Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates us on the latest political headlines, from President Joe Biden’s handling of U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan to California’s recall election. Todd is the moderator of “Meet The Press” on NBC, host of “Meet The Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Then, we open the phone lines, talking with listeners about COVID-19 booster shots. Andrea Cabral discusses the death of Stephanie Gerardi, who was shot and killed by a Saugus Police officer responding to a mental health call. She also talks about the verbal altercation between Larry David and Alan Dershowitz in Martha’s Vineyard. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Nancy Schön shares the process behind her latest sculpture, which is based on Edward Lear’s poem, “The Owl and the Pussy Cat.” Schön’s latest public art installation is titled “Diversity — The Owl and the Pussy C

Today on Boston Public Radio: Gov. Charlie Baker discusses Massachusetts’ COVID-19 vaccination and hospitalization rates, and defends his decision to not mandate masks in schools statewide. He also talks about the Biden administration’s statement on booster shots, claiming that he was given no guidance on formulating a booster shot plan. Then, we open the phone lines, talking with listeners about mask mandates in schools. Juliette Kayyem shares her thoughts on the U.S. response to the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, and whether airlines should require passengers to be vaccinated before traveling. 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. Acting Mayor Kim Janey discusses current vaccination rates in Boston, and the investigation into former Boston Police officer Patrick Rose over claims of child sexual abuse. She also highlights her plans for the

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners whether Gov. Charlie Baker should reinstate a statewide mask mandate. Trenni Kusnierek talks about long-distance runner Molly Seidel’s run in the Falmouth Road Race, and shares her thoughts on Naomi Osaka’s press conference walkout. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Jelani Cobb explains how he positioned the Kerner Commission Report in today’s political context for his book, “The Essential Kerner Commission Report.” Cobb is a staff writer at The New Yorker, and is the Ira A. Lipman Professor of Journalism at the Columbia Journalism School. Rachel Miller shares her experiences from working in the restaurant industry, and how she kept her business afloat during the pandemic. She also talks about the decision to create a mask and vaccine plan for her restaurant. Miller is the chef and owner of Nightshade Noodle Bar in Lynn. Michael Curry and Derrick Johnson discuss the cu

Today on Boston Public Radio: We open the show by talking with listeners about Afghanistan's fall to the Taliban. Andrew Sullivan weighs in on President Joe Biden’s withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, and the future of conservatism. Sullivan is an author, editor, and blogger. His latest book is “Out on a Limb.” Charlie Sennott discusses the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, sharing the latest updates from the country. He also calls for international aid to Afghanistan. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project. Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell talks about how she would approach issues of opioid addiction and homelessness along Mass Ave. and Melnea Cass Blvd., and incentives to increase vaccination rates. She also shares her thoughts on rent control. Campbell is running for mayor of Boston, and represents District 4 on the Boston City Council. Everett City Councilor Gerly Adrien explains how the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Haiti is reverberating among E

Today on Boston Public Radio: Adam Reilly updates us on the latest headlines from Boston’s mayoral race, sharing his thoughts on where the candidates stand as Election Day moves closer. He also explains how City Councilor Michelle Wu centers climate change in her mayoral campaign. Reilly is co-host of GBH’s Politics podcast, “The Scrum.” Next, we talk with listeners about the upcoming tax free weekend. Callie Crossley explains what new census data has to say about how Massachusetts has changed, and shares her thoughts on the controversy surrounding “Jeopardy!” host Mike Richards. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. Corby Kummer talks about calls to end the “ethnic aisle” in grocery stores, and a price increase in coffee. Kummer is the executive director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at The Atlantic and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Andy Ihnatko weighs in on Apple’s new child safety feature

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates us on the latest political headlines, from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ response to rising COVID-19 cases to the Senate’s passage of the infrastructure bill. Todd is the moderator of “Meet The Press” on NBC, host of “Meet The Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Next, we ask listeners how they stay cool during the summer months. Andrea Cabral discusses former acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen’s claim that former President Donald Trump asked him to provide a legal strategy to overturn the results of the 2020 election. She also talks about the Texas House Democrats who are now facing arrest warrants after fleeing the state to protest a restrictive voting measure. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Ali Noorani discusses the experiences of teen immigrants in emergency centers, and the anti-immigration Republicans who are fal

Today on Boston Public Radio: Art Caplan shares his thoughts on vaccine mandates, calling on schools and workplaces to penalize those who refuse to get vaccinated. Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. Then, we talk with listeners about the patchwork of vaccine and mask mandates across Massachusetts. Juliette Kayyem discusses college officials’ concerns over falsified vaccine cards, and the upcoming 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. She also offers tips on hurricane preparedness. 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. Mayor Thomas McGee highlights Lynn’s new unarmed crisis response team, sharing his hopes for the pilot program. McGee is the mayor of Lynn, Mass. Liz Kowalczyk talks about the physicians and medical students calling for stronger ethics rules to prohibit hospital exec

