The Current

Tracy Gomez says perimenopause turned her life upside down and eventually cost her her job — and she's not alone. A new B.C. study of more than 1,500 women looks at the economic impacts of menopause and perimenopause, and the barriers to getting treatment.

A new study says three quarters of adults in the U.S. are obese or overweight, while figures put two thirds of Canadians into the same category. We look at what’s contributing to our collective weight gain and how to tackle the growing problem of obesity. 

Some teachers say kids are just plain ruder these days, with a sharp increase in interruptions and outbursts in the classroom. We look at what’s driving that incivility, and what it means for these kids’ education and the adults they’ll become. 

Ukraine fired long-range, U.S.-made missiles into Russia for the first time, after outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden gave the green light. We look at how Russia might respond, and what Trump’s incoming presidency will mean for the war. 

Florida mother Megan Garcia believes an AI chatbot led her 14-year-old son to take his own life. Now she's suing Google and Character.ai, the company behind the digital companion.

As the addiction crisis continues to affect people and communities across Canada, some political leaders say that involuntary treatment can help those with severe mental illness or addiction get the care they need. Others say that getting help should always be a choice, made by individuals in consultation with their healthcare providers and loved ones. We hear from one mayor who wants his city to be considered for any future involuntary care pilot projects. 

From Harry Styles, to Dev Patel, to Jeremy Allen White — dozens of celebrity lookalike competitions have popped up in recent weeks. But why are doppelgängers all the rage, when they used to be a sign of bad luck? Nathaniël Siri and Edward Toledo are two lookalikes who say that they share similar interests and traits. However, a psychologist says not all doppelgängers share much in common aside from their looks.

Nine wealthy Canadian families and foundations have committed a total of $405 million over the next ten years to help with the climate change fight. The donors say that addressing the complex issue of climate change is multifaceted, and their funding is just the ‘one domino that gets things going.’ 

The Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz predicts economic chaos under Trump, but says he also understands why many people feel that the system isn't working for them — and why they voted for change. He talks to Matt Galloway about inequality, Elon Musk and a more progressive form of capitalism.

Shawndra Whaley says she cried and cried at Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto Thursday, overcome by the emotions of being with thousands of other Swifties. We look at why the singer inspires such passion in her fans — including Dawn Johnston, a professor who has lectured on the cultural importance of the singer, and is a bit of a Swiftie herself.

My Little Pony is being inducted into The National Toy Hall of Fame, along with Transformers and the card game Phase 10. Chris Bensch, chief curator at The Strong Museum of Play, explains why these vintage toys have had such a lasting influence. 

Millions of people shared their DNA with 23andMe, but now the company is in financial trouble and shedding 40 per cent of its workforce. What does that mean for all the genetic information the company holds?

A B.C. teenager is in critical condition with bird flu, in what's believed to be the first domestically acquired case of H5N1 avian influenza in Canada. With the source of the infection still unknown, we look at the possibility of a wider outbreak — and what people can do to reduce that risk. [CORRECTION: A previous version of this story said this was the first human case of avian influenza caught in Canada. In fact, the case is the first domestically acquired case of H5N1 avian influenza in this country. Two poultry farm workers in B.C.'s Fraser Valley fell ill with H7N3 avian influenza during an outbreak in 2004.]

We look at the rich history and allure of butter, amid news that thieves in Ontario are stealing it in bulk to sell on the black market. 

Last month the Assembly of First Nations voted down a draft agreement with the federal government on child welfare reform, worth $47.8 billion. Matt Galloway talks to Chief Derek Nepinak, who says his community needed this agreement; and advocate Cindy Blackstock, who says the goal isn’t a perfect deal, but a just one.