As It Happens

In the midst of a fierce trade war, Ottawa wants to reduce its reliance on the U.S. But Canada's former defence minister says pivoting away from American military hardware is a challenge the government hasn't quite figured out. A former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories praises Canada for joining a ban on imports from Israeli settlements. But Michael Lynk says that move is just a start. Deliberations are about to begin over designs for a revitalized prime minister's residence. The head of the jury, celebrated architect Moshe Safdie, tells us what the future could hold for 24 Sussex. A fungus leaves corn kernels an unappetizing grey-black colour, but those unsightly cobs are a beautiful Mexican delicacy that's now being embraced by foodies north of the Rio Grande. It was in the Smithsonian for more than 150 years, but now, the last known pelt of an extinct woolly dog has finally been returned to its former Pacific habitat. A Sami reindeer herder in Sweden worries about the survival of his culture — as politicians debate whether a desire to mine rare earth minerals trumps his people's land rights. Enter, if you dare, the corn maze of one New Brunswick farm, which celebrates the corn-sistent corn-tributions of PWHL great Marie-Philippe Poulin, by being shaped like her face. As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that's always looking at the broader corn-text.

When Hurricane Helene destroyed an American tea producer's operation, a Canadian counterpart stepped in. They tell us rising costs and a trade war won't put an end to their cross-border friendship. Germany’s AfD becomes the first far-right party since the Nazis to win a state election. We ask a Christian Democratic politician how his party should meet this moment. A friend of the late Georgina Lightning tells us the Cree filmmaker didn't just do amazing work herself -- she supported the work of the young Indigenous artists who are following in her footsteps. A metal detectorist in Finland discovers what’s believed to be the country's largest Viking-era hoard of silver -- containing thousands of coins. Scientists have used fossilized insect wings to reconstruct insect sounds from 165 million years ago. A bioacoustician tells us what ancient cricket love songs might have sounded like. And… In case you weren't already disgusted by the chaos climbers have wreaked on Mount Everest, a new study reveals that the mountain's glacier is being melted by a vast volume of human urine. As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio that considers the number one problem to be the number one problem.

The judge in the Massachusetts mother’s high profile murder trial declares a mistrial and a criminal defence lawyer tells us he’s never seen a day in court quite like this. It’s been 66 years since the Sharpeville massacre in South Africa, when police officers killed dozens of protestors. And our guest says far too many people are still waiting for proper compensation. Emergency workers in Nepal rescue two people who had been trapped in a tunnel for nine days after the floods. A local politician describes the astonishing moment they emerged. Catalina Island has a controversial plan to cull its deer population — all in the name of restoring native plant species. A member of the local nature conservancy assures us they've exhausted all other options. From the team that brought us the best small town, lake, and symbol in British Columbia, comes the heated competition for the best roadside attraction. German researchers have determined that taking a long deep breath before making a choice can lead to bolder decision making. As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that makes a lung story short.

The journalist and social activist is being remembered for her wisdom, wit, optimism, and tireless pursuit of equality. Ms. Magazine co-founder Letty Cottin Pogrebin tells us it was an honour to see that feminist force up close. Canadian writer and feminist Michele Landsberg recalls meeting Gloria Steinem for the first time at a Toronto Planned Parenthood event — and says she always made time for anyone working to further the cause. For the first time ever, Élections Québec will only mail out voter information in French — a move that's already causing a contretemps. A Halifax woman living in an encampment was hopeful a recent court decision would qualify her for a higher income assistance rate. Then the government changed the rules to make it clear that her campervan is not actually considered a home. Still more MLAs leave British Columbia's Conservative Party, and one of the most recent defectors says he'd rather sit as an Independent than remain in a party led by Kerry-Lynne Findlay. A PhD student tells us how he figured out the exact angle — and rate — someone's stream must hit a urinal to minimize the splash zone. As It Happens, the Thursday Edition. Radio that presents a true wizz kid.

A former Canadian Armed Forces officer who served alongside Americans in Afghanistan tells us the constant anti-Canada rhetoric from the Trump administration is disturbing. Florida is executing death-row inmates at a record-breaking pace. A priest who counsels those inmates says state politicians are politicizing people's lives — and deaths. As investors sell off their government bonds at breakneck speed, one economist tells us the Bank of Canada is right to hold interest rates steady, even as a trade war and real wars shake the foundations of the global economy. Canadian scientists spent years investigating what's killing billions of sea stars in the Pacific. Now, they know what's responsible; they just have to figure out how to stop it. For the second time, now, 91-year-old Dale "Grey Beard" Sanders becomes the oldest person to complete the Appalachian Trail. He tells us that even after more than seventy falls along the way, he's feeling pretty good. The population of the comical flightless parrot known as the kakapo is bouncing back — after what's been referred to as a "mating frenzy." As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that's glad they're not afraid to ruffle some feathers.

