- Trump slaps Canada with more tariffs. Now what?
Saturday, August 2nd 2025
To retaliate or not to retaliate? That's the question after President Donald Trump's trade deadline hit, and he once again slapped tariffs on Canada. Without an agreement between our countries, Trump followed through on his threat to increase his tariff on non-CUSMA goods from 25 to 35%. This is on top of tariffs on autos, steel, aluminum and copper.
Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with Maaw Law trade lawyer Mark Warner about how we ended up here, why Mexico got an extension and we didn't, and whether Canada should hit back or hold our punch in order to reach a deal in the weeks ahead.
We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:
Through email at [email protected]
- Are we getting closer to the truth about UFOs?
Friday, August 1st 2025
The truth is out there...but are we any closer to knowing what it is?
On the heels of World UFO Day, on today's show, we talk to journalist Daniel Otis about a new federal government report that's calling for the creation of a new Canadian federal agency to manage UFO reports.
You'll also hear about his reporting on Canadian pilots who have encountered strange objects in the sky, and his battle with Canadian nuclear plant operators to get records they may have on the phenomenon.
We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:
Through email at [email protected]
- How is climate change exacerbating skin diseases?
Thursday, July 31st 2025
In a time where a multi-step skin care routine seems to be the epitome of self care and wellness, where does it stand in the fight against climate change's effects on our skin barrier? The rise in pollution, pollens and heat can exacerbate inflammatory responses from our bodies, making us vulnerable to even hereditary diseases such as eczema or psoriasis, and not to mention the harmful effects of UV in relation to the rise in skin cancer. How much sunscreen is needed to protect us? Should we stop going out in the sun all together? And will changes to our diets and lifestyles help undo some of the harm already done? Host Maria Kestane speaks to Dr. Wynne Armand, Associate Director at the Mass General Hospital Centre for the Environment and Health, and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical school to discuss the steps you should take to protect your body's biggest organ. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at [email protected] Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter
- What is watermarking and why is it falling short of protecting us against A.I. deepfakes?
Wednesday, July 30th 2025
Sometimes it's easy to tell whether a video is fake, other times, it's not.
Watermarking is used to digitally stamp fake videos, whether that stamp is visible to the human eye or is embedded in the video's data. But with new technology that allows for the stamp to be removed without anyone noticing, how is regulation enforced?
Host Mike Eppel speaks to Andre Kassis, University of Waterloo PhD candidate in computer science, and Angus Lockhart, senior policy analyst at 'The Dais' with Toronto Metropolitan University to discuss the safeguards in place to ensure AI-produced content is labelled accordingly and who can be held accountable if the rules start to bend.
We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:
Through email at [email protected]
- Legacy media under pressure: a conversation with Peter Mansbridge
Tuesday, July 29th 2025
Legacy media is under pressure.
Whether it's the constant cries of "fake news" to huge lawsuits filed, trust remains a huge issue. The audience is splintered and traditional advertising revenue is migrating to digital. Then there's the huge issue of A.I. How are newsrooms using it and how does that impact trust?
Online news sources are drawing away traditional audiences including on Instagram and TikTok. How do legacy news agencies compete?
How can you tell difference between a journalist and a content creator? How do comments about the media from U.S. President Donald Trump impact the way Canadians consume and trust news?
Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks to renowned Canadian journalist, Peter Mansbridge to discuss the state of journalism in 2025 and how that impacts the information that's of importance to you.
We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:
Through email at [email protected]
