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Prime Minister Mark Carney faced down Donald Trump in their first White House meeting, delivering a masterclass in diplomatic parrying that left the former real estate developer visibly deflated.

5️⃣ When Trump suggested Canada could become America's 51st state, Carney responded firmly: "In real estate, certain places are never for sale." He specifically named the White House, Buckingham Palace, and Canada itself. Trump's dismissive "Never say never" revealed his transactional view of international relations. Carney strategically reminded Trump that 50% of "American" cars are actually Canadian—complicating Trump's claim that "we don't want Canadian cars." Notably absent was Vice President JD Vance, who was expected to attend but didn't appear, possibly due to fallout from the Zelensky White House confrontation. The meeting represents the opening of complex trade negotiations, with Canada setting a clear tone about sovereignty.

4️⃣ As more than a billion Catholics await the election of a new pope, all eyes turn to the Sistine Chapel where 133 cardinals begin the secretive conclave process on Wednesday. The election was set in motion by Pope Francis's death on April 21 at age 88. After nine days of memorial services, cardinals will hold a special Mass before proceeding to the Sistine Chapel for the first round of voting. Under threat of excommunication, cardinals remain completely sequestered with no outside communication until white smoke signals a new pope. Pilgrims singing sacred hymns have flocked to St. Peter's Square while journalists attempt to corner cardinals for insights about papal preferences.

3️⃣ A federal judge blocked Trump's mass deportation scheme, ruling against Presidential Proclamation 10903 which invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. Judge Hellerstein dismantled the administration's claim of an "invasion," stating refugees and gang members don't meet the legal threshold for such extraordinary powers. "Due process, once surrendered, is difficult to reinstate," he wrote in a 22-page opinion addressing the 200+ immigrants already sent to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center. The ruling affirms immigrants' rights to meaningful hearings and proper notice in both English and Spanish before removal proceedings can continue.

2️⃣ Political cartoonist Ann Telnaes has won journalism's highest honor—the Pulitzer Prize—months after quitting the Washington Post when editors killed her cartoon showing Jeff Bezos bowing to Trump. The award delivers an implicit rebuke to the billionaire owner amid an ongoing exodus of reporters and editors. The Pulitzer board specifically commended Telnaes for "delivering piercing commentary on powerful people and institutions with deftness, creativity – and a fearlessness that led to her departure." The Post continues searching for a new opinions editor following February's departure of David Shipley, who opposed Bezos' push to refocus the section on "free markets and personal liberties."

1️⃣ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a 20% reduction in four-star generals and admirals, plus a 10% cut to general and flag officers. "More generals and admirals does not equal more success," Hegseth stated in his "Less Generals More GIs Policy" video. The cuts target approximately 38 active four-star positions including critical command roles. Military analysts note the timing coincides with growing tensions between Pentagon leadership and the administration. The current ratio of one general per 1,400 troops compares to one per 6,000 during World War II, according to Hegseth. Critics see the move as an attempt to reshape military leadership with more compliant officers as the administration continues its broader personnel changes across government agencies.

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As 135 cardinals gather for a historic conclave, Trump inserts himself into papal succession while global powers find leverage against his economic threats

The democratic world is finally finding ways to counter Trump's bullying tactics. From Mark Carney's calculated diplomatic strategy to Japan's trillion-dollar warning, the resistance to American authoritarianism is taking shape as Trump increasingly shows signs of messianic delusion.

5️⃣ DEMOCRATS DIVIDED ON IMPEACHMENT STRATEGY

Democratic lawmakers have officially filed seven articles of impeachment against Trump, primarily focused on his administration's crypto corruption scheme that has reportedly enriched the Trump family by $3 billion in just three months. The problem? They likely don't have the votes to make it stick.

Rep. Maxine Waters is leading the charge, ready to impeach Trump "in a hot second" over his cryptocurrency conflicts of interest. "We have a president who has created his own crypto. He has now created his own stablecoin. And he has connected campaign fundraising at Mar-a-Lago and the White House by inviting people who invest," Waters explained.

Democratic leadership remains hesitant, calculating whether impeachment would energize their base or simply feed Trump's victim narrative ahead of the 2026 midterms. Meanwhile, Trump's response was predictable – claiming it's "the same playbook they used in my first term" while demanding Republicans consider expelling Democrats who support his ouster.

The impeachment fight isn't just about accountability – it's about preventing the complete takeover of America's financial system. Senator Chris Murphy's detailed breakdown of 40 corruption crimes by the "Trump crime family" remains suspiciously under-reported by mainstream media, suggesting the crypto corruption scandal could be far more serious than publicly acknowledged.

4️⃣ JAPAN WAVES $1.13 TRILLION TRUMP CARD IN TRADE STANDOFF

Japan's Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato has made an unprecedented threat against the Trump administration, calling American trade tactics "juvenile extortion" while pointing to Japan's $1.13 trillion in U.S. Treasury holdings as a potential economic weapon.

This marks a dramatic escalation in the global resistance to Trump's tariff threats and follows the playbook established by Canada's Mark Carney, who successfully forced Trump to drop tariffs by threatening similar economic countermeasures. The warning sent immediate shockwaves through bond markets, with mortgage rates spiking and the dollar weakening.

Japan's cultural tradition of reverence and diplomatic restraint makes this public threat all the more remarkable. For a Japanese official to openly call an American president's behavior "juvenile" signals how dramatically Trump has alienated even America's most reliable allies. If Japan followed through on selling its Treasury holdings, it could potentially crash the dollar and send borrowing costs skyrocketing across the U.S. economy.

Most concerning is that this economic brinkmanship might actually serve Trump's ultimate goal – creating the financial chaos necessary to justify replacing the dollar with cryptocurrency as America's monetary system, centralizing unprecedented power in the hands of his allies and family.

