No Kings, No Tyrants, No 51st State, Comes To London

Echoes of authoritarianism and nationalism have replaced traditional conservative principles under Trump’s leadership and it's impacting Canada big time.

Centrism often earns you the reputation of being everyone’s enemy. To the far right, centrists are weak compromisers, too afraid to take a definitive stand. To the far left, they’re sellouts, cozying up to corporations and “their” system. In a world where extremes get the headlines, centrists get called “wishy-washy” or worse—traitors to their cause. But really, they’re just trying to pragmatically navigate a minefield of rigid ideologies to accomplish the solutions people are looking for--without the predictable roll backs that follow the next election.

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Watch the Official Newsload Report

If you'd like to watch all the lightly edited full interviews from the day click here.

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This is the air in which Newsload's Jester Lind visited the "No Kings, No Tyrants" (and we'll add 'No 51st State") rally in Victoria Park in London, Ontario yesterday. While Donald Trump often brands himself as a conservative leader, many of his policies diverge sharply from traditional conservative principles. Classic conservatism emphasizes limited government, free markets, individual responsibility, and cautious change. However, Trump’s approach frequently swaps these values for oversimplified nationalism, protectionism, and government control with authoritarian tendencies.

The clearest example of this is Trump’s rationale for claiming Canada should be part of the U.S., mirroring Putin’s reasoning for asserting Ukraine’s place in Russia. Both leaders frame their claims as a matter of “destiny,” insisting these borders are "imaginary lines" and integration is natural or even inevitable. To Trump, Canada is just an extension of American greatness, while Putin justifies Ukraine’s annexation by echoing the narrative of “one people, one history,” implying Ukraine’s independence is a historical anomaly. In both cases, the underlying logic reduces complex national identities to a forgotten past, framing annexation as a return to “what is rightfully ours,” while ignoring the genuine sovereignty and national will of the people involved.

In both cases, Newsload and this rally say, "Fuck that!"

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Canada’s Quiet Power: 51st State? Pafah. The Truth is the U.S. Needs Us And That's What Trump Really Doesn't Like

Contrary to Trump’s bravado that “the United States doesn’t need Canada,” the reality is quite the opposite—Canada actually holds significant leverage over the U.S. in trade, energy, and diplomacy. From critical minerals to agricultural exports and shared security, Canada’s contributions are woven into the American economy and national security fabric. When Trump dismisses Canada, he’s really revealing a sore spot: what he really dislikes is how much the U.S. depends on us. It’s like a boast that’s really just a nervous admission. In fact, Canada’s quiet strength keeps the giant balanced, even when Trump tries to act as if we’re insignificant.