As It Happens from CBC Radio

American officials claim they've got the situation under control -- but a former diplomat tells us that Iran throttling the Strait of Hormuz could spell political disaster for Donald Trump.An Iranian strike hit a Canadian bunker on a military base in Kuwait, almost two weeks ago. No one was hurt, but the government said nothing about it -- and the Conservatives' defence critic says that's a problem. Bill Kurtis has deployed his dulcet tones on the airwaves for six decades now; tonight, he'll tell us about leaving his gig as the judge and scorekeeper of the NPR news quiz show "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!"This weekend, director Geeta Gandbhir is up for two Oscars; she's nominated in both the short and feature-length documentary categories. Nil talks to her about her short doc "The Devil is Busy" -- which covers one day at Georgia abortion clinic -- and her feature "The Perfect Neighbour," which tells the story of a neighbourhood shooting through police bodycam footage.A new high-tech glass floor for basketball courts is great at blasting your retinas with statistics and ads and graphics -- but it turns out to be not great at having basketball played on it. As It Happens, the Friday edition. Radio that finds itself in contempt of court.

Police in London, Ontario are searching for someone they say was driving around downtown handing out free drugs -- and triggering a wave of overdoses on the doorstep of a local outreach centre. History in the unmaking. American and Israeli strikes have severely damaged at least four cultural and historical landmarks in Iran. An Iranian-Canadian scholar she says it's heartbreaking to watch -- but eerily familiar. When two young women left a cinema in the early 70s, they found an abandoned newborn. And now, half a century later, they've all reunited. A Norwegian researcher has not-so-fond childhood memories of getting his tongue stuck to a frozen pole. Now that he's all grown up, he's delving into the science -- to tackle tundra tongue. Colm Dalton can tell you what makes a real Irish pub -- because he's been to more than a hundred of them on four continents, as he attempts to drink at every single one on Earth. Scientists discover that we blink unconsciously to the beat of music -- although so far, they've only tested that theory on the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. As It Happens, the Thursday Edition. Radio that thinks they should start thinking outside the Bach...s.

Another MP -- this time from the NDP -- has crossed the floor to join the Liberals. A by-election candidate in what was a must-win riding in Quebec tells us what that means for her campaign.A neighbourhood in central Beirut is in shock after an Israeli airstrike hits an apartment building. A journalist on the ground describes the scene.The British government is mulling a social media ban for children -- but the father of a teenager who took her own life after being exposed to harmful content online says just blocking those platforms isn't the answer. An Alabama restaurant never thought anyone would take up their offer of free oysters to any customer 80 years old accompanied by his father. But we'll talk to two men who are putting that pledge to the test. A para-alpine skier shares his frustration over mild March weather in Italy that's messing with the Paralympics -- and argues they need to be held much earlier. A British construction worker rushes to hospital after he wakes up with a bright blue body -- but is relieved and embarrassed to discover the blue-ity is only skin deep. As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that admires anyone who's so self-azured.

The one thing standing between Mark Carney and a majority government may turn out to be a by-election in the Quebec riding of Terrebonne -- where the Bloc Quebecois candidate says she's confident she'll win. It's not clear when the war in Iran will end -- but we'll ask an Iranian-Canadian historian what kind of order he foresees after the chaos. New Brunswick serial killer Allan Legere dies in prison; a reporter who covered the murders, the manhunt, and the trial tells us a lot of people are breathing easier. Heavy rain in Nairobi last week led to deadly floods. And for many including our guest, those floods cut off electricity and running water. A neuroscientist tells us about the leap he's made in understanding how mice view their surroundings -- with the help of action movies.Just weeks before athletes were scheduled to run the Pyongyang Marathon, the North Korean regime cancels the event -- and the reason it gives is "reasons."As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that assumes, for the out-of-shape runners, this is a staggering loss.

I'll speak with an Iranian-Canadian who stands firmly behind the U.S and Israeli attacks on Iran -- saying he believes they're the only real hope for regime change.Donald Trump continues to suggest that Iran may be to blame for the strike on an Iranian elementary school that killed scores of children -- but a very different story is emerging.A para hockey player tells us about her journey to try and make the technically co-ed Canadian Paralympic hockey team -- which, at least for now, is really just a men's team. UNESCO has already recognized Dublin as a "city of literature," but an Irish arts organization thinks it's only right that an area farther north in the borderlands be named the world's first UNESCO literary region. We catch up with the Finnish couple that placed first in the UK's Wife Carrying Race -- and they attempt to convey how one of them conveyed the other. The centuries-old coat of arms of a Swiss canton features a black bear with visible genitalia -- and despite a parliamentarian's request, the local government won't be tucking it away.As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio that supposes it's a package deal.

After many days trying to connect, we reach a defiant resident of Tehran -- who says U.S. and Israeli bombs are the wrong way to topple the regime he opposes. We also connect with a longtime rights activist in Kabul who tells us that despite a horrifying new decree, there's not much else the Taliban can take away from women in Afghanistan.An Ontario library dealing with open drug use and near-daily overdoses tries a last-ditch effort to keep from closing its doors completely. At a funeral in Chicago, three former presidents pay tribute to the late civil rights pioneer Jesse Jackson. Researchers turn to the study of trees to discover one of the few mysteries left about what makes the world famous Stradivarius violins the best of the best. An opera singer in Florida shifts gears when the gigs dry up...using his prodigious pipes to sell used vehicles. As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that asks: Aria lookin' for some new wheels?

The brother of a Nobel Peace Prize winner detained in Iran says there's no escape for those trapped in prisons -- and he's afraid of what the regime will do to them in the fog of war. A Nova Scotia father says provincial cuts to programs for people with disabilities, like the one his daughter uses, are a real punch in the gut -- and he's not sure how families like his will cope. We'll pay tribute to Yanar Mohammed, who was killed by gunmen in Baghdad this week -- after decades of fighting for equality and safety for women in Iraq.A Canadian man has been held in ICE detention for the past four months; his brother says his family wants him back home -- but first, they just want him to go before a judge. A curator of old movies tells us about finding a lost gem by a true pioneer of silent film -- and the man who gave him that lost gem tells us just how close he came to chucking it in a dumpster. A Las Vegas casino magnate lays his cards on the table: he wants Canadians who are avoiding travel to the U.S. back at his blackjack tables and slot machines -- and he's willing to take a gamble of his own to get us there. As It Happens, the Thursday edition. Radio that's not sure it'll visit -- but won't roulette out.

The government of Spain is adamantly against the U.S. - Israeli attack on Iran, and it repeated that position today, even in the face of Donald Trump's trade threats. A non-profit that monitors financial markets says it's concerned that online prediction markets were allowing people to place wagers on the strikes on Iran -- and that many of those betting appeared to know too much. A Texas firefighter tells us what it was like to climb a very, very, very tall communications tower -- to rescue a pair of hot-air ballooners who got tangled up up top.A Vancouver city councillor is baffled as to why the mayor accused him of handing out illegal drugs on Christmas Day. And despite the mayor's apologies, he's not feeling very forgiving. A Canadian comic working in the UK explains how Brits are responding to his blistering take on the peculiar culinary phenomenon known as "picky tea". When certain cockroaches couple up, they demonstrate their commitment by eating each other's wings -- an act of real tenderness. Or toughness, depending on the wings.As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that knows sometimes you have plans for dinner -- and sometimes you just wing it.

Ottawa has stated support for military action, but they've also made it clear that Canada had no involvement in that action. Former Foreign Affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy says the government is being unnecessarily unclear.As the U.S. and Israel continue to hammer Iran, an Alberta man fears for his family in Tehran; he tells us they all yearn for change, but he doesn't want them to die for it. A woman in Lebanon tells us about helping feed those who have been forced from their homes and onto the streets of Beirut -- as the conflict widens.Her B.C. town did away with daylight saving time over a century ago -- and now, our guest is welcoming the rest of the province to sit back instead of springing forward. The late Len Garry was a crucial part of the rhythm section in an up-and-coming skiffle band in the UK in the '50s -- but left before they became The Beatles.A partly blind refugee was found dead in Buffalo, New York, days after being released from federal custody. His family wants answers. The author of a new study says there's been a concerning increase in the number of young men in Ontario requiring help for their gambling. And he's pretty sure he knows why. A musician was forced to hold a very delicate, centuries-old violin on a flight, because the airline insisted its case was too big. Now, that airline has changed its policy. As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that's glad she refused to play second fiddle.

After three days of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes across Iran -- a journalist tells us that, despite the death of the Ayatollah, the regime remains in full crackdown mode. A pro-regime academic in Tehran tells us the government has a clear plan to stay in power -- and says Iranians are united against their true enemies: the U.S. and Israel. One of Canada's last diplomats in Iran tells us Prime Minister Carney did the right thing by supporting strikes on the country -- no matter the potential fallout at home. Our guest built a seasonings company called Spyce Girlz. But now that the '90s girl-power pop group is threatening to sue her, she's feeling kind of salty. With the world feeling like a dumpster fire, one New Yorker decided to focus on a problem she could do something about: cleaning up the Brooklyn Bridge.Major League Baseball has a new system that can tell for sure whether a pitch was high, low, or just right -- but for it to work, a lot of players are having to admit they're not as tall as they claimed to be.As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio that never shrinks from the truth.

