Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Trump's gift to Putin and Alberta's grievance referendum

Andrew and Rudyard begin today’s show with Trump’s decision to waive sanctions on Russian diesel in an effort to bring down fuel prices ahead of the midterms. Trump is once again putting Putin’s interests ahead of Ukraine’s and showing his admiration for authoritarian leaders whom he wishes to emulate. The move risks bolstering Putin and increasing pressure on Ukraine, while Trump shifts blame for the war’s continuation and rising oil prices onto Zelensky and Kyiv — scapegoating Ukraine for a crisis of America’s own making.

In the second half of the show, Rudyard and Andrew turn to Alberta’s upcoming referendum. Beyond separation, the vote could bring questions of immigration and federal equalization to the fore. Andrew sees the referendum as a cynical attempt to stoke anti-immigrant sentiment and fuel resentment toward Ottawa. He argues that referendums do little to resolve underlying tensions, instead creating a platform for new grievances.

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