Front Burner

Brian Winter, an American journalist and Latin America analyst, examines Brazil’s dramatic political reversal as the Bolsonaro family surges back and Lula fights to retain power. They discuss voter frustration, evangelical influence, the region’s conservative “orange wave,” and Trump’s revived Monroe Doctrine. Mexico’s balancing act with Washington and the risk of nationalist backlash also come into focus.

Gregory Koblentz, a biodefence scholar and director of George Mason University’s Biodefense Graduate Program, examines the suspected pneumonic plague case at a Siberian research institute. They discuss lab safety, Russia’s secrecy, the country’s bioweapons history, AI and biological threats, and why high-containment labs are expanding. The conversation separates genuine risks from science-fiction fears and considers the importance of global cooperation.

Martin Patriquin, a Montreal-based journalist covering Quebec politics, explores the Parti Québécois’s return to power after twelve years. They discuss Paul St-Pierre Plamondon’s referendum promise, his shift toward harder nationalism, immigration politics, and the constraints of a minority government. The conversation also examines tensions with Mark Carney, Alberta’s separatist movement, and how U.S. pressure could reshape Canada’s unity debate.

Naomi Klein, the acclaimed Canadian author and climate activist, joins the conversation on Trump’s trade war and Mark Carney’s response. They explore how crises can accelerate privatization, deregulation and fossil-fuel investment, alongside Canada’s climate ambitions. Klein also discusses “end-times fascism,” apocalyptic tech billionaires, resource bunkering and why economic insecurity can fuel the far right.

Ian Cooper, a Brexit scholar at Dublin City University; Corey Morgan, founder of Alberta separatist group Pathway to Independence; and Andrew Percy, a former British Conservative MP who backed Brexit, compare Alberta’s independence debate with Britain’s EU departure. They discuss respectful campaigning, economic arguments, separatists’ demands for a concrete plan, protest votes and complacency. They also examine why referendum day may begin years of division rather than settle it.

Ionna Roumeliotis, a CBC senior reporter and co-host of The Fifth Estate, investigates 764, a shifting online extremist network targeting vulnerable children. She discusses grooming tactics, coercion, self-harm, sexual exploitation, “lore books,” and escalating violence. The conversation also examines police failures, the involvement of minors, and whether platforms like Discord and Roblox are doing enough to protect kids.

Marc Lee, a senior economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, examines who owns Canada’s economy. He explores the push for foreign investment, the difference between building and buying Canadian assets, and overseas stakes in mining, energy and infrastructure. They also discuss Indigenous equity, a proposed sovereign wealth fund, AI, critical infrastructure and the risks to Canadian sovereignty.

Connie Walker, an award-winning Indigenous journalist and creator of Stolen: Surviving St. Michael’s, investigates the fate of tens of thousands of residential school survivor testimonies. She explores the harrowing records gathered through Canada’s settlement process, a Supreme Court destruction order, and why survivors were barely informed. Walker also discusses community-controlled archives, Kamloops, and the rise of residential school denialism.

Alex Shephard, a senior editor at The New Republic and political journalist, examines the midterms as a test of Donald Trump’s presidency. They discuss Republicans’ struggle to address rising costs, Democrats’ corruption-focused messaging, battleground Senate races, and the party’s search for a coherent identity. Election chaos, ballot challenges, and the possibility of a historic Democratic wave also come under scrutiny.

Mark Follman, Mother Jones’ national affairs editor and an investigative journalist on mass violence, examines disturbing allegations surrounding the Tumbler Ridge shooting. He discusses a second ChatGPT account, fictional prompts that allegedly produced graphic attack scenarios, and possible parallels to the massacre. They also explore AI safeguards, lawsuits against OpenAI, privacy concerns, and the push for stronger accountability.