The Big Five Podcast

The Big Five is the quintessential Montreal podcast, and the best way to get caught up on the top stories impacting the city. Every weekday, host Elias Makos and a roster of Montreal thought leaders debate and inform.

The Big Five Podcast is a news podcast hosted by CJAD 800, with 213 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

CJAD 800 hosts The Big Five Podcast, a news show with 213 episodes published.

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  The Big Five Podcast

  Truth and Reconciliation calls to action stall. Plus: Federal prisons to distribute safe drug snorting kits

  Sep 30, 202640 min

  The Big Five is the quintessential Montreal podcast, and the best way to get caught up on the top stories impacting the city. Every weekday, host Elias Makos and a roster of Montreal thought leaders debate and inform. On today's Big 5: Dan Delmar, independent political analyst, media strategist, and co-founder of TNKR Media, and Andrew Caddell, columnist for the Hill Times and President of the Task Force on Linguistic Policy. On the fifth annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, listeners and panelists clashed over the lack of Indigenous history taught in French public schools while fewer than twenty of ninety-four historic Calls to Action have been completed. Correctional Service Canada announced federal prisons will now distribute safe inhalation and snorting supplies, including paper straws and foil, to reduce overdose risks. Guelph's mayor and university officials are demanding answers after an unsanctioned homecoming street party deteriorated into a violent riot. Trump advisor Peter Navarro ordered Canadian lobbyists to "get the hell out" of the US as Prime Minister Mark Carney warned Canada may escalate the trade war.

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  The Big Five Podcast

  The polls say the CAQ vote is in freefall. Plus: Did Christine Frechette lie about U.S. foreign inference claims?

  Sep 28, 202646 min

  The Big Five is the quintessential Montreal podcast, and the best way to get caught up on the top stories impacting the city. Every weekday, host Elias Makos and a roster of Montreal thought leaders debate and inform. On today's Big 5: Jimmy Zoubris, Montreal businessman, longtime activist, and former special advisor to Valerie Plante, and political analyst Karim Boulos. Three new provincial election polls confirm Premier Christine Fréchette's CAQ is plunging in support, with one survey showing a massive seven-point drop into fourth place. Premier Christine Fréchette faced heavy criticism after reports revealed the CAQ tried shopping a "top secret" American election interference story to media outlets before contacting Canada's spy agency. Lawyers issued a formal warning to Élections Québec demanding a retraction of directives that reportedly instructed polling station workers to restrict their use of English. The UCI Road World Championships wrapped up in Montreal, leaving a mixed legacy of beautiful scenery alongside business frustrations over inaccurate maps and parking tickets. Meta's new AI agent Muse sparked immediate safety concerns following reports of the bot leaking a user's home address and reading private chat histories without permission.  

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  The Big Five Podcast

  The politics of having babies in Quebec. Plus: AI highlights the good and bad of humanity

  Sep 25, 202643 min

  Joining Elias on today's Big 5 were Trudie Mason, veteran newscaster at CJAD 800 & Lea Streliski, Best-selling author, comedian and columnist. Among the topics discussed  Marwah Rizqy is going public with the tragic loss she and her husband Greg Kelly suffered recently. In a piece published in the Journal de Montréal titled La lettre à l’enfant que je n’aurai pas – or Letter to the child I will not have – the outgoing MNA opens up on losing her third child during pregnancy. In an attempt to gain popularity with the youth…Quebec Conservative leader Éric Duhaime decided to send a letter to over 46 thousand Quebecers between the ages of 18 and 22. Something we rarely cover on the Big Five – literary scandals. But this one hits close to home. Thélyson Orélien, a Haitian-born Quebec writer, was having quite the year. His debut novel, C’était ça ou mourir , went from a Quebec success to a literary sensation in France, earning international attention and major prize nominations. “AI-written speeches are taking over politics” – that’s the headline in the latest edition of The Economist catching a lot of attention.

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  The Big Five Podcast

  Is this a ‘referendum election?’ Plus: Mark Carney prepares for a U.S. invasion.

  Sep 24, 202643 min

  The Big Five is the quintessential Montreal podcast, and the best way to get caught up on the top stories impacting the city. Every weekday, host Elias Makos and a roster of Montreal thought leaders debate and inform. On today's Big 5: Victor Henriquez, public affairs and crisis management specialist at Public Strategy and Conseil, and Dan Delmar, independent political analyst, media strategist, and co-founder of TNKR Media. Quebec's final election debate on Radio-Canada focused heavily on a potential sovereignty referendum, with Premier Christine Fréchette and Éric Duhaime drawing hard lines against the PQ. Prime Minister Mark Carney revealed to The New York Times that Ottawa is preparing for extreme risks, including a potential U.S. military invasion, while warning against Canadian reliance on Elon Musk's Starlink. A new Leger poll indicates seventy percent of Canadians support seeking an associate membership with the European Union, though voters strongly oppose altering domestic laws to match European regulations. Outrage is growing over the murder of a forty-five-year-old Montreal woman during a work video call after reports surfaced that the prime suspect was recently released following an assault on police officers.  

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  The Big Five Podcast

  The final debate of the election campaign. Plus: Quebec’s political parties want you to have more babies.

  Sep 23, 202645 min

  The Big Five is the quintessential Montreal podcast, and the best way to get caught up on the top stories impacting the city. Every weekday, host Elias Makos and a roster of Montreal thought leaders debate and inform. On today's Big 5: Daniel Tran, political analyst and former municipal economic development advisor, and Andrew Caddell, columnist for the Hill Times and President of the Task Force on Linguistic Policy. Quebec's party leaders head to Radio-Canada tonight for the final debate of the campaign with the PQ stuck just under thirty percent in the polls. Liberal Leader Charles Milliard continues a frantic campaign push across the province despite struggling to gain traction with voters. Éric Duhaime's Conservative Party unveiled nationalist policies including a Quebec constitution and a provincial sovereignty shield law. A fierce debate has erupted on the campaign trail over birth rates, baby bonuses, and the long-term impact of provincial population declines. BC Premier David Eby triggered a snap election citing Donald Trump as an existential threat, mirroring tactics used by Quebec and federal leaders.

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