3️⃣ CARNEY PREPARES FOR HIGH-STAKES WHITE HOUSE MEETING

Mark Carney heads to Washington on Tuesday for his first face-to-face meeting with Trump, but unlike previous Canadian leaders, he's not coming to grovel or negotiate – he's delivering a diplomatic breakup notice backed by a substantial portfolio of alternative international partnerships.

Rather than begging Trump to drop his tariff threats, Carney arrives with recently secured agreements with the EU, UK, Australia, and Indo-Pacific nations that reduce Canada's vulnerability to American economic bullying. His $6 billion Arctic defense pact with Australia exemplifies Canada's new approach: diversifying partnerships to maintain sovereignty against Trump's annexation rhetoric.

The White House is attempting to spin the meeting as Carney "coming to make a deal," but sources close to the Canadian Prime Minister confirm he's coming to "reimagine" the relationship – diplomatic code for establishing firm boundaries with an increasingly unreliable neighbor. Trump's repeated "51st state" comments, including during yesterday's Meet the Press interview, have only hardened Canada's resolve to establish economic independence.

The face-off promises to be illuminating, placing America's intellectual lightweight administration against Carney's formidable diplomatic and economic expertise. While Trump might attempt to manufacture a photo-op victory, the economic reality remains stark – America needs Canada's raw materials and rare earth minerals far more than Canada needs American markets.

2️⃣ APARTHEID'S TECHNOCRATIC CHILDREN: THE PAYPAL MAFIA'S DARK ORIGINS

The "PayPal Mafia" that now dominates global technology – Musk, Thiel, Sacks, and Botha – share a disturbing common history in apartheid South Africa, where they observed systems of racial hierarchy, resource extraction, and surveillance that now inform their vision for America's future.

Roelof Botha's grandfather was Pik Botha, South Africa's longest-serving foreign minister and the international face of the apartheid regime. Peter Thiel's father worked at Rössing, a uranium mine connected to South Africa's secret nuclear weapons program with Israel. Elon Musk grew up in the privileged white class with family connections to emerald mining, leaving at 17 as apartheid's collapse approached.

These men aren't just building companies; they're implementing governance structures that could redefine democracy into a new digital feudalism. PayPal's creation suspiciously aligned with massive capital flight from post-apartheid South Africa, raising questions about whether it was designed specifically to help white elites move wealth across borders undetected.

The DOGE apparatus that Musk is constructing for the Trump administration isn't just about government efficiency – it represents the implementation of apartheid-style governance through digital means. Their vision doesn't liberate citizens; it codifies a new class system where token ownership determines political voice while stripping rights from the masses. If allowed to continue, Americans will become serfs in a digital plantation economy designed to extract maximum wealth while providing minimum freedom.

1️⃣ TRUMP POSTS POPE MEME AS HISTORIC CONCLAVE BEGINS

As 135 cardinal electors gather in Vatican City for the most globally diverse papal conclave in history, Trump bizarrely inserted himself into the solemn process by posting an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the Pope. When questioned about the inappropriateness of this action following Pope Francis's death on April 21, Trump simply claimed "Catholics loved it" before later denying responsibility entirely.

Pope Francis transformed the College of Cardinals by appointing outsiders from places like Brunei, Mongolia, and South Sudan – creating an unpredictable voting body where European cardinals now make up just 39% of electors, down from their previous 52% majority. The increasingly fractured global church reflects deeper regional divisions that may make consensus difficult to achieve when voting begins tomorrow.

This papal meme isn't just another example of Trump's narcissism – it reflects his growing messianic self-image. For a man embraced by Christian nationalists as divinely ordained, portraying himself as Pope represents another step toward positioning himself as a religious figure rather than a democratically elected president. Cardinal James Dolan of New York, previously a Trump supporter, expressed disgust at the display, signaling potentially growing discomfort even among religious conservatives.

The White House has devolved into a meme factory, with the official White House social media accounts now indistinguishable from far-right MAGA influencers like "Cat Turd." Official government communications channels now distribute AI-manipulated images of a muscular Trump wielding lightsabers against "MS-13 gang members and Sith Lords" – a grotesque debasement of institutions that once commanded global respect.

The messianic posturing, crypto corruption, and institutional degradation are all connected – they represent different facets of an authoritarian system being constructed before our eyes. While some elements may seem comically absurd, they serve to normalize unprecedented violations of democratic norms while distracting from the serious dismantling of America's constitutional framework.

The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Advertising inquiries email [email protected]. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

The road from MAGA devotee to democracy defender is rarely traveled. Our conversation with Lev Parnas revealed the pivotal moments that transformed him from Trump's Ukraine operative into one of democracy's most compelling witnesses.

5️⃣ SOVIET REFUGEE ORIGINS: THE PERFECT MIDDLEMAN

Parnas's story begins with his 1975 journey from Soviet Ukraine as a Jewish refugee. As he explained, "In 1976, the Russian president decided that he's gonna get rid of the Jews... and started sending all of us to Israel." Through a stroke of luck during America's bicentennial, his family won green cards in a lottery.

Growing up in Brighton Beach – "a little enclave right by the ocean" where Soviet Jews settled – shaped his worldview. "When we came from the Soviet Union, we had no trust for the government, we had no trust for the police," he told us, explaining why immigrants often aligned with figures outside the system.

This background positioned him perfectly for his later role bridging American politics and Ukrainian interests, creating connections that would eventually lead to the Trump White House.

4️⃣ BUYING ACCESS

While Parnas met Trump earlier at a 2015 fundraiser, his true entry to Trump's inner circle came through donations to America First, a super PAC "being run by Trump and Don Jr." This access gave him unprecedented influence.

In a pivotal dinner at Trump International Hotel in Washington, Parnas advised Trump about Ukraine. "I said to him, you know, the first thing you gotta do is you gotta get rid of the ambassador," he recounted. Trump's reaction was immediate: "He just stopped and froze. He looked at me with this dead serious hit. He said, looked at me and he said, 'Get rid of her. Get rid of her.'"

This moment reveals how easily access to presidential power could be purchased and leveraged to influence foreign policy.

3️⃣ THE GIULIANI PARTNERSHIP: SHADOW DIPLOMACY

Parnas's relationship with Giuliani began after a mutual connection suggested Giuliani could help with Parnas's fraud guarantee insurance company. "Literally from that day on, we were inseparable," he said. "We were together every like, five, six days."

Their Ukraine operation expanded far beyond Biden dirt-gathering. "Ukrainian and Russian oligarchs were paying for that. And American oligarchs," Parnas revealed. "Peter Thiel's plane we were on... Harry Sargent with the Venezuela stuff... Dmitri Firtash from Ukraine."

As I've reported at Narativ, this shadow diplomacy connected to Russian interests through figures like Pavel Fuchs, who was simultaneously paying Giuliani for work in Kharkiv. This operation circumvented traditional diplomatic channels while serving private financial interests.

2️⃣ BILL BARR'S SETUP: THE CALCULATED SILENCING

Perhaps the most explosive revelation from our interview was how Bill Barr personally orchestrated Parnas's arrest to silence him before he could testify to Congress. "The day of my arrest, Bill Barr flew—the Attorney General of the United States of America flew to New York to the Southern district office to oversee my arrest," Parnas told us.

This wasn't a routine arrest of fleeing suspects. "We weren't fleeing anywhere," Parnas explained. "Rudy, Victoria Toensing, and Joe diGenova were all supposed to be on that flight to Vienna with us. At the last minute, they all canceled."

The Vienna trip wasn't an escape—it was a mission to obtain alleged evidence against Hunter Biden. "We were flying to Vienna to meet Alexander Kwasniewski, who was the CFO of Burisma," Parnas revealed. "The Russians had taken what he—Hunter was in Kazakhstan," he explained, revealing another dimension of the operation targeting Biden's son.

The timing was no coincidence: "When he saw the whistleblower report, he knew we were gonna get dragged in front of Congress," Parnas said of Barr. "So how do you shut somebody up? He thought as soon as he arrests us, I have—and remember, who do they give me as my attorneys? John Dowd, who is Trump's attorney."

The plan was clear: arrest Parnas, assign Trump-loyal attorneys to keep him quiet, and prevent him from revealing what he knew to Congress. What they didn't anticipate was that Parnas had kept extensive records of everything.

1️⃣ THE FAMILY INTERVENTION: BREAKING FREE FROM THE CULT

Breaking free from Trump's orbit came not through a television moment but through a powerful family intervention. "Aaron was there, my wife was there, my lawyer was there," Parnas recalled of the turning point. "It was definitely intervention."

His new attorney, Joseph Bondy, refused to defend him unless he told the truth, while his family urged him to break from Trump's web of lies. "I have like that come to Jesus moment where I said to myself, you know, either I'm going to give Rudy a call right now... or I'm gonna tell [them] to go f**k themselves, and I'm gonna go out there and tell the truth wherever that leads me."

The cost was enormous: "You lose everything. It's like, you know, you're, you have to start your life all over at 53 years old," he said. "Most of my life, people in it were... still Trump loyalists."

Today, Parnas warns that Trump's second term is unfolding exactly as he predicted. "The big one is when he's never gonna leave office again," he cautioned. His urgent call to action: don't wait until 2026 to flip the House. "Six, seven people. Six, seven souls could change, save our democracy," by giving Hakeem Jeffries the gavel now.

The transformation of Lev Parnas offers a vital lesson about the power of speaking truth to power, even at tremendous personal cost. As he put it: "Once he takes away our voice, once he shuts down the independent journalists, the media, the leakers, it's over with folks. You will never, ever get the truth again for a long time."

The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Advertising inquiries email [email protected]. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

Russia's alarming mobilization rhetoric dominates headlines alongside a major White House staffing upheaval and growing avian flu concerns - the latest developments in what's becoming an increasingly unstable global landscape. Today's FiveStack unpacks the top stories that defined a particularly turbulent May 1, 2025.

5️⃣ MIKE WALTZ FAILS UPWARD NOMINATED TO UN

Mike Waltz, Trump's National Security Advisor for just two months, has been removed from his position following a major classified information leak involving military strike plans in Yemen. In a surprising pivot, Trump immediately nominated Waltz as UN Ambassador, reframing his dismissal as a diplomatic promotion.

"I am pleased to announce that I will be nominating Mike Waltz to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations," Trump announced in a statement that portrayed the move as a natural transition rather than a consequence of the Signal security breach. "From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation's Interests first."

The president has assigned Secretary of State Marco Rubio to serve in the unprecedented dual role of also being National Security Advisor, creating an unusual concentration of foreign policy authority under one official. While the administration attempts to present this as a strategic reorganization, Democrats insist Waltz is "taking the fall" for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who allegedly shared the same classified Yemen battle plans with family members.

This high-level reshuffling follows the April firing of six NSC staffers reportedly identified as insufficiently loyal by right-wing personality Laura Loomer, continuing a pattern of instability in America's national security apparatus.

4️⃣ FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS TRUMP DEPORTATION TACTIC

A Trump-appointed federal judge has permanently blocked the administration from using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants without due process. Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr.'s landmark ruling grants class certification to all affected migrants, effectively ending the administration's attempt to bypass regular immigration proceedings through an obscure wartime law.

The ruling comes just days after a dramatic Reuters drone captured migrants forming a human SOS at the Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Texas. These detained Venezuelans had been falsely labeled as gang members and threatened with immediate deportation to El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison.

While the judge's order establishes that the government can still pursue deportation through normal immigration proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act, it represents a significant judicial check on executive power in immigration enforcement.

