Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: Rep. Katherine Clark discusses the financial toll of COVID-19, and argued for the passage of the American Rescue Plan. She also touches on vaccine distribution in Massachusetts. Rep. Clark is the Assistant House Speaker and represents the Fifth District of Massachusetts. Next, we open the phone lines to ask listeners if they’ve experienced pandemic-induced brain fog. Juliette Kayyem revisits her March 2020 column for The Atlantic, “The U.S. Isn't Ready for What's About to Happen,” looking at what she got right and suggesting what the government should learn. She also talks about the tenth anniversary of Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi disaster. 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. Stephanie Leydon talks about how high school students are dealing with the pandemic, and what she’s learned from her work on GBH’s COVID and t

Today on Boston Public Radio: Art Caplan shares his thoughts on the CDC’s latest COVID-19 guidelines, and whether unvaccinated people will throw caution to the wind as more vaccines become available. 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. Next, we ask listeners whether they thought the CDC’s new guidelines were too lax, or just right. Ali Noorani discusses how President Joe Biden is handling the humanitarian crisis at the border in the midst of COVID-19. He also talks about the Mexican restaurant in Houston subjected to ICE threats after refusing to serve unmasked customers. 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.” Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett Price weigh in on Cornel West’s decision to leave Harvard after a tenure dispute, and Op

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 package. Michelle Singletary discusses how this year’s tax season could play out with the addition of stimulus checks. She also talks about the new Netflix show, “Marriage or Mortgage.” 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. Trenni Kusnierek speaks about Maia Chaka making history as the first Black woman to serve as an NFL game official, and allegations of sexism at the Golf Channel. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Bob Thompson recaps Oprah’s interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. He also shares his thoughts on the Disney+ series “WandaVision.” Thompson is the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a professor of television and p

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke to Boston Public Radio on Thursday about how H-E-B grocery stores supported community members in Texas during the severe power outage that swept the state last month. “It has enormous brand halo because in times of crisis when there’s no power, there they are with bread, milk, and eggs,” he said. “Supermarket chains - if they’ve got good supply chains and have labor policies that will encourage labor to come in and brave the elements - can get enormous goodwill.” Walmart became a community center after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans back in 2005. “Only Walmart was open, post-Katrina, and they bought themselves a tremendous amount of goodwill by being there when city and government services were not,” Kummer said. “And that’s the case with H-E-B during the recent Texas power outages.” 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: John Barros discusses his entry into Boston’s mayoral race, and how small businesses are struggling to make ends meet during the pandemic. Barros is the former chief of economic development for the Walsh administration, and candidate for mayor. Next, we ask listeners what they were looking forward to returning to the most when the pandemic ends. Sue O’Connell talks about the scandals facing Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Massachusetts State Police Col. Christopher Mason. She also explains how virtual public meetings are upending politics. 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. Mayor Joe Curtatone explains why he decided to not seek reelection after serving nine terms as mayor of Somerville. He also speaks about Gov. Charlie Baker’s vaccine rollout. Curtatone is the mayor of Somerville. Senator Ed Markey shares his thoughts on the fate of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 package a

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates us on the security threats facing the U.S. Capitol Building from conspiracy theorists and militias. He also weighs in on the misconduct scandals facing Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson. 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 open the phone lines to talk with listeners about their vaccine frustrations. Andrea Cabral discusses the Supreme Court case concerning Arizona’s voting laws, and how it could potentially weaken the Voting Rights Act. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Jonathan Huggins and Diana Rastegayeva explain how they formed their COVID-19 vaccine assistance site, www.MACovidVaxHelp.com. They also weigh in on Gov. Charlie Baker’s vaccine rollout. Huggins and Rastegayeva are the creators of www.MACovidVaxHelp.com. Andy Ihnat

Today on Boston Public Radio: Jon Gruber argues that we should be grateful for COVID-19 vaccine innovation, as well as why we shouldn’t be hesitant to get vaccinated. He also shares his thoughts on whether employers should require their employees to get vaccinated before returning to work. 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." Next, we opene the phone lines, asking listeners if they could celebrate the scientific achievements of COVID-19 vaccines despite the bumpy vaccine rollout. Art Caplan talks about Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to end the state’s mask mandate, and the religious debate over vaccines. 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. We hear what listeners h

Harvard professor and national security expert Juliette Kayyem returned to Boston Public Radio on Wednesday, offering her takeaways from Senate testimony given Tuesday by FBI Director Christopher Wray. Wray, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, spent hours responding to questions about the FBI’s investigations into the Jan. 6 insurrection, and warned that the threat of domestic terrorism has only increased in the weeks following the attack. “Wray was very, very clear that the violent element the FBI is investigating is fundamentally a white, racist, violent movement,” Kayyem noted, adding “that is actually really important to hear,” amid conspiracy theories about leftist involvement in the Jan. 6 riots, and overstated anxiety about the impact of the QAnon conspiracy on U.S. security. The CNN analyst went on to draw connections between the white supremacists storming the Capitol, and the racist foundation of Trump’s lies about tampered election results in states like Arizona and Georgia. “The

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners how they felt about the lack of government assistance in vaccine registration. Trenni Kusnierek discusses the pressure sports fans put on aging athletes, and Tiger Woods’ recent car accident. She also speaks about the MLB’s spring training “mercy rule.” Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Councilor Annissa Essaibi-George shares her thoughts on school reopenings, and the learning gaps facing students of color. She also discusses vaccine inequity in Boston. Essaibi George is a Boston city councilor-at-large and candidate for mayor of Boston. Carol Rose talks about Tuesday’s Supreme Court hearings Brnovich v. DNC and Arizona Republican Party v. DNC, explaining how they could impact the strength of the Voting Rights Act. She also speaks about Mass. laws regarding facial recognition software. Rose is the Executive Director of the Mass. ACLU.  Next, we open the phone lines to

Today on Boston Public Radio: E.J. Dionne weighs in on what the events of last weekend’s CPAC can tell us about the future of Trumpism and the GOP. He also speaks about the nursing home scandal and sexual harassment allegations against Gov. Cuomo. 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 to speak with listeners about the Baker administration’s plan to reopen schools by April. Charlie Sennott discusses President Biden’s decision to not penalize Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. He also talks about the firing of Myanmar’s U.N. ambassador Kyaw Moe Tu after he spoke out against the country’s military coup. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project. Bob Thompson recaps the Golden Globes, highlighting Andra Day’s historic win for her performance in

Today on Boston Public Radio: Rep. Jon Santiago shares his thoughts on Gov. Baker’s vaccine rollout hearing, and whether Mass. is ready to reopen. He also discusses his entrance into the Boston mayoral race. Santiago is a Democratic State Representative for the 9th Suffolk district, a candidate for mayor, and an ER doctor at Boston Medical Center. We open the phone lines to hear what listeners had to say about Gov. Baker’s plans to reopen Mass. Sue O’Connell talks about the House’s passage of the Equality Act, and the uphill battle it faces in getting passed by the Senate. She also shares her thoughts on CPAC and Gov. Baker’s vaccine rollout. 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. Rosa Brooks discusses her new book, “Tangled Up In Blue: Policing The American City,” and describes her experiences as a reserve police officer in D.C. Brooks is a former Pentagon official in the Obama administration and a professor of

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd weighs in on CPAC and the state of the Republican party. He also shares his thoughts on how Gov. Cuomo’s nursing home scandal and sexual harassment allegations could impact the N.Y. Democratic party. 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 ask listeners what they thought about Gov. Baker and Mass. Education Commissioner Riley’s plan to reopen schools by April. Andrea Cabral discusses the recent acquittal of police officers involved in the death of Daniel Prude. She also argues that had former President Trump’s tax records been released earlier, members of Congress would have been more likely to impeach him. 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 updates us on the latest tech headlines, from a global computer chip shortage to Facebook’s decision to ban M

Speaking on Boston Public Radio Thursday, former Mass. education secretary Paul Reville expressed support for a proposal presented Tuesday by the Baker administration, effectively forcing elementary classrooms to reopen by April. "I do think it’s the right direction to go in,” he said, citing decreasing COVID-19 cases in the state, and increasing knowledge about how to conduct in-person learning safely. He acknowledged, though, that the process is likely to be "complicated and controversial.” During the announcement earlier this week, Education Commissioner Jeffery Riley said he plans to ask schools in March to give him authority to determine when hybrid and remote learning models no longer count towards state-mandated learning hours. He added that the goal is to bring elementary student back by April, followed by middle and high school students “later in the school year." "It is not a set mandate,” Reville explained, calling the proposal an “indirect route” to getting children back in classrooms. “The gov

Today on Boston Public Radio: Jonathan Gruber weighs in on the debate over President Biden’s pledge to raise the federal minimum wage to $15. 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." Next, we open the phone lines to ask listeners about the absence of office culture during the pandemic. Art Caplan talks about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, as well as the lack of diversity in vaccine trial participants. 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. Tanja Bosak discusses NASA’s Perseverance rover, sharing what scientists expect to find on the Mars mission. She also talks about what it was like collaborating on the Perseverance rover in the midst of the pandemic. Bosak is a geobio