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners if they’ve been experiencing mass malfunction in their daily lives. Trenni Kusnierek recaps the Tokyo Olympics, weighing in on the financial toll countries take to host the Olympics, and American long distance runner Molly Seidel’s bronze win. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Boston City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George shares her thoughts on Acting Mayor Kim Janey’s handling of the investigation into former Boston Police officer Patrick Rose, and whether Boston should mandate proof of vaccination for indoor dining and gyms. She also addresses concerns over her husband’s housing development business. City Councilor Essaibi George is running for mayor of Boston. Jim Aloisi and Stacy Thompson talk about the return to pre-pandemic levels of traffic, and highlight various ways that the MBTA Commuter Rail could alleviate congestion. They also discuss the impact climate chan

Following the passage of numerous Republican-backed voting restrictions across the country, Democrats and left-leaning institutions are criticizing President Joe Biden, demanding a more aggressive plan to combat voting rights restrictions. Washington Post columnist EJ Dionne joined Boston Public Radio on Monday, weighing in on whether the criticism was deserved. “I am actually in the camp that says Biden has to do more,” Dionne said. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with President Biden in late July to discuss voting rights legislation, which Dionne labelled as “something of a victory.” “I don’t think they read him the riot act, but I think they were very clear to him that this really matters to the party’s chances in the future,” Dionne said. EJ Dionne is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a columnist for the Washington Post. His latest book is Code Red: How Progressives and Moderates Can Unite To Save Our Country.

Today on Boston Public Radio: EJ Dionne updates us on the latest political headlines, from Ohio’s House race to the state of the bipartisan infrastructure bill. 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 talk with listeners about the U.N.’s climate report. Catherine D’Amato discusses hunger rates across Massachusetts, sharing how the pandemic exacerbated food insecurity in the state. She also explains why some people are reluctant to apply to food source programs. D’Amato is president and CEO of The Greater Boston Food Bank. Casey Soward talks about The Cabot’s reopening plans amid the rise of the Delta variant, and how the performing arts venue fared over the course of the pandemic. Soward is the executive director of The Cabot in Beverly, Mass. Shirley Leung discusses her column on anti-Asian hate crime victim Liem Tran, and a proposed ballot questio

The Atlantic’s Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Friday, to discuss Attorney General Maura Healey’s lawsuit against food delivery platform GrubHub for allegedly charging illegal fees to Massachusetts restaurants. Attorney General Healey claims that the company tacked on excess delivery fees greater than the state’s pandemic-era parameter that no delivery service could charge delivery fees greater than 15% of an order’s menu price. “It’s this restaurant by restaurant, tiny business by tiny business, gouging and cheating of GrubHub, and Seamless, and Uber Eats,” Kummer said. “They’ve all been doing it.” Kummer added that while other cities and states are enacting delivery fee caps, some food delivery platforms claim that the caps are unfair. “All of DoorDash, GrubHub, they are mounting a suit against the city of San Francisco, because San Francisco enacted a permanent 15% cap through the pandemic,” Kummer said. “I think that the whole country should be enacting these caps.” Corby Kummer is a senio

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening phone lines, asking listeners whether they’ve ended relationships due to disagreements on masking and vaccines. Corby Kummer shares his thoughts on Tyson requiring workers to get vaccinated, and Attorney General Maura Healey’s lawsuit against GrubHub for allegedly charging illegal fees to Massachusetts restaurants. He also remembers the life of inventor and pitchman Ron Popeil. Kummer is the executive director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at The Atlantic and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu discusses her run for mayor of Boston, sharing her plans to close the city’s wealth gap and highlighting her support for rent control. She also weighs in on the investigation into former Boston Police officer Patrick Rose over claims of child sexual abuse. Boston City Councilor Wu is running for mayor of Boston. Bill McKibben update

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates us on the latest political headlines, from calls for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign due to claims of sexual harassment to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ response to the COVID-19 crisis. Todd is the moderator of “Meet The Press” on NBC, host of “Meet The Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Then, we ask listeners whether they think asking for proof of vaccination is a violation of privacy. Andrea Cabral discusses former President Donald Trump’s request to block the release of his tax returns, and claims that Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) led a “reconnaissance tour” of the U.S. Capitol Building before the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. She also shares her thoughts on Mexico’s lawsuit against multiple U.S.-based gun manufacturers for allegedly facilitating the flow of weapons to drug cartels. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Kari Kue

