The Sunday Magazine

Our population may be modest. But when it comes to producing comedians, Canada punches above its weight. Comedy historian Kliph Nesteroff connects the dots from Wayne and Shuster to CODCO to SCTV to Seth Rogen and Nathan Fielder, showing how Canada overcame its conservative reputation to become a comedy powerhouse.

Plus: Meet Lucy Foley, the woman picking up the mantle of one of Agatha Christie's most famous characters, Miss Marple.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has unveiled his government's second federal budget, with a focus on major investments in infrastructure, boosting economic growth and reducing Canada's dependence on the United States. The Toronto Star's Tonda MacCharles and The Economist’s Rob Russo unpack the politics of Carney's spending plan, and what the results of the U.S. midterm elections could mean for Canada amid the ongoing trade war.

Plus: Two strategists – Republican Chet Love and Democrat Eric Adelstein – talk about the factions, issues and decisions each party needs to contend with to define their future following the U.S. midterm elections.

Researchers are warning that artificial intelligence could cause human extinction, swarms of AI agents are hacking illegally, and people are falling in love with their chatbots. And it's all happening while the tech world races toward artificial general intelligence – an even smarter form of AI – with few guardrails in the way. Tech journalist Kevin Roose traces how we got here, how to know when AGI has been achieved, and whether we should worry about or welcome the prospect.

Plus: Piya faces off against musician Steven Page and Walford, Ont. listener Sue de la Riva in an all-new round of our monthly challenge, That's Puzzling!.

CBC's Piya Chattopadhyay, Catherine Cullen and Salimah Shivji walk through the key moments of Tuesday's U.S. midterm results in this live CBC Radio special, bringing you immediate analysis on how the Democrats built their projected control of the House and Senate. Interviews with former diplomats, voters and stakeholders break down a new political reality in the U.S., with Republican strategist Chet Love going beyond calling the results a 'blue wave,' and labelling them a 'MAGA murder.' 

Voters in the United States head to the polls Tuesday for midterm elections that could reshape the balance of power in Washington. The Atlantic's Elaine Godfrey and The Wall Street Journal's Cameron McWhirter have spent months traveling around battleground states in the run-up. They discuss what issues are driving voters' decisions, the key races to watch, and what the results could mean for the rest of Donald Trump's presidency.

Plus: Amid democratic backsliding, growing authoritarianism and the rise of AI, Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist Maria Ressa shares her tips for how everyday people can fight back.

CNN's chief political correspondent says it can sometimes take decades to understand how elections shape us. She walks through some of the historical races that she says have changed the world, and looks ahead to next month's consequential midterms in the United States.

CBC British Columbia's Katie DeRosa, Rob Shaw from CHEK News, and The Economist's Rob Russo break down why BC voters elected a Conservative majority government for the first time in nearly a century and where the NDP goes from here. They also discuss how the week's big political stories in Western Canada reverberate across the rest of the country.

As a former cabinet minister, Chrystia Freeland was a central figure in Canada's negotiations with United States President Donald Trump. Now, while Prime Minister Mark Carney sees a rupture in the U.S.-led world order, Freeland isn't giving up on the possibility of a unified Western alliance to keep adversaries at bay. She makes her case for rebuilding it – with America included, and Canada playing a different role – in her new book Unreliable Boyfriend. Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with Freeland about her vision, her time in government with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and her take on Carney's tack during the current trade war.

The celebrated Olympic athlete was rocked by menopause alongside a major knee injury. It set her on a path she didn't expect, including taking psychedelics and other drugs. Clara Hughes discusses how this experience led her to finally connect with and love her body and herself.

Plus: Veteran journalist Carol Off explores how Canadians can embrace a renewed sense of national pride without slipping into the dangers of nationalism that have torn other countries apart.

A new study suggests the holiday will be 10 per cent more expensive this year. Retail analyst Bruce Winder and economist Jim Stanford break down how everything from war in the Middle East to tariffs are driving the high cost of living, and what – if anything – Ottawa can do to ease the pain.

Plus: It's been 10 years since Medical Assistance in Dying became legal in Canada. As the federal government plans upcoming changes to its framework, Dr. Ramona Coelho and Dr. Stefanie Green reflect on MAID's legacy a decade on, and what they think its future should hold.