The Agenda with Steve Paikin (Audio)

While headlines about migration might make it seem like a relatively new phenomenon, the movement of people spans hundreds of thousands of years, and according to our guest, has been essential to the survival of the human species. Ian Goldin is professor of globalization and development at the University of Oxford, and author of "The Shortest History of Migration: When, Why, and How Humans Move-From the Prehistoric Peopling of the Planet to Today and Tomorrow's Migrants". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Mark Carney went to Washington to try and reset relations with Donald Trump. Should he do the same with China and India? Ties with them have been strained in recent years, so can the new PM find a way to work with the world's two most populous countries? Host Steve Paikin asks: Rohinton Medhora, Professor of Practice at McGill University, and a Distinguished Fellow at CIGI, the Centre for International Governance Innovation; Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President of Research & Strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada; And Jeff Mahon, Director of Geopolitical & International Business Advisory at StrategyCorp and Executive in Residence at the Canada West Foundation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public Health Ontario's measles report has been rapidly rising since the outbreak began in October. With this highly contagious disease spanning to new parts of the country, why are some parents still reluctant to get their children vaccinated? The Agenda invites André Picard, health reporter and columnist for The Globe and Mail; Dr. Jeffrey Pernica, pediatrics infectious disease position at McMaster Children's Hospital; Dr. Dawn Bowdish, professor of medicine at McMaster University and Jill Promoli, public health advocate to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert Francis Prevost – now Pope Leo XIV – is the first American elected to lead 1.4 billion Catholics around the world. He spent much of his time in Peru as a missionary before Pope Francis in 2023 made him a Cardinal, and therefore eligible to become Pope. To help us learn more about the new Pontiff and the direction he may lead the Catholic Church, we welcome: Megan Armstrong, professor of history at McMaster University in Hamilton, and a specialist on Early Modern Catholicism; and Michael Higgins, Basilian Distinguished Fellow of Contemporary Catholic Thought at the University of St. Michael's College, and author of "The Jesuit Disruptor: A Personal Portrait of Pope Francis."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From mommy bloggers and hyper-organized TikTok moms, to feminist manifestos on the value of domestic labour, motherhood is a hot topic. And in her new book, "Story of Your Mother," – partially written directly to her first-born son – Chantal Braganza looks for fresh ways to define the life-altering experience, both intellectually and very personally. She's also a senior editor at Chatelaine Magazine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In his debut novel "The Riveter," author Jack Wang tells the story of two star-crossed lovers set amidst the backdrop of anti-Chinese racism in Canada that lasted decades before and well through the Second World War. And while the story may be fiction, there is an element of truth in this tale of love and war. Jack Wang joins Jeyan Jeganathan to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been 80 years since Allied forces defeated Nazi Germany in World War II. Why is it still important to recognize Victory in Europe, or VE Day? Three historians discuss the significance of this anniversary, not just to help us understand the past, but to comprehend the present. Margaret MacMillan, emeritus professor of International History at Oxford University and the University of Toronto and author of "War: How Conflict Shaped Us"; Tim Cook, chief historian and director of research at the Canadian War Museum and author of "The Good Allies: How Canada and the United States Fought Together to Defeat Fascism during the Second World War"; and Jeff Noakes, historian at the Canadian War Museum and author of "Forged in Fire: Canada and the Second World War" join Steve Paikin to discuss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

History is easy in the rearview. When you look back things are a lot neater and tidier - you can say this is authoritarianism, this is fascism, this is the obvious threshold or signpost for crossing into it. History though may not be as obvious when you are living it. Has the United States crossed the threshold into authoritarianism? Or fascism? The Atlantic's Tom Nichols weighs in. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2017, Tom Nichols wrote, "The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters". The book has been translated into 14 languages and has proved to be, unfortunately, quite prescient. Nichols has recently come out with a second edition of the book. He joins to discuss the on-going attack on expertise, why Elon Musk is cutting thousands of government jobs, and why authoritarians always go after the experts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For years, fighting was on the decline in the National Hockey League and traditional enforcers lost their place on the roster. But is fighting coming back? It certainly was in that Four Nations Canada/USA game in Montreal, where there were three fights in nine seconds. Is that moment a turning point for fighting in the game? We've also seen our share of brutal headshots in the Stanley Cup Playoffs so far. Is the league succeeding at all in cutting down on those? Guests include: Ryan Pinder, co-host of Barn Burner Podcast at Flames Nation; Sean McIndoe, Senior NHL writer at The Athletic and co-host of two podcasts: Puck Soup and The Athletic Hockey Show; Mary Ormsby, Toronto Star journalist for 35 years; and Ken Campbell, Freelance hockey writer and a long-time writer at The Hockey News.