Episodes
-
Catholicmaxxing, Carrotmaxxing & the Fine Art of Fartmaxxing
The Word of the Year is maxxing, which beat out mogging, carspreading, and fricy. Bryan Adams has entered his anti-Trump era with a new album, How’s It Goin’. Grocery store freezers in Europe are still getting hacked, and someone better save the Häagen-Dazs! Gavin Crawford quizzes Noah Reid...
-
All the President's Butts (Featuring Nicki Minaj)
Trump won’t stop talking about butts during important election rallies. B.C.’s former premier David Eby made a political oopsie for the ages, and now “accidental premier” Lorne Doerkson is in charge of the province. And an AI conversation sounds so real that we can’t tell the difference. Gavin...
-
The Referendum Is Over. What Will the Russian Bots Do Now?
Post-referendum, Premier Danielle Smith sings “It’s My Party and I’ll Comply If I Want To.” A drone delivered McDonald’s to a Quebec prison in what could only be the happiest of Happy Meals. What’s with all the Pepsi in Netflix’s Below? The series is making Newfoundland proud. Gavin Crawford...
-
The Unquenchable Canadian Thirst for the Backstreet Boys
Not quite live, but still full price: Canadians paid big to see rapper Sidhu Moose Wala as a hologram. A new book calls Trump’s America an “Unreliable Boyfriend.” So, how should we deal with the White House? Use the “donut strategy.” Halloween decorations are too scary, so knock it off with all…
more -
Canadians Are Buying ALL the Sour Puss Liquor
Favourite quiz rounds about food… if you consider booze, chips, and lobster to be the main food groups! Giving thanks for some of our favourite panellists on this Thanksgiving episode. Gavin Crawford quizzes Priyanka, Emma Hunter, Mattea Roach, and Miguel Rivas.
-
Did You Eat the Pesticide Berries of 2024?
Turns out washing your berries doesn't make a big difference. Alberta Wants to Know: Who’s an Albertan? We try to decipher the confusing referendum questions. Now you need all the subscriptions to watch the NHL on TV. And the PWHL comes to primetime TV. Wing nights get expensive because nothing…
more -
AI Might Kill Us. Is That Bad?
AI might kill us in only ten years; take that, climate change! “Copium” is now in the dictionary, but everything is fine, really. Star hockey goalie Connor Hellebuyck wants to be traded. Rumour has it he could switch from the Winnipeg Jets to the Sharks. What-in-the-West Side-Story is happening?!...
-
The EU is thirsty for Canada: French with Benefits?
Canada’s in a “situationship” with the EU. Mark Carney wants to sell you an airport. Manitoba makes daily gym mandatory and that’s our literal nightmare. Gavin Crawford quizzes comedians Martha Chaves, Tom Hearn and Michael Balazo on this week’s news.
-
Canada’s Secret Trade Weapon: Toilet Paper
America needs our TP. It’s time to hold the roll, Canada. We have counter-tarriffed capes, cloaks and breeches. Apologies, aristocrats. Quebec has a Celine Dion lotto ticket: My Heart Will Gagnant! King Charles is on the $20 so bring on the Chuck Bucks. Gavin Crawford hosts the news quiz with...
-
Because News is back on Friday September 11!
Season 12 of Because News is back with Gavin Crawford! Subscribe on your favourite podcast app, or check out new episodes on CBC Listen.
-
Should we leave Trudeau alone?
Teenage Dream or PR Scheme? The Justin Trudeau x Katy Perry romance has got Canada shaking its head. DAHHHH Blue Jays win! And the team tries to seal the Honmoon with a new baseball fight song. How did Doug Ford convince Ronald Reagan to star in the Premier’s new ad? Plus, New Brunswick is having…
more -
The phantom separatists of Alberta
Who is behind all these fake Alberta separatists on YouTube? They can’t even pronounce “Regina” correctly. The Tragically Hip is now a musical and there’s a real connection to Because News. With soaring fuel prices more fees are being added to our flights. Thanks, America. Try a new nightly…
more -
The gender fart gap
Artemis II breaks a record and a toilet. A new app is changing the way we run away from angry Canada geese. Polymarket and Kalshi are letting people test their luck and bucks on the prediction market. Why were the sites in the headlines this week? And who has stinkier farts: men or women? Yes…
more -
The secret to aging faster
Difficult people age you faster, so Trump has made us all ancient. This week, when he needed backup in Iran, his allies said, “New phone, who dis?” Taylor Swift fans at her Vancouver show might be getting refunds because their seats were that bad. The rich are now collecting dinosaur skeletons...
