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Two Blocks from the White House

Two Blocks from the White House

Written by: CBC
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American politics, Canadian context. Every Wednesday, Paul Hunter and Katie Simpson sit down with their colleagues to talk through the big stories in the U.S. capitol and ask the question: what does this mean for Canada? Unscripted, smart analysis from reporters with a foot in both countries, and a press pass to the White House.

Copyright © CBC 2026
Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Minneapolis backlash reaches the White House
    Jan 28 2026

    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.

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    28 mins
  • Trump’s Greenland threats and Carney’s push back
    Jan 21 2026

    The U.S. demands for Greenland ramped up this week, with President Donald Trump threatening new tariffs against E.U. 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 it leaves Canada as a neighbor and key trading partner.


    What do you want to know about how American politics affects Canada? Connect with us at washingtonpod@cbc.ca

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    26 mins
  • Could America First mean Canada’s next?
    Jan 14 2026

    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

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    28 mins
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