Your World Tonight – December 23, 2025

Hosts: Susan Bonner and Stephanie Skenderis
Summary by Angie Seth
Podcast: CBC
Episode Title: More Epstein files, Avalanche Risk, the Push for Raw Milk, and More

Overview

This episode of Your World Tonight offers a deep dive into some of the biggest news stories of the day from a Canadian perspective. Key topics include the release of new Jeffrey Epstein files and the ensuing global scrutiny, rising avalanche risk in the Rockies, renewed debate over raw milk sales in Alberta, the rise of e-scooter injuries, advances in fitness wearables, updates on Canadian military uniforms for women, and a historical art mystery in Newfoundland. The hosts focus on context, analysis, and bringing under-reported angles to the fore.

Key Segments & Highlights

1. Epstein Files: More Documents, More Confusion

• Timestamps: 01:15 – 07:30

Discussion Points:

• Over 30,000 new documents related to Jeffrey Epstein have been released by the US Department of Justice.
• The files are heavily redacted, leading to more confusion than clarity regarding who was involved and when.
• Specific attention to notable figures:
  • Donald Trump: Records indicate at least eight flights on Epstein’s jet between 1993 and 1996; Trump downplays association.
  • Prince Andrew: E-mails from “the Invisible Man” (allegedly Prince Andrew) to Ghislaine Maxwell hint at “looking for a bit of action with the girls.”
  • Canadian connection: DOJ documents describe a connection between Andrew and Peter Nygard, the disgraced Canadian fashion mogul convicted of sexual assault.

Notable Quotes:

• Charlene Rochard, Canadian survivor advocate (03:30):
  “We are not a hoax. We are not lying. ... We're protecting predators and not children. We were children at this time.”
• Melba Pierson, Florida attorney (04:30):
  “If [the evidence] leads to the doorstep of the President, so be it. If it leads to the doorstep of a prior President, so be it. Crimes have been committed and people need to be held accountable.”
• Andrew Loney, Royal biographer (05:45):
  “Each new disclosure of this drip drip feed of material lowers not just him [Prince Andrew] in the estimation of the British people, but also the Royal family.”

2. Ukraine: Russian Strikes and Ongoing War

• Timestamps: 08:00 – 12:30

Discussion Points:

• Russia launches wide-scale overnight strikes across Ukraine, killing at least three (including a child).
• Extensive destruction leaves thousands without power in freezing temperatures.
• Ongoing (but stalling) peace talks, with US mediation efforts and direct remarks from President Zelensky and Donald Trump.
• Ukrainian resilience is highlighted as the country faces its fourth Christmas at war.

Notable Quotes:

• Ukrainian father after drone attack (09:40):
  "I ran back to the flat and I saw what happened. The flat was destroyed. Inside, all the furniture was damaged."
• Olena Dolochova, teacher (11:10):
  "Just when the power is restored, all of our schedules are disrupted again and we are left without electricity, without stability, sitting in the dark for two or three days."
• President Zelensky, after the strikes (12:20):
  "Putin still cannot accept that he must stop killing and that means that the world is not putting enough pressure on Russia."

3. Venezuela: UN Security Council Emergency over US Aggression

• Timestamps: 12:40 – 14:20

Key Points:

• UN session called by Venezuela after US seizes oil tankers and strikes boats in the Caribbean.
• US claims actions are to curtail drug trafficking and prevent Venezuela’s oil revenue from funding criminal groups.
• Quote:
  US Ambassador Mike Waltz (13:50):
  "Maduro’s ability to sell Venezuela’s oil enables his fraudulent claim to power and his narco terrorist activities."

4. Avalanche Risk in the Rockies: Safety First

• Timestamps: 15:15 – 18:30

Key Points:

• Heavy snowfall has increased avalanche danger as winter sports season begins.
• Experts urge preparation, equipment, and awareness for anyone heading into the backcountry.
• Discussion of avalanche safety tools: shovels, probes, and beacons.

Notable Quotes:

• Tim Ricci, backcountry guide (15:40):
  "You stand the risk of triggering an avalanche, and that's when a good day goes to a really bad day quickly."
• Jeremy McKenzie, Alberta Parks specialist (16:45):
  "That's actually where we see the most accidents over time... They're still very primed for human triggering."
• Chris Brooks, Alberta Snowmobile Association (17:30):
  “It's huge and it's all-encompassing. Everything in its path is consumed by the avalanche.”

