Stephen Lautens
@stephenlautens.bsky.social
Writer, communications consultant, legal gadfly, velvet jacket enthusiast. Big believer in the rule of law. Desperately trying to remain optimistic against all the odds. Posts are clearly my own.
Pinned
Canada may not want to fully join the EU, but there are definitely advantages to being friends with benefits. #cdnpoli
New polling from Research Co finds nearly half of Canadians still support joining the EU, while a huge share oppose joining the United States
Read it for free here: open.substack.com/pub/canadian...
Read it for free here: open.substack.com/pub/canadian...
Canadians Support EU Membership, While Rejecting American Statehood
Strong majorities support looking overseas for new trade opportunities in the face of American belligerence
open.substack.com
February 17, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Canada may not want to fully join the EU, but there are definitely advantages to being friends with benefits. #cdnpoli
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Montreal this morning to unveil Canada's new defence industrial strategy. The plan is nothing short of standing up a massive new dual use industrial base, independent of the U.S.
File this under: America's allies are unplugging from the US with gusto.
File this under: America's allies are unplugging from the US with gusto.
February 17, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Montreal this morning to unveil Canada's new defence industrial strategy. The plan is nothing short of standing up a massive new dual use industrial base, independent of the U.S.
File this under: America's allies are unplugging from the US with gusto.
File this under: America's allies are unplugging from the US with gusto.
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news...
Here it is #canada
We finally have a defence industrial national strategy
Please read it all - don’t depend on media that often omits or distorts sections
Here it is #canada
We finally have a defence industrial national strategy
Please read it all - don’t depend on media that often omits or distorts sections
Prime Minister Carney launches Canada’s first Defence Industrial Strategy to strengthen security, create prosperity, and reinforce strategic autonomy
To protect Canada’s sovereignty, build our prosperity, and strengthen our strategic autonomy, the Canadian government must change how we invest in defence.
www.pm.gc.ca
February 17, 2026 at 4:50 PM
www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news...
Here it is #canada
We finally have a defence industrial national strategy
Please read it all - don’t depend on media that often omits or distorts sections
Here it is #canada
We finally have a defence industrial national strategy
Please read it all - don’t depend on media that often omits or distorts sections
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
Concerning, brought to you by sore loserism and a poisoned right-wing information ecosystem that tries to ape the American swamp as much as it possibly can (while legacy media both-sides it to death).
February 17, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Concerning, brought to you by sore loserism and a poisoned right-wing information ecosystem that tries to ape the American swamp as much as it possibly can (while legacy media both-sides it to death).
New Podcast - Feb. 16/26. The Tumbler Ridge tragedy - responsible reporting vs. those who would weaponize it. Demonizing Trans people. The myth of illegal voters. Trump planning to disrupt or invalidate US midterms. What's next? Autocracy or civil war? #cdnpoli www.podbean.com/ew/pb-sinz6-...
What the Tumbler Ridge tragedy says about us as Canadians - small L liberals
Stephen Lautens and Steven Kerzner discuss the ways in which Canadians, Canadian politicicans and Canadian media responded to the Tumbler Ridge tragedy - and the ways in which we didn't. Also - Trump ...
www.podbean.com
February 17, 2026 at 2:53 PM
New Podcast - Feb. 16/26. The Tumbler Ridge tragedy - responsible reporting vs. those who would weaponize it. Demonizing Trans people. The myth of illegal voters. Trump planning to disrupt or invalidate US midterms. What's next? Autocracy or civil war? #cdnpoli www.podbean.com/ew/pb-sinz6-...
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both." –Justice Louis Brandeis
Words spoken many years ago that are just as relevant today.
We must continue the fight to get big money out of politics.
Words spoken many years ago that are just as relevant today.
We must continue the fight to get big money out of politics.
February 16, 2026 at 11:01 PM
"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both." –Justice Louis Brandeis
Words spoken many years ago that are just as relevant today.
We must continue the fight to get big money out of politics.
Words spoken many years ago that are just as relevant today.
We must continue the fight to get big money out of politics.
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
Right-wing Heritage Foundation’s own data shows fewer than 100 noncitizens voted since 1982 (!!!)
