Front Burner
CBC
Front Burner is a daily news podcast that takes you deep into the stories shaping Canada and the world. Each morning, from Monday to Friday, host Jayme Poisson talks with the smartest people covering the biggest stories to help you understand what’s going on.We’re Canada’s number one news podcast and a trusted source of Canadian news. We cover Canadian news and Canadian politics, Prime Minister Mark Carney, Pierre Poilievre, the Donald Trump administration, provincial politics from Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and politicians Danielle Smith, David Eby and Doug Ford.We cover Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary as well as other municipalities across Canada. In this Canadian election year, Front Burner will be focusing more on Canadian politics. We will take a close look at Mark Carney’s first few weeks as Prime Minister, the Conservatives and Pierre Poilievre as well as the future of the NDP and Quebec’s Yves-François Blanchet from the Bloc Québécois during the 2025 Canadian federal election.The podcast goes beyond Ottawa and digs deeper into major issues like U.S.-Canada relations, jobs, the economy, immigration, cost of living, housing and rental costs, taxes and tariffs, democracy and technology. The Front Burner daily podcast covers Canadian news from every province and territory: Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon.We cover news from major cities like Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. When U.S. President Donald Trump declares he wants to make Canada the 51st state and decides to implement tariffs, Front Burner has an analysis into what is happening. We cover Elon Musk’s DOGE. We cover the latest in technology from the rise of bitcoin and crypto, the future of TikTok, Meta, artificial intelligence, influencers, and more. Look to our archives to see fact-checked stories about infrastructure, fascism, border security, immigration, Pierre Poilievre, the Republican Party, American politics, Canadian politics, India, China, Trump’s tariffs, Mark Carney, Elon Musk, Toronto, technology, artificial intelligence, international students, healthcare, and inflation. We cover global news like the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, the ceasefire, the Ukraine-Russia war, the India-Pakistan conflict, and the U.S. economy and U.S. politics. Front Burner is a part of your morning news routine. Whether you’re in Toronto or Vancouver or Washington, this is the news that matters to Canadians. We take a look at the economy and break it down from the budget to interest rate hikes to inflation to recessions to jobs to the cost of living. We look at the policy around housing, Canadian housing supply, and what this means for first-time home buyers, renters, and those with a mortgage. We look at technology, from AI to the manosphere to social media like Meta, Twitter, Facebook, and more. We look at influential newsmakers like Elon Musk and influential technology industries like crypto and AI.
Episodes
Mentioned books
34 snips
Aug 26, 2025 • 21min
Young people can't find jobs. Is Canada's economy in trouble?
Armine Yalnizyan, an economist and Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers, dives into the troubling rise of youth unemployment in Canada, currently at a staggering 15%. She unpacks the unique challenges young job seekers face, including fierce competition from older workers and the looming threat of AI automation. The conversation also sheds light on the long-term scarring effects of joblessness on youth independence and mental health, emphasizing the urgent need for strategic economic reforms to better support the younger generation.
14 snips
Aug 25, 2025 • 26min
Israel defies global outcry over Gaza City, West Bank
Gregg Carlstrom, The Economist’s longtime Middle East correspondent, dives into the escalating crisis in Gaza City, highlighting the severe humanitarian famine impacting half the population. He discusses Israel's controversial settlement plans in the West Bank, which threaten Palestinian aspirations for statehood. The podcast also explores the shifting dynamics in ceasefire negotiations and the troubling rise of violence against Palestinians, emphasizing the global community's inadequate response to the ongoing conflict.
12 snips
Aug 22, 2025 • 34min
Escape, immortality, AI: Silicon Valley's blueprint for the future
In this discussion, Adam Becker, an astrophysicist and author, dives into the ambitious and often dystopian visions of tech moguls like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, who dream of colonizing Mars and populating space. He critiques the gap between their utopian aspirations and reality, suggesting we reconsider our dependence on technology for salvation. Becker also highlights the socio-economic disparities in these grand plans and warns against the tech elite's disdain for governance, which threatens democratic values. A thought-provoking exploration of our future!
