Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio:  Rep. Ayanna Pressley discusses House plans to bring forward articles of impeachment against President Trump next week, following Wednesday’s riot. She also reflects on what it was like being in the Capitol during the storming, and spoke about Boston City Council President Kim Janey potentially becoming both Boston’s first Black mayor, and its first woman mayor. We open lines to callers, to discuss whether President Trump ought to be removed from office follow Wednesday's storming of the U.S. Capitol, and if it’s worth it in his final 12 days as president.  Emily Rooney talks about President-elect Biden's choice of Boston Mayor Walsh for U.S. Labor Secretary, and the open question of who’ll win next year’s mayoral race. She also reads a list of must-see movies to watch in quarantine, and previewed this week's Beat the Press. Ramona Diaz discusses the brutal drug war and assaults on press freedoms by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, in a conversation about her new docum

Today on Boston Public Radio:  Washington Post op-ed columnist E.J. Dionne responds to Wednesday’s chaos incited by Trump mob in Washington, D.C., and the impact it might have on the future of President Trump’s political influence post-presidency. He also weighs in on President-elect Biden's choice of Merrick Garland, his former college friend, to serve as A.G. Former Pentagon official Rosa Brooks reacts to the storming of the Capitol building by President Trump’s supporters, which she predicted in exercises laid out by her bipartisan Transition Integrity Project. She also offers her thoughts on the path forward for maintaining democratic stability in the U.S. Next, we open lines to talk with listeners about your thoughts on Wednesday’s chaos, and the future of the U.S. post-Trump. Former Suffolk County sheriff and secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral discusses the lawlessness of yesterday’s pro-Trump mob. She also offers her take on the lackluster response from authorities defending the U.S. Capito

Today on Boston Public Radio:  M.I.T. economist Jonathan Gruber talks about what an expanded stimulus relief package might look like with Democrats in control of the Senate. He also responds to listener questions about what’s in the latest $900 billion package, passed in December. Next, we open lines to talk with callers about the Republicans challenging President-elect Biden’s win, and get your thought on the legacy of Trumpism in American politics.  CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discusses the state of President-elect Joe Biden’s transition to the White House, and the Trump supporters gathering in Washington to contest Congress’ certification of Biden's Electoral College win on Wednesday. Medical ethicist Art Caplan breaks down the latest news on the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S., and questions around who ought to have vaccine priority. Next, we open lines to callers, returning to the discussion about resistance to President-elect Joe Biden’s November win.  Angell Animal Medical Center

Speaking on Boston Public Radio Wednesday, CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem took a moment to reflect on Tuesday’s Senate runoff victory for Democrat Raphael Warnock in Georgia. Warnock will join the Senate after serving 15 years as pastor at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. presided as co-pastor throughout the 1960’s. "A man of faith entering politics is rare enough, but the extent to which he views his faith as requiring him to have entered politics at this moment is really something that is worth taking a pause for,” she said, adding “I’ve been really intrigued by that very un-threatening combination of faith and public service… I think a lot of us have grown weary of faith in public service, given what’s been done in the name of religion and religious leaders supporting some pretty bad behavior.” Juliette 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 Kenn

Some primary care physicians are being left out of the first wave of COVID-19 vaccinations, even if they are treating patients with the illness. Medical ethicist Art Caplan told Boston Public Radio on Wednesday the issue is a “snafu” in the distribution plans that routed much of the initial doses to hospitals, and left out doctors with no hospital affiliation. “If you write rules for the states, like the CDC, or the states adopt rules that say give the vaccine first to nursing homes then to healthcare workers, then you’re giving them out at hospitals and nursing homes,” said Caplan. “The reason they’re getting missed even if they have patient populations that have a lot of COVID … it’s just not where they are.”

Today on Boston Public Radio: Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett discusses news around the COVID-19 vaccines, from their slower-than-anticipated rollout in the U.S., to questions of whether vaccine skeptics are right to feel hesitant about getting their shot. She also responds to questions and comments from listeners. Gergen Barnett is the vice chair of Primary Care Innovation and Transformation and Residency Director in the Department of Family Medicine at Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical School. Next, we open lines to talk with listeners about Tuesday’s runoff elections in Ga., and the possibility of an end to divided government in 2021.   Carol Rose, Executive Director of the ACLU of Mass., discusses upsides and drawbacks to Mass.' newly-signed police reform law. She also touches on the significance of the state's newly-passed ROE Act, which expands abortion protections in Mass, and talks about Gov. Charlie Baker's decision to veto it. Then, we return to listener lines to talk about your

Today on Boston Public Radio: Georgia Public Broadcasting political reporter Stephen Fowler gives a primer on Tuesday's Senate runoff races in Ga., and discusses President Trump's controversial call to Ga. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger over the weekend, where he pressured Raffensperger to nullify his state's election tally. Next, we open our lines to talk with listeners about the latest effort from GOP congressional leaders to call President-elect Joe Biden’s election victory into question.  New Yorker writer and environmental advocate Bill McKibben discusses President Trump’s legacy of inaction on global warming, and the potential impact that President-elect Biden's incoming environmental team could have in combatting the global climate crisis. The.Ink publisher Anand Giridharadas weighs in on Congress' failure to approve $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks, and discusses why he believes federal leaders are paving the way for future billionaire bailouts. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts o