Wilkie has already won a phenomenal number of medals -- but says she's still surprised and thrilled to be representing Canada at the ceremony. After two women in Uganda are arrested for kissing in public, an activist tells us the LGBTQ+ community is on high alert -- and doing everything it can to push for their release. Mark Carney is in India looking to make new trade deals -- and our guest says it's just another instance of a Canadian prime minister putting economic interests ahead of the safety of the country's Sikh community. A Halifax mother tells us about her daughter, who died in a homeless encampment -- in the hope that it will encourage people to be more understanding of others caught in the throes of addiction. A researcher takes us beat by beat through a new study on the way some caterpillars use complex rhythms to gain access to ant colonies.A young pitching prospect believes he cracked the code of athletic excellence -- by cracking, and eating, 30 raw eggs a day for a month. As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that's not sure you should rely on a deus eggs machina.

Just about two weeks after the deadly shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, students and their parents are touring new portable classrooms -- and still unsure about how to move forward. The company behind the AI chatbot Claude is hoping to put guardrails on the Pentagon's use of its tech. But the U.S. military is pushing back. Nova Scotia's government closes a dozen provincial heritage sites, to the shock of our guest -- whose family once lived in the now-shuttered Fisherman's Life Museum. For years, a pediatric surgeon at Winnipeg's Children's Hospital has been pushing for a designated space for Indigenous patients. And now, construction is finally underway. Having uncovered why Scotch tape squeals, we are once again providing an answer to a question you didn't ask: why basketball shoes squeak that squeak.To ensure customer courtesy, Burger King will deploy AI in employees' headsets, that will keep a tally of the number of times they say "welcome", "please", and "thank you."As It Happens, the Thursday edition, Radio that suggests they mind their cheese and Qs.

Canada's Immigration Minister is under fire after Radio-Canada journalists reveal the organizations who work with her, and some of her own Liberal colleagues, says she's often unreachable -- and perhaps not up to the job. Hundreds of American nurses have been welcomed north of the border, after leaving the U.S. during Donald Trump's first year in office; one tells us he's never going back. Zambia needs to replace healthcare funding slashed by U.S. cuts -- and our guest tells us the sub-Saharan nation is about to accept some pretty unhealthy terms from the Trump Administration. A researcher wanted to test the so-called "drunken monkey hypothesis" -- and that meant he had to perfect a technique for collecting chimpanzee urine in the wild.An elementary school basketball team in Utah is obsessed with attending the local high school team's games. But their minds were blown when the high school team showed up to watch them. Researchers finally solve a mystery that has vexed...well, researchers: the mystery of why Scotch tape makes a sort of screeching sound when you peel a piece off.As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that knows tape research is tough -- but you just stick to it.

The fire chief in St. John's tells us that, after a series of punishing snowstorms, he and his crew worked overtime to help dig Newfoundlanders out -- and also helped deliver a new one.Canada's Minister of Artificial Intelligence meets with OpenAI over the company's failure to report disturbing posts by the Tumbler Ridge shooter to law enforcement. Four years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, there is still no end in sight. We'll return to a guest who's working to honour Bucha's dead and to help the city move forward.A brand new American inter-agency task force may have helped Mexico track down El Mencho -- another indication of the increased militarization of the battle against the cartels. WWII historian tells us the story that stopped him in his tracks -- a story that ended with a 108-year-old Ontario woman being presented with a long-overdue wartime medal. During a soccer game in Turkey, a gull is felled mid-flight when it's smacked by a ball -- and saved when a player immediately begins CPR.As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that tells the whole story -- from death to rebirdth.

A resident of Puerto Vallarta tells us what it's like in the Mexican city one day after the killing of a cartel leader triggered waves of violent retaliation across the country.A geopolitical analyst tells us how the U.S. is putting pressure on Mexico to rein in the cartels -- and reflects on the effectiveness of taking out the kingpins like El Mencho.Canada's Artificial Intelligence Minister summons OpenAI officials to Ottawa -- to explain what they knew about the Tumbler Ridge shooter, and when. A UN fact-finding mission to El Fasher says what they found after the capture of the Sudanese city by the RSF bears the "hallmarks of genocide".Profile writer Susan Sheehan's daughter remembers her mother's remarkable gift for disappearing into her subject's lives, and revealing the forces that shaped their struggles.A restaurant in a small British town installs up an official-looking plaque claiming the group Toto wrote a hit song on the premises -- but the local historical society does not bless the claims about "Africa".As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio that wouldn't expect this behaviour from a Toto stranger.

