The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge

A feature interview with the author of an extraordinary new book that explores he world of chance, chaos and why everything we do matters. He's Brian Klaas a university professor in London, England. When you hear his stories and his theories you'll be thinking about how your own life has been impacted by  "flukes". I sure did.

The fear since October 7th has always been that this Israel-Hamas conflict could turn into a wider war. Well, it has and Dr Janice Stein joins us to give us her take on what it now means.  Plus some surprising intrigue in Ukraine, and Janice delivers on her promise to also give us some "good news".  We'll also unveil the question of the week.

The podcast discusses Canada's vulnerability to foreign interference in politics, the urgency of electoral reform, and the controversy around Alberta's transgender decisions. It also touches on political tensions in education systems, concerns over CBC management, and reflections on layoffs impacting young journalism talent.

The question of the week was "If you could say one thing to a new immigrant to Canada, about Canada, what would that be?"  Once again you weren't shy about your advice, sending in many, many emails from across the country. We read some of the best and award the prize to this week's winner. Plus, the Random Ranter does his take on Question Period and more.

Today an encore presentation of an episode that originally aired on May 29th. A week after the Johnston Report we leave the politics out of the discussion and talk only about what we learned, including what do we know about how we handle our secrets.  And when a top-secret report goes up to the Primer Minister how many people may have first seen it -- you might be surprised.  Special guest is security and intelligence expert Stephanie Carvin. 

A special edition today as we ask Dr Samantha Nutt of War Child Canada to break down her most recent trip to South Sudan, basically to take us with her. So get your maps ready because this will bring you into the heart of one of the most challenging places on earth -- thousands of dead, millions of displaced .. many facing civil war and starvation.

Talks in Paris between Israel, Qatar, the US and Egypt began over the weekend and optimists feel they could lead to a deal to stop the fighting in Gaza within days. Dr Janice Stein gives us her take on what's possible and what's not. Also, Ukraine and North Korea add to today's agenda.

Bruce and Chantal discuss Trudeau's fluctuating support within the Liberal party. They explore Tucker Carlson's impact on Canadian politics and analyze a court ruling on convoy protests. The podcast also delves into the ICJ's decision on Gaza.

This week's question was struck a chord: name the one thing you like best about winter.  It's a pretty soft question but you delivered again, lots of answers and many of them quite poetic in their description of what many think strikes to the heart and soul of being Canadian.  Plus, it being Thursday, the Random Ranter is by with his latest take on EVs, electric vehicles.

Encore Presentation. A young Canadian medic fighting with the Ukrainians takes us inside the story with his first-hand account of what it's like at the frontlines of the war.  His name is Brandon Mitchell and he's from Miramichi, New Brunswick.  His story is one that tells us what this war is really like.