As It Happens

As It Happens: The Friday Edition

Friday, Dec. 21, 2018

Full Episode Transcript

Part One

China: Freeland
Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland tells us about her meeting with the Chineese ambassador today, where she demanded the release of two Canadians.

Mattis resignation
Donald Trump says his defence secretary is retiring -- but General Mattis is firing off a furious critique of his boss on his way out. 

Trump poo
An illustration of baboon excrement in a scientific paper has been removed after readers spotted a cartoon of Donald Trump's face in the droppings.    

Part Two

B.C. referendum
British Columbians chose not to change the way they choose their political leaders, and a disappointed electoral reformer blames...too much choice.

Gavle goat
A report from Sweden, where a town is once again divided between the defenders of a goliath-sized Christmas goat, and the arsonists who want to burn it down. 

Part Three

Encore: moose poo
Our tour through some of our favourite interviews of the year takes us to the workshop of a Maine woman who's doing a booming trade in the shiny collectibles that she makes out of...moose poo. 

Reading: Gift of the Magi
Former As it Happens host "Fireside Al" Maitland's reads O. Henry's classic Christmas story, The Gift of the Magi.

As It Happens was produced this week by:

Jeanne Armstrong
Sarah Cooper
Katie Geleff
Sheena Goodyear
Chris Harbord
Chris Howden
Sarah Jackson
Sarah Joyce Battersby
Ashley Mak
John McGill
Kate Swoger
and 
Donya Ziaee.

Our technician is Reynold Gonsalves

The show director is Kevin Ball. The writer is Chris Howden

John Perry is our senior producer. And the Executive Producer of As It Happens is Robin Smythe.

We'd also like to thank some other people who helped us out this week: 

Mary-Catherine McIntosh in Halifax
Susan McKenzie in Montreal
Kristin Nelson in Ottawa
Keith Hart at Radio Archives, Patrick Mooney at the Reference Library and Luke Williams and Varad Mehta, all in Toronto
Adam Carter in Hamilton
Suzanne Dufresne in Winnipeg
Michael O'Halloran in Calgary and
Anne Penman in Vancouver.

As It Happens will be back again on Monday, with our annual holiday reading of The Shepherd. Good night, and good weekend.