The Rundown

Hundreds of pages and billions of dollars, Ontario's 2026 budget will shape daily life across the province, yet its true priorities are not always obvious at first glance. TVO Today's John Michael McGrath breaks down what's in the budget and why it matters, before a deeper examination of what the numbers reveal about this government's values and fiscal health. Then, as economic uncertainty grows,...

At the Grammys, Pharrell Williams urged audiences to "never stop grinding," echoing a familiar culture of constant ambition. But writer and broadcaster Amil Niazi challenges that mindset in "Life After Ambition: A Good Enough Memoir," as a new generation of workers questions whether success has to mean nonstop hustle. Then, Tricia Williams of TMU's Future Skills Centre, explores how younger worker...

As the federal NDP leadership race unfolds, a larger question looms: where does the party stand with Canadians and can its next leader reposition it as a credible alternative? Kim Wright, principal of Wright Strategies and a longtime NDP consultant, and journalist Luke Savage, author of "The Dead Center," examine the stakes of rebuilding the party. Then, Erin Kelly, CEO of Advanced Symbolics Inc.,...

Toronto’s affordability crisis is decades in the making, shaped by planning decisions that continue to price people out. Anne Golden and Ken Greenberg, co-editors of Saving Toronto: 10 City Builders Tell Us How, examine how the city got here. Then, Antonio Gómez-Palacio looks at whether smarter urban design could still make Toronto liveable and affordable again. See omnystudio.com/lis...

The world has lived through oil shocks before - from the Suez Crisis of the 1950s to the Arab oil embargo of the 1970s - but today's turmoil raises new questions about how vulnerable global energy markets really are. What would it mean if Iran keeps the Strait of Hormuz closed, and how does this moment compare to past crises that reshaped the global economy? For Canada - the world's fourth-largest...

Calls for tax reform have echoed across party lines for years, but as global trade relationships shift, the pressure to act is intensifying. What, beyond political slogans, would meaningful tax reform actually look like in practice? To examine that question, we turn to Allison Christians, professor and H. Heward Stikeman Chair in the Law of Taxation at McGill University, and Geoffrey Turner, adjun...

Why are mental health challenges escalating so rapidly among Gen Z, as antidepressant use and disability claims surge well beyond population norms? Then, when it comes to sexual health, why are young people having less sex overall, but taking fewer precautions and getting tested less often? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canada says it stands for human rights, but its foreign policy often reflects hard-nosed realities. Prime Minister Mark Carney argues Canada must deal with the world as it is, but Ottawa is deepening ties with countries like the UAE and China despite serious human rights concerns. So when values clash with economics and geopolitics, what really drives Canada's decisions? The Rundown begins there,...

The Rundown examines the rise of psychotic disorders among young people in Ontario. What's driving this increase, and how does a diagnosis affect those who receive it? Then, how exploring historical theories of dreams can help us better understand the complexity of the human brain. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In December 2024, a school shooting in Madison, Wisconsin left two people dead and raised urgent questions about a disturbing form of violence with no clear ideological motive. The attacker left behind a manifesto expressing hatred for society and admiration for mass killers - a case researchers now associate with nihilistic violent extremism, violence for its own sake. Producer Eric Bombicino exa...

Does it cost more to be single? Renée Sylvestre-Williams, author of "The Singles Tax: No-Nonsense Financial Advice for Solo Earners," takes us through the ways 30 per cent of Canadian households pay more for everything from housing costs, to groceries, and even travel. Then, while the cost of living rises, we look into how people are faring in their everyday lives in the current economy. See omnys...

Cuba is facing a deepening economic and humanitarian crisis, with government agencies under an oil blockade and mounting pressure from the United States. As shortages worsen, can the Cuban government survive? What would the fallout be for the rest of the Caribbean if it doesn't? We break down the political and regional implications with Julio Fonseca, co-chair of the Canadian Network on Cuba and p...