48 snips
Aug 21, 2025 • 39min
How Christian Zionism became a key force in U.S. politics
Daniel Hummel, author of Covenant Brothers and a scholar of Christian Zionism, sheds light on the powerful influence of this belief in American politics. He discusses how biblical interpretations shape evangelical support for Israel and connect to figures like Donald Trump. Hummel explores the historical roots of Christian Zionism and its role in U.S. foreign policy, emphasizing its impact since 1967. He also addresses evolving relations between American Christians and Palestinians, reflecting a shift in younger evangelical perspectives.
47 snips
Aug 20, 2025 • 31min
Are Canadian summers as we knew them over?
Denise Balkisson, executive editor of The Narwhal, explores the alarming effects of climate change on Canadian summers. She discusses the second-worst wildfire season shaping the outdoor experiences of children today, often contaminated by smoke and poor air quality. The conversation dives into the emotional challenges faced by parents, particularly in low-income and Indigenous communities, amidst these changes. Denise emphasizes the need for proactive adaptation strategies and reflects on how we can channel feelings of grief and anger into meaningful action against climate change.
Aug 19, 2025 • 25min
Is Trump any closer to ending the war in Ukraine?
In this insightful discussion, Francis Farrell, a reporter from The Kyiv Independent who covers the front lines in eastern Ukraine, delves into recent high-stakes summits aimed at brokering peace. She shares the complexities of Trump's diplomatic efforts with both Putin and Zelensky, highlighting the challenges Ukraine faces amidst territorial concessions. Farrell also sheds light on the urgent need for security guarantees to deter further aggression, and reveals the pragmatic yet hopeful perspectives of Ukrainian troops yearning for peace.
44 snips
Aug 18, 2025 • 27min
What the Air Canada strike is really about
Anis Heydari, a CBC senior business reporter based in Calgary, sheds light on the chaotic Air Canada strike where 10,000 flight attendants walked off the job, resulting in hundreds of canceled flights. He discusses the critical issues of wages and unremunerated ground work that fueled the strike. The conversation also covers the federal government's swift intervention mandating a return to work, raising concerns about labor rights and the influence on the bargaining process. Heydari reveals why this dispute is pivotal for airlines and workers across North America.
40 snips
Aug 15, 2025 • 28min
Can Carney move fast enough on affordable housing?
Mike Moffatt, the founding director of the Missing Middle Initiative at the University of Ottawa, dives into Canada’s housing crisis. He discusses the government's ambitious plans to rapidly increase affordable housing, including the Build Canada Homes initiative. Moffatt highlights the hurdles posed by rising construction costs, reduced housing starts, and complex regulations. He emphasizes the need for innovative approaches and collaboration between the public and private sectors to make Carney's vision a reality before it's too late.
27 snips
Aug 14, 2025 • 35min
The killing of Gaza’s journalists
Sharif Kouddous, Middle East editor at Dropsite News and veteran reporter, sheds light on the tragic killing of journalist Anas Al-Sharif. They discuss the harsh realities journalists face in conflict zones like Gaza, where Al-Sharif bravely continued his reporting amid threats. The conversation highlights the media's role in portraying the truth amidst violence and explores the implications of biased claims from military sources. This poignant dialogue underscores the urgency of protecting journalistic integrity and human rights in war-torn regions.
30 snips
Aug 13, 2025 • 26min
Why has Trump taken over D.C.?
Alex Shephard, a Senior Editor at The New Republic, explores Donald Trump's military takeover of Washington D.C., raising questions about its true motives given the low crime rates. He discusses the political implications of deploying the National Guard amidst claims of lawlessness and the historical context of military intervention. Shephard critiques the blend of racial and gender biases in Trump's disdain for the city and how this could set a precedent for federal overreach in other cities. The dialogue sheds light on the ongoing tensions between governance and authority.
