The Current

Sanctions have become the go-to tool in global politics — used to punish rogue states, and signal international condemnation. But are they effective? With sanctions piling up against Russia, Iran, and two Israeli cabinet ministers, we ask whether economic punishment actually shapes behavior — or just creates diplomatic noise.

With the US inserting itself into the Iran-Israel war,  dropping bombs on three nuclear sites in Iran, the CBC's Chris Brown reports from Jerusalem on the latest diplomatic efforts and what we know about Iran's nuclear capacity. We also talk to Esfandyar Batmanghelidj,  founder of the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation think tank, on how the war is shaping sentiments inside Iran. Plus, we talk to The Atlantic journalist Isaac Stanley-Becker about the debate inside MAGA about US involvement.

Men are struggling – according to a new study on men’s health. New data from the Movember Institute of Men’s Health shows that nearly half of Canadian men will die prematurely – before the age of 75 – from largely preventable causes. Men also account for three out of every four suicides in the country. Former Health Minister Mark Holland and study author and UBC professor Dr. John Oliffe, discuss the systemic, social, and psychological factors behind these outcomes, and call for a national men’s health strategy.

If staying out dancing until 3 a.m. doesn’t appeal to you like it used to, you’re not alone. Across Canada, daytime dance parties are making space for people who want to move, socialize and still be in bed before midnight. We talk to two daytime party organizers about what it means to dance in the daytime and how it's reshaping nightlife.

45 years ago, Terry Fox set out to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He made it more than 5,000 kilometres before cancer forced him to stop. This summer, his brother Darrell Fox is cycling coast to coast to honour that journey and raise funds through the Ride of Hope. We speak with Fred Fox, Terry's older brother, about what it means to see that legacy continue.

It’s the first day of summer and Canadian politics is already heating up. Prime Minister Mark Carney is hoping to pass Bill C-5 before the House breaks, but the legislation is drawing serious pushback from Indigenous leaders and others. Meanwhile, the G7 has wrapped — was there any progress on tariffs? Plus, a Conservative Party leadership review and by-elections in Alberta. It all makes for a busy summer in Canadian politics. Our national affairs panel — Rosemary Barton, Stephanie Levitz and Kathleen Petty — join us to break it all down.

Across Canada, final exams are disappearing from high schools. Since the pandemic, some school boards have dropped or reworked them entirely. Supporters say the shift reduces student stress and allows for more meaningful assessments. But critics worry we’re sending teens into adulthood without learning how to cope with pressure. We speak with two educators on opposite sides of the debate: What are we really testing for — and what happens when those tests disappear?

In the conclusion of our series As We Age, we bring together a panel of guests navigating emotional and complex conversations — from how to care for their aging parents, negotiating moves into retirement homes, to what it means to grow old yourself while caring for someone else. It’s an intimate look at the realities many Canadians are quietly managing behind closed doors.

A powerful documentary about a woman breaking the silence around sexual abuse in her family. Robin Heald was abused for years by her stepfather — and her mother stayed with him - even after he pleaded guilty. In It Ends With Me, CBC producer John Chipman follows Robin’s journey back into that past — and how she’s working to stop the cycle for future generations.

Forty years ago, a bomb tore through Air India Flight 182, killing all 329 people on board — the majority of them Canadian. Despite being the worst mass murder in this country’s history, many Canadians still don’t know the story. In a new CBC documentary, families of the victims reflect on the trauma, the justice they feel they never received, and the memories of their loved ones.

mRNA vaccines saved millions of lives during the pandemic. But now, that science is under political attack in the United States. Funding is being pulled, approvals are being delayed, and the science questioned by politicians. Science journalist Elie Dolgin joins us to explain how a technology once hailed as revolutionary is now facing an existential threat — and what that could cost in the fight against diseases.

Nike’s latest collection is making waves — not just for the fashion, but for who’s behind it. The brand has teamed up with the Toronto-born label NorBlack NorWhite in what’s being celebrated as a landmark collaboration. For many in the South Asian community, it’s a rare moment of representation in an industry that often borrows from their culture without credit.

