Boston Public Radio Podcast

Is our country in a civics education crisis? We got your thoughts. Fabiola Mendez & Elsa Mosquera are our guests for Live Music Friday this week, ahead of the free Fiesta en la Plaza taking place throughout Latinx Heritage Month in Boston. Ela is the co-founder of Agora Cultural Architects, who organized the festival. Fabiola is an award-winning cuatro player.Boston Globe reporters Jessica Bartlett & Mark Arsenault talk about their latest Spotlight reporting on Ralph de la Torre and the collapse of Steward Health Care.Transportation secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt joins for her first-ever interview on BPR. She talks about ongoing projects for MassDOT like the East-West Coast Rail, Cape Cod Bridges, the Allston Multimodal project and more. Then we read your texts on the court case between an estranged couple fighting over who gets to keep the $70,000 diamond engagement ring. Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner joins us from her "she-shed" in the woods and reacts to new GOP efforts to block mail-in ballot

MIT Economist Jon Gruber breaks down each candidate's economic plans and concepts, and former public safety secretary Andrea Cabral offers her debate reactions.

Chuck Todd joined for his weekly D.C. roundup, focusing on Tuesday’s debateThen we opened the lines to discuss the dying art of the handshake... if it is dying?Andrea Cabral on debate fact-checkingPaul Reville on how to optimize free community college in Mass.Jon Gruber offered an expert’s perspective on Trump vs. Harris as it relates to the economyAITA for charging guests for my wedding? We opened the lines to discuss

Today:National security analyst Juliette Kayyem and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley discuss last night's debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump.

Harris & Trump took to the stage last night in a presidential debate. We opened the lines to hear reactions from listeners throughout the show. Media maven Sue O'Connell discussed Taylor Swift's endorsementNational security expert Juliette Kayyem on the multiple mass shootings in America recentlyFood policy analyst Corby Kummer on how cooking smoke is bad for our health and the environmentCongresswoman Ayanna Pressley called in with her reaction to the debate

Today:Doris Kearns Goodwin joins Jim and Margery at the Boston Public Library on September 10, 2024 to discuss her new book "The Leadership Journey," a middle reader guide to Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson. We also discuss current events, and previews tonight's presidential debate.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joined for Ask the Mayor.Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin discussed her first book for children, The Leadership Journey: How Four Kids Became President.Folk star Graham Nash zoomed in ahead of a show at the Boch Center in October.For our new texting segment, we were inspired by a withering obituary out of Maine. We wanted to know, is it ever okay to speak your cold, harsh truth about a dead relative?CNN's John King gave a debate preview.Then, we opened up the phone lines to get your thoughts ahead of tonight's presidential debate. 

Today:MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng joins Jim and Margery on September 9, 2024 in Studio 3 for an hour, taking their questions and listeners'.

We opened the lines to discuss the tragic shooting that took place at a Georgia High School. For Live Music Friday, Tiril Jackson, a Norway-based singer/songwriter, performed.Callie Crossley on the latest re: the Georgia shootingCharlie Sennott on the latest Israel/Gaza news Gov. Healey joined to talk about the future for Carney & Nashoba Valley hospitals, the latest on shelter restrictions and more 

Today:Governor Maura Healey joins Jim and Margery at the Boston Public Library on Sept. 6, 2024.

Today:Senator Elizabeth Warren joins us in Studio 3. We talk about the final rush to Nov. 5, and her own re-election campaign, facing a challenge from crypto-currency advocate Republican John Deaton. And, artist Philippe Petit joins us 50 years after he walked between the Twin Towers of the then-World Trade Center in NYC.

Chuck Todd returns for his Thursday D.C. politics roundupPhillip Petit celebrates 50 years of his death-defying high rope walk between the Twin Towers.Former secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral on Geoff Noble as the new head of state police, reaction to the Georgia school shooting, Texas’ Attorney General suing to stop a voter registration effort in San Antonio, and other law & order headlines.Bruce Marks from the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America talks about Kamala’s $25,000 house downpayment plan & other housing news.We read your texts about whether we talk about Trump's role in the January 6th Capitol attack enough. Sen. Elizabeth Warren talks campaigning for Kamala,  thoughts on running against Republican John Deaton in November, and the implications of losing a Democratic seat in the senate. Then, Am I the A-hole. We ask you -- should a neighbor be able to park in your driveway without asking? 

Today:The Middle East is at a breaking point, as Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to dig his heels in on a ceasefire deal, Israeli hostages are executed, and tens of thousands of Palestinians suffer in Gaza. We talk with GBH News analyst Charlie Sennott.And, Josh Croke of Love Your Labels and Worcester Drag Queen Daishadore Famouz preview the self-described Queer Met Gala of Massachusetts, this Friday in Worcester.