3️⃣ WHITE HOUSE LAUNCHES STATE-RUN NEWS SITE

The Trump administration has unveiled a news-style website that publishes exclusively positive coverage of the president on official White House servers. Located at WH.gov/wire, the site closely resembles the right-wing Drudge Report but contains only favorable headlines and coverage.

This unprecedented use of federal resources for partisan news curation comes amid ongoing battles to restrict legitimate journalists' access to the White House. The Associated Press remains barred from Oval Office events despite winning a recent court ruling ordering their readmission.

The administration describes the site as "a place for supporters of the president's agenda to get the real news" and "transparency," while Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has begun holding special briefings exclusively for pro-Trump "MAGA influencers" after regular press conferences. Matt Drudge, a conservative Trump critic whose site inspired the design, jokingly threatened a "$1tn lawsuit."

2️⃣ VIROLOGISTS WARN OF POTENTIAL BIRD FLU PANDEMIC

Leading virologists from over 40 countries are sounding the alarm on the increasing threat of H5N1 avian flu, which has now spread to all 50 states with over 995 dairy herds and 70 humans infected, including one death. Experts fear virus mutations could soon enable efficient human-to-human transmission.

"The virus's ability to infect both animals and humans, combined with recent genetic changes, underscores the importance of proactive surveillance and rapid response measures," warns Dr. Sten H. Vermund, Chief Medical Officer of the Global Virus Network (GVN).

The situation has become increasingly concerning as H5N1 has resulted in the culling of 168 million poultry since 2022. Scientists are calling for urgent action including enhanced surveillance, biosecurity protocols, and vaccine development to prevent a potential pandemic.

This warning comes as the Trump administration has dismantled much of the pandemic preparedness infrastructure, with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reportedly blocking CDC messaging about the growing threat.

1️⃣ RUSSIA THREATENS MASS MOBILIZATION "FOR WW3 AT ANY MOMENT"

In a chilling escalation of war rhetoric, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov delivered a stark message at Russia's Victory Museum: the country is ready to mobilize on a scale reminiscent of the Soviet Union's World War II efforts "at any moment."

This threat comes amid mounting Russian losses in Ukraine, with Ukrainian forces having reportedly killed or wounded nearly one million Russian troops since 2022. Despite these staggering casualties and serious financial constraints, with defense spending now comprising 41% of total expenditures, Putin has already ordered the conscription of 160,000 men - the largest draft in 14 years.

The timing of this rhetoric coincides with unrest in Moscow following Mark Carney's election as Canadian Prime Minister, which has disrupted Putin's hopes for a fractured Western alliance. Ukraine's President Zelensky has warned that Russia is training 150,000 troops in Belarus for a potential operation targeting NATO countries like Poland and Lithuania as early as this summer.

As Europe braces for potential escalation, military officers from over 30 countries recently met in England to discuss a potential 10,000 to 30,000-troop "reassurance force" for Ukraine, signaling Western readiness to enforce peace—or prepare for a wider conflict.

TOMORROW ( FRIDAY ) A SPECIAL FIVESTACK WITH LEV PARNAS AT 3 PM ET

The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Advertising inquiries email [email protected]. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

Mark Carney's decisive victory in Canada has sent Putin allies into a panic, while Trump's disastrous ABC interview reveals a president increasingly detached from reality. Meanwhile, Pierre Poilievre finds himself evicted from Stornoway as Alberta's Premier plots secession.

Check out Dean’s incredible deals on subscriptions.

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5️⃣ TRUMP'S 100-DAY INTERVIEW DISASTER

Donald Trump's official 100-day interview with ABC's Terry Moran was a stunning display of presidential incompetence and deliberate deception. The president repeatedly made false claims about tourism numbers, DOGE savings, and economic indicators that bear no resemblance to reality.

When confronted about his fabricated claim that deportee Abrego Garcia had MS-13 tattoos on his knuckles, Trump insisted the widely-available photos proving otherwise must be "doctored." Rather than acknowledging his error when presented with evidence, Trump attacked Moran, saying "I'm giving you your big break. I didn't even know who you were."

Trump's apparent inability to discern fact from fiction is particularly alarming when his misrepresentations are driving policies with real economic consequences. He continues to claim a "$1 trillion" trade deficit with China (the actual figure is $283 billion), which is fueling disastrous tariff policies that are devastating American businesses and consumers.

As Dean noted, "We're literally watching him fail in real time... America has chosen the worst f*****g person in the history of people not named Hitler or Stalin or Putin to lead the country."

4️⃣ RUSSIA CALLS FOR CANADIAN INVASION

In a shocking development, Alexander Dugin – widely described as "Putin's philosopher" and a key architect of Russian nationalist ideology – has publicly urged Trump to invade Canada following Mark Carney's election.

Dugin posted on X: "Election of ultra-globalist woke liberal US-phobic Mark Carney in Canada is declaration of war to Trump... Canadians = Ukrainians." The explicit comparison to Ukraine reveals Russia's true intentions, as Dugin called for "geopolitical necessity of assuring northern territories" – a thinly veiled reference to seizing Canada's Arctic resources and trade routes.

As Zev explained, "This whole 30-year plan that they've built together, which is basically all that Putin has left... was centered around the control of the Arctic. For them, it means everything." Russia and China's strategic ambitions required a compliant Canada, which they expected through Pierre Poilievre. Carney's surprise victory has dramatically upended their geopolitical calculations.

Dugin's posts, viewed as official Kremlin messaging, reveal their desperation: "MAGA is under serious attack from every corner." The threat signals Moscow's fear of Carney's progressive economic agenda and strong stance against authoritarian regimes.

3️⃣ DANIELLE SMITH'S SECESSION GAMBIT

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has unveiled Bill 54, a thinly-veiled legislative mechanism to facilitate Alberta's potential secession from Canada and annexation by the United States. The bill strategically reduces petition requirements for referendums from 20% to just 10% of voters while extending the collection period to 120 days, effectively greasing the wheels for a separation vote.

Smith's actions follow her Mar-a-Lago meetings with Trump and regular appearances on American right-wing media platforms. Her separatist maneuvering comes despite polling showing 70% of Albertans prefer remaining in Canada.

"She is a quizzling," Dean explained, noting Smith is currently under RCMP investigation for widespread financial fraud. "What better way to distract from an ongoing investigation into your fraud and to endear yourself to maggots south of the border?"

As Zev observed, "This is Vladimir Putin looking at his chessboard and saying, 'The only card I have, the only thing I have is Danielle Smith and a weak referendum.'" The timing makes clear this is part of a coordinated response to Carney's victory, which effectively dismantled the "MapleMAGA" movement.

2️⃣ POILIEVRE LOSES SEAT AND MANSION

Pierre Poilievre, Canada's former "fiscal responsibility" champion, has been unceremoniously evicted from political relevance. Losing his riding to Bruce Fanjoy means he's not just out of Parliament – he's out of his taxpayer-funded mansion and the half-million in annual perks that came with it.

The man who built his brand on "cutting waste" now faces the harsh reality of actually having to pay for things himself. No more $5 million Stornoway residence, no more $291,400 salary, and no more expense accounts for a politician who claimed to despise government spending while living lavishly on the public dime.

This dramatic reversal represents the culmination of trends Narativ first identified back in November, when they connected Trump's tariff announcements, Musk's public statements, and foreign interference as part of a coordinated campaign to prop up Poilievre and undermine Canadian leadership.

1️⃣ TRUMP'S FIRST 100 DAYS OF CORRUPTION

Senator Chris Murphy has delivered a devastating floor speech meticulously documenting 40 separate corrupt acts committed by Donald Trump in just his first 100 days back in office. The scope and scale of corruption has reached industrial levels, transforming American governance into what Murphy describes as a "transactional autocracy."

The White House has reportedly set a $5 million price tag for CEO meetings with Trump, while parts of the building have been transformed into Tesla showrooms – making explicit the message that corporate profits will flow to any executive willing to collaborate with Trump's agenda.

Perhaps most alarming is Trump's systematic dismantling of anti-corruption guardrails, including ending enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. This effectively creates a pipeline for foreign money to directly influence American policy.

Zev warned that America has approximately 80 days before Trump's authoritarian takeover becomes entrenched: "These are attempts to absolutely immobilize you... These guys have nothing behind them. The military isn't behind them. The American people aren't behind them. Everyone can see them for the fools they are."

The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Advertising inquiries email [email protected]. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.narativ.org/subscribe

Canada delivers a stunning rebuke to authoritarianism, Trump tariffs send US borrowing soaring, and Elon Musk's DOGE hands nuclear codes to Russian hackers. A pivotal moment as democracy fights back.

5️⃣ CARNEY CRUSHES CONSERVATIVES IN CANADIAN ELECTION

Canadians sent a thundering message yesterday—they won't become America's 51st state or Vladimir Putin's latest conquest. Mark Carney stormed to victory with 168 seats, likely securing a majority once recounts finish, while Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre lost even his own riding in a spectacular repudiation.

This wasn't just another election. When Trump tweeted threats about tariffs on Election Day, Canadians responded with defiance. As Dean put it: "Canadians looked at that and went, dumb deal." Even lifelong conservatives voted strategically against MAGA-style politics infiltrating their country.

The global significance can't be overstated. While democracy crumbled in America, Canadians stood firm. A chess metaphor is apt—Canada would be like losing your queen to the authoritarian movement sweeping the globe. Instead, Canada demonstrated what Americans couldn't: the ability to see through disinformation and reject division, securing not just their sovereignty but offering a desperately needed democratic counterweight.

WATCH CARNEY’S SPEECH HERE

4️⃣ US TREASURY FORCED TO BORROW $514 BILLION AMID TARIFF CHAOS

Trump's tariff disaster is already imploding the economy. The Treasury now needs to borrow a staggering $514 billion this quarter—a 320% increase from previous estimates—just to keep the government functioning as tariffs strangle trade.

The real-world impact is already visible at America's ports. Seattle's shipping activity has collapsed by 92%. Shipping containers entering major ports like Los Angeles are down 30-40%, meaning empty shelves are weeks away. As Dean noted, "every major CEO of every major retailer tried to tell him, tried to warn him" this economic catastrophe was coming.

America is heading toward a consumer nightmare: skyrocketing prices combined with scarcity. "Not only are you going to be paying a tax on items," Zev observed, "you're now going to be facing empty shelves. It's going to become like Cuba." A historic consumer tax hike disguised as tough trade policy is unfolding in real-time.

3️⃣ WHITE HOUSE CALLS AMAZON "HOSTILE" FOR REVEALING TARIFF COSTS

When Amazon announced plans to show consumers exactly how much Trump's tariffs add to each purchase price, the White House melted down. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called it a "hostile and political act" while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent scrambled to deflect.

The administration's panic reveals what they've desperately tried to hide: Americans—not China—pay these tariffs. Their frantic response confirms they know these price increases will shock consumers once visible on every receipt. As Dean put it: "He didn't want consumers to ask questions about why their s**t was twice as expensive."

This isn't about national security or fair trade—it's about implementing a massive consumer tax while frantically trying to prevent Americans from seeing the receipt. The truly hostile act isn't transparency; it's labeling transparency as an attack because it exposes uncomfortable truth.

2️⃣ TRUMP CREATES NATIONAL POLICE FORCE IN AUTHORITARIAN POWER GRAB

Yesterday's executive order on law enforcement isn't about crime—it's about creating a nationalized police force answerable only to Trump. The EO strips local oversight of police departments while empowering the Attorney General to pursue mayors and prosecutors who defy federal control.

