The Sunday Magazine for January 25, 2026
This week on The Sunday Magazine with guest host David Common:
Weighty speeches thrust world order into flux after Davos summit
After a high stakes week of speeches and side deals at the World Economic Forum, U.S. President Donald Trump walked back his threats toward Greenland. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Carney declared that the U.S.-led global order is being ruptured, and middle powers like Canada need to adapt fast by working more closely together. David Sanger from The New York Times and The Economist's Rob Russo, join Common to unpack how consequential the week has been in global affairs, and what it signals about where the world order is heading.
The internet was supposed to level the playing field. What happened?
In its early days, there was great optimism that the internet would be a platform for the people, giving the "little guy" a boost in commerce, democracy and culture. But Tim Wu says tech titans like Meta, Amazon and Google are the real winners, extracting wealth, attention and data from the masses. The Canadian-raised legal scholar, writer and former antitrust advisor to U.S. Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama joins Piya Chattopadhyay to discuss what happened to the internet's promise, and whether we can get it back as the AI age dawns.
What should Conservatives do to win back Canadians?
Later this week, federal Conservatives will gather in Calgary for their first party convention since last spring's election returned them to opposition benches. A mandatory leadership review for Pierre Poilievre will be on the agenda. But perhaps the bigger question they'll face – and debate – is how to position themselves to find a message that resonates with Canadians today. Conservative strategists Regan Watts, Kate Harrison and former MP Monte Solberg join Common to explore the party's paths forward.
Retired and emerging nurses connect on the future of care
Nursing is a tough job in normal conditions. Seasonal viruses, an aging population and staff shortages only compound that stress. In their book The Handover, retired nurse Tilda Shalof and emerging nurse Lisa Mochrie share wisdom, hopes and fears about their profession amid these challenges. They join Piya Chattopadhyay to discuss their mission to foster more positive conversations in the field, in the hopes it will lead to better outcomes for patients and nurses alike.