Peter Navarro, a senior trade adviser to President Trump, on Wednesday said that Canada has been “taken over” by Mexican cartels as tensions between the countries are on the rise over Trump-imposed tariffs seeking to crackdown on fentanyl coming into the U.S.
“What I want to say to every world leader who gets up in arms when all we’re asking for is fairness and to have them stop killing our people is, ‘Please, listen to us.’” Canada could do a lot more,” Navarro said, discussing drug flow into the U.S. on Fox News’s “Special Report,” to anchor Brett Baier.
“Canada has been taken over, Brett, by Mexican cartels,” he continued as highlighted by Mediaite.
.
Navarro’s comments come amid tensions between Canada and the U.S. over tariffs. On Tuesday, Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs on the country’s
northern neighbor and Mexico alongside an extra 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods. The president pointed to frustration over the stream of fentanyl into the U.S., but experts have previously noted that relatively a small amount of fentanyl comes into the U.S. via the northern border.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who has been very vocal in his opposition to Trump’s tariffs, said Tuesday he was hopeful the tariff fight
between his country and the U.S. will end within days.
“I hope it stops within the next few days … And I’m not just saying that,” Ford told NewsNation’s Blake Burman on “The Hill” on Tuesday.
“It will be an absolute disaster for both countries, and people will be unemployed, plants will shut down, assembly lines will shut down and inflation’s going to happen within days,” he continued later. “So this is unfortunate. One person’s responsible, and that’s President Trump.”
In his “Special Report” appearance, Navarro said that he had been viewing a “press conference today and a reporter said something along the lines … only caught like four pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border.”
“Let me do a little fentanyl math for you,” Navarro added. “Four pounds kills a million people.”
The Hill has reached out to Global Affairs Canada for comment.
The relationship between the United States
and Hungary experienced tensions in recent years under former President Joe Biden. His administration put a target on Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the Hungarian people.
Now, a renewed commitment to strengthening this important bilateral partnership is emerging under President Donald Trump
and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. With these two leaders at the helm, we are well positioned to foster strong collaboration on economic, cultural, and security fronts for many years to come.
I recently returned from Budapest after co-leading a delegation of Jewish and Christian leaders
on a six-day visit to with pastor Mario Bramnick. Our mission underscored the importance of interfaith dialogue and the shared values that bind our nations together.
The U.S. and Hungary share deep historical ties built on the principles of freedom and democracy. Hungary’s successful transition from Soviet influence to democracy demonstrates its resilience and commitment to these shared ideals.
The Trump administration has renewed its focus on Central and Eastern Europe, recognizing Hungary’s strategic importance. This will bolster alliances that promote stability and prosperity in the region.
With his extensive experience in foreign affairs
, Rubio is poised to spearhead initiatives that reinforce our commitment to Hungary through initiatives addressing shared challenges—from energy security to countering malign influences that threaten regional stability.
Economic collaboration between our two nations holds vast potential. Hungary’s robust growth and emphasis on innovation align perfectly with American entrepreneurship. By fostering trade agreements and encouraging investments, both nations stand to benefit.
American companies should leverage Hungary’s skilled workforce, while Hungarian companies can expand into the U.S. market. This partnership will create job and drive technological advancements on both sides of the Atlantic.
The contributions of Hungarian Americans have enriched our cultural ties across various fields, from science to the arts. Promoting cultural exchanges and educational partnerships will further strengthen personal connections and deepen mutual respect and understanding.
Security remains a cornerstone of bilateral relations with most of our allies. Hungary’s NATO membership
underscores its commitment to collective defense. Our nations benefit from collaborative efforts in intelligence sharing, military training, and cybersecurity are essential to counter emerging threats. The U.S. values Hungary’s contributions to global security and seeks to enhance this cooperation in the face of evolving challenges.
Strengthening US-Hungary relations requires a comprehensive approach combining economic partnerships, cultural exchanges, security cooperation, and the steadfast promotion of democratic values.
Under Trump and Rubio’s leadership, we have a unique opportunity to revitalize this important alliance, ensuring that it thrives in the face of contemporary challenges. Building on our shared history and values, the United States and Hungary can forge a future marked by mutual respect, prosperity, and enduring friendship.
Together, let’s make US-Hungary relations great again!
PoliticusUSA is independent and relies on the support of readers like you, so please consider supporting us by becoming a subscriber.Subscribe nowThere is a perception that Democrats aren’t doing anything
Jalen Carter
is a late arrival to this group, but the well-traveled junior guard for Kaneland has added more quality depth to the team’s already deep bench since becoming eligible on Feb. 7.
Carter attended Aurora Christian his first two years and was a sophomore starter at quarterback for a playoff football team and guard for the basketball team that finished fourth in the state.
Then he transferred last fall to Wheaton St. Francis.
