August 24, 2026Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney instructed negotiators to walk away from talks with the Trump administration, When he won reelection in 2024, Trump emphasized that he intended to use tariffs to pressure Canada to join the US as a 51st state and he has sought to use the extraordinary economic power of the US to force Canada and other countries into subordinate relationships, This new attack on Canada doesn't make economic or political sense for the US but does make sense for this president who is flailing, Republicans appear unwilling to cross Trump but our allies do have power and agency of their own, Carney is urging so-called "middle countries" to create coalitions, Carney and Canada will retaliate against US tariffs and will begin intense discussions with the EU, Trump is clearly seen as untrustworthy, on beef prices, on oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz, and on data centers, A report about a meeting between Hakim Jeffries and Jared Kushner created fury, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced an initiative to demand other world leaders join with the US in strangling Iran’s economy. Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson

Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe