Podcast Summary: Your World Tonight — “Backlash to Kimmel’s Backlash, Trump in the UK, Rice Worms, and More”

CBC | Hosts: Susan Bonner & Stephanie Skenderis | Date: September 18, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Your World Tonight dives deep into several pressing stories making headlines from both Canada and the world. The show leads with the escalating fallout over the suspension of U.S. late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, examining wider concerns about free speech in America under Trump’s presidency. The episode also assesses Canada’s struggle to meet its climate goals, the impact of U.S. research cuts on Canadian pediatric cancer trials, a crisis facing Saskatchewan’s wild rice crop due to invasive worms, updates on Donald Trump’s UK state visit, and a surprising Blue Jays baseball run. The episode concludes with an intriguing segment about the evolutionary roots of alcohol consumption in primates.

Main Segments and Key Insights

1. Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension: Free Speech at Risk?

[00:43]–[04:39]

• Event Recap: Jimmy Kimmel’s show is suspended after his monologue referencing the political implications of the Charlie Kirk killing, suggesting it is being used for political attacks by the "MAGA gang."
• Government Pressure: The FCC reportedly pressured ABC after backlash, leading to the show's suspension.
• Polarized Reactions:
  • Free Speech Advocates: Outrage against what’s seen as government censorship.
    • Comedian Marc Maron commented:

      "If they can come for Kimmel, they can come for anybody. This is happening. It’s time to act." — Marc Maron [03:05]

  • Democrats: Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer called the pressure on ABC “abhorrent, obnoxious, and repulsive.” [03:35]
• Trump’s Response:

  "Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings more than anything else. He said a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk… He was fired for lack of talent." — Donald Trump [04:02]
  Trump also hints at possibly revoking network licenses over negative coverage.

• FCC Chair’s Statement:

  "Our goal and our obligation here is to make sure that broadcasters are serving the public interest." — Brendan Carr [04:20]

2. The Broader Assault on U.S. Democratic Institutions

[04:39]–[07:37]

• Pattern of Crackdowns: The Kimmel affair is placed in context with other moves perceived as attacks on protest, the media, and academia.
• Expert Analysis:
  • Jason Stanley, U of T:

    “The United States government is on the early midway point towards a dictatorship.” [05:26]
    He argues Trump is weaponizing supposedly independent institutions to target dissent.

  • Mark Bray, Rutgers:
    Sees Trump’s attempt to label ANTIFA as terrorism as a transparent demonization strategy:

    “It seems like a rather transparent effort… to demonize the left writ large under the rubric of a term..." [07:00]

  • David Frum:

    “Never lose your ability to be shocked. That’s a resource for dictators.” [07:33]

• Summary: The experts warn of a coordinated effort to stifle dissent and weaken democratic norms, with attacks on media, universities, and protest rights.

3. Trump’s UK Visit and Diplomatic Drama

[08:52]–[12:23]

• State Visit Highlights:
  • Business First: Major tech and nuclear deals signed with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
  • Diplomatic Dance: Both leaders largely avoid confrontation on contentious issues like Gaza (Starmer sides toward recognizing Palestinian state, Trump opposes) and Ukraine.
    • Trump:

      "I have a disagreement with the Prime Minister on that score." [10:20]

  • Awkward Moment: Starmer fires U.S. Ambassador over Epstein ties, subject delicately ducked by Trump.
• Overall Tone: The visit is portrayed as a pragmatic exercise to keep relations smooth, with Trump enjoying the ceremonial pageantry.

4. U.S. Funding Cuts Threaten Canadian Pediatric Cancer Trials

[12:23]–[15:39]

• Story: Cuts to American pediatric brain tumor research halt several clinical trials at SickKids and other Canadian sites.
• Impact:
  • Dr. Jim Whitlock:

    "Some of the most promising therapies… there are really not studies of equivalent promise that we have access to." [13:41]

  • Dr. Tai Hoa Tran, St. Justine Hospital:

    "Enrollment has ceased for Canadian children." [14:27]

  • Dr. Sheila Singh, McMaster:

    "We actually had two patients… who could have been eligible for one of those trials. But now those trials have been closed." [14:33]

• Call to Action: Canadian researchers stress the need for homegrown capacity and government support for clinical trials.

