Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates us on the latest political headlines, from the Derek Chauvin trial verdict to state efforts to reform police departments. 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 about how they’re trying to become more eco-friendly in their everyday life. Andrea Cabral discusses the release of redacted internal affairs documents on the child sexual abuse allegations against ex-Boston police officer and union leader Patrick Rose. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. David Abel previews his new documentary “Entangled,” which looks at how climate change exacerbated a battle between the endangered North Atlantic right whale and the lobster industry. Abel is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for the Boston Globe. Along with Andy Laub, he’s written, directed a

Today on Boston Public Radio: Throughout the show, we took listeners’ calls on the Derek Chauvin trial verdict. Michael Curry shares his thoughts on the Derek Chauvin trial verdict, urging that the fight for racial justice is not over. 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. Jamarhl Crawford talks about his work with Blackstonian and the Boston Police Reform Task Force, and weighs in on how racial justice activists should continue their work. Crawford is a community activist, the publisher of Blackstonian and a member of the Boston Police Reform Task Force. Rahsaan Hall explains how people may feel more emboldened to film police encounters due to the video evidence used in the trial of Derek Chauvin. He also talks about Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins’

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening phone lines, asking listeners whether Massachusetts should lift rules on wearing masks outside. Trenni Kusnierek talks about the backlash against the European Super League, and her plans for the Tokyo Olympics. She also discusses the debate over bills seeking to ban transgender athletes from school sports. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui discusses Cambridge’s new universal basic income pilot program, which is set to launch in August. Chris Dempsey and Jim Aloisi share their thoughts on President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan, and clean energy in transportation. Dempsey is the director of the nonprofit Transportation for Massachusetts, and the former assistant secretary of transportation of Massachusetts. Aloisi is the former Massachusetts transportation secretary, a member of the Transit Matters board, and contributor to Commonwealth Magazine. Rick St

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start off the show by talking with listeners about a Twitter free of former President Donald Trump. Ali Noorani discusses President Joe Biden’s initial decision to keep former President Trump’s historically low refugee cap, and his reversal after outcry from Democrats and activists. He also talks about refugee resettlement initiatives throughout U.S. history. 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.” Michael Curry shares his thoughts on police brutality in America, and the state of vaccine equity in Massachusetts following the suspension of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. 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 Chai

Washington state could soon become the first in the nation to mandate time and a half overtime pay for farmworkers. Food writer Corby Kummer spoke to Boston Public Radio on Friday about the state legislation that will likely be passed into law by the end of the month. “Washington state has finally agreed to pay farmworkers living wages by agreeing to overtime,” Kummer said. “The state is taking the lead in employment protection and acknowledging that farmworkers work much longer than 40 hour weeks, and so their employers are required to pay time and a half for anything over 40 hours.” The average farmworker works 60 hours a week, Kummer noted, and those hours have never included overtime pay. Kummer praised Washington for becoming the first state with such strong laws but noted his frustration over how long it has taken to secure such rights. 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 begin the show by opening phone lines, asking listeners what they thought about universal basic income. Sue O’Connell shares her thoughts on America’s gun culture in the wake of a shooting at a FedEx warehouse in Indiana. She also talks about Bessemer Amazon employees’ vote not to unionize. 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. Dr. David Ludwig explains how the obesity epidemic in the U.S. exacerbated the COVID-19 pandemic, and calls for people to be gentle with themselves with weight gain and loss. Dr. Ludwig is a physician specializing in obesity at Boston Children’s Hospital and professor of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. His latest book, which he co-authored with Dawn Ludwig, is “Always Delicious.” Callie Crossley discusses the police-involved death of 13-year-old Adam Toledo, and a bill in Oklahoma that would give protections to drivers who run o

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates us on the latest political headlines, from attempts to grant D.C. statehood to the investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz. 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 their post-vaccine reunions. Andrea Cabral discusses Derek Chauvin invoking the Fifth Amendment during his trial, and the white Milton Police officer facing backlash after she harassed teenagers attending a sleepover for liking Black Lives Matter social media posts. She also talks about the rise of the Boogaloo Boys. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Andy Ihnatko talks about Facebook whistleblower Sophie Zhang, who alleged that the tech company didn’t prioritize dealing with fake pages and likes if they were impacting politics in largely non-western, poorer countries

