Alex Swann
@swannsky.bsky.social
Toronto - Research & Communications Consultant
Reposted by Alex Swann
Canadians are keeping up their efforts to boycott travel to the U.S.
The ongoing decline in air and car travel is part of a broader shift in Canadians’ attitudes toward the U.S. amid tensions over President Trump’s tariffs and the rhetoric that many Canadians feel is condescending.
The ongoing decline in air and car travel is part of a broader shift in Canadians’ attitudes toward the U.S. amid tensions over President Trump’s tariffs and the rhetoric that many Canadians feel is condescending.
Canadian Travel to the United States Falls for 10th Consecutive Month
The drop has been reflected in air and car travel, according to Canadian statistics. Tensions over tariffs placed by the Trump administration spurred calls for Canadians to spend their money at home.
nyti.ms
November 13, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Canadians are keeping up their efforts to boycott travel to the U.S.
The ongoing decline in air and car travel is part of a broader shift in Canadians’ attitudes toward the U.S. amid tensions over President Trump’s tariffs and the rhetoric that many Canadians feel is condescending.
The ongoing decline in air and car travel is part of a broader shift in Canadians’ attitudes toward the U.S. amid tensions over President Trump’s tariffs and the rhetoric that many Canadians feel is condescending.
Reposted by Alex Swann
#TorstenSlok, chief economist, Apollo Global Management: The average #family in the #US currently pays $6,850 annually for #healthinsurance, and the average annual payment for #employers is $20,143. That is a total annual cost for health insurance per family of $26,993
November 11, 2025 at 12:48 PM
#TorstenSlok, chief economist, Apollo Global Management: The average #family in the #US currently pays $6,850 annually for #healthinsurance, and the average annual payment for #employers is $20,143. That is a total annual cost for health insurance per family of $26,993
Reposted by Alex Swann
There was no dispute from anyone in a federal district courtroom on Tuesday that a man in Washington pelted a federal agent with a freshly made deli sandwich in August. There was considerable dispute, however, over whether the act should be treated as a criminal offense.
Sandwich-Thrower Trial in D.C. Focuses on Moment of Impact
In a fast-moving trial, prosecutors invited testimony from the federal agent who said he was hit by a deli sandwich during a confrontation with Sean Dunn.
nyti.ms
November 4, 2025 at 10:25 PM
There was no dispute from anyone in a federal district courtroom on Tuesday that a man in Washington pelted a federal agent with a freshly made deli sandwich in August. There was considerable dispute, however, over whether the act should be treated as a criminal offense.
Reposted by Alex Swann
Here's the catch:
1. COST: To pay providers US rates (~200% of Medicare), the total premium is ~$640/month.
2. NETWORK: It's a private PPO, not a universal system. You're locked into a network.
3. ACCESS: It's tied to your job, not guaranteed for all citizens.
4. A PC Dr is your gate keeper for care
1. COST: To pay providers US rates (~200% of Medicare), the total premium is ~$640/month.
2. NETWORK: It's a private PPO, not a universal system. You're locked into a network.
3. ACCESS: It's tied to your job, not guaranteed for all citizens.
4. A PC Dr is your gate keeper for care
November 4, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Here's the catch:
1. COST: To pay providers US rates (~200% of Medicare), the total premium is ~$640/month.
2. NETWORK: It's a private PPO, not a universal system. You're locked into a network.
3. ACCESS: It's tied to your job, not guaranteed for all citizens.
4. A PC Dr is your gate keeper for care
1. COST: To pay providers US rates (~200% of Medicare), the total premium is ~$640/month.
2. NETWORK: It's a private PPO, not a universal system. You're locked into a network.
3. ACCESS: It's tied to your job, not guaranteed for all citizens.
4. A PC Dr is your gate keeper for care
Reposted by Alex Swann
What if a US health plan mirrored Canada's public benefits?
We tried to design one: The "USA-Medicare Core" plan.
✅ $0 Deductible
✅ $0 Copay for Doctor Visits
✅ $0 Copay for Hospital Stays
❌ BUT... no Rx, dental, or vision coverage (just like Canada's core public system)
We tried to design one: The "USA-Medicare Core" plan.
✅ $0 Deductible
✅ $0 Copay for Doctor Visits
✅ $0 Copay for Hospital Stays
❌ BUT... no Rx, dental, or vision coverage (just like Canada's core public system)
November 4, 2025 at 9:59 PM
What if a US health plan mirrored Canada's public benefits?
We tried to design one: The "USA-Medicare Core" plan.
✅ $0 Deductible
✅ $0 Copay for Doctor Visits
✅ $0 Copay for Hospital Stays
❌ BUT... no Rx, dental, or vision coverage (just like Canada's core public system)
We tried to design one: The "USA-Medicare Core" plan.
✅ $0 Deductible
✅ $0 Copay for Doctor Visits
✅ $0 Copay for Hospital Stays
❌ BUT... no Rx, dental, or vision coverage (just like Canada's core public system)
Reposted by Alex Swann
More Americans disapprove than approve of President Trump canceling trade talks with Canada.
