The Current

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says he plans to ban kids 16 and under from using AI chatbots. If the legislation passes, the province could be the first jurisdiction in the world to do this. But not everyone agrees that a blanket ban is the most effective way to keep kids safe. We speak with Sara Austin,the founder and CEO of Children First Canada, and Mahtab Laghaei, a policy analyst with The Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she researches AI chatbots, data and privacy.

At a time when the world is facing an energy crisis, solar power grew by 30 percent in 2025, with China leading the charge in harnessing the power of the sun. And yet, Canada has fallen behind other G7 nations when it comes to renewable energy from solar and wind. We speak with Nicolas Fulghum, senior data analyst with the international energy research agency, Ember, about that group’s latest report, and Mark Winfield, professor of Environmental and Urban Change, and co-chair of the Sustainable Energy Initiative at York University, about what has held Canada back, and the potential of renewable energy.

For decades, Hank Idsinga led some of Toronto's most high-profile murder investigations. In his new memoir, 'The High Road: Confessions of A Homicide Cop', he talks about what he says is rampant racism, anti-semitism and corruption in the largest police force in Canada.

The federal government wants to address worker shortages in the skilled trades. At the spring economic update they announced a 5 year plan -- worth 6 billion dollars -- to help recruit, train and hire young people into the skilled trades.

For the first time in Canada, a 62-year-old man is poised to be Canada's first person to be cured of HIV. There are currently only a handful of people world-wide considered cured of HIV. We speak with one of them, Adam Castillejo, about what it means to be cured. We also speak to the doctor of the Canadian patient, Dr. Sharon Walmsley, about what this breakthrough represents -- and the future of HIV treatment.

The two-hour marathon was an unreachable limit for decades. Now, Sabastian Sawe has officially broken it. So what changed? Matt Galloway speaks with Alex Hutchinson, senior writer at Canadian Running Magazine, about what this moment tells us about the limits of human performance itself.

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) have been around for more than 50 years. Calgary doctor Dion Kelly developed Think 2Switch, an app allowing kids with disabilities, like Claire Sonnenberg, to control devices with their thoughts alone and play an active role in life. We’ll talk about the possibilities this technology can bring.

UBC forest ecologist Suzanne Simard's viral TED talk about forests as communities turned her into a "celebrity scientist" and taught the world how to think differently about trees. Now she's written a new book, arguing that the way we harvest and cut down those trees urgently needs to change. We talk to her about what she's learned about logging from indigenous colleagues — and whether politicians and the logging industry are ready for her message.

Canada's finance minister has tabled a spring economic update with a smaller than expected deficit. We break down what's in it for Canadians — and what it will cost you. We talk to Catherine Cullen, host of CBC’s The House, and Sahir Khan, Canada's former Assistant Parliamentary Budget Officer and co-founder of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy.

King Charles III is in the U.S. this week, more by force. On the surface, the state visit is to commemorate the 250 year anniversary of U.S.' independence, but it's no secret that he's been tasked to ease tensions with the U.S. He has to walk a fine line in dealing with the U.S. President Donald Trump, as explained by historian and royal commentator, Carolyn Harris.

Prime Minister Mark Carney says a sovereign wealth fund will ensure Canadians benefit from the country's future prosperity. Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre says it will become an expensive Liberal slush fund. CBC reporter Peter Armstrong breaks down the details. Investor John Ruffolo tells us the benefits and potential pitfalls.

Mary Cain was a record-breaking running phenom — the fastest girl in America at one point. Then at 23, she went public with her allegations against her coach of physical and emotional abuse. She shares her story of a toxic athletic culture — and what has to change to keep young athletes safe.

On Saturday night, a man armed with two guns and multiple knives charged through security and tried to storm the ballroom of the annual White House correspondents' dinner in Washington. CBC's Paul Hunter was there. He walks us through what happened and what we know about the 31 year-old suspect.

As the Strait of Hormuz is being used to choke off nearly 20 per cent of the world's oil exports and influence global markets in the US-Israel and Iran war, Edward Fishman explains what makes a chokepoint powerful and how other governments are identifying their own chokepoints as the world moves into an era of economic warfare.

Horses have long roamed the Yukon. Today they're considered feral. CBC Whitehorse producer Andrew Hynes, explores how the fate of the horses has become a preoccupation for a group of activists - after one horse was discovered dead in a farmer’s field.

New research from Yale shows that people are just as likely to improve as they age as decline — and a positive outlook can make a difference. At 84, marathoner Carol Wright says running is more than just exercise. It connects her to others and gives her goals. Two doctors say even if you aren't as fit as Carol, you can thrive too, but we also need a societal rethink of aging.

The federal government wants to build a high-speed rail line from Toronto to Quebec City. Rural land-owners along the proposed corridor are concerned the major project will carve into their farms. City-dwelling proponents are worried the dream of cutting travel time between Toronto and Montreal may never be realized. We hear from both sides about what this project means and the risk of sowing division between rural and urban Canadians.

