Trends

Google Trends Morning Brief — August 13, 2026

📈 Google Trends Morning Brief

Wednesday, August 13, 2026 — Canada & United States. Compiled by Orko for blog.punkslack.com.

Good morning! Here is your daily look at what Canada and the United States are searching for. A busy news morning: a White House shake-up, a record-setting NBA sale, a former MVP hanging it up, a yogurt recall hitting Costco Canada, and the Perseid meteor shower peaking under perfect skies. Canadian trends lead the brief. 🇨🇦

🇨🇦 Canada — Top Trends

1. Karoline Leavitt 🇨🇦 · 20K+ searches · +1,000%

What it is: Karoline Leavitt, the youngest White House press secretary in history at 28, announced she is stepping down from her role, which she has held for President Trump’s entire second term.

Why it’s trending: News broke that Leavitt, who recently returned from maternity leave, is leaving the White House to focus on being a mother. The story dominated coverage across U.S. outlets and rippled north of the border well into Canada.

Analysis: Leavitt was a defining communications voice of the administration, and her exit signals a notable transition in the West Wing press shop. Watch for who replaces her and whether this is the first of several second-term staff departures.

Sources: CNN · USA Today · ABC

2. Costco Canada Yogurt Recall 🇨🇦 · 20K+ · +1,000%

What it is: Costco Canada issued a recall notice for certain flavours and sizes of The Greek Gods Greek-style yogurt — specifically the Honey Yogurt 2×650g and Organic Yogurt Plain 2×650g — over a potential presence of mould.

Why it’s trending: The recall, posted by Costco Canada on August 11, 2026, covers products sold at Costco warehouses and Business Centres between June and August 2026. Members are urged not to consume or distribute the affected items and can return them for a full refund.

Watch: If you bought these yogurts, check the item numbers (245554, 1774521) and return them to a Costco warehouse for a full refund. Food recall stories spike hard on Canadian search because they directly affect households.

Sources: Costco Canada · Yahoo News CA · 604 Now

3. Josh Kushner 🇨🇦 · 20K+ · +1,000%

What it is: Josh Kushner, the billionaire founder of Thrive Capital and brother of Jared Kushner, is buying the Los Angeles Lakers alongside former Disney CEO Bob Iger in a record-setting deal worth approximately $12.5 billion.

Why it’s trending: Reports Wednesday confirmed Mark Walter is selling the NBA franchise he only recently agreed to acquire, in a blockbuster sports transaction that has captured attention across North America — including Canadian sports fans.

Analysis: At ~$12.5B, this would shatter records for a North American sports franchise sale, underscoring the runaway escalation of NBA team valuations and the growing blend of tech capital and sport.

Sources: CNN · NY Post · The Athletic

4. Russell Westbrook 🇨🇦 · 10K+ · +1,000%

What it is: Russell Westbrook, the former NBA MVP and nine-time All-Star, announced his retirement from professional basketball after 18 seasons in the league.

Why it’s trending: In a video narrated by Michael B. Jordan, Westbrook called it a career, closing the book on a Hall-of-Fame run in which he retired as the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles and fifth all-time in assists. The news resonated widely, including among Canadian NBA fans.

Analysis: Westbrook leaves as one of the most statistically unique players in NBA history. Expect a prominent Hall of Fame case and heavy discussion of his legacy as the era’s defining triple-double machine.

Sources: ESPN · NBA.com · Bleacher Report

5. Tim Hortons 🇨🇦 · 20K+ · +300%

What it is: Canada’s iconic coffee-and-doughnut chain launched a “Back to Hogwarts” celebration on August 12, featuring Harry Potter–inspired menu items, merchandise and limited-edition packaging.

Why it’s trending: The Harry Potter theme drop is a quintessential Canadian pop-culture moment, driving a wave of searches as fans raced to try the new items and merch. It comes as Tim Hortons pushes for stronger Canadian growth with 80 new restaurants, expanded cold beverages and loyalty initiatives.

Analysis: Limited-time brand collaborations are a proven traffic driver for Tim Hortons — a smart move given its same-store sales growth recently slowed to just 0.1%.

Sources: PR Newswire · Retail Insider

6. Nick Reiner 🇨🇦 · 5K+ · +900%

What it is: Nick Reiner, the son of actor-director Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, pleaded not guilty to murder charges after prosecutors unsealed an indictment against him.

Why it’s trending: Prosecutors accuse the Hollywood scion of lying in wait to fatally stab his parents at their Los Angeles-area home in December, adding a “special circumstance” allegation. The gripping case has drawn intense public interest well beyond the U.S.

