As It Happens

CBC News & Politics
  • 4.5 (367)
  • News
  • Updated Daily

News that’s not afraid of fun. Meet people at the centre of the day’s most hard-hitting, hilarious and heartbreaking stories — powerful leaders, proud eccentrics and ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. And plenty of puns too. Hosted by Nil Köksal and Chris Howden, find out why As It Happens is one of Canada’s longest-running and most beloved shows. (Ahem, we literally helped make the beaver a national symbol.) New episodes Monday to Friday by 7:30 pm E.T.

  1. 19m ago

    Has the European Union’s ‘era of deportations’ begun?

    The European Union has finalized key elements of its strictest-ever immigration agreement, prompting right-wing politician Charlie Weimers to pronounce that "the era of deportations has begun." Irish MEP Regina Doherty tells us why she’s aligned with the people behind that kind of rhetoric.  U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra has made some questionable comments in public, but Quebec trade representative Louise Blais says he was much more diplomatic in their private meeting today. We remember Grammy-winning R&B artist Peabo Bryson, who infused his songs, including the Disney classics "Beauty and the Beast" and "A Whole New World" with magic. Regina Belle tells us what made singing with him so special.  The murder of a white college student handcuffed by police as he was dying has ignited a complicated debate on race and policing in the English city of Southampton — because Henry Nowak’s killer claimed he'd been the victim of a racist attack. The Trump administration moves to dismantle a vast under-sea research network; a former ocean scientist tells us that's a huge loss to the scientific community — and the rest of us too. An NGO says the Ebola outbreak is far larger than officials have admitted — and it will take a big international push to get the virus under control.  As temperatures rise, students in Winnipeg are feeling the heat, with classrooms hitting 30 plus degrees Celsius. And one mother, teacher and board of trustees chair says conditions are no longer safe.  Get this patty started. It looks ridiculous, but tastes ridiculously good — and that's why an aesthetically disastrous burger from one Montreal restaurant has been named the fifth-best in the world.  As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that thinks this story is a real something-burger.

    1h 7m

  2. 1d ago

    As trade negotiations heat up, what’s the right strategy?

    The Prime Minister's team says it wants to renew the free-trade deal with the US and Mexico. We'll ask the trade representative once berated by the US Ambassador whether Team Canada is playing too nice.  Russia's latest strikes on Ukraine kill more than 20 people and injure dozens more. A long-time resident of Kyiv says there's no way to be safe — but that doesn't mean he's going to leave his home.  NDP MP Don Davies is fed up with Canadian politicians abandoning their original parties for the government benches. He'll tell us about his plan to force floor-crossers to face the music.   Brooklyn Rivera was imprisoned for fighting for the rights of the Miskito people in Nicaragua. Now, he's died in custody — and our guest says that should be a wake up call.  Invasive rodents once had the run of a remote Australian Island — but now, in their absence, a biology student has returned to find a burgeoning bonanza of rare cockroaches and other bugs.  Several times over the past month, mystery men have been emerging from the sewers of New York — and that's creating a bit of surface tension.  As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that's suspicious of anyone behaving sewer-reptitiously.

    1h 5m

  3. 2d ago

    A cricket scandal in Canada hits home for a growing game

    Cricket's international governing body suspends Cricket Canada for financial and governance issues; we'll speak to the CBC journalist, and avid cricketer, whose work helped uncover alleged corruption.  After a day of conflicting statements and mixed messages from all sides, the United States, Israel, Iran and Lebanon appear to be at yet another dangerous crossroads. Nil asks a former negotiator where we go from here.    Female police officers in British Columbia say they faced gender-based discrimination on the job; one tells us she won't let the recent court ruling against their class-action suit stop her from fighting.  To help make the American’s imminent 250th birthday a little frothier, New Yorkers recreate a beer first brewed by a future president in 1757 — and find it slightly sweet and highly quaffable.  The short documentary “Heavy Metal Parking Lot” has had a long life as a cult classic. It just turned 40 — and the filmmakers tell us what they think is the key to its enduring appeal.  Once again, despite past complaints, the bus to the Polish resort of Hel — H-E-L — will be given the number 6-6-6.  As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio that goes to the beach via the route of all evil.

    56 min

  4. 4d ago

    A drone hits a NATO ally. What happens next?

    Romania's foreign minister says there's no doubt in her mind that an armed Russian drone hit an apartment building in her country -- and believes NATO must respond forcefully, even if it was an accident.  The daughter of former Cuban president Fidel Castro has lived in exile for decades -- and Alina Fernández is very hopeful that this U.S. administration will bring about regime change in her homeland.  Gilbert Bernal was among those killed in this week's deadly chemical tank implosion in Washington state -- and a friend tells us he still doesn't know how it happened.  Hundreds of volunteers team up to restore the Cerne Abbas Giant -- an enormous, centuries-old, chalk figure carved into the Dorset countryside. Senegal's national soccer team has a serious shot at winning this year's World Cup -- a dream fans are finally daring to believe could come true. Baseball superstar Bryce Harper weirds everyone out by posting a video documenting his morning routine -- in which he applies the toothpaste directly to his tongue. As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that finds that a refreshing change of paste.

