Today, as both the President and Canadian PM announced a new border deal that will supposedly make crossing the border easier, more secure and better for trade all at the same time, a Toronto Star reporter asked White House officials why the U.S. media wasn't paying attention to its northern neighbors. As Politico reported, the Star reporter wanted an explanation for American indifference to an agreement that's been "hailed as the most significant step" since NAFTA, but that's being greeted, apparently, with crickets stateside:

"There’s been so much anticipation of this agreement in Canada for weeks now. When you look at the American media, it’s really not on the radar," Toronto Star’s Mitch Potter asked White House officials on the call. "I wonder if you can speak to the general differential inceptions of how important this is on the two sides of the border?"*

Our very unscientific sampling of Google News for "Canada United States border deal" does see a bit of a trend in what the Star reporter mentioned. But, probably wisely, an unnamed U.S. official did not resort to South Park-ian clichés in response, deciding not to speak for the amorphous thing called "the American media" and skirting the question with politeness by saying our "relationship with Canada is a very important relationship."

*Note: Potter, the Star reporter, later clarified to Politico that he actually said "I wonder if you can speak to the general differential in perceptions of how important this is on the two sides of the border?" He also noted in the comments on the site that he was wondering "why there's so little Stateside interest in the northern border itself."

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at ehayden at nationaljournal dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.
Erik Hayden