Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd weighs in on the members of the GOP aligning with former President Trump on impeachment, and talks about frustration with what he describes as “fact-deserts” throughout much of the U.S. He also discusses the challenge for President Biden in negotiating with Republican leadership to pass his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. Next, we open lines to talk with listeners about your experiences using state government resources to schedule COVID-19 vaccinations. Former Suffolk County sheriff and secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral discusses her concerns with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green’s history of supporting QAnon and other dangerous conspiracy theories. She also talks about Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys extremist group who was revealed by Reuters to be a former government informant, and weighs in on a recent flurry of anti-protest bills from GOP congressional leaders. GBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen rec

Today on Boston Public Radio: Former Mass. education secretary Paul Reville discusses the CDC’s latest statement reassuring schools that they can operate safely in-person, and frustration from the Mass. educators about their standing in the state's vaccine rollout plan. Next, we turned to listeners, hearing your thoughts on whether the state ought to prioritize vaccinating teachers ahead of school reopening in Mass. M.I.T. economist Jonathan Gruber breaks down President Biden's plan to expand the child tax credit, and explained the significance of making those credits fully refundable. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem talks about the state of the forthcoming Senate impeachment trial of President Trump. She also discusses how President Biden is preparing FEMA to take preemptive action against natural disasters brought by climate change. Medical ethicist Art Caplan weighs in on President Biden’s handling of the pandemic during his first week in office, and talks about the need for countries to anticipate sn

On Wednesday’s Boston Public Radio, former Mass. education secretary Paul Reville offered his thoughts on contention between the Mass. Teacher’s Association and Gov. Charlie Baker, after teachers were slotted down in the state’s COVID-19 vaccine priority list. On Monday, state officials announced they’d be prioritizing residents 65 and older, and bumping educators to second priority in phase two of the vaccine rollout. Despite the delay, Gov. Baker is continuing to pressure schools to bring students and teachers back for in-person learning. "Grocery workers could say the same thing,” Reville said in response to frustrations expressed by MTA representatives. "Postal workers could say the same thing, or people that work in pharmacies – everybody feels that way.” Also on Monday, a report from officials at the Centers for Disease Control was released, indicating that schools with proper safety precautions are a low-risk for COVID-19 transmission. Reville said there are "lots of tradeoffs,” but added that he f

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start Tuesday's show by opening lines, getting your reactions to the bumpy rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Mass. NBC Sports Boston reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek weighs in on quarterback Tom Brady’s Sunday win with the Buccaneers, and what it means about the role Patriots coach Bill Belichick played in his team’s success over the past two decades. She also reflected on the death of baseball legend Hank Aaron, and discussed sexual harassment allegations made against New York Jets GM Jared Porter. FRONTLINE filmmaker Michael Kirk talks about his latest FRONTLINE documentary, “Trump’s American Carnage,” about the chaos of President Trump’s four years in power, beginning with his ban on Muslims entering the U.S., and culminating with January’s attack on the Capitol. Dr. David Fajgenbaum talks about his experience battling a rare condition known as Castleman disease, and how it ended up providing insights into treating COVID-19. Dr. Fajgenbaum is the co-founder and Execut

Today on Boston Public Radio: Washington Post opinion columnist EJ Dionne discusses the litany of challenges facing President Biden, and why he believes he ought to prioritize urgency over unity. He also talks about his expectations for the future of the filibuster. Victim’s rights attorney Kenneth Feinberg discusses the open question of whether a federal victim’s compensation fund ought to be instated in response to the pandemic. We then open lines to listeners, to hear your thoughts on whether a COVID-19 victim compensation fund is necessary. Daniel Lieberman, a professor in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, talks about his new book, “Exercised,” about the evolution of humans and our aversion to exercising.  Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of GBH’s All Rev’d Up, talk about the need for civil rights leaders to maintain pressure on the Biden administration on issues of racial equity, and weigh in on critiques of Biden from conservative faith leaders in the C

Today on Boston Public Radio: We open lines to talk with listeners about Gov. Charlie Baker’s latest easing of restrictions in Mass., and the slow rollout of COVID-19 vaccines here in the Commonwealth. Media maven Sue O'Connell discussed President Biden's latest executive order addressing Title VII protections for LGBT Americans, and weighs in on the planned appointment of Dr. Rachel Levine to assistant secretary of health. The appointment would make her the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Journalist and co-founder of The American Prospect, Robert Kuttner, discusses the state of America’s debt and why he’s not concerned about the impact of President Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package on the country’s deficit. He also touches on pushback to Biden’s $3 trillion green infrastructure plan, and recaps his reporting on white supremacists hiding in law enforcement. Beat the Press host Emily Rooney talks about the Boston Globe’s new “Fresh Start” initiative, which

Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd talks about Wednesday’s inauguration, what he’s expecting for vaccine rollout under President Biden, and weighs in on an upcoming NFL playoff game between his team, the Green Bay Packers, and Tom Brady’s Buccaneers. Next, we open lines to talk with listeners about your hopes for the America’s future under President Biden. Former Suffolk County sheriff and secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral talks about the significance of yesterday’s inauguration. She also discusses Suffolk County D.A. Rachael Rollins being placed on the shortlist for US Attorney for Mass., and whether recent allegations about a road rage incident ought to be disqualifying. Food writer Corby Kummer discusses some of the flaws still lingering in U.S. food supply chains, 10 months into the pandemic. He also talks about the concept of “humanewashing” at Whole Foods supermarkets, and best tipping practices for services like Instacart and Uber Eats. Medical ethici

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke to Boston Public Radio on Thursday about a new report by Farm Forward that investigates the differences between animal welfare labels on food. “Whole Foods gets dinged, because they decided they weren’t going to go with the Animal Welfare Society or Certified Humane, they were going to do their own standards and they would put their own animal welfare label on their goods,” he said. “That should always raise red flags - if a company is doing its own certification, who’s checking independently to verify what’s happening?” 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 air live audio from President Biden’s inauguration ceremony, and speak with listeners about your impressions of the ceremony and thoughts on Biden becoming the 46th President of the United States. Callie Crossley, host of GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black, offers her own take on Wednesday's inauguration ceremony, from the reading of an inaugural poem by 23 year-old Amanda Gorman, to President Trump's decision to opt out of attending. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem explains why she’s not expecting the thousands of National Guard troops to remain in Washington, D.C. for long after President Biden’s inauguration, and offers thoughts on the path toward unity in American politics. We end Wednesday’s show by returning to listeners, getting your impressions of Wednesday’s inauguration and the close of Donald Trump’s presidency.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We first open lines to talk with listeners about your thoughts on the final day of President Donald Trump’s presidency. NBC Sports Boston reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek talks about Tom Brady's success beyond the Patriots, frustration with a lack of Black coaches in the NFL, and the scheduled appearance of Sarah Fuller, the first woman to play and score in a Power Five college football game, at Wednesday’s inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. Dr. Jon Santiago, a Mass. State Rep. and ER doctor at Boston Medical Center, provides an update on COVID-19 in Mass., from the local emergence of the new, more transmissible variant of the virus, to issues with vaccine rollout in the Commonwealth. He also responds to the question of whether he plans to run for city mayor. Chris Dempsey and Jim Aloisi offer their thoughts on the handful of vetos from Gov. Charlie Baker, of proposed elements within the Mass. Transportation Bond Bill. They also discuss the current state of the

Today on Boston Public Radio: We kick things off by opening our lines, talking with listeners about honoring Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy with acts of public service. King Boston Executive Director Imari Paris Jeffries talks about his organization’s forthcoming memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders on Boston Common, and why he’s hopeful about the city's capacity to evolve into an anti-racist beacon for the rest of the nation. Joan Donovan, Research Director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, discusses the impact of social media companies de-platforming President Trump on online discourse, and offers her thoughts on the future of far-right ideologies after the president leaves office. TV expert Bob Thompson reviews Netflix’s “Pretend It’s A City,” “WandaVision" on Disney Plus, and NBC’s “Mr. Mayor.” He also talks about the NFL’s Nickelodeon broadcast, and the documentary “MLK/FBI,” about FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover’s investigations into Rev

Six days after the close of a tumultuous 2020, Americans witnessed a new level of tragedy at the nation’s capital. Fueled by lies of a rigged election, angry protests turned riotous, leaving five people — including at least one police officer — dead, dozens wounded, and, within a week, one president impeached. Boston Public Radio interviewed a handful of congressional leaders about their experiences during the Jan. 6 insurrection, and the duty they felt to hold the president accountable for what they witnessed. Here’s a compilation of what they had to say.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We kick things off by opening lines, talking with listeners about the slow rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Mass. Media Sue O’Connell talks about the prospective mayoral campaign of William Gross, Boston’s first Black police commissioner, First Lady Melania Trump’s reaction to the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol, and a recent Supreme Court ruling restricting access to abortion pills. Beat the Press host Emily Rooney discusses a pending investigation from Mass. A.G. Maura Healey into a road rage incident involving Suffolk County D.A. Rachael Rollins, and questions around whether a Natick Town Meeting member ought to be prosecuted after photos emerged of her inside the Capitol building during the Jan. 6 insurrection. She also reads a ban-themed list of fixations and fulminations. R.I Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse talked about what’s to come for the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump, and whether he thinks it’s appropriate for federal leaders to invoke the 14th amendment

Today on Boston Public Radio: Rep. Jim McGovern talks about the significance of Wednesday’s impeachment of President Trump, where he played a key role, and reflects on what’s to come for American democracy. Next, we open lines to talk about Wednesday’s impeachment, and whether you’re worried about it backfiring on President-elect Biden. Former Suffolk County sheriff and secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral raises some legal questions about the Senate’s ability to conduct an impartial impeachment trial of President Trump. She also talks about the failings of Capitol police in preventing last week’s riot, and reflects on the death of Lisa Montgomery, the first woman to be federally executed in nearly 70 years. National Immigration Forum CEO Ali Noorani discusses the legacy of President Trump’s immigration policy, and what he’s hoping from President-elect Biden on issues like refugee resettlement and President Trump’s travel ban. He also talks about challenges with getting undocumented immigrants acc

