The Current

Josh Wardle made puzzling cool with his enormously popular word guessing game Wordle. Now he has a new puzzle called Parseword that aims to make cryptic crosswords more accessible. The common thread in his games from his early days at Reddit until now -- connection.

There is a growing cohort of younger Canadians being diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Now, the Canadian Cancer Society is calling for the screening age to be lowered from 50 to 45. Dr. Shady Ashamalla is a surgical oncologist at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital, specializing in colorectal cancer and Miranda Fidler-Benaoudia, an epidemiologist at the University of Calgary, on the effects of cancer on young people.

Do you speak Irish? Young people are picking up Ireland’s native language, both inside the country and here in Canada. The Current’s Padraig Moran asks some Gaeilgeoirs what they love about Irish, why they want to learn it — and why they say it’s definitely not a dead language.

The Prime Minister was in Norway last weekend, meeting with Nordic leaders to discuss strengthening defense capabilities in the Arctic. It came off the back of Carney announcing a $35 billion plan to boost defense and infrastructure in Canada’s north. Andrea Charron, Director of the University of Manitoba’s Centre for Defense and Security Studies, discusses where this funding is going and why closer ties with our Arctic neighbours is important. Natan Obed, President of Canada's national Inuit organization Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, talks about how this money will impact northern communities.

After decades of mystery, an investigation by Reuters, spanning from Ukraine to New York, may have just revealed the street artist Banksy’s identity. Reporter Blake Morrision, talks about his investigation and if knowing who the artist is changes our relationship with his work.

Every few years, something magic happens in baseball: an eccentric mix of top major league stars and amateurs passionately pursuing the sport get the chance to suit up and represent their country on the international stage. Michael Clair, writer for MLB.com, shares some of this year’s most delightful storylines, from the espresso-guzzling Italians to a Canadian team that got farther than ever before. 

Dr. Joss Reimer was a voice of calm for Manitobans during the pandemic and now she will bring that approach to a national stage as Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer taking over from Dr. Theresa Tam.

CBC's Chief Correspondent Adrienne Arsenault reports from Saudi Arabia on how the U.S.-Israel war with Iran is reverberating throughout the region; plus foreign policy experts Bessma Momani and Roland Paris reflect on an eventful and tumultuous year for Prime Minister Mark Carney on the world stage, and assess how he's positioning Canada.

Bringing back a landline, buying a flip phone, setting strict screen time limits. With growing research showing the harm associated with smartphone and social media use, parents are rethinking how they let their kids use devices. But is an all or nothing approach the answer?

A Nova Scotia man has been acquitted of some charges, after creating sexually explicit images of his classmates. CBC Reporter Blair Rhodes tells us more about the case, and Dalhousie law professor Suzie Dunn explains how the current gap in the law makes it hard to get convictions, when it comes to distributing AI-generated images. 

From hunting for a mythical treasure, to solving the mystery of life in the universe -- why some people are driven to dedicate their lives to unachievable goals, and what that commitment to optimism means to the rest of us.

Mark Arendz lost his left arm in a farm accident when he was seven. Now, the Para nordic skiier from PEI is one of Canada's most decorated Para athletes. With four races down and three to go in Milano Cortina, he reflects on how he's changed as an athlete since his Paralympic debut in Vancouver 2010. And what it's been like, for the first time, to have his younger brother by his side as his coach. 

It's spring travel season. Maybe the part you're least looking forward to is the flight. Meet people who embrace what some of us hate about flying -- the meals, the bumps and the middle seat. 

The Oscars are this weekend! For the audience, the movies are at the top of mind — and for many filmmakers, it’s also about the importance of going to the movies. Fewer people are going to the movies, but why? What does that mean for us, our communities, and for the industry? The Current's producer Meli Gumus joins us to talk about the magic going to the movies brings. 

Getting a good night's rest can be hard. A sleep expert helps you navigate advice from mouth taping to melatonin to cognitive shuffling and more. Aric Prather, author of The Sleep Prescription: 7 Days to Unlocking Your Best Rest, on what works, what doesn't, and why we might need to reconsider our attitudes to sleep.

With another MP crossing the floor to join the Liberals, Prime Minister Mark Carney edges closer to a slim majority following a few upcoming byelections — but the Liberal agenda could still face some hurdles. We dig into it with our political panel of former federal strategists: Erin Morrison, Marci Surkes and Fred DeLorey. 

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree condemned the Toronto shootings at three synagogues and has committed $10 million in security funds. Law professor Michael Geist says he welcomes the funding but leaders everywhere in Canada need to speak out more against antisemitism.

After a 2024 decision to ban TikTok in Canada — shutting down the company's operations but not the app itself — the federal government is now doing a 180. Laura Osman, correspondent for the Logic, explains the timing of the decision, and whether the company's commitments on security and privacy will be enough to satisfy critics of the Chinese-owned social media company.  

Toronto author Jowita Bydlowska made waves with her 2013 memoir, “Drunk Mom.” Now she’s back telling the next chapter in the story of her relationship with alcohol, and with her son, in “Unshaming: A Memoir of Recovery, Relapse, and What Comes After.” 

Israel has responded to Hezbollah rocket fire with days of bombing, displacing hundreds of thousands of people. We hear fromTasnim Chaaban,  journalist with L’Orient-Today in Beirut about what's happening to more than half a million people displaced in the conflict. Followed by Middle East scholar Hussein Ibish, who says most Lebanese people are fed up with Hezbollah, creating an opening for the government to disarm it, but it will be difficult.

A new international research study on cat cancer says yes, they can! The study - which was the largest of its kind - looked at similarities in genetic mutations across human and cat cancer cells. We speak with Geoffrey Wood, a professor at the University of Guelph and the co-seniour author of the study, about the study, his team's findings, and how they could help make advancements in cancer treatment for both our favourite feline friends and humans. 

From gas prices, to air travel, to fertilizer costs, to interest rates… experts Heather Exner-Pirot, of the McDonald-Laurier Institute, and Neil Shearing, of Global Economics, break down how the conflict between the U.S., Israel and Iran will affect Canadians — and the broader global economy. 

Since the late ‘70s, the American white pelican has summered along the South Saskatchewan River. The Pelicans fly south in the winter and their return north is eagerly awaited. There's even a Pelican Watch contest to spot the first pelican of the season. Fort Qu'appelle, Saskatchewan recently took their pelican love one step further, making it their town's official bird. Some locals even call themselves “Fort Qu’Appelicans.” We talk to Brian Strong, the mayor of Fort Qu’Appelle about the town’s love for pelicans. 

In some Canadian provinces, stimulant prescriptions for ADHD have doubled or tripled in recent years — particularly among young women. Experts say the uptick in prescriptions can be explained, in part, because of an increase in virtual health providers post-pandemic and more conversations about mental health over social media. But the speed of some of these diagnoses has some medical professionals worried some Canadians are being misdiagnosed.

Is there someone in your life who is a constant hassle, stressing you out? Researchers who study "hasslers" say there are a lot of them, and having a lot of them in our life can actually affect our health, and how quickly we age. We speak to Brea Perry, a Professor of Sociology, and Associate Director of the Irsay Institute at Indiana University about the health impacts of having a hassler in our life and how we can navigate these relationships. 

Not long ago, Ty Sperle was living with a rare genetic disease called chronic granulomatous disease that impacted his immune system. Now he’s the first person in the world to be cured of the disease thanks to a cutting edge technique called prime editing. Ty tells us about how the treatment has changed his life and his doctor Dr. Stuart Turvey breaks down what this historic success means for treating other similar diseases.

Our National Affairs Panel join us to talk about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s ten day trip to India, Australia and Japan, to drum up new trade deals, three by-elections that were announced for April 13th that could secure the Liberals a majority government, and also the war in the Middle East, and whether involvement is in Canada’s future. 

Fans look back on  30 years of Pokemon, from video games to trading cards, and reflect on what keeps them playing, and collecting, this piece of 90s cultural history. 

As war is waged in Iran and an Internet blackout continues, a special unit at the CBC has been working to speak with people in Iran.  We hear from  the CBC's Farzad Fatholahzadeh who has been part of the project.

It seems like everywhere you look, someone you know is playing mahjong. Played with tiles, the traditional Chinese game has been a staple among the Asian diaspora in the West for centuries. But recently, its reach has expanded — mahjong clubs are popping up around the world in cities like LA, London, and New York, and celebrities like Meghan Markle and Julia Roberts are promoting the game. We speak with Sandy Gunn, the co-founder of Lucky Tile, a mahjong events group based in Vancouver, and Connor Wan, the co-founder of Allflower mahjong in Toronto, about the game and why it's so popular right now.

The Conseil des Industriels laitiers du Québec is seeking a protected geographical indication for poutine cheese. We talk to Gilles Jourdenais, the owner of La Fromagerie Atwater in Montreal about what makes cheese curds part of Quebecois culture and what it would mean if the squeaky cheese got a geographical designation. 

People in Northern Ontario are calling on the provincial and federal governments to invest in fixing a portion of the Trans-Canada Highway. Over a 10 day period from late January into February this year, police say eight people were killed on that stretch of road. We speak with Dave Plourde, the Mayor of Kapuskasing, and the President of the Federation of the Northern Ontario Municipalities.. 

It's been almost a week since the U.S. and Israel launched co-ordinated strikes on Iran, and Iran is continuing to hit back with attacks on Israel, on U.S. bases and on countries in the region. More than 1000 people are dead and tens of thousands more have been displaced. We talk to Rober Malley, a lecturer and senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson School of Global Affairs, and the U.S. Special Envoy to Iran from 2021 to 2023, and Mehrzad Boroujerdi, a professor of political science at the Missouri University of Science and Technology about what the United States and Israel hope to achieve in Iran.

Turns out, Canadians are spending less and less time with their friends and many don’t have a friend group. What does it mean if we don't have a close friend group — and how can we approach making new friends? We’ll explore that with Philip Howlett, a friendship researcher and lecturer at the University of Bath.

