The Big Story
The US military shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon, and things only got weirder from there artwork

The US military shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon, and things only got weirder from there

The Big Story
E74025:00
Play episode

Show notes

It started with a suspected Chinese spy balloon, shot down by the American military off the coast of South Carolina after being tracked floating over the continent for at least 4 days. Since then, three more as-yet-unidentified objects have been blown out of the sky, one near the coast of Alaska, one in the northern Yukon Territory, and one over Lake Huron. At this point we can say with some certainty that the origin of these objects is terrestrial, and that’s essentially it. It may take some time before the public gets definitive answers about what, exactly, is going on here, but the events have sparked renewed debate about NORAD, and Canada’s ability to protect its airspace. So what types of risk could these aerial incursions pose to people on either side of the 49th parallel? Are these floating objects something new, or are we just noticing them more often now that we’re on higher alert? GUEST: Stephanie Carvin, Associate Professor at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University and a former national security analyst with the government of Canada. Read her Newsweek article about the floating objects here. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

More from this show

More
  1. The unraveling of the BC Conservatives

    Things are not going well for the Conservative Party of British Columbia. Following Kerry-Lynne Findlay's win as leader earlier this summer after the ousting of John Rustad, there…

    E201024:06
  2. Big Headlines: Carney's Liberals sweep a trio of byelections and Marineland ships out its last whales

    Plus: The CBC is barred from attending the Republican Party’s midterm convention, international school trips across Canada are cancelled or tweaked amid a changing landscape, praye…

    E201406:54
  3. What should we know about Mitch McConnell's whereabouts?

    US Senator Mitch McConnell hasn't been seen by the public in some 12 weeks. His last in-person sighting was in Washington, D.C. on June 11, before posting a proof-of-life picture f…

    E200223:12
  4. Big Headlines: Canadian websites confused over Trump's new name for Lake Ontario and three federal byelections

    Plus: Oil prices surge after the U.S. and Iran trade strikes, voters head to the polls in three federal by-elections, Nepalese cultural festivals are cancelled across Canada follow…

    E200907:00
  5. What the Lake Ontario fight reveals about water and sovereignty

    In US President Trump's latest attempt at dominating Canada, an executive order was signed last week renaming Lake Ontario to 'Lake America'. Whether the new title will actually…

    E200819:47
  6. Weekend Listen: Can small businesses survive another tariff hit?

    Enjoy this special feed drop of our sister show "In This Economy?!" Canadian small businesses are a big part of the economy. And like the rest of us, they're dealing with more tar…

    E200621:13
Now Playing
The US military shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon, and things only got weirder from there — The Big Story | Josplay Music