    55 min

  5. 5d ago

    Front row seats…or are they?

    New York and New Jersey investigate allegations that FIFA is misleading soccer fans -- and unfairly inflating World Cup ticket prices. A year ago, the arrest of an anti-corruption lawyer prompted dozens of journalists and democracy advocates to flee El Salvador. Now, that lawyer's husband says he can no longer stay silent.  For more than a century, Saskatchewan's Legislature has had a well-appointed private bathroom for male law-makers. But female MLAs won't have their own updated loo until sometime next month.  Fire tears through a girls’ boarding school in Kenya, killing at least 16 students -- and forcing desperate families to rush to the scene, and wait for news.  Audio artists recorded birds, bombs, and bugs, with an eye -- and an ear -- toward winning the coveted "sound of the year" award. You'll hear the victorious sound, and meet the man who chose it; he's a great listener.  Athletes are heartened to hear the modern pentathlon will no longer involve horseback-riding -- then disheartened to hear they'll have to complete a "Ninja Warrior"-style obstacle course. As It Happens, the Thursday edition. Radio that thinks this is just adding insult to ninja-ry.

    50 min

  6. 6d ago

    Why Steven Guilbeault has had enough

    The Liberal MP and former environment minister announces he's leaving politics -- and says the government's approach to environmental policy is at the heart of his departure.  The young man who sold the gun used in the killing of two Edmonton police officers is convicted of manslaughter; a criminologist tells us why his case will almost certainly wind up before the Supreme Court.  Women and girls' rugby is surging -- but the science on what all that violent contact does to their brains is way behind. A player and a researcher tell us about their efforts to close the gender gap.  Covered Bridge Potato Chips are a classic Canadian success story -- and Susan Ryan was a huge fan, until the company opened a factory in her neighbourhood.  One of Iowa's best-known mermaids is looking for a new gig after a local aquarium, and its huge saltwater tank, close down. An Italian court rules that a restaurant was within its rights to refuse a tourist free tap water -- and only offer her expensive bottled water. As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that knows still waters run steep.

    58 min

  7. May 26

    Workers treating Ebola patients face violent attack in Congo

    While trying to spread the word about Ebola safety in Congo, our guest and his colleagues were attacked by a mob that later set fire to a hospital. He tells us what he thinks is behind the violence. After a deadly implosion at a paper plant in Washington state involving a corrosive substance, a former plant worker tells us just how dangerous a vat of what's known as "white liquor" really is. French authorities launch investigations at more than a hundred elementary schools and nursery schools in Paris -- in the wake of allegations ranging from physical violence to sexual assault against children in their care.  Legendary bassist Ron Carter reflects on the towering influence of his friend and collaborator -- the late, great jazz saxophonist, Sonny Rollins. When the Montreal Canadiens hit the ice tomorrow night, they’ll have some help from longtime organist Diane Bibaud -- who's been striking a chord at home games for nearly 40 years.  Until now, astronauts have just thrown their dirty clothes into space to burn up on re-entry -- but a new plasma blaster might solve a long-term laundry quandary. As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that welcomes astronauts back to the fold.

    1 hr

  8. May 25

    What the Pope thinks about Artificial Intelligence

    In a papal first, Pope Leo formally presents his view on artificial intelligence -- and the man behind a Catholic AI tool tells us he's listening.  At this point, the cases of Ebola are outpacing efforts to contain it -- but an aid worker in Congo tells us he's determined to help close the gap. A giant overheating chemical tank in southern California is no longer at risk of exploding, but the crisis isn't over. We'll reach a resident who is housing twenty of her evacuated relatives.  We remember one of the earliest pioneers of climate activism -- a lobbyist who read a report on the catastrophic effects of burning coal in 1979, and spent the rest of his life pushing for change.  The NHL says a Canadiens watch party in Gatineau, Quebec is a no go -- but the party organizer tells us he's holding out hope the league will reverse that call.  Someone in Kansas bought themselves a brand-new pick-up, but they can't drive it off the lot yet -- because a family of protected robins is living on top of one of the tires. As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio that cautions against putting all your eggs near one gasket.

    58 min
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4.5
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News that’s not afraid of fun. Meet people at the centre of the day’s most hard-hitting, hilarious and heartbreaking stories — powerful leaders, proud eccentrics and ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. And plenty of puns too. Hosted by Nil Köksal and Chris Howden, find out why As It Happens is one of Canada’s longest-running and most beloved shows. (Ahem, we literally helped make the beaver a national symbol.) New episodes Monday to Friday by 7:30 pm E.T.

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