The Current

The Current for March 29, 2021

Today on The Current: Combatting online disinformation about COVID-19 vaccines; Margaret Atwood on her late partner Graeme Gibson, and their shared love of birds; André Picard on the rising third wave in Canada; CNN host Don Lemon on his role as a Black journalist in this moment of racial reckoning
Matt Galloway is the host of CBC Radio's The Current. (CBC)

Episode Transcript

Today on The Current:

Research from the Center for Countering Digital Hate suggests that just 12 sources are responsible for almost two-thirds of online disinformation about COVID-19 vaccines. Imran Ahmed, CEO of the non-profit NGO, tells us more about the findings. And we talk about efforts to combat disinformation with Fatima Tokhmafshan is a bioethicist and geneticist in Montreal. She helped to start COVID-19 Resources Canada, a group that holds video meetings where experts answer people's questions about COVID-19 vaccines. 

Plus, Canadian author Margaret Atwood shared much with her late partner, the novelist Graeme Gibson, including a love of birds. She talks to Matt Galloway about the spring migration, the new edition of Gibson's Bedside Book of Birds and what nature can bring us, especially at this moment of the pandemic.

Then, parts of the country are easing restrictions, even as COVID-19 cases climb across Canada. The Globe and Mail's Health Columnist André Picard talks about this third wave, the danger posed by variants of the virus, and why in some areas, a large number of vaccine appointments haven't been snapped up.

And CNN host Don Lemon joins us to talk about his literary icon James Baldwin, and his own new book This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends about Racism. Lemon discusses his experience and role as a Black journalist in this moment of racial reckoning.