The U.S. Supreme Court strikes down a swath of Donald Trump's tariffs and Nil speaks with a VP from the family toy company behind the winning case -- who tells us what it's like to be insulted by the president. Joss Reimer will be Canada's next Chief Public Health Officer. We'll ask her what's at the top of her to-do list -- and what keeps her up at night. For decades, the United States' relationship with Cuba has been fraught, at best. Now, long-time observers say it's time to start calling American measures what they are: a blockade. He says a Toronto hospital changed his life by treating his mental health condition -- and now, he's hoping his $10-million donation to that facility will change other patients' lives too. A paleontologist sets off for the Sahara Desert with nothing but an old monograph of an ancient tooth and unearths something truly ferocious, with an appropriately ferocious nickname. Two Michigan men break a record that was exciting to them -- and annoying to everyone in their general vicinity -- by playing pickleball for 28 straight hours.

British police arrest former prince, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor – on suspicion of misconduct in public office. An anti-monarchist tells us he thinks pressure from his group helped lead to this moment.Manitoba's Health Minister responds to the family of a woman who died after a long wait for care in a Winnipeg hospital –- and says the province hears their calls for change.A new, peer-reviewed study that suggests that, if anything, official tolls of Gaza's wartime dead have understated the extent of the devastation. In a heartbreaking Olympic women's hockey final, Canada loses to the U.S. in overtime. A fan tells us through tears that she's still grateful she was there. Scientists reveal the shocking truth: not only are humans the only primates with chins, but the chins themselves may not actually serve much of a purpose.An operation in Bangkok combined police procedural with costume drama -- as officers track a suspect at a Lunar New Year celebration while disguised as lion dancers.As It Happens, the Thursday Edition. Radio that's glad they weren't injured in the lion of duty.

At least, eight people are now confirmed dead after an avalanche in the Sierra Nevada mountains, near Lake Tahoe. A skier who just missed that storm wonders why the group -- and their guides -- left the safety of their hut.A Conservative strategist says MP Matt Jeneroux betrayed his principles and his constituents by crossing the floor to the Liberals -- but he doesn't believe people should read too much into the defection.Stacey Ross is now one of several Manitobans who've died after long waits in Winnipeg emergency rooms. Her sister tells us a full, province-wide public inquiry is the only response she'll accept. A mall owner in Minneapolis tells us about the Ramadan festivities he's organizing tonight -- and why he hopes they can be a source of support for his Somali neighbours.A producer of the mockumentary "Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie" tells us about recreating a bizarre Canadian beverage from the '90s called Orbitz. Think lava lamp -- but a drink.A courtroom drama for the ages, as an Illinois judge rules that a fast-food chain can leave "boneless wings" on the menu because it's not misleading -- even though boneless wings aren't boneless wings.As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that's always seek nuggets of truth.

The federal government announces a new -- and ambitious -- defence strategy that prioritizes Canadian-made military equipment -- and promises up to 125,000 new jobs.A U.S. radio host claims that a Google AI tool that creates uncannily real-sounding podcasts copied his voice without permission -- so he's taking the company to court. We remember the late civil rights activist, Jesse Jackson -- whose activism and presidential run fundamentally changed American politics. Determined divers found a Lake Michigan shipwreck after 150 years -- then sat on the news until they could fully document it. One diver tells us keeping the secret was a struggle. After an unfortunate error during the Olympic slalom, and a terrible personal tragedy, a Norwegian skier takes his skis off and walks into a nearby forest.In the '90s, photographer Anne Geddes dressed babies up as plants, cabbages, and pea pods for her first coffee table book "Down in the Garden." Now she's inviting the 30-something former models to get back in touch.As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that assumes she's trying to make a peas offering.

A large delegation of Canadian businesses are in Mexico this week to talk trade. We'll hear from an industry rep taking part, who says the sky's the limit when it comes to the two countries.Mourners in Solwezi, Zambia gather to remember a member of their community: Abel Mwansa -- one of the young victims of last week's mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge.A California mother pushes her school district to give her children homework that doesn't involve screens. She says despite the challenge, every parent should be given that option.Nordic combined is a sport that involves both ski jumping and cross country skiing. And you can watch it at these Olympics, but only the men's event. There isn't one for women , and a U.S. athlete tells us why she's fighting so hard to change that. A trio of New Yorkers take daily shifts to take care for -- and protect -- a now-famous wild turkey named Astoria who has made the streets of Manhattan her home. A herd of llamas thwart a suspected thief's escape by encircling him in their field. As It Happens, the Monday edition. Radio that respects a fleece and desist order.

