The Current

Brett Broadfoot of London, Ont., is mourning the death of his daughter after she was stabbed and killed by her boyfriend of eight months. Police say the situation is linked to intimate partner violence, which the City of London declared an epidemic last year.

Officials say the wildfire in Jasper, Alta., has destroyed 30 to 50 per cent of the town’s buildings and grown to 36,000 hectares. Fire crews from across the world are now arriving in Jasper to help fight the blaze.

The mayor of the remote town of Norman Wells in the Northwest Territories is worried about the cost of living in his community. Frank Pope says the community is struggling after lower water levels have meant barges haven’t been able to get key supplies across the Mackenzie River.

There’s been drama and excitement ahead of the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games. The CBC’s Chief Correspondent Adrienne Arsenault tells us what we can expect in Paris.

As wildfire rips through Jasper, residents are starting to learn of the damage that’s been done. The fire has destroyed multiple buildings, including the Maligne Lodge hotel and the grounds of the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed U.S. Congress yesterday, and while he received cheers inside, thousands of people in Washington, D.C., protested the war in Gaza.

At least 25,000 people have been forced to evacuate the community of Jasper, Alta., and Jasper National Park because of an encroaching wildfire. Now people are waiting to hear if their property is lost, and when they’ll be allowed back. 

Oysters in P.E.I are at risk. A disease known as multinuclear sphere X (MSX) has been discovered in oysters from Bedeque Bay. If there’s a mass outbreak, there’s concern from those in the industry that the oyster population could take a long time to recover.

One of the biggest music genres is experimenting with the power of artificial intelligence. The K-pop group Seventeen used AI to help promote the music video for its single Maestro. But it’s far from the only way AI is seeping its way into the industry. And while some people say it’s a useful tool, others believe it doesn’t have a place in K-pop.

Medical experts say the number of ticks, which can carry dangerous pathogens, are on the rise. Ticks can carry Lyme disease, as well as anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Powassan virus. Experts say people need to be informed about these diseases and what they can do to prevent them.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced he was stepping down from the presidential race on Sunday. He said that the decision was best for the party and country, and that he would endorse Vice-President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee. So what’s next for the presidential election and the Democratic Party?

Supervised consumption sites have been around for decades in provinces across Canada. The sites give drug users a supervised space to consume drugs, get their supply tested and receive clean equipment. But Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has called on the federal government to shut down some of these programs, citing concerns that they attract drug dealing and other crime, making them part of the problem, not the solution.

Donald Trump has officially accepted his third nomination for president at the Republican National Convention on Thursday night. Guest host Duncan McCue speaks with the CBC’s Katie Simpson and international politics professor Daniel Drezner about how we got here, and what a Trump presidency might look like. 

The Canadian Pediatric Society says "risky play" is good for kids’ mental, physical and social health — even if it might result in injury. In an interview from January, we hear what’s behind this new advice, why ”incredibly boring playgrounds” are part of the problem, and why parents might need to just take a deep breath.

The wildfires that destroyed Lahaina in Hawaii last year have led to something of an ecological reset. For decades, the area was drained dry by sugar plantations and developers, but now water has returned. That’s sparking hope for the restoration of Lahaina’s ancient and sacred wetlands.

Record-breaking rainfall wreaked havoc in Toronto this week, flooding homes and businesses, and turning highways into rivers. Guest host Duncan McCue hears how building “sponge cities” could help to protect Canadians against this kind of flash flooding.

Phylicia George has competed in both the summer and winter Olympics, and now she’s heading to the 2024 Paris Games as a spoken word poet. She explains why poetry and sport make great teammates.

As provincial premiers gather for their annual summer meetings in Halifax this week, there’s a focus on the provinces’ relationship with the federal government. Guest host Duncan McCue speaks with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew about what needs to change.

Since the very beginning of women’s sports, there has been a struggle to define who, exactly, gets to compete in the women’s category. A century later, the struggle is still very much alive. Rose Eveleth hosts the new CBC podcast Tested, which explores a question that goes far beyond sports: What is fair and who decides?

As political drama continues to heat up south of the border, former U.S. ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman is concerned about both presidential candidates and their fitness to serve. He says American democracy is at stake in the coming election, and each choice comes with its pitfalls.

The numbers show that youth unemployment is at an all-time high. Statistics Canada shows that unemployment rates among youth aged 15 to 24 are the highest they’ve been since 2014, excluding during parts of the pandemic. That means young people are struggling to earn enough to get by and aren’t developing much-needed skills.

South Africa has run out of the injection pens that deliver insulin to diabetics, with some critics arguing that it’s a ripple effect of the popularity of drugs like Ozempic in the west. Guest host Duncan McCue talks to Stephanie Nolen, a global health reporter for the New York Times.

Jacob the three-legged lion has survived poachers and a death-defying swim across crocodile-infested waters. We talk to a biologist who's been tracking him to find out what Jacob’s story tells us about the human impact on lion populations in Africa.

An assassination attempt on former U.S. president Donald Trump has inflamed fears of political violence south of the border. How might it change the campaign for the presidency — and the U.S. political landscape?

Residents in Barcelona have been squirting tourists with water guns in protest of mass tourism that they say is driving up rents and overwhelming public spaces. If you're travelling this summer, how can you be a respectful tourist who contributes to local communities?

There’s a lot of history tucked into the pockets of our clothing, including a long-standing frustration that women’s clothes tend not to have them. In a conversation from December, design expert Hannah Carlson digs into the patriarchy folded into what we wear every day.

U.S. President Joe Biden was supposed to discuss NATO’s future after a summit in Washington, but reporters focused on his own political future. We unpack what we learned.

Dating apps were once touted as a technological breakthrough in human connection, but more people are growing weary of swipe culture. We hear why things like “ghosting” are driving frustrated singles back to the real world, and how they can make the apps work for them again.

Workers at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario are striking over fears for their jobs, sparked by Premier Doug Ford’s plan to allow alcohol sales at convenience and grocery stores. Guest host Mark Kelley looks at what the LCBO offers the province right now, and what opening up competition might mean.

Is there any water in Africa? Are there houses? Those are the kinds of questions that Nigerian influencer Charity Ekezie was getting on her TikTok videos, so she decided to reply — with a healthy dose of sarcasm.

The hotter things get, the more people blast the air conditioning — but more AC means more emissions warming the planet. Guest host Mark Kelley teases out this tricky conundrum, and asks why the technology that keeps us cool isn’t more energy efficient.

Canada lost to Argentina in the Copa America semifinals Tuesday. But soccer journalist John Molinaro says even getting that far is “a big shot in the arm” for the sport’s fortunes in this country, and the fans who love it.

U.S. President Joe Biden says he’s not going anywhere, despite mounting calls for him to step aside and let someone else contest November’s presidential election. We talk to Democrats on both sides of the debate, and look at what picking a new candidate might look like.

Canadian sprinter Christopher Morales Williams set a 400-metre world record earlier this year, but a technicality meant it wasn’t ratified. Unfazed, the 19-year-old says it’s motivated him to go and break that record all over again. He talks to guest host Mark Kelley about taking that determination to the Paris Olympics, and how he combats nerves and nausea before a big race.

A left-wing alliance has beaten Marine Le Pen’s far-right party into third place in France’s snap election, according to exit polls. But with no party winning a majority and the prospect of a hung parliament, what turbulence lies ahead?

Andrea Robin Skinner, daughter of Canadian author Alice Munro, told the Toronto Star she was sexually abused by her stepfather as a child, but her mother chose to support her husband. Guest host Mark Kelley talks to Star reporter Deborah Dundas; and Maria Barcelos, who works with survivors of sexual abuse.

Earlier this year, more than a trillion cicadas from two separate broods emerged together for the first time since 1803. In May, we spoke to one very excited entomologist — and heard the love song he wrote to the insects.

Boeing's Starliner test mission reached the International Space Station a month ago — but its return has been delayed indefinitely. We hear why NASA insists its astronauts aren’t stranded, and what it’s going to take to bring them back to Earth.

