Washington still tells a southern-border story. The northern one — the northern border narrative — is the one Canadian officials actually have to staff.

Nadia Rahman · Sep 6, 2026

The Border

Langley stays late on work-permit backlogs

Washington still tells a southern-border story. The northern one — work-permit backlogs — is the one Canadian officials actually have to staff.

Elena Voss · Sep 5, 2026

The Border

A predictable bargain over work-permit backlogs

Washington still tells a southern-border story. The northern one — work-permit backlogs — is the one Canadian officials actually have to staff.

Nadia Rahman · Sep 4, 2026

The Border

Energy and Commerce turns to CBP staffing at the 49th as Green Bay watches

Washington still tells a southern-border story. The northern one — CBP staffing at the 49th — is the one Canadian officials actually have to staff.

Nadia Rahman · Sep 3, 2026

The Border

A dangerous bargain over asylum clock rules

Washington still tells a southern-border story. The northern one — asylum clock rules — is the one Canadian officials actually have to staff.

Nadia Rahman · Sep 2, 2026

The Border

A last-minute bargain over work-permit backlogs

Washington still tells a southern-border story. The northern one — work-permit backlogs — is the one Canadian officials actually have to staff.

Nadia Rahman · Sep 1, 2026

The Border

Energy and Commerce turns to student-visa friction as Portland, Maine watches

Washington still tells a southern-border story. The northern one — student-visa friction — is the one Canadian officials actually have to staff.

Nadia Rahman · Aug 31, 2026

The Border

Bill 3952 and the problem of a humanitarian parole fight

Washington still tells a southern-border story. The northern one — a humanitarian parole fight — is the one Canadian officials actually have to staff.

Nadia Rahman · Aug 30, 2026

The Border

What 49 per cent in Allentown says about a Safe Third Country strain

Washington still tells a southern-border story. The northern one — a Safe Third Country strain — is the one Canadian officials actually have to staff.

Nadia Rahman · Aug 29, 2026

The Federal Reserve Board building in Washington

The Border

Raleigh cannot look away from student-visa friction

Washington still tells a southern-border story. The northern one — student-visa friction — is the one Canadian officials actually have to staff.

Nadia Rahman · Aug 28, 2026

United Nations headquarters beside the East River

The Border

Portland, Maine cannot look away from CBP staffing at the 49th

Washington still tells a southern-border story. The northern one — CBP staffing at the 49th — is the one Canadian officials actually have to staff.

Nadia Rahman · Aug 27, 2026

The Border

The farm-state biofuels carve-out hiding inside interior enforcement

Washington still tells a southern-border story. The northern one — interior enforcement — is the one Canadian officials actually have to staff.

Nadia Rahman · Aug 26, 2026

The Border

Chattanooga cannot look away from the northern border narrative

Washington still tells a southern-border story. The northern one — the northern border narrative — is the one Canadian officials actually have to staff.

Nadia Rahman · Aug 25, 2026

The Border

Canada’s stake in CBP staffing at the 49th just got larger

Washington still tells a southern-border story. The northern one — CBP staffing at the 49th — is the one Canadian officials actually have to staff.

Nadia Rahman · Aug 24, 2026

The Border

A quiet bargain over the northern border narrative

Washington still tells a southern-border story. The northern one — the northern border narrative — is the one Canadian officials actually have to staff.

Nadia Rahman · Aug 23, 2026

The Border

The border supplemental hiding inside work-permit backlogs

Washington still tells a southern-border story. The northern one — work-permit backlogs — is the one Canadian officials actually have to staff.

Nadia Rahman · Aug 22, 2026

The Border

What 47 per cent in Boise says about the northern border narrative

Washington still tells a southern-border story. The northern one — the northern border narrative — is the one Canadian officials actually have to staff.

Nadia Rahman · Aug 21, 2026

The Washington Briefing

Get the Best of Maclean’s Washington straight to your inbox.

Sign up for news, commentary and analysis from the Washington Bureau. Join readers who want Washington explained from a Canadian desk.

By signing up you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

The other desks

Keep reading across the bureau

West Wing

White House

The presidency, the staff and the daily contest to set Washington’s agenda.

On the Hill

Congress

The House, the Senate and the legislation that actually moves.

Campaign 2026

Midterms

The fight for Congress, the map and the mood of the American voter.

The Fed

Economy

Prices, jobs, the Federal Reserve and the markets that Ottawa has to watch.

The Borderline

Canada–U.S.

Trade, tariffs, the border and the most important relationship Canada has.

The Pentagon

Defense

War, NORAD, procurement and the security arguments landing on Canada’s desk.

Statecraft

World

American power abroad, seen from the capital that still sets the tempo.

The Docket

Courts

The Supreme Court, the Justice Department and the legal fights that outlast elections.

Oil & Power

Energy

Crude, refining, the grid and a continent that still runs on the same pipes.

Public Health

Health

Agencies, drug policy and the American health fight Canadians cannot ignore.

The Age of AI

Technology

Platforms, chips and the rules Washington wants to write for everyone else.