Despite recent statements made by President Trump in Alamo, Tx., Ali Noorani said on Thursday’s Boston Public Radio that the outgoing president's years-long promise of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border fell far short of expectations. "He claimed that hundreds of mile of wall had been built,” the National Immigration Forum CEO said of Trump’s Tuesday statement, but noted that "if you look at the numbers, most of the work that has been done in terms of border infrastructure has been fortifying existing infrastructure." Still, he said Trump’s efforts to stifle immigration during his presidency will have an impact that extends beyond dreams of a massive border wall. “We also have to be realistic – and be clear – that by shutting down the border to perfectly legal asylum claims, by shutting down the border and forcing tens of thousands of migrants to wait in Mexico while their claims are being processed, he did fundamental change the way the border region is seen on the U.S. side… [and] also on the Mexican si

Today on Boston Public Radio: Rep. Jake Auchincloss discusses Wednesday’s impeachment vote in the House of Representatives, taking place mere days after he was sworn into his first congressional term, and why he’s optimistic about America’s future. BPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius talks about the current state of hybrid learning at Boston Public Schools, and reflects on the lessons she and other education officials have learned in the first 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem responds to last week’s insurrection, and the resignation of Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf one week before President-elect Biden takes office. She also speaks on her recent piece for The Atlantic, “How MAGA Extremism Ends.” We opened our lines to talk with listeners about Wednesday’s impeachment proceedings, and whether you believe President Trump ought to be removed from office over his role in last week’s insurrection. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discusses COVID-19 vaccine refus

CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem joined Boston Public Radio on Wednesday, reflecting on last week’s riot and her recent piece for the Atlantic, “How MAGA Extremism Ends,” about the path towards peace in the U.S. “It took me a while to feel comfortable writing this,” she said of the essay and its stark condemnation of President Trump. “It’s very hard to admit to yourself, even though you believe it, ‘look, my president is the spiritual and operational leader of a domestic terrorism group.’ We didn’t learn that in fourth grade.” But she concluded that with mounting opposition from members of his own party, major U.S. corporations, and bans across social media, the president’s influence is dramatically waning. “We’re a divided nation, but very few people take to arms,” she noted. “Very few people in his group are willing to blow things up – we should remember that.” She added, “Democracy bridges the divide. You have better politicians, you have ways in which we build our communities, even when we have politica

Today on Boston Public Radio: We open lines to talk with listeners about anxiety related to last week’s storming of the Capitol, and the troubling possibility of similar attacks ahead of President-elect Biden’s inauguration. NBC Sports Boston reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek discusses Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s decision not to accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Trump, Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s future with her WNBA team, The Atlanta Dream, and whether the postponed-2020 Summer Olympic Games will need to be held off again this summer. Boston Globe Editor-in-Chief Brian McGrory talks about his reaction to last week’s riot at the Capitol building, and coverage of the chaos from the Boston Globe's Jazmine Ulloa. He also touches on Bill Belichick’s decision not to accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh's acceptance of President-elect Biden’s nomination for labor secretary. Boston City Councilor and mayoral candidate Michelle Wu discusses Mayor Walsh be

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke to Boston Public Radio on Tuesday about how the pandemic has affected the lives of food delivery workers. “So much of the gig economy is being laid bare by the pandemic,” he said. “In one way, restaurant delivery has gone up by 40 or 50 percent, a huge amount.” DoorDash went public on the New York Stock Exchange in December. But it’s one of the worst actors in the industry, Kummer noted. “It steals tips from workers and it directs them to deliberately unprofitable roads that won’t pay off for delivery workers,” he said. DoorDash is doing very well, but it’s a “rotten business” for the actual delivery people, Kummer added. “Do anything you can to avoid DoorDash, GrubHub, Seamless, and UberEats,” he said. 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: Sen. Ed Markey explains why he believes President Trump should be impeached, in the wake of last week's riot in the Capitol. He also touches on the future of left-wing legislative efforts now Democrats will control both houses of Congress, and responded to recent reporting on his bizarre donut-eating habit. Next, we open lines to let listeners weigh in on whether President Trump should be impeached a second time, following last week’s Pro-Trump riot in the Capitol building. GBH News analyst and GroundTruth Project CEO Charlie Sennott discusses global reaction to last week's storming of the Capitol, historic levels of voter registration in Ga. ahead of the 2020 election, and the vital role that journalists have played in documenting rising authoritarianism at home and abroad. The Washington Post’s Michelle Singletary returns to talk about her ongoing Post series, “Sincerely, Michelle," about racial inequities in the world of personal finance. She also addresses misconception