BPR Full Show 1/22/21: Pushing Buttons

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’ll allow people to apply to have past coverage of them anonymized. She also discusses misinformation coming out of Fox News, and reads an inauguration-themed list of fixations and fulminations. 

Tech writer Andy Ihnatko talks about potential security concerns with President Biden having a Peloton bike in the White House. He also speaks about the legacy of outgoing FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, and offers tips on getting the best possible deal out of your internet or cable provider.

Under the Radar and Basic Black host Callie Crossley talks about President Biden’s move to cancel former President Trump’s 1776 Commission, created in reaction to the New York Times’ 1619 Project. She also weighs in on Black business owners in Tulsa, Okla. who say they’re being priced out of a historic Black neighborhood, and news that former First Lady Melania Trump outsourced thank-you notes to her White House staff.

We close out Friday's show by talking with listeners about the button in the Oval Office that summoned drinks for presidents Obama and Trump, asking: if you had a button that brought you anything, what would it bring?