It is a basic principle of American democracy that the government can’t selectively target individuals simply because of their political beliefs or what they say. But that’s exactly what the Trump Administration is doing to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. To understand why this is so appalling, it’s important to know the facts. Congresswoman Omar came to this country with her father when she was 12 years old. Five years later, her father became a naturalized citizen. If Ilhan had been 18 at the time, she would have had to apply for citizenship separately. But because she was 17, she became a naturalized citizen automatically. Congresswoman Omar went on to graduate from college, work as a community organizer, become the first Somali-American legislator elected to public office in the U.S., and win a seat in Congress. There, she has been one of the Trump Administration’s fiercest critics, which has led the president to repeatedly single her out as someone who he believes does not belong in this country. Now the Administration is actively trying to deport Congresswoman Omar, seemingly based solely on the unsubstantiated theory that she was actually 18 when her father was naturalized, and therefore is not a citizen. Federal agents have raided her home, confiscated personal records, and seized her phone — all to try and uncover a nonexistent smoking gun from 20 years ago that will somehow make their case. Think about that. The full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president. And it’s not the first time this has happened. Under President Trump, the Justice Department has repeatedly gone after those he considers his political enemies — from the Attorney General of New York, to the former head of the FBI, to members of the Federal Reserve. In those cases, the prosecutions either stalled or were dismissed for having no basis in law, and the same is likely to happen in this case. But not before Congresswoman Omar’s life has been turned upside down, her legal bills have piled up, and she’s been forced to spend time fighting unsubstantiated charges instead of serving the people of Minnesota. The fact that any president, or any administration, is willing to engage in such transparent efforts to intimidate someone should outrage all Americans, regardless of how they feel about Congresswoman Omar’s political views. Because if this becomes the new normal, there’s no reason to believe it will stop with her — or that future presidents, in either party, won’t do the same.

BILLS WIN!!!!!! @MandT_Bank | #BUFvsLV

When it comes to immigration, nuance feels nearly impossible. Yet leaders continue to reject a proper debate on the system’s future. So I feel I must wade in. Yesterday, IRCC announced changes prioritizing higher-paying jobs within occupations. Many are positive, but we seem to be returning to the prior status quo without any debate on whether the our immigration system serves our national interest. Immigration has driven Canada’s success, but support for it does not require accepting bad arguments. For years, “labour shortages” have justified high rates, yet the sustained real wage growth and productivity investment you’d expect are absent. Data does not support an economy with real labour shortages, instead, it shows a decades-long struggle to raise living standards. Even the presentation of these changes continues to show enormous intellectual dishonesty by indicating many designated labour areas as having tight labour supply. It’s not supported by evidence. More importantly, if a firm or sector cannot attract workers at the wages it offers, that is not a shortage, it is a compensation problem. We must allow labour markets to work through competition yielding higher wages, training, equipment investment, automation, and better business models. Some firms will adapt and others will fail. This is how economies grow richer and more productive! It’s high time Canada stops using immigration to spare businesses from competing for labour. Instead, I believe that immigration policy should serve the Canada we want to build for the long term. What industrial advantages should Canada develop? How do we attract exceptional entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators? How do we build a country where productivity rises and working Canadians can earn substantially higher incomes and accumulate more wealth? These questions are particularly important as AI, robotics and advanced manufacturing begin transforming production. Alongside abundant, affordable electricity, these technologies offer enormous opportunities to improve our productivity and prosperity. Our policies should encourage businesses to invest in them, rather than making it easier to preserve less productive business models through an ever-expanding supply of labour. That also means being willing to seriously reconsider the scale of immigration itself. Canada still plans to admit 380,000 permanent residents annually. But why should we assume that is the right number? Would a period of more moderate immigration, perhaps 100,000 to 200,000 annually with much more selective economic criteria, help us build a wealthier and more sustainable country? Furthermore, it’s worth addressing demographic arguments. Immigration can help offset population aging, but it cannot become a permanent bandage for collapsing fertility. Part of that decline reflects changing preferences, but housing affordability, financial insecurity and the growing difficulty of raising a family also matter. Similarly, while some reforms have been made to the TFW program, but we still need a serious plan for the temporary residents already here as their permits expire. Who should receive a pathway to permanent status? Under what conditions? And how do we fairly and consistently ensure that those without authorization to remain actually leave Canada? IRCC has demonstrated no competency it can effectively administer here. Finally, we can’t ignore the greater political context right now, as many in my political camp seem keen to. Across the Western world, immigration has become one of the most politically contentious issues of our time. I worry that our political leaders’ unwillingness to have a mature debate about immigration will make the emergence of a much uglier politics increasingly likely over the next decade as people with justified concerns get othered. In their wake, a more openly prejudiced politics feels inevitable. Most Canadians are ready for this debate, so let’s have it!

Mark Carney: "A country where you're free to be who you want to be, to speak your mind, to worship as you choose, to live your life as you wish. That is true independence. That is real sovereignty."

Mark Carney: "The frustrations that many Albertans have felt are real. Growing up, I remember. I remember how Ottawa made Albertans feel like our resources weren't our own. And more recently, we were made to feel that our energy contributions were running against the tides of history."

the crowd absolutely erupts when Carney says the Pacific Link pipeline will reduce Canada's dependence on the U.S. Mark Carney: "Careful. They might think that's election interference. They're a little touchy down there. We're not. We're getting on with it."

Finished the book. Come for the Trudeau stuff but stay for the informed geopolitical insights. More useful in the larger scheme of things cbc.ca/news/politics/chrysti…

Congratulations to Anthony @Scaramucci [GIFT ARTICLE] nytimes.com/2026/10/16/us/po…

I do not know any of the details of the Ilhan Omar case but worth saying that in a lot of places births are not recorded and things like birth dates are not important or even really noted. Also - and this is not Omar’s situation but I think it’s illustrative - tons and tons of refugees have Jan 1 listed as a birthday because they / their parents didn’t know the actual date. That’s not fraud it’s just the reality that not every country / culture / community records births the same way as Americans.

Denmark’s IKEA stores are preparing to serve as emergency shelters and temporary hospitals during crises, with plans to use display beds for accommodation, restaurants for food and generators for backup power reut.rs/4icdarZ

My favorite version of a politician making this point is Pierre Trudeau's.

This is so dangerous! President Trump is deliberately inciting race hatred against an ethnic minority, calling on the people of Minnesota to "fight back" against "Somali immigrants." This must be a terrifying moment for the Somali community (who are overwhelmingly US citizens).

Congratulations to Sagal Abdi-Wali, the new Labour MP for Holborn & St Pancras. Keir will be proud she is continuing in his footsteps. 🌹

The politics of division has lost tonight! @Sagal_AW ran a positive, inclusive campaign rooted in the issues that matter to local people in Holborn and St Pancras. Huge congratulations to Sagal on her resounding victory and on making history as the UK’s first MP of Somali heritage. A proud and historic moment!

Trump: "We will pass a truly great healthcare plan"

‘I sincerely thank Keir.’ The New Labour MP for Holborn and St Pancras Sagal Abdi-Wali pays tribute to the former Prime Minister in her acceptance speech.