Front Burner

The family behind the telecom giant Rogers Communications is in a bizarre public spat over control of the company. Today, CBC business reporter Pete Evans explains the unusual infighting.

As Amazon’s profits soar during the pandemic, The Fifth Estate’s Mark Kelley gives us an inside look at the dire conditions inside its warehouses that are driving workers’ to unionize.

An inquiry into alleged anti-Alberta energy campaigns wasn't able to determine if foreign funding had an impact on derailing energy projects in the province, and found no evidence of wrongdoing. Today, we look at how that final report differs from the province’s rhetoric — past and present.

Carrie Low trusted police when she reported her horrific rape. But she says they failed to investigate properly, and only succeeded in traumatizing her further. Now she’s setting out on a mission to hold these institutions to account. This all-new investigation is hosted by award-winning investigative journalist Maggie Rahr. More episodes are available at: smarturl.it/carrielow

The anti-vaccine movement has long revolved around children. As the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine rollout approaches, what can we learn from this phenomenon to improve uptake in kids? Sociologist Jennifer Reich shares her insights.

When the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, much of the foreign aid to the country was suspended. Today, CBC’s Susan Ormiston tells us about what she heard on the ground about the looming humanitarian crisis.

After traces of fuel were confirmed in Iqaluit’s drinking water last week, the city has been under a state of emergency. Journalists Pauline Pemik and Jackie McKay explain what it will take to get the city’s taps flowing safely — for good.

CBC’s Margaret Evans tells the stories of a coroner, a mufti and a fisherman all living through a border crisis in northern Greece — a country taking steps to keep refugees out.

Cryptocurrency traders are relying on a stablecoin — a digital cryptocurrency backed with real-world assets — with ties to a Mighty Ducks star and the co-creator of Inspector Gadget. Today, we look at the search for the supposed billions of dollars backing its value, and what a shortfall could mean for the entire financial system.

Unearthed journals that were once the top-secret communications of the KGB — the Soviet Union’s secret police — shed new light on an early chapter of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland’s life, and give us a window into the dying days of the USSR.

As Canadian Catholic bishops say they will give $30 million to support survivors of residential schools, CBC’s Jason Warick explains why some are skeptical about the pledge.

Today Brian Hioe explains how Taiwan became a pawn in a global competition between China and the West — and what that means for the island’s people.

CBC’s Salimah Shivji takes a closer look at India’s farmer protests, where a fatal collision has ignited more anger in the 300-day standoff with the government.

Miami Herald reporter and author of Perversion of Justice Julie K. Brown on Ghislaine Maxwell’s upcoming trial — and her bombshell investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s 2008 plea deal that brought global attention to the case. This episode originally aired on July 20, 2021.

After a major outage and stinging whistleblower testimony, NPR tech reporter Bobby Allyn breaks down Facebook’s bad week.

Today we’re digging into the massive Pandora Papers leak: What it reveals about how the world’s wealthy and powerful are benefiting from tax havens — and whether Canada is doing enough to rein it in.

The survival drama Squid Game has gotten international attention for its focus on economic inequality. But UCLA’s Suk-Young Kim explains that this globally relatable horror show is also uniquely Korean in its approach.

New York Times journalist Ben Smith discusses his bombshell investigation into U.S. media organization Ozy Media and its defiant founder, Carlos Watson.

Journalist Matthew Remski explains why new age spirituality is such fertile ground for anti-vaccine movements.

What if there were a pill that could add decades to your life? Would you take it? For thousands of years, people have searched for elixirs that could delay death and extend human life. Could new advances in medicine finally make this a reality? From madcap medicine to cutting-edge science, the quest to unlock the fountain of youth is teeming with dreamers, skeptics and charlatans alike. More episodes are available at: hyperurl.co/unlocking

The views from two Canadian cities where the opioid crisis is driving a new movement for decriminalization, with the Ontario Harm Reduction Network’s Nick Boyce and Chief Const. Mike Serr of the police force in Abbotsford, B.C.

On the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the story of a quest to find the true identity of a boy who died at residential school, and was identified only by a cruel nickname.

Even with 80 per cent of eligible Canadians fully vaccinated, hospitals in many parts of the country are facing an unprecedented crisis. Today, we speak to doctors and nurses about how the fourth wave is pushing Canadian health-care systems to their breaking point.

Angela Merkel will step aside after 16 years as Germany’s chancellor, but Sunday’s election leaves questions over who will lead next. Today, how Merkel built her legacy of stability, and the forces that threaten to reverse it.

