Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners if they have quit their job or gone on strike, as many use this stage in the pandemic to try something new in their lives. Lylah Alphonse reports on the latest news from Rhode Island, including a coach fired from a South Kingstown school after conducting “fat tests” on naked male athletes, and the latest political headlines from the state. Alphonse is the Rhode Island editor for the Boston Globe. Juliette Kayyem updates listeners on the status of the Jan. 6 investigation, and what happened at the tragedy at Astroworld Festival in Houston, where eight people died during a crowd surge at a Travis Scott concert. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Corby Kummer weighs in on the pros and cons of outdoor dining, and recent investigations into sexual harassment at fast food joints. K

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners their reactions to a recent wave of harassment in youth sports, after Danvers school officials faced calls to resign amid reports of hazing on a boys hockey team. Trenni Kusnierek discusses recent reporting on hazing rituals on a boys hockey team in Danvers, including sexual misconduct and pressure to use racist and antisemitic epithets. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston, as well as a Boston Public Radio contributor. Lyndia Downie talks about the wake of last week’s tent clearing at Mass. and Cass, and why it’s so hard for people to get into long term treatment for drug addiction. Downie is the president and executive director of Pine Street Inn, one of the largest agencies serving homeless people in New England. Will Fitzgibbon and Evan Williams previews their reporting on the Pandora Papers, which showed how some of the wealthiest people across the globe hide their wealth from authorities and the public. Williams

Today on Boston Public Radio: EJ Dionne weighs in on what the infrastructure bill, the Virginia mayoral race and the status of voting rights and the filibuster all mean for Democrats in 2022. Dionne is a columnist for The Washington Post and a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution. His latest book is "Code Red: How Progressives And Moderates Can Unite To Save Our Country." Then, we ask listeners about whether they have hope in the U.S. political system, or if the country is doomed to political silos. Acting Mayor Kim Janey reflects on her time as the first woman and first person of color to lead the city, how she brought her lived experiences to the job and what’s next for her after mayor-elect Michelle Wu takes office. Janey is acting mayor of Boston. Michael Curry discusses the state of the pandemic, including the availability of COVID-19 treatment pills, and a push from legislators to save local hospitals. Curry is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and a

Today on Boston Public Radio: Shirley Leung discusses what Mayor-elect Michelle Wu’s win means for the Asian American community, and her latest piece on how female entrepreneurs secure venture funding in a male-dominated industry. Leung is a business columnist for The Boston Globe and a Boston Public Radio contributor. Then, we ask listeners about whether they plan to vaccinate their children aged 5-11. Callie Crossley talks about Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers lying about his vaccination status following his COVID-19 diagnosis. She also critiques the omnipresence of pink products for breast cancer awareness, as a form of “pinkwashing” in which companies fail to actually contribute to breast cancer research. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. Andy Ihnatko criticizes Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook’s rebranding as Meta, and tells listeners how to proactively maximize their phone’s emergency features. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Sue O’Connell d

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd begins the show by unpacking Tuesday’s election, including what Glenn Youngkin’s win for Virginia mayor means for Democrats and the role of education as a dividing issue. Todd is the moderator of “Meet the Press,” host of “Meet the Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Then, we ask listeners about their reactions to the election, including Youngkin’s win and Boston Mayor-elect Michelle Wu’s win. Andrea Cabral talks about why only one Black juror was chosen in the trial of Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael and William Bryan, who shot Ahmaud Arbery in February 2020. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and the former Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She is currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Paul Reville weighs in on why he maintains hope following Tuesday’s election, and his thoughts on Wu’s education plan. Reville is the former Massachusetts secretary of education and a professor at Harvard University’s Gradu

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners about their reactions to the results of election day yesterday. Art Caplan weighs in on how the country should approach vaccinating children aged 5-11, and why even some vaccinated parents might be hesitant to vaccinate their young children. Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor and founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine in New York City. Juliette Kayyem breaks down the latest news across the political divide, including the meaning of new Republican catchphrase “let’s go Brandon,” and a QAnon rally in Dallas yesterday, where supporters expected John F. Kennedy Jr. to emerge, despite having died over 20 years ago. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Meredith Goldstein takes questions from listeners on all things l

Craigie on Main, The Asgard, Tiger Mama, The Kinsale — these are just a few examples from a long list of Boston-area restaurants that have shuttered during the pandemic. With the end to outdoor dining this winter and uncertainty around the future of COVID, more restaurants could meet the same fate. “It’s going to get worse before it gets better,” Corby Kummer told Boston Public Radio on Tuesday. “There's so many factors, all of them precipitated by the close downs of the pandemic.” Long-term, industry-wide issues, such as low profit margins and low pay for restaurant staff, were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, restaurants are facing new pandemic-era challenges in the high number of staffers leaving the industry and “fights over rent,” as was the case of Eastern Standard and Island Creek Oyster Bar in Kenmore Square. Kummer notes that some restaurants, however, may have closed due to inadequate business planning. “Some very sharp business people are saying [that] there are so many

