When Mark Met Donald - I'll Have What He's Having...Is the UN Going Bankrupt...Stay Far Away From Newark Airport. Far, far away...

You may recall the movie When Harry Met Sally. We saw this meeting as just like that. This encounter was like a slow dance around 'the chairs' as opposed to sitting across a table.

So let's call a spade a spade. Mark Carney is not anything like Justin Trudeau. So before he ever entered the Oval office, he was ahead of the game.

Carney also didn't have Chrystia Freeland in tow. Trump can barely tolerate her. He’s called her everything but the word that rhymes with "witch."

Maybe because she sounds like a talking elf and has a classic case of short-person syndrome. Yes Blanche, women get that too — arrogance mixed with a know-it-all attitude is a disaster combo with someone like Trump.

Thankfully, we didn’t have to witness Melanie Joly strutting in with Carney in a Che Guevara costume, smirking in her usual clueless way. She is out of her depth on foreign affairs, especially when it comes to Israel. Carney would do well to send her packing when picking his cabinet.

As for Carney he did exactly what we thought he would do. He was all business, except when he couldn't contain himself with the long, verbose responses from Trump. squirming while controlling himself from interrupting which is the kiss of death.

Whether or not he moved the needle is still to be determined.

Regarding the tariffs, we have not yet seen the effects of the 145% tariff on all goods coming from China.

Case in point is a gift boutique we deal with. People in retail have already ordered their holiday giftware and have to pay for it when they order it. It takes 3 months to get to the US from China and then their orders are shipped to Canada.

But if the point of origin is China, then their supplier has to pay the 145% tariff which you can be very certain will be passed on to you. The owner of the store expected some of her gift items to go up 100%, rendering them basically unsellable.

Welcome to instablity and uncertainty.

In a good news story, it appears that the united nations is going bankrupt.

In 2024, the United Nations had a $200 million cash shortfall. Internal modelling suggests that the year-end cash deficit will, without cuts, probably blow out to $1.1bn, leaving the UN without money to pay salaries and suppliers by September. Aww, isn't that too bad.

Approximately $760 million was lost in unpaid dues in 2024; the United States and China each contribute roughly 20% of the UN’s annual budget. The United States contributes $2.3 billion annually.

On February 4, Trump issued an executive action which stated, “The United States will not fund UNRWA or the UNHRC and that the United States will not satisfy any claims to pay 2025 assessments or prior arrears by these organizations.”

Say what you will about Trump, he got it right this time - the UN doesn’t deserve another penny from the U.S.

Remember the midair collision on January 29 when a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet collided head-on as the jet attempted to land at DCA. Everyone on board both aircrafts died. Aviation insiders had warned about this kind of disaster for months.

A few days ago, an air traffic controller issued a chilling warning about Newark Airport, similar to what people had said about Washington's airport:

“It is not safe. It is not a safe situation right now for the flying public... Don’t fly into Newark. Avoid Newark at all costs.”

We are taking this warning very seriously. Until staffing and safety issues at Newark are addressed, we strongly recommend flying into LaGuardia or JFK instead.

As we have said previously, we don't like Meghan Markle. Instead of helping her husband mend his relationship with his family, she keeps digging at them, pushing reconciliation further and further away.

Under the terms of a deal made when Harry and Meghan decided not to be working royals, it was decided by both parties that they would retain their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles, but would no longer use their "HRH" His or Her Royal Highness moniker in any active capacity.

Earlier this year a close friend of Meghan posted a photo of a gift basket. The tag attached to the package was signed from "HRH The Duchess of Sussex".

Harry has expressed a desire to see his father, who is battling cancer, but Meghan's use of those three letters has likely shut that door for now.

Can we talk? This kind of petty, self-serving behaviour is revolting. Meghan Markle's behaviour is not just tone-deaf, it's disgraceful.

The conservative party has chosen Andrew Sheer as their interim leader until Poilievre gets back into the House of Commons, most likely in the fall.

Blanche, can you please explain why CTV, who is reporting from Washington on Carney's trip, insists on standing outside on a very windy roof?

When Carney held his press conference he had to hold onto his papers for dear life.

The women reporters have their hair blowing into their faces.

They couldn't find a suitable indoor space?

We'll talk...