5. E-Scooter Safety: A Growing Concern

• Timestamps: 18:40 – 21:15

Key Points:

• E-scooters are becoming a popular gift for kids, but injury rates are rising.
• Hospitalizations up 32%; injuries among 5-17 year olds up 61%.
• Regulatory patchwork across Canada; ongoing safety pilots and legislative reviews.

Notable Quotes:

• Onyx Kala, EV store employee (19:20):
  “Just because it goes fast doesn't mean you need to or should. It's especially not something I would sell to a kid.”
• Dr. Brandon Yau, Vancouver Coastal Health (20:05):
  "The more serious ones... include head injuries like concussions and fractures in your arms and your legs."
• Host’s Advice (21:10):
  “E-scooters are a vehicle, not a toy.”

6. Fitness Wearables: A Canadian Success Story

• Timestamps: 21:23 – 23:45

Key Points:

• Surge in fitness wearable sales (up nearly 90%).
• Garmin’s Canadian tech roots: from simple foot pods to advanced wrist-wear.
• Expansion into new markets (example: fitness trackers for horses).

Memorable Moment:

• Jim Rooney, Garmin Canada (22:50):
  “It was the first time you could go out for a run and figure out how fast and how far you went.”
• David McGregor, analyst (23:20):
  "For people who are really serious runners and want greater functionality than they can get from an Apple watch, they're going to go to a Garmin.”

7. Raw Milk: Alberta’s Push for Legalization

• Timestamps: 24:00 – 26:35

Key Points:

• Ongoing demand among Alberta farmers and rural consumers to end ban on raw milk sales.
• Advocates argue for local economic support and alternative safety standards.
• Health experts reiterate risks of unpasteurized milk.

Notable Quotes:

• Candice Wiley, former raw milk seller (24:15):
  “I would love it. I'd love to be able to do that again. I know they're missing it and I'm missing it.”
• Ryan Ratzlaff, Alberta reeve (25:25):
  “If I could give [milk] to my neighbor and support my neighbor, I'd rather do that than give it to the big conglomerates, right?”
• Prof. Sylvia Checkley, vet medicine (26:10):
  “But some of these pathogens can be transmitted right through the milk, so... if we don’t treat it, people can still be exposed.”

8. Canadian Military: Combat Uniforms for Women

• Timestamps: 26:40 – 29:55

Key Points:

• First-ever combat uniforms and body armor specifically designed for women will begin rolling out in 2027.
• Female veterans and experts note decades of risks and injury due to ill-fitting men’s uniforms.
• Initiatives framed as essential for effectiveness, not just equity.

Notable Quotes:

• Retired Maj. Sandra Perron (27:10):
  “It sends the message that you are an afterthought. ... The parachute was too big. The straps, the webbing, the helmet, the boots.”
• Charlotte Duval Antoine, Canadian Global Affairs Institute (27:55):
  “You end up with equipment that is less effective at protecting them against bullets, and that can create... higher rates of casualties in combat.”
• Lt. Col. Melanie Lake (29:08):
  “There are people who will instantly jump to criticizing that this is just another woke initiative... This isn’t a woke issue. This is a war fighting issue.”

9. Art Mystery in Newfoundland

• Timestamps: 30:00 – End

Key Points:

• Dutchman Gerard van Adema’s 17th-century Newfoundland paintings on display—location mystery unsolved.
• Local museum invites public help to ID real-world sites depicted.
• Some skepticism whether scenes are real or artistic composites.

Memorable Quote:

• Mark Ferguson, Rooms Museum (30:30):
  “It’s a bit of a mugs game because at the time painters took a lot of liberties... They imagined stuff, they sketched things and then they went back into studios after the fact and painted combined elements sometimes.”

Final Thoughts

With comprehensive reporting on scandal, war, local politics, public health, heritage, and innovation, this episode distills a world of headlines into candid conversations and credible analysis. The blend of major international developments and distinctly Canadian issues frames the present moment with urgency as well as local relevance.

For more:
Visit CBC Podcasts for additional episodes and stories.