Carol Guzy's World Press Photo of the Year image shows two daughters clinging to their father as ICE agents detain him at his immigration hearing. The renowned photojournalist says she hopes her work can cut through today's media noise and make people feel for others.

As entry-level office jobs seem to be vanishing and people are prioritizing mental health and work-life balance over corporate hustle culture, some young people are looking at the service industry as a viable career path despite being trained or having gone to school for different jobs.

How good are your braiding skills? The answer from some Ottawa dads was: not great. We talk to Chris Hughes, a single father of twin girls, who created the workshop Braids and Beers to help fellow dads in the area keep up with their kids’ hair styling demands.

The most comprehensive archive of what happened at Canadian residential schools is about to be destroyed after a 2017 Supreme Court ruling to protect survivors privacy. Now  Pulitzer and Peabody-winning journalist Connie Walker is creating a new public archive to preserve survivor accounts.

We hear from two members of the Prime Minister’s advisory council chosen to help on CUSMA negotiations in July. Former conservative cabinet member Lisa Raitt and the president of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Denis Darby take us through what’s at stake for Canadians.

Unicode is taking pitches for emojis. Graphic designer Jennifer Daniel helps decide which ones make it. She says a successful emoji should have multiple meanings. Sorry aerial tramway ;)

Six years ago, Donna Gustafson was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer one of the deadliest cancers. Today, she's cancer-free. She’'s one of 16 patients in an early clinical trial testing a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine  designed to train the immune system to recognize and fight cancer.We hear from Donna and from the doctor leading the research, Dr. Vinod Balachandran, about what these early — but encouraging — results could mean. And we speak to Dr. Ramy Saleh, Associate Professor at McGill University, on how similar research is taking shape in Canada.

Mistrust in the medical system and barriers to access maternity care in rural communities has some women turning to ‘freebirth’ — giving birth without the support of doctors and registered midwives. On Vancouver Island, a court case is highlighting a divide in the birthing community after a freebirth activist was accused of manslaughter in the death of a newborn in a home birth she allegedly attended.

With absenteeism rates on the rise, Ontario is trying to get kids back to class -- but making it count toward their final grade in high school. But which students will this help? And who will be left behind?

As Sudan's war enters its fourth year, much of the story is told in numbers, millions displaced, thousands killed. But photojournalist Abdulmonam Eassa is trying to show something else. He's spent years documenting Sudan, from the hope of the 2019 revolution to the devastation of today's conflict. His latest work, “War in Sudan: A Trapped Nation,”just earned him a World Press Photo award. He takes us behind the images on what's described as the world's forgotten war.

It was once in NASA laboratories. Now, it's part of your nighttime routine. Red light therapy has become a booming industry, with popular products like face masks and red light panels claiming to have the ability to treat anything from wrinkles to cancer. But does science back this up?

U.S. researchers looked at what happens to drivers on the days that major album releases drop,  from artists like Bad Bunny and Taylor Swift. And they found that traffic fatalities increased by nearly 15 percent. We talk to Dr Vishal Patel of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School about what the findings mean -- and what they can tell us about exactly what distracts us when we're driving.

Tim Hodgson, federal energy and natural resources minister, weighs in on economic uncertainty surrounding the global energy crisis, financial relief for Canadians, building major projects, and the prospect of an Alberta-backed pipeline that is already facing pushback in British Columbia.

Just days after Ontario announced it had purchased a $28.9 million private jet for Premier Doug Ford, the province is now trying to sell it. The decision to buy the jet sparked backlash, with critics calling it tone deaf at a time when many Canadians are struggling with the cost of living. But others argue a plane like this could help a leader do their job more effectively, especially in a province as large as Ontario.

It's been seven weeks since the United States and Israel launched a coordinated bombing campaign against Iran. Fareed Zakaria tells Matt Galloway that the US's lack of coherent plan, moral bankruptcy and dubious legal standing in the Iran war have made it and the world more dangerous.

Can't concentrate? What about thinking deeply? Attention spans are shrinking rapidly. Cal Newport, a professor of computer science at Georgetown University and the author of the bestselling book 'Deep Work' says we're facing a crisis -- an attack on our ability to think. He's calling for what he calls a revolution in defence of thinking. He outlines the steps for reclaiming your attention.

Most new development in Waterloo, Ontario has been put on hold because the region doesn't have enough water  infrastructure for future projects.  How this is a warning bell for other communities across Canada.

After making history as the first Canadian travelling beyond Earth's orbit, Jeremy Hansen reflects on the experience, and what he's learned pushing the boundaries of human exploration.