(Economist/@today.yougov.com)
More, via Opinion Today:
opiniontoday.substack.com/p/251029
(Economist/@today.yougov.com)
More, via Opinion Today:
opiniontoday.substack.com/p/251029
October 29, 2025 at 10:44 AM
More Americans disapprove than approve of President Trump canceling trade talks with Canada.
(Economist/@today.yougov.com)
More, via Opinion Today:
opiniontoday.substack.com/p/251029
(Economist/@today.yougov.com)
More, via Opinion Today:
opiniontoday.substack.com/p/251029
Reposted by Alex Swann
Tom Green, the Y2K-era phenomenon most famous for his MTV prank show and surreal brand of comedy, is returning to the spotlight this month with a flurry of new projects. “People are probably going to be surprised that I’m not, like, completely crazy.” nyti.ms/4axCzXE
January 25, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Tom Green, the Y2K-era phenomenon most famous for his MTV prank show and surreal brand of comedy, is returning to the spotlight this month with a flurry of new projects. “People are probably going to be surprised that I’m not, like, completely crazy.” nyti.ms/4axCzXE
Reposted by Alex Swann
The city of Paris quits X in a very Parisian way
January 17, 2025 at 1:53 PM
The city of Paris quits X in a very Parisian way
Reposted by Alex Swann
The premiere has a baby calf, baby human, and a funny cat mix up. This show is the best.
All Creatures Great and Small Recap: The Gang’s All Here (Except Tristan)
The premiere has a baby calf, baby human, and a funny cat mix up. This show is the best.
www.vulture.com
January 13, 2025 at 3:09 AM
The premiere has a baby calf, baby human, and a funny cat mix up. This show is the best.
A gentler time, when the NYT's satire page named the Wine Rack as one of Ottawa's tourist destinations
January 11, 2025 at 5:42 PM
A gentler time, when the NYT's satire page named the Wine Rack as one of Ottawa's tourist destinations
"They're calling it C-Day."
I hope that the meteor really destroys everything. I don’t want future archaeologists to know we were saying stuff like this
January 11, 2025 at 5:17 PM
"They're calling it C-Day."
Let's take Vermont
January 8, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Let's take Vermont
A "direct and continuous link" to the city centre is "integral." This is not that. And it won't be a "major selling point" for business travel. Given the history with this file I would be concerned if this is council's assessment of the new LRT lines ottawacitizen.com/opinion/duda...
Dudas: Rail link to Ottawa airport is the real game-changer
Providing a continuous link between a visitor's point of arrival and where they want to go in a city is integral to a thriving local economy
ottawacitizen.com
January 4, 2025 at 8:09 PM
A "direct and continuous link" to the city centre is "integral." This is not that. And it won't be a "major selling point" for business travel. Given the history with this file I would be concerned if this is council's assessment of the new LRT lines ottawacitizen.com/opinion/duda...
Reposted by Alex Swann
Arguably the US or at least many Americans never got over the impact of the financial crisis of '08
December 27, 2024 at 4:50 AM
Arguably the US or at least many Americans never got over the impact of the financial crisis of '08
Reposted by Alex Swann
Kudos to the Furey government for having achieved what past NL Premiers could not. Merry Christmas!
vocm.com/2024/12/12/c...
vocm.com/2024/12/12/c...
NL to Reap $225 Billion From ‘Historic’ New Hydro Deal With Quebec
Newfoundland and Labrador has signed what's being described an historic agreement with the province of Quebec ...
vocm.com
December 12, 2024 at 6:47 PM
Kudos to the Furey government for having achieved what past NL Premiers could not. Merry Christmas!
vocm.com/2024/12/12/c...
vocm.com/2024/12/12/c...
Reposted by Alex Swann
HOOPP plans to allow self-employed Ontario doctors to join pension plan for the first time: Incorporated doctors who choose to join will have to make both the employer and employee contributions to the plan
HOOPP plans to allow self-employed Ontario doctors to join pension plan for the first time
Incorporated doctors who choose to join will have to make both the employer and employee contributions to the plan
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 10, 2024 at 7:38 PM
HOOPP plans to allow self-employed Ontario doctors to join pension plan for the first time: Incorporated doctors who choose to join will have to make both the employer and employee contributions to the plan
Manitoba!
December 4, 2024 at 3:45 AM
Manitoba!
Reposted by Alex Swann
People are often surprised when I tell them this: both Twitter and Facebook/insta/threads are now specifically engineered to downgrade, hide, suppress real journalism. If this platform is different, that's a huge change
Traffic from Bluesky to @bostonglobe.com is already 3x that of Threads, and we are seeing 4.5x the conversions to paying digital subscribers.
November 27, 2024 at 6:22 AM
People are often surprised when I tell them this: both Twitter and Facebook/insta/threads are now specifically engineered to downgrade, hide, suppress real journalism. If this platform is different, that's a huge change