The ‘R’ word / Oscars / Budget

Adam McDowell takes us through the growing frenzy over the “r-word.” The phrase “retarded” keeps popping up everywhere from Washington to Hollywood and it’s raising hackles in the United States, where disability activists are on a mission to have it removed from the lexicon. But as one might expect, America’s free speech advocates say the whole matter is being blown out of proportion. The National Post’s arts team makes their Oscar picks ahead of Sunday’s Academy Awards. Who will win best actress, best animated film, and best picture? National Post’s Brad Frenette asks arts writer Ben Kaplan and film critic Chris Knight for their Oscar picks. Post columnists Don Martin and Tasha Kheiriddin join host Chris Selley to discuss Wednesday's incredibly long and "paternalistic" Throne Speech, a bizarre proposal to alter the national anthem and Thursday's federal budget — which raises a serious question: Whatever happened to fiscal conservatism?