Researchers say that belief in conspiracy theories pose a massive barrier in controlling the spread of COVID-19. What is it that makes conspiracy theories attractive to the human mind?

Guests:

Dan Romer, research director at the Annenberg Public Policy Centre at the University of Pennsylvania, joins @ScottTalking now.

Dr. Samuel Paul Louis Veissiere, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and the Co-director of the Culture, Mind, and Brain program; and an Associate Member of the Department of Anthropology McGill University

Former Prime Minister John Turner has passed away at the age of 91. What kind of memories do we look back on now that Canada's 17th prime minister has passed on?

Guest: David Collenette, Senior Counsellor, Hill+Knowlton Strategies & former cabinet member with John Turner in the 1970's, as Minister of Multiculturalism in his cabinet and as National Director of the Liberal Party when he was Leader of the Opposition

-

A woman was arrested at the Peace Bridge in connection with the letter of ricin that was sent to the White House. What do we know about the suspect and what does this say about the border's and the White House's security protocols?

Guest: Elliot Tepper, Emeritus Professor of Political Science, Carleton University

-

The federal government has accepted the Made-in-Ontario Emission Performance Standards program. But what does that mean for every day Ontarians? Jeff Yurek is the Minister of the Environment and joins Scott to explain.

Guest: Jeff Yurek, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

This morning, Ontario announced that we’re facing 401 new cases of the coronavirus. This comes as the world is creeping up to 30 million cases. Where are most of these cases coming from and what will we have to do in order to drop the number back down?

Guest: Alison Thompson, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Professor of Public Health Services, and Professor of Public Health Sciences, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto

-

The U.S. is expected this weekend to hit 200,000 COVID-19 related deaths.

Guest: Reggie Cecchini, Washington Producer and Correspondent with Global News

-

What are the Premiers hoping to gain from the federal government’s throne speech? Also, as COVID-19 cases rise, the Prime Minister is scaling back on his green ambitions. How will the rise in cases influence any future announcements?

Guest: Tim Powers, Vice-Chairman, Summa Strategies, Managing Director of Abacus Data, and has previously served as an advisor to a national party leader and federal cabinet ministers