Phil
@philmarfisi.bsky.social
Sidewalk enthusiast. Other interests: public policy, housing, urbanism, Waterloo Region, Ontario politics, #cdnpoli, Star Trek, music, news media, international relations, and the Oxford comma. Democracy is good, actually.
Reposted by Phil
The risk to North American auto manufacturing is North America's auto manufacturers not keeping up with what global consumers want.
You've had tens of billions of dollars in subsidies and supports shovelled at you. Compete or die.
You've had tens of billions of dollars in subsidies and supports shovelled at you. Compete or die.
Exclusive: A recent deal by Canada to allow tens of thousands of inexpensive Chinese EVs into the country is a risk to North American auto manufacturing, GM’s CEO says.
Canada’s Move to Import Cheap Chinese EVs is ‘Slippery Slope,’ GM CEO Says
Thousands of electric vehicles from Chinese automakers can enter Canada this year at new low tariff rate
on.wsj.com
January 28, 2026 at 5:11 PM
The risk to North American auto manufacturing is North America's auto manufacturers not keeping up with what global consumers want.
You've had tens of billions of dollars in subsidies and supports shovelled at you. Compete or die.
You've had tens of billions of dollars in subsidies and supports shovelled at you. Compete or die.
I wouldn't have either, which is a good time to share my fave @stevelafleur.bsky.social post:
"I see other people's biases at work all the time. I need to recogize my own. I don't know people - not before I meet them, anyways."
www.northofbloor.ca/p/you-dont-k...
"I see other people's biases at work all the time. I need to recogize my own. I don't know people - not before I meet them, anyways."
www.northofbloor.ca/p/you-dont-k...
January 28, 2026 at 6:36 PM
I wouldn't have either, which is a good time to share my fave @stevelafleur.bsky.social post:
"I see other people's biases at work all the time. I need to recogize my own. I don't know people - not before I meet them, anyways."
www.northofbloor.ca/p/you-dont-k...
"I see other people's biases at work all the time. I need to recogize my own. I don't know people - not before I meet them, anyways."
www.northofbloor.ca/p/you-dont-k...
28% of Ontario's population lives near major roads/highways, and the provincial public health agency outlines all the bad population health outcomes this induces (link here: www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/docu...). Policymakers and urban planners are not connecting the dots.
January 28, 2026 at 5:57 PM
28% of Ontario's population lives near major roads/highways, and the provincial public health agency outlines all the bad population health outcomes this induces (link here: www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/docu...). Policymakers and urban planners are not connecting the dots.
"Nice country you have there! Would be a shame if you did absolutely nothing to provoke us and we decided to inflict economic calamity upon you"
Bessent: "I'd encourage Carney to do what he thinks is best for Canadians, not his own virtue signaling. We do have a USMCA negotiation coming up. He rose to power on an anti-American, anti-Trump message. That's not a great place to be when you're negotiating w/ an economy multiples larger than you"
January 28, 2026 at 4:21 PM
"Nice country you have there! Would be a shame if you did absolutely nothing to provoke us and we decided to inflict economic calamity upon you"
Actual legal argument from the province: "Even if it is accepted that there will be induced demand... it is unquestionable that more motor vehicles will be accommodated by roadways with more lanes available to motor vehicle traffic"
Toronto bike lane battle heads to Ontario’s top court this week
Provincial lawyers will argue that bike lanes on Yonge, Bloor and University aren’t actually safe enough to require preservation
torontotoday.ca
January 28, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Actual legal argument from the province: "Even if it is accepted that there will be induced demand... it is unquestionable that more motor vehicles will be accommodated by roadways with more lanes available to motor vehicle traffic"
Love that the newspaper app I use to get informed and grow my critical thinking skills through is trying to shove genAI features down my throat that undercuts their entire raison d'etre.
January 28, 2026 at 5:58 AM
Love that the newspaper app I use to get informed and grow my critical thinking skills through is trying to shove genAI features down my throat that undercuts their entire raison d'etre.
Reposted by Phil
putin's most impressive accomplishment is getting europe to cheer for German rearmament
❗️🇩🇪German defense company Rheinmetall plans to soon produce 1.5 million 155mm shells per year — more than the entire 🇺🇸American industry combined.