The Trump administration strips the Environmental Protection Agency of much of its power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions -- revoking a ruling that said they pose a threat to public health. As the people of Tumbler Ridge, BC gather for a vigil, an Alberta father who lost his son in a school shooting also mourns their loss -- and tells us how he survived his. After student protests toppled the longtime leader of Bangladesh, the country elects a new government. One young voter tells us it was his first chance to vote for his future. Researchers discover that a nineteenth-century house-turned-museum in New York City was a stop on the Underground Railroad, after deciphering a cleverly hidden secret compartment. Scientists develop a wearable device to measure human flatulence -- with the noble goal of creating a complete flatus atlas. Italy's national broadcaster for airing an Olympics promo in which a famous male figure drawn by Leonardo da Vinci appears, with his genitals erased. As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that thinks you've gotta draw the loin somewhere.

A librarian in Tumbler Ridge tells us who's been stopping by after this week's shooting -- and what she's doing to ensure everyone knows they have a place to go.There's another surge of measles cases in Manitoba; a doctor there explains where the highly contagious disease is believed to be spreading, and why.From the ashes, Part One. An Alberta woman fulfills a years-long wish and visits the mountain peak where the ashes of her late husband and daughter are scattered.From the ashes, part two. An art exhibit featuring the works of the late Jenifer Darbellay is set to open in B.C. -- nearly a year after she was killed in the Lapu-Lapu Day tragedy.Cool and calm -- but uncollected. A small town mayor tells us what it's like to live in one of 35 Ontario communities that were promised recycling pickup at long last -- only to learn they'll be waiting months, or maybe a year.And ... The family silver. Canadian flag bearer and skier Mikaël Kingsbury won a silver medal in Italy today after a history-making tiebreak. He says competing in front of his son was as good as gold.As it Happens, the Thursday edition. Radio that knows every second counts.

Canada is stunned and heartbroken, after one of the deadliest mass shootings in the country's history. Yesterday, eight people were killed -- six of them children -- in the small municipality of Tumbler Ridge, BC. The school library was the epicentre of the violence.We'll find what authorities know so far about what happened. And we'll talk to people in Tumbler Ridge -- including a local pastor -- about the horror and heartbreak that has gripped their community.It's been a week-and-a-half since Savannah Guthrie's mother Nancy disappeared. And the mystery of her apparent abduction is only deepening.A new video game by a South African company allows you to conduct heists at some of the fanciest museums in Europe -- so you can steal back African artifacts and return them to their rightful homes. The Trump administration has cut thousands and thousands of workers from the civil service. Now, dozens of them have decided to come out from behind the scenes, and run for office.It never rains but it pours -- and it never doesn't rain. It's true that a lot of British towns are used to fairly regular drizzle. But the town of Cardinham is getting pretty fed up with the weather -- after forty-two consecutive days of rain. Meaning the entirety of 2026 so far.

Windsor, Ontario's mayor Drew Dilkens says Donald Trump's online rant about the new bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit is “full of lies” -- and insists that bridge will open soon.Years after his office first flagged major inequities facing military reservists, the Canadian Forces ombudsman says little progress has been made towards helping them access the supports they need. After more than a year of handing out meals to people in need outside an apartment building, a group of Toronto volunteers says they're being told they're trespassing and need to go.An engineering student describes the thrill of taking part in the Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race. Which is exactly what it sounds like. A football fan tells us about the weeks he spent preparing for Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show. A show that saw him, and hundreds of others, dress up as bunches of grass. As it Happens, the Tuesday edition. Radio that hopes to go down in a blade of glory.

At least three workers at a Vancouver-based mining company operating in Mexico who were kidnapped last month are confirmed dead. And our guest fears they are victims of cartel infighting. Months after making history as Japan's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi leads her party to a landslide victory. And a Tokyo reporter tells us her win could mean more pressure on foreigners living in the country. Previously thought to be extinct, the greater Bermuda snail is now thriving, after being bred and then released by keepers at an English zoo. Fearing he'd be the last doctor left at his community's clinic, our guest approached the municipality with an idea: help recruit new talent, but using local tax dollars to cover some of the clinic's costs.Friends and former students of Don Glickman recently got a surprise postcard from the longtime professor stating: "If you're reading this I'm dead, and I really liked you." As it Happens, the Monday edition. Radio that appreciates the desire to have the final word.

A member of the Inuit delegation who travelled to Nuuk and a local resident explain what that solidarity means in this moment.More than 30 people are dead and over 100 injured after a mosque in Pakistan was bombed during Friday prayers. A journalist there describes the aftermath.Just before he died last week, Vince Gianotti built his 50th dollhouse for sick children. His daughters say giving back made life worth living for him, right up until the end.A scientist dared to ask the question: do bonobos imagine? And to test it, she hosted a pretend tea party for a world famous bonobo named Kanzi.A Connecticut fire chief is used to rescuing people and animals from all sorts of situations. But a recent rescue call at a frozen -- was a first he says he'll never forget.A sled dog in Greenland captured its own caper on film after it managed to turn on a journalist's camera that it was using as a very expensive chew toy.As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that is excited to learn you can teach an old dog new clicks.

