The Big Story
What is “It is what it is”? artwork

What is “It is what it is”?

The Big Story
E10023:17
Play episode

Show notes

You probably first heard it from the mouth of a losing coach or player—but that's not where it came from. You may have noticed that US President Donald Trump used it to brush off 150,000 dead Americans, and everything that happened afterwards. It's a phrase that means almost nothing, yet is used to describe everything. So why has it become so ubiquitous? When we say "It is what it is", what are we trying to convey? How versatile is it and how much depends on who's using it? And when we do use it, what precisely is the "it" we're referring to? GUEST: Miles Klee, MEL Magazine 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. Big Headlines: Canada's set to unveil a new $20 bill featuring the King and an Alberta Sheriffs officer won't be charged over AI-generated sexual images of women

    Plus: the Carney government is making a landmark investment in manufacturing today, the NBA hands down severe punishments to the Clippers in the Kawhi Leonard investigation, femini…

    E201707:40
  2. How Trump is dominating Quebec's election campaign

    While many of us have been turning our eyes to Canada's west, or south of the border, Quebec began a high stakes provincial election last week. At a time where Canadian unity has…

    E201618:16
  3. Big Headlines: Carney scolds American officials for not taking Canada seriously and the RCMP are investigating B.C.'s Conservatives

    Plus: Quebec switches its paper ballots to French only for upcoming elections, a man is arrested on charges of causing around $100,000 in damage to Edmonton transit infrastructure,…

    E201507:13
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
Now Playing
What is “It is what it is”? — The Big Story | Josplay Music