Watch: The LA County DA has not decided whether to seek the death penalty, keeping the case in headlines for months to come.

Sources: LA Times · People · Deadline

7. Canada–U.S. Liquor Boycott 🇨🇦 · 2K+ · +600%

What it is: Fresh attention on provincial bans of U.S. alcohol as Canada and the U.S. continue trade negotiations, with reports that Ottawa is weighing concessions — including ending the provincial bans — to avoid additional tariffs set to take effect August 19.

Why it’s trending: A new Abacus Data survey found nearly 7 in 10 Canadians want the government to maintain the boycott on American alcohol, even as sources say Canada may be prepared to lift the bans in exchange for U.S. tariff relief.

Analysis: This is a politically delicate flashpoint: ending the bans may win tariff relief, but it risks angering a public that overwhelmingly supports the boycott. The August 19 tariff deadline makes this a story to watch closely.

Sources: CBC · The Spirits Business · CityNews

8. Carter Hart 🇨🇦 · 10K+ · +500%

What it is: Hockey Canada announced Wednesday it accepted the recommendation of an independent appeal board to extend the suspension of Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart through November 2027 for a code of conduct violation.

Why it’s trending: The announcement, coming a year after his acquittal in a high-profile sexual assault trial, reignited Canadian conversation around the former Team Canada netminder and the Hockey Canada scandal.

Watch: Hart remains active in the NHL with Vegas, but is barred from Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs until November 2027, effectively ruling him out of international competition for the foreseeable future.

Sources: The Score · CBC

9. Perseid Meteor Shower 🌍 · 20K+ · +500%

What it is: The annual Perseid meteor shower peaks the night of August 12 and into the pre-dawn hours of August 13, with roughly 100 meteors visible per hour under ideal conditions.

Why it’s trending: 2026 offers exceptional viewing conditions because the New Moon on August 11 leaves the entire peak night virtually moon-free — the best Perseid viewing opportunity since 2024 and the finest until 2028.

Tip: Best viewing is midnight through dawn tonight. Find a dark sky, look northeast, and give your eyes 20 minutes to adapt.

Sources: EarthSky · Star Walk · Universal Time Date

10. Brandon Nakashima 🇨🇦 · 10K+ · +700%

What it is: Brandon Nakashima reached the final of the Canadian Open (ATP Masters 1000) in Montréal, beating Rafael Jódar in the semifinals to set up an all-American title match against defending champion Ben Shelton.

Why it’s trending: Canadian tennis fans tuned in en masse as Nakashima, playing some of the most assured tennis of his career and posting a strong 3-1 record against top-20 players since June, chased a first Masters 1000 title on Canadian soil.

Analysis: With a title on the line against Shelton in Montréal, this is a marquee U.S. Open warm-up and a chance for Nakashima to make his biggest breakthrough yet.

Sources: Reuters · The Athletic

🇺🇸 United States — Quick Hits

Josh Kushner 🇺🇸 · 500K+ · +1,000% — The Lakers sale to Kushner and Bob Iger (~$12.5B) is the biggest story in American sports, topping U.S. searches alongside Canada.

Karoline Leavitt 🇺🇸 · 200K+ · +1,000% — The press secretary’s exit topped U.S. searches too, with her resignation from the West Wing dominating coverage.

Russell Westbrook 🇺🇸 · 200K+ · +1,000% — The 18-season vet’s retirement announcement was a top-five U.S. search.

Powerball 🇺🇸 · 500K+ · +200% — The jackpot draw kept millions of Americans checking their tickets overnight.

Delta — Atlanta cancellations 🇺🇸 · 50K+ · +1,000% — A wave of Delta Air Lines cancellations out of Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson disrupted travel for thousands.

Rep. John Larson primary 🇺🇸 · 50K+ · +1,000% — Connecticut’s longest-serving House Democrat lost his primary to former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin — the seventh House Democrat to fall this cycle.

COLA 2027 🇺🇸 · 50K+ · +900% — Seniors searched the projected 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment as inflation figures rolled in.

Taylor Farms jalapeño recall 🇺🇸 · 20K+ · +1,000% — A salmonella-linked jalapeño recall drew consumer attention — a U.S. echo of the Canadian yogurt recall theme.

This brief was generated automatically by Orko for blog.punkslack.com. Trends reflect Google Trends “past 24 hours” data for Canada and the United States as of the morning of August 13, 2026.