Today on Boston Public Radio: Art Caplan weighs in on New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio mandating proof of vaccination for people going to restaurants and gyms, and Acting Mayor Kim Janey’s comparison of vaccination passports to birtherism. Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. Next, we ask listeners whether they think mayors and town managers across Massachusetts should require proof of vaccination in order for people to go to restaurants and gyms. Juliette Kayyem discuss the fourth police officer to have died by suicide after responding to the Jan. 6 Capitol attacks, and New York Attorney General Letitia James’ investigation into claims of sexual harassment against Gov. Andrew Cuomo. She also calls for more serious repercussions for people who choose to be unvaccinated. 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 Kenne

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about the return to college amid rising COVID-19 cases. Trenni Kusnierek highlights Simone Biles’ bronze medal win on the balance beam, and American shot putter Raven Saunders’ podium “X” protest. She also explains why sprinter Kristina Timanovskaya refused to return to Belarus after criticizing her coaches. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. John Barros discusses his mayoral campaign, and shared his thoughts on whether Boston should bring back rent control. He also talks about his experiences with the Boston Police Department while growing up in Boston. Barros is running for mayor of Boston. Carol Rose speaks about the Massachusetts Republican Party’s campaign to put a voter ID law on the ballot for 2022, and the ACLU’s stance on Texas and Mississippi’s abortion laws. Rose is the Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts. Rosemary Scapicchio talks about Nat

Today on Boston Public Radio: Michael Curry talks about the rise in breakthrough COVID-19 cases among vaccinated Americans, and shares his thoughts on how to persuade more people to get vaccinated. Curry is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and a member of Governor Charlie Baker’s COVID Vaccine Advisory Group. He’s also a Member of the National NAACP Board of Directors, and the Chair of the Board’s Advocacy & Policy Committee. Next, we open the phone lines, asking listeners whether their kids are using summer school to make up for a year of lost learning. Shirley Leung updates us on the return of conferences and conventions to Boston, and the increasing number of local businesses considering mandatory vaccines for employees. She also talks about the lack of entrepreneurs of color in the Seaport neighborhood. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse discusses the release of new information surrounding the FBI’s investigat

The small outermost Cape Cod community of Provincetown has gained national attention in the past few weeks after tourists and year-rounders saw a spike in infections from the COVID-19 Delta variant. Upwards of 70 percent of reported cases are understood to be among those who were vaccinated. Town Manager Alex Morse has since pointed out that of the 900 cases related to the P-Town cluster, there have been only 7 hospitalizations, and most people are only experiencing mild symptoms. Considering the high number of breakthrough cases, the vaccines appear to be doing a good job of limiting the impact of COVID. Still, there are concerns, particularly for the huge percentage of folks on the Cape living with HIV and AIDS. In P-Town, they account for about 10 percent of the nearly 3,000 year-round residents. In light of the potential impact, we felt it’d be apt to check in with someone from the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod to see how they’ve been holding up. Christine Iversen is a daily case manager for the AIDS

Today on Boston Public Radio: Saraya Wintersmith discusses Acting Mayor Kim Janey’s report on the investigation into former Boston Police officer Patrick Rose for alleged child sexual abuse. She also talks about the Boston Globe’s reporting on Boston City Councilor and mayoral candidate Annissa Essaibi George, and questions over whether she used her City Council position to benefit her husband’s housing development business. Wintersmith covers Boston City Hall for GBH. Next, we ask listeners what they thought was the best strategy to get more people vaccinated. Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett discusses the COVID-19 Delta variant and the CDC’s updated guidelines on mask mandates, as COVID-19 cases rise. She also answers listeners’ questions. Gergen Barnett teaches in the Department of Family Medicine at Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical School. Callie Crossley shares her thoughts on Costa Rican gymnast Luciana Alvarado’s tribute to Black Lives Matter in her Olympics routine, and teenager Kie

Food policy writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio to discuss the prevalence of genetically modified food in our society, and the shifting realization that engineered ingredients aren’t inherently evil. When genetically modified organisms first gained popularity in the 1990s, Kummer said “it was all about huge commercial gain.” Now, the development of a genetically modified tomato — with high nutrient value — not intended for large-scale sales may be changing perceptions of what genetically modified produce can offer. “It needs a rebranding, and that rebranding should be: here are more antioxidants in your tomato,” said Kummer. Corby Kummer is a senior editor at The Atlantic, an award-winning food writer, and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition and Policy.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates us on the latest political headlines, from the Senate’s vote to move forward with the infrastructure bill to GOP lawmakers refusing to wear masks in Congress. Todd is the moderator of “Meet The Press” on NBC, host of “Meet The Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Then, we talk with listeners about the return of mask mandates. Andrea Cabral shares her thoughts on President Joe Biden’s nomination of District Attorney Rachael Rollins for U.S. attorney of Massachusetts. She also talks about the Rise of the Moors’ lawsuit against the Massachusetts State Police. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Corby Kummer explains why restaurant workers are leaving their jobs in droves, and how megadroughts are causing price fluctuations for wheat products. Kummer is the executive director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen