The Decibel

The Globe and Mail

Context is everything. Join us Monday to Friday for a Canadian daily news podcast from The Globe and Mail. Explore a story shaping our world, in conversation with reporters, experts, and the people at the centre of the news.

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1,335 episodes
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Episodes1335

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Aug 7, 2025 · 26 min
Why the absence of a U.S. trade deal might be a good thing
Canada failed to secure a trade deal with the U.S. by the Aug. 1 deadline. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump raised tariffs on certain Canadian goods to 35 per cent. And while other trading partners announced agreements with Trump, Ottawa enters its sixth month of negotiations. But recently, both Prime Minister Mark Carney and Trump have doubted whether a deal can be made without some tariffs in place – or if a deal’s coming at all. Today, Globe columnist Tony Keller joins the show. He’l
Aug 6, 2025 · 21 min
Stressed-out parents are turning to ChatGPT for help
Parents seem to be turning to ChatGPT for advice more and more – but what do robots have to offer when it comes to such a core human relationship? What guardrails are necessary when trusting artificial intelligence with shaping the development of our children? Contributing columnist Amberly McAteer weighs in after ChatGPT’s advice actually got one of her daughters to stop stealing from the other.
Aug 5, 2025 · 22 min
Restorative justice and the Hockey Canada trial
The Hockey Canada case captivated the country — raising complex questions about consent, hockey culture and even how sports organizations handle accusations of assault. In late July, all five of the accused members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team were found not guilty of sexual assault. After the verdict, a lawyer for one of the players, Megan Savard, said her client, Carter Hart, would have been open to a restorative justice process instead of a trial. Some legal experts say restorat
Aug 1, 2025 · 25 min
The case for prioritizing rest in the age of burnout
Canadians are not particularly good at resting. According to Statistics Canada data collected between July 2022 and July 2023, people over the age of 15 spent an average of 17 minutes a day resting, relaxing, or lying down, and an average of 18 minutes a day on relaxing pursuits known as “active leisure” (think: birdwatching, camping, or going to an art gallery). That’s translating into stress – more than a fifth of employed Canadians said their stress levels were high or very high. On top of al
Jul 31, 2025 · 26 min
Gazan journalist describes starvation, chaos on the ground
More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid since May. And more than 150 deaths have been attributed to malnutrition, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel denies there is any starvation. But recently, there has been mounting pressure from humanitarian groups and governments, including Canada. On Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Carney announced that Canada intends to recognize Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September. Hasan Jaber is a journali
Jul 30, 2025 · 21 min
If you fall for a scam, who should pick up the bill?
Scams are becoming more common and more sophisticated. As quickly as safeguards are developed to protect people, scammers are finding workarounds. And if you do fall victim to a scam, does your bank owe you anything? Alexandra Posadzki joins The Decibel to discuss what current regulations say about who is liable for losses from a scam, the risks for consumers and whether the current system reflects who is actually party to a scam.
Jul 29, 2025 · 21 min
Boomers, millennials, Gen Beta: Why do we name generations?
What’s in a name? For the past century, people have clamoured to categorize people by their age and the life events they’ve gone through – but how and why did we get so preoccupied with generations? The Globe’s Generations Reporter Ann Hui joins the show to break down where the names came from and how they play out online and in popular culture.
Jul 28, 2025 · 16 min
The state of Canadian tourism in the ‘elbows up’ moment
Travel to the U.S. has plummeted ever since U.S. President Donald Trump started talking about annexing Canada and imposing tariffs on us. Politicians on this side of the border are embracing the moment, encouraging people to take trips closer to home. So how is it all working out for Canadian tourism? The Globe’s Jason Kirby, who writes for the Report on Business, joins us to talk about what this summer looks like for Canada’s travel sector.
Jul 25, 2025 · 28 min
Why the players were acquitted in the Hockey Canada trial
On Thursday, five members of Canada’s 2018 world junior hockey team were found not guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room after a Hockey Canada gala. The men — Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dubé and Cal Foote — were acquitted of all charges by Justice Maria Carroccia. The Hockey Canada case has captivated the country — raising complex questions about consent, hockey culture and even how sports organizations handle accusations of assault. Globe reporter Roby
Jul 24, 2025 · 21 min
What it’s like to be an undocumented migrant in Canada
The population of undocumented migrants living and working in Canada is substantial. And while most of them initially entered the country legally, on visas or work permits, many migrants feel that it is worth it to stay in Canada after their status expires, even if they are not legally allowed to work or live in Canada and risk being deported. Globe journalist Sarah Efron and freelance photographer Yader Guzman spent months meeting people from Canada’s undocumented migrant community. Today, Sar
Jul 23, 2025 · 24 min
Dairy’s outsized political influence and the trade war
Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose 35-per-cent tariffs on imports from Canada starting on Aug. 1. And when it comes to trade negotiations, Canadian dairy – and the supply management system that oversees the industry – is treated like a “sacred cow.” Trump has repeatedly aired frustrations over U.S. dairy farmers’ limited access to Canada’s market. Despite this, Ottawa has continued to make efforts to protect the industry from trade negotiations – even while Pri
Jul 22, 2025 · 21 min
How Carney’s historic defence spending could change the economy
Ottawa’s pledge to spend $150-billion annually on defence-related priorities by 2035 is creating big opportunities for the private sector. Several Canadian companies are preparing to compete for lucrative contracts as Canada aligns its defence spending with NATO allies. Pippa Norman, who covers innovation for The Globe, explains the state of Canada’s defence sector, what industry leaders hope Prime Minister Mark Carney will change, and what this government’s focus on military spending could me
Jul 21, 2025 · 18 min
Ontario colleges see alarming job losses
A new report has found that 19 of Ontario’s 24 publicly-funded colleges have cut more than 8,000 jobs since January 2024, when the new limits on international students came into effect. It’s the fullest picture yet of the consequences of the government’s changing immigration policy. Joe Friesen covers post-secondary education in Canada. He explains the details of the report, the reputational damage this sector has suffered and how colleges became so reliant on international student fees.
Jul 18, 2025 · 28 min
What happens when your bank dumps you
A connection to a bank is an important financial relationship – between chequing and savings accounts, mortgages and loans, they are crucial for paying off bills and long-term planning. But what happens when your bank dumps you? The practice is known as ‘debanking,’ and Canadian banks are turning to it more often when they suspect a customer is involved in criminal activity. Erica Alini, The Globe’s personal economics reporter, explains why debanking is becoming more common and what can happen
Jul 17, 2025 · 29 min
A mixtape of you: the summer of the Great Canadian Playlist
Canadians have been spending a lot of time thinking about identity and their relationship to Canada. As U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war drags on, taking an ‘Elbows Up’ approach isn’t just about economics – it’s also cultural. Many of the songs and albums that make up the soundtrack to your life are written and performed by Canadian artists – and they’ve helped shape what this country sounds like. Today, deputy arts editor Rebecca Tucker and reporter Josh O’Kane are here to talk about h
Jul 16, 2025 · 16 min
A Canadian died in ICE custody. His family wants answers
In May, a Canadian man, 49-year-old Johnny Noviello, was arrested by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a probation office in Florida. He came to the U.S. legally in 1988, and had been a permanent resident. Later, on June 23, he died while in ICE custody. Noviello was one of dozens of Canadians currently in immigration-related detention in the United States, as the Trump adminstration has ramped up deportations. Janice Dickson, an international affairs reporter for the Globe, w
Jul 15, 2025 · 19 min
Canadian soldiers charged in anti-government militia plot
On July 8, Quebec RCMP arrested four men connected to the Canadian Armed Forces. They are accused of trying to create an extremist militia and planning to forcibly take a plot of land north of Quebec City. Two of the four men are active members of the military, three have been charged with terrorism facilitation. The case adds to the growing concerns of extremism in Canada’s military, just weeks after Ottawa committed to the biggest increase in military spending since the Second World War. Toda
Jul 14, 2025 · 20 min
What you should know about Canada’s growing tick problem
The problem of ticks, and the diseases they carry are well known. But as the climate becomes warmer, ticks are no longer exclusively found in densely wooded areas. The arachnids are spreading and bringing Lyme disease with them to more communities. The Globe’s health and science reporter Jennifer Yang spoke to residents of Nova Scotia’s South Shore, which has some of the densest tick populations in the country, to see what the future could look like for the rest of us. She shares their shocking
Jul 11, 2025 · 18 min
Your new favourite influencer? She’s AI-generated
Influencer profiles often have recognizable hallmarks: their feeds are highly stylized, filled with aspirational content and product placement. One of the reasons that brands work with influencers is because they can speak to their audience from a place of authenticity. So how does that change when the influencer is not a real person? Samantha Edwards is the Globe’s online culture reporter. She’s on the show to talk about the rise of virtual influencers created using artificial intelligence, an
Jul 10, 2025 · 21 min
Why the Calgary Stampede is this summer’s biggest political event
The 113th Calgary Stampede is in full swing. But the 10-day festival wouldn’t be complete without the biggest names in Canadian politics and business walking the grounds in cowboy cosplay. Politicians are flipping pancakes, corporate parties are packed, and with Prime Minister Mark Carney pledging to make Canada an energy superpower, oil patch optimism is on full display. But tensions between Alberta’ and Ottawa persist, despite Carney announcing this week that a new Canadian oil pipeline propo