Cross Country Checkup

2025 gave Canada no shortage of news — political shocks, global conflict, cultural moments, and a year that pulled emotions in every direction.In Cross Country Checkup’s annual Year in News Special, guest host David Common sits down with a panel of CBC journalists: Paul Hunter, Susan Ormiston, and Aaron Wherry, reflecting on the biggest stories, the missed ones, and the conversations Canadians carried through it all.Our question: What was the most important news story of 2025? Which one didn’t get enough attention?

The holidays are here; and that usually means cookies, egg nog, cheeses, deli meats and plenty of indulgence. But new research is renewing concerns about ultra-processed foods and their links to higher risks of disease.What exactly counts as an ultra-processed food? Why are they so hard to stop eating? And does eating better over the holidays mean cutting out all your favourites, or are there realistic alternatives?Our question: From egg nog to deli meats — what questions do you have about ultra-processed foods and eating better over the holidays?

You’re making that big holiday dinner; juggling vegetables, a turkey, stuffing and sides. But with all the distractions, food safety can easily slip. Dinner rolls sitting where the raw turkey thawed? Was that knife used for meat or vegetables? And does it really matter?This holiday season also comes with active food recalls, including salmonella concerns linked to pistachio products and listeria risks in prepared salads and snack trays often served at gatherings.Our question: E. coli, listeria and salmonella; what questions do you have about meal prep and food safety over the holidays?

From whiteout conditions to multi-car pileups, winter driving across Canada can turn dangerous fast. Nearly 400 crashes were reported in southwestern Ontario during a recent storm, and a youth hockey team bus crash in northern Alberta has raised fresh concerns about road safety. Our question: From black ice to blizzards, what’s your winter accident story? Do you feel safe driving on Canada’s roads and highways?

President Donald Trump says the U.S. has a “tremendous” relationship with Canada — but for many Canadians, the bond with American friends and family might feel strained. Political divisions have led to awkward gatherings, muted conversations, and in some cases, skipping holiday visits altogether. Our question: Are you gathering with American friends or family over the holidays? How are the Canada–U.S. relationships going in your life?