This follows the textbook of authoritarian takeovers. As Zev noted, this mirrors exactly what happened in "Nazi Germany" and "when Putin came to power, he nationalized every municipal police force." The executive order effectively creates a mechanism to arrest local officials who resist Trump's agenda.

Combined with efforts to deputize militia and the creation of a "faith-based Gestapo," we're witnessing the rapid construction of parallel enforcement structures outside normal constitutional constraints. This isn't hyperbole—the administration is systematically building the infrastructure for mass political repression within six months of taking power.

1️⃣ DOGE GIVES RUSSIA ACCESS TO US NUCLEAR INFRASTRUCTURE

While Spain recovers from what appears to be a cyberterrorism blackout affecting 50 million people, NPR revealed something far more dangerous: Elon Musk's DOGE operatives received login credentials to America's most classified nuclear networks, containing both power grid controls and weapons stockpile data.

The Department of Energy first flatly denied the story, then claimed these accounts "were never activated"—a meaningless assurance given what we now know about how Russian hackers operate. The whistleblower Daniel Berulis already demonstrated how Russians use sophisticated tunneling techniques through DOGE credentials to extract data undetected through Starlink.

This isn't just another breach—it's potentially catastrophic. As Dean put it, "I don't know how many receipts we need to convince [people] that you've been cooked. You have given access to some of the world's worst people to nuclear secrets that people have fought and died for." The connection between Spain's blackout and vulnerability in America's critical infrastructure points to a coordinated strategy to undermine Western security at its core.

The next 80 days represent our closing window to prevent total authoritarian capture. History shows these regimes consolidate power within six months. Spain's blackout, DOGE's nuclear access, nationalized police forces—these aren't isolated incidents but components of a comprehensively dangerous moment.

As Zev concluded, "You don't have the luxury of saying like the Germans did, 'Well, we didn't know what was going on.' You know what's going on. You see it every day. You've got time to try and stop it. What are you going to do about it?"

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The unprecedented resignation of Bill Owens from CBS's 60 Minutes represents far more than a personnel change at America's most trusted news program – it's a warning shot about the systematic dismantling of independent journalism under growing authoritarian pressures.

When Scott Pelley turned to the camera in the closing minutes of Sunday's broadcast to announce that Owens had resigned because he could no longer "make independent decisions based on what was right," the moment was unmistakable. After 42 years at the helm of America's most respected news program, Owens didn't just quit – he sacrificed his career to sound an alarm.

5️⃣ THE CANADIAN ELECTION: TRUMP'S 51ST STATE GAMBIT

In an extraordinary act of election interference, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social urging Canadians to elect Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre while promising Canada could become America's "cherished 51st state."

"Good luck to the great people of Canada. Elect the man who has the strength and wisdom to cut your taxes in half, increase your military power for free... If Canada becomes the 51st State of the United States of America," Trump wrote, describing the border as an "artificially drawn line" and falsely claiming America subsidizes Canada with "hundreds of billions of dollars."

"This isn't just an endorsement," Zev noted. "It's a blatant call for Canada to hand over its sovereignty, resources, and identity to the United States."

"Canada hates him 20% more every time he opens his mouth," Dean added. "Every time he talks about coming up here to take us, every time he says 'cherished 51st state,' 91% of this country throws up in their mouth."

4️⃣ MUSK'S APPROVAL TANKS AS FEUDALISM RISES

Public disapproval of Elon Musk's role in the Trump administration has surged to 57%, with new polling showing widespread rejection of his federal restructuring that has eliminated 275,000 government jobs since March.

"Our new investigation 'The New Feudalism' reveals how Musk is systematically dismantling economic freedom in America," Zev explained. "He's not enhancing capitalism – he's replacing it with digital feudalism that would permanently stratify American society."

Under Musk's crypto-feudal vision, Americans would be divided into permanent castes: Crypto-Kings at the top (0.001% controlling all governance), Crypto-Lords below them (the technical gatekeepers), a small government class beneath them, and 95% of Americans permanently locked in an underclass with no governance rights whatsoever.

"The irony is that he's doing the most anti-capitalistic thing imaginable by destroying the one thing that drives everyone to want to be like America – this ability that you can make it rich, you can make it big, no matter who you are," Zev observed. "They are busy tearing that away."

3️⃣ VATICAN DIPLOMACY: TRUMP BLOCKS MACRON FROM UKRAINE TALKS

A dramatic diplomatic confrontation unfolded at Pope Francis' funeral when Trump physically prevented French President Emmanuel Macron from participating in talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"Trump delivered a peace deal that was just a fleecing," Dean explained. "Give us all your minerals, you never join NATO, Russia never promises anything, they get to keep Crimea, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk – those eastern parts of Ukraine they illegally annexed."

According to witnesses, Zelensky and European leaders cornered Trump at the Vatican to deliver a counterproposal. "Your peace plan is not going to work," Zelensky reportedly told Trump. "Crimea is Ukraine. Donetsk is Ukraine. The only peace deal we'll sign, and the only way you get your minerals, is by accepting our counterproposal."

When Macron attempted to join the conversation, Trump reportedly told him: "You need to do me a favor. You should not be here."

2️⃣ ANDY ROONEY AND THE LAST ERA OF INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM

In a personal digression, Zev shared memories of working in the same building as the legendary 60 Minutes commentator Andy Rooney, recalling how he'd see Rooney near the elevators each day with his sandwich – "Oh, I got all my fixings here."

These reminiscences of walking the same halls as figures like Rooney, Mike Wallace, and Morley Safer highlighted how drastically American journalism has changed from an era when a curmudgeonly commentator could regularly criticize anything and everything on national television with complete independence.

