Free For All Friday - Hour 1

Guest host Scott Reid breaks down today's biggest stories with Canada's top newsmakers.

On today's show:

• Robert Pape, a Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and the author of 'The Escalation Trap', weighs in on the worrying risks that the Middle East conflict could quickly escalate.
• Should Canada take part in the Iran conflict? Should we send our troops over there? Scott opens the phone lines and takes your two cents.
• History, Herstory, Our Story: 1836's Battle of the Alamo, the birth of Lou Costello in 1906, and the release of Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones in 1966.

Free For All Friday - Hour 2

Hosts from all over the country join The Roundtable to discuss this week's five biggest news stories. Attending today's session are NorthStar Public Affairs senior advisor Sabrina Grover and Strategy Corp vice-president Garry Keller.

1. Carney's Trip: What was accomplished, the messaging in Iran, and what happens next in Iran.
2. Reacting to the latest Leger poll, the odds of an election this Spring, and which party is taking the biggest gamble if one is called.
3. Examining the political landscape in Ontario and Quebec.
4. An iconic Rolling Stones record turns 60 years old!
5. B.C. rolls the clocks ahead by 60 minutes one last time.

Vassy Kapelos speaks with Evan Solomon, Canada's Minister of A.I. and Digital Innovation, after OpenAI vowed to improve safety protocols and accountability. But what does that look like moving forward?

• CTV's Abigail Bimman joins us with an update from Australia, as Prime Minister Carney's Indo-Pacific trade mission continues.
• Conservative Foreign Affairs Critic Michael Chong reacts to the federal government's evolving stance on the Iran conflict, and outlines why he feels it is contradictory.
• Talk Science To Me with CTV Science and Technology specialist Dan Riskin: The hidden advantages of being left-handed.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Rob Benzie, Mike LeCouteur, and Laura Stone.
• Amanda Lang, CTV's Chief Financial Correspondent, on what the tense conflict in the Middle East means for oil markets.

Vassy Kapelos chats with CTV National News correspondent Rachel Aiello about Prime Minister Carney's latest comments, as his 10-day trading mission continues. We also hear from CTV's Abigail Bimman, who is currently situated in Sydney.

• B.C. Premier David Eby reacts to concerns surrounding Indian foreign interference and transnational repression, as well as the OpenAI controversy in Tumbler Ridge.
• The Explainer with In The Money podcast host Amber Kanwar: What the growing conflict in the Middle East means for today's oil markets.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Saeed Selvam, Jeff Rutledge, and Stephanie Levitz.
• Tech analyst Carmi Levy previews A.I. Minister Evan Solomon's meeting with the CEO of OpenAI, and explains what a series of increased safety regulations might look like.

Vassy Kapelos speaks with Retired Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, a former Vice-Chief of the Defense Staff. He expands on his thoughts regarding Canada's support for US-Israeli strikes, the risks of regime change attempts backfiring, and how both strikes and retaliation have played out so far.

• CTV's Abigail Bimman joins us from Sydney, as Prime Minister Carney's Indo-Pacific trip continues in Australia.
• Energy Minister Tim Hodgson on what the Middle East conflict means for oil markets, as well as Canada's business position.
• Money Talk with John Klotz: What you need to know for the upcoming tax season.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Laryssa Waler, Sharan Kaur, and Nojoud Al Mallees.

In the latest chapter of a Middle East tug-of-war, Israel and Iran traded shots over the weekend, while the United States has joined forces with Israel. What impact could a Middle Eastern conflict have on today's oil markets? What about today's prices at the pump? Vassy Kapelos digs deeper with Randy Ollenberger, the Managing Director of Oil and Gas Equity Research with BMO Capital Markets.

On today's show:

• CTV's Abigail Bimman has an update from New Delhi, as Prime Minister Carney departs from India and brings his trade mission to Australia.
• Retired General Tom Lawson, Canada's former Chief of Defense Staff, reacts to the US-Israeli strikes in Iran and the odds of an Iranian regime change.
• Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne on Carney's India trip, as well as the looming concerns around security and foreign interference.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Tom Mulcair, Tim Powers, and Nick McRoberts.
• Kanji Yamanouchi, Japan's Ambassador to Canada, on Carney's upcoming visit and the potential growth of Japanese businesses in Canada's Auto market.

Free For All Friday - Hour 1

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

• Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre lays out his vision for the Canada-U.S. relationship, as well as the upcoming review of CUSMA. Jenni Byrne, a former Campaign Director for the Tories, pays us a visit with her reaction.
• It's been 4 years since Russia launched initial attacks against Ukraine. But what's the latest on a potential pathway to peace? We dig deeper with Janice Dickson, an International Affairs reporter for The Globe and Mail.
• As Ontario school boards move to ditch physical textbooks, is increasing digitization in the classroom bad for students? We pick the brain of Sachin Maharaj, an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at UOttawa.

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 McMillan Vantage vice-president Jeff Rutledge and public affairs consultant Bob Richardson.

Topic 1: Grading Poilievre’s speech and breaking down the latest federal polling data.

Topic 2: The USA Men's Hockey Team attends Trump's State of the Union Address. And for fans of Canadian NHL teams, that appearance might be altering their unwavering fandom towards the athletes they cheer for.

Topic 3: Digging into the controversy surrounding OpenAI, as horrific details emerge about the leadup to the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting.

Topic 4: U.S. President Trump says America might execute a 'friendly takeover' of Cuba.

Prime Minister Carney is wheels up for a 10-day international trade mission, which includes a stop in India. It comes as Ottawa is looking to reset diplomatic relations with the world's third-largest economy. CTV's Annie Bergeron-Oliver tells us what federal officials are saying about the Canada-India relationship. We also check in with Supriya Dwivedi, a former Senior Advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

On today's show:

• Canadian pollster Nik Nanos says a 2026 federal election is likely based on the latest national polling numbers.
• Talk Science To Me with CTV Science and Technology specialist Dan Riskin: Everything you need to know about Tuesday's Total Lunar Eclipse.
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Graham Richardson, Rob Benzie, and Mike LeCouteur.
• Mary Fitilchyan, a lawyer who represents victims of Jeffrey Epstein, talks about the latest developments with the Epstein Files.
• Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre chimes in on the Canada-USA relationship. We deliver some of the key highlights from his speech.

Today, we react to new comments from the people in charge of the Canada-USA trading relationship, as U.S. President Donald Trump cements his latest tariff declaration. Vassy hears from the USTR, Canada's Industry Minister, Canada's Finance Minister, and the Minister of Canada-USA Trade. And in the middle of it all, we react to Trump's State Of The Union Address, which was delivered last night.

On today's show:

• Vassy chats with New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt, as she departs on a Carney-led trade mission to India.
• Defense Minister David McGuinty discusses Canada's new aid package to Ukraine, as well as the country's brand-new Defense Industrial Strategy.
• The Explainer with Interim Parliamentary Budget Officer Jason Jacques: What's in that PBO report about refugee healthcare?
• The Daily Debrief Panel - featuring Laura D'Angelo, Stephanie Levitz, and Jamie Ellerton.
• CTV U.S. political analyst Eric Ham reacts to Donald Trump's lengthy and viral SOTU Address.
• CTV's Judy Trinh updates us on the latest OpenAI scrutiny, as revelations uncover the Tumbler Ridge shooter's lengthy activity on ChatGPT.