As the Artemis II mission wraps up, its impact is still being felt here on Earth. From classrooms to rocket clubs, a new generation is looking up and imagining themselves in space. We hear from Dhyan Soni, a Grade 12 student already building rockets and dreaming big about Canada's future in space. And later, Canadian astrophysicist Sara Seager helps us understand where this renewed excitement for space could lead next

The attacks on Dubai over the past month and a half have shaken the Gulf city's reputation as a safe haven in a volatile region. The dazzling skyline with 200-storey towers have been a huge draw for expats, tourists, influencers and the ultra rich. CBC's Megan Williams looks into what the future holds for Dubai, in the wake of missile and drone attacks from Iran.

Rachel Collishaw is ready for a big change. She wants to leave her secluded rural home for something called cohousing. In an uncertain world, she and her husband are ready for a bit more connection. They would exchange their peaceful home for a much smaller condo, shared meals, commons spaces. But, right now, it's just a dream. One they aren't sure they can afford. Can Rachel and others like her find a better way of living with cohousing? Or is it a dream that just isn't ready to take root in Ontario?

Gregg Carlstrom, The Economist's Middle East correspondent breaks down what we know and don't know about the delicate Israel-Lebanon ceasefire that was announced by US President Donald Trump.

Long term care workers in Nova Scotia are on strike, demanding more pay and better working conditions. Adults 85 and older are one of Canada's fastest growing age groups. It's estimated that long term care capacity will have to almost double in the next decade to meet demand. We look at the demands on long term care workers and what staffing issues mean for residents with Ty Loppie, long term-care worker and Vice President of Young Workers CUPE Nova Scotia, and Andre Picard, health columnist for the Globe and Mail and the author of Neglected No More: The Urgent Need to Improve the Lives of Canada's Elders in the Wake of a Pandemic.

Air travel is getting more expensive.. A global jet fuel crunch, driven by conflict in the Middle East, is pushing up costs and starting to disrupt supply in parts of the world. Airlines are already adjusting — raising fares, adding fees, and in some cases, cutting routes. John Gradek, an aviation lecturer at McGill University, explains what’s driving the spike, what it means for your summer travel plans, and why higher prices could stick around even if the crisis eases.

Scientists have the results of the first ever large-scale clinical trial of a new form of treatment for severe, treatment-resistant depression, called magnetic seizure therapy. They found it's as effective as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which is currently considered the gold standard. We talk to Dr. Daniel Blumberger of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, also the co-lead of the study, about how this treatment can change lives.

Since the dawn of reality television in the '90s, the genre has capitalized on the 'train wreck' appeal of its stars. Now, with recent abuse allegations against the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul, there are renewed calls for networks to stop prioritizing dramatic plotlines over participants' mental health. We talk to Theresa DeMaria from Netflix's 'Age of Attraction' and Danielle Lindeman, the author of 'True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us.'

Anthropic has not released its latest AI model "Mythos" to the public, but only to a consortium of 40 companies because it says it's too powerful when it comes to cybersecurity. It has found bugs in some of the most protected systems in the world, and if Mythos falls in the wrong hands, it can leave hundreds of organizations vulnerable. Lily Hay Newman, senior writer at WIRED unpacks it all for us.

From trucking, to farming, to filling up your tank. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has sent oil prices skyrocketing. Murray Mullen is the senior executive officer and chairman of Mullen Group, a logistics and trucking company based in Alberta. Plus, Reid Southwick, the Western Bureau Chief for the Financial Post, about the wider pinch this country is feeling.

We speak to Stephen Poloz, the former governor of the Bank of Canada, about how the Iran war is making a shaky global economy even worse — and what options governments and ordinary Canadians have to weather the storm.

Every workplace has buzzwords and jargon. A new study shows that employees who are most impressed by it tend to be bad at analytical thinking and practical decisions. But before you get too smug, Cornell BS researcher Shane Littrell warns that all of us can fall for BS, depending on the circumstances.

 Scientists spent decades watching a large group of chimpanzees in Uganda, living peacefully together. Until 2015, when suddenly things started falling apart. And within a few years, two rival factions were launching violent attacks against one another, resulting in a permanent rift. Aaron Sandel is a primatologist at the University of Texas at Austin, he explains why the violence may have erupted, and what we humans can learn from it, about social breakdown. 

We look at the latest tirade by President Donald Trump against Pope Leo. We hear from two experts on how unprecedented the move is from a US president, and how the Catholics in America are reacting. Chris White is the author of Pope Leo XIV, he’s also the associate director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University, and Francis Rocca is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and the Vatican editor at EWTN News.

The new thriller novel “Shy Girl” by Mia Ballard has been pulled from shelves over speculation it was written by AI and it's throwing the literary world for a loop. Questions are being raised about what role AI could, and should, have in creative writing in the future. Can it write better than humans? Does it matter? Authors Stephen Marche, Andrea Bartz, and Vauhini Vara join us to talk about it.