Drawing Distractions: A Week Without the Usual Suspect
Saturday February 21, 2026 | Newsletter 63
I set out this week determined to remove myself amid the constant zone flooding from you-know-who in this so-called golden era of history. The Winter Olympics may have diverted attention for the past two weeks. Every few years at the Hamilton Spectator, the Games give me a range of topics such as boycotts, doping, inequality of government funding of amateur sports, drone scandals, and this week, some curling shenanigans. My curling cartoon was the furthest thing I drew, distance-wise, from the chief distractor (or “DIC” as described in past posts.) No reporter asked him about “double-touching,” and he didn’t try to insert himself into the curling controversy in some late-night Truth Social rant… like his bizarre warning that China intends to eliminate the Stanley Cup. While many opportunities avail themselves to mix Olympic sports with politics, I regret making just one reference to them in editorial cartoons during the entire Milan-Cortina Games. Ah well, will have to wait for the next one.
Subjects I touched on ties to actions coming out of the White House: the growing likelihood that the tyranny oppressing the Cuban people will face increased pressure from the American hegemon. It’s also striking that while figures like U.K. power players such as Prince Andrew, Keir Starmer, Lord Peter Mandelson, and the whole British monarchy face heat and consequences connected to Jeffrey Epstein, their American counterparts, think a sitting President, an ex-President, captains of industry, the hoi polloi of the U.S. establishment, all largely remain untouched, a disparity that raises questions about the pursuit of justice.
Finally, responding to far-right rhetoric that blames immigration for Western ills, Canada’s closest analogue to Nigel Farage, or the unnamed MAGA monster to Canada’s south, Premier Danielle Smith announced a populist set of referendum questions this week that panders to her base and advances Alberta separation. With those subjects occupying my attention and pulling me away from the president’s distractions, I didn’t draw him once, no, not even once in the past seven days. Take that TDS accusers! Here’s a closer look at what I drew this week.
The curling scandal at the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics has put Canada in an awkward spot. Accusations of rule-bending against stars like Marc Kennedy and Rachel Homan have everyone talking. It’s a reminder that even in a sport known for its etiquette, Canada’s image of fair play is being challenged.
With Cuba facing severe shortages due to U.S. sanctions, Canada’s long-standing friendship with the island nation is put to the test. As the Cuban regime remains stubbornly oppressive, Canadians can play the hero by providing aid without boosting the tyrants. It’s a chance to show that our connection goes beyond mojitos on the beach.
The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on misconduct charges is a royal bombshell. Thanks to the Epstein files and Virginia Giuffre’s bravery, the monarchy faces a crisis of trust. Interestingly, a sage comment left on one on my social media channels compared this case to Al Capone, who was famously brought down on technicalities rather than his more heinous crimes. It’s a mix of drama and justice, as the royal family navigates this scandal with the world watching. Expect much more to unfold.
Premier Danielle Smith's proposed referendum on immigration and autonomy is a polarizing move that appeals to her core supporters. However, it risks sidestepping Alberta's structural economic challenges, as the government continues to rely on fluctuating oil and gas revenues to fund public services. This risky move could fuel separatist sentiment, but Albertans deserve leadership focused on real solutions, not distractions. ‘Maple MAGA’ refers to Canadian conservatives who align with the south of the border brand of politics—an ideology spearheaded most notably by Alberta’s Danielle Smith.
Saturday February 22, 1936: By Ivan Glassco,
Ninety years ago my late great predecessor at the Hamilton Spectator, Ivan Glassco, depicted a sick Earth as a patient, symbolizing the global turmoil of his time. With “Science” and “Diplomacy” as attending figures, he critiqued both scientific progress and diplomatic efforts. The technological advances of the 1930s brought both hope and concern, leading to environmental harm and the threat of war. “Diplomacy,” alongside the League of Nations, appeared ineffective in maintaining peace.
Today, Glassco’s illustration still hits home as we face challenges like climate change and global tensions. Science and diplomacy are crucial, yet often seem stuck, especially with veto powers for rogue states on the Security Council and the farcical Trump-led “Board of Peace.” His work reminds us of the ongoing struggle to balance progress with responsibility.
In a week filled with varied stories, I aimed to capture the complexities of our times, from sportsmanship to international relations, royal accountability to provincial politics. Next week, try as I may, it will be impossible not to draw my attention away from the great distractor. This week ends with talk of the Epstein files at high volume, especially in the UK. Just as this is happening, T-dude plans on flooding the zone with declassified disclosures of extraterrestrial life. Meanwhile, his administration scrambles to respond to the Supreme Court ruling against his tariff scheme, based on trumped-up threats (pardon the pun) against U.S. national security, like his ridiculous claim about fentanyl flooding in from Canada.
Awkwardly looking towards him will be Supreme Court Justices, some of whom he appointed and called “traitors” for not doing his bidding in a 6-3 ruling against him. Next Tuesday, he will deliver his State of the Union speech, predictably bloviating about it being in its greatest state ever, despite the disgrace he’s made of his country. Here in Canada, we watch, trying to mind our own business but incapable of doing so with the great distractor in the White House.
The Graeme Gallery is a review of the previous week’s news in the editorial cartoons I draw and deliver to email addresses every Saturday morning. Best of all, it’s free.
Since 1997 I’ve been the staff editorial cartoonist at the Hamilton Spectator, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, a paper with a long satirical tradition following in the footsteps of Blaine, Doug Wright and Ivan Glassco, and in recent years my cartoons have also appeared in the Toronto Star. The shift from print to digital is precarious but I’ve still got plenty of fuel left, and while my ties to the Spectator, a community voice since 1846, remain strong, platforms like Substack give me a way to carry my work online if things go awry and my livelihood is affected. I put a lot of time and energy into these posts, perhaps too much, but my urge to write about current events goes back decades and the cartoons I draw alongside those words are the cherries on the cake.
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© 2026 Graeme MacKay. All rights reserved. Reproduction requires permission. MacKaycartoons.net
I don't say it enough, but I really enjoy your work!
Another great set of cartoons and commentary.