A rare win for fans in the battle over ticket prices

This episode of As It Happens delivers a powerful mix of investigative journalism and human stories, spotlighting a rare victory for consumers in the battle over concert ticket prices. The segment centers on Callie Brennan, a music fan who testified in the landmark antitrust trial against Live Nation, which was found by a New York jury to have operated a harmful monopoly through its control of Ticketmaster. Brennan’s testimony, along with internal messages revealing Live Nation executives referring to fans as 'stupid' and boasting about 'robbing them blind,' underscored the systemic exploitation of consumers. Her story is a testament to the power of individual action—submitting complaints to state attorneys general can lead to real legal consequences. The episode also covers a range of global and domestic issues: First Nations leaders in Canada demand a public inquiry into RCMP surveillance of Indigenous activists, calling for unredacted files and accountability; a 91-year-old Irish peace activist walks 220 kilometers to protest U.S. military use of Shannon Airport, citing violations of Irish neutrality; and a new online tool allows people to search Nazi party membership records, prompting personal reckonings with family histories. Meanwhile, the U.S. government faces criticism for detaining an Egyptian family in ICE custody despite medical emergencies and FBI findings of innocence, while a Canadian academic’s murder in the Iranian diaspora raises concerns about political violence and threats to free speech. The episode closes with a poignant look at the enduring human cost of war and the courage required to speak truth to power.