The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / CBC's Cross Country Checkup Airing On U.S. Cable's C-SPAN Sunday

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** February 23, 2025 8:04 am

The call-in show, which last year did an international broadcast in the U.S. via WDET-FM in Detroit, is at it again - only this time, it might get an even wider audience.

The show will not only be on CBC News Channel on TV, but also "The Middle with Jeremy Hobson" - an NPR show that airs on 240 stations south of the border. And it will simulcast on U.S. cable channel C-SPAN, a public service station that's similar to our CPAC here.

And the topic promises to be a contentious one - it centres on reaction to Trump's ridiculous insistence that Canada become the 51st state. It airs from 4-6 PM.

C-SPAN: CBC News Simulcast of Canada as the 51st State Proposal

**Posted by Shorty Wave** February 23, 2025 8:33 am

I often tune in to this as it is one of two decent broadcasts at this time on Sundays. They promoted this last week and I did make a note to tune in for a bit but thanks for the reminder RA, it should be a good one!

**Posted by Dicky Doo** February 23, 2025 9:23 am

Shorty Wave wrote:
it is one of two decent broadcasts at this time on Sundays

What is the other decent broadcast please

**Posted by paterson1** February 23, 2025 11:33 am

The full two hours of Checkup will be simulcast on CBC News Network today.

**Posted by cash** **Online!** February 23, 2025 5:20 pm

This show is just giving credence to the 51st state notion. The CBC should know better.

**Posted by paterson1** February 23, 2025 8:13 pm

cash wrote:
This show is just giving credence to the 51st state notion. The CBC should know better.

Not judging by the callers on both sides of the border. How is discussing this giving credence?

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** February 24, 2025 8:12 am

The program resulted in a rare editorial response from the CBC, which discovered the topic enraged some listeners nationwide before it even aired.

"The program title, "51st State: A Cross-Border Conversation," angered a number of people who felt it legitimized the idea of annexation of Canada by the United States. Some called it clickbait; others felt it suggested CBC was "platforming" U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated and hostile mocking of Canadian sovereignty as a legitimate policy proposal worthy of debate and consideration."

How a cross-border CBC program sparked intense anger before it aired

**Posted by Shorty Wave** February 24, 2025 8:20 am

Dicky Doo wrote:
Shorty Wave wrote:
it is one of two decent broadcasts at this time on Sundays
What is the other decent broadcast please

The Immortals AM740

**Posted by Dicky Doo** February 24, 2025 8:48 am

Shorty Wave wrote:
Dicky Doo wrote:
Shorty Wave wrote:
it is one of two decent broadcasts at this time on Sundays
What is the other decent broadcast please

The Immortals AM740

Totally Agree

D.D.

**Posted by paterson1** February 24, 2025 9:13 am

RadioActive wrote:
The program resulted in a rare editorial response from the CBC, which discovered the topic enraged some listeners nationwide before it even aired.

"The program title, "51st State: A Cross-Border Conversation," angered a number of people who felt it legitimized the idea of annexation of Canada by the United States. Some called it clickbait; others felt it suggested CBC was "platforming" U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated and hostile mocking of Canadian sovereignty as a legitimate policy proposal worthy of debate and consideration."

How a cross-border CBC program sparked intense anger before it aired

Anyone who watched or listened to the program yesterday would know that the claim above was incorrect. To not talk about what the US President has said or try to ignore would be the wrong thing to do. To say nothing actually would legitimize the annexation idea.

With the exception of two callers and Kevin O'Leary, all on both sides of the border who got on air were not in favour of Canada joining the US or to become a territory or state. Many US callers seemed embarrassed for their country that this is even being talked/trolled about by the US president, some Republicans and American media like FOX News. However, most agreed that this should be taken seriously.

**Posted by BowmanvilleBob** February 24, 2025 9:29 am

Totally agree paterson1 - and for this who missed the show live, you can watch/listen to it here.

