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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Feb 21, 2025 · 21 min
Trump warms to Russia, cools support for Ukraine
Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump had a 90-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the end of the war in Ukraine. That call ended three years of U.S. isolation of Russia – former President Joe Biden hadn’t spoken to Putin since before Russia invaded Ukraine – and caught Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky by surprise. Days later, U.S. and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia to discuss a plan for the end of the war, once again, without Ukraine. Mark MacKinnon
Feb 20, 2025 · 23 min
The problems with linking weight and health
Body weight often gets conflated with overall health, and the BMI — body mass index — has helped solidify that belief. But in recent years, the measurement has come under increased criticism. Some doctors have started using a new measurement of health called the body roundness index, or BRI. But does BRI address the issues so many have with the BMI? And how do these measurements that tie weight and overall health together impact the experiences of fat people navigating the Canadian healthcare s
Feb 19, 2025 · 20 min
Alberta government alleged to have interfered in healthcare deals
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s government is facing scrutiny after serious allegations were in a wrongful dismissal lawsuit launched by Alberta Health Services’ former CEO, Athana Mentzelopoulos. The lawsuit alleges that government officials interfered with the health system on behalf of private firms. It also claims that Mentzelopoulos was fired because of “an internal investigation,” she was launched into how Alberta Health Services’ contracts are procured. Carrie Tait, one of The Globe’s
Feb 18, 2025 · 23 min
Why more young people are getting cancer
Rates of cancer diagnosis and death are climbing worldwide in people under 50, according to the World Health Organization. A report, with data between 1990 and 2019 in 204 countries, showed early onset cancer grew 79 percent, while deaths also went up by 28 percent in the same time period. We follow the stories of two cancer survivors along with Kelly Grant, The Globe’s national health reporter. She’ll detail what we know about why younger people are being diagnosed with cancer, the symptoms to
Feb 14, 2025 · 24 min
How Trump is waging war through tariffs
Less than a month into his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump has already threatened to impose tariffs on half a dozen allies and adversaries. This week, he announced incoming universal tariffs on steel and aluminum, along with reciprocal tariffs on a range of foreign imports at ‘different levels’. But when and why did Trump decide that tariffs would be the centrepiece of his plan in redefining America’s role in the global trading system? Mark Rendell is the Globe’s Economics Reporter. H
Feb 13, 2025 · 18 min
The growing demand for disability accommodations in universities
At universities across Canada, requests for disability accommodations are on the rise. Since the 2013-2014 school year – the number of students requesting accommodations – has doubled to 12 per cent. And at Queen’s University in Kingston, about one in four students now access accommodations. This aid is often a lifeline for students but schools are now struggling to keep up with demand. Joe Friesen is the Globe’s postsecondary reporter. He’s on the show to talk about what’s driving this increas
Feb 12, 2025 · 19 min
The ‘valley of death’ for Canada’s mining companies
Canada wants to position itself as a leader in the critical mineral industry, as the world becomes more reliant on renewable energy. But its young mining companies are struggling, due to a mix of factors including changes to the local investment landscape, heavy restrictions on money from Chinese investors and, according to some industry insiders, excessive red tape. The struggle is particularly acute for mining companies in the middle stages of development, which is known in the industry as t
Feb 11, 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 for 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 h
Feb 10, 2025 · 24 min
Why the Conservative path to victory just got complicated
For more than two years, the federal Conservatives have held a solid lead in the polls, and with the party bringing in a record-setting $41.7 million in donations last year, leader Pierre Poilievre looks poised to win the upcoming election. But with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigning, U.S. President Donald Trump threatening tariffs and Liberal leadership candidates gaining some traction, the Conservatives are having to rethink their strategies. Stephanie Levitz is a senior reporter with t
Feb 7, 2025 · 23 min
‘Buy Canadian’ and the week Canadians got mad at the U.S.