As tensions rise between Israel and Iran, a Canadian citizen and her family trapped in Tehran are trying to find a way out — with fuel scarce and borders uncertain. We speak with one family preparing to flee, and hear what it's like on the ground in Jerusalem with CBC’s Margaret Evans.

As thousands of graduates toss their caps in the air, the president of Canada’s largest university is stepping down. Meric Gertler reflects on 12 years at the helm of the University of Toronto — and the future of education and life after the classroom in the age of AI and fewer jobs. 

Dave Burnett started his degree in 1976. Now 49 years later, he is graduating. He talks to Matt Galloway about that moment crossing the stage nearly half a century in the making. The 68-year-old just completed his agriculture degree — and reflects on the long road to graduation — a story of addiction, recovery and achieving long-held dreams. 

Hospital parking is expensive. Add that to the already high cost of being sick. Cancer patients, parents and caregivers can spend thousands on parking and are calling for fees to be reduced or eliminated. But hospitals say they need the money to help pay for healthcare in a stretched system. We hear from one patient about the cost, and why when Nova Scotia recently made parking at hospitals free, it didn't exactly go as planned.

AI is exploding. It’s everywhere. And almost everyone is using it. From writing emails to generating lifelike videos, to booking appointments, artificial intelligence is moving beyond simple prompts and into what experts call “agentic AI” — systems that can act on our behalf. CBC’s Nora Young joins Matt Galloway to talk about this moment in AI. She’s been testing some of the newest tools, including Google's Veo 3 video generator and OpenAI’s latest web-browsing agents.

 As the prime minister eyes a number of “nation-building” projects, the country is in need of tens of thousands more tradespeople to make them happen. We hear from high school students planning to pursue jobs in the trades, while economists Simon Gaudreault and Jim Stanford debate whether lowering standards and encouraging greater immigration could get this country the skilled workers it needs.

A lot is at stake at this week’s G7 summit in Alberta. Prime Minister Mark Carney will be looking for a deal on tariffs, and avoiding the kind of drama that roiled the meeting last time Canada hosted it. CBC journalist JP Tasker walks us through the challenges Carney faces at this meeting, while Peter MacKay and Bessma Momani assess whether world leaders can stay focused on economic issues while the Israel-Iran conflict continues to escalate.

Many small communities across the country are struggling to survive, as people age and their children chase big city life. Powell River, B.C. is trying to keep its own numbers up with the help of a conductor who’s worked with some of the world’s biggest orchestras. In her documentary War and Peace, the CBC’s Liz Hoath hears from locals who say Arthur Arnold is bringing a lot more than music to their town of 13,000 people.

Israel targeted nuclear facilities inside Iran in a major attack against the country, killing top military brass and civilians alike. Iran is already retaliating against what it calls a “declaration of war” by Israel with drone strikes of its own. We hear from a journalist and an Iranian political expert about why the escalation is coming right now, and what it will take to de-escalate from here.

When it comes to treating chronic pain, doctors have few options to reach for aside from opioid prescriptions for their patients. A non-opioid medication recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration stands to change that. A journalist explains how researchers discovered a new way to combat pain with this drug, which a Canadian doctor describes as “almost the holy grail.”

ALS is a death sentence for those diagnosed with it. Now a scientist in Moose Jaw claims he has discovered the secret to stopping the disease in its tracks. CBC’s Geoff Leo investigated the claims of a treatment, which desperate patients are forking over tens of thousands of dollars for, in his documentary Hard to Swallow.

ICE raids in L.A. sparked protests, pushback and stopped traffic in that city — which have been met with military force, as U.S. President Donald Trump sent in the National Guard and Marines earlier this week.  Antonio Gutierrez, co-founder of Organized Communities Against Deportations, says these moves are a threat to American democracy — and a law professor says the deployment risks politicizing the military.

Earlier this month, Remy Siu and his team at Sunset Visitor won a Peabody for their video game 1000xResist. The project was a success, to its own creators' surprise, as they attempted to create a story about mythology for the Asian diaspora. Siu talks about the big win — and a journalist breaks down the context of mass layoffs that are roiling a video game industry that’s facing growing pains.

It’s not always easy to get your kids reading in the summer. Whether it’s Minecraft or going to the swimming pool, kids have plenty of excuses to not pick up a book. Three experts are here with their favourite kids books for the season — and they tell us how you, too, can get the child in your life to keep reading.

Matt Galloway visited St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador to talk about the hurdles the province faces, and the conditions there that have produced great artists of all kinds, from authors to comedians. In this special edition of The Current, Galloway heard from some of the people that make the city one of a kind in front of a live audience at The Majestic Theatre.

Authors Michael Crummey and Holly Hogan, who are also a married couple, talk about competing for the same literary prizes and what it means to get “Newfoundland on paper.”

CBC host Jane Adey explains what it’s like wrapping up the sixtieth season of the iconic show, Land and Sea – a program Newfoundlanders have fought to keep on air for decades.

Premier John Hogan talks about taking on the job after the last premier suddenly stepped down, and why he believes that Newfoundland will endure through the tariff threat presented by U.S. president Donald Trump. And Hogan argues Newfoundland’s oil and gas sector has a place, even during a green transition.

Opera singer Deantha Edmunds explains how the natural world inspires her music and the shock that came along with her recent Juno win. 

Comedians Matt Wright, Andy Jones, Bree Parsons discuss one of the province’s most famous exports — laughter. 

Plus, we’ll hear music from homegrown singer-songwriter Tim Baker — and the stories that inspire his songs.

From shore, the ocean looks brilliant, blue and clear. But somewhere out there, pirates, traffickers, slave labourers and migrants navigate the high seas — a place without laws. Ian Urbina shares the incredible stories of squid fishers who haven’t touched solid ground in years and of migrants shot at by Libya’s coastguard in the second season of his podcast The Outlaw Ocean.

As Canada’s relationship with the U.S. shifts, Mark Carney announced yesterday a $9 billion boost to defence spending that would allow the country to meet its NATO spending targets. A reporter explains that Carney is seizing the moment to usher in new investment. Meanwhile, a Canadian Armed Forces veteran hopes the increased spending will end decades of "embarrassment" for soldiers who have been working with decades-old equipment.

Journalist Chris Hayes says “attention capitalism” demands we pay heed to everything at once, from social media doomscrolling to the 24-hour global news cycle. In a conversation with Matt Galloway from March, the MSNBC host explores what that means for our lives and politics — and explains why he thinks Donald Trump’s attention-grabbing antics are “a kind of feral instinct.”

In the past, folks in Newfoundland left the province to find work opportunities elsewhere — but now, immigrants are moving there to build their futures. Matt Galloway hears from business owners and recruiters in St. John’s about what’s drawing newcomers to the province, and the East Coast kindness that makes them want to stay.

Offshore oil is big business in Newfoundland. And with “nation building projects” a priority of the new federal government, some hope the stalled Bay du Nord drilling project might get a boost. An industry expert shares her hopes for the province’s offshore industry, though a researcher argues oil projects aren’t nation building — they’re “nation destroying.”

The only mosque in St. John’s, built in the 1980s, has become so crowded in recent years that worshippers often spill into the kitchen and lawn during Friday prayer. In her documentary The Best of Planners, Caroline Hillier tells the story of the community’s quest for a new place of worship — which they’re now renovating from the remains of a Catholic church, with the help of a generous donation.

The Outlaw Ocean is an anthology podcast that plunges you into the vast and often lawless world of the open seas. Today we feature the first investigation of S2. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ian Urbina traces back the story of a young father and farmer who embarks on a perilous journey across the Mediterranean, only to discover why it’s called "the route of death."

You can find The Outlaw Ocean wherever you get your podcasts: https://link.mgln.ai/oo-tc

Plus, come back Tuesday to hear guest host Catherine Cullen’s conversation with the journalist behind these incredible investigations.

There’s more billionaires in the world now than ever before. And as wealth is concentrated into the hands of a small group of people, the power of those select few is also growing – particularly in the US, where billionaires have been getting more and more access to Donald Trump. The journalist Evan Osnos tells Matt Galloway about the influence and excesses of the .01%, which he charts in his new book, The Haves and the Have Yachts.

The bones of a massive blue whale will soon hang at Dalhousie University. In a conversation from April, Veterinarian Chris Harvey-Clark tells us about the extensive effort it took to salvage the whale that washed up outside Halifax, the accompanying smell, and what we still don't understand about the largest mammal on earth.

Fifteen Canadian scientists turned a navy vessel into a research ship this February, and set out to explore Antarctica. The CBC’s international climate correspondent, Susan Ormiston, was along for the ride. Ormiston tells Matt Galloway about being chased by a seal in the planet’s strange, southern continent — and why melting Antarctic ice will impact the rest of the

Canadian cyclist Derek Gee says five years ago, he wouldn’t have believed he’d ever make it to the Giro d’Italia – a gruelling, weeks-long cycling race. Gee tells Matt Galloway about his fourth place finish, and the blessing he received from Pope Leo along the way.

Canadian-Israeli peace activist Vivian Silver dedicated her life to building bridges between Israelis and Palestinians. But her life was cut short when she was killed by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 — and her son, Yonatan Zeigen, vowed to continue her work. Zeigen tells Matt Galloway why he quit his job to take up the often “dangerous” work of peace.

Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have been under fire in the U.S. since Trump came back to the White House — and on this side of the border, some are worried about similar rollbacks. Equity and diversity experts discuss how company values are being “pressure tested,” and what DEI initiatives got wrong.

Whopping 50 per cent tariffs are now in effect on steel and aluminum imports headed to the U.S. — and that’s causing pain for businesses on both sides of the border. We hear from Canadian and American businesses who say they will survive, but at a cost.

Thousands of residents in Manitoba and Saskatchewan have been forced out of their homes by raging wildfires and are now sheltering, in some cases, hundreds of kilometres away. Despite harrowing journeys to safety and what they describe as a lack of support from governments, two evacuees discuss how proud they are of their communities, where neighbours have come together to support each other.

The Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers will go head to head for the Stanley Cup starting tonight – a rematch of last year’s final matchup that saw the Oilers defeated. Will they pull off the win this time? Two superfans say they sure hope so — and they don’t mind welcoming hockey fans of other Canadian teams onto the bandwagon

Price Carter travelled to Switzerland with his mom, Kay Carter, 15 years ago to be with her while she received an assisted death. The process was illegal in Canada at the time — something her kids went on to help change. Now, following a cancer diagnosis, Price has been approved for an assisted death. He spoke with Matt Galloway about the decision to die on his own terms.

What does a reporter do when they receive a cold call from one of the most horrific serial killers in Canadian history?

The killer: Clifford Olson, who murdered at least eleven children in the 1980s. The reporter: Arlene Bynon, who recorded her jailhouse calls with Olson for years.

Alongside legendary journalist Peter Worthington, Arlene spent hundreds of hours on the phone with Olson. It was kept secret from his prison guards; he wasn't allowed to speak to the media.

In Calls From a Killer, from CBC’s Uncover, Arlene unearths secrets that have been buried for decades. 

More episodes of Calls from a Killer are available at: https://link.mgln.ai/vCRoV

The fight to save 400 ostriches from being culled at a B.C. farm where avian flu was detected late last year has attracted international attention — including from some big name supporters, including Dr. Oz and U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. A member of the family that’s owned the ostrich farm for 30 years tells Matt Galloway about why they have fought the cull order, while an immunology expert explains the risk the birds pose to public health.

Ukrainian drones smuggled deep into Russian territory carried out a stunning attack over the weekend — and just this morning, another underwater bombing by Ukraine took out Russia’s bridge to Crimea. A journalist in Kyiv breaks down the military feat, and explains how much its boosted morale among Ukrainians.

Nothing beats a good book, especially at the cottage, by the pool — or even quietly at home with the kids away at camp. We ask two professional book lovers to share their tips for the best books of the summer, from beach reads and blockbusters to novels from Canada’s finest.

Ann Shea, from Mill Street Books in Almonte, Ont., chose One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune, The Alternatives by Caoilinn Hughes, How to Survive a Bear Attack by Claire Cameron, The Mind Mappers by Eric Andrew-Gee and My Friends by Fredrik Backman.

Cassidy Tooley, from Mosaic Books in Kelowna, B.C., chose Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy, Favourite Daughter by Morgan Dick, The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life by Suleika Jaouad, The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig, and Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Have you read any of these books already? Hit play to hear the conversation and find out why our book lovers think you should!

As limited aid begins to enter Gaza after a months-long blockade, civilians are scrambling to access much-needed food and supplies. Gaza health officials say Israeli forces have killed dozens of Palestinians trying to access aid in the past few days. A representative from Save The Children discusses the struggle to get aid to people who desperately need it — and about the humanitarian situation on the ground, which she says somehow gets worse every day.

Claire Cameron has been obsessed with bears since hearing about a bear attack while she was working in Ontario’s Algonquin Park as a teenager. But when she was diagnosed with cancer, Cameron revisited the details of that attack and the wilderness environment that’s shaped much of her life. In a conversation from March, she told Galloway about her new memoir How to Survive a Bear Attack, and what facing death taught her about how to live.

Mark Carney promised to “build, baby, build” on the campaign trail. Today, he’s meeting with provincial and territorial premiers to discuss his plans to build big projects in this country, including by fast-tracking the processes to get them approved. We’ll talk about balancing the rights of Indigenous nations with the new government’s proposed plans — and why red tape isn’t the only hurdle holding up development.

From climate change to poverty or infant mortality, the world is facing a lot of big problems. And the historian Rutger Bregman says you — yes, you — are the exact right person to solve them. Bregman makes the case to Matt Galloway that today’s workforce should focus on “moral ambition” — channeling their entrepreneurial spirits toward social problems, rather than toiling in meaningless jobs

Thumb pulling, chin tucking, hair transplants…. and on the less extreme side, skin, hair, and eyebrow care — those are just some examples of looksmaxxing, a viral social media trend for young men to improve their looks. Elijah Forcier is a TikToker with advice on how, and Christian Ylagan is an instructor with the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies at Western University, we talk about what these unrealistic beauty standards mean for young men’s self-esteem — and masculinity in 2025.

The wildfire season is in full effect, and it’s only May. Saskatchewan and Manitoba are in a state of emergency as wildfires burn across the provinces. Thousands of people have evacuated their homes, and many are still finding ways to get out of the fire’s way. First Nations leaders Peter Beatty, Chief of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in Saskatchewan and David Monias, Chief of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation in northern Manitoba explain how they are moving their communities out of danger when many exits are closed — and what worries they have for this wildfire season.

There are many statues of Canada’s first Prime Minister across this country — but in recent years statues of John A. Macdonald have been toppled or taken down to protest his role as an architect of the residential schools system and his treatment of Indigenous people. We'll talk about what to do about the statues - and why the plans to clean up and uncover one John A. Mcdonald in Toronto is particularly controversial.

Are you a self-identified “word nerd?” Jacques Bailly is, and he is a bit of a spell-lebrity… What is that you might ask? Well, he is the head pronouncer at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the Olympics of competitive spelling, and he was a spelling bee champion himself when he was 14. He’ll talk about why spelling is a skill we should preserve in a world of spell check and AI — and put Matt Galloway to the test.

Noelle Drimmie could taste the smoke in the air as she and her family fled the wildfires approaching their home in Flin Flon, Man. She tells Matt Galloway how surreal it felt to drive away under apocalyptic skies, while trying to keep her young kids entertained in the back seat.

Democratic U.S. Senator Peter Welch recently came to Canada to try to mend fences, over what he sees as President Donald Trump’s damaging tariffs and threats to make Canada the 51st state. The Vermont senator talks to Matt Galloway about the Canada-U.S. relationship — and military expert Christian Leuprecht digs into Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plan for a defence deal with the EU, as a way to reduce Canada’s reliance on the U.S.

The first time Laura Bordignon held her daughter Makayla Poppy was also the last. A month after Makayla Poppy was delivered stillborn, Laura and her husband Nick received an invoice for her autopsy. The bill included an itemized list of procedures, but also revealed their daughter’s remains were still in the morgue — weeks after they should have been released. Laura and Nick share their story in Jodie Martinson’s documentary Seven Months with Makayla, in the hopes of highlighting the errors that compound grief for the thousands of Canadian families who experience stillbirth every year.

Oji-Cree musician Aysanabee almost died when he was 19, after falling through the ice on a frozen lake. That experience changed the life of the Juno award winner, pushing him to his career today. A new study shows his experience is a common one among people who have near-death experiences. So why do a brush with death might help people have a better work-life balance — and how do we gain the same attitude without almost dying? Well, that’s the question.

A little elvish toy in a bunny suit with a mischievous smile, that’s a Labubu for you — and she, yes it’s a girl, is taking the world by storm. What made Labubus so popular, and how are they bringing us together when people are fighting to get their hands on one? We have answers.

Donald Trump says Vladimir Putin is "playing with fire," following Russia’s largest air attack of the war on Ukraine, Russia responds with a warning for World War Three. Christopher Miller, the Ukraine correspondent for the Financial Times joins Matt Galloway to talk about what’s on the mind of Ukrainians after months of failed peace talks — and what Volodymyr Zelenskyy told him yesterday.

The search for alien life in space continues, but there is an update. Chinese astronauts discovered a bacteria, and it turns out it can survive the extreme conditions of space. “That’s evolution at work,” says Jamie Foster, a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science at the University of Florida. What lessons should it teach us, and how can we use it to help us with future space missions, Foster explains.

Running an ultramarathon is hard, but running 100kms six months post-partum and breastfeeding during breaks… Well, that sounds like a scene from an inspirational movie. But, for Stephanie Case, and her baby girl Pepper, it was real life. Why would she do this, and what keeps her running these extreme distances, she shares with Matt Galloway.

Parliament is back and King Charles delivered his throne speech today. What message is the King's speech meant to send to Canadians, and to one American in particular, Donald Trump? What are the new Liberal government's priorities? CBC’s Catherine Cullen, The Globe and Mail’s Stephanie Levitz, and The National Post’s Christopher Nardi join Matt Galloway to talk about all that and more.

Do you speak dolphin? What about marmoset or nightingale? Did you know cuttlefish use a form of sign language to communicate? If your answer was no to all those questions, you should know that scientists are working to turn that into a yes — and AI is playing a key role. How to decode animal communication, and whether that's even a good idea. Three animal communication scientists join us to talk it all through - human to human.

Normally, therapy sessions are totally confidential — but this podcast opens the doors. In this season of Other People’s Problems, Dr. Hillary McBride explores the transformative power of psychedelics in a therapeutic setting.

With her psychological expertise, Dr. Hillary leads her clients through drug-assisted therapy, guiding them to new heights on their healing journeys. Experience these real, unscripted sessions firsthand as they unfold in each episode.

This season offers an unprecedented look at psychedelic psychotherapy, breaking new ground in the podcast space and demystifying this often misunderstood practice as a powerful tool in trauma recovery.

More episodes of Other People’s Problems are available at: https://link.mgln.ai/1RjPLj

The House of Commons returns today after nearly six months, Prime Minister Mark Carney with his new Liberal minority government, and Conservatives without their leader Pierre Poilievre in the Parliament. What’s next? Matt Galloway speaks with Karina Gould, the re-elected Liberal MP; Heather McPherson, the re-elected NDP MP; and Andrew Lawton, the first-time Conservative MP about their parties’ priorities, the challenges ahead — and how they can work together for Canada.

‘It is absolutely an act of compassion,’ says Leonard Krog, the mayor of Nanaimo about the use of involuntary care to deal with B.C.’s mental health crisis — but some experts are worried that forcing someone into treatment is a violation of their rights. Matt Galloway speaks with Mayor Krog; Jonny Morris, the CEO of the B.C. Division of the Canadian Mental Health Association; and Dr. Shimi Kang, a psychiatrist with Future Ready Minds for their insight about how to provide care for mental health while protecting public safety — as Premier David Eby works to review the province’s mental health legislation following the deadly Lapu-Lapu Day festival.

It's grilling season, and Chef on Fire has one thing on his mind: cooking on live fire — and he says you should try it too. Chef Michael Smith, in his new book Wood, Fire and Smoke: Recipes and Techniques for Wood-Fired Cooking, explores how cooking on live fire can bring more than just flavour into your life; lighting a fire for zen and a good time.