Cross-Country Checkup - Your Thoughts on Trump's comments about Canada as the 51st state.

**Posted by Shorty Wave** February 25, 2025 12:54 pm

Dicky Doo wrote:
Shorty Wave wrote:
Dicky Doo wrote:
What is the other decent broadcast please

The Immortals AM740
Totally Agree

D.D.

Cheers D.D.!

**Posted by SpinningWheel** February 25, 2025 7:08 pm

RadioActive wrote:
The program resulted in a rare editorial response from the CBC, which discovered the topic enraged some listeners nationwide before it even aired.

"The program title, "51st State: A Cross-Border Conversation," angered a number of people who felt it legitimized the idea of annexation of Canada by the United States. Some called it clickbait; others felt it suggested CBC was "platforming" U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated and hostile mocking of Canadian sovereignty as a legitimate policy proposal worthy of debate and consideration."

How a cross-border CBC program sparked intense anger before it aired

I can understand why people are a little pissed at CBC legitimizing this subject because I've heard CBC radio harp on it repeatedly ad nauseum.    I can almost see them in the newsroom yelling 'Sound the Alarm!' and scurrying around in panic every time the orange felon mentions Canada and especially mentions the 51st state nonsense.

I've heard them repeatedly at different times say "Trump mentioned 51st state again... blah blah blah" followed by a full regurgitation of the entire idiotic affair as if the listeners were living in a cave up until the last few minutes and didn't know anything.    Do they really need someone with their finger poised on the panic button for every time he spouts more rubbish?

It's over the top and they need to move on to something more pertinent than playing a part in being his echo chamber.    They have also in the past repeated outright lies from Trump without context or correction. They just preface the idocy with "Trump said" and then let it slide unchallenged.    Much of this makes them sound desperate for a story and too lazy to go out and look for one.

It's irritating to say the least.

They need to wake up. They're being trolled and falling over themselves for more.   It's not as if they haven't seen Trump do this before.   It's not their first rodeo with this bozo.

Last edited by SpinningWheel (February 25, 2025 7:18 pm)

**Posted by paterson1** February 25, 2025 9:53 pm

I really don't understand the supposed and exaggerated push back on the program. Wouldn't a topic and show like this be what the CBC should be doing? The debate was not a regurgitation of what Trump said. Check Up's show was a discussion on the situation that Canada and every Canadian has been thrown into for no real reason. The fact that our friends in the US participated gave the show another dynamic which hasn't been heard enough either than in a few street interviews or a couple of polls.

I thought the program was excellent. US media has now finally learned. Laughing, ignoring or not taking seriously what Pres. Trump says can have destructive and harmful results. It is imperative that Canadians and our media don't make the same mistake.

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** February 25, 2025 10:23 pm

For once we agree totally on something! I thought the show was very interesting and I think that's the first time I've ever listened to the entire two hours.

My favourite caller was a U.S. serviceman who said if Trump tried to invade Canada with an army, he would refuse those orders. I've often wondered what the military might do if a madman gave them commands that were completely against the interests of the U.S. Hopefully, we'll never find out!

**Posted by Shorty Wave** February 26, 2025 8:18 am

I listened/watched pretty much the entire broadcast and found it informative and enlightening in that I was pleased to hear most Americans that called in were siding with Canada.

I really don’t get why this show got so much push back, even the GAM have a piece on it. I think the CBC was doing what it should be doing and covering issues important to Canadians.

My favourite part was when Hanomansing chided O’Leary for his lame “Trudeau pesos” reference, which wasn’t funny the first 43 times and still isn’t.

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** February 27, 2025 9:35 am

I'm not sure why they're beating this dead horse, but Canadaland is holding a "protest" talk show online Thursday in reaction to last Sunday's Checkup.

The topic: How can the CBC be made better? The call-in program, which runs between 1-3 PM, takes place on the web, although you have to wonder how many people will call in and if they're not preaching to an already convinced crowd.