After 1,020 days in Chinese jail cells, the two Michaels — Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor — came home. CBC’s Jason Proctor and the University of Ottawa’s Errol Mendes break it down.

Hotelier Paul Rusesabagina once won the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, for protecting Tutsis from Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. This week, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for terrorism charges. What happened?

New York Times’ Katie Rosman on the internet’s obsession with the murder of Gabby Petito and the online sleuths trying to crack the case.

Leader Erin O’Toole brought a moderate strategy to the Conservative election campaign, but his loss was nearly identical to his predecessor's. What went wrong, and what that means for the party’s future.

After a day of voting and with some ballots still left to be counted, Justin Trudeau will remain Canada's prime minister, and the Liberals will continue ruling with a minority. CBC's Aaron Wherry breaks down the results of the election so far.

CBC’s Carolyn Dunn on Alberta’s fourth wave after what Premier Jason Kenney promised to be the “best Alberta summer ever.”

The CBC’s senior political correspondent Rosemary Barton on how the national federal party leaders did on tough questions from undecided Canadian voters.

The CBC’s Ryan Maloney returns for Part 2 of our back-to-back platform primers for the major parties. This episode: the NDP, Green Party, and People’s Party of Canada.

Election day is just around the corner, so CBC’s Ryan Maloney is here to provide back-to-back platform primers for the major parties. First up: The Liberals and Conservatives.

As food prices rise and the currency falls in Taliban-held Afghanistan, many are fleeing to neighbouring Pakistan in search of a better life. CBC senior correspondent Susan Ormiston takes us there.

Nearly six years after her disappearance, Sheree Fertuck’s husband is on trial for murder in Saskatoon. Today, Front Burner explores the controversial undercover police sting operation at the heart of the case.

The Flamethrowers captures the punch-you-in-the-mouth energy and sound of right-wing talk radio. Host Justin Ling takes us from the fringe preachers and conspiracy peddlers of the 1920s to the political firestorm that rages today. With humour and candour, Ling examines the appeal of broadcasters like Rush Limbaugh, who found a sleeping audience, radicalized it, and became an accidental kingmaker — culminating in the election of Donald Trump. More episodes are available at smarturl.it/theflamethrowers

Last night was the only English-language federal leaders’ debate of this election cycle. And with Justin Trudeau and Erin O’Toole neck and neck in the polls, the stakes couldn’t be much higher. CBC senior writer Ryan Maloney joins us for a look at the night’s most significant moments

As the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches, ProPublica’s Tim Golden fills us in on why families of those killed are suing Saudi Arabia, and what secrets are contained in documents they want released.

Masai Ujiri recently signed on to become vice-chairman of the Toronto Raptors, in addition to his role as the NBA team's president. Today, he talks to host Jayme Poisson about what it means to rebuild the team after Kyle Lowry's departure, his commitment to growing African basketball, and why he wants to stay in Toronto.

The major parties are all promising big action on climate change, but their plans and targets look different. Today on Front Burner, we compare the parties’ strategies and take a closer look at their credibility.

One woman’s story of how two of her loved ones got pulled into conspiracy theories — and how she fought to bring them back from the brink. This episode originally aired in January 2021.

A mysterious noise frustrating an affluent Alberta community sparked the discovery of a secretly set up bitcoin-mining operation. CBC Calgary’s Sarah Rieger explains.

In the third week of the federal election campaign, Althia Raj describes the vitriolic protests seen at campaign events and the newly released Liberal platform.

False claims about COVID-19 have people calling up Alberta farm supply stores looking for a livestock dewormer called ivermectin. Vera Bergengruen tells us why.

After 20 years, the last U.S. troops have left Afghanistan. Ali M. Latifi, a correspondent for Al Jazeera English, brings us a view from the ground in Kabul.

Once a darling of Silicon Valley, Theranos’s Elizabeth Holmes is now facing prison time for fraud. Host of ABC’s The Dropout podcast Rebecca Jarvis on what you need to know about the upcoming trial.

Housing affordability is shaping up to be a top issue for voters in the upcoming federal election. What are parties promising to do about it? And will it actually work? We ask senior director at the Smart Prosperity Institute Mike Moffatt.

As case counts rise across the country, health experts warn that the COVID-19 fourth wave is very much here. But who will bear the brunt of it?

Today, the harrowing story of an Afghan doctor — currently in hiding from the Taliban — and his Canadian wife, who are desperate for the Canadian government to help them escape Afghanistan.

As we roll into the second week of this federal election campaign, Éric Grenier and Althia Raj look at where things stand in the polls, and break down how the major parties are faring thus far.