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The Current Transcript for November 24, 2016

Host: Anna Maria Tremonti

STORIES FROM THIS EPISODE

Listen to the full episode

Prologue

[Music: Theme]

SOUNDCLIP

One of the most annoying things is when I introduce myself. You know, they’re like hi, what’s your name? I’m like Micaia, nice to meet you. And they’re like, [long pause] nice to meet you.

ANNA MARIA TREMONTI: So what's in a name you say? Well, almost everything. Your identity, your sense of self, it sets you apart, it helps you belong, it connects you to family, tells the story of you before you even knew yourself. Names can be political among warring factions, names can give you away and among political foes names can be twisted into meanings they don't have. Remember all those references to Barack Hussein Obama? In a society where our names come in many languages from many different origins of race, culture, geography it is possible to wound and be wounded over a name. In half an hour, the push to appreciate names rather than mangling them. Also today, she was forced to leave Russia because Vladimir Putin's autocratic policies put her children at risk. Now writer Masha Gessen sees parallels in the US president-elect.

SOUNDCLIP

We're talking about two thin-skinned, unhinged, megalomaniacal leaders with their fingers on the nuclear button.

AMT: Hear Masha Gessen in an hour, as we follow up on the stories we've been covering. But first..

SOUNDCLIP

[Sound: jets flying by]

AMT: Wanna buy a fighter jet? I'm Anna Maria Tremonti, this is The Current.

Super Hornet jet announcement continues saga of CF-18 replacement

Guests: John McKay, Kim Richard Nossal

SOUNDCLIP

Right now we cannot meet our NORAD and NATO commitments combined. Plus, this doesn’t even take into account any unforeseen missions that we might be dealing with as well.

ANNA MARIA TREMONTI: That is the Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan on Tuesday updating reporters on the future of Canada's fighter jet fleet. The big news was the announcement that Canada will purchase 18 Super Hornet jet fighters. The minister calls them an interim solution. It's not clear when they'll be purchased or how much they'll cost and in an interview with As It Happens, Harjit Sajjan said Canada's aging CF-18s will continue to fly for years to come, perhaps until the year 2032. Those CF-18s you may recall have had quite a history, they were acquired in 1980.

SOUNDCLIP

[Sound: Bell ringing]

VOICE 1: At the time they were purchased, the life expectancy of the CF-18s was about 20 years but their life has been extended through upgrades.

November 24, 2016 full episode transcript

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