The Labour Party has won a landslide victory in the U.K., ending 14 years of Conservative rule. Can new Prime Minister Keir Starmer bring about the change the electorate has demanded?

Dangerous misinformation about sunscreen is spreading on social media, even as rates of skin cancer continue to rise. Dermatologist Dr. Sunil Kalia applies the facts about SPF.

Two orcas, Wikie and Keijo, could soon retire from a French marine park to become the first residents of a proposed whale sanctuary in Port Hilford, N.S. Guest host Nahlah Ayed hears about the logistics of building a first-of-its-kind, 40-hectare enclosure in the open bay — and why critics worry Nova Scotia’s harsher weather might make it too difficult to maintain.

Apple is getting ready to incorporate a slate of AI tools into its devices. We hear how it could revolutionize not just how you use your phone, but how you communicate.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that presidents are entitled to immunity with some limits, but one dissenting justice warns the decision makes the president “a king above the law." Guest host Nahlah Ayed talks to law professor and Supreme Court expert Eric Segall.

Hurricane Beryl is barrelling toward Jamaica after wreaking havoc on St. Vincent and the Grenadines. How can small island nations be protected from the threat of extreme weather and climate change — and how much responsibility lies with larger nations?

Women fleeing civil war in Sudan are falling victim to sexual and gender-based violence, even as they seek refuge in neighbouring Chad. The Current's Elizabeth Hoath brings us the stories of four women — and the staggering challenge for aid workers trying to help.

The U.S. government is suing software company Adobe, saying the company deliberately makes its subscriptions difficult to cancel. A professor of marketing explains how deceptive design keeps you locked into subscriptions — and how to avoid tricky cancellation policies.

Fears that missile fire between Israel and militant group Hezbollah could lead to a full-scale war in Lebanon are growing. Close to 500 people have been killed in the hostilities so far and several countries have urged their citizens in the country to leave. Dahlia Scheindlin and Hussein Ibish join guest host Nahlah Ayed to discuss what might lead to all-out war, and what needs to be done to de-escalate tensions.

The Ontario Science Centre closed its doors for the last time on June 21 due to structural issues. The building is one of Canada’s centennial projects, erected in 1967 to celebrate the country’s 100-year anniversary. Toronto Metropolitan University’s Colin Ripley discusses the current state of other centennial projects across the nation.

After 40 years as a broadcaster for CBC Sports, Scott Russell will retire from hosting duties following the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris this summer. Russell spoke with Matt Galloway about his long career, and what comes next.

U.S. President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump faced off in their first debate of the 2024 presidential election on Thursday night. Who came on top? Columnist John Fund and Democratic strategist Craig Varoga discuss the debate with Matt Galloway.

In her new book, Cue the Sun!, TV writer Emily Nussbaum explores the history and influence of reality TV, from bug eating in the jungle to getting Donald Trump elected president.

Inside a refugee camp in Chad, we speak with two men whose lives have been uprooted by Sudan’s civil war. They share their stories of fleeing violence, trying to protect and provide for their families — and whether they have any hope of one day getting to go home.

Alberta MLA Shannon Phillips is quitting politics, calling out what she says is a toxic environment that is driving women out of elected office. She talks to Matt Galloway about being snooped on by Lethbridge police officers, and why she refuses to be a victim.

Ruth Whippman says young boys today are told to be strong — but also told that masculinity itself is toxic. In her new book BoyMom, the mother of three sons argues we’re failing young boys and need to change how we nurture them into better men.

We visit a refugee camp in Chad where water is desperately scarce in 40-degree heat — and talk to a Calgary geophysicist who went there to help find water buried deep in the desert.

The Edmonton Oilers had their hopes dashed in the Stanley Cup final Monday night. But fans say they’ll be back next year, and this small team with big dreams is still “a force to be reckoned with.”

The federal Conservatives won a shocking  byelection victory in Toronto-St. Paul's on Monday night, a seat held by the Liberals for more than 30 years. The Toronto Star's Stephanie Levitz explains why this was a “calculated” win for the Conservatives, and what it might mean for Justin Trudeau’s future as Liberal leader. 

