The Decibel

Kristy Kirkup, national health reporter at The Globe and Mail who covers infectious disease and public-health policy. She explains what the Andes hantavirus is and how it can rarely spread between people. She outlines symptoms and fatality patterns. She describes quarantine, monitoring and precautions for returnees. She assesses why the immediate risk to Canadians appears low while urging continued vigilance.

Tim Shufelt, an investment reporter at The Globe and Mail who covers markets and earnings, breaks down why stocks keep rising amid global turmoil. He explores earnings growth, the AI spending boom, why markets look past geopolitical shocks, and how investor mood and guidance move prices. Short takes on sector winners and hidden volatility round out the conversation.

Alanna Smith, a Globe and Mail health reporter who reported from Edmonton on rising drug deaths and harm reduction, shares on-the-ground observations. She contrasts national declines with Edmonton’s spike. She describes outreach shifts, dangerous drug mixes like Trankdope and carfentanil, policing effects, service gaps, and the politics shaping harm reduction.

Emma Graney, energy reporter at The Globe and Mail who covers oil, gas and energy markets, walks through how global shipping shifts and Strait of Hormuz disruptions have rerouted flows. She highlights rising North American exports to Asia, strains on pipelines and terminals, pressure to speed approvals, coast-to-coast shipping limits, and what this scramble means for infrastructure and the energy transition.

Doug Saunders, international affairs columnist at The Globe and Mail, offers a compact view of Saudi Arabia's shifting ambitions. He paints Riyadh’s construction boom and canceled mega-projects. He outlines financial strains, consequences of Strait of Hormuz disruptions, and new security ties reshaping Vision 2030’s trajectory.

Matthew Scace, a Globe and Mail reporter in Alberta who covers provincial politics and the separatist movement. He walks through the halted petition count due to a court injunction. He explains the First Nations treaty challenge and concerns about foreign influence. He also covers the Centurion Project, a leaked voter database and ensuing privacy and legal probes.

Pippa Norman, Globe and Mail innovation reporter covering Canada’s defence industry, explains why Canada landed the new Defence, Security and Resilience Bank. She breaks down how the bank will finance defence and dual-use projects, why defence lending is risky for commercial banks, who might join and what hosting means for jobs and political influence. Short-term costs and longer-term strategic trade-offs are also explored.

Mike Welland, engineering physics professor who treats AI as a junior team member. Sarah Elaine Eaton, education researcher focused on ethics and academic integrity. Matt Dinan, liberal arts professor dedicated to close reading and in-person seminars. Amanda Perry, literature professor working on composition and assessment. They discuss classroom defenses and disclosure, banning or integrating AI, redesigning assignments, and moving assessments to higher-order skills.

Mike von Massow, a food economist at the University of Guelph, explains grocery market economics and public policy. He discusses what public grocery stores would look like, why they appeal politically, and international examples that show limits. He contrasts universal store discounts with targeted supports like GST rebates and considers impacts for rural and northern communities.

Alexandra Podazki, a Globe and Mail financial and cybercrime reporter, unpacks the booming black market for verified Canadian bank accounts. She outlines how accounts are bought to launder funds and why Canada is targeted. Short scenes cover recruitment of money mules, targeting of students, machine learning detection by banks, and the legal and cross‑border fallout of unwitting participants.