A Canadian tells us about her efforts to track down her brother and sister-in-law — who went missing during the flash floods in Nepal. A new school year begins in Ukraine, but a lot of students are making do without textbooks — because of ongoing Russian strikes that have destroyed millions of books. After a jury delivers a guilty verdict in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur, we reach the man who snapped an iconic photo of the rapper moments before he was shot. Wyatt Esbaugh was fishing when a bald eagle snatched his lure, and got snagged in the process. The Nova Scotia teen walks us through the tricky process of freeing the bird. A mathematician spent the last 15 years trying to create a theoretical set of dice to solve the problem of who goes first in a board game — a problem he admits isn't actually a problem. A Virginia doctor shares a story you'll wish she hadn't shared — of waking up in a flap to find a flapping thing trying to flap its way into the dark cave in her face. As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that leaves a bat taste in your mouth.

Hundreds of workers in Nepal are believed to be trapped underground in hydropower tunnels, after last week’s floods. Their families are angry -- but still hopeful they'll be rescued. Icelanders vote against restarting talks to join the European Union. A No supporter tells us that it wasn't about pushing the EU away, but embracing her own country's sovereignty. Rescuers swoop in to save a mountain climber who's stranded on a six-inch ledge, ten thousand feet above the ground. A firefighter tells us the nighttime rescue could easily have ended very badly. An astronomer is delighted at the launch of NASA's new Nancy Grace Roman telescope -- which he says will help us better understand the universe and our place in it. Voters have chosen the winner of the inaugural “Fat Marmot Week”. We’ll hear how a “special boy who likes to eat rocks,” managed to tip the scales in his favour. After conducting a study of fans at a German rock festival, scientists announce that listening to heavy metal might actually increase your pain threshold. As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio that finds poetry in moshin'.

We reach an aid worker in Kathmandu whose teams are working nonstop to reunite children separated from their parents by this week's flash floods. An Ottawa company rushes to create a hat emblazoned with "Lake Ontario," and tells us they're finding plenty of customers in Canada... and beyond. A reporter untangled the complex criminal web that is fueling a car theft boom in Canada — and reveals where those pilfered vehicles are ending up. For years, archaeologists in Nova Scotia have tried to find the remnants of one of the first grain mills in North America. An amateur historian tells us why he thinks he's getting very close. One New Yorker shares why he's made it his mission to measure exactly how sweltering it is in the subway stations below the city's streets — and to offer some relief to sweltering commuters. As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that's never afraid to break a sweat.

Ontario-based ice cream maker Chapman’s says in the face of tariff threats, they're replacing American products with Canadian-sourced ones wherever possible. As Puerto Rico's worsening droughts push the U.S. government to declare a state of disaster in many communities. A farmer tells us his crops are dying — and he's been left high and dry. Quebec's provincial election campaign kicks off and a political reporter walks us through the hotly contested race, where sovereignty and U.S. tariffs loom large. A new study finds Black Canadians face barriers to donating blood — and one of the researchers involved tells us that has consequences for prospective recipients as well as would-be donors. A male Montagu's Harrier is playing a key role in repopulating the raptor species by taking up with two female birds. And a U.K. man who has been following this prolific fellow can't get enough of his golden boy. As It Happens, the Thursday Edition. Radio that hopes everything works out for the nest.

As the social media giant settles a lawsuit with American states the mother of a 17-year-old who died by suicide after enduring cyberbullying says Meta's platforms still need to be regulated by the feds. Hundreds of people are missing after flash floods near the border between Nepal and Tibet. A tour operator there tells us he fears for those who aren't yet accounted for. Comic book artist Art Spiegelman remembers Len Brown, who helped him create "Wacky Packages" and "Garbage Pail Kids" — the satirical stickers and cards beloved by kids of the '70s and '80s. A reporter describes the horrific scene at a maternity ward in Islamabad, where a fire killed more than a dozen newborn babies this morning. Scientists in Washington are working tirelessly to bring back the endangered sunflower sea star. A researcher describes the bittersweet feeling of finally releasing the stars she raised into the wild. As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that applauds them for going out on several limbs.

Bluegrass singer Rhonda Vincent remembers her friend, Dolly Parton. And recounts the many times she got the chance to share a stage with her idol. As Ottawa announces a slew of retaliatory tariffs on American products, jobs minister Patty Hajdu tells us what her government can offer Canadian workers caught in the middle of an escalating trade war. Canadians hoping to do their part are still striving to buy local, but the lawyer behind a proposed class action lawsuit says the maple leaf is sometimes slapped on products that aren't Canadian at all. A small business owner in Ontario who imports aluminum building products from the U.S. says he understands why everyone is upset, but he wants Canada back at the negotiating table. Renowned queer lawyer barbara findlay may have spelled her name in lower case, but she lived her life in all-caps — and wasn't afraid to fight for the rights of gay, lesbian and trans Canadians. A Wisconsin cat has a certified record-breaking 29 toes...and we'll dig into the archives to hear from a feline that said 'hold my catnip' — when it came out with four ears. As It Happens, the Tuesday edition, Radio that always gives you time to paws and reflect.

An opposition critic says MPs should be back in the House of Commons to debate the threat posed by U.S. tariffs — and to get a full accounting of how a proposed trade deal collapsed. A Manitoba honey farmer tells us he feels like collateral damage in a "petty trade war." He says the new U.S. tariffs may spell bankruptcy for his family business, which sends almost all of its products south. A skin cancer survivor lobbies the U.K. government to stop taxing sunscreen, which it classifies as a cosmetic. She says the move could save lives. A teen from Nova Scotia reels in a behemoth weighing many times what she does. She describes the long hour she spent trying to land the fish. Nine sets of twins are starting school in a legendarily twin-tastic Scottish town. We'll hear from a teacher with two sets of twins in her class...and is still working out how to tell them apart. One L.A. theme park went to great lengths to make their new Fast & Furious roller coaster whisper-quiet, which totally worked — until it opened to the enthusiastic shrieks of riders. As It Happens, the Monday edition. Radio that guesses they couldn't see the forest for the “WEEEEEEES!”

A California winemaker is chomping at the bit to get his bottles back on Canadian shelves, but worries that even with a tariff deal, Canadians might turn their nose up at his vino. Survivors of a decades-long purge of Canadian 2SLGBTQ+ public servants and military personnel finally have their own landmark in downtown Ottawa. As Montreal mourns Oliver Jones, Diana Krall joins us to remember the late jazz great — who championed her when she got her start in Montreal clubs. Five years ago, Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Lee Cheuk-yan spoke to As It Happens about sweeping raids carried out under the city's national security law. Now, that same law has led to his conviction. We hear from a researcher about some 14th century skeletal remains that look like they went through a car wreck — and may actually have been on the wrong end of a medieval catapult. As It Happens, the Friday edition. Radio that delivers the thrust of the argument.

Pressure to cut a trade deal with the U.S. has the Prime Minister pushing for the return of American alcohol to provincial stores. One B.C. winemaker tells us what she hopes her province will do. A tech expert warns that when the details of that trade deal are finally revealed, Canada should be just as concerned with 'digital sovereignty' as we are with cars, steel and booze. The American President cuts short military exercises with South Korea. North Korea's Dear Leader responds by launching missiles. And our guest says it's just their way of negotiating a nuclear summit. The push to accelerate major economic projects shouldn't mean lifting protections on species at risk. So says a conservationist, who's urging the Carney government to reconsider proposed legislative changes. After swimming the Georgia Strait, a British Columbia woman may have broken a decades-old record. She tells us it was gruelling work, but there was no way she was going to quit. A golf course in Alberta may have had its 'Worlds Biggest Golf Putter' title sunk by another provincial course. As we'll hear, they've both had their measuring tapes out. As It Happens, the Thursday edition. Radio that likes big putts, and cannot lie.

As officials hammer out a trade deal, Trump is trumpeting a revival of cross-border pipeline plans — and an Alberta energy exec who worked on the Keystone XL project says it might be just the bargaining chip Canada needs. Ukraine's former defence minister says it's time for an election — war or no war — but an opposition MP argues a vote would be illegal and open to Russian manipulation. The IDF launches an investigation into the high-profile, 2024 killing of 5-year-old Hind Rajab. We hear from an emergency dispatcher who spoke to her in the moments before she died. A professor tells us why he's challenging the Quebec law that made swearing an oath of allegiance to the King optional for provincial lawmakers. The last thing a marathon runner needs is extra distance tacked onto the end of the race, but that's exactly what happened in Edmonton. We hear from a runner who says that mistake may have robbed him of his chance to qualify for the Boston Marathon. As It Happens, the Wednesday edition. Radio that hopes it all works out... in the long run.

A wallpaper manufacturer in British Columbia tells us if Canada and the U.S. can’t work out a trade deal before Trump’s tariff deadline, he might have to start laying off his employees. The ruling party in Zambia declares election victory — after a delayed vote count and election day arrests. An international election observer weighs in and shares his own concerns. As Newfoundland & Labrador moves forward with a new energy deal on Churchill Falls, Premier Tony Wakeham tells us it's a win not just for his province, but for the rest of the country too. The Trump administration has paused its border barrier construction project in Big Bend National Park. A former superintendent of the park tells us he wants to see bulldozers banned permanently. Flag football will make its Olympic debut in 2028 and the Canadian women's team has just punched its ticket. Quarterback Sara Parker tells us what it feels like to see this long dream realized. A 43-year-old woman from Ontario has become the first Canadian woman to lift Scotland's iconic Dinnie Stones — a pair of boulders with a combined weight of over seven hundred pounds. As It Happens, the Tuesday edition, radio that thinks it’s important to know your stone strength.

As Canada-U.S. trade talks head towards a Wednesday tariff deadline, a Trudeau-era staffer speaks from experience about the challenges of doing a deal with Donald Trump. France is battling scorching temperatures and severe drought. We hear from a local engineer who says the water supply is drying up, and the forecast doesn’t look good. The University of Toronto is looking to ban laptops in some classrooms this fall in favour of handwriting. A law student tells us he’d like to have a say in how he takes his own notes. We hear from a scientist who explains her research into how female tree frogs react when they have so many suitors they don't know which way to jump. Two juvenile goats in Portland, Oregon break out of their enclosure and attempt to ride a public bus — to the delight of the driver and passengers. As It Happens, the Monday edition, radio that appreciates them maaaaaking a breaaaaaak for it.

As Taliban officials celebrate the anniversary of the 2021 fall of Kabul, Afghan journalist Zahra Joya tallies the grim toll being paid by the country's women and girls. An activist says the world needs to do more to condemn Israeli settlers who have surrounded Palestinian homes in the West Bank — trapping families with no water or electricity. Decades after they met as teenagers and became friends, two women learn they are, in fact, biological sisters. We hear about their first encounter as girls — and more recently, as relatives. More than 80 years after a landmark battle in the Second World War, a tiny Pacific Island remains littered with landmines. Our guest describes the dangerous detective work needed to clear out the explosives those soldiers left behind. As voting heats up for this year’s invertebrate of the year competition, a scientist in Slovenia makes the case for a giant bee nicknamed the flying mouse. As It Happens, the Friday edition, radio that asks: ARE YOU READY TO BUMBLE?!

Bonnie Critchley ran as an independent against Pierre Poilievre last year. Now, the retired military veteran has joined the Progressive Tory Party of Alberta — to run against the UCP in the next provincial election. An overcrowded ferry capsizes in Zimbabwe, killing at least 44 people. A member of the country's parliament tells us how she's consoling family members who lost loved ones in the stormy waters. When the 2023 earthquakes affected millions in Turkey and Syria, Canada responded with temporary visas. With many of those permits set to expire, we reach a mother walking from Toronto to Ottawa, as she pushes for an extension to keep her family in Canada. At the ripe old age of eleven, Anderson Taylor of the Cambridge Natural History Museum in Illinois is officially the youngest museum curator in the world. You've heard of Fat Bear Week. But today an organizer tells us about Fat Marmot Week — a new pre-hibernation competition underway in Colorado. As It Happens, the Thursday edition, radio that appreciates a good fat-checker.

A hotel owner in Breiðavík, Iceland describes the moment the moon blotted out the sun today. She says she was awed by the sight — and by the hundreds of tourists who came to see it. Tens of thousands of Canadians have signed a petition urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to declare U.S. ambassador Pete Hoekstra persona non grata and officially send him packing. Monday’s earthquake in Colombia has left hundreds dead or injured. A resident in one of the hardest-hit cities describes the destruction — and his efforts to help rescue survivors. A group looking for a relaxing float downstream winds up lost in marshlands for three days. We hear from a conservation officer who helped rescue them. A researcher who peeked inside the dodo's dome explains why she thinks the long-extinct bird may be smarter than previously thought. As It Happens, the Wednesday edition. Radio that's never at a loss for birds.