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
Kavanaugh's dissent in the #SCOTUS decision striking down Trump's tariffs as illegal is partially based on the idea that it is a mess to try to refund tariffs. That's like saying you have to let a bank robber go because it's too difficult to get him to pay back the money he stole. #USpoli #cdnpoli
February 20, 2026 at 3:37 PM
BOOM from SCOTUS:
"IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs."
It appears to be a 6-3 decision authored by Roberts.
www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
"IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs."
It appears to be a 6-3 decision authored by Roberts.
www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
February 20, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
🚨BREAKING: Supreme Court says Trump's global tariffs are illegal
Supreme Court says Trump global tariffs are illegal
The ruling sets a new boundary for what policies presidents can impose without congressional approval.
trib.al
February 20, 2026 at 3:07 PM
🚨BREAKING: Supreme Court says Trump's global tariffs are illegal
It's almost like reckless spending, no provincial sales tax, and basing your entire economy on a volatile, dying resource is not a good idea. #ableg #cdnpoli
Recently, UCP government advertised that “Alberta is open for business”, wanting to grow Alberta’s population to 10 million by 2030.
Now, influx on new Canadians is blamed for overcrowded hospitals, schools, and deficit.
In reality, mismanagement is the culprit, not immigrants.
Now, influx on new Canadians is blamed for overcrowded hospitals, schools, and deficit.
In reality, mismanagement is the culprit, not immigrants.
February 20, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Conservatives have held provincial power in Alberta since 1971 except for 4 years. They have consistently sent conservative MPs to Ottawa and ran the federal government for a decade under Harper. But somehow they're not the cause of all Alberta's problems... #ableg #cdnpoli
February 20, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
In 2024, Danielle Smith wrote a letter to Justin Trudeau to complain that they didn't get *more* immigrants than their planned allotment. (She also wanted more Ukrainians specifically, and we all know why).
Receipts:
Receipts:
www.alberta.ca
February 20, 2026 at 3:41 AM
In 2024, Danielle Smith wrote a letter to Justin Trudeau to complain that they didn't get *more* immigrants than their planned allotment. (She also wanted more Ukrainians specifically, and we all know why).
Receipts:
Receipts:
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
I'm seeing posts claiming that former-prince Andrew was arrested for engaging in pedophilia with Jeffrey Epstein. He was arrested for sharing confidential government intel with Epstein while serving as a British trade envoy.
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02...
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02...
Live Updates: Former Prince Andrew Is Released After Being Arrested Amid Epstein Revelations
www.nytimes.com
February 19, 2026 at 8:30 PM
I'm seeing posts claiming that former-prince Andrew was arrested for engaging in pedophilia with Jeffrey Epstein. He was arrested for sharing confidential government intel with Epstein while serving as a British trade envoy.
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02...
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02...
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
“Smith blamed what she called the ‘disastrous open-border immigration policies’ of former prime minister Justin Trudeau for straining Alberta’s health care, education and social services programs. Smith did not mention her government’s ‘Alberta is Calling’ campaign.”
lmao
lmao
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announces fall referendum on immigration, constitutional questions | CBC News
Premier Danielle Smith wants to hold a referendum in October on measures to limit immigration to Alberta and changes she believes would give the province more rights under the Constitution.
www.cbc.ca
February 20, 2026 at 2:55 AM
“Smith blamed what she called the ‘disastrous open-border immigration policies’ of former prime minister Justin Trudeau for straining Alberta’s health care, education and social services programs. Smith did not mention her government’s ‘Alberta is Calling’ campaign.”
lmao
lmao
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
None of Smith's referendum questions are likely to result in actual policy change.
Because they require constitutional amendments (federal veto) or are plainly unconstitutional.
Assuming "yes" votes carry, what then?
Kenney's equalization referendum didn't soothe separatists. It emboldened them.
Because they require constitutional amendments (federal veto) or are plainly unconstitutional.
Assuming "yes" votes carry, what then?
Kenney's equalization referendum didn't soothe separatists. It emboldened them.
February 20, 2026 at 3:10 AM
None of Smith's referendum questions are likely to result in actual policy change.
Because they require constitutional amendments (federal veto) or are plainly unconstitutional.
Assuming "yes" votes carry, what then?
Kenney's equalization referendum didn't soothe separatists. It emboldened them.
Because they require constitutional amendments (federal veto) or are plainly unconstitutional.
Assuming "yes" votes carry, what then?
Kenney's equalization referendum didn't soothe separatists. It emboldened them.
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
Fair comparison.
February 20, 2026 at 1:12 AM
Fair comparison.
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
The message from the DOJ is unmistakable: Justice is no longer the objective.
Retribution is.
Retribution is.
February 19, 2026 at 9:29 PM
The message from the DOJ is unmistakable: Justice is no longer the objective.
Retribution is.
Retribution is.
At least when he is asleep Trump is not doing terrible random things to his own and other countries.
more than two hours into this "Board of Peace" meeting, we are now enduring random world leader open mic time and Trump's eyes are closed
February 19, 2026 at 10:28 PM
At least when he is asleep Trump is not doing terrible random things to his own and other countries.
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
"Study after study from very credible organizations say oil demand in #China is going to fall from roughly 17 million barrels a day to either between 5 or 7 million barrels by 2050, so Canada would be building a 1 million barrel a day pipeline to a market that is basically going to disappear."
With so many countries taking early steps to becoming #Electrostates rather than #Petrostates, will Trump's #OilWar be the biggest yet or is the larger war the #EndOfOil forever? We hit up Canada's best energy writer @markhamhislop.bsky.social for answers
PODCAST: www.podcastics.com/episode/4019...
PODCAST: www.podcastics.com/episode/4019...
Oil Wars vs Energy Transition (feat. Markham Hislop)
What another oil war means for Canada’s future
www.podcastics.com
February 19, 2026 at 9:30 PM
"Study after study from very credible organizations say oil demand in #China is going to fall from roughly 17 million barrels a day to either between 5 or 7 million barrels by 2050, so Canada would be building a 1 million barrel a day pipeline to a market that is basically going to disappear."
February 19, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
The former president of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, sentenced to life imprisonment for leading an insurrection. www.koreaherald.com/article/1...
Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to life for leading insurrection
The Seoul Central District Court on Thursday sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to life imprisonment, finding him guilty of leading an insurrection. "It i
www.koreaherald.com
February 19, 2026 at 9:41 AM
The former president of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, sentenced to life imprisonment for leading an insurrection. www.koreaherald.com/article/1...
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
Alberta's Ministry of Education says it is blacklisting CityNews unless it agrees to the UCP government's demand to unpublish a news article and publicly apologize to them
February 19, 2026 at 4:53 AM
Alberta's Ministry of Education says it is blacklisting CityNews unless it agrees to the UCP government's demand to unpublish a news article and publicly apologize to them
Reposted by Stephen Lautens
JENEROUX: "Quite honestly it was the speech in Davos ... it felt disingenuous and quite simply wrong to be sitting on the sidelines anymore. So I reached out to the PM's office and will be joining his caucus and I couldn't be more proud to be here."
February 18, 2026 at 6:24 PM
JENEROUX: "Quite honestly it was the speech in Davos ... it felt disingenuous and quite simply wrong to be sitting on the sidelines anymore. So I reached out to the PM's office and will be joining his caucus and I couldn't be more proud to be here."
Canada has the best Olympic superfans.
February 18, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Canada has the best Olympic superfans.
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-...
