Free For All Friday - Hour 1

Amanda Galbraith breaks down the biggest stories of the day with Canada's top newsmakers.

On today's show:

• Venezuela, Greenland, Minneapolis, and everything in between. Matina Stevis-Gridneff, the Canada Bureau Chief for the New York Times, reacts to a tense newsweek in America.
• Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a Senior Fellow at UOttawa's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, on Prime Minister Carney's upcoming trip to China and what it means for relations between the two countries.
• Tech analyst Carmi Levy dissects a laundry list of new announcements from this year's Consumer Electronics Show.

Free For All Friday - Hour 2

Contributors from all over the country join The Roundtable to discuss the top stories of the week. Today's edition features McMillian Vantage vice-president Jeff Rutledge and Rubicon Strategy executive vice-president Michele Cadario.

Topic 1: Given the recent developments in Venezuela to kick off 2026, should Canada change its approach to pipelines and develop even faster? How can we find common ground between the Canadian Prairies and British Columbia? And as far as economic impact goes, how concerned should Canadians be?

Topic 2: America has got its eyes on Greenland, as the White House admits that President Trump is actively discussing a potential purchase of this Arctic land. Do you think they make that move, and what happens if they do?

Topic 3: The Premier of British Columbia says the province is not returning to a 'decriminalized public drug use' system. Good move or bad move?

Topic 4: The 2026 Winter Games in Milano-Cortina are less than a month away. Have you caught Olympic fever yet?

Topic 5: Heated Rivalry has taken over the world, and our lives.

Vassy Kapelos speaks with Eric Ham, a present-day U.S. political analyst for CTV News and a former Congressional staffer, on the fallout from the ICE shooting in Minneapolis and a looming tariff decision from the U.S. Supreme Court.

On today's show:

• Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe chimes in on the renewed urgency for a pipeline, as America is poised to receive millions of Venezuelan oil barrels.
• B.C. Energy Minister Adrian Dix on the province's stance regarding pipelines and next steps.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Rob Benzie, Mike LeCouteur, and Brian Platt.
• Cameron Forbes, a General Manager and Broker for Toronto-based RE/MAX Realtron Realty, on the real estate market outlook for 2026.

Tim Powers guest hosts for Vassy Kapelos this afternoon. As the situation in Venezuela continues to develop, the Trump administration is ramping up its rhetoric around taking over Greenland. We deliver the latest developments as they become available. We also pick the brain of Retired Major-General David Fraser.

On today's show:

• Dawn Desjardins, a Chief Economist at Deloitte Canada, chimes in on the economic outlook for 2026.
• Marco Mendicino, a former federal prosecutor and Public Safety Minister, on how the trial of Nicolas Maduro will play out.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Stephanie Levitz, Jeff Rutledge, and Laura D'Angelo.
• Guy Saint-Jacques, a former Canadian Ambassador to China, on Prime Minister Carney's upcoming state visit to Beijing.
• TSN's Michaela Schreiter previews Team Canada's upcoming announcement, as the Women's Olympic Hockey roster is soon to be unveiled.

As the situation in Venezuela remains uncertain, the Trump administration says it will continue to control operations on the ground. We deliver the latest developments as they become available. Plus, we gather reaction from former CIA Director David Petraeus.

On today's show:

• Prime Minister Carney is in Paris today, meeting with European allies to discuss a path to peace in Ukraine.
• Money Talk with John Klotz: How to get off on the right financial foot in 2026.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Laryssa Waller, Sharan Kaur, and Graham Richardson.
• John Bolton, a former U.S. National Security Advisor, gives his take on Trump's foreign policy.

Trump says U.S. officials will control Venezuela after it captured leader Nicolas Maduro during a weekend military strike. New York Times Canada bureau chief Matina Stevis-Gridneff delivers the latest developments as they become available.