Ottawa is scrapping its EV sales mandate but Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin insists the new rules will protect the environment and auto workers' jobs. Toronto cops are charged in a major investigation into organized crime. And the former head of Ontario's police watchdog tells us major changes will be needed to regain the public's trust. Ifunanya Nwangene was just starting to live her dream of being a professional singer. Her choir director tells us it's terrible she had to die before the government would pledge to make sure more anti-venom is available at Nigeria's hospitals.A new ad celebrating the U.S. Olympic team has a surprising star: Canadian pop star Tate McRae - which has some of her fellow Canucks positioning their elbows in a decidedly upward direction.A New York Times reporter says donating an organ restored his belief in a person's ability to make a difference -- something he believes is needed now, more than ever.Archeologists in Utah discover a fully intact bottle of booze that dates back about 150 years - and we hear from the distiller who couldn't wait to knock it back. As It Happens, the Thursday edition. Radio that tries to avoid making pour choices.

A commissioner there tells us he was not worried about the integrity of those election ballots - until now.It's a dark day for the paper whose motto is "Democracy Dies in Darkness": the Washington Post has fired more than one-third of its staff. British politician Peter Mandelson's close friendship with Jeffrey Epstein is back in the spotlight. And this time, the controversy has triggered a criminal investigation -- and questions from within the Prime Minister Keir Starmer's own party. The U.S. has cut off oil to Cuba, and Canada is warning it might not be the best time to travel there. A cab driver in Havana tells us how he and his neighbours are dealing with that one-two punch.Two great cultural forces finally come together, as the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra provides a live soundtrack to a pro wrestling match. If it's standard for you to sleep to the soothing, sibilant sound of pink noise, science suggests stopping -- saying such sustained static simply sabotages slumber.As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that urges you not to get a sound sleep.

A major attack on the energy system - a day before scheduled peace talks - causes huge power outages. A Ukrainian MP tells us, from the darkness of her home, she doesn't see light at the end of the tunnel.Israel and Egypt re-open the Rafah crossing, but tightly restrict the number of Palestinians crossing the border -- which leaves our guest uncertain as to when she'll be able to get back into Gaza. After a long list of performers cancel their Kennedy Center shows, Donald Trump announces he's shutting down the venue for extensive renovations -- to the horror of the architect who oversaw renovations just a few years ago. Minneapolis civil rights lawyer and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong maintained her dignity when federal agents arrested her -- so she was astonished when the White House released an image doctored to make it look like she was sobbing. Summer Decker usually does medical imaging on the living -- but when a team asked her to scan a pair of Egyptian mummies, she felt a real esprit de corpse. As It Happens, the Tuesday edition. Radio that knows teamwork can turn "sarcophag-I" into "sarchophag-US".

The humanitarian leader Jan Egenland sounds the alarm about a region of Sudan that's facing a new catastrophe -- because of a war he says the world is still ignoring. Tens of thousands of people in the southern U.S. are still without power -- more than a week after a powerful winter storm hit the region. She's the lead doctor for Canada's women's hockey team; he's the lead doctor for the men's hockey team. And they've learned a lot about teamwork from being married for more than twenty years.The top prize at the Grammys goes to Bad Bunny's love letter to Puerto Rico -- which is the first Spanish-language album to win "Album of the Year". Our guest tells us what that means to Puerto Rico.Day after day for the better part of a century, the late Virginia Oliver went out to sea to catch lobsters. The author of a children's book about "The Lobster Lady" tells us about her remarkable friend.And...bubbling over. Well, in reality, the bubbling never started -- but dozens of people who went to visit the Weldborough Hot Springs in Australia didn't know that AI had just made them up.As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio that's just glad no one got into hot water.

Fans everywhere -- and especially in Canada -- are stunned and heartbroken to hear that Catherine O'Hara has died. Actress and comedian Aurora Browne (Baroness von Sketch Show) tells us what made her such a phenomenal talent.Dozens of community members from the Kashechewan First Nation in northern Ontario test positive for a parasite that causes gastrointestinal illness. A healthcare worker tells us what people are dealing with.A human rights activist tells us the painful and nearly impossible work of confirming how many thousands of protesters have been killed during the crackdown in Iran.Weeks of flooding have killed dozens in southern Africa, and forced people in Mozambique to climb onto their homes or into trees to escape the floodwaters. Our guest says what comes next may be even worse. If the roll-out of the documentary about, and entitled, "Melania" seems unusual, well, our guest has some ideas why Amazon paid so much to promote a film about Donald Trump's wife. And...Australian researchers bore witness to bored subjects in a jaw-dropping new study on an important subject: yawning.As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that's proud to do the yawners.

