The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/01/25 at 04:00 EST

Episode Date: January 25, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/01/25 at 04:00 EST

Well, it's safe to say 2025 is off to an interesting start. I'll say. And if you're trying to sort through what's real and what's relevant from a Canadian perspective, we're here for you. Your World Tonight is more than just a recap of daily news. Our team goes deeper on the stories that speak to the moment to give you the full picture. I'm Susan Bonner. I'm Tom Harrington. And I'm Stephanie Scanderas.

Together we bring you the day's news, context and analysis, all in about 25 minutes. Your World Tonight from CBC News. Find and follow us wherever you get your podcasts. From CBC News, the world this hour. I'm Mike Miles. Fresh from announcing a snap election, Ontario Premier Doug Ford is holding a super caucus meeting today for all progressive conservative candidates. As Philip Lee Shinnock reports, it's expected to be a strategy session focusing on plans

to combat U.S. tariffs and political opponents here at home. God help us if that ever happens. Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his political rivals don't have what it takes to go up against U.S. President Donald Trump, which will be a generational challenge that will need a strong mandate from voters. To prepare, Ford is holding a special meeting at a Toronto hotel. Yeah, the super caucus event. We're having everyone by and having a good chat, telling them what's going on.

Peter Grafe teaches political science at McMaster University. He says it's less about Trump and more about winning. He holds a very strong majority in the legislature and has had no difficulty acting as Premier of Ontario and getting things passed. An internal memo says the event will provide you with the tools, training and resources needed for a winning election campaign, including photos with Ford, door-to-door canvassing tips and sign strategies. Ontario voters will head to the polls on February 27th, more than a year ahead of schedule.

Philip Lee Shannock, CBC News, Toronto. US President Donald Trump was in Los Angeles Friday to survey the destruction caused by the wildfires. I don't think you can realize how rough it is, how devastating it is until you see it. I didn't realize it. I mean, I saw a lot of bad things on television, but the extent of it, the size of it, we flew over it in a helicopter. We flew to a few of the areas and it is devastation. It's incredible.

It's really an incineration. Trump also said he stands behind California 100 percent, adding he's looking at waiving federal permits and tariffs on construction materials needed to be reballed. In the end, it comes down to one vote. But former Fox News host Pete Hagseth is now the U.S. defense secretary and the third confirmed member of Donald Trump's cabinet. Ira Spitzer reports. Mr. McConnell, no.

Former House Speaker Mitch McConnell joined fellow Republicans Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, as well as all 47 Democrats, in opposing Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's pick for Secretary of Defense. The yeas are 50 and the nays are 50. With the chamber deadlocked, Vice President JD Vance used his tie-breaking vote to install the 44-year-old former TV presenter and Army veteran at the head of the world's most powerful military.

At a tense confirmation hearing, Hegseth faced allegations of alcohol abuse and sexual assault. His opponents also raised concerns over his lack of management experience and his previous opposition to women in combat roles. The narrow vote margin was the closest ever for a U.S. defense secretary's confirmation. Ira Spitzer for CBC News in San Francisco. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith continues her calls for diplomacy as Trump continues to threaten damage Canada's economy with tariffs. National Observer columnist Max Fossett says

Smith is taking a much different approach than in her grievances with the federal government. Why is it that she can always find a across and strong word for Justin Trudeau but cannot find a critical word for Donald Trump? The disconnect there between what is happening to Alberta and the way she describes it is just so striking to me. Fossett calls Trump's talk of tariffs and cutting off Canadian imports a much bigger threat to the Alberta economy than federal environmental policies. And after months of Trump tariff threats, mayors of cities and towns along the Canada-U.S.

border are forming a new partnership, the Border Mayors Alliance, aimed at safeguarding communities and bringing a municipal perspective to an international discussion. Windsor, Ontario Mayor Drew Dilkens chairs the group. We expect that at the federal level that there will be diplomatic talks at the federal level between Washington and Ottawa. We know the premiers are working their angles with governors, rightfully so, because many of the states in the US call Canada the number one customer of the goods produced here. And we want to link arms with our mayors on the other side because their communities have just as much to lose as ours." Trump has said he would impose a 25% tariff on goods imported into the U.S. from Canada. That is your World This Hour. For CBC News, I'm Mike Miles.