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners about their experiences with election day, and talking with Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George about their final pitches for their candidacy as voters head to the polls. Tenni Kusnierek discuss former Chicago Blackhawks Kyle Beach’s accusations against the team for mishandling his report of sexual assault by former Assistant Coach Brad Aldrich. She also previews the U.S. Curling Team’s journey to the 2022 Winter Olympics. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston, as well as a Boston Public Radio contributor. Carol Rose weighs in on the Supreme Court’s consideration of the Texas abortion law, and how she thinks Boston’s government should approach the crisis at Mass. and Cass. Rose is the Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts. Then, we talk with listeners about a recent Boston Globe report showing how racial segregation persists in Boston. Corby Kummer update listeners on all things food, including the carbon

Today on Boston Public Radio: Adam Reilly and Saraya Wintersmith give final insights from the Boston mayoral race before tomorrow’s election. Reilly is a reporter for GBH News and co-host of the Scrum politics podcast. Wintersmith covers Boston City Hall for GBH News. They co-host “Election 2021: Boston’s Race Into History” on GBH 2. Then, we ask listeners their thoughts on tomorrow’s mayoral election. Charlie Sennott updates listeners on the state of climate change and statements from leaders at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP62. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project. Michelle Singletary talks about the importance of the child tax credit and paid child leave, sharing her experiences facing racism and caring for her brother as a young adult. She also gives tips on how to avoid internet scams. Singletary is a nationally syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, whose award-winning column "The Color of Money" provides insight int

Today on Boston Public Radio: Attorney General Maura Healey answers questions from listeners in this month’s Ask the AG, including queries about fraudulent contractors, electric vehicle rebates, Facebook and more. Maura Healey is the Massachusetts Attorney General. Callie Crossley weighs in on Facebook’s new branding and Republican politicians’ mocking actor Alec Baldwin, after his discharging of a prop gun killed director of photography Halyna Hutchins. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. Michael Norton answers questions from listeners about his latest research on friendship and human behavior, which showed that people feel more content when connecting with a wide variety of people, as opposed to a small number of close friends. Norton is a behavioral economist, the Harold M. Brierly Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School and a member of Harvard’s Behavioral Insights Group. His latest book is “Happy Money, the Science of Happier Spending.” Ryan Landry calls

Today on Boston Public Radio: Shirley Leung weighs in on clashes between activists and the government over clearing tents at Mass. and Cass, and debates over sports betting and a proposed footbridge between Somerville and the Encore Casino in Everett. Leung is a business columnist for The Boston Globe and a Boston Public Radio contributor. Then, we ask listeners about whether President Joe Biden should compromise or call Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema’s bluffs in negotiations over the spending bill. Dr. Trisha Pasricha tells stories of the sexism she has faced in the field of medicine, and emphasizes the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant people. Pasricha is a gastroenterologist at Mass General Hospital, a physician at Harvard Medical School and a health contributor at the Washington Post. Andy Ihnatko talks about how to protect technology from storms, in the wake of this week’s nor’easter. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Arthur Brooks discusses the key

Today on Boston Public Radio: Art Caplan weighs in on Deborah Birx, who helped run the pandemic response under the Trump Administration, testifying to Congress about how many lives could have been saved from COVID-19 had Donald Trump taken preventative measures. Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor and founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine in New York City. Then, we ask listeners about their experiences with the ongoing nor’easter, and worsening extreme weather across the world. Juliette Kayyem gives an overview of the recently released Facebook files, and talks about what might happen if the Democrats cannot push through their spending bill. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu talks about her plan to improve housing, address the crisis at Mass

Award-winning food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Tuesday to discuss a pandemic-era increase of wage theft in the restaurant industry, following a recent report by the nonprofit restaurant advocacy group One Fair Wage. “[Forty-three] states still allow a tipped minimum wage, which means as low as $2.13 an hour,” Kummer said. “Employees who are waitstaff have the liberty to take home all their tips based on that. The catch is that it’s on the restaurant manager to look to see, ‘what’s the average hourly earning of those tipped minimum wage staff members of mine,’ and ‘did it equal or better the state’s minimum wage.’ And if it didn’t, they — the managers — have to make up for it by paying them enough money to make them whole.” “There’s never been much enforcement of this, and there’s less than ever enforcement now,” Kummer added. “There’s evidence that there’s more of this failure to make up for any of these losses than there was before the pandemic.” Kummer is the executive director of t

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners how they feel about President Joe Biden’s spending bill shrinking as it nears finalization. Trenni Kusnierek updates listeners on all things sports, including anti-vaccine protesters storming barricades at Barclays Center to support Kyrie Irving, and Tom Brady’s 600th touchdown ball. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston, as well as a Boston Public Radio contributor. Ali Noorani talks about why despite the United States’ declaration of China’s policies against its Uyghur community as a genocide, the government has not provided anyone refugee status. Noorani is the President & Chief Executive Officer of the National Immigration Forum. His forthcoming book is “Crossing Borders: The Reconciliation of a Nation of Immigrants.” Gov. Charlie Baker talks about how he thinks the state is doing on vaccinations following his mandates, and how he plans to approach housing issues. Baker is the governor of Massachusetts. Corby

Today on Boston Public Radio: Michael Curry discusses the importance of community partnerships in increasing vaccination levels, and weighs in on opinions on the mayor’s race in Boston’s Black community. Curry is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and a member of Gov. Charlie Baker’s COVID Vaccine Advisory Group. He’s also a member of the National NAACP Board of Directors and chair of the board’s advocacy and policy committee. Then, we ask listeners about whether they think a recent rise in union actions symbolizes genuine change, or if the current push for better labor practices will fizzle out. Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett takes questions from listeners about all things vaccine related, as authorization for children aged 5-11 nears and people begin to mix and match booster shots. Gergen Barnett teaches in the Department of Family Medicine at Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical School. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III talk about how Eva

Today on Boston Public Radio: Stacey Abrams talks about what voters and politicians need to do to safeguard democracy, after Republicans blocked the Democrats’ voting rights bill in Congress. She also weighs in on the status of Democratic negotiations over President Joe Biden’s spending bill. Abrams is a voting rights activist, former Georgia State Representative and author. Then, we ask listeners how they approach compromise and negotiation following Stacey Abrams’ conversation about political compromise. Shirley Leung pushes for ending tent encampments and providing housing for those at Mass. and Cass and weighs in on rent control, in her latest column on the Mass. and Cass crisis. Leung is a business columnist for The Boston Globe and a Boston Public Radio contributor. Sue O’Connell discusses one of the first rural health clinics by and for transgender people located in Northampton, and weighs in on when celebrities who commit harm can return to the public eye. O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Wind

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd begins the show by talking about what he thinks will get cut from the Democrats’ spending bill, and what “reconciliation” actually means. Todd is the moderator of “Meet the Press,” host of “Meet the Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Then, we asked listeners if they plan to get their kids vaccinated, as FDA authorization is expected to go through for children aged five to 11 in the coming weeks. Andrea Cabral discusses jury selection in the trial of Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael and William Bryan, who shot Ahmaud Arbery in February of 2020. She also talks about today’s House vote on whether or not to hold Steve Bannon in contempt for defying a subpoena from a committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and the former Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She is currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Paul Reville unpacks the boom in enrollment at Christian schools, and

When diners visit Seattle steakhouse Bateau, they’ll find steakhouse staples such as prime rib and filet alongside more obscure cuts like ranch and coulotte. Award-winning food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Wednesday to share his thoughts on Bateau’s efforts to become an environmentally sustainable steakhouse, following New York Times contributor Brett Anderson’s profile on the restaurant. “[Bateau is] only offering the cuts of meat that their farmers, who use pasture-raised cattle and practices they approve of, have available,” Kummer said. “So if it’s out for the night, you have to have something else at the restaurant.” “This restaurant is also experimenting with different ways of cooking meat, so it’s tender and palatable,” Kummer added. Kummer noted that the chefs and owners of Craigie on Main in Central Square and Alden & Harlow in Harvard Square are just two examples of the “many local chefs who’ve been into this method.” “The whole idea for them is, ‘we want to support loc

Today on Boston Public Radio: Art Caplan discusses the first ever successful genetically modified kidney transplant, which could be a breakthrough for those waiting for transplants. He also talks about the latest in mixing vaccines for booster shots. Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor and founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine in New York City. Then, we ask listeners about their thoughts on sports betting as Connecticut just launched online sports betting, which remains illegal in Massachusetts. Juliette Kayyem weighs in on the acceleration of China’s national space program, and updates listeners on the status of President Joe Biden and the United States’ approval ratings. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Howard Mansfield previews his latest book, “Chasing Eden: A Book of S

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners what Massachusetts’ paid family and medical leave means to them, as the program comes under threat at the federal level in Congress. Trenni Kusnierek talks about the Washington State University’s firing of football coach Nick Rolovich after his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and updates listeners on the Red Sox’ progression through the playoffs. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston, as well as a Boston Public Radio contributor. Christopher Muther previews New Hampshire’s hottest club, a live music venue in a barn owned by John Davidson in Sandwich. He also discusses the results of J.D. Power’s annual airport satisfaction survey, where Boston Logan Airport ranked third to last among mega airports. Muther is a Boston Globe travel columnist and travel writer. Then, we talk with listeners about whether or not they would pay extra to fly on an all-vaccinated flight. Jonathan Martinis updates listeners on the status