The Big Story

The United States banned TikTok. But Donald Trump says it can still operate in America, for now.   The Executive Order that Trump signed on his first day in office only protects TikTok for 75 days. 170-million users, billions of dollars and U.S. national security are at stake. What happens next? Host David Smith is joined by tech analyst and journalist Carmi Levy to break down what we know, and do...

Donald Trump has been sworn in as U.S. president for a second time – but this term is likely to look different than the first one. Especially if the inauguration speech is any indication.   Host Kris McCusker speaks to Wayne Petrozzi, Professor Emeritus, department of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University about how Trump could change the game in the next four years...

Donald Trump has been inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States. But he chose not to follow through on his threat of tariffs on Canadian imports on his first day in office. What does that mean? And what happens next? Do we still need to worry?   Host David Smith speaks with Xavier Delgado, expert on the Canada-US relationship and Senior Associate at the Woodrow Wilson Centre’s Canada...

The two frontrunners vying to replace Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader have officially launched their campaigns. Both Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland’s launch events could have gone better.  Carney’s inexperience on the political stage showed in Edmonton, while Freeland was the target of protestors in Toronto. Host David Smith breaks down how the two candidates performed...

It's a real tipping point for electric vehicles.  Although the feds have a goal of having 100% zero emission vehicles on the road by 2035, there are major challenges. In the second part of a weekend series on electric vehicles, host Mike Eppel speaks to David Adams, President and C-E-O of Global Automakers of Canada about the future of EVs.       We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as sugge...

A group of auto sector groups came together in Ottawa this week to call on the Trudeau government to scrap its plan to mandate electric vehicle sales quotas starting next year.   With Parliament prorogued, and an election on the horizon, automakers and dealerships have no idea whether they will be able to comply with the EV sales mandate starting next year.   They say the situation is untenable, c...

We've officially passed what's known as "Quitter's Day", the second Friday in January where people generally abandon their new year's resolutions.   If you're feeling down because you've swapped the celery for Timbits, don't!   According to dietician Abbey Sharp, there is a better way and January may not even be the best time to start something new.   Host Eva Fragiskatos sits down with Abbey to t...

Canada first and Canada united - the message after a First Ministers' meeting in Ottawa with the country's premiers - with one exception.  With Doug Ford sporting a new hat that said "Canada is not for sale" and Alberta's Danielle Smith the outlier in the group, there's a lot to break down.   To do that, NewsRadio's Queen's Park reporter Richard Southern speaks to Parliament Hill reporter Cormac M...

A financial fact check for you.  U.S. President elect Donald Trump will be sworn in next week – with the threat of 25% tariffs on Canadian products looming.  And he’s been using numbers to back up his decision.  Host Kris McCusker speaks to one economist to set the record straight and fact check the numbers being thrown around.  Guest: Jim Stanford with the Centre for Future Work in Vancouver, B.C...

Less than a week to go before Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States. For the past month, Canadian political leaders have taken different tactics in responding to Trump’s threats and pleading Canada’s case for exemptions to any import tariffs.   How are they doing? Host David Smith speaks with Barry McLoughlin, an expert in crisis communications and leadership and P...

Game on!   The federal Liberal party has unveiled the rules of engagement for its leadership race. What we know so far is that it costs A LOT to enter and there will be a new leader announced on March 9.   Host Cormac Mac Sweeney is speaking with Greg MacEachern, Principal of KAN Strategies.  We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through em...

There are still more questions than answers after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation this week. That includes legislation involving your finances. Host Kris McCusker speaks to Jamie Golombek, Managing Director of Tax and Estate Planning with CIBC Private Wealth about how people should treat changes around capital gains and a proposed extension on charitable donations.   We lov...

Has the first week of January felt like A LOT? You're not alone. There are so many things going on in this economy right now that could impact you. Host Mike Eppel is here to break down all the headlines that have made up this very busy news week including the Canadian dollar, the threat of tariffs and takeover and Meta abandoning fact-checkers.  We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as sugge...

Unreal scenes out of L.A. as fires continue to burn, most with zero per cent containment.  Communities have been wiped out with thousands of structures burned including the homes of some high profile celebrities.   Thousands have been driven from their homes - with no end in sight.   On this episode of the Big Story, host Fil Martino speaks with Canadian and environmental journalist Aliya Jasmine...

If a federal election were held today, nearly half of Canadians say they would vote for the Conservative Party of Canada. Since 2022, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has grown the party’s support to record highs. But he remains a polarizing figure. What’s behind the strategy that has the Conservatives riding high in the polls?  Host David Smith speaks with Chris Day, the political communicati...

It started with a social media post that some dismissed as a joke. Now, President-elect Donald Trump is threatening to use “economic force” to make Canada a U.S. state. Is he serious? What’s going on here? Host David Smith speaks with Professor Ian Lee from the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University about what this all says for the Canada-U.S. relationship under a second Trump presidency...

It's the end of the Trudeau era - but the beginning of what's going to be a new chapter in Canadian politics.  There's a lot of uncertainty and a lot at stake.  So what's the next move for Canada's political parties and who will be the next Liberal leader?   Host David Smith digs in to this with two of the best political minds in Ottawa who sit on both sides of the political spectrum.  Guests: Sus...

Bonus episode Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced he will resign and has prorogued Parliament until March 24th. He will stay on as leader and Prime Minister until the Liberal Party has chosen a new leader. This sets the stage for a federal election in the  spring of this year.   What happens next? And what will Justin Trudeau’s legacy be? Host David Smith speaks with NewsRadio's Parliament...

For generations, Canada and the United States have enjoyed a special relationship. Our cultural, political and economic ties run deep, but they are not immune from destructive forces. Like all relationships, it faces tests and challenges. Any disruptive changes south of the border will have major impacts on Canada and Canadians. So what’s at stake with the incoming Trump administration? Host David...

It may have been a joke at the Mar-a-Lago dinner with PM Justin Trudeau and President-elect Donald Trump, but the question is out there: is there a risk of Canada becoming the 51st state?   On top of that, what is the future of Canadian-U.S. relations with Trump coming back to office?   Host Cormac Mac Sweeney is speaking with Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champag...

We've heard these stories time and time again - a crime committed by someone who was out on bail.   Multiple stories have led to a lot of finger pointing about who is responsible for fixing our bail system and renewed calls for bail reform.     On this episode of The Big Story we talk to York Regional Police Superintendent Ryan Hogan and  Associate Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform Graham McG...

There could be major changes coming to Canada's labour market in 2025 after a bumpy couple of years.   If you are a job seeker - where you live and which sector you work in will determine your success.   And federal immigration policy is likely to play a big role.   Host Kris McCusker speaks to Indeed's Senior Economist Brendon Bernard about his expectations going forward. We love feedback at The...

What were Canadians drinking this year? On this New Year's Eve, host Richard Southern is digging into what we were sipping this year and digs into Canadians' changing tastes with Alanna Bailey, Senior Spirits Director at LCBO.   We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.soc...

We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

The Big Story partners with NewsRadio to break down the biggest stories in politics in 2024.  We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky