Joel Kotkin: Why the Fourth of July is relevant to Canada, too

Joel Kotkin: Why the Fourth of July is relevant to Canada, too

The United States approaches its 250th anniversary deeply divided. Pride in the country, at roughly 40 per cent, has dropped to a historic low, notes Gallup, a trend most evident among younger, educated people.

To be sure it depends where in the U.S. you go. There used to be little difference between the parties, as was evidenced in the 1976 centennial. But, again predating Donald Trump, the gap between Republicans and Democrats has widened, with the latter generally not proud of their country. In deep blue areas like California and New York, celebrations are muted; even the traditional Fourth of July fireworks show in Long Beach, Calif., has been cancelled. Don’t expect much celebratory treatment in left-dominated Hollywood either.

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Information from within Iran explains the negotiators’ dilemma

Information from within Iran explains the negotiators’ dilemma

While diplomatic backchannels between Tehran and Washington remain active to contain regional escalation and finalize temporary understandings, a full-scale political battle has erupted inside Iran. Reuters reported in June 2026 that Iran and the United States were still exchanging messages regarding an interim memorandum of understanding, including mechanisms for releasing frozen Iranian funds.

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Carney’s condo controversy is a warning about two of his biggest liabilities

Carney’s condo controversy is a warning about two of his biggest liabilities

Mark Carney has only himself to blame, for the controversy that erupted last week when he announced a half-baked plan to buy up vacant condominiums.

But the blowback, as strong as any he’s faced since becoming prime minister, may ultimately prove a blessing in disguise both for him and for the country.

That is, if it causes him to course correct at all on two traits that threaten to eventually get his government in a lot more trouble: overconfidence in his own communication skills, and a cozy relationship with business that could increasingly be seen as out of touch.

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Who Really Are These New Democratic Socialists and Their Fellow Travelers?

Who Really Are These New Democratic Socialists and Their Fellow Travelers?

Who are the so-called Democratic Socialists of America and their fellow travelers?

While it is difficult to generalize, many current and would-be socialist officeholders share several common traits.

Most of them represent a relatively small slice of American life. Almost all are urban, with little knowledge of small-town or rural existence.

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5Pillars editor calls for ‘mass physical training program’ for Muslims

5Pillars editor calls for ‘mass physical training program’ for Muslims

The editor of a British news site widely described as Islamist has called for a “mass physical training program” for Muslims to defend themselves.

Roshan Salih, the founding editor of 5Pillars, said in a podcast that “we need to have a mass physical training program within the Muslim community, every single mosque providing that training, every single community center, money being poured into physically training Muslims.” He added that this would mean “we are the fittest community in this country, the strongest community in this country, and the community that is most able to defend itself in this country.”


I bet the CBC approves.

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The road to Cowichan

The road to Cowichan

In 1878, an agent for the province of British Columbia predicted the legal battle that surrounds the declaration of Aboriginal title for the Cowichan Nation today.

Gilbert Sproat, a commissioner in charge of establishing reservations for Indigenous communities, sent a letter to his superiors urging them not to rush the business of handing out land grants to the province’s new settlers, who were eager to snatch up the best lands the province offered.

“It is extremely inconvenient to the province to have lands locked up from preemption or sale in fine districts, owing to the non-settlement of the Indian claims, but this is a necessity,” Mr. Sproat wrote in a letter that became a key part of evidence in the B.C. Supreme Court record in the Cowichan case.

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I went undercover on the Tube to test how safe women really are. Within hours, men followed me, touched me and ignored my pleas to stop

I went undercover on the Tube to test how safe women really are. Within hours, men followed me, touched me and ignored my pleas to stop

It’s around 2am on the Piccadilly Line and the Tube carriage is empty – apart from me and a man twice my age. His eyes never leave me during the 40-minute journey.

Potbellied and with a menacing grin, he moves suddenly from the seat opposite, plonking himself down next to me. He’s desperate to get my attention, talking at me over the deafening noise of the train.

Unnerved, I get off before my stop. But he follows me and on to another near-empty train – this time the Jubilee Line towards Stratford. Again and again he tries to engage me in chat, staring at me and licking his lips.

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The Liberals are finally getting things right on national defence under Carney

The Liberals are finally getting things right on national defence under Carney

For all the ills former prime minister Justin Trudeau left his successor to face, the defence file has been a surprising bright spot.

What makes this all the more remarkable is the fact that just 30 months ago, the then-head of the Royal Canadian Navy took to YouTube to declare that his team and equipment were in a “critical state.” At any other moment in the last 50 years, Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee’s political masters would have punished him for daring to share his unvarnished message.

Not sure I share the author’s premise. Carney is great at pronouncements but when it comes to delivery not so much.

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Zelensky Demands EU Membership Again as Germany Starts Pulling the Thread on Nord Stream

Zelensky Demands EU Membership Again as Germany Starts Pulling the Thread on Nord Stream

Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Dublin on Wednesday with the same message as always: more sanctions against Russia, more financial support, and more speed in bringing Ukraine into the European Union.

The Ukrainian president used the start of Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the EU to demand that Brussels maintain the momentum behind accession and open new negotiating chapters before the end of the Irish presidency.

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TAYLOR: How Canada became a country that wastes your time

TAYLOR: How Canada became a country that wastes your time

For years, Canadians have been warned about their country’s declining labour productivity. According to the Bank of Canada, it’s a “break the glass emergency” that requires immediate attention. But what about our other productivity crisis — the one of personal, rather than national, proportions?

Modern life has become full of tiny frustrations and complications that steal our attention and creativity a few minutes at a time, leaving us all less productive. 

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Guess Who Washington State Democrats Blame for the Rise in Antisemitism

Guess Who Washington State Democrats Blame for the Rise in Antisemitism

The hallmark of any abuser is how they make blame the victims of their abuse for making them mad. It’s horrific behavior and should not be tolerated. Since the October 7, 2023, terror attacks in Israel, we’ve seen an astronomical rise in antisemitism in America and across the globe. In Australia, Jews celebrating Hanukkah were shot at Bondi Beach. In the U.S., Leftists took over college campuses and harassed Jewish students.

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