This is not a real problem. “The SAVE ACT is a Trojan horse to nationalize elections”: open.substack.com/pub/thiswill...
This is not a real problem. “The SAVE ACT is a Trojan horse to nationalize elections”: open.substack.com/pub/thiswill...
February 16, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Right-wing Heritage Foundation’s own data shows fewer than 100 noncitizens voted since 1982 (!!!)
This is not a real problem. “The SAVE ACT is a Trojan horse to nationalize elections”: open.substack.com/pub/thiswill...
This is not a real problem. “The SAVE ACT is a Trojan horse to nationalize elections”: open.substack.com/pub/thiswill...
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
Heard Christie repeat the lie that China does nothing on climate change. The truth is they're way ahead of us.
The "But China" Myth: Why Everything You Think You Know About Their Emissions Is Outdated
If you’ve ever had a conversation about climate change, you’ve heard the ultimate conversation-stopper: “Why should we care about our carbon footprint when China is building a new coal plant every wee...
open.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Heard Christie repeat the lie that China does nothing on climate change. The truth is they're way ahead of us.
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
Remember the articles written about the ON Home Care changes in its supply system in Sept 2024?
This article by @jackhauen.bsky.social documents the egregious supply issues in the Fall of 2024, with info obtained via freedom of information requests.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/the-tri...
This article by @jackhauen.bsky.social documents the egregious supply issues in the Fall of 2024, with info obtained via freedom of information requests.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/the-tri...
'Pain crisis': Inside the supply shortage that devastated Ontario’s home care system
Documents reveal how a cost-cutting merger led to palliative patients dying without medication or nutrition
www.thetrillium.ca
February 12, 2026 at 10:24 PM
Remember the articles written about the ON Home Care changes in its supply system in Sept 2024?
This article by @jackhauen.bsky.social documents the egregious supply issues in the Fall of 2024, with info obtained via freedom of information requests.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/the-tri...
This article by @jackhauen.bsky.social documents the egregious supply issues in the Fall of 2024, with info obtained via freedom of information requests.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/the-tri...
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
HAYES: “The target turned out to be 4 party balloons… No Mexican cartel drones. Just Border Patrol agents with a borrowed experimental space laser shooting at (party balloons).”🎪
The Trump regime, folks 🤦🏼- Bondi, Duffy etc all lied about why El Paso airport shut down.🎈
The Trump regime, folks 🤦🏼- Bondi, Duffy etc all lied about why El Paso airport shut down.🎈
February 13, 2026 at 4:36 AM
HAYES: “The target turned out to be 4 party balloons… No Mexican cartel drones. Just Border Patrol agents with a borrowed experimental space laser shooting at (party balloons).”🎪
The Trump regime, folks 🤦🏼- Bondi, Duffy etc all lied about why El Paso airport shut down.🎈
The Trump regime, folks 🤦🏼- Bondi, Duffy etc all lied about why El Paso airport shut down.🎈
NATO strips the United States of command of all three of its operational‑level Joint Force Commands. For the first time since NATO’s founding, every major operational command will now be led by European officers. open.substack.com/pub/civilwar...
US STRIPPED FROM KEY NATO COMMANDS
The Greenland Reaction
open.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:34 PM
NATO strips the United States of command of all three of its operational‑level Joint Force Commands. For the first time since NATO’s founding, every major operational command will now be led by European officers. open.substack.com/pub/civilwar...
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
This is well worth the (longish) read. Hits the nail on The head.
This is superb. Wayne Horton may have invented a new genre of journalism. This is a deeply informed, wonderfully enlightening essay on how to behave in bad faith negotiations, as well as a perfect reading of Carney's manner and thinking, and it's satire. It is explanatory parody. And it's right.
Dear Team Canada — Day 289 — Will You Please Shut Up?
The Carney Letters — an unauthorized series by Wayne Horton
letterkenny.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:42 AM
This is well worth the (longish) read. Hits the nail on The head.
Sneaky Canada builds a 6-lane highway bridge to the U.S. in the night when no one is looking. President Trump wakes up to discover this massive threat to American security that will be used to smuggle Canadian comedians and musicians into the U.S. #cdnpoli
February 11, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Sneaky Canada builds a 6-lane highway bridge to the U.S. in the night when no one is looking. President Trump wakes up to discover this massive threat to American security that will be used to smuggle Canadian comedians and musicians into the U.S. #cdnpoli
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
Every country surely must understand by now that any agreement they have entered into with the US and any agreement they are currently negotiating is utterly worthless while Trump is president.
