Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
@dsmithweb.bsky.social
Pro-democracy tech, media & innovation policy wonk | lawyer & strategic policy counsel | ex civil servant (sr policy advisor) | recovering academic | Oxford comma forever | #CanadaSky
Pinned
Doomscrolling = exercise
Posts = documenting (un)reality
Posts = documenting (un)reality
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
That tech oligarchs are noisy and incensed about the remote possibility of a wealth tax and utterly silent about the murder of a man who was only using the phone they invented to chronicle the thuggish government goon squads should tell you everything about these desiccated souls.
January 25, 2026 at 1:37 AM
That tech oligarchs are noisy and incensed about the remote possibility of a wealth tax and utterly silent about the murder of a man who was only using the phone they invented to chronicle the thuggish government goon squads should tell you everything about these desiccated souls.
“Canada cannot solve all the world's problems, but we can show that another way is possible: that the arc of history isn't destined to be warped towards authoritarianism and exclusion, it can still bend towards progress and justice."
Praising 'coexistence,' Mark Carney says Canada can show the world 'another way is possible' — Toronto Star
The prime minister spoke directly to Canadians on Thursday in a wide-ranging address that served as a clarion call for national unity.
apple.news
January 22, 2026 at 8:15 PM
“Canada cannot solve all the world's problems, but we can show that another way is possible: that the arc of history isn't destined to be warped towards authoritarianism and exclusion, it can still bend towards progress and justice."
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
Jack Smith: "My fear is that we have seen the rule of law function in our country for so long that many of us have come to take it for granted. The rule of law is not self-executing. It depends on our collective commitment to apply it."
January 22, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Jack Smith: "My fear is that we have seen the rule of law function in our country for so long that many of us have come to take it for granted. The rule of law is not self-executing. It depends on our collective commitment to apply it."
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
This is the best speech, just from a pure rhetoric perspective - its sophistication and persuasiveness - that I've seen a politician deliver in a good long while. Really recommend watching or reading the whole thing.
January 20, 2026 at 11:01 PM
This is the best speech, just from a pure rhetoric perspective - its sophistication and persuasiveness - that I've seen a politician deliver in a good long while. Really recommend watching or reading the whole thing.
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
Q: Do you want your Board of Peace to replace the UN?
TRUMP: Well, it might. The UN should have settled every one of the wars I settled.
TRUMP: Well, it might. The UN should have settled every one of the wars I settled.
January 20, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Q: Do you want your Board of Peace to replace the UN?
TRUMP: Well, it might. The UN should have settled every one of the wars I settled.
TRUMP: Well, it might. The UN should have settled every one of the wars I settled.
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
Carney: "American hegemony in particular helped provide public goods, a stable financial system... this bargain no longer works. Let me be direct. We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition... recently, great powers have begun using economic integration as a weapon. Tariffs as leverage ... "
January 20, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Carney: "American hegemony in particular helped provide public goods, a stable financial system... this bargain no longer works. Let me be direct. We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition... recently, great powers have begun using economic integration as a weapon. Tariffs as leverage ... "
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
In a speech to the World Economic Forum, Mark Carney says middle powers such as Canada must accept that the rules-based international order is effectively dead, and great power rivalry with is here to stay. Key excerpt:
January 20, 2026 at 3:48 PM
In a speech to the World Economic Forum, Mark Carney says middle powers such as Canada must accept that the rules-based international order is effectively dead, and great power rivalry with is here to stay. Key excerpt:
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
Keep 'em coming! More!
Universities can use their endowments strategically to recruit top young researchers.
U of T hires three top U.S. scholars, plans for 100 new postdocs - The Globe and Mail share.google/5tirGz79w1Eh...
Universities can use their endowments strategically to recruit top young researchers.
U of T hires three top U.S. scholars, plans for 100 new postdocs - The Globe and Mail share.google/5tirGz79w1Eh...
U of T hires three top U.S. scholars, plans for 100 new postdocs
New hires include Canadian-born MIT astrophysicist Sara Seager
share.google
November 12, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Keep 'em coming! More!
Universities can use their endowments strategically to recruit top young researchers.