Samantha O'Neill chose medical assistance in dying last year, facing terminal cervical cancer and excruciating pain. But her Catholic hospital in B.C. opposes MAID and refuses to provide it, forcing O’Neill to be transferred elsewhere. Her father Jim O'Neill is now suing the hospital’s operator and the province, saying Samantha’s transfer caused unnecessary pain and denied his daughter a dignified death.

Two indie bookstore owners share their recommendations for the best books this summer, from a road trip novel — without a road trip — to a book about how to age disgracefully.

We head to Edmonton where excited Oilers fans say they’re pinching themselves ahead of Monday night’s game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals — and the chance to bring the cup back to Canada.

Sam Anderson gets eye-to-eye with manatees, pufflings and even an eruption of bats in his new podcast, Animal. He explains why we’ve never been more distant from the creatures all around us — and what it might mean to get closer.

Canada’s men’s soccer team played their first ever game at the Copa America tournament on Thursday — and lost 2-0 to world champions Argentina. Soccer journalist John Molinaro explains why that’s still something to be proud of.

At the Chad border, there’s a steady stream of donkeys pulling carts piled high with people’s belongings, everything they’ve been able to carry as they flee the brutal conflict in Sudan. The Current’s Liz Hoath went there to speak with refugees, and the aid workers struggling to help.

Hundreds of residents were hastily evacuated as a wildfire threatened Churchill Falls, N.L., on Wednesday. Matt Galloway gets the latest from John Gaudi, guest host of Labrador Morning.

Climate expert Blair Feltmate says governments need to treat cooling as a human right, especially as summer heat waves intensify. If they don’t, he warns that the death toll from events like heat domes could rise into the thousands.

Olympic gold medallist Maggie Mac Neil has accomplished everything she wanted to in swimming, and now wants to make room for other things in her life. She talks to Matt Galloway about the weight of expectations as she heads to compete in Paris, and what comes next.

The Edmonton Oilers have battled their way back into contention for the Stanley Cup. As they face a do-or-die game 7 on Friday, we check in with a city craving a championship.

Close calls and mental fatigue are pushing B.C.’s experienced wildfire fighters to quit, right as fire seasons get longer and harsher. In her documentary The Burn, Joan Webber looks at what that means for the less experienced workers who replace them — and the communities they’re trying to protect.

Politicians in Ottawa take their summer break, our national affairs panel dissects a session preoccupied with foreign interference — and accusations on all sides. Matt Galloway talks to the CBC’s Rosemary Barton, the Toronto Star’s Stephanie Levitz and the National Post’s Ryan Tumilty.

Nora Young knew technology was inherently political when she created Spark in 2007, mere months after the iPhone was unveiled. As the CBC Radio show ends its 17-year run, she says we should be demanding more from the technologies that shape our lives.

The U.S. surgeon general is calling for a warning label on social media, citing mental health risks for teens. Would warnings similar to the ones on cigarettes make a difference?

People are living much longer these days, but economics professor Andrew Scott says our society isn’t set up to support that. His new book The Longevity Imperative looks at the major overhauls needed to make a longer life rewarding, from employment to health care.

The water main that failed in Calgary was a prestressed concrete cylinder pipeline, a type of infrastructure that has ruptured in other places, too. What other Canadian cities rely on these pipes?

Many people think cigarette butts are biodegradable, but in reality they stick around for years, leaking chemicals and microplastics into the environment. We hear about a push to educate smokers and hold big tobacco companies responsible for their products.

More great white sharks are appearing off Canada's east coast. We hear why that’s a win for conservation — and what it means for humans heading down to the beach.

New research shows that discarded pharmaceutical drugs are having an alarming impact on wildlife — even causing sex reversals in some species. We talk to researcher Karen Kidd.

Sebastian Junger felt the pull of a deep black void as he lay bleeding to death in a hospital trauma room in 2020. The war correspondent and lifelong atheist tells Matt Galloway how close he came to death in that moment, and how it forced him to reconsider the idea of an afterlife. 

Earl Moberg was 81 and had advanced dementia when he went missing last year. He was never found. Matt Galloway talks to his daughter Britt Moberg about the changes she wants to see in senior care to stop this happening to other families.

The war in Ukraine has been the subject of a flurry of conferences this week, from a peace summit in Switzerland — without Russia — to the G7 summit in Italy. Will all these talks bring the country any closer to peace?

Olympian Malindi Elmore retired from track running in 2012. Now at 44, she’s back and competing in the marathon at the Paris Olympics. She talks to Matt Galloway about losing her passion for racing, and how she got it back.

From the Kennedy assassination to the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, U.S. presidents tackle their pressing crises in the Situation Room. Former White House staffer George Stephanopoulos takes us inside that bunker — and some defining moments in history.

Junaid Khan is one of a growing number of non-Indigenous people in Canada learning Indigenous languages. We listen back to Duncan McCue’s 2023 documentary about the swell of interest in Indigenous languages across Canada.

Many workers just don’t head out for a sit-down lunch with colleagues anymore, opting instead to eat quickly at their desks. What does our midday meal say about our modern lives?

It’s been a week since a “catastrophic” main break forced people in Calgary to limit their water use — thinking twice about everything from doing laundry to flushing the toilet. Guest host Duncan McCue checks in with Calgarians, and asks what we can learn from this crisis.

As negotiations for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire continue, discussions are slowly beginning to focus on what happens next — and what a future Palestinian state might look like.

Traditional wisdom suggests your rent shouldn’t exceed 30 per cent of your pay, but some Canadians could be forking out twice that much. We ask people to try a new interactive CBC tool that tells you what your rent should be based on your income — and look at how it impacts your financial future.

An Ontario hospital has paused all tonsil and adenoid surgeries for minors after two children died following surgery. We talk to ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Blake Papsin about what parents need to know.

Drip pricing involves extra fees that show up at checkout, hiking the advertised cost of things such as movie tickets. It’s been banned by the Competition Bureau, but it’s still happening. 

Quebec Premier Francois Legault says an "explosion" of temporary immigration has strained healthcare, education and housing in his province. But some business leaders and advocates say Quebec needs more newcomers, not fewer.

Kara Swisher isn’t afraid to ask tough questions, or hold the men who lead big tech companies to account. The tech journalist talks to Matt Galloway about what she thinks of tech innovators like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk — and why she said no to job offers at every single one of the big tech companies.

A new national security report alleges that unnamed MPs and senators knowingly helped foreign governments meddle in Canadian politics. The allegation has prompted heated debate about whether their identities should be made public, and what consequences they might face.

Race walker Evan Dunfee was literally bumped out of a medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but went on to win bronze five years later. Now he’s gearing up for Paris with a new definition of success, in a sport he describes as “running with rules.”

Far-right populist parties made major gains in EU parliamentary elections on the weekend, even triggering a snap general election in France. The CBC's Susan Ormiston brings us the latest from Brussels.

A decade ago, a group of primarily Indigenous children from Saskatchewan were part of a brainwave experiment that hoped to heal trauma. Now some are saying the study itself was traumatic and unethical. Geoff Leo explores the controversy in his documentary, Brain School

Calgarians have been told to cut back on water use or risk running out entirely, as the city struggles to repair a huge water main break. Matt Galloway talks to city councillor Sonya Sharp.

Alisa Siegel’s documentary Let it Shine tells the story of the University of Toronto’s first-ever course in Black gospel music, where you can hear the joy and community of a newly formed choir.

Mary Loewen shows her passion for the Edmonton Oilers by going to games dressed as the Stanley Cup, covered in 3,500 silver sequins and wearing a glittery wig. Matt Galloway talks to Loewen — aka Mama Stanley — and fellow fan Stephen Pretty about staying “loyal to the Oil,” and their nerves and excitement as the team gears up for the Stanley Cup final.

Catastrophic floods devastated B.C.’s Sumas Prairie in 2021, but now researchers want to avoid future disasters by flooding the area permanently, turning it back into the lake it once was. We hear from those who support a managed retreat — and those who would be forced out.

The Current's Liz Hoath takes us inside an overcrowded and under-resourced refugee camp in Chad, where more than a million people have fled the war in neighbouring Sudan.