Elbows up, again: a US-Canada trade flare-up
Summary
This episode examines the collapse of US-Canada trade talks, where last-minute US demands on trucks and French language protections led to new tariffs and Canadian retaliation. It then shifts to Japan, analyzing the economic struggles of the "Ice Age generation" who entered the workforce during the 1990s recession and now face lower earnings and housing insecurity. Finally, the show discusses historical military sieges, from the Alamo to Leningrad, inspired by Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of The Odyssey.
Topics discussed
Sponsors and show introduction
US-Canada trade tensions and Carney's dilemma
Breakdown of trade talks: Trucks, sovereignty, and language
Internal Canadian politics: Alberta and Quebec stakes
Economic impact of tariffs and waiting for US midterms
Sponsors and introduction to Japan's Ice Age generation
Origins of the Ice Age generation and hiring freezes
Irregular work, wage gaps, and career stagnation
Future challenges: Pensions, welfare, and housing
Historical sieges: Vienna and the Alamo
Utilitarian sieges: Tyre, Leningrad, and Malta
Closing sponsors and sign-off
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