Philip Mai

So there currently a raging debate on X, Bluesky & other platforms where people are using a drop in Cloudflare's YandexBot traffic to claim that right-wing online engagement is falling. radar.cloudflare.com/bots/as13238... That conclusion doesn't follow from the data.

The snark is so good, I had to do a lateral search to confirm this footage is real and not AI. Texas would be lucky to have Talarico as its senator. www.cnn.com/2026/10/11/p...

Canadian Thanksgiving comes early, and honestly, that’s part of the magic! We get to celebrate gratitude, cozy fall vibes, and all the good things in life before the holiday rush begins. A little earlier, a little cozier, and uniquely Canadian. 🇨🇦🍂✨

Despite how crazy the world can feel sometimes, it’s nice to pause and appreciate the good things in life. Happy Thanksgiving, Canada! 🦃🍁🧡

"The UK security service, MI5, has identified that more than 100 UK-linked academics have contributed, possibly some of them unwittingly, to projects funded by China’s civilian intelligence and security services via the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI)."

"Universities Netherlands (UNL) has signed an agreement to intensify cooperation between Dutch universities and the Ministry of Defence to meet the increased security challenge." www.universityworldnews.com/post-mobile....

L'estate c'est moi. "SpaceX and other rocket companies may soon be exempt from key environmental rules. The FAA wants to waive some environmental review requirements for space companies. Critics worry they won’t be held accountable for harming property or ecosystems." www.nbcnews.com/science/spac...

After Germany publicly named Russia over an attempted attack on its soil, the best the U.S. could muster was to send its NATO ambassador to voice support for an ally under attack, not a senior Cabinet official. That's telling, and I am sure protocol-obsessed Moscow noticed. aa.com.tr/en/europe/us...

As researchers who study rhetoric and framing, we’ve noticed that many American politicians don’t seem to understand that the U.S. has lost an entire generation of Canadians. Many now say they’ll never set foot in America again or buy American-made products.

See, when the Trump administration views an interlocutor as a genuine threat and an equal, it can behave rationally. www.reuters.com/business/aut... It clearly doesn’t view Canada as an equal, but as a wayward vassal, so it’s bringing out the sticks.

Alienating the people who share your longest undefended border is not just a diplomatic failure; it’s a costly strategic mistake with profound military and human consequences. As the US pushes Canada towards Europe and China, repairing this fracture will take decades, if not longer.

"Dozens Of Federal Judges Go On Record About The Rising Threats They Face. In rare first-person accounts, judges describe a surge in disturbing threats, “swatting” and “pizza doxxing” since Trump took office in 2025." www.huffpost.com/entry/federa...

"Identity Verification Is Broken. The 153M Driver’s Licenses Now for Sale Are Proof A massive trove of driver’s license scans allegedly stolen from an identity verification company shows the danger of creating honey pots of our most sensitive documents for malicious actors to exploit."

Fake 10 Downing Street listing on Booking.com highlights security failures www.theguardian.com/money/2026/s...

Suddenly due process matters.

"Most Americans disapprove of Lake Ontario name change." That's nice. But it assumes Americans still live in a democracy where citizens' approval is valued. www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/09/01/most-americans-disapprove-lake-ontario-name-change/

Talented people are always in demand, which means they have the luxury of choice. "Canada Hires 48 Scholars Away From Top U.S. Universities. A crackdown on American academia by the Trump administration has handed Canadian universities a rare opportunity to lure some top researchers north."

"The man who shaped Trump: book sheds fresh light on ruthless Roy Cohn. American Scoundrel tells story of McCarthy attack dog, mob lawyer and Trump mentor " www.theguardian.com/books/2026/s...

"Sweetener used in chewing gum and jam linked to strokes and heart attacks. High blood levels of xylitol associated with higher risk of major cardiovascular events, in largest study of its kind" www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Don't forget tech leaders in Canada tried to do this last year.

"The Unwelcoming States of America. By trying to change its demographic trajectory, Donald Trump will make his country weaker." www.economist.com/leaders/2026...

As we and others suspected... "CIA Chief’s Surprise Moscow Trip Was to Warn Russia Not to Attack NATO" www.wsj.com/politics/pol... Here are a few of the many breadcrumbs we have gathered that suggest Russia may want to test NATO resolve sooner rather than later.

She was a light that represented the best of America ... Her music will live on... youtube.com/watch?v=ZCwW...

Dolly Parton and Patti LaBelle playing their acrylics. Two icons.

RIP Dolly Parton ❤️ Here's a lovely Dolly story: We worked together on "Transamerica." She told me that the bible passage that used to puzzle her the most was, "the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men." She said, "How the heck do you sin against the Holy Ghost, and-

When the Gatlinburg Wildfires happened in 2016, Dolly gave impacted families $1,000/month to help them get back on their feet. This included my father-in-law, who lost everything in the fire. Dolly gave children in TN free books each month, from birth to the age of five. She was a goddamn saint.

#China’s robot games underway today and race one already had a great stack. Kids cheered! #Beijing now…

"Yes, Trump can hurt Canada more than Canada can hurt Trump. That part of Trump’s thinking is true. But wars are not decided only by the question Who can inflict more pain? Wars are also decided by the question Who can endure more pain?" www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

"The Diarrhea Lettuce Company Has Been Linked to Forced Labor" futurism.com/science-ener...

👀 2,000 fake articles and over 6,000 fake posts on social media. "Minister of Immigration and Integration Morten Bødskov (S) to link the migrant crisis in Ceuta to Russia's hybrid warfare." www.dr.dk/nyheder/udla...

In plain English, by trying to dictate whom Canada can trade with, the US is effectively seeking to formalize Canada’s status as a vassal state, supplying raw materials only to the US and countries the US approves.

One of the hallmarks of sovereignty is the power to govern your own foreign affairs: deciding who you want to trade with and who you want as your allies. Any country that gives that up ceases to be sovereign.

Attacked by Trump on tariffs, Mark Carney says Canada is now ‘at war’ with US over trade. Carney said the US presented "unacceptable" terms that were too restrictive, including curbing Canada's ability to strike new trade deals with other countries. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Canada is not helpless in this fight. But a $-for-$ match is the wrong way to go. Instead, Canada could leverage America's dependence on Canadian inputs and shut down whole supply chains. Imagine not being able to ship a $50k car because of a $100 part made only in Canada. bsky.app/profile/soci...

From Iran to China, Canada is the latest country to call Trump's bluff. There will be pain on both sides of the border. But nobody can trust the US under Trump anymore. Everyone is waiting to see what is on offer after the #midterms. www.yahoo.com/news/world/a...

"The United States imposed 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian products early Saturday, and Canada immediately said it would retaliate, after last-ditch negotiations failed to resolve the latest strain in already tense relations between the historic allies." www.npr.org/2026/08/22/n...

This is what the fake "free speech" advocates have built: an administration that harasses critics. Produce research showing the expensive National Guard deployments didn't lower crime? Get sued by Trump's lawyers www.nytimes.com/2026/08/21/u...

Is the Canada Online News Act about to go bye-bye to placate Trump? We will know soon enough. The Act requires major social media, search and advertising technology companies to compensate Canadian news outlets for lost advertising revenue. www.thestar.com/opinion/star...

Due process is often the first victim of authoritarianism, and its death rattle is usually heard long before democracy falls. Always demand due process. If nothing else, it slows down fascism long enough for people to recognize what is happening. www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...

Coming to a country near you. Like Russia's "don't say gay law," this new 🇷🇺 law will likely be copied by others: "Vladimir Putin has signed a new “civic death” law targeting the Kremlin’s critics everywhere. The goal is to intimidate Russian citizens from speaking out against Putin’s crimes."

Interesting. So any Canadian backbencher can now hold discussions directly with a foreign government, while the government is also conducting official talks on the same matter with said foreign government? www.cbc.ca/news/world/v...

"McDonald’s Built a 515-Page Dossier on Me. It Says I’ll Never Stop Eating There. I requested a copy of my data from McDonald’s loyalty program and received an extensive, personalized report that algorithmically predicts my next purchase." www.wired.com/story/mcdona...

Even Goodwill won’t want this trash. MAGA merch will end up on the trash heap of history. Like old KKK hoods and robes, it will become an embarrassing relic that descendants of its supporters discover years from now, stuffed in an old trunk and forgotten in some dusty attic or basement.