Intro Paragraphs:

Click here for an interview that began as a conversation about the Pope and U.S.-Canada diplomacy quickly spiraled into an unexpected trade policy suggestion targeting 2000s punk rock. During a lively segment on Memphis Morning News with Tim Van Horn and Ditch on Roaring Memphis 98.9, guest John Pudner pivoted from parsing the Trump-Carney meeting to suggesting America might need an import tax—not on maple syrup or hockey sticks—but on Green Day’s American Idiot.

“I just don’t like when they make fun of us,” Pudner joked, prompting Van Horn to launch into a riff: “He [Billie Joe Armstrong] bitches about this country all the time. It just drives me crazy. Please pack your crap up and leave—and maybe dial down the eyeliner just a bit. You’re 55 years old, dude. Stop!” Ditch chimed in with mock shock: “I’m just impressed John Pudner brought up Green Day!”

The following is a lightly edited transcript of the exchange.

[Speaker 1 – Tim Van Horn]

Hey John, thanks for joining us again. How’s it going? I know we’re keeping an eye nationwide—and worldwide—on the Pope and everything, but there’s also some big news right here on the home front with President Trump meeting the brand-new Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney.

How’d that go?

[Speaker 2 – John Pudner]

I think it went well. It was nice to meet with a leader of Canada who isn’t hated by Canadians, unlike the last one in December. So, I think it was a good meeting.

[Speaker 3 – Ditch]

It was interesting. Trump, literally as the man sat there, said, “We don’t want their cars. We don’t want their aluminum,” and Carney just kind of sat there. You could tell a couple of times he was a little uncomfortable. But overall, I guess they had a good meeting. Carney told Trump, paraphrasing here, “You’re in real estate—you understand that sometimes property just isn’t for sale. We’re not for sale, and we never will be.”

And Trump’s response? “Never say never.”

[Speaker 2 – John Pudner]

It was good. And I think all that “51st state” talk was really directed at Trudeau. Trudeau gave a lot of, let’s say, self-righteous speeches, and at the end he had a 22% favorable, 74% unfavorable ratings in Canada. So, I think the tone of the meeting was tainted by Trudeau’s unpopularity and brazenness toward a country with an economy 10 times the size of his, which led (Trump” basically conveying), “Okay, you’re coming in as an equal—but you’re not.” But Carney is more like Trump – successful in business and a huge come-from-behind election win, so I believe we’ll end up with a friendly relationship.

William Shatner had the best line—Captain Kirk, of course, he’s Canadian. He joked Trudeau should’ve said, “Well, we’re going to make the U.S. our 11th Province.” I think everyone would’ve laughed. That’s how you negotiate—make your point with a smile.

[Speaker 3 – Ditch]

Yeah, and I was thinking about this yesterday. On my rock and roll radio show in the afternoon—if we did make Canada our 51st state, think about the music benefits. A lot of great music would suddenly become American. Like Rush. And I guess Tim would be excited that Celine Dion would now be American.

[Speaker 1 – Tim Van Horn]

We’d have multiple types of bacon.

[Speaker 3 – Ditch]

And beer. And basketball and hockey teams.

[Speaker 1 – Tim Van Horn]

Yeah, well, we’ve been winning the Stanley Cup since 1993. We don’t really need that, but I appreciate the sentiment. It was interesting to see Carney and Trump sit down. It seemed pretty civil, especially since Carney’s campaign rhetoric was really fueled by going after Trump. That anti-Trump messaging seemed to help him win in Canada. So to see them together for a photo op just after the election—it was something.

[Speaker 2 – John Pudner] (and this is where Pudner takes full responsibility for derailing the interview)

The only thing I don’t like about the 51st state idea? We need to put an import tax on Green Day when they sing American Idiot and mock the U.S.

[Speaker 1 – Tim Van Horn]

Right? He bashes this country constantly. Drives me crazy. Please, pack your crap and leave—and maybe dial down the eyeliner just a bit. You’re 55 years old, dude. Enough with the eyeliner!

[Speaker 3 – Ditch]

Hey, John, I’m just impressed you brought up Green Day!

[Speaker 2 – John Pudner]

I just feel guilty because I’ll find myself singing the song and then realize, “Oh man, it’s catchy… but I’m singing something that I completely disagree with!”

[Speaker 1 – Tim Van Horn]

Yeah—remember when Roe v. Wade was overturned? Green Day was in Europe, and Billie Joe took to the stage and just blasted America. I was like, “Please don’t let him back on a plane to come here.”

Nickelback would never do that. John—Nickelback would be an American band now. Canadian roots, sure, but we’ll take ‘em.

[Speaker 3 – Ditch]

Absolutely.

[Speaker 1 – Tim Van Horn]

Hey John, we’ve got a hard break coming up. It’s always a pleasure to speak with you. Thanks for carving out a few minutes to talk about the U.S. and Canada coming together post-election.

[Speaker 2 – John Pudner]

Thanks so much.