Charlie Sennott, founder of the GroundTruth Project, to discuss the latest developments in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.And we asked listeners about the start of school, about dress codes, phone rules and the price of school supplies. GBH executive arts editor Jared Bowen discusses "The Apprentice" Trump biopic, and the latest debate over AI in the arts.Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner discusses Supreme Court justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's openness to "enforceable" SCOTUS ethics rules, and the latest in Special Counsel Jack Smith's case against Trump about January 6.Worcester-based Love Your Labels is hosting their annual Queer AF Fashion and Arts Show, coinciding with Worcester Pride this week and next. Love Your Labels founder Joshua Croke and drag queen DaishaDore Famouz join.We revisited our conversation about the meaning of an upside down pineapple and read your texts. CNN's John King joins via zoom to discuss the latest in national politics. Then we opened the phone lines to talk to you about the

Today:Jim and Margery broadcast live from the BPL. New arts nonprofit Arrow Street Arts is launching in Harvard Square this month with an 11-day festival. We speak with ASA founder David Altshuler, executive producer and ArrowFest curator Georgia Lyman and Boston drag star Candace Persuasion.Then, we open the lines to mourn the end of summer.

We opened the lines to catch up on politics. Trenni Casey, anchor/reporter for NBC Sports Boston, discussed the NCAA in crisisSue O'Connell discussed Donald Trump's Arlington Cemetery photo-opLee Pelton, The Boston Foundation, discussed the new academic year as it relates to political protests, affirmative action, etc.The Arrow Street Arts nonprofit is launching in Cambridge at the old Oberon space with an 11-day festival. We spoke with founder David Altshuler, Liars & Believers EP Georgia Lyman, and Boston-based drag queen Candace PersuasianWe wrapped up the show by mourning the end of summer

The Giver author Lois Lowry joined for a quick 5-minute chat ahead of an event at the BPL. She’ll return for a full 20 minutes on October 1. We opened the lines to discuss the DNC. Oompa and Naomi Westwater performed for Live Music Friday ahead of the free, female-centered We Make Noise festivalAdam Reilly joined for a wrap-up of DNC coverage.Corby Kummer covers the latest in food news. Callie Crossley touched on George Santos’ guilty plea earlier this weekMichael Curry talks about companies stepping back from DEI  commitmentsWe wrapped up the week by asking folks how they're planning to enjoy the end of summer 

NBC political director Chuck Todd joined live from the DNC.Then we opened the phone lines to talk about the non-toxic masculinity represented by Tim Walz. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discussed her recent column addressing policy disputes between Karen Spilka & Michelle Wu, auditor DiZoglio’s push for a ban on state-led NDAs, and murky financial waters for local grocery institution Stop & Shop.Then we re-aired The Culture Show interview with British sculpture artist Hew Locke, who has an exhibit at the ICA. Sophie Shrand & Alexis Rapo talked about a new comedy-science web series launching at the end of the month over at the Museum of Science.Eric Deggans reviews TV for NPR. He talked about late night comedy DNC coverage, two separate true crime documentaries on the Scott Peterson/ Laci Peterson murder case, and more.We ended the show with laundry etiquette. 

The opened the show with thoughts on day three of the Democratic National Convention. GBH culture editor Jared Bowen discussed an economic whiplash for emerging artists, new documentaries on the lives of Elizabeth Taylor & Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and a weekly rundown of local arts & culture.Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed flooding in Connecticut and New York. She’ll also talked about security at the DNC, the final reports on the Lewiston Maine shootings, and the latest for the Gaza cease-fire talks.Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley called in from the DNC, hoarse after a night of celebrations. Lauren Cook & Amy O’Leary return for a panel discussion on early education and funding milestones in the state’s 2025 fiscal year budget. Lauren is the CEO of Ellis Early Learning & Amy is executive director of Strategies for Children.  Ron Mitchell from the Bay State Banner joins to discuss some of his recent Banner op-eds, plus news on achievement gaps in Boston schools & racial di

We opened the lines to talk about night one of the DNCTrenni Casey, NBC Sports Boston anchor/reporter, discussed the case of a transgender teen in NH who wants to play on her school's soccer teamSue O'Connell discussed night one of the DNCDr. Katherine Gergen Barnett explained the latest mpox strainTibisay Zea, reporter for The World, discusses her reporting from Venezuela, where crackdowns on opposition to Maduro's government are risingCNN's John King zooms in to discuss the DNC We ended the show talking about how we collect plastic bags