The Agenda's week in review looks at whether inequality has gotten worse since the Great Recession; and what the future of populism might look like in Canada.

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 focuses on one topic that’s making headlines, examining it 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.

<p data-renderer-start-pos="1">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 focuses on one topic that&rsquo;s making headlines, examining it from different angles and through diverse points of view &mdash; providing the context you need to understand what&rsquo;s happening in the province and around the world.</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. 

The Rundown

Inequality, Populism and the Great Recession

Researchers are beginning to investigate two frontiers that challenge long-held assumptions about the natural world: how animals communicate and whether forests function as complex, social systems. Advances in artificial intelligence are helping decode patterns in animal signals once thought to be beyond human understanding, raising difficult ethical and legal questions about what non-human species may be expressing. At the same time, new research on trees suggests forests may operate through interconnected networks that share resources and respond collectively to environmental stress.

We examine what emerging science is revealing about animal minds and forest ecosystems, how these findings are being interpreted, and what they could mean for how humans define intelligence, responsibility, and the natural world itself. Kristin Andrews, philosophy professor at York University and York Research Chair in Animal Minds, and Suzanne Simard, forest ecologist and author of "When the Forest Breathes: Renewal and Resilience in the Natural World," discuss communication, connection, and the implications of treating animals and even forests as social beings.

Can We Understand Nature's Language?

Some transit riders say the experience in Ontario is changing, with more visible drug use and increasingly unpredictable behaviour on buses, streetcars, and subways. But is public transit actually becoming less safe, or are perceptions outpacing the data? And would expanding the powers of special constables improve conditions for riders and staff?

We examine what is known about recent safety concerns, how they are being measured, and what policy responses are under consideration. Andrew Pulsifer, executive director of TTC Riders, David Cooper, principal of Leading Mobility Consulting, and Kelly Aizicowitz, board member at A Better City, discuss the data, the lived experience, and what changes, if any, could make a difference for transit systems and the people who rely on them.

Is Ontario Transit Becoming Less Safe?

What can a rare hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship tell us about broader public health risks, and are there warning signs closer to home that we may be overlooking? After a Dutch vessel was linked to the Andes strain, questions emerge about how such diseases spread, what makes them dangerous, and whether other threats, including tick-borne illnesses, are already taking hold. We examine what is known about hantavirus, how it compares to more familiar risks, and what it could signal about shifting patterns in human and environmental health. Dr. Fahad Razak, an internist and epidemiologist at St. Michael's Hospital, looks at the implications for surveillance, preparedness, and public awareness.

We then turn to a different kind of signal: the ways animals respond to changing conditions. If animals are constantly communicating, what might humans be missing, and could those observations offer insight into environmental change? Amelia Thomas, journalist and author of "What Sheep Think About the Weather," explores how animals interpret their surroundings, what their behaviours might reveal, and whether learning to pay closer attention could deepen our understanding of the forces shaping both animal and human health.

Inequality, Populism and the Great Recession

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