This week on The Lonely Liberal, Rick and I cover a whirlwind of headlines that span the outrageous, the authoritarian, and the just plain bizarre.

In the news:

• Elon Musk finally turns on Trump—so naturally, Steve Bannon wants to deport him.
• Trump signs a proclamation to restrict student visas and ban entry from 12 countries.
• A new investigation into Biden’s cognitive health is underway,
• The administration says federal jobs will now go to “Patriotic Americans” first
• The National Guard is deployed to LA to crack down on ICE protestors.
• The Trump administration moves to remove Harvey Milk’s name from a Navy ship.
• Louisiana passes a bill banning chemtrails (yes, those chemtrails).
• A 22-year-old named Thomas Fugate is now apparently leading terror prevention efforts.
• Chuck Schumer starts calling the GOP bill the “we are all going to die” bill.
• Democrats launch the SAM Project to study young men
• And Hong Kong’s health chief wants people to stare at smokers until they stop.

It’s a week that perfectly encapsulates our new political era—equal parts dystopia and parody. Let’s break it all down.

Email us at thelonelyliberalpodcast@gmail.com

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In this special cross-border episode, we are joined by the wonderful Delia, Canadian energy and supply chain maestro, to unpack the complicated, often overlooked dynamics between the United States and Canada. From Trump's past and present jabs at America’s northern neighbor to the surprising ways U.S. politics influence Canadian elections, we ask: What’s really going on here?

We explore:

• Trump’s shifting relationship with Canada: trade wars, pipeline politics, and “blame Canada” rhetoric
• How U.S. political chaos spills across the border — and what that means for Canadian elections
• The clean energy connection: How Canadian hydro, offshore wind, and critical minerals tie our economies together
• Plus: Why Canada is watching the 2028 U.S. election just as closely as we are

Whether you’re American, Canadian, or just curious how global neighbors influence each other, this episode dives deep into one of the world’s most important — and strained — partnerships.

Email us at thelonelyliberalpodcast@gmail.com

Follow us @thelonelyliberal

This week, Rick and I break down the chaos in Trumpworld and beyond:

Serious Headlines

• Trump’s tariffs ruled illegal — then reinstated by an appeals court.
• Trump claims he lowered China tariffs to protect them from civil unrest.
• Steel tariffs are set to double, prompting fears of a trade war rerun.
• “TACO” — Trump Always Chickens Out — goes viral (and he’s not thrilled).
• Lobbyists reportedly charging for help securing Trump pardons.
• Trump cancels a $766 million Moderna bird flu vaccine grant — during an actual bird flu outbreak.
• The MAHA report cites studies that don’t exist (including one that links to a dog food site).
• The State Department considers an “Office of Remigration” — a term borrowed from European far-right parties.
• PBS sues the Trump administration, just days after NPR did the same

Weird and Funny Stuff

• Trump retweets a conspiracy theory that Biden died in 2020 and was replaced by a robot.
• Elon Musk allegedly did so much ketamine while advising Trump it affected his bladder.
• A newspaper publishes an AI-generated summer reading list with totally fake books (we’d still read The Invisible Canoe).
• Trump might pardon Diddy.
• Senator Joni Ernst, asked about Medicaid cuts, says: “Well, we’re all going to die.”

Email us at thelonelyliberalpodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram @thelonelyliberal