Bad Bunny triumphs at politically charged Grammy Awards

Monday, February 02, 2026

Written by Sarah Berman Copy Editor, Digital News

Good morning. It's official: Pierre Poilievre will lead federal Conservatives into the next election. The party got busy overhauling its policy playbook in Calgary this weekend, and CBC's John Paul Tasker was in the room as delegates voted on their next moves.

We'll break down new political appointments, the latest on F-35 fighter jets and why some doctors are struggling to secure permanent residency in Canada. And let's not forget the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, where Canadian artists Drake and Tate McRae went home empty-handed.

BREAKING NEWS

(Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Bad Bunny makes Grammys history as artists speak out against ICE

The Grammy Awards were handed out last night at a ceremony dominated by famous faces, a stunning run by Bad Bunny and, most notably, a raft of political proclamations from many of the night's winners, colouring an emotionally charged night that stood in stark contrast to last month's tepid Golden Globes.

Jackson Weaver has more

THE LATEST

The Conservatives' Pierre Poilievre won his leadership review with 87.4 per cent of the vote. More on that below.
Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt reopened on Monday for limited traffic, a key step in the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire but a mostly symbolic development on the ground.
A five-year-old boy and his father detained by immigration officers in Minnesota and held in Texas have been released following a judge's order.
Iran's supreme leader warned Sunday that any attack by the United States would spark a "regional war" in the Middle East.
On Sunday night, Kendrick Lamar surpassed Jay-Z as the rap artist with the most Grammy awards. See highlights from the red carpet.

Immigration, crime, rolling back DEI among top Conservative priorities

Delegates at the Conservative Party's national convention in Calgary voted on a range of political priorities this weekend, from immigration and bail reform to rolling back diversity initiatives.

What's happening: Delegates voted in favour of deporting non-citizens convicted of crimes, rolling back diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, and enacting a "stand your ground"-style law to allow lethal force against home intruders. They also asked Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to rule out decriminalizing any more drugs, tighten bail and enact stricter laws to try to prevent intimate partner violence.

Separatist questions: Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who won his leadership review with 87.4 per cent on Friday, said separatist movements have come "roaring back to life" under the Liberals. He said a Conservative government would look to unite and "afford you the hopeful future that you have earned." Former Conservative campaign manager Jenni Byrne said the party has to do more to connect U.S. relations to affordability issues to gain momentum.

Why it matters: Alberta Premier Danielle Smith did not address separatism directly in her speech on Saturday. Smith has said she doesn’t want to "demonize" any Albertan who has lost faith in Canada. A survey taken last spring for CBC Calgary suggested that 49 per cent of respondents in Alberta who identified as Conservative voters say they’d vote "yes" for Alberta to leave Canada, while 45 per cent would vote no. That split is going to provide a challenge for Smith and the Conservatives moving forward.

John Paul Tasker has more

Trudeau-era political appointment reform could be on the way out under Carney

An analysis by CBC News is raising questions about the extent to which Prime Minister Mark Carney's government is still guided by Trudeau's 2016 reform of political appointments.

Trudeau's reforms: In February 2016, then-prime minister Justin Trudeau made good on an election promise to bring in a more "open, transparent and merit-based" political appointment process. Among the changes were advertising openings and making hundreds of part-time positions subject to a formal selection process for the first time.

What's happening: The recent appointment of Anton Boegman as Canada's first-ever foreign influence transparency commissioner sheds light on Carney's shifting approach to political appointments. Instead of posting a call for applications, the government drafted an internal list of candidates. It's not the only role filled this way.

Why it matters: The federal government has to fill some high-profile roles in the next while, including Canada's chief public health officer, heads of agencies, senators and ambassadors to countries like the United Kingdom as well as a successor to Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, whose term is scheduled to end this summer. Carney's office says it is using a transparent, merit-based process, but the PMO declined an interview request by CBC News.

Elizabeth Thompson has more