Front Burner

For decades Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates built a public persona as an unrelenting, tech visionary – and later as a global health and climate philanthropist. But that reputation has started to fracture, largely because of one man: Jeffrey Epstein.

The partial release of the Epstein files revealed extensive communication between Epstein and Gates, his foundation, and people who worked for him. On Wednesday, Gates testified before congress in a closed door hearing. In his opening statement, he said that he “never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct”. He was unequivocal that he has never victimized anyone.

Today, guest host Aaron Wherry, speaks with Emily Glazer, a Pulitzer prize winning enterprise reporter with The Wall Street Journal who's been covering Gates and his connection with Epstein for years.

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

Canada has introduced new legislation that puts big tech social platforms on notice: change your platforms to make them safer for kids, or children under the age of 16 will be banned from using them.

Taylor Owen is back on the show to walk us through the proposed Safe Social Media Act and how it’d be enforced. He’s the Beaverbrook Chair in Media, Ethics and Communications at McGill University. He was also part of an expert panel advising the government on online harms, and a member of the AI Strategy Task Force.

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

Even before a game has been played, this year’s World Cup has been the source of controversy. Officials and staff from countries like Iraq, Iran and Somalia have been refused entry or face lengthy interrogation by immigration officials at American airports.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been widely criticized for his proximity to U.S. President Donald Trump after presenting Trump with a ‘FIFA Peace Prize’ award and sitting in the front row at Trump’s inauguration.

For nearly 100 years, leaders across the world have used soccer, and the World Cup specifically, as a tool of power and politics.

David Goldblatt is a journalist, sociologist, professor, and the author of bestselling books such as ‘The Ball is round: A Global History of Soccer.’ He joins the program to discuss the World Cup’s political history, the failed promise of this year's tournament, and how soccer became “our great public and political theatre.”

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

As Alberta hurtles towards a referendum on whether or not to hold a separation referendum, we wanted to take a look at how the campaigns on both sides are shaping up.

Who are the players? Are they cohesive? Organized? Charismatic?

Jason Markusoff, who covers Alberta politics for CBC, is here to walk us through it.

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

For decades, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, better known as AIPAC, has been one of the most powerful lobbying organizations in Washington.

It has helped shape U.S. policy toward Israel, cultivated relationships with lawmakers from both parties, and more recently spent millions of dollars helping elect candidates it supports and defeat those it doesn't.

But after the war in Gaza, Israel's conflicts with Iran and Lebanon, and a dramatic shift in public opinion among many Democrats, AIPAC's influence is facing new scrutiny. Candidates are increasingly being asked whether they'll accept its support, some are actively distancing themselves from the organization.

Today on Front Burner, Alex Shephard of The New Republic explains how AIPAC became one of the most powerful forces in American politics, and why, for the first time, its political influence is facing meaningful resistance.

For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts