Simon Ostler

Spending too much time on X. Coming over here for a timeline cleanse. What do you have for me, Blue Sky?

I can help with this

House passes bill to reopen government after longest shutdown ever The legislation goes to President Donald Trump’s desk to sign into law. Many federal workers are expected back on Thursday.

Breaking news: The House passed a bill to reopen the federal government, taking the final step in Congress to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

The bill now heads to President Trump, who is expected to sign it into law.

Postal union launches nationwide strike after Ottawa gives Canada Post the OK to end home delivery Other changes could include closing of rural post offices as Public Works minister cites "unsustainable" losses at Crown corporation.

#Breaking: Postal union launches nationwide strike after Ottawa gives Canada Post the OK to end home delivery

BREAKING: US judge approves $1.5 billion Anthropic copyright settlement with authors reut.rs/3IkzUXU

Trump signs order allowing TikTok deal to proceed A deal still isn't done, but it's closer to happening than it's ever been before.

BREAKING: Trump signs order allowing TikTok deal to proceed

Comedian Drew Lynch was onstage and had just begun his stand-up set when he saw a man in the audience who was in cardiac arrest.

After the man was taken to the hospital, Lynch resumed his set — but not as he had originally intended. https://wapo.st/4pLAXRA

Deleted the bird app… again. Really going to try to stay off it this time. Despite having over 10,000 followers I only ever hear from one troll who says vile things to me for no reason. Sad to see that platform erode from a true town square into a toxic cesspool. But there’s no bringing it back.

Air Canada begins cancelling flights this morning as flight attendants strike looms on Saturday Airline says it will cancel 500 flights by the end of the day Friday affecting 130,000 travellers a day, including 25,000 Canadians who may risk being stranded abroad.

#Breaking: Air Canada begins cancelling flights this morning as flight attendants strike looms on Saturday

In my Pitching in the Changing Media Landscape workshop, your team learns exactly how to cut through the noise and land coverage in 2025’s fast-moving media environment. www.linkedin.com/posts/simono...

In the news today: 10 candidates in Alberta byelection to debate Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed...

Top things to know for today:

1️⃣ 10 candidates in Alberta byelection to debate
2️⃣ 'Worst-case scenario of famine' is happening in Gaza, food crisis experts say
3️⃣ Businesses hoping for carveouts in potential deal
4️⃣ Motion on B.C. injection site closure deferred

In a world of AI and algorithms, authenticity is your secret weapon People aren’t looking for perfect.

open.substack.com/pub/simonost...

How can you not absolutely love this Edmonton crowd’s energy? Amazing.

Harvard sues Trump administration to halt federal ban on enrolling international students | CNN Harvard University is opening a new front in its legal battle against the Trump administration, filing suit in federal court Friday in response to the government’s move to revoke the school’s ability ...

BREAKING: Harvard University is suing the Trump administration to halt the federal ban on the school enrolling international students

Is anyone seeking a penguin 🐧 comment?

Trump Tariffs Hit Antarctic Islands Inhabited by Zero Humans and Many Penguins The Heard and McDonald Islands are among the dozens of targets of President Donald Trump's latest round of tariffs. But they have no exports, because no one lives there.

This is not an April Fool’s Joke and not from The Onion. www.wired.com/story/trump-...

I think Sandy and Jan are my two favourite shortcut co-hosts.

This is real. Trump appears to be suggesting his tariffs on Canada will result in fentanyl dealers getting dinged at customs.

Myanmar quake death toll passes 1,600, as junta lets in foreign rescuers Myanmar's military rulers let in hundreds of foreign rescue personnel on Saturday after an earthquake killed more than 1,600 people, the deadliest natural disaster to hit the impoverished, war-torn country in years.

Friday's 7.7 magnitude quake, among the biggest to jolt the Southeast Asian nation in the last century, crippled airports, bridges and highways amid a civil war that has wrecked the economy and displaced millions reut.rs/4l8rwsN

A small gray dog struts across the street, wearing a pink tshirt and pink sunglasses

IMPORTANT: this dog I saw

NEW - Angus Reid Institute poll has the Liberals at 46%, the Conservatives at 38% and the NDP at 7%. The Conservatives are at 72% of firmly committed vote, while the Liberals are at 51%. #bcpoli

I’m the Canadian who was detained by Ice for two weeks. It felt like I had been kidnapped I was stuck in a freezing cell without explanation despite eventually having lawyers and media attention. Yet, compared with others, I was lucky

🚨This might be Story of the Year.

It should be shared everywhere.

“I had a Canadian passport, lawyers, resources, media attention, friends, family & even politicians advocating for me. Yet, I was still detained for nearly 2 weeks. Imagine what this system is like for every other person in there.”

I’m the Canadian who was detained by Ice for two weeks. It felt like I had been kidnapped I was stuck in a freezing cell without explanation despite eventually having lawyers and media attention. Yet, compared with others, I was lucky

This is just a wild and disturbing story www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

An idea for John Oliver’s “And Now, This” segment: News anchors wearing green standing in front of the green screen on St. Patrick’s Day ☘️

a roller coaster in a park with a blue sky behind it ALT: a roller coaster in a park with a blue sky behind it

U.S. tariff policies this week 🎢 www.cnn.com/2025/03/06/e...

Another Canadian politician leaves X

Trump Says Tariffs Will Stop When Opioid Deaths Fall. They’ve Already Fallen. A top administration official said that, without new declines, tariffs on Canada and Mexico were appropriate. But the kind of real-time data he demanded doesn’t exist.

Trump says tariffs will stop when opioid deaths fall. They’ve already fallen, by @sangerkatz.bsky.social @joshkatz.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/04/u... via @nytimes.com #ToxicDrugCrisis

The USA does NOT subsidize Canada. This is not true and needs to be called out for the lie it is.

USA wines have been removed from LCBO shelves

USA alcohol has been removed from LCBO shelves

Local LCBO shelves are now cleared of American products. As one of the largest purchasers of alcohol on the planet, losing LCBO business will hurt the US. Trump can stop this by reversing course on the tariffs! #topoli #onpoli #cdnpoli

What a shot