Two Blocks from the White House

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POLITICS
UPDATED WEEKLY

American politics, Canadian context. Every Wednesday, Paul Hunter, Katie Simpson and Willy Lowry sit down to talk through the big stories in the U.S. — and to answer the question: what does this mean for Canada? It's unscripted, smart analysis from reporters with a foot in both countries, and a press pass to the White House.

5 DAYS AGO

Is America really winning?

Clocking in at 108 minutes, U.S. President Donald Trump's state of the union address was the longest in U.S. history, with the only mention of Canada coming during a tribute to the U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team. It’s all part of the 'U.S. is winning' message Trump is trying to push ahead of November's midterm elections. But is it working? The CBC's Washington correspondents Katie Simpson, Paul Hunter and Willy Lowry unpack what it all means for the year ahead in U.S. politics and Canada-U.S. relations.

27 min
18 FEB

New ambassador, unpredictable politics

Mark Wiseman made his debut as Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. this week, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. He starts the post in a complicated time for Canadian-U.S. relations, taking over from Kirsten Hillman, a stable presence and a dogged negotiator for Canada since her appointment in 2020. So what will this changing of the guard mean for Canada? CBC’s Washington correspondents Paul Hunter, Katie Simpson and Willy Lowry take a look at what role the Canadian ambassador to the U.S. plays in Washington and how much power Wiseman and others have to actually move the needle with the Trump administration.

26 min
11 FEB

Hard times for Brand America

Did you catch the jeers? When U.S. Vice-President JD Vance was booed at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina, it was not the welcome Americans are used to receiving on the global stage. It’s not just at the Olympics. President Donald Trump seems fixated on bridges – both burning those that have historically existed between allies and blocking physical ones, like his threat to block the opening of a bridge between Windsor, Ont., and Detroit. With everything that’s happening, is the American brand taking a hit on the international stage? And what are the consequences when Canada’s cultural cachet seems to be on the rise? CBC’s Washington correspondents Willy Lowry, Katie Simpson and Paul Hunter explore.

26 min
4 FEB

Is Trump trolling Canada?

Ever since U.S. President Donald Trump started his ‘51st state’ rhetoric, Canadians have been parsing every word to discern what's real and what’s bluster. Last week, the White House was back at it, threatening tariffs on Bombardier and aircraft made in Canada. And Prime Minister Mark Carney was warned by the U.S. Treasury Secretary not to ‘pick a fight’ ahead of CUSMA trade negotiations. When it comes to the Trump administration’s trolling comments and tariff threats, how can Canadians know what to take seriously? CBC Washington correspondents Katie Simpson, Paul Hunter and Willy Lowry dig in.

28 min
28 JAN

Minneapolis backlash reaches the White House

Could the unrest in Minneapolis be the political tipping point Donald Trump never saw coming? This week, the public face of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown — U.S. Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino — is being pulled out of Minneapolis, replaced by border czar Tom Homan. The shift comes just days after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by ICE agents, a second killing captured on video that sparked large protests in Minnesota and other U.S. cities, and fuelled calls in Washington to withhold funding from the Department of Homeland Security. CBC’s Katie Simpson, reporting from Minnesota since the weekend, joins Paul Hunter and Willy Lowry to unpack the human toll, the political consequences — and what this moment could mean for both Trump’s broader immigration strategy and his 2026 prospects. From unrest on the streets of Minneapolis to tariff threats aimed at Canada, this episode explores whether a crisis on the ground could become a turning point in U.S. politics.

28 min
21 JAN

Trump’s Greenland threats and Carney’s pushback

The U.S. demands for Greenland ramped up this week, with President Donald Trump threatening new tariffs against EU countries that oppose his plan. Prime Minister Mark Carney pushed back in a speech at Davos – calling for a rethinking of alliances, warning that 'great powers' are using economic integration as 'weapons.' What does this moment reveal about where Canada-U.S. relations are headed? CBC Washington correspondents Paul Hunter, Katie Simpson and Willy Lowry dig into the president’s latest moves on Greenland, the impact on NATO and where this leaves Canada as a neighbour and key trading partner. What do you want to know about how American politics affects Canada? Connect with us at washingtonpod@cbc.ca

26 min
14 JAN

Could America First mean Canada’s next?

Three days into the new year, the U.S. attacked Venezuela and removed President Nicolás Maduro. Threats against Colombia, Mexico, Greenland and Iran followed. Has U.S. President Donald Trump’s promise to put 'America First' morphed into a foreign policy of imperialism and expansion? And if so, what does it mean for Canada? Fresh off reporting from the Venezuelan border, Paul Hunter joins fellow CBC correspondents Katie Simpson and Willy Lowry in the CBC’s Washington bureau — Two Blocks from the White House — to talk about America’s aggressive international relations. What you want to know about how American politics affects Canada? Connect with us at washingtonpod@cbc.ca

28 min
6 JAN

Introducing: Two Blocks from the White House

It’s always been prudent for Canadians to keep an eye on American politics. And with U.S. president Donald Trump back in the White House, it’s become essential. CBC’s Washington correspondents are here to cut through the noise and help make sense of it all. Fresh episodes and analysis every Wednesday, starting Jan. 14.

2 min

TRAILER

Introducing: Two Blocks from the White House

It’s always been prudent for Canadians to keep an eye on American politics. And with U.S. president Donald Trump back in the White House, it’s become essential. CBC’s Washington correspondents are here to cut through the noise and help make sense of it all. Fresh episodes and analysis every Wednesday, starting Jan. 14.

6 Jan

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2 min

American politics, Canadian context. Every Wednesday, Paul Hunter, Katie Simpson and Willy Lowry sit down to talk through the big stories in the U.S. — and to answer the question: what does this mean for Canada? It's unscripted, smart analysis from reporters with a foot in both countries, and a press pass to the White House.