Trump Loses It as Canada Pushes Button on Counter-Tariff After Being Called a “Yippy Dog”

7 Sep 2026 · 18 min · 8 chapters

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In short

The episode criticizes Donald Trump’s proposed 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods and argues Canada’s retaliatory “counter-tariffs” will be met with political and economic pushback, especially ahead of U.S. midterms. It focuses on Scott Bessent’s Fox News comments comparing Canada to a “dachshund” and Trump’s alleged disrespect toward Canada, claiming it risks U.S.-Canada interdependence (electric grid, rare earths, oil, car/steel supply chains) and could harm U.S. industries (auto, steel, appliances, dairy).

Guests

Michael Popok (host, Legal AF/Midas Touch Network) and Scott Bessent (U.S. Treasury Secretary; previously worked for George Soros and a hedge fund; involved in reported fistfights/threats within Trump circles).

Notable examples

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s “war” framing; Doug Ford telling Trump to “go kiss his ass” and threatening grid-related leverage; claims of Canadians rallying around Carney (~80%).

Key claims

Bessent’s dog analogy evokes Nazi imagery; Canadian retaliation will “gut punch” the U.S.; Trump doesn’t care about job losses.

Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.

Chapters

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Introduction to the Trade Dispute

0:29 to 1:30

The hosts discuss Canada's response to U.S. tariffs and the implications.

“Interesting choice of words brings back a lot for me, a lot of fascist Nazi imagery.”

Understanding U.S.-Canada Trade Relations

1:30 to 3:08

Exploration of the historical and economic significance of U.S.-Canada trade ties.

“Can we be liberated from this administration and what it's doing, not only to our own self-esteem, our own patriotic values, but to our relationships with our allies and friends to the North?”

Critique of Trump's Administration

3:08 to 3:56

A critical analysis of Trump's cabinet and their handling of foreign policy.

“our personal economy of our household, our dignity, our ability to pay bills, make ends meet.”

Scott Bessett's Controversial Remarks

3:56 to 6:50

Review of Scott Bessett's comments on Canada using dog metaphors and their implications.

“Scott Bessett also is a notorious fighter, literally has had fistfights or threatened fistfights with members of Donald Trump's own administration, including people who were part of the transition team.”

Canada's Economic Response and Strategies

6:50 to 9:20

Discussion on Canada's potential countermeasures against U.S. tariffs and defense strategies.

“at least economically, and they are threatening our sovereignty.”

Political Dynamics in Canadian-U.S. Relations

9:20 to 11:50

Examination of political tensions and historical context affecting U.S.-Canada relations.

“I don't blame them for seriously considering that.”

Conclusion and Future Implications

11:50 to 14:00

Final thoughts on the ongoing trade conflict and the potential future of U.S.-Canada relations.

“But as Eleanor Roosevelt, and I'll paraphrase, once said, nobody demeans me or disrespects me without my permission.”

Canada's Victory and Trump's Continued Losses

14:00 to 14:30

Discussion on Canada's success in trade disputes and Trump's inability to adapt.

“At the end of the day, Canada's already won this fight.”
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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

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0:28Michael Popok:You ever see a dachshund take down a German shepherd? Oh, you're about to. Scott Besson, our Treasury Secretary, in being interviewed by a Trumper and a Trump on Fox in comparing Canada's legitimate gripes about foreign trade and tariffs and with the looming countermeasures counter tariffs coming tomorrow, compared Canada to a dachshund that was yipping at his German shepherd in a park. Interesting choice of words brings back a lot for me, a lot of fascist Nazi imagery. But I don't think this is the way and I don't think Canada is going to respond kindly to the suggestion that the German shepherd in America could rip the throat out of the dachshund of Canada.

1:22Michael Popok:I don't think you're judging the dog in the fight or the fight in the dog right when it comes to Canada. I'm Michael Popok. It's Labor Day. I wish it was Liberation Day. Can we be liberated from this administration and what it's doing, not only to our own self-esteem, our own patriotic values, but to our relationships with our allies and friends to the North? I mean, we've binged watched this administration. Is it over yet? I'd like it to be. So we know what happened, right? We know how we got here. Trade discussions, Donald Trump threatens 50 % tariffs on most of Canadian goods without recognizing that we can't live without Canada.

