Residual GOP courage won't save Canada

In today’s episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on February 13th, 2026, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson open with a look at Donald Trump leaning hard into his Art of the Deal approach to pressure Canada over the Gordie Howe International Bridge. Neither host is impressed, and neither thinks the tactic is likely to succeed. They also discuss the threat to pull out of the CUSMA trade agreement and suggest that Trump may eventually discover that constant escalation dulls the impact of his own threats. That said, they do offer appropriate gratitude to the six Republicans who joined Democrats in the House to vote against tariffs on Canada. Six out of 218. How reassuring.

From there, the conversation turns to the recent tragic mass shooting in Canada. Both hosts are troubled by the familiar rush to judgment that follows these events, but also by the reluctance in some quarters to discuss facts that are plainly relevant. They argue that the shooter being trans is as important to understand as if the shooter were an incel, a white supremacist, or inspired by the Islamic State. These are not taboos; they are data points. If the goal is to understand the roots of violent crime, then nothing material to motive or ideology should be off limits.

Finally, Matt and Jen spend a few minutes contemplating the alternate universe in which Calgary is currently hosting the Winter Olympics. They wonder what that might have meant for Alberta’s mood and for Canadian identity more broadly. Unfortunately, both hosts confirm that they are stuck in this timeline with the rest of you. And they aren't happy about it.

All that and more in the latest episode of The Line Podcast.