Another week brings another tariff threat from the Trump administration, without clarity on who is being targeted and for what reason. Andrew argues that the media must resist applying normal rules of rational behaviour that you would expect from any other presidency. Trump is becoming increasingly erratic in his second term and must continue exceeding expectations with his bad behaviour to satisfy himself and his followers. Meanwhile his Big Beautiful Bill includes tax cuts that will add billions of dollars to America's debt, an irresponsible fiscal plan that mirrors Mark Carney's tax cut plan in Canada. Why are governments around the world happy to increase debts and deficits at the expense of the long term health of their economies? Andrew and Rudyard agree that to increase productivity in Canada we need more investment which comes from tax reform and bringing down the top marginal tax rate - something no government wants to do.

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.

Rudyard and Janice open the show unpacking the effect America's pause on military shipments will have on Ukraine's war effort. Putin has managed to drive a wedge between the US and Ukraine, thus removing the biggest obstacle to his maximalist ambitions. Has America officially walked away from Ukraine? And does Europe have the will, the weapons, and the finances to fill the void and give Ukraine a fighting chance in a war that they are losing? In the second half of the show Rudyard and Janice take stock of America on its Independence Day and agree that things do not look good from north of the border: a President who shows contempt for the courts and rule of law, and a country that is now spending more money servicing its debt than its military. Both Rudyard and Janice worry for America's short term future under this administration, but both are optimistic that American Exceptionalism can withstand this current moment and save the country from decline.

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Mark Carney is learning quickly - as the digital services tax debacle proved - that attempting good faith negotiations with the US President does guarantee a positive or lasting agreement. What is the point of making concessions of any kind when the goal posts keep moving? Rudyard and Andrew then turn to America's decision to pause weapon shipments to Ukraine on the heels of easing sanctions against Russia. Andrew believes that Trump has done everything in his power to enhance the Russian position while weakening Ukraine's, thus sending an important message to the world's democracies that American support is not guaranteed. Can Mark Carney's spending commitment to build up Canada's defense protect our borders in an increasingly hostile world dominated by strongmen? And perhaps most importantly, how will we find the money to pay for this?