February 10, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Every country surely must understand by now that any agreement they have entered into with the US and any agreement they are currently negotiating is utterly worthless while Trump is president.
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
"Putting sanctions on judges and prosecutors who are just doing their job is disgraceful."
This Canadian #ICC judge knows firsthand the impact of being targeted by Trump's America : apple.news/AX3mvYqrtQ26... #cdnpoli
This Canadian #ICC judge knows firsthand the impact of being targeted by Trump's America : apple.news/AX3mvYqrtQ26... #cdnpoli
This Canadian judge knows firsthand the impact of being targeted by Trump's America — Toronto Star
Kimberly Prost is one of several judges and prosecutors at the International Criminal Court being sanctioned by the Trump administration. It's upended her daily life — but won't intimidate her.
apple.news
February 9, 2026 at 7:04 PM
"Putting sanctions on judges and prosecutors who are just doing their job is disgraceful."
This Canadian #ICC judge knows firsthand the impact of being targeted by Trump's America : apple.news/AX3mvYqrtQ26... #cdnpoli
This Canadian #ICC judge knows firsthand the impact of being targeted by Trump's America : apple.news/AX3mvYqrtQ26... #cdnpoli
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
Trump’s New Art of the Deal: Holding Hostage What You Never Owned #cdnpoli
Trump’s New Art of the Deal: Holding Hostage What You Never Owned
The U.S. President’s latest missive to Canada involves a new twist on his decades-long reputation for stiffing contractors
open.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:17 AM
Trump’s New Art of the Deal: Holding Hostage What You Never Owned #cdnpoli
Poilievre's Conservatives are all pounding the same talking old points, as they haven't learned anything and are genetically incapable of pivoting. Blaming the cost of groceries on Carney is one of their main memes, but Dragons' Den host Arlene Dickinson has something to say about that... #cdnpoli
February 8, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Poilievre's Conservatives are all pounding the same talking old points, as they haven't learned anything and are genetically incapable of pivoting. Blaming the cost of groceries on Carney is one of their main memes, but Dragons' Den host Arlene Dickinson has something to say about that... #cdnpoli
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
Austria's Benjamin Karl wins the gold medal snowboard slalom and immediately removes 4 layers of clothing in like 15 seconds to flex
February 8, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Austria's Benjamin Karl wins the gold medal snowboard slalom and immediately removes 4 layers of clothing in like 15 seconds to flex
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
NEW PODCAST! Steven Kerzner and I talk about the high standard we need to hold people in power (like police) to; Poilievre's "landslide" leadership victory; grievance politics and separatists fanning Alberta's enduring myths; and Steven isn't a Avi Lewis fan. #cdnpoli www.podbean.com/ew/pb-gjjsh-...
small L liberals
Steven Kerzner and Stephen Lautens discuss their newfound love of the winter hermit lifestyle, Pierre Poilievre's illusory leadership 'victory', how 'America First' is putting America last, the federa...
www.podbean.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:08 PM
NEW PODCAST! Steven Kerzner and I talk about the high standard we need to hold people in power (like police) to; Poilievre's "landslide" leadership victory; grievance politics and separatists fanning Alberta's enduring myths; and Steven isn't a Avi Lewis fan. #cdnpoli www.podbean.com/ew/pb-gjjsh-...
According to the Alberta separatists' website, there are 18 sitting MLAs of Danielle Smith's UCP government who support Alberta separating from Canada. Here are their names: albertarepublicans.com/actionhub/ml... #cdnpoli #ableg
MLA Independence Scorecard | Republican Party of Alberta
MLAs SUPPORTING INDEPENDENCE Find the name and image of every MLA currently elected and where they stand. Contact your MLA today and encourage them to support
albertarepublicans.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:40 PM
According to the Alberta separatists' website, there are 18 sitting MLAs of Danielle Smith's UCP government who support Alberta separating from Canada. Here are their names: albertarepublicans.com/actionhub/ml... #cdnpoli #ableg