Former state secretary of education Paul Reville spoke to Boston Public Radio on Thursday about how online virtual schooling could be here to stay even after the pandemic. “There’s an interesting phenomenon developing that some families and some students might prefer virtual schooling,” he said. “There are any number of reports from students and from families that their particular child learns more easily in this kind of a fashion due to special needs, their own personality, or anxieties about going out to school.” An increasing number of school districts are taking the initiative to launch virtual schools and to provide a virtual option to people, not just this year in the midst of this crisis, but in the long run, Reville noted. “They intend to set-up virtual schools to give parents the option, should they want, to have their children learn from home,” he said. “And this is more widespread than expected.” One of the multiple downsides of having a permanent virtual schooling option is that students would

Today on Boston Public Radio: Rep. Seth Moulton shares his thoughts on President Joe Biden’s announcement that he would withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, 2021. He also talks about potential cross-country high speed rail stemming from President Biden’s infrastructure plan. Congressman Moulton represents Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional district. Next, we open the phone lines, asking listeners whether they’d give up their cars if the U.S. invested in high speed rail infrastructure. Juliette Kayyem talks about the Capitol Police inspector general Michael A. Bolton’s findings in an investigation on how the Capitol Police handled the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. She also discusses the recent increase in gun violence across the U.S. 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. Patricia Wen discusses the Boston Globe’s Spotlight investigation, which

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about vaccine hesitancy in the wake of the U.S. government pulling the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Trenni Kusnierek shares her thoughts on Minnesota sports teams postponing their games after the death of Daunte Wright. She also talks about Julian Edelman’s retirement announcement, and explained what it means for the Patriots. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Karim Hajj previews the FRONTLINE documentary film American Insurrection, which looks into the rise of far-right violence across the U.S. Hajj is a producer for FRONTLINE. He helped produce American Insurrection in collaboration with ProPublica and UC Berkley’s Investigative Reporting Program. You can watch American Resurrection on April 13 at 10 p.m. EST on your local PBS station. Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett discusses U.S. federal health officials’ decision to pause the administration of the Johnson &am

Today on Boston Public Radio: E.J. Dionne weighs in on President Joe Biden’s formation of the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States. He also shares his thoughts on calls for Justice Stephen Breyer 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.” Next, we open the phone lines, talking with listeners about local government transparency in the wake of a Boston Globe article detailing the child sexual abuse allegations against ex-Boston Police officer and union leader Patrick Rose. Charlie Sennott discusses increasing unrest in Northern Ireland, and President Biden’s return to Iran nuclear deal talks. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project. Christopher Kimball previews his latest Milk Street cookbook, “Tuesday Nights Mediterranean: 125 Simple Weeknight Recipes from the World's Healthiest Cuis

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start off the show by talking with listeners about the CDC’s updated guidelines on surface cleaning. Dolores Huerta discusses her historical work in labor and civil rights, and the current issues facing agricultural and farm workers today. She also argues for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. Huerta is the co-founder of the United Farm Workers. Emily Rooney weighs in on the multiple defamation lawsuits filed by Dominion Voting Systems. She also touches on global vaccine equity, and shared her famous list. Rooney is host of Beat the Press, which you can watch Friday nights at 7 p.m. Andy Ihnatko updates us on the latest tech headlines, from the Supreme Court’s decision on whether former President Trump violated the First Amendment by blocking people on Twitter to the recent Facebook data leak. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Corby Kummer talks about the Aspen Institute’s updated safety guidelines for restaurant workers. He also calls

For the past seven months, the Aspen Institute's Food and Policy Program has been working to assemble a comprehensive guide for safe indoor dining. As of this week, that guide is officially out and free to the public. On Friday, the organization’s director, food writer Corby Kummer, joined Boston Public Radio to talk about his hopes for how it’ll impact safe dining as restaurants work to get back to a form of quasi-normalcy. “This is meant to be a nationally [applicable], easy to use, easy to post guide for all restaurant owners, managers, workers and diners, as a way of feeling safe as you go back to dining indoors,” he explained. The guide includes the center's Diner Code of Conduct, which was initially released back in December. It’s a simple, straightforward checklist of commitments diners can make to ensure the safety of restaurant staff, and anyone looking to enjoy a meal indoors without the risk of contracting COVID-19. But the 74-page guide, Kummer noted, also includes a host of other useful inform

Today on Boston Public Radio: Acting Mayor Kim Janey discusses her recent “All Inclusive” Boston tourism campaign, her childhood experiences during the city’s busing crisis, and her plans to make Boston a more equitable city. She also speaks with listeners during “Ask the Acting Mayor.”  Andrea Cabral talks about the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin, touching on the first time allowance of cameras in Minnesota courtrooms. She also discusses the controversy surrounding Dr. David Fowler, an expert witness for Chauvin’s defense. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Chuck Todd updates us on the investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz, and former House Speaker John Boehner’s new book. 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. Ric Burns previews his new film, “Oliver Sacks: His Own Life,” and talks about what

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start the show by opening phone lines, asking listeners whether they thought colleges should mandate vaccines for returning students. Jonathan Gruber shares his thoughts on President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan, arguing that investment into infrastructure could create jobs across America. 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 nationwide move away from mass vaccination sites to private sites. She also shares what she thought we should be asking when a mass shooting occurs. 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. Ali Noorani explains how former Presi

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start the show by asking listeners how they felt about Prudential’s Pulse of the American Worker Survey, which found that 1 in 4 workers plan to leave their job post-pandemic. Trenni Kusnierek talks about the Stanford Cardinal’s NCAA women’s basketball win, and the MLB’s decision to move their All-Star game out of Atlanta due to Georgia’s passage of controversial voting restrictions. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Carol Rose shares her thoughts on nationwide attacks on transgender rights, calls for vaccine passports and the fight against Georgia’s voting restrictions. Rose is the Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts.  Michael J. Bobbitt discusses the pandemic’s impact on Massachusetts’ arts and cultural institutions, from financial issues to COVID-19 stage performance guidelines. He also weighs in on how the arts and culture sector could rebuild in the wake of COVID-19. Bobbitt is the execu

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening phone lines, talking with listeners about the country's perception of Boston as a racist city. Michelle Singletary walks us through tax season, explaining taxes collected on unemployment and the Child Tax Credit. Singletary is a nationally syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, whose award-winning column, "The Color of Money,"  provides insight into the world of personal finance. Lylah Alphonse updates us on the latest Rhode Island-based headlines, from COVID-19 vaccination rates to the state of Providence schools. Alphonse is the Rhode Island editor for the Boston Globe, where she leads a team covering and exploring the Ocean State. Bob Thompson discusses the comeback of Court TV, and their coverage of the Derek Chauvin trial. He also touches on the controversy surrounding Dr. Oz hosting “Jeopardy.” Thompson is the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a professor of television and popular culture at

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start the show by asking listeners whether they’re ready to mend relationships with family members who supported President Donald Trump. Sue O’Connell weighs in on conservatives’ reactions to both the sex trafficking investigation into Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz and Lil Nas X’s music video for “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name).” She also discusses the decrease in divorce rates due to the pandemic. 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. District Attorney Rachael Rollins discusses the National Bureau of Economic Research study validating her decision to dismiss low-level, nonviolent offenses, or resolve them without jail time. She also shares her thoughts on the Sean Ellis case, and her push for a new trial. Rollins is the district attorney for Suffolk County. Andy Ihnatko updates us on the latest news at the intersection of tech and politics, from bots to help you find vaccine sites to

The most recent stimulus package signed by President Joe Biden — the American Rescue Plan — dedicates $1.8 billion for K-12 schools in Massachusetts, with Boston Public Schools getting $400 million. “It’s going to be an enormous windfall for the school system,” former Massachusetts Education Secretary Paul Reville tells Boston Public Radio. “It’s going to mean an intensive period of first of all competition for how to spend that money.” Reville said the next few months will be a period of politicking in Boston — in a good way — as the city goes through a mayoral race, emerges from the pandemic, and sets priorities for the future. Biden has also just unveiled his infrastructure plan that proposes $100 billion for school construction. Reville also discussed the state’s efforts to return students to schools, and new developments in vaccine safety for younger people. Paul Reville is a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he also runs the Education Redesign Lab. His latest b

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd talks about the sex trafficking investigation into Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz. He also shares his thoughts on President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan. 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 opens the phone lines, talking with listeners about distracted walkers. Andrea Cabral discusses the witnesses in the Derek Chauvin trial, and the trauma they’ve faced and are now revisiting in court. She also argues that people who don’t know about violence against Black Americans are intentionally ignoring history. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Bill McKibben weighs in on the climate aspects of President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plans, and the University of Michigan’s decision to divest from fossil fuels. McKibben is a contributing writer to The New Yorker, a foun