-
RIP Frozen juice
Will the Minions be banished…from the Olympics? Will Alberta betray Canada and join the US? Will Jean Chrétien and Stephen Harper form an alliance? Plot twist, what is ski-mo? Has frozen juice been murdered? Mattea Roach, Eric Peterson and Jan Caruana take the news quiz with host Gavin Crawford....
-
Middle powers unite!
Why did Mark Carney get a standing ovation at DAVOS? Should Canada be “grateful” to Donald Trump? Is Greenland, Iceland? Which Canadian is going to space? How is Muskoka and Ottawa capitalizing on Heated Rivalry? What is a hegemon? (This episode aired January 2026)
-
When marketing a blockbuster goes too far
Wicked is impossible to avoid, even on this podcast. “Quiet, Piggy” did not rank in the most-used words of the year, but parasocial did. Why was it chosen as the word of 2025? A Hamilton man stole a bus and no one was hurt, so we rejoice about a victimless crime that does not include any mention…
more -
Could there be a fourth traffic light colour?
Our panellists beg: please, Santa, do not bring us a Christmas election. Red, yellow and green traffic lights are outdated because a fourth colour might be added to intersections. There’s a big innovation in menstrual products and thank god, it’s not AI! Peanut allergies have fallen fast, yet the...
-
The art heist that captivated the world
The world is so bleak the Louvre heist feels like a happy story. Whatever will become of Napoleon’s family jewels? And please donate to our Go Jays Gofundme so we can get World Series tickets. The media has the Blue Jays as underdogs, but what’s underneath an underdog? Meanwhile, Pierre Poilievre...
-
Chinese EVs are on their way!
In peaceful Nova Scotia, elites will take refuge in a cold war-era bunker to escape the end times. Not a bad way to go! K-Pop Demon Hunters takes down Squid Game.The double date is popular again. Chinese EVs are hard to get but Mark Carney is signaling he might make it easier. Gavin Crawford…
more -
Olivia Rodrigo’s Femme Summer is here
Canada is in the knockout round in the World Cup. Mosquito buckets are trending. Calgary’s Cowboys Festival and the mayor had an Alberta-sized beef. Stampede eats make us hungry for the Area 51 burger. Olivia Rodrigo champions an all-women music festival. Guest host Andrew Phung quizzes comedians...
-
Why is everything protein-packed now?
Rush is back with a sick new drummer, and fans are impressed. J.D. Vance has a new book about Catholicism, and the reviews are not good. Have we taken the protein craze too far now that there's no whey? Guest host Jan Caruana quizzes comedians Tom Hearn, Kris Siddiqi, and Martha Chaves.
-
Bravo, Vancouver, you’re the best World Cup city
Trump hosts a massive cage match at the White House, and only military hotties are invited. Canada’s job at the FIFA World Cup is to party and maybe win one game? Meet the tick that makes you allergic to meat. Is this a ploy by Big Vegan? Host Gavin Crawford quizzes comedians Colin Mochrie…
more -
Receding, shrinking, stalling. It’s not your man, it’s the economy
Pierre Poilievre wants to Uno-Reverse a decade of Liberal policy. It’s 1973 again, with high inflation, soaring gas prices and separatist talk. Canadian teens tease Trump with American Dictator board game. Are you smarter than a Grade 9 science fair winner? (No.) We celebrate the winners of the...