“I’m very surprised,” Carter said. “I didn’t think Kaneland would be an option for me, but St. Francis didn’t work out and this was my home school. I thought I’d give it a shot, and so far, I love it here.
“I transferred at semester and had to sit out 30 days. I’ve played in several games. Each game, I’m knocking off a little bit of rust. I hadn’t really played basketball much but it’s starting to feel more comfortable.”
That was pretty evident Wednesday night for the top-seeded Knights in a 50-32 victory over seventh-seeded Rockford Boylan in a Class 3A Rochelle Sectional semifinal.
The 6-foot-1 Carter and senior guard Preston Popovich
were the first reserves tabbed by coach Ernie Colombe
late in the first quarter.
“Coaches told us to go up and play, get up in there, get aggressive and force them to speed up the pace,” Carter said. “That’s what we did.”
Kaneland’s Jalen Carter (10) steals the ball from Rockford Boylan’s Alex Ambrose (21) during a Class 3A Rochelle Sectional semifinal on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
Each player had a steal in the second quarter for the Knights (31-1), with Carter scoring on a layup. He added a 3-pointer in the third quarter. Popovich made 1 of 2 free throws.
“The big thing for us is just bring a lot of energy,” Popovich said. “We take pride in our defense and getting stops in a big way. Then, at the offensive end, try and get the ball inside.”
Junior guard Marshawn Cocroft
, Carter’s former teammate at Aurora Christian, led Kaneland with 15 points. Senior forward Freddy Hasan
added 12 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots.
The Knights (31-1) advance to a 7 p.m. Friday game against second-seeded Crystal Lake South (30-4) in a rematch of last year’s sectional final. The Gators won 69-38 on the Knights’ home floor.
Rockford Boylan (6-27), which kept its Cinderella bid alive with long, patient possessions while looking for good shots, trailed only 25-19 at halftime. Kaneland, however, took advantage of eight turnovers to extend the lead to 13 after three quarters.
Kaneland’s Preston Popovich (14) puts up a 3-pointer against Rockford Boylan’s Christian Kennedy (32) during a Class 3A Rochelle Sectional semifinal on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
“Whether we’re playing a seven seed or one seed, our job is to play the best we can and not worry about anybody else but us,” Colombe said. “That’s a storied program with a lot of pride.
“They did a good job in the beginning, but we found a way to scratch and claw, trying to get some runs going.”
Steals from Cocroft, Hassan and senior guard Luke Reinert
sparked the spurt in the third quarter.
“It’s been a great pickup having him,” Cocroft said of Carter. “He can knock down shots. Not only that, he’s a very good defender. He gave us big minutes against Wheaton Academy last Friday in the regional final.
“It doesn’t matter who comes in off the bench, whoever it is has to be ready to play.”
Kaneland’s Jalen Carter (10) shoots a 3-pointer over Rockford Boylan’s Caleb Nelson (4) during a Class 3A Rochelle Sectional semifinal on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
Carter was behind touted junior quarterback prospect Brady Palmer
— who transferred this winter to a school in Florida — and played defensive back for St. Francis before suffering a knee injury that sidelined him until the playoffs.
“The guys know they earn everything they get, so whoever is playing well on a given night is gonna play more,” he said. “If you’re playing well, you stay out there.
“Jalen knows a lot of these guys and they’ve played together for a long time. It’s not easy adding players in the middle of the season, but it is what it is.”
Goods trading under the rules of the North American trade pact, or the vast majority of products, would be exempt from tariffs, the president said. The levies have caused stock markets to sink.
President Donald Trump could sign an executive order as early as Thursday that would begin the process of dismantling the Department of Education, CNN reported
. The move could lead to cuts in educational services
for low-income districts and disabled students across the country, as well as issues for Americans to obtain student loans.
“The experiment of controlling American education through Federal programs and dollars—and the unaccountable bureaucrats those programs and dollars support—has failed our children, our teachers, and our families,” reads a draft of the order obtained
by the Wall Street Journal.
It’s why the executive order Trump plans to sign as early as Thursday merely says that McMahon should “take all necessary steps” to close the department “to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law,” the Washington Post reported
.
Because McMahon cannot merely shutter the department and its functions, the Washington Post reported that McMahon will instead make cuts to “staff, programs, and grants.” That will almost certainly cause issues in the department carrying out its congressionally mandated role of distributing funding to low-income schools, students with disabilities, and administering student loans and grants.
“My vision is aligned with the president’s: to send education back to the states and empower all parents to choose an excellent education for their children,” McMahon wrote
in an email to staff of the DOE after she was sworn in to her role of leading the Cabinet agency. “This is our opportunity to perform one final, unforgettable public service to future generations of students.”
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers union, said that her organization will sue the Trump administration for trying to end the DOE.