“Tourists go home," protesters chant in Spain, and they’re not alone. People in many European countries say they want tourists to stay away — but only the bad ones. So as you plan your next vacation, we get some advice on how to be a better tourist.

“I did not see humanity provided to Mr. Floyd that day,” says Medaria Arradondo, the Minneapolis police chief at the time of George Floyd’s murder. Five years after Floyd was murdered in an interaction with police officers Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng, Matt Galloway talks to former police chief Arradondo and civil rights lawyer and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong about what has or hasn’t changed — and where the Black Lives Matter movement stands in the U.S. today with Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

Michael Crummey has won the $154,000 Dublin Literary Award for his book The Adversary, which explores familiar themes around life at the ocean's edge. Matt Galloway spoke with the author at the Woody Point Writers Festival in Newfoundland in Sept. 2023, to discuss isolation, vulgarity and the responsibility that comes with telling the stories of home.

Do you have fond memories of Walking with Dinosaurs, the much-loved BBC series that aired back in 1999. If your answer is yes, you and all dinosaur lovers are in luck — it’s coming back this summer, and Alberta is taking centre stage. Matt Galloway talks to Emily Bamforth, the lead scientist of the Pipestone Creek Bonebed in Alberta and a fan of the original series, about how she made her younger self proud — and why the dig is called the “River of Death.”

Breanna Bromley-Clarke is the only student graduating from her tiny school in Main Brook, N.L. So the small town of about 200 people is throwing her a party — a very special prom for one.

New details have emerged about the 2022 swarming attack that killed a homeless man in Toronto, after a judge ruled that strip searches conducted on the accused teenage girls were unconstitutional. Toronto Star crime reporter Jennifer Pagliaro walks us through what happened that night, and why this judge’s ruling will affect sentencing.

Tanya Hansen Pratt was frustrated to hear of three children killed in a Toronto highway crash this week — she lost her own mother to a young drunk driver almost 30 years ago. With a 19-year-old now facing multiple impaired-driving charges, we dig into why young men still take the most risks on the road, and how to talk to them about drunk driving.

In an “extraordinary” development, the jury has been dismissed in the sexual assault trial of five ex-world junior hockey players. The Globe and Mail’s investigative reporter Robyn Doolittle explains what a judge-only trial could mean for the case, and why the jury’s dismissal means new details can now be reported

“A triumph of science, a miracle of medicine” is how researcher Fyodor Urnov describes the gene-editing treatment that saved baby KJ Muldoon’s life. Now nine months old, KJ was born with a genetic condition called urea cycle disorder, which is fatal for many infants. Urnov was part of the research team supporting KJ's doctors, he tells us what gene-editing treatments could mean for others born with life-threatening conditions.

Managing money is always challenging, and it’s even trickier when you’re a teenager. In her new book Making Bank, Money Skills for Real Life, certified financial planner Shannon Lee Simmons offers advice for teens: from budgeting and saving for things you enjoy, to dealing with the constant wave of influencers trying to sell them something.

Canada, France and the U.K. are threatening sanctions against Israel over its 11-week blockade on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, and plans to escalate military action in the enclave. Matt Galloway talks to Jon Allen, former Canadian ambassador to Israel; and UNICEF spokesperson James Elder about the mounting international pressure on Israel — and what it might mean for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

China is still the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter, but is now also leading the way in clean energy. Where does that leave Canada and other western nations in the renewables race, particularly in light of U.S. President Donald Trump’s promise to “drill baby, drill”?

Have you ever thought of training your cat, just like you would your dog? Did you say no… or are you laughing in disbelief? A cat behavior specialist says you can, and explains what we are getting wrong about cats — especially about the ones with behavioural issues.

“Build baby, build” is how Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged to tackle Canada’s housing crisis, but his new housing minister says that won’t mean reducing house prices. Matt Galloway asks housing experts to unpack the new Liberal government’s strategy, and unpick the “Gordian Knot” of whether Canada can create affordable housing without prices dropping?