On today's show:

• As mass protests in Iran enter their eighth day, fears of a potential crackdown are growing, as U.S. President Trump threatens American intervention.
• Tech Check with tech analyst Carmi Levy: France targets an Australia-style social media ban for children, with a potential implementation slated for the next learning season.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Tim Powers, Zain Velji, and Tom Mulcair.
• Heather Exner-Pirot from the MacDonald Laurier Institute outlines what the Venezuela situation means for Canadian oil producers.
• Doug Gillham from The Weather Network explains what Jack Frost has planned for our country in 2026, as the Winter season hits full-blast.

Free For All Friday - Hour 1

Scott Reid, filling in for Amanda Galbraith, breaks down the biggest stories of the day with Canada's top newsmakers.

On today's show:

• 2026 has arrived, which means it's time for Scott to examine some of the biggest political issues that will shape the next 12 months.
• If you could give a New Year’s Resolution to a Canadian political leader, what would it be?
• His Story, Her Story, Our Story: The first edition of 2026!

Free For All Friday - Hour 2

Contributors from all over the country join The Roundtable to discuss the top stories of the week. Today's edition features Conaptus principal Jamie Ellerton and NorthStar Public Affairs senior advisor Sabrina Grover.

Topic 1: What is the biggest story to watch in 2026?

Topic 2: Our panelists share their New Year’s Resolutions for Canadian political leaders.

Topic 3: Alberta vs. Quebec - How separatism will shape Canadian politics in 2026.

Topic 4: Predictions for this year’s MVP of Canadian politics.

Topic 5: Who's stock is on the rise right now?

Scott Reid guest hosts for Vassy Kapelos today, as we finally say 'sayonara' to 2025.

On today's show:

• Law enforcement officials in Mexico have seized $40 million worth of motorcycles believed to be linked to Ryan Wedding, an alleged drug kingpin and former Canadian Olympic snowboarder. CTV's Judy Trinh has the latest on that.
• Is 2025 the most politically-significant year in Canada's history since WWII? Scott takes your calls, texts, and emails!
• Who was the MVP of Canadian politics in 2025: Mark Carney or someone else?
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring George Soule and Jeff Rutledge.
• Canada has unveiled its Men's Hockey roster for the 2026 Olympics. Who is headed to Italy in February? TSN's Matt Cauz has the answers and addresses the criticisms.

Scott Reid guest hosts for Vassy Kapelos today.

On today's show:

• Are the World Cup ticket prices too damn high, and who exactly controls them? We dig deeper with Canadian sports economist Moshe Lander.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Sharan Kaur and Jordan Paquet.
• The latest developments on the pursuit for a peaceful resolution in the Russia-Ukraine war.
• Your calls, texts, and emails on just about anything!

Scott Reid guest hosts for Vassy Kapelos today.

On today's show:

• Is a resolution between Russia and Ukraine as close as America's President thinks it is?
• CTV's Mike LeCouteur analyzes a crazy year in news. Then, Scott opens the phone lines and gathers your thoughts.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Saeed Selvam and Jeff Rutledge.
• Tech Check with tech analyst Carmi Levy: Did you know that Canadians are one of OnlyFans' top customers?
• Movie critic Richard Crouse sifts through the best (and worst) flicks that 2025 had to offer.
• A snapshot of this year's World Juniors, and what's at stake for Canada, with technical producer Stephen Ellsworth.

Tim Powers guest hosts for Vassy Kapelos, as Santa Claus hits the skies for his annual Christmas Eve pilgrimage.

On today's show:

• The cost-of-living crisis is hitting Canadian charities hard this holiday season. Lt-Colonel John Murray from the Salvation Army outlines the bigger picture for us.
• As we inch closer to the holidays, that means more free time to read a book or catch up on this year's top flicks. So in the spirit of this festive season, CTV movie critic Richard Crouse delivers his top picks from 2025.
• Travel expert Barry Choi explains how we can conquer our holiday nerves and avoid the airport meltdowns.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Jeff Rutledge and Stephanie Levitz.
• It's the 25th anniversary of the Bell Capital Cup, which means it's time to check in with Tournament Manager Mark Sluban!