Ryan Wedding, former Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug lord, is pleading not guilty to U.S. federal charges of leading an international drug trafficking ring and orchestrating the murders of multiple people. Wedding had been on the run for more than a decade and was on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted list. But the sprawling criminal investigation crosses borders and legal experts are now questioning what lawful norms and treaties may be overridden in the race to prosecute Wedding and his associates in the U.S.

Colin Freeze, crime and justice reporter for The Globe, talks about the manhunt for Wedding, the laws around extradition and why this case could turn into a test of Canada and Mexico’s legal sovereignty.

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It’s been a busy month abroad for Prime Minister Mark Carney, but now, he’ll have to turn his focus back to domestic issues as Parliament returns on Monday. There’s a lot to catch up on — later this week, the Conservatives will have their leadership review of Pierre Poilievre during their convention in Calgary, and the NDP are in the midst of their leadership race. The issue of national unity remains top of mind as both Alberta and Quebec look towards possible referendums in the coming months.

Bill Curry is the Globe’s Deputy Ottawa Bureau Chief. He’ll catch us up on where things left off in Parliament, what legislation is coming down the pike, and what to expect from USMCA negotiations.

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Psychedelics, substances like LSD and psilocybin mushrooms that cause altered states of consciousness, often remind people of hippies in the 1960s. But more researchers are looking into their potential benefits for our well-being. Scientists say psychedelics – which are illegal for recreational use in Canada – could have massive implications on how we treat and heal from major mental health disorders like PTSD, depression and anxiety. Garvia speaks with Dr. Monnica Williams, clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Ottawa, where she is the co-director of the new master’s program in psychedelics and consciousness studies. They discuss the latest research and whether psychedelics will, and should, become mainstream.

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This week, Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump made waves in Davos, Switzerland as both offered competing visions of a new world order. Government and business leaders were in the Alps for the annual World Economic Forum, where the U.S. struck a ‘deal’ with NATO on Greenland and Trump launched his Board of Peace.

The Globe’s international affairs columnist Doug Saunders is here to explain Canada’s place in a changing world order, as long-standing partnerships were tested and the foundation for competing alliances was laid.

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As part of Canada’s new trade deal with China, 49,000 Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles will be allowed to be sold in the Canadian market this year. It’s a big change from our previous 100 per cent tariff on Chinese-made cars. Auto leaders and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have criticized the deal, saying it puts the country’s auto sector at risk when it’s already facing pressure from the U.S. and Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Dimitry Anastakis is a professor at the University of Toronto in the Department of History and the Rotman School of Management, and his research focuses on the development of the Canadian auto industry. He analyzes what this deal means for jobs in the auto sector, how it could affect Canadians looking to buy EVs and what it could mean for renegotiating the USMCA.

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As U.S. President Donald Trump has continued to ratchet up threats against Greenland, Canada has weighed plans to send soldiers there as part of a NATO exercise. In a speech at the Davos Conference on Tuesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed support for Greenland, but did not say whether Canada would indeed send troops.

Meanwhile, according to senior government officials, the Canadian Armed Forces have modelled a hypothetical U.S. military invasion of Canada, and the country’s potential response. Robert Fife, the Globe’s Ottawa Bureau Chief, joins the show to talk about how Canada’s military is preparing to walk the narrow tightrope between our NATO allies and U.S. military prowess.

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Last week, Quebec Premier François Legault announced his resignation amidst plummeting poll numbers, while acknowledging Quebeckers are calling for change. The state of the province’s politics are now in flux, as the Parti Quebecois surge in popularity and a possible referendum on Quebec’s sovereignty is on the horizon.

Konrad Yakabuski, Globe columnist and Quebec politics writer, discusses Legault’s legacy, the divide between sovereigntists and federalists and where the province’s parties stand ahead of a fall election.

Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com

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The flu season hit Canada hard and fast this year, seemingly reaching its peak in late December. But it’s not over yet: one public health official says we’re still in the ‘heavy, middle part’ of flu season.

Alanna Smith explains what’s different about this year’s dominant variant of the influenza virus and the impact it’s having on Canada’s health care system.

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