As It Happens

Damien Kurek won big in April, but stepped aside to clear the way for his party leader, who didn't. Now, as residents of Battle River-Crowfoot vote again, he tells us how it looks for Pierre Poilievre from where he's no longer sitting. An eight-year-old Toronto boy was at home in bed when he was killed by a stray bullet. A family friend tells us it's a wake-up call about gun violence in the city. Zelenskyy was met with a warmer reception on his return trip to the White House today. The head of the Ukrainian Canadian Council weighs in on whether peace seems any closer. We'll talk to one of the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who took to the streets yesterday to call on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the war in Gaza, and bring Israeli hostages home. The late stuntman Ronnie Rondell didn't just make a paycheck when he posed for the cover of a Pink Floyd album engulfed in flames -- he made rock history. A hiker who's fed up with a proliferation of stone stacks known as "cairns" in Britain's national parks takes matters in his own feet -- kicking over as many as he can. As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio without a cairn in the world.

We reach former Canadian Ambassador to Russia Jeremy Kinsman for a breakdown of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin’s meeting. Tariffs are keeping Bick's pickles off the shelves of some Canadian retailers … and the company's CEO says that's putting him in a real pickle. A negotiator from Palau tells us what the collapse of plastics treaty talks in Geneva mean for vulnerable Pacific island nations like hers. A would-be-bride explains what inspired her to go prospecting for her own engagement ring diamond. And why the whole experience really rocked. School is back in LA. And on top of making sure students stay on top of their classwork, a high school teacher is also trying to ease their fears about ICE raids. The inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games kick off in Beijing, showcasing the athletic prowess of robots. And their limitations too -- after one runner's head -- falls off, mid-race. As It Happens, the Friday edition, radio that declares the results of the race null and droid

The journalist who wrote the book on the Satan’s Choice motorcycle gang tells us what’s in store now that the club has decided to make a break with the Hell’s Angels. A Canadian canola farmer says China’s massive tariff on his harvest is more than many western growers can bear. Canada isn’t the only country that’s embraced a full-on mobilization against U.S. tariffs. India is also joining the fray. The Pueblo Nation in New Mexico has had some success in recovering artifacts stolen from them 40 years ago – but say they won’t rest until all their sacred objects are returned. Historians reveal that a Bavarian restaurant may NOT have invented bratwurst sausages. In fact, GASP!, a city farther North was frying up greasy meat-cylinders some 100 years earlier. As It Happens, the Thursday edition, radio that never reveals how the sausage is made.

According to a former American Ambassador to Ukraine, Trump’s one-on-one meeting with Putin in Alaska is a bad look for the President - and very unlikely to produce a deal. As hot, dry weather persists on Prince Edward Island, a farmer says this season, his mind is on fire precautions as much as the harvest. A new study of an English burial site finds that some remains dating back to the seventh-century had West African ancestry - and one archeologist tells us the discovery is a reminder not to assume too much about the early Middle Ages. We hear from a Canadian organizer behind a human chain joining citizens on both sides of the border in protest of Trump administration policies who says some of her American neighbours are fearful, but determined to take part. She’s no spring chicken - in fact, she’s the oldest hen in the world. And the owner of the distinguished bird named Pearl -- tells us the hen has a lot in common with her predecessor, plus a few peccadillos all her own. We hear from an planetary geologist who has studied an extraordinary meteorite, that crashed through a roof and landed mere feet from the homeowner. As It Happens, the Wednesday edition. Radio that always keeps things down to earth.

Canada's Minister for Emergency Management and Community Resilience responds to calls for a national forest fire secretariat -- and speaks to a wildfire season that's already the country's second-worst on record. A business owner in Paddy's Pond, Newfoundland and Labrador tells us -- folks there have had their fill of fire ... but community spirit has been a saving grace in the face of flames. In the wake of Donald Trump's takeover of D.C. law enforcement, Washington's unhoused residents are fearful about what the president's order that they "move out" will mean for them. Driving force. A cancer survivor in Ontario tells us what inspired her to celebrate her 63rd birthday by paying patients' parking fees ... and about the change she's hoping that gift will inspire. Digital age part one. A recent event saw dozens of newlyweds tie the knot at a ceremony for virtual pets known as Tamagotchis. And their human keepers are hoping the joining of hand...held devices will be record-setting. Digital age, part two. We'll hear from a diver whose recent encounter with an octopus ended in the picture-perfect selfie...taken by none other than the 8-limbed mollusc, it-self-ie. As It Happens, the Tuesday edition. Radio that imagines it was an armed struggle.

A shadow senator in DC says Donald Trump’s plan to take over policing in the city will not, as the President claims, make residents more safe. After his colleagues are killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike, an Al Jazeera journalist in Gaza says it’s another reminder that there's no guarantee he’ll make it to tomorrow. A Newfoundland resident tells us people are frightened and angry in her community after, once again, being forced from their homes by fire. Out of the woods. Stranded deep in the B.C. interior, a man survives for 9 days alone by building a makeshift shelter, drinking pond water, and writing out a message that's visible from the sky. In an announcement that no one was expecting, because who uses dial-up anymore, AOL announces a plan to discontinue its dial-up Internet service. After failing to break the record last year, an Indiana man says he’s done it now and grown the world’s tallest sunflower. As It Happens, the Monday edition. Radio that’s more than a one-trick peony.

A coach who worked with eight-year-old tennis hopeful Vicky Mboko tells us the now-eighteen year old's victory at the National Bank Open last night left her energized and inspired. As wildfires continue to burn in Newfoundland and Labrador, the president of the provincial fire services association weighs in on the push for a national forest fire coordination agency. Transgender people serving in the U.S. Armed Forces were already being forced out of service. Now, those in the Air Force who were relying on early retirement have been told they aren't eligible. The invasive Asian hornet is bad news for honeybees in Europe -- thanks to their tendency to consume them. But new research into the sounds their hives make -- is giving researchers hope. A new study of cockatoos finds they've got even more dance moves than we knew, but their taste in music is somewhat less impressive... given researchers found they were just as likely to bust a move to a finance podcast as they were to a dance anthem. A Chicago artist is causing a stir -- and attracting 100s of customers -- after offering what he calls “terrible portraits” ... including one of Rebecca. As It Happens, the Friday edition. Radio that kinda hopes he doesn't go back to the drawing board.

As multiple US states consider redrawing congressional maps -- Rep. Kevin Kiley tells us why he wants to put a stop to the upheaval -- and ban mid-decade gerrymandering. Frustrated by the city's response, a group of pedestrians marched into action -- then used their own hands to paint D-I-Y crosswalks on L.A. streets. One tells us it's taken hundreds of dollars in fines... but they've finally managed to pressure the City into action. We hear from the caregiver of a rare, 400-year-old bonsai that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima -- about the tree's remarkable history and why its preservation is more important now than ever Italians are outraged when a UK food website suggests including butter in cacio e pepe. That prompts us to revisit our interview about another controversial cacio e pepe ingredient - cornstarch. A rare book specialist tells us about discovering a first edition print of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit -- something she calls one of the holy grails of book collecting -- and which just sold for 79-thousand dollars. A Toronto man is racing every streetcar route in the city on foot. He says his undefeated record proves the notoriously slow method of transit isn't worth anyone's time. As It Happens, the Thursday edition. Radio that presumes he’s all over the map.

We reach ex-Israeli intelligence and military head Ami Ayalon who’s calling on Benjamin Netanyahu to end the country's war in Gaza, and for Donald Trump to help. As Air Canada flight attendants vote in favour of a strike mandate -- one tells us how they're fighting to be paid for hours of unpaid work each month -- and they're not afraid to ground flights if they need to. A planned wind farm project in Scotland has been touted as an important part of the climate solution. But a conservationist tells us the rewards aren't worth the devastating risks for local seabirds. Left in the lurch. Forced from home by wildfires, we hear from evacuees in Saskatchewan who say they aren't getting the help they need. Blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa remembers his friend, the late cult hero Terry Reid -- known for his powerful pipes and sublime songwriting. An eleven-year-old entrepreneur from PEI gives us the scoop on her ice cream business. As It Happens, the Wednesday edition. Radio that offers cold comfort.

Canadian officials are in Mexico, hoping to strengthen economic ties. A former Mexican diplomat tells us how the trade tensions with the U.S. makes that friendship more important than ever. She delivered bad news about jobs statistics -- and found herself out of a job. Now, an expert on stats says Congress needs to investigate Donald Trump's firing of the country's top labour statistician. A Democratic Texas lawmaker tells us why she thinks the best way to oppose proposed changes to the congressional map in her state is by leaving the state -- along with her colleagues. We remember Razia Jan who opened a free school for girls outside Kabul. Her friend and colleague says that was risky business, but Ms. Jan somehow made it look easy. A resident of an island in the Bay of Fundy tells us why a local shed filled with hundreds of free books is a symbol of community -- and honours the legacy of a beloved resident. The United States Department of Agriculture is trying to ward off wolves by blasting AC/DC -- and a particularly intense spat from the film "Marriage Story." As It Happens, the Tuesday edition. Radio that objects to the strategy on quarrel grounds.

A new review in the Lancet details what our dependence on plastics is costing human health. And one of the experts behind it hopes countries will heed his warnings ahead of negotiations toward a global plastics treaty. A 150-hectare wildfire bears down on small towns in eastern Newfoundland... and we hear from a councilor for a town where residents have been ordered to evacuate for the third time this summer. Plus...New technology helps scientists uncover the tattoos of a 2-thousand-year-old Siberian mummy. We hear from the author of the study - who just happens to be a traditional tattoo artist himself. As It Happens, the Monday edition. Radio that hopes to leave a lasting impression.

The former QC premier, Jean Charest ... a member of the Prime Minister's council on U.S. relations ... says Canada still has options to fight back against Donald Trump’s new tariffs. Running on empty. An aid worker in Haiti tells us how much worse the situation has become in the capital Port-au-Prince. A Texan who recovered bodies from his property after last month's floods says he feels abandoned by the leaders in his state. In an effort to protect South African rhinos from poachers, scientists take the nuclear option -- by making the animal's sought-after horns radioactive. A New Zealand comedian manages to get a thousand people to show up to watch him fold a fitted sheet. Jose Caballero began his game yesterday in the infield for the Tampa Bay Rays. But by the time it was over, he was signed by the team he was playing against: the New York Yankees.

As tomorrow's tariff deadline looms, with no agreement in sight, the head of Canada’s largest private sector union tells us no deal is better than a bad deal. An online radio station in Yellowknife finally gets the FM license it's been hoping for. A news editor there says that it’s great for his team -- but even better news for his diverse community. A non-profit director calls on European governments to stop a plan to destroy millions of dollars of US-owned contraceptives that were bound for Africa. We remember Jeannie Arsenault, who spent half a century as an organizer, performer and enforcer at a beloved Montreal country/bluegrass open mic night...and whose stature belied her impressive impact. An 88-year-old North Bay resident says it’s time to find a new home for the unique piece she’s featured in her garden for years: a one-of-a-kind, hand-painted carousel that features a pig, a goose, and horses. As It Happens, the Thursday Edition. Radio that has a colt following.

One day after the UK makes a similar statement, Ottawa announces plans to recognize Palestinian statehood in September. We'll reach Canada's former Ambassador to the United Nations. The head of the Stephen Lewis Foundation tells us what a new million-dollar donation will mean for organizations whose capacity to help was suddenly slashed when the Trump Administration cut billions in USAID funding. A Maui resident tells us he and his neighbours were lucky to avoid any major damage after living through a tsunami warning last night. But that doesn't mean they should be any less prepared next time. A St. John's fire chief tells us about the fires that destroyed two historic fishing stages last night and how it felt to watch them burn, helpless to stop the flames. Canada's 18-year-old swimming sensation Summer McIntosh is chasing five individual golds this week at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Her mother, a former Olympic swimmer herself, tells us what it's like to watch her daughter lean all the way in. A man in Argentina was shocked, outraged and then really, really embarrassed after a Google Street View camera captured him in his yard ... fully naked with his bottom on full display. As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that imagines he'll be happy when the whole incident is in the rearview.

A Canadian activist remembers her friend Awdah Hathaleen. The Palestinian father, teacher and activist ... who helped film the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land" ... was killed in the occupied West Bank this week. Tuktoyaktuk, a hamlet north of the Arctic Circle, is already on the small side. But it's getting even smaller ... and its mayor says climate change is to blame. A group of swimmers is completing the final trip of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald in honour of its crew. One of them tells us about the surreal experience of being in the water above the wreckage. Dan Pelzer kept a record of every single book he ever read ... from 1962 right up until his death. His daughter says reading was a powerful constant in his life. A Manitoba man doesn't know who's been putting up billboards around town announcing he's terrible at fishing, but he's found an impressively charitable angle on their prank. A French resort town is reminding visitors that clothing is not optional once you leave the beach ... with the introduction of fines for those wearing bathing suits or going shirtless in town. As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that encourages travelers to read the fines print.

Not on the best of terms. Member of European Parliament Jörgen Warborn says the bloc’s framework for a trade deal is going to be hard for its member nations to deal with. For whom the bridge tolls. After Prime Minister Carney makes big cuts to tolls on the Confederation Bridge, a Senator from Prince Edward Island who has been pushing for this move for years tells us why it should be just the beginning. You could call it a medical breakthrough. Faced with staffing shortages, a hospital in Yellowknife asks doctors across the country what it would cost to get them up north for a shift in the ER. Not local, but definitely organic. On the anniversary of Bach's death, we hear from a fan of the composer in Little Rock, Arkansas who's playing a special organ performance at his church tonight. And...surely, you joust. We reach a 79-year-old jouster who showed off his skills in an international tournament this weekend in Alberta. As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio that's worth a second lance.

Unsafe space. 100s of current and former NASA employees -- including our guest -- are warning the agency’s leadership against budget cuts they say will compromise human safety and undermine NASA’s core mission. A big ask. An Inuit leader tells us Prime Minister Mark Carney has reassured him the government will consult Indigenous communities about projects governed by the controversial "Building Canada Act." But not everyone's as convinced. Worth a shot. Amid a rise in measles in Alberta, the province’s former head doctor tells us why he wants to see more parents vaccinate their kids early -- and why he thinks the Province should be doing more to tackle the outbreak. Top Brass. We pay tribute to Chuck Mangione -- the American flugelhorn player who won over fans with his smooth fashion sense… and his talent for smooth jazz. The picture of fashion. New York Times photographer Bill Cunningham dedicated his life to documenting fashion trends on the city's streets. Now his archives will soon be available for others to look through the many looks he captured. High roller. A Canadian woman retakes her world record title after racing a Victorian-era bicycle, known as the penny farthing, at speeds of more than 41 kilometres an hour. As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that’s glad her story came full circle.

An Ontario justice found five former players of Canada’s world junior hockey team not guilty of sexually assaulting the woman known as E.M. We hear from a legal expert on violence and sports on what the long-term impact of the trial may be. A year after wildfire destroyed her home in Jasper, BC - one resident says she's proud of how far she, her family and her community have come -- but says the toughest battle has been dealing with her insurance company. Age appropriate. A senator says it's high time Canada lowers the federal voting age to 16 -- and one teen tells us why he and his peers should be trusted to vote. Without a trace. A Canadian researcher has created a tool that erases the digital markers that make AI-created deep-fakes identifiable as hoaxes. He says he did it to show how easily bad actors could do the same thing. Pitting them against each other. Okanagan cherries face off against oysters, and Chinook are up against Sockeye, as beloved B.C. icons battle it out to determine which one symbolizes the province best. And... Why the long face? A talented miniature horse is bringing joy to patients in a children' s hospital by "playing" the piano with her face - and we'll soon discover if that joy extends to listeners like you... As It Happens, the Thursday edition. Radio that's not above a little horseplay.

A Canadian lawyer representing small island states most affected by climate change calls it an "extraordinary day" after a major ruling by the UN's highest court. Rare protests in Ukraine call out new legislation that brings some of the country's anti-corruption bodies under the president's control. An Alberta woman describes seeing her infant daughter suffer from a case of measles. She's sharing her story in the hopes that more parents will vaccinate their kids. South Australia's Premier tells us why the state's near-total ban on political donations is the only real solution to the undue influence of money in politics -- and says other democracies should follow suit. Elvis Evolution promised ticket holders a performance by a life-sized, AI-powered hologram of Elvis himself. But what they delivered was ... definitely not that. And... Balancing the scales. Big snakes get all the attention. So we're pleased to tell you the world's tiniest known snake has been spotted in Barbados, after almost two decades in hiding. As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that's not afraid to hiss and tell.

A mom in Gaza tells us she can only provide one meal a day for her and her four children -- and she says that makes her one of the lucky ones as more than a dozen people die of starvation in the last 24 hours. We hear from a reporter who uncovered a pattern of nightmare scenarios involving the premature collection of organs, following changes to the organ-donation system in the U.S. The entire staff of a human rights group in El Salvador flees the country, after their high-profile colleague is arrested and put in prison. Ozzy Osborne ... lead singer of Black Sabbath... has died. A lifelong fan tells us about meeting the heavy metal icon at his last concert just weeks ago. Late night host John Oliver offered to re-brand a minor league baseball team. We hear from the former team president of the Erie SeaWolves about how it feels to head up the new Erie Moon Mammoths. A whiff of controversy permeates the Toronto Transit Commission as fare inspectors are rebranded as Provincial Offences Officers -- or POOs, for short. As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that hopes they uncover the responsible potty.