Rachel Phan was three years old when her parents opened a restaurant in Kingsville, Ont., a venture that quickly ate up most of their time and energy. In a conversation from last month, the Chinese-Canadian author discusses her new memoir, Restaurant Kid, and why she felt like the restaurant had stolen her parents away from her.

Wildfire season hasn’t officially started, but Manitoba has already declared a state of emergency after a deadly blaze in Lac du Bonnet. Guest host Mark Kelley breaks down the fire forecast and top-of-mind questions with Ed Struzik, author of The Future of Fire, and climatologist emeritus David Phillips.

Where’s the best place to visit in Canada? For weeks, listeners have been voting for the vacation spots they love across this big, beautiful country to build The Current’s travel bucket list. Rick Mercer joined Matt Galloway earlier this month to reveal the top 10. Did your favourite place make the list?

Canadian tourists were once regular shoppers at Ali Hayton’s grocery store in Washington state, but these days she’s more likely to get “nasty emails” from Canadians angry about U.S. tariffs. Guest host Mark Kelley talks to business owners about the sharp drop in Canadians travelling to the U.S., and the impact on border communities who rely on tourism dollars to survive.

After 35 years behind bars for murdering their parents, Erik and Lyle Menendez will now have a chance at parole. Investigative journalist Robert Rand has covered this story since the 1989 murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez, even uncovering new evidence along the way.

Halle Berry had an emergency outfit change at the Cannes Film Festival this week, after organizers implemented a new dress code that bans nudity and “voluminous outfits,” especially those with large trains. Fashion critic Katharine Zarrella says the new rules are hypocritical: demanding women cover up on the red carpet, while celebrating and commercializing nudity on screen.

Sean (Diddy) Combs is facing life in prison over sex trafficking and racketeering charges, related to elaborate sex parties called "freak-offs” that were allegedly laced with violence and abuse. Combs, also known as Puff Daddy, has pleaded not guilty. Reuters journalist Jack Queen takes us inside the New York courtroom, where Combs’ ex-girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, delivered graphic testimony about her relationship with the hip hop mogul.

A Mennonite community at the centre of Ontario’s measles outbreak, one woman says she trusts remedies made from dandelions and strawberries more than modern medicine. The Current’s James Chaarani went there to speak with community members, and found a deep distrust of vaccines and the medicine system.

U.S. President Donald Trump surprised the world by pledging to lift crippling sanctions on Syria this week. We dig into what this means for rebuilding the country after the fall of Assad, both for Syrians who have grown up in the brutality of the civil war, and those who fled and are longing to return home.

We all know that making friends as an adult is difficult. Everyone’s busy with their families and careers, while time online and remote work is leaving some people increasingly isolated. We meet some young adults finding creative new ways to meet potential new friends in the real world, from dinner with perfect strangers to making conversation at a run club.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet has two dozen new faces, but Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says the presence of some Trudeau-era ministers looks like “more of the same.” Can Carney reassure Canadians that he’s bringing the change they voted for? Matt Galloway takes the political pulse with the CBC’s Rosemary Barton and Kathleen Petty and the Globe and Mail's Stephanie Levitz.

If you’ve tried to write an email or opened a blank document recently, some kind of AI assistant has likely offered to polish your words — or even write whole sentences for you. Some advocates argue that generative AI could open up a new frontier in writing, but others warn it’s dulling our creativity and critical thinking for the sake of efficiency.

Alex Hutchinson knows all about the thrill of discovery, having ventured deep into the wilderness of far-flung places like Tasmania. In his new book, The Explorer's Gene, the journalist argues that we’re hardwired with that desire to embrace uncertainty and the unknown — and looks at what happens if we stop. 

"Do you agree that the province shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province of Canada?" That’s the ballot question proposed by the Alberta Prosperity Project, a group pushing for a referendum on Alberta leaving Canada by the end of the year. We look at support for independence in the province — and why the APP says they’re confident that Premier Danielle Smith will eventually join their cause.

Mixed martial arts can count some big-name politicians among its millions of fans, with Donald Trump and Pierre Poilievre attending recent Ultimate Fighting Championship bouts. We dig into the sport’s intersection with politics, and the corners of the sport that seem to be embracing the manosphere, toxic masculinity and, in some cases, far-right figures.