Front Burner

The energy crisis spurred by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz is wreaking economic havoc on much of the world; especially in Asia and Europe, where shortages have already forced people to ration fuel, travel less for work, and pay more for food.

And it could all get even worse, because this week, after ceasefire talks fell apart, the Trump administration imposed a blockade of its own. Now, as both countries play a high stakes game of chicken on the Strait, many questions remain. What ships can and can’t be allowed through? Will the blockade actually pressure Iran to capitulate? How much worse could this crisis get? We’re joined by Ian Ralby, a leading expert in international maritime law and security.

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

Pope Leo has once again criticized the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, saying “I don’t think the message of the gospel is meant to be abused in the way some people are doing, and I will continue to speak out loudly against war.”

This is not the first time the pontiff has criticized Trump's behaviour and policies.

Trump responded with a Truth Social post calling the Pope “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy”. Trump later posted and deleted an image depicting himself as a Christ-like figure. Reporting also suggests Trump officials issued a veiled threat involving military force against the Vatican.

Today, we look at the President and the Pope’s competing visions of the world. Our guest is Christopher Hale, a democratic political operative and author of the Substack ‘Letters from Leo’ which focuses on the intersection of Catholicism and U.S. politics.

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

With last night’s byelection wins, Prime Minister Mark Carney is now leading a majority government. But after five floor crossers joined the Liberals, spanning from the NDP to the social conservative wing of the Conservative party, there are questions around what exactly that government stands for.

Aaron Wherry is a senior writer with CBC’s parliamentary bureau. He’s here to talk about how a majority will change things for the Liberals, and what Carney’s big tent looks like.

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

After a fourth Conservative MP crossed over last week, the Liberals are now only one seat shy of an official majority. And with two out of three byelections taking place today in safe Liberal ridings, it’s widely expected that Mark Carney and the Liberals will get their majority government after the results come in.

Tonda MacCharles is the Toronto Star’s Ottawa bureau chief. She’s here to talk about the challenges facing Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, whether he can keep his caucus in line, and if there’s a case for pushing him out now.

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

After six weeks of war and a fragile ceasefire Iran is going into high-level talks with the U.S. battered but defiant. Whether any kind of real agreement can be reached remains to be seen. The U.S. and Iran are extremely far apart in their demands.

Vali Nasr is a professor of international affairs and Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University and the author of “Iran’s Grand Strategy: A Political History”. He joins us to talk about why Iran’s leadership remains steadfast and what the war has meant for its domestic and international standing.

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts