CANADALAND

Virologist Angela Rasmussen listened to a recent Canadaland about the origins of COVID-19 and says we had it all wrong. Today she walks Jesse through the science and explains why the lab-leak theory remains highly improbable, what she feels previous guest Elaine Dewar got wrong, and how journalists should cover science during a pandemic and otherwise. Further Reading: The origins of SARS-CoV-2: A critical review, by Dr. Angela Rasmussen, et al.  Sponsors: Kilne, Douglas, SquarespaceSupport CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jesse was not on board with #CdnMediaFailed when it came to the story on Trudeau in Tofino. And attacks on journalists might be more of a Canadian problem than we care to admit. CBC Managing Editor of Investigative Karyn Pugliese cohosts.Links:Karyn duly noted The Current's segment feat. Natasha Reimer-OkemowKaryn references this 2020 report on Canadian activity on far-right forums (CBC piece on it here)Shree Paradkar's Star column on attacks on journalists as a workplace issueThis episode is supported by Douglas, Dispatch, and Freshbooks.Support CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a question that has dogged the PPC since its inception. A question that leader Maxime Bernier blasted journalists for even coming close to asking.One People's Party supporter spoke to our Backbench host Fatima Syed on why he believed the party was not racist, just like he wasn't. He is one of over 800,000 Canadians who just voted for the PPC in the last election. Surely, they can't all be racist either?In our attempt to answer that question, we found a startling string of connections between the PPC and white supremacist groups - and evidence that suggests the party is being used by these groups to accomplish their own goals.This episode is sponsored by Kilne, Squarespace, and Article.Additional music by Audio NetworkSupport CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The release of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig shows what China really thinks about Canada. And Maxime Bernier asks his followers to "play dirty" with reporters. Jan Wong co-hosts.Watch the Waipa District Council finance and corporate committee Zoom meeting hereThis episode is sponsored by FreshBooks, Hover and DouglasSupport CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The lab-leak theory has more evidence supporting it than ever before. Journalist Elaine Dewar has written a new book documenting little-known scientific evidence and acts of deception and obfuscation from Chinese, American, and Canadian officials. So what exactly were they all trying to hide?Further reading:On the Origin of the Deadliest Pandemic in 100 YearsGlobe and Mail: Chinese Major-General worked with fired scientist at Canada's top infectious disease labVanity Fair: The Lab-Leak Theory: Inside the Fight to Uncover COVID-19's OriginsThe Intercept: Leaked Grant Proposal Details High-Risk Coronavirus Research  Sponsors: Douglas, PolicyMe, SquarespaceSupport CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We look back on the coverage of an absolutely underwhelming, demoralizing election. And we contend with a troubling aspect of Norm Macdonald's legacy.CANADALAND contributing editor Danielle Paradis co-hosts.This episode is sponsored by Dispatch Coffee, Douglas and CNN's Total Recall.*This episode included a clip from CTV election night 2019. It has been removed.Support CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's a video from the Fairy Creek anti-logging demonstrations on Vancouver Island that shows police unleashing pepper spray at close range onto a crowd of activists. At one point, an RCMP officer rips the masks off of two women, shown clearly on the tape. Other witnesses from the scene allege even worse - that officers were kicking and dragging activists, and aiming pepper spray into their mouth, eyes and private areas. As reporter Cherise Seucharan finds out, the avenues available to the public to hold RCMP accountable don't seem to be working when it comes to these reports of escalating police violence at Fairy Creek. The courts, the police complaints system, and even the media have not been able to stop RCMP from acting in ways that have been condemned by experts, civil rights lawyers and by the RCMP's own watchdog. Is it possible to police the police at Fairy Creek? This episode is sponsored by Douglas, Squarespace, Article and CNN Total Recall.Support CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trudeau is getting upset and it seems to be working for him. And the English leaders' debate was widely derided. Was it deserved?Vice senior editor Manisha Krishnan co-hosts.This episode is sponsored by Douglas, PolicyMe and HelloFresh.Support CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Non-disclosure agreements are incredibly common. But they protect abusers, and block journalism. They are also, as it turns out, often unenforceable. Zelda Perkins, who blew the whistle on Harvey Weinstein, has joined forces with law professor Julie Macfarlane to launch a global campaign against NDAs, called Can't Buy My Silence. Further Reading:cantbuymysilence.comZelda Perkins on the BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-42420389Prof. Julie Macfarlane's book, Going Public: https://www.amazon.ca/Going-Public-Survivors-Journey-Action/dp/1771134755Additional music by Audio NetworkSponsorsDouglas, Dispatch Coffee, Freshbooks, & SquarespaceSupport CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After protestors threw gravel at the Prime Minister during a campaign stop, we ask: has this gotten too much coverage, or not enough? And we scrutinize a budding conspiracy about Michael Spavor, the Canadian entrepreneur detained in China. Writer and National Observer columnist Sandy Garossino co-hosts.This episode is sponsored by Dispatch Coffee, the Emerging Digital Artists Award and PolicyMe.Support CANADALAND: https://canadaland.com/joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.