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canada's middle class is being squeezed out of housing markets in Ontario's largest cities, harming not only those people but local economies, too. But the federal Liberals say they have a plan to build hundreds of thousands of affordable units, even creating a new crown corporation for the task. But a lot needs to happen before those homes can be built at the scale and speed needed to get the middle class into homes they can afford. To discuss we welcome Mike Moffatt, Director of the University of Ottawa's Missing Middle Initiative and Leslie Woo, CEO of CivicAction.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After tariffs, policies around crypto currency appear to be a domestic priority for the Trump Administration. As a presidential candidate, Trump vowed to make the U.S. the crypto capital of the world. But some of his moves in crypto – and those of his family – have left even ardent supporters of the sector recoiling. So, what does the U.S. gain from Trump's crypto policies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Toronto Tempo will begin playing in the WNBA in 2026. How do you build a brand new team? And what does this team mean for Canadian basketball? We're joined by the team's president and general manager, Teresa Resch and Monica Wright Rogers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As ticket prices soar and ads for sports betting increase, are business interests taking some of the magic out of sporting events? We welcome Cheri Bradish, David Macfarlane, and Morgan Campbell to explore. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Coren and Irshad Manji are back in studio to rehash the old days, as they once did on a segment called "Friendly Fire." The two went head-to-head weekly, debating hot topics on 'Studio 2,' The Agenda's predecessor. With career changes and political lines crossed, what has this dynamic duo learned over the last 30 years?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In their February report, the Committee to Protect Journalists revealed that 2024 was the deadliest year for press in CPJ history, with almost 70 per cent killed by Israel. In honour of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, The Agenda invites Jessica Jerreat, press freedom editor; Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists; Heather Bakken, president of World Press Freedom Canada and Anna Romandash, Ukrainian freelance journalist to discuss what happens when the right to independent information is taken away. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It seems nobody ever loses a bet forecasting that things can only get worse in the Middle East. And the last year-and-a-half has been particularly awful. The Hamas attack and hostage taking in Israel on October 7, 2023. The ensuing Israeli response which has killed so many in Gaza. Does it always have to be this way? Angela Mattar is a Palestinian activist and medical student. Itamar Avneri is an Israeli city councillor for the municipality of Tel Aviv/Jaffa. They are both part of a group called Standing Together, which dares to imagine a future that is very different from the past.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the world of international affairs, more than 130 countries have diplomatic missions in Canada. But the German ambassador to Canada is a bit different. That's because there are two of them who split the job. They are the husband-and-wife team of Tjorven Bellman and Matthias Lüttenberg. They join host Steve Paikin for a wide-ranging discussion on this unique ambassadorship, Canada-Germany relations in the era of Donald Trump, NATO, Germany's place in the world, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the federal election campaign over and Mark Carney's Liberals securing a new mandate from Canadians, what relationships should the government prioritize going forward in its trade war with the Trump Administration? One country we might look to is Mexico. Given its close geographic proximity and strained relationship with the U.S., what opportunities might exist for Canada and Mexico to team up against Trump? Host Steve Paikin asks: José Luis Granados Ceja, co-host of the Soberanía Mexican Politics podcast and presenter of Sin Muros on Mexico's Channel 11; Solange Márquez Espinoza, Geopolitical analyst and Editor of "Mexico & Canada: Two Nations in a North American Partnership," and Alejandro García Magos, Lecturer of Political Science at the University of Toronto. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For 15 years, the satirical news outlet has been skewering Canadian politics and culture, amassing a loyal following. How does the country's "most trusted, least accurate news source" manage to find the humour in grim times, and what serious lessons can we learn from comedy? We discuss with co-founder and editor-in-chief Luke Gordon Field and contributing writer Clare Blackwood. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.