The Current

ALS is a death sentence for those diagnosed with it. Now a scientist in Moose Jaw claims he has discovered the secret to stopping the disease in its tracks. CBC’s Geoff Leo investigated the claims of a treatment, which desperate patients are forking over tens of thousands of dollars for, in his documentary Hard to Swallow.

Israel targeted nuclear facilities inside Iran in a major attack against the country, killing top military brass and civilians alike. Iran is already retaliating against what it calls a “declaration of war” by Israel with drone strikes of its own. We hear from a journalist and an Iranian political expert about why the escalation is coming right now, and what it will take to de-escalate from here.

When it comes to treating chronic pain, doctors have few options to reach for aside from opioid prescriptions for their patients. A non-opioid medication recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration stands to change that. A journalist explains how researchers discovered a new way to combat pain with this drug, which a Canadian doctor describes as “almost the holy grail.”

ICE raids in L.A. sparked protests, pushback and stopped traffic in that city — which have been met with military force, as U.S. President Donald Trump sent in the National Guard and Marines earlier this week.  Antonio Gutierrez, co-founder of Organized Communities Against Deportations, says these moves are a threat to American democracy — and a law professor says the deployment risks politicizing the military.

It’s not always easy to get your kids reading in the summer. Whether it’s Minecraft or going to the swimming pool, kids have plenty of excuses to not pick up a book. Three experts are here with their favourite kids books for the season — and they tell us how you, too, can get the child in your life to keep reading.

Earlier this month, Remy Siu and his team at Sunset Visitor won a Peabody for their video game 1000xResist. The project was a success, to its own creators' surprise, as they attempted to create a story about mythology for the Asian diaspora. Siu talks about the big win — and a journalist breaks down the context of mass layoffs that are roiling a video game industry that’s facing growing pains.

Matt Galloway visited St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador to talk about the hurdles the province faces, and the conditions there that have produced great artists of all kinds, from authors to comedians. In this special edition of The Current, Galloway heard from some of the people that make the city one of a kind in front of a live audience at The Majestic Theatre.Authors Michael Crummey and Holly Hogan, who are also a married couple, talk about competing for the same literary prizes and what it means to get “Newfoundland on paper.”CBC host Jane Adey explains what it’s like wrapping up the sixtieth season of the iconic show, Land and Sea – a program Newfoundlanders have fought to keep on air for decades.Premier John Hogan talks about taking on the job after the last premier suddenly stepped down, and why he believes that Newfoundland will endure through the tariff threat presented by U.S. president Donald Trump. And Hogan argues Newfoundland’s oil and gas sector has a place, even during a green transition.Opera singer Deantha Edmunds explains how the natural world inspires her music and the shock that came along with her recent Juno win. Comedians Matt Wright, Andy Jones, Bree Parsons discuss one of the province’s most famous exports — laughter. Plus, we’ll hear music from homegrown singer-songwriter Tim Baker — and the stories that inspire his songs.

From shore, the ocean looks brilliant, blue and clear. But somewhere out there, pirates, traffickers, slave labourers and migrants navigate the high seas — a place without laws. Ian Urbina shares the incredible stories of squid fishers who haven’t touched solid ground in years and of migrants shot at by Libya’s coastguard in the second season of his podcast The Outlaw Ocean.

As Canada’s relationship with the U.S. shifts, Mark Carney announced yesterday a $9 billion boost to defence spending that would allow the country to meet its NATO spending targets. A reporter explains that Carney is seizing the moment to usher in new investment. Meanwhile, a Canadian Armed Forces veteran hopes the increased spending will end decades of "embarrassment" for soldiers who have been working with decades-old equipment.

Journalist Chris Hayes says “attention capitalism” demands we pay heed to everything at once, from social media doomscrolling to the 24-hour global news cycle. In a conversation with Matt Galloway from March, the MSNBC host explores what that means for our lives and politics — and explains why he thinks Donald Trump’s attention-grabbing antics are “a kind of feral instinct.”