Why Is Donald Trump Picking a Fight with Canada?

The Washington Roundtable explores how Donald Trump’s wars of choice abroad, whether using tariffs or bombs, are dragging down his popularity at home. The panel looks at the baffling trade fight with Canada, the deepening quagmire in Iran, and the President’s recent embrace of data centers—all of which, they argue, could cost Republicans in the midterms. “He is seen as so toxic that a number of Republican candidates in districts that Trump won significantly before are saying, ‘Don’t send him here. We don’t wanna campaign with him,’ ” the staff writer Jane Mayer observes. “That, in politics, is the ultimate kiss-off. Goodbye.”

This week’s reading:

• “Donald Trump’s Capital Makeover,” by Antonia Hitchens
• “How Donald Trump Outmaneuvers the Supreme Court,” by Ruth Marcus
• “How Much Is the Iran War Costing Americans?,” by John Cassidy
• “What If Canada Joined the E.U.?,” by Ishaan Tharoor
• “Was ‘Defund the Police’ Crazy?,” by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor

The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week. Show less

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices