Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about the labor shortages hotels and restaurants are facing as the U.S. reopens. Jonathan Gruber talks about Congress’ Lower Drug Costs Now Act, and shares his thoughts on possible solutions to lowering the cost of prescription drugs. Gruber is the Ford Professor of Economics at MIT. He was instrumental in creating both the Massachusetts health-care reform and the Affordable Care Act, and his latest book is "Jump-Starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth And The American Dream." Juliette Kayyem discusses a new report that found that the Department of Homeland Security failed to analyze intelligence prior to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. She also talks about Colonial Pipeline’s decision to meet hackers’ ransom, and the Army’s prioritization of climate change as a security threat. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the homeland se

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start the show by opening phone lines, asking listeners how they felt about the reopening of high schools across Massachusetts. Trenni Kusnierek talks about the Yankees’ COVID-19 outbreak, and the Red Sox’s decision to not require vaccines for players. She also discusses former NFL players Kevin Henry and Najeh Davenport’s civil rights lawsuit against the NFL for alleged systematic discrimination in concussion settlement benchmarks. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Laura Sullivan previews the latest FRONTLINE and NPR collaboration, the documentary “The Health Divide,” and explains how safety-net hospitals were impacted by the pandemic. Sullivan is a correspondent for NPR. Jill Shah speaks about the preliminary results from the universal basic income pilot program in Chelsea, Mass. Shah is president of the Shah Family Foundation, which is supporting efforts between Chelsea  and philanthropic partners for

Today on Boston Public Radio: Saraya Wintersmith updates us on the investigation into former Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White amid allegations of domestic violence. Wintersmith covers Boston City Hall for GBH News. Next, we open the phone lines, talking with listeners about transparency in police departments. Rob Anderson talks about what the past year has been like for The Canteen, his Provincetown-based restaurant, from the psychological impact of trying to keep business afloat during COVID-19 to a drop in employees. Anderson is the chef and owner of The Canteen in Provincetown. Charlie Sennott discusses the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and how U.S. politicians have responded to the rising crisis. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project. Ali Noorani speaks about President Joe Biden’s meeting with DACA recipients last week, and the Biden administration’s decision to lift the refugee resettlement ceiling for this fiscal year. Noorani is P

Today on Boston Public Radio: Superintendent Brenda Cassellius discusses the Boston School Committee’s decision to raise graduation requirement standards for students, and the school system’s capital improvement plan. She also talks about addressing learning loss among students. Cassellius is the superintendent of Boston Public Schools. Next, we talk with listeners about the CDC’s updated mask guidelines. Emily Rooney shares her thoughts on the trial of former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia. She also previews tonight’s episode of Beat the Press. Rooney is the host of Beat the Press, which you can watch Friday nights at 7 p.m. Leonard Egerton and Clarrissa Cropper talk about what the past year has been like for The Frugal Bookstore, from surpassing their GoFundMe campaign goal to a spike in orders of antiracist literature after the murder of George Floyd. Egerton and Cropper are the husband and wife team behind The Frugal Bookstore in Roxbury’s Nubian Square. Andy Ihnatko discusses the Federal Communicat

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd shares his thoughts on the future of the GOP after the ouster of Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WI). 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 what pre-pandemic behaviors they’ve returned to. Shirley Leung talks about the top CEOs who received high pay increases as many Americans faced pay cuts and layoffs during the pandemic. She also discussed President Joe Biden’s approval of the Vineyard Wind project. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Corby Kummer discusses the labor shortage restaurants are facing as they reopen and prepare for summer business. He also shares his thoughts on restaurant owner Daniel Humm’s decision to not serve meat in his restaurant, Eleven Madison Park. 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 Scho

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke to Boston Public Radio on Thursday about the current worker shortage in the restaurant industry. Many workers simply left Boston during the pandemic, Kummer said. “People who had options found other sources of work and moved to places that were cheaper to live than Boston,” he said. “They decided they’re going to be where their money will go farther and where they can be with their families.” Kummer says that there’s been an exodus of people who find it cheaper and easier to live elsewhere. But businesses and restaurants can incentivize workers to come back and stay, he added. “Your duty is to protect your staff,” he said. “For restaurants reopening, the first thing a manager or owner has to do is work hard to get their staff fully vaccinated.” 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: We start the show by opening phone lines, talking with listeners about Rep. Liz Cheney’s (R-WI) ouster from GOP leadership. Jonathan Gruber weighs in on whether the U.S. should implement a value-added tax to help fund President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” agenda. Gruber is the Ford Professor of Economics at MIT. He was instrumental in creating both the Massachusetts health-care reform and the Affordable Care Act, and his latest book is "Jump-Starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth And The American Dream." Juliette Kayyem discusses the cyber attack on the Colonial Pipeline, and explained how ransomware attacks on private companies are on the rise. She also talks about the crash of a Chinese rocket in the Indian Ocean, and the potential for more space debris and rocket parts to fall to earth. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harva

