The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/11/18 at 18:00 EST

Episode Date: November 18, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/11/18 at 18:00 EST

You may have heard of the sex cult nexium and the famous actress who went to prison for her involvement, Alison Mack. But she's never told her side of the story, until now. People assume that I'm like this pervert. My name is Natalie Robamed, and in my new podcast, I talked to Alison to try to understand how she went from TV actor to cult member and what she thinks of it all now. How do you feel about having been involved in bringing sexual trauma at other people? I mean, I don't even know how to answer that question. Alison, after nexium from CBC's on cover, is available now, wherever you get your podcasts. From CBC News, the world this hour, I'm Stephanie Skanderas.

The bill to release the U.S. Justice Department's files on Jeffrey Epstein is rocketing through Congress. The Senate approved it before it even came to their chamber. What remains is the U.S. president's signature. It comes after Donald Trump abruptly changed his mind about the release, and urged Republicans to vote in favor. Katie Nicholson has the very latest. Let the truth come out. Let transparency reign.

Even before the measure officially left the House, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer proposed his chamber unanimously approve it, and it passed. This is about holding accountable all the people in Jeffrey Epstein's circle who raped, groomed, targeted, and enabled the abuse of hundreds of girls. This, after it earlier, sailed through the House and with, one representative voting against it. The bill is passed and without objection,

the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. There was applause from lawmakers and many of Epstein's victims and accusers who watched from the gallery. After official approval from both chambers, the bill will now move to the president's desk. Donald Trump has said he would sign it into law. Katie Nicholson, CBC News, Washington. Meanwhile, Donald Trump welcomed Saudi Arabia's crown prince

to the White House. Muhammad bin Salman came with promises to invest nearly a trillion dollars in business deals and security agreements. The meeting largely skirted human rights concerns, despite U.S. intelligence that directly ties bin Salman to the 2018 killing of a Washington Post journalist. Trump dismissed accusations. The Crown Prince ordered the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about, whether you like him or didn't like him.

Things happened, but he knew nothing about it. Bin Salman once again denied any involvement in Khashoggi's death. Here in Canada, Nunavut has a new premier. MLAs elected John Main in a secret ballot after he and rival David Akiyagok made their pitches. Nunavut operates under a consensus government, which means there are no political parties. Maine was most recently the territory's health minister in the previous assembly. He is the first non-in-uk premier in Nunavut. history, though he was raised there and speaks fluent ineptitude.

The Alberta government has tabled legislation that would use the notwithstanding clause to shield three controversial gender bills from court challenges. The bills passed last year, putting new limits on medical and surgical treatment options for transgender youth and banning trans women and girls from taking part in female-only sports teams. Premier Danielle Smith says the ongoing court challenges are causing too much uncertainty. As a government, we have a responsibility, a responsibility to provide clarity, a responsibility to protect all children and youth, and a responsibility to give parents, not institutions or courts, the primary role in life-changing decisions about their children. If passed, the bill would

immunize the policies from the Charter of Rights and Freedoms for five years. Ontario's Doug Ford government is exploring new measures that would see impaired drivers who kill a parent paying ongoing child support. Talia Sarv has more. Young people who lose their parents are obviously losing a source of support and income. They're often dependent. It's the rough reality for those who face tragedy early in their lives. Steve Sullivan is president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada, backing the Ontario government in considering measures to ease that financial burden. At the centre of its proposal, making impaired drivers pay child support for victims' families. In 2023, Texas introduced a similar policy

where drivers convicted of intoxicated manslaughter pay child support until the impacted youth turns 18. While Ontario's Attorney General says the move would strengthen accountability, criminal lawyer Jordan Donich, has concerns. I think what the government's trying to do is right in principle from a compensation point of view, but I don't know if it's actually going to prevent the loss in the first place.

Impaired driving is the leading cause of death on Ontario motorways. Talia Sarve, CBC News, Toronto. And that's the world this hour. For CBC News, I'm Stephanie Scandaris.