Because News

CBC

Because News is Canada's funniest news quiz. Host Gavin Crawford quizzes comedians and celebrities about the headlines. Get tickets for Season 12!

Play

Open in

26 episodes
weekly
Avg 28 min
English

Episodes 26

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

Friday · 27 min
AI Might Kill Us. Is That Bad?
AI might kill us in only ten years; take that, climate change! “Copium” is now in the dictionary, but everything is fine, really. Star hockey goalie Connor Hellebuyck wants to be traded. Rumour has it he could switch from the Winnipeg Jets to the Sharks. What-in-the-West Side-Story is happening?! Gavin Crawford quizzes comedians Colin Mochrie, Carley Thorne and Miguel Rivas on this week’s headlines.
September 18 · 27 min
The EU is thirsty for Canada: French with Benefits?
Canada’s in a “situationship” with the EU. Mark Carney wants to sell you an airport. Manitoba makes daily gym mandatory and that’s our literal nightmare. Gavin Crawford quizzes comedians Martha Chaves, Tom Hearn and Michael Balazo on this week’s news.
S12 · E1
September 11 · 27 min
Canada’s Secret Trade Weapon: Toilet Paper
America needs our TP. It’s time to hold the roll, Canada. We have counter-tarriffed capes, cloaks and breeches. Apologies, aristocrats. Quebec has a Celine Dion lotto ticket: My Heart Will Gagnant! King Charles is on the $20 so bring on the Chuck Bucks. Gavin Crawford hosts the news quiz with comedians Alice Moran, Kris Siddiqi and Emma Hunter.
September 5 · 23 sec
Because News is back on Friday September 11!
Season 12 of Because News is back with Gavin Crawford! Subscribe on your favourite podcast app, or check out new episodes on CBC Listen.
September 4 · 27 min
Should we leave Trudeau alone?
Teenage Dream or PR Scheme? The Justin Trudeau x Katy Perry romance has got Canada shaking its head. DAHHHH Blue Jays win! And the team tries to seal the Honmoon with a new baseball fight song. How did Doug Ford convince Ronald Reagan to star in the Premier’s new ad? Plus, New Brunswick is having a fire sale of the American liquor it pulled of the shelves. Gavin Crawford quizzes Miguel Rivas, Ann Pornel and Brandon Ash-Mohammed about this week’s headlines. (This episode aired October 2025)</p
August 28 · 27 min
The phantom separatists of Alberta
Who is behind all these fake Alberta separatists on YouTube? They can’t even pronounce “Regina” correctly. The Tragically Hip is now a musical and there’s a real connection to Because News. With soaring fuel prices more fees are being added to our flights. Thanks, America. Try a new nightly ritual that will make you feel alive: mortality check-ins. Or try a new nightly ritual that will make you fall asleep: bedtime stacking. Gavin Crawford hosts the news quiz with comedians Jan Caruana, Kris
August 21 · 27 min
The gender fart gap
Artemis II breaks a record and a toilet. A new app is changing the way we run away from angry Canada geese. Polymarket and Kalshi are letting people test their luck and bucks on the prediction market. Why were the sites in the headlines this week? And who has stinkier farts: men or women? Yes, this was a news story this week. Listen now to this week’s panel of Miguel Rivas, Ann Pornel and Martha Chaves with host Gavin Crawford. (This episode aired April 2026)
August 14 · 27 min
The secret to aging faster
Difficult people age you faster, so Trump has made us all ancient. This week, when he needed backup in Iran, his allies said, “New phone, who dis?” Taylor Swift fans at her Vancouver show might be getting refunds because their seats were that bad. The rich are now collecting dinosaur skeletons instead of fine art. And people are running while churning butter in their backpacks — or, as some call it, Amish CrossFit. A special episode from Vancouver, with host Gavin Crawford and comedians Ivan
August 7 · 27 min
RIP Frozen juice
Will the Minions be banished…from the Olympics? Will Alberta betray Canada and join the US? Will Jean Chrétien and Stephen Harper form an alliance? Plot twist, what is ski-mo? Has frozen juice been murdered? Mattea Roach, Eric Peterson and Jan Caruana take the news quiz with host Gavin Crawford. (This episode aired February 2026)
July 31 · 27 min
Middle powers unite!
Why did Mark Carney get a standing ovation at DAVOS? Should Canada be “grateful” to Donald Trump? Is Greenland, Iceland? Which Canadian is going to space? How is Muskoka and Ottawa capitalizing on Heated Rivalry? What is a hegemon? (This episode aired January 2026)
July 24 · 27 min
When marketing a blockbuster goes too far
Wicked is impossible to avoid, even on this podcast. “Quiet, Piggy” did not rank in the most-used words of the year, but parasocial did. Why was it chosen as the word of 2025? A Hamilton man stole a bus and no one was hurt, so we rejoice about a victimless crime that does not include any mention of files or famine. Gavin Crawford quizzes Andrew Phung, Eric Peterson and Jan Caruana about this week’s headlines. (This episode aired November 2025)
July 17 · 27 min
Could there be a fourth traffic light colour?
Our panellists beg: please, Santa, do not bring us a Christmas election. Red, yellow and green traffic lights are outdated because a fourth colour might be added to intersections. There’s a big innovation in menstrual products and thank god, it’s not AI! Peanut allergies have fallen fast, yet the PB sandwich remains a schoolyard crime. Why no one’s allowed to celebrate The Great Peanut Comeback just yet. (This episode aired November 2025)
July 10 · 27 min
The art heist that captivated the world
The world is so bleak the Louvre heist feels like a happy story. Whatever will become of Napoleon’s family jewels? And please donate to our Go Jays Gofundme so we can get World Series tickets. The media has the Blue Jays as underdogs, but what’s underneath an underdog? Meanwhile, Pierre Poilievre can’t stop talking about his ex-running mate, Justin Trudeau. Finally, our panellists are trying to speedrun a high grindscore. (This episode aired October 2025)
July 3 · 27 min
Chinese EVs are on their way!
In peaceful Nova Scotia, elites will take refuge in a cold war-era bunker to escape the end times. Not a bad way to go! K-Pop Demon Hunters takes down Squid Game.The double date is popular again. Chinese EVs are hard to get but Mark Carney is signaling he might make it easier. Gavin Crawford makes games out of the news with Eric Peterson, Andrew Phung and Carley Thorne. (This episode aired September 2025)
June 26 · 27 min
Olivia Rodrigo’s Femme Summer is here
Canada is in the knockout round in the World Cup. Mosquito buckets are trending. Calgary’s Cowboys Festival and the mayor had an Alberta-sized beef. Stampede eats make us hungry for the Area 51 burger. Olivia Rodrigo champions an all-women music festival. Guest host Andrew Phung quizzes comedians Jan Caruana, Rebecca Kohler, and Brandon Ash-Mohammed.
June 19 · 27 min
Why is everything protein-packed now?
Rush is back with a sick new drummer, and fans are impressed. J.D. Vance has a new book about Catholicism, and the reviews are not good. Have we taken the protein craze too far now that there's no whey? Guest host Jan Caruana quizzes comedians Tom Hearn, Kris Siddiqi, and Martha Chaves.
June 12 · 27 min
Bravo, Vancouver, you’re the best World Cup city
Trump hosts a massive cage match at the White House, and only military hotties are invited. Canada’s job at the FIFA World Cup is to party and maybe win one game? Meet the tick that makes you allergic to meat. Is this a ploy by Big Vegan? Host Gavin Crawford quizzes comedians Colin Mochrie, Rebecca Kohler, and Miguel Rivas.
June 5 · 27 min
Receding, shrinking, stalling. It’s not your man, it’s the economy
Pierre Poilievre wants to Uno-Reverse a decade of Liberal policy. It’s 1973 again, with high inflation, soaring gas prices and separatist talk. Canadian teens tease Trump with American Dictator board game. Are you smarter than a Grade 9 science fair winner? (No.) We celebrate the winners of the Canada-Wide Science Fair. Host Gavin Crawford quizzes comedians Leslie Seiler, Craig Lauzon and Jennifer Hsiung.
May 29 · 31 min
To separate or not to separate, that is Danielle’s question
Premier Danielle Smith thinks B.C. ports are Canada’s ports, so who owns Alberta’s oil? Pope Leo takes aim at AI. What does the world’s oldest English poem sound like? The secret of why T-Rex had tiny arms has been solved. As FIFA descends upon Toronto and Vancouver, so do the FIFA bar police. Host Gavin Crawford quizzes comedians Martha Chaves, Carley Thorne and James Hartnett.
May 22 · 32 min
Montreal Canadiens fans triggered an actual earthquake reading
Thanks to Laufey, 2026 could be the year of the Wasians. The people of France are drinking more beer than wine. The best Canadian film you’ve never heard of has already won international acclaim - now it may take home the biggest film prize in Canada. Microearthquakes were recorded in Montreal when The Habs scored. Guest host Andrew Phung quizzes panellists Hart Shouldice, Emma Hunter and Alice Moran.

Showing 1–20 of 26 episodes