(0:00 - 0:28) Good evening, I'm Will Dove, and these are the top stories for Wednesday, May 28th. The Alberta government, under Premier Danielle Smith, has launched a province-wide initiative to remove sexually graphic and pornographic content from K to 12 school libraries. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides announced yesterday that consultations are underway with school boards to establish mandatory standards ensuring age-appropriate materials for students. (0:29 - 0:48) The move follows discoveries of graphic books depicting explicit homosexual, transsexual, and even incestuous acts in Calgary and Edmonton school libraries, some accessible to kindergarten-aged children. Four specific books have been flagged by the United Conservative Party government. Gender Queer, by Maya Kababe. (0:49 - 0:55) Flamer, by Mike Carotto. Blankets, by Craig Thompson. Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel. (0:55 - 1:18) Premier Smith emphasized on social media that the policy aims to protect kids from graphic content stripping away their innocence, not to broadly ban books. She urged parents to review the material directly, warning it is not suitable for minors. The UCP shared unredacted excerpts showing illustrations of sexual acts, including pedophilic themes. (1:19 - 1:31) New standards, expected by the 2025-2026 school year, will require all school boards to comply. Public libraries are exempt. An online survey is open for feedback until June 15. (1:32 - 2:05) This initiative aligns with recent UCP policies opposing gender ideology, such as banning biological males from women's sports and prohibiting gender transition surgeries for minors. U.S. President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social today, declaring that Canada must either agree to become the 51st state of the United States, or pay $61 billion for inclusion in the proposed Golden Dome continental defense system. The remark framed the ultimatum as a binary choice for Canadian leaders. (2:06 - 2:40) They are considering the offer, he wrote, adding that the cost would be $0 for statehood, but $61 billion if Canada remains a separate but unequal nation. The Golden Dome initiative, announced earlier this month, involves a $175 billion U.S. investment in a missile and space-based defense network designed to intercept threats ranging from hypersonic missiles to space-based projectiles. Critics have suggested that the true cost of such a system would be closer to $550 billion over two decades. (2:41 - 3:14) Trump's comments follow months of sporadic jokes about Canadian statehood, but this marks the first explicit linkage to a financial or security arrangement. The timing coincides with King Charles III's recent visit to Ontario, where he indirectly rebuked the idea of Canadian annexation, stating that the sovereignty of nations must be respected in an era of global uncertainty. Canadian political leaders have yet to issue formal responses, though insiders suggest the proposal is being treated as a combination of political theatre and strategic pressure. (3:15 - 3:51) Conservative Party leader Pierre Polliev previously criticized former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for what he called naïve diplomacy with the U.S., arguing that Canada's military and economic sovereignty require unambiguous defense partnerships. Critics argue the $61 billion figure, equivalent to roughly 12% of Canada's annual federal budget, would force drastic cuts to social programs or tax increases. Fiscal analysts note that Canada's debt-to-GDP ratio recently hit 107%, limiting its capacity to absorb new liabilities. (3:52 - 4:16) The U.S. has not provided technical details about how the Golden Dome would operate across the 5,500-mile shared border, or whether Canadian contributions would grant oversight authority. The proposal also raises constitutional questions. Annexation would require approval from both U.S. Congress and the Canadian Parliament, the latter of which has historically opposed even symbolic measures eroding independence. (4:17 - 4:45) Polls indicate only 7% of Canadians support statehood, though 63% favour closer military collaboration with the U.S. against emerging threats from Russia and China. We don't advise putting too much stock into Trump's comment. Remember when he said during his last administration that Mexico would pay for the proposed wall along the U.S. southern border? To date, there is no evidence that Mexico ever contributed, directly or indirectly, to the building of a wall. (4:46 - 5:34) Thousands of Palestinians stormed a contested aid distribution center in southern Gaza's Rafa today, exposing deepening tensions over a U.S. and Israeli-backed initiative to bypass United Nations-led humanitarian efforts, dramatic footage showed crowds tearing down fences and scrambling over earthen barriers at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's compound, while witnesses reported Israeli troops firing warning shots nearby. The incident occurred just one day after the GHF, which employs armed American security contractors, launched operations aimed at feeding up to one million Gazans by week's end. The GHF claims to have distributed 462,000 meals through 8,000 food boxes since Monday, partnering with local NGOs. (5:35 - 6:03) However, its model, requiring identity checks, Hamas screening and militarized perimeters guarded by Israeli forces, has drawn fierce condemnation. U.N. agencies and major aid groups refuse to collaborate, accusing the Foundation of violating core humanitarian principles by tying assistance to political objectives. Israeli officials defend the program as necessary to prevent Hamas from diverting supplies, though the militant group denies stealing aid. (6:04 - 6:34) GHF's announcement coincided with Israel's May 19th expanded military offensive, which includes forcibly relocating northern Gazans southward. While Israel eased its 11-week total blockade last week under U.S. pressure, critics argue the GHF framework exacerbates chaos. Over 400 U.N. aid trucks sat stranded at the Kerem Shalom crossing as of Tuesday, with Kogat, Israel's aid coordination body, blaming U.N. inefficiency. (6:35 - 7:01) Today's violence unfolded at the Talal Sultan site, where witnesses described a humiliating scramble for basics like sugar and bread. People risked their lives just to feed children, one woman told BBC Arabic, reflecting desperation in a territory where 500,000 face imminent starvation, according to U.N.-backed analysts. The GHF attributed delays to Hamas blockades, but provided no evidence. (7:02 - 7:20) Hamas's media office denied impeding access, calling Israel's aid strategy a miserable failure. The U.N. claims that one person was killed and several more injured by gunfire, but there is no independent corroboration of that. The clashes highlight Gaza's unraveling security landscape. (7:21 - 7:45) Israel's military confirmed troops fired warning shots, while the GHF claimed its team temporarily withdrew to avoid casualties. With Netanyahu vowing to take control of all areas of Gaza, and half the population now crammed into Rafah, aid workers warn the GHF's securitized approach risks further bloodshed. As one man grimly summarized, hunger has overwhelmed everyone. (7:47 - 7:52) I'm Will Dove and those are the top stories for today, Wednesday, May 28th.