The Walrus

Donald Trump’s presidency is already reshaping Canada, like it or not. The question is whether we understand what’s coming and whether we’re ready to face it. At The Walrus, we’ve been preparing for months. Earlier this year, we released a special digital issue on Trump’s election and what it meant for Canada. We’ve looked at how his tariffs would hit our industries, how his protectionism could destabilize our health care system, and how we might need to start looking to Europe for trade. And now? Our editorial team is turning to something even more urgent. We brought on a writer to explore why Trump is so obsessed with annexing Canada—a bizarre fixation that suddenly feels worth taking seriously. We’ve commissioned reporting to look at how his economic policies could crush key Canadian industries, how RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine movement might find a foothold here, and whether we’re remotely prepared for another pandemic if the US decides to sit it out. We’re also digging into how Trump’s anti-climate policies will ripple through our own environmental efforts, and how DOGE and the rise of a certain kind of tech-bro libertarianism could reshape Canadian politics. And for our next print issue, we are readying a 6,000-word cover story on something few in Canada want to talk about: whether our national defence strategy is built for a future in which the US isn’t our biggest ally but our biggest threat. This kind of journalism is why The Walrus exists—but it takes time and resources. For the month of March, we are working to raise at least $25,000 to meet the costs of daily journalism, to keep our work paywall free, and to deliver trusted reporting to audiences across Canada. Please Donate Today: https://lnkd.in/g9BfE_zp We would not normally post a call to donate on LinkedIn. However, our country hasn’t faced this level of political volatility since the Cold War, and it is precisely at times like this that fearless journalism is needed the most. At The Walrus, it’s our job to help inform the public and shape opinion, and as a registered charity and a paywall-free publication, we are uniquely positioned to do so. We were made to meet this moment. Making a donation is one thing you can do to help Canada stay strong, with free-to-all reporting needed during times of crisis. Please share, and thank you for your support.

Developmental psychologist Susan Pinker will examine the evidence supporting the psychological and physiological benefits of volunteering. Join us to find out more at The Walrus Talks Reimagining Volunteerism, presented by Belonging Forum. https://lnkd.in/gW444dnC

The dream of homeownership is fading for many Canadians, but mass timber could be the solution. It is sustainable, cost-effective, and quick to build and offers a promising way to tackle the housing crisis. Learn more in this new feature from The Walrus Lab and Forestry for the Future: : https://lnkd.in/g-nJ_iA9

There’s often a grief that accompanies the gradual loss of a family’s native language, one that motivates the desire to protect it. “Spanish was the first language I was shown love in,” writes author Chantal Braganza. “I don’t think I began to understand this until I had another way of speaking to show me the difference.” https://lnkd.in/ga8JRu4J

“They’re tall, they’re overdressed, / but they own it, looking like Disney / princesses and smelling like pepper.” Sue Sinclair reflects on the surprising—but delightful—contradictions of the lupin, in her new poem “Darlings”: https://lnkd.in/g6iqGP4h

Who’s ready for a quiz? Test your knowledge of this week’s stories from The Walrus (and tell us whether you made the grade below): https://lnkd.in/gdZdcERP

Do young men in Canada believe gender equality has gone “far enough”? Journalist Olivia Rania Bowden examines the conflicting research revealing new insights into young men’s increasingly fluid and complicated attitudes toward women in government: https://lnkd.in/gEupXRGG

Linguist Derek Denis says Multicultural Toronto English is a “multiethnolect”—a type of accent that emerges in neighbourhoods that are highly linguistically diverse, home to newcomers from all over the world, and are semi-isolated (socially, economically, and geographically) from the local majority. https://lnkd.in/g_-5gXGn

New crossword is up! Head over to The Walrus Games: https://lnkd.in/gGZAvNjS

Inside the latest edition of The Walrus Reads: Big Pharma, big goals, and freedom of information.