The U.S. tariff threats against Canada may be on pause, but the reaction from many Canadians shows that the cross-border chaos struck a nerve. From an immediate pledge to boycott and ‘buy Canadian’, to political figures threatening to pull U.S. products from shelves, Canadians across the political spectrum decided to assert themselves against the might of the elephant south of the border. Shannon Proudfoot, feature writer and columnist for The Globe, explores our collective Canadian identity an
Feb 6, 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
Feb 5, 2025 · 21 min
What’s stopping Canada from building better public transit
There’s a fairly long list of public transit projects that have gone off the rails all across Canada. These projects often end up over budget and face multiple delays. Is this problem unique to Canada? Oliver Moore is a journalist with The Globe who has covered transit issues for years. He explains why this phenomenon keeps happening and what public transit agencies can do about it.
Feb 4, 2025 · 26 min
Trade war on hold as Trump threats loom
Hours before historic, damaging tariffs were set to be imposed between Canada and the U.S., the two nations stepped back from the brink. The Globe’s international correspondent, Nathan VanderKlippe, joins the show to break down the phone call that led to the 30-day pause, Canada’s increased measures at the border, and what may be the beginning of a troubling trend: Trump threatening tariffs to get whatever he wants.
Feb 3, 2025 · 26 min
The U.S.–Canada trade war, explained
The economies of Canada and the United States are on a collision course. On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed off on 25 per cent tariffs to be imposed on all Canadian goods, beginning February 4. In response, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau levelled tariffs back toward the U.S., warning that “the coming weeks will be difficult for Canadians and they will be difficult for Americans.” The trade war effectively transforms a decades-long economic partnership, with serious implications for m
Jan 31, 2025 · 16 min
This year’s hottest viral trends: norovirus, flu, COVID and RSV
If it seems like everyone you know is sick right now, that’s because respiratory virus season is in full swing. On top of influenza, COVID-19 and RSV, this year, medical professionals are seeing a surge of norovirus cases – also known as ‘winter vomiting disease.’ Alanna Smith is a health reporter with the Globe. Every week, she’s publishing data on respiratory virus season across the country, including links to resources about where you can get vaccinated. Today, she’s on the show to talk abou
Jan 30, 2025 · 23 min
Doug Ford’s big election gamble
Ontario is officially in an election campaign. Voters will go to the polls on February 27 – more than a year before they were supposed to cast their votes. So what is behind this early snap election? And will Premier Doug Ford’s political calculations pay off? Laura Stone covers Ontario politics for The Globe. She is on the show to explain what Doug Ford has said about why he is calling this early election, what the other party leaders think is actually behind his decision and political inside
Jan 29, 2025 · 20 min
Foreign interference inquiry finds ‘problematic’ conduct
After an 18-month long public inquiry, the final report on foreign interference in Canada has been released. Justice Marie-Josée Hogue’s seven-volume report weighs in on allegations of parliamentarians participating in foreign interference, outlines concerning examples of when foreign states have tried to influence our elections and gives 51 recommendations on what to do about it. Steven Chase is the Globe’s senior parliamentary reporter. His reporting over the years with colleague Robert Fife
Jan 28, 2025 · 19 min
Dispatch from Jerusalem: the ceasefire so far
Phase one of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has been in place for just over a week, but so far, it has been incredibly fragile. In the first days of the ceasefire, Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners, and Hamas released three Israeli hostages. On the second weekend, two hundred Palestinian prisoners were released, as were four Israeli hostages. But the deal hit a snag on Saturday, when Palestinians were set to return to northern Gaza. When Hamas did not release Arbel Yehoud, one o
Jan 27, 2025 · 22 min
The Five Eyes: security, spying and surveillance under Trump
Donald Trump is not a fan of international coalitions. He is also not a fan of intelligence agencies. And yet, the U.S. is the biggest member of the Five Eyes network – one of the world’s most powerful spying operations. As a second Trump administration begins in Washington, Canada and the other Five Eyes countries await to see what will happen. Richard Kerbaj is a journalist and author. His new book is called The Secret History of the Five Eyes: The Untold Story of The International Spy Netwo
Jan 24, 2025 · 21 min
Canadian retail’s security crackdown on violent theft
When we think of shoplifting, we often picture teens getting caught at the mall stealing lip gloss, or people bypassing the scanner at the grocery self-checkout. But in recent years, retail theft has gotten more serious, and much more organized. Stores are facing an uptick in targeted, large-scale stealing, with a growing number becoming violent. Globe retailing reporter, Susan Krashinsky Robertson, explains how much this increase is costing Canadian businesses, what police and retailers are d