U of T hires three top U.S. scholars, plans for 100 new postdocs - The Globe and Mail share.google/5tirGz79w1Eh...
Universities can use their endowments strategically to recruit top young researchers.
U of T hires three top U.S. scholars, plans for 100 new postdocs - The Globe and Mail share.google/5tirGz79w1Eh...
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
Teen Vogue has become a top-tier political journalism authority and doing this the day before election day is just cruel.
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
November 3, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Teen Vogue has become a top-tier political journalism authority and doing this the day before election day is just cruel.
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
As a former gamer, I cannot overstate how big of a deal this right-wing takeover of Electronic Arts is.
Are they going to create video games where they kidnap and dismember journalists like Jamal Khashoggi?
Are they going to create video games where they kidnap and dismember journalists like Jamal Khashoggi?
September 29, 2025 at 1:44 PM
As a former gamer, I cannot overstate how big of a deal this right-wing takeover of Electronic Arts is.
Are they going to create video games where they kidnap and dismember journalists like Jamal Khashoggi?
Are they going to create video games where they kidnap and dismember journalists like Jamal Khashoggi?
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
The last political column I was allowed to write in the @washingtonpost.com was a criticism of Obama.
His people took issue with my piece, but we were respectful.
Now he is tweeting in support of me.
This is how free political speech and respect for debate *actually works*.
Or used to work.
His people took issue with my piece, but we were respectful.
Now he is tweeting in support of me.
This is how free political speech and respect for debate *actually works*.
Or used to work.
September 18, 2025 at 2:56 PM
The last political column I was allowed to write in the @washingtonpost.com was a criticism of Obama.
His people took issue with my piece, but we were respectful.
Now he is tweeting in support of me.
This is how free political speech and respect for debate *actually works*.
Or used to work.
His people took issue with my piece, but we were respectful.
Now he is tweeting in support of me.
This is how free political speech and respect for debate *actually works*.
Or used to work.
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
This is how you do it folks: gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/gov-pritzker...
Gov. Pritzker Informs Public of Trump Administration’s Plans to Deploy Federal Agents to Chicago
Illinois leaders remain united against sending troops to Chicago, call for real public safety support instead of political theater
gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com
September 2, 2025 at 10:42 PM
This is how you do it folks: gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/gov-pritzker...
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
Pritzker: To the members of the press who are assembled here today and listening across the country, I am asking for your courage to tell it like it is. This is not a time to pretend here that there are two sides to this story.
August 25, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Pritzker: To the members of the press who are assembled here today and listening across the country, I am asking for your courage to tell it like it is. This is not a time to pretend here that there are two sides to this story.
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
Stay tuned. Big news coming for creating an alternative anti-fascist, pro-resistance information network here in Canada with @meidastouch.bsky.social
August 2, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Stay tuned. Big news coming for creating an alternative anti-fascist, pro-resistance information network here in Canada with @meidastouch.bsky.social
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
Elon Musk's anti-woke MechaHitler proudly announces a new contract with the Department of Defense
July 14, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Elon Musk's anti-woke MechaHitler proudly announces a new contract with the Department of Defense
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
“After years of political polarization, we’re suddenly (mostly) united…We’re demonstrating a David-versus-Goliath resilience that we didn’t realize we had…The message is clear: forget post-nationalism. It’s taken the risk of losing Canada to realize how much we appreciate it.” #CanadaSky 🇨🇦
Canada’s New Nationalism - Macleans.ca
This country has spent 250 years fighting American aggression. Here we go again.
macleans.ca
July 1, 2025 at 11:57 AM
“After years of political polarization, we’re suddenly (mostly) united…We’re demonstrating a David-versus-Goliath resilience that we didn’t realize we had…The message is clear: forget post-nationalism. It’s taken the risk of losing Canada to realize how much we appreciate it.” #CanadaSky 🇨🇦
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
scoop: Skydance's David Ellison has held early talks about acquiring The Free Press.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/11/b...
Bari Weiss et al could have a role in shaping the editorial voice of CBS News, if the deal comes to fruition.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/11/b...
