West Wing
The sanctions package aimed at Tehran hiding inside a Cabinet loyalty test
On January 21, 2026, the presidency turned a Cabinet loyalty test into a test of discipline, loyalty and the midterm calendar.
James Whitfield · Jan 21, 2026
West Wing
White House
The presidency, the staff and the daily contest to set Washington’s agenda.
In this file261 complete stories · Washington Bureau
CorrespondentJames Whitfield · White House Correspondent
Also on the deskCongress · Midterms · Economy · Canada–U.S. · Defense · World · Courts · Immigration · Energy · Health · Technology
More in White House
Canada’s stake in the Iran endgame just got larger
Jan 20, 2026
Bill 1316 and the problem of the gasoline file
Jan 19, 2026
The gasoline file: the view from Foggy Bottom
Jan 18, 2026
Canada’s stake in the midterm message just got larger
Jan 17, 2026
Washington stays late on a West Wing shake-up
Jan 16, 2026
The northern border staffing measure hiding inside the mail-in ballot order
Jan 15, 2026
West Wing
Grand Rapids cannot look away from the Iran endgame
On January 14, 2026, the presidency turned the Iran endgame into a test of discipline, loyalty and the midterm calendar.
James Whitfield · Jan 14, 2026
West Wing
Allentown cannot look away from a late-night tariff threat
On January 13, 2026, the presidency turned a late-night tariff threat into a test of discipline, loyalty and the midterm calendar.
James Whitfield · Jan 13, 2026
West Wing
The border supplemental hiding inside a photo-op with refiners
On January 12, 2026, the presidency turned a photo-op with refiners into a test of discipline, loyalty and the midterm calendar.
James Whitfield · Jan 12, 2026
West Wing
Langley stays late on a West Wing shake-up
On January 11, 2026, the presidency turned a West Wing shake-up into a test of discipline, loyalty and the midterm calendar.
James Whitfield · Jan 11, 2026
West Wing
A continental bargain over the mail-in ballot order
On January 10, 2026, the presidency turned the mail-in ballot order into a test of discipline, loyalty and the midterm calendar.
James Whitfield · Jan 10, 2026
West Wing
K Street stays late on a Cabinet loyalty test
On January 9, 2026, the presidency turned a Cabinet loyalty test into a test of discipline, loyalty and the midterm calendar.
James Whitfield · Jan 9, 2026
West Wing
Nova Scotia’s navy town confronts Washington’s foil
On January 8, 2026, the presidency turned Canada into a foil in a test of discipline, loyalty and the midterm calendar.
James Whitfield · Jan 8, 2026
West Wing
The mail-in ballot order: the view from Capitol Hill
On January 7, 2026, the presidency turned the mail-in ballot order into a test of discipline, loyalty and the midterm calendar.
James Whitfield · Jan 7, 2026
West Wing
Alberta’s oil patch confronts a West Wing shake-up
On January 6, 2026, the presidency turned a West Wing shake-up into a test of discipline, loyalty and the midterm calendar.
James Whitfield · Jan 6, 2026
West Wing
In Buffalo, a photo-op with refiners sidelines the map
On January 5, 2026, the presidency turned a photo-op with refiners into a test of discipline, loyalty and the midterm calendar.
James Whitfield · Jan 5, 2026
West Wing
Canada’s stake in a late-night tariff threat just got larger
On January 4, 2026, the presidency turned a late-night tariff threat into a test of discipline, loyalty and the midterm calendar.
James Whitfield · Jan 4, 2026
West Wing
Canada’s stake in Washington’s foil just got larger
On January 3, 2026, the presidency turned Canada into a foil in a test of discipline, loyalty and the midterm calendar.
James Whitfield · Jan 3, 2026
West Wing
Canada’s stake in a Cabinet loyalty test just got larger
On January 2, 2026, the presidency turned a Cabinet loyalty test into a test of discipline, loyalty and the midterm calendar.
James Whitfield · Jan 2, 2026
West Wing
A legal bargain over a West Wing shake-up
On January 1, 2026, the presidency turned a West Wing shake-up into a test of discipline, loyalty and the midterm calendar.
Elena Voss · Jan 1, 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
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.
The Border
Immigration
Asylum, enforcement and the northern frontier Washington keeps misreading.
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.