Front Burner is a daily news podcast that takes you deep into the stories shaping Canada and the world. Each morning, from Monday to Friday, host Jayme Poisson talks with the smartest people covering the biggest stories to help you understand what’s going on.
What this show covers
Mark CarneyCanada economyU.S. politicsCanadian politicsCanada-U.S. tradeRussiaSeparatismeconomyAI safetytariffsTrumptrade wardaily fantasy sportssports bettingsports scandal
What listeners will find here
From illegal to unavoidable: the chain reaction behind sports betting’s rise
Sports betting’s rapid shift from illegal to everywhere is traced through fantasy sports apps, a pivotal New York Times op-ed, and a Supreme Court ruling. The episode connects that transformation to the scandal involving Toronto Raptors bench player Jontay Porter.
A measured look at Russia’s plague scare and what’s actually known
This episode examines the alarm around a death linked to a plague research institute in Siberia and fears of pneumonic plague. With Russia offering limited details and the WHO seeking more information, a biosecurity expert helps sort rumor from risk.
Brazil’s election shock tests Lula as the Bolsonaro family surges back
Brazil’s election has taken a dramatic turn as Jair Bolsonaro sits under house arrest while his son Flavio leads after the first round and other family members win office. The episode looks at what this comeback could mean for Lula, Brazil, and a wider right-wing shift in Latin America.
Quebec separatism returns as Ottawa faces pressure on both coasts
Quebec separatism is back at the centre of Canadian politics after the Parti Québécois won power for the first time in 12 years. This episode looks at Paul St-Pierre Plamondon’s referendum pledge, likely fights with Ottawa, and what it means as separatist pressures also rise in Alberta.
Naomi Klein connects Carney’s trade-war response to disaster capitalism
Naomi Klein discusses Mark Carney’s response to Trump’s trade war through the lens of The Shock Doctrine, then turns to her newer work on “end times fascism.” The episode links immediate economic politics with a broader argument about crisis, power and the fight for the living world.