Hundreds of auto workers in Oshawa, Ontario are working their last shifts this week, as GM scales back its Canadian operations. One of them tells us he's not sure how he'll support his family now.The emcee of the Conservative Party's convention tells us delegates are still firmly behind Pierre Poilievre, as he prepares for his leadership review. Two years after a ship smashed into a bridge in Baltimore, four members of its crew are still stuck in the city -- even though they aren't facing criminal charges. The mayor of Budapest is charged for allowing Pride celebrations in his own city. A member of his party says they won't let reprisals rain on anyone's parade. After more than a decade behind the mic, Paddy Daly is leaving Newfoundland and Labrador's famous call-in show “Open Line”. He'll talk about some of the moments he felt most dialed-in. An intense competition pits five of Japan's laziest capybaras against one another, in a contest to see who can luxuriate in the tub the longest.As It Happens, the Thursday Edition. Radio that takes the bath of least resistance.

Minnesota's Attorney General tells us about his push to end the federal immigration crackdown there -- and about the dozens of other lawsuits his state has launched against the Trump administration. The families of two Trinidadian men killed when the U.S. bombed their boat near Venezuela mount their own legal fight against the Trump administration -- saying their loved ones had nothing to do with drug cartels. A farmer on the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire tells us he's thrilled by a landmark court ruling that orders the government to make a plan to protect him and his neighbours from the ever-present effects of climate change. We'll talk to a record collector who's been on a mission to find, and promote, the band whose old, beat-up album he found in a thrift store. A Kenyan climate activist tells us why she hugged a palm tree for three full days and nights. And also -- since we're all wondering -- how. After learning Pamela Anderson's grandfather was from Finland, our Scandinavian so-called allies risk an international incident -- by starting an ad campaign aimed exclusively at luring her there.As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that urges Ms. Anderson not to cross the Finnish line.

While Minneapolis deals with ICE agents on its streets, and two shooting deaths at the hands of those agents – Pam Bondi is demanding Minnesota's state government hand over its voter rolls. The Secretary of State tells us he has no plans to respond to what he calls -- ransom.A rescue organization in the Mediterranean says almost 400 migrants are feared dead -- after they tried to make the perilous crossing into Europe during last week's cyclone. Millions of dollars worth of research equipment is destroyed when pipes burst at an aging Montreal hospital. A researcher there says repairs are long overdue, and it's hard to imagine feeling safe walking back into that building.Families were at a hotel in Canmore, Alberta for a hockey tournament -- but a suspected chlorine leak meant kids wound up at the hospital, instead of the rink. We remember legendary drummer Sly Dunbar -- a revered reggae artist and prolific collaborator. When a San Francisco writer realized a new Taco Bell location was exactly five kilometres away from an existing Taco Bell location, he made an unwise decision: to run the five kilometres from one to the other while eating Crunchwraps Supreme. As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that considers this a worst-quesadilla scenario.

Another deadly ICE shooting shakes Minneapolis; we reach a volunteer who supported protesters and mourners on Saturday, at a restaurant-turned-field hospital. The government of Yukon slams the federal government's gun buyback program -- saying Ottawa's ban on thousands of firearms shows it doesn't understand the northern way of life. After years without a health-care professional, help is on the way to Change Islands, Newfoundland and Labrador -- where the mayor has been busy answering 9-1-1 calls herself. A reporter in Montana who dug into a local mystery tells us it's still not clear who affixed three bicycles to a giant piece of driftwood in the Missouri River -- but he thinks he has figured out why.The vice-principal of an Ontario school tells us what happened after a golden budgie found its way out of the January cold -- and into a kindergarten classroom.A plush horse made to mark the Year of the Horse is galloping off the shelves in China -- after a factory workers accidentally sewed its smile on upside-down.As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio that's throwing in the scowl.

We want recommend a show by our friends at Cross Country Checkup. Every Sunday, Ian Hanomansing hears directly from Canadians on the most pressing issues. This week, he's joined by experts to analyze how Prime Minister Mark Carney is dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump. Canadians also called in to have their say and gave their grades on the prime minister's strategy so far.

We hear from an investigative journalist who's been covering the story for more than a decade. A Canadian who served in Afghanistan tells us there's no place for the kind of insulting rhetoric the U.S. president is spreading about his country's NATO allies. As Valentino Garavani is laid to rest in Rome, director Matt Tyrnauer tells us about the fashion insight, friction, and friendship...that came with capturing the beloved designer's life and work in the documentary, The Last Emperor. It's a simple enough concept -- but knitters will tell you that it's a game changer. And it exists because of the late Barbara G Walker, who revolutionized the craft. Canada Post honours pioneering Canadian hiphop artists with their own stamps -- including the groundbreaking Michie Mee. She tells us it's a big deal to be on a small rectangle. Science thought a prehistoric kangaroo was just too gigantic to jump -- but now, new science has changed the old science's mind. As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that finds this whole discussion pretty roo-dimentary.

