As the lies of the free trade era come home to roost in the form of declining living standards for the middle class, we enter an era of economic nationalism.

Trump knows he is staring down another debt ceiling crisis, the likes of which will force the US into difficult economic choices of the politically unsellable variety.

America, the self-righteous superpower, cannot admit fault and must project responsibility for its self-authored problems onto external actors.

I believe even the most zealous MAGA acolyte knows that Canada is neither a threat nor did it swindle the US. Canada will not relinquish sovereignty except through military conquest.

For those who wish to read, the current trade agreement is in force until 2036 with a review period in 2026.

https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/agreements/FTA/USMCA/Text/34_Final_Provisions.pdf

In the meantime, it is important to separate the theatrical from the real.