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with Shirley Leung about a survey from Leading Asian Americans to Unite for Change (LAAUNCH) that found that of 2,766 American adults who were asked to name a well-known Asian American, the most common answer was “I don’t know.” We then open the phone lines to continue the conversation with listeners. Trenni Kusnierek shares her thoughts on International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach’s cancellation of a trip to Japan due to a rise in COVID-19 cases across the country. She also talks about San Francisco Giants outfielder Drew Robinson’s return to baseball after a suicide attempt. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Michael Curry updates us on the current state of vaccine equity in Massachusetts, highlighting the lack of accessible vaccination sites in rural areas of the state and the rise of mobile vaccine clinics. Curry is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts League

Today on Boston Public Radio: EJ Dionne discusses this week's GOP vote over the political future of Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., who faces a potential ousting from her position as the third highest-ranking House Republican. He also talks about what President Biden’s infrastructure plan could mean for blue-collar workers on both sides of the political spectrum, and whether Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer ought to resign. 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.” Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett from Boston Medical Center offers her takes on the latest issues pertaining to the pandemic, from vaccine hesitancy to the debate around freedoms of post-vaccine life. She also responds to listener questions and comments during the hour-long conversation. Next, we turn to listeners to talk about reopening here in New England, and whether you're comfortable easing up on mask usage

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners about vaccine hesitancy among parents. Sue O’Connell remembers the life of local trans activist Jahaira DeAlto. She also talks about the U.S. birth rate decline and an increase in “gray divorce.” O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and the South End News, as well as NECN's political commentator and explainer-in-chief. Emily Rooney talks about South Carolina lawmakers voting to allow execution by firing squad as an alternative to the electric chair. She also shares what she has and hasn’t missed during the pandemic as part of her famous list. Rooney is host of Beat the Press, which you can watch Friday nights at 7 p.m. Shirley Leung explains how local Indian American businesspeople are uniting to send PPE and other medical supplies to India. She also talks about continuing violence against Asian Americans across the U.S. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Andy Ihnatko shares his thoughts on Facebook's decision to

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates us on the increasing number of GOP members calling for the ouster of Rep. Liz Cheney. 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. We then talk with listeners about the state of the GOP as Rep. Liz Cheney loses support in the party. Andrea Cabral shares her thoughts on the trial of former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia, and the latest updates in the Sean Ellis case. She also discusses the controversy surrounding a juror in the Derek Chauvin trial after photos of him wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt and attending the 2020 March on Washington surfaced. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Congressman Richard Neal discusses President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan, focusing on rail service improvements in Massachusetts. He also talks about his plan to make the chi

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about Facebook’s decision to uphold their ban of former President Donald Trump. Jonathan Gruber weighs in on President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan, explaining how it could impact the caregiving and nursing home industry. Gruber is the Ford Professor of Economics at MIT. He was instrumental in creating both the Massachusetts health-care reform and the Affordable Care Act, and his latest book is "Jump-Starting America How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth and the American Dream." Juliette Kayyem discusses Facebook’s decision to uphold its ban on former President Trump, arguing for increased legislative oversight towards the company. She also talks about the core stage of a Chinese rocket falling to earth, and where it could land upon reentry. 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

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke to Boston Public Radio on Wednesday about what it’s like to eat on the International Space Station (ISS). “There’s something endlessly fascinating about food in space,” he said. “First of all, space ice cream was developed for a NASA gift shop, it has never been eaten in space or sent up in a spaceship." Dehydrated gift shop space ice cream dates back to 1974, long after humans took to space flight, Kummer said. “What it does is help subsidize NASA museums, it’s a best-seller.” The French have developed food for ISS astronauts that is much more gourmet than what many would expect, Kummer added. “The French of course have come up with much better food in space, including bœuf bourguignon and lobster,” he said.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening the phone lines, asking listeners whether they would travel to states where vaccination rates are low. Trenni Kusnierek explains why Manchester United fans are protesting against the club’s U.S. owners, the Glazer family. She also updates us on the status of the Tokyo Olympics. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Carol Rose discusses the Supreme Court argument over whether public schools have the right to punish students for what they say outside of school grounds. She also touches on the ACLU’s call for President Joe Biden to close down ICE detention centers. Rose is the Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts.  Katherine Tallman explains how the Coolidge Corner Theater survived the pandemic, and shares their plans for reopening. Tallman is the CEO & executive director of the Coolidge Corner Theater. The Coolidge Corner Theater is opening its doors next Thursday, May