-
To separate or not to separate, that is Danielle’s question
Premier Danielle Smith thinks B.C. ports are Canada’s ports, so who owns Alberta’s oil? Pope Leo takes aim at AI. What does the world’s oldest English poem sound like? The secret of why T-Rex had tiny arms has been solved. As FIFA descends upon Toronto and Vancouver, so do the FIFA bar police.…
more -
Montreal Canadiens fans triggered an actual earthquake reading
Thanks to Laufey, 2026 could be the year of the Wasians. The people of France are drinking more beer than wine. The best Canadian film you’ve never heard of has already won international acclaim - now it may take home the biggest film prize in Canada. Microearthquakes were recorded in Montreal…
more -
Because Tunes: songs of the summer
No audience, just anthems in this episode. We travel back in time to our favourite songs of the summer. One of them is a comeback from a UK popstar. Another from a group of Irish pre-teens. And who can forget the saucy album cover that’s got people singing “Manchild!” Host Gavin Crawford quizzes...
-
Is the US weaponizing dolphins to win the war?
America will not confirm or deny using kamikaze dolphins in war. Seriously. The Toronto Tempo has officially arrived as Canada’s first WNBA team. How will Drake manage to make this basketball team about him? Roughly 300 people in Vancouver attempted “speedrunning” Scientology. Welcome Louise...
-
Weekend laughs from The Big Five
The Big Five answers the most pressing question of our time: what are the “Big 5” of any given category? Not the best 5. Not the top 5. Not anyone’s favourite 5. But objectively, the Big 5. In each episode, Donovan Woods, Tom Power, and a celebrity guest tackle new topics and debate things like:...
-
Move over Sephora girls, the boys are cologne obsessed
Teenage boys are buying designer colognes that cost more than their allowance. Ontario schools must now teach Grade 10 students a new skill: financial literacy. Prime Minister Mark Carney offers extra moolah for tradespeople. Would you invest in Canada’s new sovereign wealth fund? What does it...
-
Can you spot the fake Alberta separatists?
Who is behind all these fake Alberta separatists on YouTube? They can’t even pronounce “Regina” correctly. The Tragically Hip is now a musical and there’s a real connection to Because News. With soaring fuel prices more fees are being added to our flights. Thanks, America. Try a new nightly…
more -
Trump vs. the Pope: This time it’s biblical
Justin Trudeau took Katy Perry to Coachella, and now he never has to talk to Trump again. Well played, JT. Trump poses as Jesus Christ, then picks a fight with the Pope. Imagine being on a cruise that reroutes from Bermuda to New Brunswick. Mark Carney rebrands the “Liberals” and enters his...
-
Artemis II is rich in Moon Joy and maple cookies
Artemis II breaks a record and a toilet. A new app is changing the way we run away from angry Canada geese. Polymarket and Kalshi are letting people test their luck and bucks on the prediction market. Why were the sites in the headlines this week? And who has stinkier farts: men or women? Yes…
more -
Sip happens: are beer bottles going extinct?
We pour one out in memory of Moosehead's iconic green bottle. Are British Columbia's bagpipers the best in the world? (After Scotland, of course.) Science says childhood ends at nine, but adolescence at 32. Host Gavin Crawford quizzes panellists Mattea Roach, Carley Thorne, Scott Thompson, and...
-
Canada lost to America…in happiness ratings?!
There are the happiest countries, and then there’s Canada. The Blue Jays are back, and pitcher Max Scherzer is using the piano to rehab his wonky thumb. AI is killing entry-level jobs so Gen-Z doesn’t have to. Tinder is using AI to scan your camera roll, and our panel ranks the sexiest animal...
-
Science confirms it: Trump is taking years off our lives
Difficult people age you faster, so Trump has made us all ancient. This week, when he needed backup in Iran, his allies said, “New phone, who dis?” Taylor Swift fans at her Vancouver show might be getting refunds because their seats were that bad. The rich are now collecting dinosaur skeletons...
-
Gen Z is saving the mall one selfie at a time
Gen Z loves the mall because it’s “phygital.” What does that even mean? Something from the ’70s is back and it’s not a good thing. Trump gifted his staff shoes that are way too big, but they’re wearing them anyway because no one can say no. The Canada Goose has put in the work, but Canada might...
-
Microwave clocks in B.C. can relax: the end of daylight saving time
British Columbia says pick a time and stick to it. But is a darker morning and a lighter night what people really want? Mark Carney has officially been in charge for a year. He’s got some trade deals done, but not the trade deal. Looksmaxxing, softmaxxing, hardmaxxing - we break some bones trying...