January 27, 2026 at 7:55 PM
putin's most impressive accomplishment is getting europe to cheer for German rearmament
"Senate Democrats must demand the abolishment of ICE or they should not hold elected office" should be the bare minimum, actually
Senate Democrats must demand reforms like federal agents taking the masks off and getting warrants.
Those are common sense reforms all Americans should be able to get behind.
Those are common sense reforms all Americans should be able to get behind.
January 27, 2026 at 6:24 PM
"Senate Democrats must demand the abolishment of ICE or they should not hold elected office" should be the bare minimum, actually
A study in Vancouver by @happycities.com found that density only correlated negatively to happiness for basement apartments and units under 300 sq ft (there is nuance from other studies on the latter). Housing options should be plentiful to such an extent that people don't need basement rentals.
January 27, 2026 at 6:22 PM
A study in Vancouver by @happycities.com found that density only correlated negatively to happiness for basement apartments and units under 300 sq ft (there is nuance from other studies on the latter). Housing options should be plentiful to such an extent that people don't need basement rentals.
Reposted by Phil
Last week in Minnesota, I watched ordinary people risk their lives to protect their neighbors. In the process, they not only won a significant—though not final—victory against authoritarianism, they proved virtually every MAGA social theory wrong. (gift link) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
January 27, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Last week in Minnesota, I watched ordinary people risk their lives to protect their neighbors. In the process, they not only won a significant—though not final—victory against authoritarianism, they proved virtually every MAGA social theory wrong. (gift link) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Primary him.
Majority of the country now wants to abolish and/or dismantle ICE and yet Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. told the caucus the message had to be to “restrain, reform and restrict ICE.”
Once again it looks like Schumer is about to choke after getting a massive opportunity.
So pathetic and weak.
Once again it looks like Schumer is about to choke after getting a massive opportunity.
So pathetic and weak.
Senate Democrats plot strategy as DHS standoff deepens heading into shutdown week
Two sources who were on a Democratic caucus strategy call Sunday said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told the group the message must be to “restrain, reform and restrict ICE.”
www.nbcnews.com
January 27, 2026 at 3:28 AM
Primary him.
Reposted by Phil
brass solidarity band performing “stand by me” in the streets of whittier next to alex pretti’s memorial. the crowd started chanting “the people united will never be defeated” so they incorporated it into the song. i love minneapolis
January 27, 2026 at 12:22 AM
brass solidarity band performing “stand by me” in the streets of whittier next to alex pretti’s memorial. the crowd started chanting “the people united will never be defeated” so they incorporated it into the song. i love minneapolis
Folks I gotta be honest, if no one pulled out of Qatar, they aren't going to stop the US from hosting part of the World Cup this summer. This is one of the most laughably corrupt organizations in the world we're talking about.
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter believes that fans should avoid traveling to the United States for the World Cup this summer.
Ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter says fans should avoid US for World Cup
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter believes that fans should avoid traveling to the United States for the World Cup this summer.
bit.ly
January 27, 2026 at 1:20 AM
Folks I gotta be honest, if no one pulled out of Qatar, they aren't going to stop the US from hosting part of the World Cup this summer. This is one of the most laughably corrupt organizations in the world we're talking about.
Reposted by Phil
Reposted by Phil
Border Patrol is pulling out of Minneapolis. Bovino is ending his punitive tour of blue cities. Calls for Noem's resignation are mounting, even in conservative media. Senate Democrats are dug in now on refusing to fund DHS and ICE. "Abolish ICE" is now a mainstream position.
They are losing.
They are losing.
January 26, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Border Patrol is pulling out of Minneapolis. Bovino is ending his punitive tour of blue cities. Calls for Noem's resignation are mounting, even in conservative media. Senate Democrats are dug in now on refusing to fund DHS and ICE. "Abolish ICE" is now a mainstream position.
They are losing.
They are losing.
