Signs of the frosty relationship between the United States and Canada are everywhere: from additional checkpoints at border crossings, to fewer Blue Jays fans showing up to T-Mobile Park to see their team play here recently. 

Rhetoric from the President about making Canada the 51st state and tariffs have put a wedge between the two countries. 

And the effects of this split are spiraling to how we manage natural resources that cross the border. 

The Columbia river system - which touches British Columbia, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana - is a major water and power source for the US. For 61 years, the two countries have worked closely to control floods and manage hydropower on the river. 

When President Trump came back into office in January, Canadian and American officials were weeks away from updating the Columbia River Treaty.

But now, discussions have ground to a halt.

Guest: 
Karen Weise, technology correspondent with the New York Times

Related stories:
A Crucial River Treaty Is Tangled in Trump’s Feud With Canada - New York Times
Updates are coming to this 60-year-old treaty guiding the Columbia River - KUOW

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Signs of the frosty relationship between the United States and Canada are everywhere: from additional checkpoints at border crossings, to <a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/the-blue-jays-are-coming-canadian-fans-not-so-much">fewer Blue Jays fans showing up to T-Mobile Park to see their team play here </a>recently.&nbsp;
Rhetoric from the President about making Canada the 51st state and tariffs have put a wedge between the two countries.&nbsp;
And the effects of this split are spiraling to how we manage natural resources that cross the border.&nbsp;
The Columbia river system - which touches British Columbia, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana - is a major water and power source for the US. For 61 years, the two countries have worked closely to control floods and manage hydropower on the river.&nbsp;
When President Trump came back into office in January, Canadian and American officials were weeks away from updating the Columbia River Treaty.
But now, discussions have ground to a halt.
Guest:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Karen Weise,&nbsp;technology correspondent with the New York Times</li>
</ul>
Related stories:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/technology/trump-canada-columbia-river-treaty.html">A Crucial River Treaty Is Tangled in Trump&rsquo;s Feud With Canada - New York Times</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/updates-are-coming-to-this-60-year-old-treaty-guid">Updates are coming to this 60-year-old treaty guiding the Columbia River - KUOW</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Rhetoric from the President about making Canada the 51st state and tariffs have put a wedge between the two countries.   And the effects of this split are spiraling to how we manage natural resources that cross the border. 

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