Wednesday Night #2254

Canada: government & governance
The visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla went off without any (visible) hitch and the generally applauded reading of the Throne Speech was recognized at home and abroad as a clever, subtle rebuke to Trump’s annexation threats. (NYT: King Charles Visits Canada in a Subtle Rebuke to Trump)
There were of course the critics like Paul Wells
Spoiling the positive image, Quebec legislators –including the craven Liberals– vote to cut ties with British monarchy after King’s visit
In case you were wondering, Jean Chrétien was absent from King’s address due to minor heart surgery. Chrétien was expected to attend the King’s address in the Senate along with other former prime ministers — Justin Trudeau, Stephen Harper and Kim Campbell.

With the election of Francis Scarpaleggia as the new Speaker and the delivery of the Throne Speech, it is now time for PM Carney and Parliament to get to work.

As the 2025 G7 Summit (June 15-17) hosted by Canada approaches, keep an eye out for developments, especially who is invited and who will attend. bearing in mind the events of the Charlevoix G7. Two important backgrounders
Jeremy Kinsman: Who is My Neighbour?’ Kananaskis and the Clash of Worldviews
In 1969, the World Bank published “Partners in Development,” known informally as “The Pearson Report,” named after Canada’s globally celebrated, Nobel Prize-winning peacemaker and former prime minister, Lester Pearson, who chaired the international commission that compiled it. His successor, Pierre Trudeau, was of course closely allied with NATO and G7 peers, but he connected with special empathy to those who similarly envisioned a neighbourly and compassionate world — leaders like Sweden’s Olaf Palme, and US President Jimmy Carter.
He especially cultivated significant relationships with leaders from the Global South: Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Indira Ghandhi of India, Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, and, controversially, Fidel Castro of Cuba. Trudeau laid out his world view in the only full-length foreign policy speech he ever gave in the House of Commons, on June 15, 1981, titled “Who is my Neighbour?”
(Former G7 Sherpa Sen. Peter Boehm on Trump, Charlevoix and Bracing for Kananaskis)

Putin’s War
It seems that Trump is finally realizing what most of us have understood for a long time. Putin does not want peace; he wants Ukraine -for starters.
Trump softens on Putin as Russia’s military edge weakens, officials say
Moscow’s advantage on the Ukraine battlefield is waning, experts say. But President Donald Trump seems disinclined to ramp up pressure on the Kremlin to engage in ceasefire talks.

Trump and the U.S.
Yet another week with headlines dominated by the antics of Donald Trump and his band of merry thieving oligarchs whose theme might well be I can’t get no satisfaction
“I thought I couldn’t be more shocked and sickened than I already was, but what’s happened this week is truly horrifying.”
In A new phase of Trump neofascism, Robert Reich details the awfulness of Trump’s actions of the past week from the Zelensky-style Oval Office ambush of the President of South Africa to the giant bill that would, if enacted, be the largest redistribution of income and wealth in American history — from the poor and working class to the rich and super-rich.
The Atlantic‘s David A. Graham provides a highly credible analysis of the reasons for Trump’s erratic behaviour. The President’s Pattern of Impatience Trump’s short attention span is a threat to his own agenda as well as to the constitutional order. We would add world order. Democrats, opposition of all stripes and world leaders must quickly adapt and exploit this weakness.
A classic example that might almost be funny if it were not true: Trump laments size of ‘much too big’ airplane gifted by Qatar
But how does this explain the war on Education and Science?

Kyle Matthews held a press conference in Ottawa with leading security, tech and human rights experts to urge the new Canadian government and its G7 partners to make digital resilience a priority. -a prelude to The Montreal Institute for Global Security (MIGS) inaugural Digital Resilience Forum in Ottawa. Security experts urge Canada to lead on digital resilience

The situation in the Middle East remains murky
Iran says it’s ready to compromise with Trump, suggests US understands its red lines
The US-Iran talks seem to be making progress, but the WSJ remains skeptical: Iran Takes Trump’s Negotiators for a Ride – The ayatollahs drag out the nuclear talks because they’re no longer scared of the American president.
Meanwhile, Axios reports that U.S. believes breakthrough is close on Gaza ceasefire, hostage deal – The White House is optimistic a new proposal from Trump envoy Steve Witkoff could help bridge the remaining gaps between Israel and Hamas and produce a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza soon.
BUT
Israel continues to threaten strikes on nuclear sites
Israel continues its intransigence in Gaza as more and more civilians fall victim to military excess.

