exports go to the United States, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/carney-speak-media-about-canadas-response-tariffs-2025-03-27/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reuters</a>.
Carney said that through negotiations with the White House, it will be possible to &#8220;restore some trust&#8221; between the trade partners, but he added that Canada &#8220;will need to pivot our trade relationships elsewhere.&#8221;
&#8220;And we will need to do things previously thought impossible at speeds we haven’t seen in generations,&#8221; the prime minister added.
Along with imposing 25% tariffs on Canadian imports, Trump has repeatedly suggested making Canada the 51st state and often taunted former Prime Minister Trudeau by calling him &#8220;governor.&#8221; On Thursday, Trump also threatened that Canada and the European Union would be hit with tariffs “far larger than currently planned” if they seek “to do economic harm to the USA.”

President Donald Trump

‘We Agree On Many Things’: Trump Had ‘Extremely Productive Call’ With Canada’s New Liberal PM

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