After a provocative speech at Davos, Mark Carney returns to Canada with a message of unity. A former Trudeau speech writer tells us if she thinks it hit the mark. Three more journalists are killed in Gaza, adding to a staggering total -- on one of the deadliest days since the ceasefire began. In Minneapolis, some schools have had to pivot -- and quickly -- to online learning. It's to protect students from ICE agents; a teacher tells us she hopes small acts of kindness can counter the fear her students are dealing with.When production was halted at their plant, a family of auto workers made the difficult decision to move to a city hours away, so the whole 18-member-strong clan could get back to work, together. We still don't know how dozens of giant stones got to Stonehenge -- but thanks to new science, we know one way they didn't get there.A Quebec film-maker talks to us about her Oscar-nominated documentary -- which follows a trio of donkeys on a journey to get a glimpse of the cosmos. As It Happens, the Thursday Edition. Radio that hopes they spotted some ass-teroids.

In Davos, Donald Trump says he won't use military force to acquire Greenland -- which alleviates one worry. But a Danish journalist tells us it is impossible not to be very concerned about what else could come next.70 years after the execution of a Black man convicted of murdering a white woman in the 1950s, the state of Texas publicly exonerates him -- and admits its terrible mistake. As ICE agents continue to occupy Minneapolis, many people are afraid to leave their homes, whether they are immigrants or not. So a local pastor is organizing thousands of food drops for families.An academic researcher has analyzed the way stand-up comics use timing -- and she tells us the silences and hesitations...are as important...as the laughs. I'll speak with a father-daughter duo who started singing together for fun -- and are having more fun than ever now that they're nominated for a Grammy. On a 13-billion-dollar aircraft carrier stationed off the coast of Venezuela, American troops are doing battle with a merciless enemy: constantly malfunctioning toilets.As It Happens, the Wednesday Edition. Radio that really hopes they can get their ship together.

A Globe and Mail reporter reveals that, for the first time in a century, the Canadian military has modeled a hypothetical U.S. invasion of Canada.At a tense public meeting, a group of New Brunswick residents expressed serious opposition to a planned new gas plant. A vice-president of the utility tells us public support does matter -- but so does keeping the lights on. A reporter in Chile tells us how fire overcame one coastal community in the blink of an eye -- and shocked locals are now wondering if this is the new normal.The tale of a small, strangely popular boulder in British Columbia called "Portable" -- which is finally heading back to where it belongs, months after it went missing. And.... A new scientific paper introduces the world to a brilliant cow by the name of Veronika -- who uses a broom to sweep away her itches, in an incredible example of bovine tool use. As It Happens, the Tuesday Edition. Radio that assumes she just started from scratch.

Donald Trump is threatening to hit Europe with tariffs for their support of Greenland, a Swedish Member of Parliament tells us it's time for the EU to take the gloves off, and launch what's known as the trade bazooka. The U.S. president has invited world leaders to join his new Board of Peace, overseeing the future of Gaza. A former diplomat says he's not sure there's room for all these peace-makers to say their piece. A civil liberties advocate tells us her organization is hoping Canada's Supreme Court will rule that random police stops are unconstitutional -- because they've enabled racial profiling for too long.For about 20 years, the smell from an abandoned fish sauce plant has tormented the people of a Newfoundland town. But the mayor says he's hopeful non-odour will be restored. We'll celebrate the 80th birthday of an artist who's been platinum since she started out: the endlessly quotable Dolly Parton. We'll hear from the man who set a new world record for fastest garbage can -- who says he's scared every time he drives it.As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio that guesses the former fastest garbage can is now just a has-bin.

Prime Minister Carney strikes a deal on Canadian canola exports with China; I'll speak with an Alberta farmer who's feeling cautiously optimistic -- after losing six figures to the trade war. Canadian auto industry leaders are feeling incautiously pessimistic about a new deal with China, saying a promise to import Chinese-made EVs puts the domestic auto sector on the road to ruin.Hearing the other side from the other side. Our guest says he was talking to Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine just moments before security forces took him away -- further evidence, he says, that the presidential election was rigged from the start. A CBC journalist is heading to Italy -- not to cover the Olympics, but to cover the skis of Canadian biathlon athletes with wax; to make sure everything, and everyone, goes smoothly. A reporter in Florida is being criticized for commiserating with the local NFL coach after a huge loss, instead of questioning him. In one Swedish community, it's an annual tradition for authorities to dismantle a particular sculpture chop-chop -- because it's a giant, distracting snow penis in the center of a roundabout.As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that guesses it doesn't always help to be a member of the inner circle.