Event
Wednesday, June 4
Maison Alcan
1188 Sherbooke St. West
From 6:30 p.m. on…
Sylvia Martin-Laforge and Doug Sweet have asked that we extend this invitation to Wednesday Nighters:
QCGN turns 30 this year!
We’ve given ourselves a big present: a new name and a new look – the culmination of a multi-year renewal process as we renew and strengthen our position as stewards of the English voice.
Following its 2025 Annual General Meeting, the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) will hold a big party to announce its new name and look!
There will be cake! There will be a signature cocktail! History will be made!
Please Register

U.S. university Commencement Addresses
While Educator, mathematician and president emeritus of the University of Maryland (U-Md.) Freeman A. Hrabowski III delivered the commencement address to granddaughter Maya and her Tufts classmates, Kermit urged U-Md. graduates to dream big: ‘Keep believing, keep pretending’ –The world-famous amphibian spoke to the Class of 2025 at “Kermencement”.
In contrast, Trump avoided all things inspirational in his address at West Point
Trump addresses a West Point upended by his changes
When Trump last spoke at the U.S. Military Academy, the institution was reckoning with racial justice protests sweeping the country. Now, he is taking credit for ridding the military of “social experiments.”
While Vance Tells Midshipmen Their Service Will Not Be Squandered on Rudderless Missions – Future warfighters(sic) will always have a clear mission, with clear goals, before heading out to do the nation’s business, Vice President JD Vance said

Peter Frise‘s favorite topic these days:
CBC Radio’s Cost of Living with Paul Haavardsrud asks Is it time for a Canuck-mobile? Germany has Volkswagen. Japan has Toyota. So why doesn’t Canada have a car? We explore what it would take to build an all-Canadian automobile.
Follow-up to the Globe & Mail Is it time to finally take the dream of a Canadian automaker seriously? Flavio Volpe makes his case

Bob Rae calls our attention to Peacemaker: U Thant and the Forgotten Quest for a Just World by Thant Myint-U
A new history of the turbulent 1960s told through the life of U Thant, the first UN secretary-general of color, whose decisions once shaped global war and peace.
Hardcover to be released Sept. 9 2025.

EU launches child safety probe of Pornhub, other porn sites
The EU is investigating Pornhub and other porn sites for suspected breaches of its online content law, arguing that the companies aren’t complying with rules requiring them to do more to tackle illegal and harmful content on their platforms.
Porn Companies Condition Viewers to Desire Illegal and Abusive Content
Experts have long acknowledged the toxic link between digital pornography and online exploitation. Companies like Pornhub not only provide platforms for predators to upload and monetize abusive content, but have financial incentive promote it.
Blocking Pornhub access in Canada an option, owners say. Here’s why
The owners of Pornhub say blocking access to Canadians is among options they’re considering as they try to persuade parliamentarians to reject an approach for age verification outlined in a controversial Senate bill.
“We’ve taken different options in different jurisdictions,” said Solomon Friedman, a partner and vice-president of compliance at Ethical Capital Partners, which owns Pornhub’s parent company, Aylo.
The Children of Pornhub
Why does Canada allow this company to profit off videos of exploitation and assault?

A lighter moment this past week has been supplied by some die-hard Wednesday Nighters who debated what nation is best at pomp & circumstance. Peter Frise wrapped it up “The Brits have it in terms of class, dress and fancy hats, the Habs in terms of downtown riots and poutine, and the Russians and North Koreans win on polished guns and bayonets, white wall wheels on their tanks and scary and exhausting marching cadence”

Long reads/videos
Be sure to check out the pictures:
Trump’s Oval Office Is a Gilded Rococo Nightmare. Help.
… There is a parade of golden objects that march across the mantel, relegating the traditional Swedish ivy to a greenhouse. Gilded Rococo wall appliqués, nearly identical to the ones at Mr. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, are stuck to the fireplace and office walls with the same level of aesthetic consideration a child gives her doll’s face before covering it in nail polish.
Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, May 16, 2025
After being welcomed in royal style by Gulf leaders, President Trump announced enormous deals and made dramatic foreign policy decisions on the fly. He also advanced the cause of his family’s businesses. Join moderator Jeffrey Goldberg, Peter Baker of The New York Times, Stephen Hayes of The Dispatch, David Ignatius of The Washington Post and Andrea Mitchell of NBC News to discuss this and more.
Harvard Derangement Syndrome
By Dr. Steven Pinker, professor of psychology at Harvard University.
A VERY long read
The Decline and Fall of Elon Musk
The Tesla innovator becomes the latest government employee to lose his job.