Front Burner

Vali Nasr, professor of international affairs and Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS and author of Iran’s Grand Strategy, offers expert analysis. He breaks down Khamenei's assassination, Iran's resilient state structure, the aims and targets of U.S.-Israeli strikes, threats to the Straits of Hormuz, regional retaliation tactics, and the uncertain trajectories ahead.

Anita Anand, Canada’s foreign minister and former law professor, guides a reset in Canada‑India ties and explains balancing public safety with trade and investment. She discusses trade diversification, energy and critical minerals cooperation, the Canada‑India diplomatic track, and Canada’s cautious stance on military action near Iran.

Maggie Harrison DuPré, a senior staff writer at Futurism who covers AI safety and chatbots. She discusses OpenAI’s handling of a suspended account tied to a mass killing. Short segments cover how moderation systems work, how chatbots can validate dangerous ideas, internal debates at companies about reporting, and why regulation and safety benchmarks are urgently needed.

Jason Kenney, former Alberta premier and longtime federal immigration minister, speaks about Canada's immigration debates. He discusses pressures on health, housing and integration services. He weighs restrictive policies, referendums and legal limits on refugee benefits. He warns about toxic rhetoric and the risks of fueling extremism.

David Mora, senior Mexico analyst with on-the-ground cartel expertise, breaks down the chaotic aftermath of El Mencho's killing. He describes coordinated blockades, arson and troop deployments. He discusses the cartel's show of force, risks of splintering, links to fentanyl and other crimes, and the role of U.S.-Mexico intelligence cooperation.

Shireen Ahmed, CBC Sports contributor who covers major sporting moments, walks through Milano Cortina 2026 drama. They relive Canada’s heartbreaking hockey losses and tense overtime moments. The conversation hits curling cheating claims, bizarre biathlon confessions, ski-jumping probe, athlete funding struggles, and tense political optics at the Games.

Andrew Lownie, historian and author known for digging into the royal family, joins to dissect Prince Andrew's recent arrest. He walks through the alleged leak of sensitive documents, decades-long ties to Jeffrey Epstein and newly revealed emails. He also maps who in the inner circle might be implicated and where investigators may look next.

Aaron Wherry, CBC political journalist who analyzes federal politics, discusses a Conservative MP crossing to the Liberals. He covers the timing and reasons for the switch, how defections could push Liberals to a majority, the math behind upcoming by-elections, and what shifting allegiances mean for Pierre Poilievre and party dynamics.

Aidan Walker, a writer who studies online subcultures, breaks down the looksmaxxing movement and its main personalities. He explains opaque slang, extreme cosmetic measures and viral stunts. The conversation covers ties to the manosphere, race and beauty ideals, how money and fame shape the scene, and why isolated young men are drawn to it.

Will Douglas Heaven, senior AI editor at MIT Technology Review, explains what AI agents are and why they matter now. He describes what agents can actually do today and their security risks. He separates hype from real capability and discusses industry safety debates. He offers practical advice for workers navigating AI anxiety.