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about going mask-free outdoors following Gov. Charlie Baker’s updated mask mandate. Ali Noorani explains how the 2020 U.S. census could allow President Joe Biden to explore more channels for legal migration. Noorani is President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Immigration Forum. His latest book is "There Goes the Neighborhood: How Communities Overcome Prejudice and Meet the Challenge of American Immigration.” Charlie Sennott talks about India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and rising COVID-19 cases in the country. He also shares his thoughts on President Biden’s decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, 2021. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project. Bob Thompson recaps his most memorable TV moments of the week, from W. Kamau Bell’s “United Shades of America” to Jimmy Kimmel’s interview with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell. Thompson is the founding director of the Bleier

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates us on the latest political headlines, from President Joe Biden’s joint address to Congress to the FBI raid on Rudy Giuliani’s apartment. 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 talk with listeners about President Biden’s joint address to Congress. Andrea Cabral discusses federal prosecutors’ indictment of three men on hate crime and kidnapping charges in the death of Ahmaud Arbery, and police violence against children. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Shirley Leung talks about what the future of office work could look like after the pandemic, and what a hybrid model of working from home a few days of the week could mean for physical office spaces. She also discussed the prevalence of violence against elderly Asian Americans. Leung is a business co

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about President Joe Biden’s first 100 days in office. Art Caplan walks us through the CDC’s latest guidelines on wearing masks outdoors. He also shared his thoughts on Alaska Airlines’ decision to ban Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold from all flights after she didn’t comply with mask requirements. Caplan is the Drs. William F and Virginia Connolly Mitty Chair, and director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the NYU School of Medicine. Brian McGrory recaps the Boston Globe’s latest stories, from the release of redacted records detailing an internal affairs investigation into former Boston Police officer Patrick Rose to Boston hospital board CEOs moonlighting on corporate boards. McGrory is the editor-in-chief of The Boston Globe. Jonathan Gruber shares his thoughts on what Amazon defeating workers’ efforts to unionize means for the future of labor. Gruber is the Ford Professor of Economics at MIT. He was instrumental in creating bot

Today on Boston Public Radio: Dr. Ryan DeLapp explains how many people of color are experiencing trauma from videos of police brutality, and reactive coping methods adopted by people of color. Dr. DeLapp is a psychologist at Montefiore Medical Center and Assistant Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Saida Grundy weigh in on hate crime legislation, arguing that hate crime laws are too narrow and largely symbolic. Grundy is an assistant professor of sociology and African American studies at Boston University, and the author of the forthcoming book “Manhood Within the Margins: Promise, Peril and Paradox at the Historically Black College for Men.” Next, we ask listeners whether they think vaccination incentives could lower vaccine hesitancy. Irene Li and Margaret Pimentel talk about CommonWealth Kitchen’s Restaurant Resiliency Initiative, which supports independent restaurants impacted by the pandemic. Li is the chef and owner of Mei Mei, which is now evolving into a dumpling company, and she’s

Today on Boston Public Radio: EJ Dionne shares his thoughts on President Joe Biden’s approval ratings and first 100 days in office. 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.” Next, we open the phone lines, asking listeners how they feel about sending their kids back to school. Charlie Sennott talks about President Biden’s decision to officially recognize the massacre of Armenians during World War I as a genocide, and the Biden administration’s Leaders Summit on Climate. He also discusses the Groundtruth Project’s podcast on the 50th anniversary of the Pentagon Papers, and their upcoming conference on the legacy of Daniel Ellsberg in partnership with UMass Amherst. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project. Jenifer McKim discusses “Unseen,” an investigative series from the GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting, which l

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start the show by asking listeners whether they wanted to continue working from home after the pandemic. Sue O’Connell explains the decision to put Bay Windows and the South End News on the market. She also weighs in on Caitlyn Jenner launching a bid for the California governorship. O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and the South End News, as well as NECN's political commentator and explainer-in-chief. Bina Venkataraman recaps the latest Boston Globe editorials, from the Massachusetts legislature's transparency issues to Boston hospital CEOs moonlighting on corporate boards. Venkataraman is the editorial page editor at The Boston Globe. Her latest book is “The Optimist's Telescope: Thinking Ahead in a Reckless Age.” Callie Crossley shares her thoughts on the Derek Chauvin trial verdict and the party-line vote on D.C. statehood. She also talks about former President George W. Bush’s relationship with former First Lady Michelle Obama. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under th