-
The U.S Men’s hockey team wins gold in being garbage
Which two hockey players may never live down going to the White House? St. John’s confirms “storm fatigue” is real so we use Big Bird as a unit of measurement for all that snowfall. Gavin reveals (ex) Prince Andrew’s extensive teddy bear collection has been evicted from the royal mansion. And...
-
Canadians know all about 'double touching'
Why are health-conscious men eating boy kibble? Are Canadian curlers the real villains at the Olympics? Is ‘Janice’ our best chance at negotiating with the US? What new awkward controversy is shocking the ski jumping world? Brandon Ash-Mohammed, Emma Hunter, and Leslie Seiler take the news quiz...
-
Thanks evolution, racoons are getting cuter
Canadian sea wolves are so smart they hunt with nets. How’d they get so clever? Because they’re not stressed. (Must be nice, sea wolf.) Is parenting children the same as owning cats? An Alberta judge says no. If you won the lotto, would you take a lump sum, or cash weekly for life? Survival of…
more -
Cold-case: Who murdered frozen juice?
Will the Minions be banished…from the Olympics? Will Alberta betray Canada and join the US? Will Jean Chrétien and Stephen Harper form an alliance? Plot twist, what is ski-mo? Has frozen juice been murdered? Mattea Roach, Eric Peterson and Jan Caruana take the news quiz with host Gavin Crawford.
-
Why is everyone obsessed with 2016?
Remember when Trump wasn’t president yet? What do Stranger Things, Pokemon GO, and Rihanna’s ANTI have in common? Why is ICE at the Olympics? What did Neil Young give to Greenland? Why does this new spider have a 9th leg? Also, what is a ‘largesse’?
-
Canada goes to DAVOS, the cottage…and the moon?
Why did Mark Carney get a standing ovation at DAVOS? Should Canada be “grateful” to Donald Trump? Is Greenland, Iceland? Which Canadian is going to space? How is Muskoka and Ottawa capitalizing on Heated Rivalry? What is a hegemon?
-
Carney and China: Heated Rivalry?
Can Carney improve trade relations with China without angering Donald Trump? How is Canada saving the Olympics in Milano? Did Canada’s skeleton team commit foul play? Nova Scotia is fighting about sex, drugs, and…lobster rolls? Also, what is diplomatic amnesia?
-
Joe Rogan for Best Podcast: Golden Globes snub?
Did Trump really kidnap Venezuela’s president and should Costco run the country now? Why is this toilet from CES calling people and costs $7000? Will a Labubu-inspired tactic bring you back to movie theatres? And what is phubbing? Jennifer Whalen of Small Achievable Goals, Andrew Phung of Run The...
-
The Quebecois Simpsons is dead. Long live Les Simpson
Albania has a creepy AI politician that says we hurt its feelings by saying its not human. All Gavin wanted for Christmas was a Chinese electric vehicle, but no luck.
-
Remembering COVID holidays: no guests, no travel, no pants
Someone got fined for Zombie Christmas decorations but our comedians have no problem with it. We re-play a round from Covid holidays when every country had crazy socializing rules. Belgium said you can have people over but they can’t use the bathroom. And the hottest toys of 2017 were Fingerlings...
-
Candles & Tom Cruise from The Debaters
The Debaters is the hit show where comedians go toe-to-toe in a battle of laughs and logic. It’s part stand-up, part quiz show and part comedy competition, with the live audience picking the winners. In this episode, do candles deserve more appreciation? And is Tom Cruise the greatest movie star?...
-
Person of the Year? Maybe Not. But 50 Cent is Hater of the Year.
The world is bleak so here’s a quiz about happy news. Gavin quizzes his comedians on what Martha Stewert says is acceptable for your holiday party, but the panel has no love for Martha. ChatGPT’s ‘adult-mode’ is coming in 2026 and it's definitely not a “more responsible” mode of AI, like some...
About this show
Because News is Canada's funniest news quiz. Host Gavin Crawford quizzes comedians and celebrities about the headlines. Get tickets for Season 12!
Hosted by
CBC
Categories