Reposted by Phil
The killing of Alex Pretti and the grotesque lying was an overreach by the administration. They've paid a price and had to pull back a bit. But it's when there's some disarray that the democratic opposition needs to intensify the offensive, and turn a marginal tactical success into a major victory.
January 26, 2026 at 10:56 PM
The killing of Alex Pretti and the grotesque lying was an overreach by the administration. They've paid a price and had to pull back a bit. But it's when there's some disarray that the democratic opposition needs to intensify the offensive, and turn a marginal tactical success into a major victory.
Devastating: the fascist secret police executing citizens in the streets doesn't have good work-life balance
Morale plummeting among ICE agents over long hours, quotas and public hatred: reports
Morale plummeting among ICE agents over long hours, quotas and public hatred: reports
Morale plummeting among ICE agents over long hours, quotas and public hatred: reports
www.independent.co.uk
January 26, 2026 at 11:16 PM
Devastating: the fascist secret police executing citizens in the streets doesn't have good work-life balance
The curse is lifted, Toronto is winning the Stanley Cup this year
BREAKING: Toronto’s Line 5 Eglinton to launch service to the public on Sunday, February 8th. toronto.citynews.ca/2026/01/26/e...
Eglinton Crosstown LRT opening on Feb. 8, TTC reportedly tells Doug Ford
Construction on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, which will operate as Line 5 Eglinton, began in 2011. It was supposed to be done in 2020.
toronto.citynews.ca
January 26, 2026 at 11:08 PM
The curse is lifted, Toronto is winning the Stanley Cup this year
Let me tell you, that afternoon run of Star Trek: TOS -> TNG -> Deep Space Nine/Voyager episodes on the Space Channel made for the best sick day imaginable in grade school
Gen Z has never known the passive pleasure of a sick day at home watching reruns of shows cancelled before you were born
January 26, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Let me tell you, that afternoon run of Star Trek: TOS -> TNG -> Deep Space Nine/Voyager episodes on the Space Channel made for the best sick day imaginable in grade school
Cut subsidies to any Canadian corporation supplying anything to ICE until they cease doing so. Ban the export of armoured vehicles built on our soil that are being used to terrorize Americans. Refuse to accept that this is just a business matter. It is moral complicity in crimes against humanity.
Canada's federal government is subsidizing an Ottawa tech company that provides wiretapping tools to ICE, the agency leading President Donald Trump’s violent mass-deportation campaign. thelogic.co/news/exclusi... Exclusive by @davidreevely.bsky.social in @thelogic.co #cdnpoli
Ottawa is subsidizing a tech firm that provides wiretapping tools to ICE - The Logic
The $1-million contribution came after the U.S. agency showed up in force in Minneapolis
thelogic.co
January 26, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Cut subsidies to any Canadian corporation supplying anything to ICE until they cease doing so. Ban the export of armoured vehicles built on our soil that are being used to terrorize Americans. Refuse to accept that this is just a business matter. It is moral complicity in crimes against humanity.
Reposted by Phil
If you're not in Minnesota but have money you can allocate, here are some ways you can do some direct, tangible good. Not the only ways, but some.
tomorrow, StandWithMinnesota.com will hit a million site visits and over 650,000 unique visitors.
i made it 10 days ago with $600 from you guys for hosting and cloudflare.
thank you. thank you.
i made it 10 days ago with $600 from you guys for hosting and cloudflare.
thank you. thank you.
Stand With Minnesota Donation Directory
Stand With Minnesota is a hub for supporting, learning, and taking action to support Minnesotans impacted by ICE and federal enforcement.
StandWithMinnesota.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM
If you're not in Minnesota but have money you can allocate, here are some ways you can do some direct, tangible good. Not the only ways, but some.
If we are in a rolling period of crises, wouldn't one of the simplest ways to increase government revenues for defence spending just be hiking the GST to what it used to be, and then raise credit amounts accordingly for low income cohorts?
January 26, 2026 at 3:15 PM
If we are in a rolling period of crises, wouldn't one of the simplest ways to increase government revenues for defence spending just be hiking the GST to what it used to be, and then raise credit amounts accordingly for low income cohorts?
Microsoft I am BEGGING you
January 26, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Microsoft I am BEGGING you