2:06Michael Popok:It's the oxygen that we breathe. We can't live without Canadian electrical grid supply, rare earth minerals, oil, manufacturing of cars and other things, steel, ferrous metal, you know, things like that. Things that drive our own economy. After Mexico, the number one trading partner with America is Canada. In terms of investment in America, number one. In terms of tourism in America, it had been number one. We're talking about hundreds of billions of dollars at risk and at play. And we've got a bunch of amateurs who don't understand foreign policy, who don't understand global economic policy and never did, who are now got their hands on the levers of power under a feckless leader who is a nincompoop, who is a moron, who spent most of his Labor Day weekend talking about changing the name of New Mexico to New America and 48 other crazy spiraling the drain responses by Donald Trump, who could care less about you and me, our personal economy of our household, our dignity, our ability to pay bills, make ends meet.

3:24Michael Popok:And then you got Scott Besant. Scott Besant has an interesting track record. He worked for Soros. He worked for a hedge fund, never really had macro and global economics, but he was better than the runner up for Treasury Secretary, which was Howard Lutnick, who got Commerce Secretary as the bridesmaid. And the two of them together are working overtime to destroy the American economy and our relationships with people like Canada, countries like Canada. Scott Bessett also is a notorious fighter, literally has had fistfights or threatened fistfights with members of Donald Trump's own administration, including people who were part of the transition team.

4:10Michael Popok:Boris Epstein, Donald Trump's lead lawyer, Elon Musk and others fistfights. So this pugilistic moron goes on the friendly environment of Fox News, you know, the propaganda channel for the Trump administration, with Lara Trump asking questions. And here's what he has to say about our trusted and important ally to the north. Play the clip. I want to talk about our neighbors to the north, Canada. President Trump offered Prime Minister Carney what you say was a highly favorable trade agreement that Carney blew up at the last minute. Canada is expected to impose those retaliatory tariffs. How do you see all of this playing out?

4:53Well, you know, Laura, I had a German shepherd and there was a dachshund that used to antagonize her at the playground. And it kind of reminds me of that. It kind of reminds me of that. And this little yippee dog used to just like bark away. And for a long time, 110 pound German shepherd was ignoring the dachshund. And then one day she'd had enough. And unfortunately, Prime Minister Carney did walk away. They were given the opportunity for a great trade deal and they didn't want it. And it looks like it's for political reasons. but the U.S., it is not much of a hit to us, if any, because we're hearing all these stories, inflation, that it is negligible.

5:45I would like someone to show me the statistical significance of the Canadian tariffs on U.S. prices, and I'm happy to debate them.

5:57Michael Popok:That's your comparison? How long did that take you to come up with? And does it have to be a German shepherd? How about an American dog? I thought we were America first. I mean, I like German shepherds, but come on. I mean, when you see some tall Aryan guy talking about using a German shepherd to rip the throat out of something, what do you think of? I think of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. I think of Nazi Germany. And so to hear him tell it, this is just some yippee dog that we can ignore and will eventually kill. Is there any wonder why the Prime Minister Mark Carney not only has the full support of almost 80 % of Canadians about how he's handling this matter and have rallied around him in time of war, but that he declared effectively a war against America and says we are at war with America, at least economically, and they are threatening our sovereignty.

6:58Michael Popok:Play the clip. I'm going to go through why we're walking away from a bad deal and what comes next.

7:08Good morning, everyone. You're at war when you get attacked. We got attacked.

7:23We've been under no illusions. We recognized from the start that America has changed. We recognize that sometimes its signature was written in pencil. The gap between partnership and competitor, unfortunately, has remained too wide in recent days.

7:54Let me be clear. We take this step reluctantly. Reluctantly because we recognize that some of these measures will raise costs.

8:15Last spring, I warned that America is trying to break us so they can own us. And I promise that that will never, ever happen. We are keeping that promise.

8:36I mean, I've done reporting recently that legitimate news outlets and think tanks in Canada are seriously considering whether Mark Carney should push the button and authorize the development of nuclear weapons

8:51Michael Popok:in order to deter Donald Trump and the United States. And who can blame them? They've got a 5 ,000-mile-long border with the United States. You got a madman who's going down the drains physically, emotionally, and mentally. And he's got his finger on a nuclear button. And Canada, which has nuclear power but not nuclear weapons, at least that we know of, I don't doubt them. I don't blame them for seriously considering that. And do you think threats, veiled threats by the Treasury Secretary is going to help the matter? And his right-hand man is Howard Lutnick, the Commerce Secretary. You know, he's constantly trying to belittle an entire country, you know, as part of a negotiation strategy.