"It's such a different era," Zev reflected, noting how he also attended Walter Cronkite's funeral alongside journalism legends like Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer. "Those were good days of American journalism. I'm wary that it's all going to be tampered down and become very, very sad."

1️⃣ 60 MINUTES PRODUCER RESIGNS IN STAND AGAINST MEDIA CONTROL

Bill Owens' resignation from 60 Minutes signals a dangerous new phase in the erosion of press freedom. The executive producer quit after Paramount installed new editorial overseers following Trump's lawsuit over a Kamala Harris interview.

"The timing is no coincidence," Zev emphasized. "Paramount needs Trump's FCC appointees to approve its Skydance merger. The lawsuit provides the pretext for editorial oversight while the merger approval creates leverage to ensure compliance."

The crisis reportedly began when 60 Minutes produced stories about Gaza that upset powerful interests connected to both Trump and Skydance's David Ellison, whose father Larry Ellison maintains close ties to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Even at the highest level of journalistic, ethical standards, that's now being touched by the poison which is Donald Trump and the collusion with MAGA and all the fascist leaders around the world," Dean noted. "If you don't think the media complex in the United States is scared to death of this man, this is one of the greatest examples."

This pattern of media capture isn't unique to America – it's a playbook seen in Hungary, Russia, and other countries where authoritarian leaders have systematically dismantled independent journalism. The strategy works by creating conditions where journalists self-censor rather than through explicit censorship orders.

"This is the canary in the coal mine," Zev warned. "We're going to see this happen everywhere – NBC, MSNBC, CBS, New York Times already gone, Washington Post going through the same thing right now. We're seeing the ending of independent media that has been such an important underpinning of democracy."

Owens' principled stand against this media capture represents a high water mark in American journalism – a lone act of resistance in a sea of capitulation that threatens to submerge journalistic independence altogether.

The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Advertising inquiries email [email protected]. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org.

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Same hard-hitting countdown, new time slot

FiveStack with Dean Blundell and Zev Shalev is moving to 3 PM ET Monday through Thursday on Substack Live starting next week.

This new time hits the sweet spot in the news cycle – capturing the day's major developments while giving you time to process them before evening. The countdown format remains unchanged: five stories that matter, stripped of nonsense and delivered with the context and connections mainstream media misses.

The earlier broadcast puts us in prime position to break down emerging stories while they're still developing and allows our international audience to tune in at more reasonable hours.

Whether you're tracking democracy threats, international influence operations, or Canada elections, corporate investigations, our commitment stays the same – we explain the biggest stories of the day and how they connect to each other.

Can't make the live show? The full video remains available immediately after broadcast, with audio versions hitting podcast platforms shortly after.

Mark your calendars – 3 PM ET Monday through Thursday is your new appointment with reality, no filter.

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5️⃣ Carney Stands Firm as Trump Threatens Canada

Trump declared this week he "doesn't want Canada to play any part in the North American auto industry" – seemingly unaware of the deeply integrated cross-border supply chain that took decades to build. Canadian PM Mark Carney responded with unmistakable clarity: "This is Canada – we decide what happens here."

The confrontation comes at a pivotal moment with Canada's election just days away. Carney's positioning Canada to withstand economic hostility, arguing his domestic investment plan can generate more value ($144B) than Trump's tariffs could potentially cost ($90B). As Carney bluntly stated, "The old relationship with the United States is over" – a sobering assessment from America's historically closest ally.

4️⃣ China Officially Confirms No Trade Talks Exist

Beijing has now directly contradicted Trump's daily claims of ongoing negotiations, officially confirming what we've been reporting: there are simply no trade talks happening between China and the US. China has escalated its position, demanding complete cancellation of all American tariffs before they'll even consider dialogue.

The economic stakes couldn't be higher. While the US plays short-term politics with tariffs, China is methodically reshaping global trade architecture to America's permanent disadvantage. Treasury Secretary Bessent admitted the situation is "not sustainable" as China actively consolidates relationships with former US partners – building economic bonds that will endure long after this administration.

3️⃣ Elon vs. Bessent: Billionaires Brawl in West Wing

The West Wing witnessed what witnesses described as "two billionaire, middle-aged men thinking it was WWE" when Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent nearly came to blows over IRS leadership. The confrontation grew so heated an aide had to physically separate them.

At stake was control of the IRS – Musk backed Gary Shapley (the Hunter Biden tax case whistleblower) while Bessent wanted his deputy Michael Faulkender. Bessent ultimately prevailed, with Shapley ousted after just 48-72 hours, making Faulkender the fifth IRS chief since January. The incident raises disturbing questions about why a private citizen with active investigations against his companies somehow gained authority to select the head of the agency that might investigate him.

2️⃣ Musk's $2 Trillion DOGE Promise Shrinks to $150 Billion

As Musk nears the end of his DOGE tenure, his initial promise of $2 trillion in government savings has collapsed to just $150 billion – missing his target by a staggering factor of 13. One analyst compared it to "asking a real estate agent to find a $300,000 house and being shown a place listing for $4 million."

The entire DOGE exercise appears increasingly to have been a data collection operation rather than a legitimate efficiency effort. By targeting agencies investigating his companies – from the SEC to the Department of Transportation – Musk effectively neutralized oversight while gaining unprecedented access to government systems. This wasn't about cutting waste; it was about reshaping America's economic structure to benefit a small group of crypto billionaires.

1️⃣ Trump Offers Ukraine Deal: Give Russia Crimea, No NATO

Trump has announced a "very good chance" for a Ukraine-Russia ceasefire based on U.S. proposals that include recognizing Russia's illegal 2014 annexation of Crimea and guaranteeing Ukraine cannot join NATO – essentially capitulating to Putin's two primary demands. In an astonishing statement, Trump characterized Russia's "restraint from taking the whole country" as a "pretty big concession."