These tiny silicon squares are the unsung heroes of our society — they run everything from your microwave to cellphone to larger systems like health care and defense. But the global increase in AI is driving up the demand for memory chips, leading to a global supply and demand problem. We speak with Namir Anani, the president and chief executive of the Information and Communications Technology Council, about why these chips are foundational to Canada's sovereignty and why he thinks Canada needs to work quickly to position itself as a player in the global memory chip market.

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an antitrust case against Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster this week. Canadians are paying attention because there could be implications in Canada, both for how the company operates and a similar case that is trying to move forward — why are concert tickets so expensive, and can this make them more affordable? 

The world's most crucial oil corridor, the Strait of Hormuz, has been shut. The closure prevents the movement of roughly a quarter of the world's seaborne oil. How much will gas prices and inflation leap? And is it Canada's moment to pitch itself as a global oil superpower? 

For 75 years, the CBC Radio program The Broadcast has told the stories of Newfoundlanders and their connection with the ocean. We’ll talk to the host Paula Gale about how the show has kept the island's culture alive through ordinary people and in the face of those from away who wanted to hear fewer accents and accordions on the air, as the show celebrates its 75th anniversary. 

The internet blackout in Iran continues, making it hard to capture what is happening inside the country. It's also making it hard for Iranians in Canada to reach family there. We'll hear from some Canadian-Iranians across this country, and we’ll also talk to Gregg Carlstrom, the Middle East Correspondent at The Economist about the latest on this war. 

British Columbians will move their clocks forward this weekend and leave them there. The province says that's what people want. UBC sleep researcher Elizabeth Keys says permanent standard time is better for our health — but the BC government didn't ask people whether they'd prefer it.

Amsterdam has become the latest city to ban adverts that promote fossil fuels — things like flights, cruises or the latest gas-powered car. Freelance climate journalist Isabella Kaminski breaks down how these bans work and what we know about how effective they are.

The federal government is launching a national strategy for men's health. We hear from men who have chosen not to engage in the healthcare system, from practitioners about how to better reach men, and about the impact politics and the manosphere are having on this issue.

U.S. President Donald Trump says he foresees a military campaign lasting four to five weeks, but the American end game is still not clear. We hear from Margaret Evans, CBC's senior international correspondent in Jordan, about the latest in the conflict, followed by lawyer and human rights activist Kaveh Shahrooz, who says many Iranians are hoping for regime change, but Trump has sent mixed signals.

The Canadian figure skating star says he understands the pain of athletes — like American skater Ilia Malinin — who feel the weight of the world's expectations on them as they compete. When he fell short of gold in Nagano in 1998, it took him years to recover. But now he's reinvented himself as a race car driver.

The organ donation stories are inspiring and hopeful, but Anita Slominska says they leave out one very important part of the story. When Anita’s sister was in her 20s, she was on a waitlist for a liver transplant and eventually ended up in the ICU, being kept alive by a ventilator in the hopes that a donor would be found. But, that didn't happen. Anita Slominska is now a postdoctoral researcher at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. We talk to her about her new book, about her sister’s story, Other Endings: Organ Transplantation and the Burdens of Hope.

Mark Carney's visit to India is supposed to "reset" relations and expand trade. There's no question there are plenty of opportunities. It's the world's most populous country with a growing middle class and an appetite for many of the products Canada makes. We speak to Tom Sundher of Sundher Timber Products about why he thinks India offers great opportunities for Canadian softwood producers wary of U.S. tariffs and duties. We also hear from Michael Klauck of Can-Eng Furnaces, about the challenges he faced navigating India's bureaucracy, and actually getting paid. Plus, Vina Nadjibulla of the Asia Pacific Foundation about what Canadians get wrong about India today — and what it would take to strengthen ties. 

After the United States and Israel struck Iran and killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei we hear what is next for the country, the people, the diaspora and the region.

Mexico is a favourite destination for Canadians, especially this time of year. But the recent violence in Puerto Vallarta, after the death of a notorious cartel boss, has caused some reconsidering trips down south. We’ll talk to a travel consultant on what you should consider before traveling to Mexico.

The hit Canadian TV show that follows the secret relationship between hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rosanov is everywhere right now. It's prompting conversations online about LGBTQ love and hockey culture. We speak with Matt Kenny, a former competitive hockey player, who had a similar experience to the fictional characters about why the show is striking such a chord with people. Plus Brock McGillis, one of the first male professional hockey players to come out as gay, talks about why he thinks there's still more work to do in making hockey a more inclusive sport.

Weak oil prices have meant a dip in resource royalties in Alberta. And Premier Danielle Smith pointed out that higher immigration is another reason. So, the province will hold a number of referendums this October. Albertans will weigh in on nine questions about immigration policy and constitutional issues. And if separatists are successful with their petitioning efforts, a question about whether Alberta should leave the country will be on the ballot as well. To help us unpack these developments, we talk to Kathleen Petty, host of the CBC podcast West of Centre, and Alex Boyd, who reports on Alberta for the Toronto Star.