Thursday's Boston Public Radio is entirely on tape and features the ultimate BPR book club — back to back conversations from over the years with some of our favorite writers. Some highlights of the show include: George Saunders discussed his novel, "Lincoln in the Bardo," his first foray into what he describes as serious prose. Writer Susan Orlean discusses her latest book, a tribute to the public library, "The Library Book." ESPN’s Howard Bryant discusses his book, "The Heritage: Black Athletes, a Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism."

Wednesday's Boston Public Radio is entirely on tape, and features the ultimate BPR book club: back to back conversations from over the years with some of our favorite writers. Some highlights of the show include: Poet Kevin Young discusses his latest collection of poetry, BROWN. Kevin Young is poetry editor of the New Yorker and the incoming director of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture. Owner of Parnassus Books Ann Patchett makes a pitch to all readers to shop at local, independent book stores. She also discussed her book, "Commonwealth." Writer T.C. Boyle drops in on the dropout culture with his novel "Outside Looking In," which is based on the research of Timothy Leary.

Today on Boston Public Radio, GBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen and NBC 10's Sue O'Connell filled in for Jim Braude and Margery Eagan. Former Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed the latest with President Donald Trump's pardons. Then, Irish comedian Maeve Higgins talked about maintaining friendships through the pandemic. The rest of Tuesday’s show featured re-airs of some of our favorite segments: Norman Mineta talked about the PBS documentary of his life and career, "Norman Mineta and His Legacy: An American Story." Mineta is a former statesman who served as cabinet secretary for Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. New Yorker writer George Packer discussed his latest book, “Our Man: Richard Holbrooke And The End Of The American Century.” John Waters spoke about his latest book, “Mr. Know-It-All: The Tarnished Wisdom Of A Filth Elder.” Waters is a filmmaker, writer, artist, and social commentator. Raphael Bob-Waksberg discussed his collection of short stories "Someone Who Will

Today on Boston Public Radio: Jared Bowen and Sue O’Connell fill in for Jim and Margery. First, they get a politics roundup from Beacon Hill to Capitol Hill, with GBH reporter Adam Reilly. Then, Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett G Price III join us for this week’s edition of All Rev’d Up. The rest of Monday’s show features re-airs of some of our favorite segments: Author and journalist Naomi Klein joins Jim and Margery to talk about her book, "On Fire: The Burning Case for a Green New Deal." New Yorker staff writer and “Revisionist History” host Malcolm Gladwell discusses his new book, “Talking To Strangers: What We Should Know About The People We Don't Know.” Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ronan Farrow discusses his new book, “Catch And Kill: Lies, Spies, And A Conspiracy To Protect Predators,” about his experience reporting on the crimes of disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. Harvard Business School’s Michael Norton discusses his latest research about why minimalism has become the new

Note: BPR is on tape for the holidays. For Thursday’s program, we brought you some of our favorite conversations from the not-too distant past. Today on Boston Public Radio: Bishop Michael Curry joins us to preach the power of love in dark times, in a conversation sparked by his new book "Love Is the Way: Holding Onto Hope In Troubling Times.” Michael Norton talks about the science behind why humans have such difficulty enjoying leisure time. Norton is the Harold M. Brierley Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, and his latest book is "Happy Money: The Science Of Smarter Spending.” Bill Buford discussed differences between attitudes around restaurant dining in France and the U.S., in a conversation about his new book, "Dirt: Adventure In Lyon As A Chef In Training, Father, And Sleuth Looking For The Secret Of French Cooking.” Alan Alda talked about the joy of creating his new interview podcast, and a recent (pre-pandemic) trip he made with BPR contributor Sy Montgomery to the

Today on Boston Public Radio: MIT economist Jon Gruber breaks down the economics behind Congress’ latest COVID relief package, and discusses his research into March's CARES Act, where he found that unemployment insurance has had more of an impact on keeping jobs and stimulating the economy than Paycheck Protection Program loans. Next, we open lines to talk with listeners about Congress' latest $900 billion coronavirus stimulus bill, and get your takes whether it’s going to be enough to help you get by.  CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem talks about President Trump’s latest controversial wave of pardons, and weighs the potential impact Trump could have on national security in the final weeks of his administration. NBC Sports Boston reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek talks about a recent appeal made by players on the Boston Celtics to have Gov. Baker reconsider his support for the use of facial recognition software by Mass. law enforcement. She also speaks on the Patriots’ underwhelming 2020 season, and other

President Donald Trump granted pardons and commutations to 20 people on Tuesday. Among those pardoned were four Blackwater guards convicted in connection with a 2017 killing of Iraqi civilians -among those killed were two boys, 8 and 11. Homeland security expert Juliette Kayyem spoke with Boston Public Radio on Wednesday about the danger these pardons pose. “First of all, Trump’s failure to embrace a peaceful transfer of power quickly, threatens, or at least would amplify the radicalization of some small parts of the population,” she said. '“[These pardons] do it too because it says, you can be ruthless, murderous, horrible human beings, who murders children.” 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.

On Wednesday, medical ethicist Art Caplan returned to Boston Public Radio, where he weighed in on the latest news around the COVID-19 pandemic. Among them, he discussed frustrations with the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in hospitals throughout the U.S., and unanswered questions around who deserves vaccine priority. “There are these issues of priority and who’s really at risk that’ve started to rear their heads,” he said, warning that more confusion is likely to come once the general public can apply for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. “It’s predictive of what I think we’re gonna see in maybe January, February, March, as other people start to say ‘hey, what about me?’" During the conversation, Caplan also discussed the departure of White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx, and explained why he’s not worried that a mutated version of the coronavirus, discovered last week in the U.K., will be resistant to the current vaccines.  Art Caplan is the Drs. William F and Virginia Connolly Mitty Ch

Today on Boston Public Radio:  Maura Healey talks about the state’s [Police Reform bill](x-note://D757CE1A-EB87-42C4-BFAC-970FF042F9C1/EWSNote/wgbh.org/news/local-news/2020/12/22/ag-healey-police-reform-bill-as-amended-is-a-really-good-thing), responding to questions about the efficacy of facial recognition technology and no-knock warrants. She also discusses her office's plan to ask the federal Department of Homeland Security to end its partnership with the Bristol County Sheriff's office, and responds to questions from listeners as part of our monthly series “Ask the AG.” Boston Globe editorial writer David Scharfenberg discusses his reporting for the Boston Globe on segregation in Mass.’ public school system, and some of the lessons that officials can take from other states' approach to the issue in order to tackle the racial inequity. Havard Business School professor Ashley Whillans talks about America’s "time poverty” crisis, and offers tips for organizing our lives to better prioritize happiness ove

Today on Boston Public Radio: Michael Curry discusses the rollout of coronavirus vaccines throughout the U.S. and questions around skepticism in communities of color. Curry is the incoming president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, a member of Gov. Charlie Baker’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group, and a member of the National NAACP Board of Directors. Next, we open our lines to talk with listeners about holiday travel during the pandemic, asking: will we learn our lesson this time around, or will the promise of the vaccine make us only more prone to hit the road?  Travel guru Rick Steves talks about some of the varied Christmas traditions practiced throughout Europe, from Norway to Austria. He also talks about his ongoing “Why We Travel” series and what a COVID-19 vaccine could signal for travel and tourism in the months aheads. T.V. expert Bob Thompson discusses news that streaming heavyweight “The Office” is getting pulled from Netflix and updates us on the future of Jeop

Today on Boston Public Radio: Smith College associate professor Loretta Ross speaks on why it’s more productive to call people “in” rather than call them out, and the importance of have private – and occasionally uncomfortable – conversations with people we disagree with, in a discussion sparked by her forthcoming book, “Calling In the Calling Out Culture.” Next, we open lines and asked you about callout culture, asking: should 2021 be the year we try to call people in? Beat the Press host Emily Rooney talks about Vice President Mike Pence receiving his COVID shot Friday morning in front of the media, and the reemergence of Boston's great space saver debate. She also read a 2020 retrospective list of fixations and fulminations. Food writer Corby Kummer weighs in on frustration from some environmentalists and food justice advocates around news of President-elect Biden’s pick of Tom Vilsack to head the USDA. He also offers advice for restaurants struggling to afloat through the winter, and one sure-fire wa

Speaking on a Friday edition of Boston Public Radio, food writer Corby Kummer presented a plea to diners: if you’ve got to cancel your dinner reservation, do your best to give the restaurant 12 hours notice – at minimum. No-shows, for struggling restaurants operating at reduced occupancy, “are really damaging,” Kummer explained in a tease of his forthcoming Diner Code of Conduct. “Be considerate of restaurants … if you make a reservation and you can’t come, be sure to tell them well in advance.” Corby 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.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Washington Post personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary discusses “Sincerely Michelle,” her ongoing series addressing misconceptions about racial equity in the world of personal finance, and reflects on her own experience coming up in media as a Black woman. NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd runs through the latest political headlines, touching on anticipated COVID stimulus consensus in Congress, President-elect Joe Biden’s undying faith in the Senate, and the slowly-growing number of GOP members willing to acknowledge Biden’s November election victory. Boston City Councilor and mayoral candidate Andrea Campbell discusses the Boston City Council’s Sunday vote to establish an Office of Police Accountability and Transparency, and next steps for its implementation. She also touches on Gov. Baker's decision not to sign the Mass. police reform bill, and pushback against a proposed charter school in Roslindale. Former Suffolk County sheriff and secretary of publi