Today on Boston Public Radio: We open the phone lines to hear how listeners are processing the news that half a million Americans have died from COVID-19. Trenni Kusnierek discusses some professional athletes’ reluctance to do vaccine PSAs. She also shares her thoughts on the debate over whether Olympic athletes should jump the vaccine line. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Rep. Bill Driscoll previews this Thursday’s Mass. vaccine rollout oversight hearing, touching on the Vaxfinder website crash and the Baker administration’s response. Driscoll represents Milton & Randolph's 7th Norfolk District. Anne Miller talks about PPE supply shortages, and President Biden’s authorization of the Defense Production Act to ramp up PPE production. She also explains the differences between N95 and KN95 masks, and how to spot fake N95 and KN95 masks. Miller is the executive director of the Boston-based nonprofit Project N95. Shirley Leung discuss

Today on Boston Public Radio: Brian McGrory weighs in on the criticism lodged against Gov. Baker’s vaccine rollout. He also speaks about the Supreme Court’s denial of former President Trump's bid to conceal his financial records. McGrory is the editor-in-chief of The Boston Globe. Next, we open the phone lines to ask listeners what their experiences have been in registering for the COVID-19 vaccine. Michelle Singletary discusses this year’s confusing tax season, and how listeners can prepare their tax forms. She also talks about the underfunding of the IRS, which has a backlog of over 11 million unprocessed 2019 tax returns. Michelle 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. Her recent 10-part series titled “Sincerely Michelle,” breaks down enduring misconceptions involving race. She’s also the author of "The 21 Day Financial Fast." Councilor Michelle Wu shares her thoughts

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening the phone lines to talk with listeners about Sen. Ted Cruz and hypocrisy. Sue O’Connell weighs in on Sen. Ted Cruz trip to Cancun while Texans struggled with freezing temperatures and the loss of electricity. She also touches on the 2021 postponement of Boston Pride, and Elton John’s friendship with Rush Limbaugh. 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 John Connolly’s recent release from prison, and the closure of Kenmore Square’s Eastern Standard, Island Creek Oyster Club, and Hawthorne. She also previewed this week’s episode of Beat the Press. Rooney is host of Beat the Press, which you can watch Friday nights at 7 p.m. Andy Ihnatko explains the showdown involving Google, Facebook, and the Australian government over paying for news content. He also talks about the U.S. digital divide, President Biden’s pick for the acting chair

Today on Boston Public Radio: Congressman Jake Auchincloss argues for the creation of a Mass. centralized preregistration vaccination site. He also explains why he believes former President Trump could be tried under the 14th Amendment for the Jan. 6 Capitol siege. Auchincloss is the Democratic congressman representing Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District. Andrea Cabral explains how Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and the NAACP are using the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act in their lawsuit against former President Trump and Rudy Giuliani. She also talks about the recent resurgence of debtors’ prisons. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of Ascend. Governor Baker addresses Thursday’s Vaxfinder website crash, as well as the criticism he's received on his handling of vaccine distribution. He also speaks about the state’s current vaccine capacity, and how his administration plans to increase the number of vaccines available in Mass. Chuck Todd discusse

Today on Boston Public Radio: Art Caplan weighs in on the recent firing of a Texas doctor after he distributed ten vaccines that were about to expire. He also argues for moving elite athletes further ahead in the vaccination line. 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. Carlo DeMaria responds to claims made by Everett City Councilor Gerly Adrien of racist treatment from her colleagues during her appearance on Monday's show. He also talks about Everett’s response to the pandemic, and his decision to distribute masks to every city resident. DeMaria is the mayor of Everett, Mass. Juliette Kayyem talks about the internal disarray of the QAnon conspiracy community, and the energy distribution issues facing Texas during their winter weather emergency. 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 Unive

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke to Boston Public Radio on Wednesday about universal free lunches amid the pandemic. “School lunch is one of the only mystifyingly good stories of the Trump administration during the pandemic - which is that they extended waivers so that entire families of students who were eligible for free school lunches could get them,” Kummer said. “All the children in the family would be eligible for these meals not just the students at eligible schools.” Universal school lunch aims to eliminate stigma around free meals, Kummer noted. “It’s not as big of a deal in Boston because there is universal lunch and breakfast offered to students already,” he said. “But in plenty of municipalities the terrible lunch shaming of students who are supposed to pay for school lunch but then fall into debt has been eliminated during COVID by these waivers.” There are now different bills trying to extend universal school lunch plans state-by-state and nationally, Kummer added. Kummer is a senior editor a