Category Archives: Politics

Politics

Did Trump stop any wars?

Did Trump stop any wars?

Don’t Be Silly

No major U.S. war was fully ended during Trump’s presidency.
However, he avoided starting new large wars, reduced U.S. involvement in some conflicts, and made agreements meant to wind wars down.

Major conflicts during Trump’s presidency

1. Afghanistan War (2001–2021)

  • What Trump did:

    • In February 2020, the U.S. signed the Doha Agreement with the Taliban.

    • The deal set a plan for U.S. troops to leave Afghanistan.

  • What he did NOT do:

    • The war did not end while Trump was president.

  • What happened later:

    • The final U.S. withdrawal happened in 2021 under President Biden.

✅ Trump began the withdrawal process, but did not end the war.

2. War against ISIS (Iraq & Syria)

  • What Trump did:

    • By 2019, ISIS lost almost all of its territory.

    • Trump announced ISIS was “defeated territorially.”

  • What he did NOT do:

    • U.S. troops remained in the region.

    • The conflict did not fully end.

✅ ISIS was severely weakened, but the war did not completely stop.

3. Iraq War

  • What Trump did:

    • Reduced U.S. troop levels.

  • What he did NOT do:

    • The U.S. did not fully leave Iraq.

4. Syria

  • What Trump did:

    • Ordered a partial U.S. troop withdrawal in 2019.

  • What he did NOT do:

    • The Syrian civil war continued.

    • Some U.S. forces stayed.

5. No new large wars

  • Trump did not start a new full-scale war like Iraq (2003) or Afghanistan (2001).

  • There were military actions (airstrikes, killing of Iran’s General Soleimani in 2020), but no new declared war.

Peace deals (often confused with “stopping wars”)

Abraham Accords (2020)

  • Agreements between Israel and several Arab countries.

  • Improved relations but did not end an active war.

Simple summary

  • ❌ Trump did not stop or end major wars

  • ✅ He reduced troop levels in some places

  • ✅ He started withdrawal plans, especially in Afghanistan

  • ✅ He did not start a new major war

Politics

Democracy can’t be imposed

The U.S. claims to stand for democracy, yet history keeps repeating itself. One dictator is removed, only to be replaced by another—just with a different flag. Venezuela’s suffering isn’t solved by foreign strongmen or ego-driven leaders. Swapping one dictator for another, whether abroad or at home, is not liberation. It’s hypocrisy.

Democracy can’t be imposed by someone who doesn’t respect it themselves.

Canada, Politics

Why are Canadians avoiding U.S. travel?

Canadians changing their travel plans

Recent surveys show a significant shift in Canadian travel behaviour when it comes to visiting the United States:

  • One poll found that over 65% of Canadians said they have changed their travel plans this year to avoid travelling to the U.S. — with ~35.7% cancelling their trips completely, and ~29.5% choosing a different country instead.

  • Another survey reported that among Canadians who had planned a U.S. trip, 56% had either cancelled or modified it.

  • A February 2025 poll showed that 48% of Canadians said they were “less likely” to visit the U.S. this year compared to last.

  • According to the Travel Health Insurance Association (THIA), about 70% of Canadians intend to avoid travel to the U.S. this year.

Actual travel numbers backing the shift

It isn’t just intentions — the data show real declines in travel:

  • For April 2025, return trips of Canadian residents from the U.S. by vehicle dropped ~35.2% compared with April 2024; by air they dropped ~19.9%.

  • In May 2025, automobile return trips from the U.S. dropped ~38.1% year-over-year.

  • For August 2025, Canadian-resident return trips to the U.S. were down ~29.7% overall; vehicle trips fell ~32.6%.

Why are Canadians avoiding U.S. travel?

The various sources point to a mix of factors:

  • Political tensions and trade disputes between Canada and the U.S. — for example, Canadians citing tariffs and a sense of being treated unfairly.

  • A weak Canadian dollar vs. the U.S. dollar making travel to the U.S. more expensive.

  • A preference for alternatives: more Canadians are choosing to travel domestically (within Canada) or to other international destinations instead of the U.S.

What this means

  • The U.S., which has historically been the top destination for Canadians travelling abroad, is seeing a noticeable pull-back in Canadian visitors. For example: in 2024 Canadian-resident trips to the U.S. totaled around 39 million, representing ~75% of all Canadian-resident travel abroad.

  • For U.S. tourism and border-economies that count on Canadian visitors, the drop is significant — both in visitor numbers and likely in spending.

  • For Canada, this means more of the tourism “dollar” may stay at home or go to other destinations — which could benefit domestic travel sectors.

  • For travellers: if you were planning to go to the U.S., this might be a good time to reassess exchange rates, border conditions, and perhaps compare alternatives.

Politics

Republicans Just Got Smoked

Republicans Just Got Smoked — Are We Finally Seeing the Beginning of Trump’s Political Downfall?

I couldn’t help but notice a pattern as election results rolled in last night: Republicans got absolutely smoked. Everywhere there was a major contest — from local races to big statewide battles — the GOP came up short.

And it wasn’t just one-off races or quirky local issues. It felt bigger. Voters across the country seemed to send the same message: enough with the chaos, the culture wars, and the constant Trump drama.

For years, the Republican Party has tied itself tighter and tighter to Donald Trump, betting that his base could carry them through anything. But now, that bet looks shaky. These results suggest that the MAGA brand isn’t energizing people the way it used to — especially in swing areas where elections are actually won or lost.

I’m not saying Trump is done — far from it. His hold on the GOP is still powerful, and he has a loyal following. But politics is about momentum, and right now, it feels like that momentum is shifting.

Maybe this is the first real sign that voters are starting to move on. Or maybe it’s just a temporary blip before 2024 turns everything upside down again. Either way, something is changing — and Republicans might want to pay attention before it’s too late.

Politics

Thank you, Doug Ford!

Thank you, Doug Ford! Nothing like sticking your thumb right in the Orange Man’s eye — and using that Reagan commercial? Chef’s kiss.

Memo to Canada’s premiers: stop lining up to kiss Trump’s ass. It’s not a winning strategy, eh? 🇨🇦🍁