This came as Russia launched 75 missiles and 145 drones at Ukraine, killing 12 civilians and injuring over 110. Trump's response was stunningly weak: "I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv. Not necessary. Very bad timing. Vladimir, stop." There was no condemnation of civilian deaths, no consequences – just an awkward plea for peace so everyone can "get rich" together. This isn't diplomatic wisdom – it's appeasement from a president who appears incapable of standing up to Russia under any circumstances.

The FiveStack is available as an audio podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Advertising inquiries email [email protected]. The FiveStack is a co-production of deanblundell.substack.com and narativ.org.

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Dean is promoting a lifetime membership to Dean Blundell for the cost of a discounted annual membership.

And Zev is offering an annual membership to Narativ.org for 33% Off.

As the Pope lies in state embodying true Christian values, the Trump regime implements the Nazi handbook

The contrast couldn't be more stark. While Pope Francis lies in state in a humble wooden casket—his life's work a testament to serving the marginalized and embracing humanity over power—the Trump administration forges ahead with a coordinated assault on democratic values that mirrors history's darkest chapters.

5️⃣ POPE FRANCIS EMBODIES TRUE CHRISTIAN VALUES IN DEATH AS IN LIFE

The Pope's body rests in a simple wooden casket near St. Peter's tomb, breaking with elaborate papal traditions and continuing his lifelong commitment to humility. Dressed in red vestments with his hands clasped around a rosary, he lies on a sloped ramp rather than an elevated platform, remaining accessible to mourners even in death.

This outpouring of grief for a spiritual leader who practiced what he preached stands in stark contrast to the religious weaponization occurring in America. Francis washed feet, embraced the forgotten, and told a young boy whose atheist father had died that "of course" he would see his dad in heaven—choosing compassion over doctrine.

The true measure of leadership is revealed in how people respond when you're gone. Francis's funeral shows what happens when you live by serving others rather than by demanding power.

4️⃣ CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST GESTAPO DEPLOYED ACROSS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Trump's "anti-Christian bias" task force has expanded from the VA and DOJ to every federal agency, creating a surveillance apparatus that targets anyone perceived as insufficiently Christian. This government-wide initiative, chaired by Attorney General Pam Bondi, encourages employees to report colleagues for actions like "reprimands for displaying Christian symbols" or "retaliation for abstaining from procedures like abortion."

This is nothing less than the Christian nationalist Gestapo, directly lifted from Project 2025's playbook to purge government of non-believers. The snitch line transforms colleagues into informants, weaponizing faith to crush dissent.

The evangelical doctrine teaches followers they're persecuted—"blessed are ye who are persecuted, you shall inherit the kingdom of heaven"—making victimhood central to identity. But this task force flips persecution into power, allowing the dominant religion to silence others and creating a tiered society where only certain beliefs are protected.

3️⃣ MEDAL OF MOTHERHOOD MIRRORS NAZI GERMANY'S FERTILITY PROGRAM

In a move lifted directly from authoritarian regimes, the Trump administration announced a $5,000 "baby bonus" for new mothers alongside a "National Medal of Motherhood" for women with six or more children. This isn't speculation—it's an exact replica of Hitler's "Cross of Honour of the German Mother" and Stalin's "Order of Maternal Glory."

With U.S. fertility rates reaching historic lows—having dropped 20% since 2007—the administration claims this addresses population decline. But the timing lays bare the contradictions: while forcibly deporting millions of immigrants, they're suddenly concerned about population growth.

The proposal includes reserving 30% of Fulbright scholarships for married applicants or parents and enhanced child tax credits, signaling a comprehensive social engineering project aimed at producing more "traditional" families. As with the Nazi program, these aren't isolated policies but components of a broader ethno-nationalist agenda.

2️⃣ TRUMP'S TARIFF WAR FAILS AS TREASURY SECRETARY ADMITS DEFEAT

The economic catastrophe of Trump's tariff war has forced an embarrassing retreat. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged the current trade standoff with China is "unsustainable" and the "equivalent of an embargo harming both economies."

Trump announced tariffs will be "substantially" reduced from the current 145% rate, after China raised retaliatory tariffs to 125% on all U.S. goods. The White House is considering a tiered approach with baseline rates between 50-65% and 35% for non-security-critical goods.

Trump's claims of ongoing negotiations with China, Japan, and India have all been exposed as lies. No high-level talks are occurring, and his evasive answer when asked if he'd spoken with President Xi—"maybe I have, maybe I haven't"—reveals how isolated America has become on the world stage. The stock market rallied at the news of tariff reductions, underscoring how self-defeating the policy has been.

1️⃣ UKRAINE REJECTS TRUMP'S SURRENDER DEMANDS AS PEACE TALKS COLLAPSE

President Zelensky firmly rebuffed the Trump administration's demand that Ukraine cede Crimea to Russia, declaring: "There's nothing to discuss. This is against our constitution." The London peace talks collapsed after emotions "ran high" when the U.S. presented what amounted to surrender terms that included giving up territory and natural resources.

In a masterful diplomatic move, Zelensky quoted a 2018 statement from Mike Pompeo—Trump's former Secretary of State—calling on Russia to end its occupation of Crimea and uphold the principle that borders cannot be changed by force.

Trump's response was revealing. He posted that Zelensky's refusal to give up Ukrainian territory was "very harmful to the peace negotiations" and falsely claimed Crimea "was lost years ago" without a fight. This isn't negotiation—it's capitulation to Putin. The Trump regime's position abandons 80 years of international norms that have maintained relative peace.

Ukraine continues to demonstrate that resistance to authoritarianism is possible—and necessary. As the second-largest army in Europe with growing drone capabilities, Ukraine's continued defense against Russian aggression represents a crucial bulwark against worldwide authoritarian expansion.

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