Cross Country Checkup

Prime Minister Mark Carney pushed back without ever saying President Donald Trump’s name, and it didn’t go unnoticed. After Carney’s remarks in Davos declared the rules-based international order a "fiction" ruptured by superpowers, Trump fired back with taunts and tariff threats. Carney responded to Trump’s tariff threat by confirming that Canada never had any intention of securing a free-trade deal with China. Is it better to stand up or cozy up? What are your thoughts on Mark Carney and his handling of Donald Trump?

A lot of theories, and a lot of speculation, until January 23,2026, when Ryan Wedding was taken into U.S. custody after a decade on the run. How does a Canadian Olympian end up in handcuffs, with U.S. authorities comparing him to “El Chapo” and Pablo Escobar? And what’s the real story behind the seized art, luxury cars, and motorcycles?

We've got a special episode today courtesy of our friends at As It Happens. The show airs weeknights at 6:30 pm ET and covers everything from complex stories, to the weird and wacky. It's a unique and intimate take on the news. We've got three shows chosen from this past week's episodes of As It Happens. You'll hear the Globe and Mail's Robert Fife on how the Canadian Armed forces have modelled a response to the unthinkable -- a hypothetical U.S. military invasion of Canada. A man names Ted Smith tells the show about his journey to exonerate his father, Tommy Lee Walker, 70 years after Walker was found guilty of raping and murdering a white woman name Venice Lorraine Parker. And Canadian hip-hop artist Michie Mee is going to celebrated with a stamp for Black History Month.

Just nine months ago, Mark Carney said China is Canada’s top security threat. On January 16th, Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled his first major trade deal—one that could reshape what’s in your driveway. The agreement opens Canada’s doors to a wave of Chinese electric vehicles, while Beijing slashes tariffs on key Canadian exports through 2026. So what changed—and what does it mean for Canadian jobs, consumers, and the road ahead?

For many people, retirement isn’t the finish line; it’s a turning point. Whether it’s learning something new, giving back, or redefining daily life, finding purpose after work can be deeply personal, and sometimes unexpectedly hard. Where did you find purpose after retirement or are you still searching?

Since the first Monday of January 2026, Ontario’s public service workers have returned to the office five days a week, with Alberta set to follow on February 1. A new report from Statistics Canada shows hybrid workers are spending more time in the office and less time working from home. It’s a shift that has left many people frustrated. Our question: Should workers be forced back into the office? Has returning to the office changed your work for better or worse?

It’s been just over a year since Donald Trump began suggesting that Canada should become part of the United States. Now, with US intervention in Venezuela and renewed threats to take over Greenland, Canadians are starting to wonder, and worry. From Venezuela to Greenland, what questions do you have about US foreign policy, and what Canada should do about it?

American forces stormed Caracas and captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday. U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States is “going to run” Venezuela for the time being. Our question: What’s your reaction to the U.S. strike on Venezuela? What questions do you have?

The World Health Organization conditionally recommended glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapies for obesity treatment in December 2025. Canada could soon become the first country in the world to offer a cheaper version of Ozempic and Wegovy to people with prescriptions. Our question: Would you take a drug to lose weight...or have you already?

2025 gave Canada no shortage of news — political shocks, global conflict, cultural moments, and a year that pulled emotions in every direction. In Cross Country Checkup’s annual Year in News Special, guest host David Common sits down with a panel of CBC journalists: Paul Hunter, Susan Ormiston, and Aaron Wherry, reflecting on the biggest stories, the missed ones, and the conversations Canadians carried through it all. Our question: What was the most important news story of 2025? Which one didn’t get enough attention?

The holidays are here; and that usually means cookies, egg nog, cheeses, deli meats and plenty of indulgence. But new research is renewing concerns about ultra-processed foods and their links to higher risks of disease.What exactly counts as an ultra-processed food? Why are they so hard to stop eating? And does eating better over the holidays mean cutting out all your favourites, or are there realistic alternatives? Our question: From egg nog to deli meats — what questions do you have about ultra-processed foods and eating better over the holidays?

You’re making that big holiday dinner; juggling vegetables, a turkey, stuffing and sides. But with all the distractions, food safety can easily slip. Dinner rolls sitting where the raw turkey thawed? Was that knife used for meat or vegetables? And does it really matter? This holiday season also comes with active food recalls, including salmonella concerns linked to pistachio products and listeria risks in prepared salads and snack trays often served at gatherings. Our question: E. coli, listeria and salmonella; what questions do you have about meal prep and food safety over the holidays?

From whiteout conditions to multi-car pileups, winter driving across Canada can turn dangerous fast. Nearly 400 crashes were reported in southwestern Ontario during a recent storm, and a youth hockey team bus crash in northern Alberta has raised fresh concerns about road safety. Our question: From black ice to blizzards, what’s your winter accident story? Do you feel safe driving on Canada’s roads and highways?

President Donald Trump says the U.S. has a “tremendous” relationship with Canada — but for many Canadians, the bond with American friends and family might feel strained. Political divisions have led to awkward gatherings, muted conversations, and in some cases, skipping holiday visits altogether. Our question: Are you gathering with American friends or family over the holidays? How are the Canada–U.S. relationships going in your life?

It's the most expensive time of the year, and it's hitting just as many people are falling behind. Many Canadians have changed their spending habits and have even given up buying gifts for family members. Our question: How is personal debt affecting your holiday season? What’s your workaround? What are you giving up?

A new CBC Marketplace investigation has named the worst commute in Canada, the stretch west of Toronto from the 905 into the downtown core. But we're not just talking about one city. Our question: What’s your nomination for Canada’s worst commute? What impact is it having on you, and your family?

According to research, as prices climb and first-time buyers rethink their expectations, many Canadians say owning a home feels further away than ever — with some giving up entirely. Our question: What’s stopping you from owning a home? What needs to change to make homes more affordable?

New CBC data shows violent incidents on buses, streetcars and subways have jumped sharply in major cities — raising concerns about safety, vulnerability and the crises converging on public transit. Our question: Do you feel safe on public transit? How can cities make riders safer?

From Florida flights to Black Friday deals, Canadians are rethinking winter traditions. After months of “Elbows Up” backlash toward the U.S., travel forecasts show Canadians staying home — contributing to a projected $5.7-billion drop in U.S. tourism. But while cross-border trips slow, the Retail Council of Canada says the momentum behind “Buy Canadian” is fading. Our question: How is 'Elbows Up' changing your holiday plans?

ER wait times are reaching breaking-point levels across Canada — with patients waiting hours or even days, and half a million Canadians leaving without being seen last year. Doctors warn the backlog is a symptom of a system struggling to meet basic needs, while callers describe long nights, ambulance delays and returning sicker after giving up. Our question: What’s your ER wait time story? And how is it affecting your health?