9:45Michael Popok:Update for Howard Lutnick. This is not some little public company or affiliate that you are thinking about doing business with. This is a country. Be respectful. Act like you know what you're doing. We already know that you don't. if you've been given the honor of having your hands on the lever of power for the American people, you're our fiduciary. Start acting like it. Here's a clip of Howard Lutnick. Friday at four o 'clock, the Canadians call and say they start adding crazy ideas to the mix. And we said, what are you doing? And I said to one of the ministers, are you actually trying to blow this up?

10:24And his answer to me was, I'm not allowed to say that. And they blew it up for political reasons only. So if you're going to mess with the United States of America and its economy and you're right adjacent to our northern border, I think it was really disrespectful. We were treated disrespectfully. And I think when you treat Donald Trump disrespectfully, you know, he knows it. And that's what happened. They did it for politics. They're going to do it through their elections in Quebec. And then they have an election in Alberta. And after October 12th, All of a sudden, the Canadians are going to treat us respectfully because their elections will be behind them.

11:02It's just it's sad. If you're from my perspective, it's just sad the way Canada's treated us.

11:12Michael Popok:Now, what's going to happen right on cue tomorrow? Counter tariffs. Billions of dollars of counter tariffs is going to hit America as a gut punch, especially as the Midwest goes to vote in less than 60 days, about 50-something days for the midterms on November 3rd. How do you think Ohio and Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana are going to like tariffs that help destroy the auto industry, the steel industry, the appliance industry, the dairy industry? Not well. Not well. Donald Trump doesn't care about any of those things. He's too busy sending his proxies on to Sunday morning talk shows to try to belittle and demean Canada.

11:58Michael Popok:But as Eleanor Roosevelt, and I'll paraphrase, once said, nobody demeans me or disrespects me without my permission. And Canada is not giving permission. They are fighting back. I mean, who could forget Doug Ford, the Ontario premier, who told Donald Trump literally to go kiss his ass. And he was going to start taking steps to turn off the lights between Canada and U.S. and turn out the lights of the United States, which he could do in controlling that electrical grid. I'm heading into Ontario country. I'm heading into Detroit to cover the Democratic Attorneys General tomorrow and their voter protection methods and policies.

12:48Michael Popok:I'm going to be right up against the proud Canadians. I have a lot of real estate on my ass, so he has a lot of room to kiss my ass. Do you want to respond to these shots? What would you say to the president? No, I don't respond to a dictator like President Trump, a bully like President Trump, as I said before. He's the type of guy in school that would take your lunch money one day, take your toque off your head the next day, and then steal your running shoes. But I'm not going to take any advice off a guy that's the king of bankruptcies. And he's actually tariffing his own people, taxing his own people.

13:25And I'm going to make sure I communicate through the U.S. media. I'm going to be reaching out to every single governor, every single senator, and every single congressperson. And when it comes to the midterms, I have a message to the Americans. Don't vote in a person that's going to kill your jobs. He ran on creating more jobs. Last time I checked, jobs went down in the U.S., and Ontario created more jobs. I'm just not going to take the bait. This guy's a loser. He's going to be a loser. And simple as that. We're going to fight with everything we have. And you know something? I have more courage, more brains in my baby toe than he has in his whole body.

14:03So there you go. At the end of the day, Canada's already won this fight. We can only stop the losing.

14:13Michael Popok:But Trump doesn't know better to stop the losing. And we'll continue to follow it all right here on the Midas Touch Network, on Legal AF YouTube channel. Hit that free subscribe button. If it doesn't say free, it should. Hit that subscribe button. Help us continue to grow our pro-democracy channel. Until my next report, this is Michael Popak. Can't get your fill of Legal AF? Me neither. That's why we formed the Legal AF Substack. Every time we mention something in a hot take, whether it's a court filing or a oral argument, come over to the Substack. You'll find the court filing and the oral argument there, including a daily roundup that I do call, wait for it, Morning AF.

14:51Michael Popok:What else? All the other contributors from Legal AF are there as well. We got some new reporting. We got interviews. We got ad-free versions of the podcast and hot takes. Wear Legal AF on Substack. Come over now to free subscribe.

From the publisher

Ever see a dachshund rip the throat of a German Shepherd? You are about to, as Canada doesn't take kindly to being compared by the US Treasury Secretary to a "yippy dog" and a dachshund against the US' "German Shepherd".  Popok discusses the historically disgusting metaphor used by Bessent and why it is destined to backfire.

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