Bari Weiss et al could have a role in shaping the editorial voice of CBS News, if the deal comes to fruition.
Skydance Is in Early Talks to Acquire The Free Press
www.nytimes.com
July 11, 2025 at 5:16 PM
scoop: Skydance's David Ellison has held early talks about acquiring The Free Press.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/11/b...
Bari Weiss et al could have a role in shaping the editorial voice of CBS News, if the deal comes to fruition.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/11/b...
Bari Weiss et al could have a role in shaping the editorial voice of CBS News, if the deal comes to fruition.
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
I am grieving the barbarism that is going to unfurl from all this. People are going to die. Livelihoods gone. All to feed a corrupt kleptocracy.
I see every day up close how different it is from the first time around. There are no guardrails. A disaster. I’m sorry we have to live through this.
I see every day up close how different it is from the first time around. There are no guardrails. A disaster. I’m sorry we have to live through this.
July 3, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I am grieving the barbarism that is going to unfurl from all this. People are going to die. Livelihoods gone. All to feed a corrupt kleptocracy.
I see every day up close how different it is from the first time around. There are no guardrails. A disaster. I’m sorry we have to live through this.
I see every day up close how different it is from the first time around. There are no guardrails. A disaster. I’m sorry we have to live through this.
“After years of political polarization, we’re suddenly (mostly) united…We’re demonstrating a David-versus-Goliath resilience that we didn’t realize we had…The message is clear: forget post-nationalism. It’s taken the risk of losing Canada to realize how much we appreciate it.” #CanadaSky 🇨🇦
Canada’s New Nationalism - Macleans.ca
This country has spent 250 years fighting American aggression. Here we go again.
macleans.ca
July 1, 2025 at 11:57 AM
“After years of political polarization, we’re suddenly (mostly) united…We’re demonstrating a David-versus-Goliath resilience that we didn’t realize we had…The message is clear: forget post-nationalism. It’s taken the risk of losing Canada to realize how much we appreciate it.” #CanadaSky 🇨🇦
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
Canada is one of the EU’s closest partners – and a trusted friend.
Today, I am proud to sign a new Security and Defence Partnership with Canada.
At a time of rising tensions, it will deepen our defence ties and unlock new cooperation.
Today, I am proud to sign a new Security and Defence Partnership with Canada.
At a time of rising tensions, it will deepen our defence ties and unlock new cooperation.
June 23, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Canada is one of the EU’s closest partners – and a trusted friend.
Today, I am proud to sign a new Security and Defence Partnership with Canada.
At a time of rising tensions, it will deepen our defence ties and unlock new cooperation.
Today, I am proud to sign a new Security and Defence Partnership with Canada.
At a time of rising tensions, it will deepen our defence ties and unlock new cooperation.
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
Grok’s going to get one of Musk’s updates again. Can’t wait to see what conspiracy theory it just repeats nonstop this time.
June 18, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Grok’s going to get one of Musk’s updates again. Can’t wait to see what conspiracy theory it just repeats nonstop this time.
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
We've just updated the @wired.com guide to protecting your privacy while attending protests with the latest best practices. @agreenberg.bsky.social and @lhn.bsky.social report: www.wired.com/story/how-to...
How to Protest Safely in the Age of Surveillance
Law enforcement has more tools than ever to track your movements and access your communications. Here’s how to protect your privacy if you plan to protest.
www.wired.com
June 12, 2025 at 7:31 PM
We've just updated the @wired.com guide to protecting your privacy while attending protests with the latest best practices. @agreenberg.bsky.social and @lhn.bsky.social report: www.wired.com/story/how-to...
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
I told you we’d be back
June 12, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I told you we’d be back
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
Seems extremely bad www.cnbc.com/2025/06/09/r...
RFK Jr. removes all members of CDC panel advising U.S. on vaccines
It's the latest move by Kennedy – a prominent vaccine skeptic – to change and potentially undermine vaccinations in the U.S. since he took the helm at HHS.
www.cnbc.com
June 9, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Seems extremely bad www.cnbc.com/2025/06/09/r...
Reposted by Deborah Smith-Webber 🇨🇦