Hosted by Jeyan Jeganathan, The Rundown delivers original journalism and in-depth analysis of the social, political, cultural, and economic issues that shape life in Ontario. Each episode digs into the topics making headlines, examining them from different angles and through diverse points of view - providing the context you need to understand what's happening in the province and around the world....

After 19 seasons as anchor of TVO's flagship current affairs program The Agenda, Steve Paikin signs off with a final goodnight. As well, a brief highlight reel, including Jean Chretien, Salman Rushdie, Doug Ford, Janice Stein, Elizabeth Dowdeswell among others, offers a glimpse of the range and depth of what the show covered over the years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Agenda is coming to an end after 19 seasons. We present the show's final guest: Steve's dad. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Smoking in elevators, movie theatres, or airplanes. Goaltenders playing hockey in the NHL without a mask. Burning tons of coal to generate electricity. Today, we look back at these practices and wonder, how did we ever allow that to happen? Because today, of course, we know better. But what about the future? What do we do today that future generations will shake their heads at? And how do we chart...

After a long, successful career in journalism, Cathrin Bradbury was at loose ends, post-retirement. How should she spend her time and still-abundant energy? In her latest book, "This Way Up: Old Friends, New Love, and a Map for the Road Ahead," she charts a fresh direction, including a new identity as a writer, grandmother, and freer spirit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Toronto is adapting to climate change with new Thermal Comfort Guidelines, developed after a city-wide study by DIALOG and Buro Happold. With the number of days exceeding 30 C projected to rise from 10 to 55 annually by 2080, we're examining how the city is reimagining public spaces to stay livable throughout the year. Field reporter Jeyan Jeganathan dives into what makes us feel comfortable outdo...

Since its launch 19 years ago, The Agenda With Steve Paikin has highlighted scientific discoveries and new insights into health. So what's changed over the course of over two decades-and what kinds of challenges and breakthroughs do experts anticipate seeing in the decades to come? To discuss, we're joined by Keith Stewart, University Health Network vice-president, cancer, and director of the Prin...

Now retired, Kent Knechtel, a former second engineer aboard the freighter Michipicoten, recounts the day a 13-foot hull crack changed everything. Thanks to calm waters, clear skies, and the swift response of the United States Coast Guard, disaster was narrowly avoided. One year later, Kent reflects with gratitude and quiet resolve on the incident that marked the end of his decades-long career sail...

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and then the end of the Soviet Union in 1991, many thought the world was going to be a much better place going forward. That has not turned out to be the case. 9/11; the failed promise of the Arab Spring; the Middle East still on fire; Russia-Ukraine; political tribalism. Does it sometimes feel as if the world is no longer capable of making progress? Host...

What has Canada learned from its participation in the war in Afghanistan? Is a two-state solution the only way forward for Israel and Palestine? And while the West sees Russia as a destabilizing force on the world stage, is there another legitimate interpretation of what they're doing in Ukraine? Over 19 seasons of The Agenda, we've revisited these themes time and again, to help viewers understand...

How did a Canadian author's alphabet book end up at the United States Supreme Court? And what does this mean for 2SLGBTQ+ books for kids in Canada? We welcome Robin Stevenson to discuss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Preston Manning. Bob Rae. Jean Charest. Paul Martin. Former NDP premier of BC, Michael Harcourt. What do they all have in common? Well, they were all part of the now defunct Ecofiscal Commission, which advocated for a carbon price in Canada. Chris Ragan was the chair of that commission. He is also an associate Professor and the founding director of McGill University's Max Bell School of Public Pol...

In 2004 Facebook was created. Two years later in 2006 Twitter was founded AND the very first episode of the Agenda aired here on TVO. Fast forward to 2011 and social media was seen as helping sow the seeds of democracy in the Middle East during the Arab Spring. And many were optimistic that these growing connections would help harness the wisdom of the crowd. It would be like "Who Wants to be a Mi...