The Sunday Magazine for December 22, 2024
This week on The Sunday Magazine with Piya Chattopadhyay:
Sunday Politics Panel: Freeland flees, cabinet shuffles and Trudeau reflects on his future
The political bombshell Chrystia Freeland dropped in Ottawa with her resignation is still sending shockwaves through the capital, leading to a cabinet shuffle and ongoing questions about Justin Trudeau's future... while leaders at all levels scramble to contend with Donald Trump's tariff threat. Toronto Star national columnist Susan Delacourt and former Liberal strategist David Herle join Chattopadhyay to unpack the historical week in Canadian politics.
Wilfred Buck uses Indigenous star knowledge to illuminate pathway for more perspectives in science
Many know Wilfred Buck as the "star guy." But before becoming a leader in Indigenous astronomy, the Cree elder grappled with addiction and displacement after his family was torn apart during the Sixties Scoop. As his story hits screens in a new eponymous documentary, Buck joins Chattopadhyay to talk about his mission to reclaim Indigenous perspectives in science and help others heal the wounds of colonization through knowledge of the cosmos.
What Chrystia Freeland's past may reveal about her choice to quit cabinet
Chrystia Freeland's sudden resignation from cabinet after nearly a decade closely allied with Justin Trudeau shook the already fragile confidence many Liberals had in their leader. Some speculate Freeland is starting the process of replacing the prime minister. But Catherine Tsalikis believes Freeland's decision reflects her long-held principles rather than political ambition. The journalist joins Chattopadhyay to discuss her new book, Chrystia: From Peace River to Parliament, and what makes the former finance minister, foreign affairs minister and deputy prime minister tick.
At 30, Comic Sans keeps curving its way into our hearts and onto our nerves
Do you have a type, when it comes to fonts? This year marks the 30th anniversary of what's widely seen as both the most recognizable and most reviled typeface: Comic Sans. In the latest instalment of Word Processing, our ongoing look at language, Chattopadhyay speaks with author Simon Garfield about how Comic Sans evolved from a playful, curved diversion from stern-looking serifs, to a laughing stock font... and why we just can't write off the sometimes off-putting form of expression.
10 years after Serial, true crime is having real-world consequences
2024 marks 10 years since the investigative podcast Serial became a sensation and sparked a rebirth in our cultural obsession with true crime. But the genre's popularity transcends entertainment. Criminology professor Dawn Cecil and criminal defence attorney Adam Banner explain how it's also led to real-world impacts in the cases featured and the justice system at large.