Jennifer Robson 🇨🇦

Thread

Notes on Canadian political management 'splainers by and for Carleton MPM students

Years ago, I worked with my MPM students to create this site. politicalmgt.wordpress.com
TBH, life got really busy & I let it get dormant.
I just heard through the grapevine that it might be attracting readers in some political offices as a resource for new staff. Time to update it.... #todolists

sigh…

OpenAI reaches deal to deploy AI models on U.S. Department of War classified network OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said on Friday it has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of War to deploy its AI models on classified cloud networks.

OpenAI reaches deal to deploy AI models on U.S. Department of War classified network reut.rs/3OEiIPL

I unsubscribed from Open AI and moved over to Anthropic because I was finding the coding & dataviz outputs were much more reliable.

This just adds to their competitive advantage, IMHO.

Narrative, I’d like to introduce you to data.

not an easy question, but one worth asking

Who had Canada's Chief Trade Negotiator to the U.S. in her classroom today? Oh, and also one of Canada's top policy/political advisors?
Thank you to Janice Charette & Marci Surkes for sharing your time and insights with MPM students today. Sorry media, it was a Chatham House-style event. #cdnpoli

concepts of a plan…

And it continues

bsky.app/profile/bloo...

The performative role of women - as grateful or grieving - is really striking in this SOTU. Only the First Lady gets elevated as an agentic actor, but mainly for having become “a movie star”

Trump announces access to gov matched retirement savings for eligible workers without a pension to a max annual match of $1k

There’s something here, but the math isn’t great.

Assume $1k gov for 40 years and worker puts in at 1:1. At 4% annual return, you have $200k. Not nothing, but too small.

there is no way tariffs could replace the income tax. just not mathematically possible. www.cato.org/blog/what-sc...

He even worked in the url…

Trump Accounts!

Such a sad, twisted version of what asset-based policy has been.

Trump says flow of fentanyl is down 56% y-y.
Great, so lift the 232 tariffs

SFT > SOTU

There. I said it

Since this will likely come up in the SOTU: Yes, US stock markets are up since Trump took office (14%).
But in the rest of the world, markets are up WAY more. Cumulative market gains are more than triple ours (43%)

And so it begins…

Just. Make. Up. Your. Mind. You absolute numpty.

the man is wearing a suit and tie and clapping his hands . ALT: the man is wearing a suit and tie and clapping his hands .

Per this EO, the US really needs:
-metals
-energy
-fertilizers
-passenger vehicles
-anything subject to 232 tariffs
-anything under CUSMA.

Amazing. Keep it up.

Imposing a Temporary Import Surcharge to Address Fundamental International Payments Problems BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION The United States plays a pivotal role in shaping the global economy. At the same time, Every child deserves a safe and nurturing home w...

This is not a particularly well-written EO. But a few notable features:
1) CUSMA-compliant are excluded (yayy)
2) Max duration of 150 days (yaaay! more uncertainty! moaarr!!)
3) excludes several goods on basis of domestic need that are subject of 232 tariffs

www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

Anyone know whether USMCA-compliant goods will be exempt from the new Sec 122 tariffs?

This seems particularly noteworthy in today’s decision

This decision is good news in general, but Canada still faces considerable challenges with sectoral tariffs.

I’m honestly surprised and happy to be so.

To prebunk what we can expect to hear tomorrow:
🔴 Immigrants pay provincial taxes.
🔴 Many non-immigrants don't.

Cutting off immigrants' access to public services isn't about protecting taxpayers.

It's about picking and choosing who is worthy of healthcare and education.

Oh! And this plan builds on legislation that Sen Mark Kelly (D) had introduced so not sure we should expect this to vanish even if Congress flips.
This is the new normal folks.

Statement of Commissioners Max Vekich and Laura DiBella on Closing the Harbor Maintenance Tax Land-Border Loophole - Federal Maritime Commission We commend the Administration for taking steps to close the land border loophole which poses a threat to the U.S. economy and maritime interests. Section 6 of the President’s April 2025 Executive Orde...

I can’t tell if US officials might try apply it at every land port (ie land crossing) regardless of origin, but I can imagine interpretation may vary. This statement from the US Commissioners is pretty illuminating on intent : www.fmc.gov/ftdo/stateme...

Opinion | How the Elite Behave When No One Is Watching: Inside the Epstein Emails

“That people move from representing the presidency to representing banks is so normal that we forget the costs: the private job done with the savvy to outfox one’s former public-sector colleagues, the public job done gently to keep open doors” @anandwrites.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...

So, not by naturalization. But also not by birthright.
Hmmmm… if a regime just wants to handpick who does or doesn’t get to belong, based on criteria they alone decide, without clear right of recourse, with (potentially violent) enforcement, I think there’s a word for that….