Your World Tonight (CBC) – December 5, 2025

Episode: Frank Gehry dies, sport/politics mix at FIFA, Indigenous items repatriated, and more
Hosts: Stephanie Skenderas, Susan Bonner

Overview

This episode delves into significant stories shaping Canada and the world. The top headline marks the passing of legendary architect Frank Gehry and explores his creative legacy. The show covers the intersection of sports and geopolitics at the FIFA World Cup draw in Washington, DC—where Canadian trade relations with the US are at stake alongside World Cup matchups. Additional segments examine the return of Indigenous artifacts from the Vatican, a shake-up in the entertainment industry as Netflix acquires Warner Bros., new economic data pointing towards a rebound, concerns about the safety of glyphosate, changes in hepatitis B vaccine guidelines in the US, and a lighter note with Ryan Reynolds and Freddie Freeman for a SickKids fundraiser.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Remembering Frank Gehry (00:26–05:18)

• Gehry’s Impact on Architecture:
  Frank Gehry, a Canadian-born visionary, is celebrated for designs that sculpt steel and glass into iconic forms.
  • “Architecture, I believe, is an art. Some of the greatest artists, El Greco, Giotto, were all architects. So it was a seamless profession.” – Frank Gehry (00:26)
• Personal History:
  Gehry was born Frank Goldberg in Toronto in 1929. Endured antisemitism, changed his surname to Gehry.
• Signature Works:
  • Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao: Credited with transforming the city (“the Bilbao Effect”) (03:18–03:22)
  • Dancing House, Prague – nicknamed for its likeness to dancers
  • Art Gallery of Ontario renovation in Toronto, with a spiral staircase meant to inspire romance:
    • “He had a very romantic sense of the staircase.” – Stefan Yost (04:12–04:16)
• Philosophy & Legacy:
  Gehry kept working into his 90s because he loved people and solving problems:
  • “The people relationships are really the most important things.” – Frank Gehry (04:29)
• Final Projects:
  Gehry’s final design, two stainless steel towers in Toronto, is under construction.

2. Canada-U.S. Relations at the FIFA World Cup Draw (05:18–08:01)

• Diplomatic Reset:
  Prime Minister Mark Carney used his visit for the World Cup draw in Washington as an informal opening to reset relations with President Donald Trump, with Mexico's President also present.
• Trade Negotiations:
  • Trade talks on CUSMA stalled over a tariff-related TV ad; now potential for thaw after “private, informal” face time.
  • “We’re getting along very well.” – Donald Trump (05:52)
  • “This is a chance to lighten the mood.” – Diamond Isinger, former advisor (06:45)
• Expert Caution:
  • “Now is not a time when we’re going to get a very good deal out of the US. But I think conditions will improve over time.” – Steve Verhool, ex-lead negotiator (07:13)
  • Key exemptions (steel, autos) remain; tone is better, but uncertainty with Trump prevails.

3. FIFA World Cup Draw: Canada’s Path (08:01–11:09)

• Canada’s Group:
  Canada will face Qatar and a (to-be-determined) UEFA playoff winner (Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, or Italy).
  • “Right. We saw that with baseball with the Jays recently...” – Deepak Puri, fan (08:39)
• Community Impact:
  • Toronto FC’s Jonathan Osorio notes it’s a tough group; possibility of facing Italy resonates with Italian Canadians.
  • “The luck of the draw is…hugely important in terms of setting teams up for success or failure.” – John Molinaro (10:00)
• Legacy and Optimism:
  • Bob Lenarduzzi draws pride from playing at home:
    • “Anytime you pull the red jersey on as a player…that pride is just going to go through the roof.” (10:33)

4. Indigenous Repatriation: Vatican Museum Returns (11:27–12:22, 23:17–26:25)

• The Story:
  After a century at the Vatican Museum, a rare Inuvialuit sealskin kayak and 61 other Indigenous artifacts are being returned to Canada.
• Cultural Significance:
  • “It's heartwarming...It's a part of our history, our culture and what it means to the Inuvalavut in general.” – Duane Smith, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (24:44–24:50)
  • Artifacts were once sent by missionaries to represent Indigenous life—it's often unclear if they were gifts or taken.
• Process & Impact:
  • The return was spurred by Inuit requests, which helped accelerate the return of First Nations and Metis items as well.
  • Final destination of artifacts to be decided by Indigenous leaders after examination in Gatineau, Quebec.
  • “We want some of our elders and people that continue to have a lot of knowledge with kayaks to have access to look at the traditional methods that were used.” – Duane Smith (26:08)

5. Economic Update: Signs of a Rebound (12:22–15:15)

• Job Numbers:
  • Unemployment drops to 6.5% as 54,000 jobs (mostly part time, for youth) are added.
  • “It is, it's, it's huge. And that big of a drop in that short of a time, it just doesn't happen very often.” – Peter Armstrong, Sr. business correspondent (14:48)
• Expert Voices:
  • Avery Schoenfeld, CIBC: More youth jobs could signal early-stage recovery, as they’re typically last hired.
  • Douglas Porter, BMO, notes the sharp decline in unemployment is rare—comparable only to the late 1990s tech boom.

6. Netflix Acquires Warner Bros for $72 Billion (15:15–18:14)

• Blockbuster Deal:
  • Netflix will buy Warner Bros., incorporating its vast catalogue (HBO, DC, Harry Potter) into its streaming empire.
• Industry Reactions:
  • Paolo Pescatori, UK analyst: “This kind of preserves, you know, Hollywood and gives Hollywood a chance to thrive…” (16:33)
  • Critics worry about “fewer movies that are put into theaters.” – Michael O’Leary, Cinema United (16:49)
• Regulatory Concerns:
  • Senator Elizabeth Warren calls it an “anti-monopoly nightmare.”
  • Filmmaker Sasha Lee Henry voices concern for Canadian artists:
    • “It’s concerning wondering if that means that the breadth of what they’ll be looking for will be narrow.” (18:05)

7. Glyphosate Study Retracted: Safety in Question (19:10–21:47)

• Background:
  Glyphosate, the key ingredient in Roundup and one of Canada's most-used herbicides, faces renewed scrutiny.
• Study Issues:
  • A 25-year-old study supporting glyphosate’s safety is retracted after concerns of industry (Monsanto) influence.
  • “They continue to rely on industry funded science despite the fact that we've seen time and again over the years that you can't trust what these guys put out.” – Bruce Lanphear, Simon Fraser University (20:33)
• Official Response:
  • Health Canada stands by its 2017 review but acknowledges the retraction; approval stands until 2032.

8. Hepatitis B Vaccine, U.S. Changes (21:53–22:56)

• Policy Rethink:
  • U.S. vaccine advisory panel (members appointed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.) limits hepatitis B recommendations to higher-risk babies only.
  • “This has a great potential to cause harm and I simply hope the committee will accept its responsibility when this harm is caused. And I vote no.” – Dr. Joseph Hibbelin (22:25)
• Contrast with Canada:
  • Canadian provinces continue day-of-birth or early infant hepatitis B vaccination to prevent serious liver disease.

9. Ryan Reynolds & Freddie Freeman: SickKids Fundraising (26:44–28:33)

• Comic Relief for a Cause:
  • Ryan Reynolds and baseball star Freddie Freeman star in a playful SickKids Hospital fundraiser spot.
  • Blue Jays fans rib Freeman for “ruining everything” after LA Dodgers’ World Series victory, but the encounter is good-spirited.
  • “You've really got some nerve coming here. You ruined everything.” (27:46)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Frank Gehry (00:26):
  “Architecture, I believe, is an art. Some of the greatest artists, El Greco, Giotto, were all architects. So it was a seamless profession.”

• Stefan Yost recalling Gehry’s spiral staircase (04:12):
  “He imagined it as a place where somebody might be walking up and somebody else might be walking down; it's so beautiful, they might see somebody and they might fall in love.”

• Donald Trump at FIFA draw (05:52):
  “And we’re getting along very well.”

• Diamond Isinger on diplomatic reset (06:45):
  “This is a chance to lighten the mood.”

• John Molinaro, Canadian soccer journalist (10:00):
  “The luck of the draw is…hugely important in terms of setting teams up for success or failure.”

• Bob Lenarduzzi, on home field pride (10:33):
  “Anytime you pull the red jersey on as a player…that pride is just going to go through the roof.”

• Peter Armstrong, unemployment context (14:48):
  “It’s, it's huge. And that big of a drop in that short of a time, it just doesn't happen very often.”

• Michael O’Leary, Cinema United (16:49):
  “There will be fewer movies that are put into theaters.”

• Bruce Lanphear, SFU (20:33):
  “They continue to rely on industry funded science despite the fact that we've seen time and again over the years that you can't trust what these guys put out.”

• Dr. Joseph Hibbelin, vaccine panel (22:25):
  “This has a great potential to cause harm and I simply hope that the committee will accept its responsibility when this harm is caused. And I vote no.”

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Frank Gehry Tribute & Legacy: 00:26 – 05:18
• Canada-U.S. Trade Talks at FIFA Draw: 05:18 – 08:01
• FIFA World Cup Draw – Canada: 08:01 – 11:09
• Economic News – Rebound?: 12:22 – 15:15
• Netflix Buys Warner Bros.: 15:15 – 18:14
• Glyphosate Study Retraction: 19:10 – 21:47
• Hepatitis B Vaccine Panel Change (U.S.): 21:53 – 22:56
• Indigenous Repatriation, Vatican Museums: 23:17 – 26:25
• SickKids Fundraiser (Reynolds/Freeman): 26:44 – 28:33

This episode exemplifies the CBC’s commitment to integrating context, expert insight, and Canadian perspective on the biggest stories of the week, ranging from culture and diplomacy to public health and the recalibration of history.