5. Grim Climate Change Report for Canada

[15:43]–[18:23]

• Findings: Canadian Climate Institute declares meeting 2030 emission targets “impossible” under current policies.
  • Dave Sawyer, Climate Institute:

    “It’s obvious… simply can’t be achieved with the current policy trajectory.” [16:03]

• Key Obstacles: Fossil fuel production, policy rollbacks, and slow progress on carbon pricing/electric vehicles.
• Government Reaction:
  • Minister Julie DeBruzen:
    Emphasizes progress since the previous Conservative government, affirms “economic, moral and existential obligation” to cut emissions. [17:53]
• Climate Community: Growing impatience with PM Mark Carney’s slow progress, urging decisive action.

6. Rice Worms Threaten Saskatchewan’s Wild Rice

[18:23]–[21:44]

• On the Ground: Rice worms, likely spreading due to climate change, devastate the northern wild rice harvest—a vital Cree community resource.
• Economic Toll: Drastic drop from 400 to 20 bags per harvest for some families. Rice buyer Lionel Smith:

  "20, 30% of your crop is damaged. So we don’t even pick that area..." [19:50]

• Search for Solutions: Scientists are piloting pheromone traps and studying causes (potentially rising temperatures, forest fires).
• Cultural Impact: Phyllis Smith, harvester:

  “You almost feel like there’s no use for me having a harvesting boat… I almost want to give up." [21:00]

7. Blue Jays Baseball Fever

[21:44]–[24:38]

• Surprise Surge: Toronto Blue Jays exceed expectations, igniting World Series hopes.
• Fan Buzz:
  Producer Shoali:

  “The response from fans is great. They call in all the time, which makes my job a lot easier, actually." [22:22]

  • Sportsnet Host Jeff Blair is optimistic:

    "Yeah, I think they have a chance of going to the World Series." [23:56]

• Cultural Moment: National deals for TV coverage highlight surging interest after years of frustration. Fans savor newfound hope.

8. The “Drunken Monkey” Hypothesis: Why Primates Drink

[24:38]–[26:50]

• New Science: Evolutionary physiologist Robert Dudley discusses his research into primate attraction to alcohol.

  “I sort of wonder…was there any possible link?” — Robert Dudley [25:23]

• Findings: Chimps routinely seek out fermented fruits for calories, sometimes consuming the human equivalent of 1–1.5 drinks per day to survive [25:50].
• Evolutionary Perspective: The taste for alcohol may have evolutionary benefits—extra sugar and calories from fermentation—but getting drunk is rarely the goal.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Marc Maron, on Kimmel suspension [03:05]:

  "If they can come for Kimmel, they can come for anybody. This is happening. It's time to act."

• Chuck Schumer, on governmental pressure [03:35]:

  “This is an assault on everything this country has stood for since the Constitution's been signed.”

• Jason Stanley, on democracy [05:26]:

  “The United States government is on the early midway point, or early midway point, towards a dictatorship.”

• Dave Sawyer, on emissions [16:03]:

  “It's obvious… simply can't be achieved with the current policy trajectory.”

• Phyllis Smith, rice harvester [21:00]:

  “You almost feel like there's no use for me having a harvesting boat… I almost want to give up.”

Timestamps Guide

| Segment | Start – End | |-----------------------------------------------|------------------| | Kimmel Suspension & Free Speech | 00:43 – 04:39 | | Crackdowns on Dissent/Democratic Institutions | 04:39 – 07:37 | | Trump in the UK (State Visit) | 08:52 – 12:23 | | U.S. Cuts to Pediatric Research in Canada | 12:23 – 15:39 | | Canada's Missed Climate Targets | 15:43 – 18:23 | | Saskatchewan Wild Rice Worm Crisis | 18:23 – 21:44 | | Blue Jays Playoff Fever | 21:44 – 24:38 | | Drunken Monkey, Evolution & Alcohol | 24:38 – 26:50 |

Conclusion

This episode weaves together international and Canadian stories about the erosion of political freedoms, climate urgency, cross-border scientific setbacks, food security under threat, and moments of unity and hope—whether in sports or evolutionary science. The tone is probing and analytical, with a distinctly Canadian perspective, and offers listeners a rounded, compelling catch-up on the day’s defining news.