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Canadian Trade Officials Threaten to Leave USMCA Trade Talks if Trump Triggers 50 Percent Tariffs

The Canadian trade officials continue to misread the room.  Threatening the Trump administration with something the Trump administration benefits from, is not exactly the best trade strategy.

In the background the DOJ has just arrested a woman for her part in a trafficking operation, smuggling Indian illegal aliens into the USA through Canada {citation}.  Simultaneously, a petition within Canada to remove U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, is gaining support because Hoekstra is focused on American best interests and not looking out for the best interests of Canadians {citation}.

On the economic front, Canadian trade minister Dominic LeBlanc met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer for the third time in three weeks. However, it’s Canada’s Chief Trade Negotiator Janice Charette, who also participated in discussions, making headlines with threats.

Janice Charette is telling the Canadian public that formal trade discussions with the USA will end if President Trump and USTR Jamieson Greer trigger the 50% tariffs against Canadian goods which are scheduled to begin on August 19th.

President Trump and USTR Greer announced last month the U.S. would begin 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian products. the tariffs are intended as reciprocal action for Canada’s counter-tariffs on U.S. automobiles and steel, as well as decisions by Canadian provinces to boycott American alcohol. {CITATION} According to USTR Greer the tariffs will affect approximately $20 billion in Canadian imports, representing around 5.2% of the $383 billion in goods the United States imported from Canada in 2025. USMCA covered products would not be exempt from the tariff.

Ms. Charette is reported to have made it clear if the U.S. goes through with the tariffs, the Canadians will pull out of USMCA discussions and walk away from renegotiating the trilateral trade agreement.

This is apparently the threat from Canada.  However, when contrast against the intent to eliminate the multilateral trade agreement, the threat carries terms completely acceptable to the Trump administration.

CANADA – Canada’s lead trade negotiator with the U.S. Janice Charette has warned her American counterparts that if the White House imposes new 50 per cent tariffs on Aug. 19, it could put further trade talks at risk.

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August 13th – 2026 Presidential Politics – Trump Administration Day 571

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

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Thursday August 13th – Open Thread

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

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Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Departs Her Position

President Trump announces via Truth Social:

“Our wonderful White House Press Secretary, and one of my most trusted aides, Karoline Leavitt, will be departing her role at the end of the month so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family, a decision I totally understand and respect! Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party, as we work to defy History, and conclusively win the Midterm Elections. Karoline has been a real leader in the White House, and has done a phenomenal job fighting for Justice, Liberty, and Freedom, since 2018, including our Historic Re-Election Campaign of 2024. Karoline has been one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office. Thank you, Karoline, for a job well done!”

President DONALD J. TRUMP

Karoline Leavitt delivers the following statement via X:

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SPLC Chief Financial Officer Arrested for Paying Hate Groups and Nazis – Wire Fraud, Conspiracy, False Statements

SPLC Chief Financial Officer Heidi Beirich was previously identified as one of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) leaders who assisted in “opening bank accounts” with “fictitious companies’ names” to make payments to hate group leaders.  Apparently, she was in a romantic relationship with a Nazi whom she funded.

According to CNN: Beirich has been charged as part of a superseding indictment with wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to submit false statements to a federally insured bank and conspiracy to conceal money laundering. {citation}

CALIFORNIA – A former Southern Poverty Law Center finance officer was arrested Wednesday over her involvement in secretly paying informants in white supremacist groups.

Heidi Beirich was apprehended in California, CNN first reported. Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed at an unrelated news conference at DOJ headquarters that “there was an arrest made” in the case. (more)

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DOJ Announces Charges Against 11 Defendants in Chinese “Fake Marriage” Fraud Scheme

Earlier today the Dept of Justice announced charges against 11 defendants in a fraudulent marriage scheme to obtain U.S. green cards.  The defendants and co-conspirators were mainly of Chinese origin.

DOJ Press Release – A two-count indictment was unsealed today charging 11 individuals with conspiring, over the course of more than a decade, to orchestrate more than 1,000 sham marriages to fraudulently obtain immigration status for foreign nationals, primarily citizens of the People’s Republic of China. Some individuals paid up to $100,000 per sham marriage, according to the indictment.

“This Department of Justice is rooting out fraud everywhere — including in our immigration system,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The individuals who were arrested today allegedly orchestrated elaborate schemes to illegally obtain citizenship for foreign nationals through sham marriages. Schemes like this are a deliberate affront to the United States and our laws and will not be tolerated under the Trump Administration.”

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The Southern Murkowski Wins SC Primary – Heads into Runoff Against Ralph Norman

Mrs. Darline Graham, the sister of deceased Senator Lindsey Graham, has won the South Carolina Republican primary and will now head into a runoff against Ralph Norman on August 25th.

Ultimately it is up to the people of South Carolina to decide who they want to represent them in the Senate.  However, there is nothing to indicate that Mrs. Graham would be anything different than a southern version of Lisa Murkowski.

[SOURCE]

Legacy replacement candidates without prior experience are always a shot in the dark.  That said, the National Republican Senatorial Committee – the epicenter of creating candidates for election via Battered Conservative Syndrome – is now fully endorsing Graham and will put plenty of Chamber of Commerce money into her two-week campaign.

President Trump has endorsed Darline Graham.  President Trump has an emotional attachment to the legacy outcome and is understandably supporting Mrs Graham out of loyalty.  CTH tries to stay detached from the emotion of the issue and holds little confidence Graham would strongly support the issues of critical MAGA importance.

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After Advocating for Illegal Alien Leniency and Amnesty, Mike Lindell Gets Crushed in Minnesota Primary

Hopefully this will be a lesson to multiple people, including President Donald Trump.  There is no room for softness on the topic of deporting illegal aliens.

In one of the biggest examples of a mistake in Republican campaigning, three weeks before the primary election Minnesota Governor candidate Mike Lindell made the fatal mistake of advocating for greater leniency for illegal aliens, with inferred amnesty in his immigration platform.  The backlash was fierce, righteous and directly targeted.  Lindell was blasted.

Last night, despite the support and endorsement from President Trump, Lindell was resoundingly defeated by Lisa Demuth, the speaker of the Minnesota House.

[SOURCE]

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Surprise Defeat for DSA Communist Francesca Hong in Wisconsin

The DSA Communists are claiming election rigging in Wisconsin as Francesca Hong has been defeated by DNC party approved candidate David Crowley.

The current status of the race is Crowley with 39.78% (313,321) and Hong with 39.37% (310,110). Crowley leading by more than three thousand votes.

[Source]

The reason for the apoplexy is that all polling showed Hong with an easy 20-to-25-point lead heading into election day.

State Navigate polling had Francesca Hong +22, Public Policy Polling had predicted Hong +18, Marquette University polling (the gold standard) had Hong +25, then State Navigate polling had Hong +29, and finally Public Policy Polling had another easy win at Hong +20.

Therefore, the only way the DSA Communists can reconcile the outcome of Hong losing is to believe that some other malevolent force was involved in the actual counting of the ballots.

Malevolent force below:

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August 12th – 2026 Presidential Politics – Trump Administration Day 570

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

(more…)