“The department is legally required to distribute funds that help 26 million kids living in poverty (Title I), 7.5 million students with disabilities (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), 10 million students who need financial aid to attend college or pursue a trade (Pell grants) and 12 million students who benefit from career and technical education (Perkins grants). Any attempt by the Trump administration or Congress to gut these programs would be a grave mistake, and we will fight them tooth and nail,” she said in a statement
.
National Education Association President Becky Pringle said eliminating the DOE would have devastating impacts on low-income districts, many of which are in red and rural states
that Trump won in 2024. Those Title I districts rely on federal funding to keep teachers employed.
“If it became a reality, Trump’s power grab would steal resources for our most vulnerable students, explode class sizes, cut job training programs, make higher education more expensive and out of reach for middle class families, take away special education services for students with disabilities, and gut student civil rights protections,” Pringle said
in a news release.
Indeed, a report
from the Center for American Progress found that eliminating the DOE, “would lead to the loss of 180,300 teaching positions, which serve more than 2.8 million students, in the United States.”
“If you look at the states that rely the most on Title I funding as a share of their per-pupil education spending, it’s actually a bunch of red, rural states that get the largest share,” Jon Valant, director of the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution, told
NPR. “You run into opposition not just from Democrats … But actually a lot of congressional Republicans have real concerns about it because they see the threat that it poses to their own constituents.”
Ultimately, eliminating the DOE could be politically damaging for Trump.
A Civiqs poll
conducted for Daily Kos from Feb. 28 to March 3 found 51% of voters oppose eliminating the Cabinet department—46% of whom strongly oppose shuttering it. That’s far higher than the 39% who strongly support getting rid of the DOE.
Once Americans experience the actual impact of getting rid of the DOE, those poll numbers could grow even worse for Trump and Republicans.
President Trump said Thursday he is delaying for roughly one month tariffs on Mexican imports that are covered under a North American trade agreement signed during his first term.
Trump posted on Truth Social
that goods that fall under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will be exempted from a 25 percent tariff he imposed this week on imports from Mexico and Canada. The delay will last until April 2, at which point Trump has pledged to impose reciprocal tariffs on all nations that have duties on U.S. imports.
“I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum,” Trump posted, noting he had spoken with the Mexican president. “Our relationship has been a very good one, and we are working hard, together, on the Border, both in terms of stopping Illegal Aliens from entering the United States and, likewise, stopping Fentanyl. Thank you to President Sheinbaum for your hard work and cooperation!”
California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) sat down with MAGA influencer and organizer Charlie Kirk for the first episode of his new podcast, which dropped on Thursday. Newsom, who is working to rebrand the Democratic Party and muster some kind of opposition to the Trump administration, asked Kirk for advice as to how the Democrats can create better content.
“I think you talked about it the other day. A lot of folks were talking about that [James] Carville article where he talked about–” Newsom said at one point as Kirk interjected, “Roll over and play dead.”
“In essence, he said that, I think it was a strategic retreat, right. That we need to come back. Trump’s starting to implode. His numbers are getting soft. This was even before the tariff issues, etc., and then come back and strike one hot,” Newsom continued, adding:
And I immediately, no BS, thought about you who’s just 24/7 flooding the zone, owning this space every day, getting a convert every day, picking up 1, 2, 10,000 folks, continuing the momentum coming out of this damn election. And then I’m thinking about we’re going to stand back and watch you run circles around us for six months — the next 2 or 3 years, waiting for the moment to finally strike. Struck me as not necessarily the best advice. And it’s not a knock on Carville. Who, I have deep respect for what you thought.
“Okay, so I don’t, but I don’t have to. He was right about one thing in the last 40 years, ‘It’s the economy stupid.’ And oh boy, he has spent down that one line pretty amazingly,” Kirk said as Newsom laughed.
“Yeah. I hope you guys retreat,” Kirk added.
“You kind of like the advice. You like the advice?” added Newsom.
“I mean, there’s no opposition. There’s no opposition, activist spark. You guys are posting these cringe videos on social media,” Kirk replied.
“What are the videos? What are the ones? I don’t know,” Newsom pressed.
“This, like harmonious thing of like 22 senators all saying the same thing,” Kirk said, offering an example.
“Oh, I didn’t like that. Yeah,” agreed Newsom.
“I didn’t like it, but go ahead, go do more of that,” Kirk replied.
“What do you do? But what do you do? Seriously, Charlie Kirk, give us some advice,” Newsom asked.
“Get better ideas, governor,” Kirk replied.
Kirk’s Turning Point USA has been a key group boosting MAGA during Trump’s time in politics, rallying young voters and growing the president’s base. The organization holds annual conferences and voter registration drives across the country. Kirk also hosts a popular podcast, which has made headlines over the years for controversial comments made and stances taken by Kirk, including a recent campaign
to eliminate Martin Luther King Jr. day and the Civil Rights Act.
