Canada
The Ballad of Justin and Chrystia
Gerald Butts: With respect to the fallout from the Trudeau-Freeland political breakup, those consequences are clear: Mr. Trudeau was unlikely to lead the Liberal Party into the next election and is now much less likely to do so. That election will probably come sooner rather than later, and the odds of it producing a Conservative majority government are materially greater than they were before the events of 16 December. In short, what happened on Monday was Bad News for the Liberal Party.
Letter to caucus
Letter to the LPC caucus from MP George ChahaI: I and other caucus members do not support a secret enclave where Caucus chooses the new leader. The liberal caucus should elect an interim leader who can lead the government over the next 60 to 75 days. I strongly encourage the board to ratify this Democratic selection.
Bilan de fin d’année | Jagmeet Singh finalement prêt à se détacher des libéraux
« On n’a jamais dit qu’on cherchait une élection, mais on a déchiré l’entente parce que c’est clair que les libéraux ne peuvent pas faire ce qu’il faut pour réduire le coût de la vie des gens. Ils sont trop proches des grandes entreprises », a plaidé M. Singh, lors d’une entrevue réalisée en décembre, avant la démission de Mme Freeland.
Reforming Transition from Military to Civilian Life
The 16th Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs
The Provinces
Quebec sovereignty talk resurfaces as Parti Québécois gains in polls
The sovereigntist Parti Québécois has seized a commanding lead in provincial polls, ahead of François Legault’s government by nearly 15 points in some surveys – a margin that has grown rather than shrunk in recent months. What’s more, the party’s charismatic young leader, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, is promising a referendum in his first mandate if he’s elected. (🎁 link)
Premier Scott Moe reflects on 2024 and looks ahead to 2025
"... there was support for our platform, but there was a vote for change as well – change in policy direction, change in focus, and a change in how we’re approaching achieving the outcomes when it comes to healthcare delivery, and educational outcomes, and the general safety and security in the communities where we live."
Sask. NDP Leader Carla Beck looks to continue momentum in 2025
"There was a change signal that was sent by the people of this province in this election."
Elsewhere
Corporate interests commit millions to celebrate Trump’s inauguration
Fortune 500 companies, burgeoning crypto firms and individual billionaires are racing to help underwrite Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration – pledging seven-figure donations apiece to next month’s festivities as they work to ingratiate themselves with the new administration.
Right-Wing Figures Allege Censorship on X Amid Visa Controversy
Elon Musk has described himself as a ‘free speech absolutist,’ but many right-wing figures say their verification badges have been removed for criticizing H-1B visas, which Musk supports.
Croatia's outspoken president is seeking reelection. He faces several contenders in Sunday's vote
Croatia’s left-leaning president, who has been critical of Western military support for Ukraine in the war with Russia, is running for reelection this weekend.
Kavelashvili is inaugurated as Georgia's president, complicating its path toward EU
Former soccer player Mikheil Kavelashvili has been inaugurated as president of Georgia in what the opposition calls a blow to the country’s EU aspirations and a victory for former imperial ruler Russia.
Media
Quebec man single-handedly runs English-language news source for his community
With Quebec language laws preventing Deux-Montagnes from sharing information in English on the city website, one man has filled the void with his own English-language news outlet.
The Secret to Building Liberal Media That Works: Three Rules to Avoid Another Air America
Will Bunnett: Liberals want to build media to rival the right, but Air America flopped. What will it take to succeed this time?
Bluesky is testing a trending topics feature
Social network Bluesky said on Christmas that it is testing a trending topics view. The trending topics are visible both on the desktop and mobile apps of
Science and tech
Best iPad apps for unleashing and exploring your creativity
If you have an iPad and want to start using it to unleash and express your creativity, there are a number of apps that can help you do so.
Choosing the Right Chart: A Personal Guide to Better Data Visualization
Numbers Around Us: ... I’ve put together this guide — not just as a list of dos and don’ts but as a structured approach that you can follow to choose the right visualization for your specific needs. My goal is to help you make sense of your data, your purpose, and your audience so that you can communicate your insights effectively.
