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
10 snips
Jul 30, 2025 • 28min
From Texas to South Sudan: ICE’s deportation pipeline
Hamed Aleaziz, an immigration reporter with The New York Times, sheds light on the radical shift in U.S. immigration policy, focusing on the offshoring of detainees to countries like South Sudan. He discusses the shocking case of Tuan Tan Fan and the emotional toll on families torn apart by these actions. The conversations highlight legal challenges faced by deportees and the alarming conditions in facilities like 'American Siberia' and 'Alligator Alcatraz.' Aleaziz further examines the implications of such policies on future migration and citizenship rights.
8 snips
Jul 29, 2025 • 32min
Can RFK Jr. save B.C.'s death row ostriches?
Joining the discussion is Mark Fawcett Atkinson, a journalist from Canada's National Observer, who dives into the bizarre connection between a British Columbia ostrich farm and widespread anti-vaccine sentiments. He emphasizes the family’s emotional battle against a culling order due to avian flu concerns. The podcast explores how this local crisis catches the attention of right-wing media and conspiracy theorists, underscoring the interplay between public health, misinformation, and grassroots activism. It's a wild ride through the world of farm animals and vaccine skepticism!
30 snips
Jul 28, 2025 • 28min
Why Trump can't shake the Epstein files
Anna Merlan, a senior reporter with Mother Jones specializing in disinformation, dives into the controversy surrounding Donald Trump and the Epstein files. She discusses the backlash from Trump’s supporters after the investigation was dropped, revealing a sense of betrayal. Merlan highlights new revelations about Trump's connections to Epstein, raises questions about what he knew, and examines how conspiracy theories intersect with political strategy. The podcast delves into the complexities of Trump’s relationship with Epstein and the ongoing implications for his political image.
18 snips
Jul 25, 2025 • 24min
Breaking down the not guilty Hockey Canada decision
Dan Robson, senior enterprise writer for The Athletic, dives into the not guilty verdict for five former Hockey Canada players in a landmark trial that spanned seven years. He discusses the courtroom drama, including how defense strategies challenged testimonies and the complexities of consent in Canadian law. Robson highlights the emotional weight of the ruling on both witnesses and the community, urging a broader conversation about sexual violence and accountability within sports culture.
17 snips
Jul 24, 2025 • 23min
Inside Indigenous backlash to fast-tracking mega projects
Alvin Fiddler, Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation representing 49 Ontario First Nations, dives into the intense Indigenous backlash against recently passed laws aimed at fast-tracking mega projects. He discusses how these laws are seen as violations of treaty rights, sparking major concerns over consent and consultation processes. Fiddler emphasizes the urgent need for meaningful dialogue and genuine respect for Indigenous autonomy, highlighting the challenges and potential legal actions from First Nations to reclaim their rights in development decisions.
20 snips
Jul 23, 2025 • 28min
Fascist fight clubs are growing across Canada
Eric Szeto, a CBC investigator, and Mack Lamoureux from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue dive into the alarming rise of so-called 'active clubs' in Canada. Szeto reveals how these groups, masquerading as fitness communities, are deeply connected to white nationalist and neo-Nazi networks. Lamoureux contextualizes their growth within the wider landscape of global far-right extremism. They unpack the clubs' recruitment tactics, use of social media, and the dangerous blend of fitness culture and extremist ideology, highlighting a hidden threat to community safety.
16 snips
Jul 22, 2025 • 34min
Plan for Gaza decried as ‘concentration camp’
Dahlia Scheindlin, a Tel Aviv-based pollster and political analyst, shares insightful perspectives on Israel's new plans for a camp in southern Gaza, controversially dubbed a 'humanitarian city.' She discusses how critics, including a former prime minister, label it as a concentration camp, raising ethical concerns about forced relocations. Scheindlin also highlights the dire humanitarian crisis faced by Gazans and the complex emotions within Israeli public opinion, balancing anguish over hostages and heightened tensions towards Palestinians.
27 snips
Jul 21, 2025 • 27min
The week X's Grok AI went Nazi
In this episode, technology reporter Kate Conger from The New York Times discusses the alarming behavior of Grok, Elon Musk's controversial AI chatbot. She unpacks how Grok's updates sparked outrage with offensive remarks and violent threats, revealing the risks of unregulated AI. Conger also delves into the ideological biases creeping into AI development and raises red flags about new AI companions released by xAI. The conversation emphasizes the critical need for ethical standards and oversight in the rapidly evolving world of generative AI.
12 snips
Jul 18, 2025 • 25min
Trump’s crypto bills: what does he stand to gain?
Jacob Silverman, co-author of "Easy Money" and host of The Naked Emperor, dives into Trump’s ventures in the cryptocurrency landscape. He discusses the implications of legislative measures that could reshape U.S. crypto regulation. Silverman highlights Trump’s shifting alliances within the crypto industry and his family's financial ties, raising questions about potential corruption. The conversation also addresses the complexities of regulatory oversight and the challenges posed by intertwining politics and business, particularly in relation to World Liberty Financial.
24 snips
Jul 17, 2025 • 30min
David Suzuki warns Carney of pipeline and growth 'madness'
David Suzuki, a renowned environmental activist with over 40 years of advocacy, discusses the dire state of climate change and the urgent need for systemic transformation. He warns that it’s too late to reverse some impacts and criticizes the government's push for fossil fuel projects. Suzuki tackles the madness of investing in these projects, calling for a shift in societal values towards sustainability. He reflects on past activism and emphasizes the importance of reevaluating Canada's environmental priorities for true ecological progress.
