Boston Public Radio Podcast

Andrea Cabral and Jared Bowen were in for Jim and Margery today, live from the Boston Public Library. We asked listeners about the state of the roadways today: pedestrian deaths are up, it seems like nobody is enforcing the distracted driving law and cars and trucks keep getting bigger. What’s up on the roads? Trenni Casey of NBC Sports Boston previewed the Boston Marathon and discussed a push on Beacon Hill to curb toxic youth sports culture in Massachusetts. Caitlin Saks, senior producer for NOVA, discussed their newest film out today called Weathering the Future. The film is about frontline communities combating climate change with real solutions. Food policy analyst Corby Kummer discussed the effects Michelin ratings can have on a city’s dining scene, and how years of drought forced a shutdown of the salmon fishing season in California. Elaina Repucci of Simple Sips and Karen Clarke of Clarke’s Cakes & Cookies joined to discuss how their food business are growing through the Commonwealth Kitchen incubator. CNN’s John King joined via zoom to analyze the latest politics headlines. Will the four-day work week ever become a reality in America? A pair of Massachusetts lawmakers are pushing for a pilot program. We asked listeners if they are on board. Or, do they love the flow of a five-day week and time away from home?

Last Friday, a federal judge in Texas revoked the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, a key medication used for abortions. We opened the phone lines to hear listeners’ reactions. National security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed the leaked Pentagon documents that show the U.S. spying on Russia, Ukraine, Israel and South Korea. Dr. Cheryl Hamlin is a local OBGYN who regularly flew to Mississippi pre-Dobbs to provide abortion care. She joined us along with reproductive rights activist Susan Yanow, who has worked with Self-Managed Abortion, Safe and Supported (SASS) to educate people about self-managed medication abortions. They discussed the Texas ruling that halts FDA approval of a key abortion pill. Jim Aloisi & Stacy Thompson joined for a transit panel to discuss new general manager Phillip Eng’s first day on the job. Plus, T contractors who are stole more than $8 million and a stellar Lexington zoning proposal that meets the state’s new housing law. The Reverends Irene Monroe & Emmett G. Price III discussed the commercialization of Easter; how some U.S. Jews protested Israel’s right-wing leaders during their Passover Seder this year; and how January 6th tore apart one multiracial church in North Carolina. Boston Globe TV critic Matthew Gilbert discussed Succession, Ted Lasso and the blessing that is cursing on TV. Swearing on TV can be gratifying and an authentic expression of emotion. We asked listeners if they agree. Or, do they think profanity has gone too far?

Today on Boston Public Radio: The world is watching Tennessee after 2 young black democratic lawmakers were expelled for speaking out of turn at a gun safety protest. Tennessee republicans didn't expel the 3rd white democratic lawmaker who was participated in the same protest. We opened the lines for listeners to weigh in. Boston Globe's Shirley Leung will talk about the state’s clawback of unemployment benefits after a 3 year pause, the state gambling commission rejecting bets on the marathon, and more. Nancy Gertner is back via Zoom, we’ll talk with her about Clarence Thomas privately accepting (very) expensive gifts from one GOP donor. She’ll also talk about the Trump charges, and what the Wisconsin Supreme Court vote mean for Democrats in post-Dobbs America. J. Ivy is a Grammy-winning poet and the man who gave John Legend his name. He’s performing at the Boston City Winery, he’ll join via Zoom. Sue O’Connell will discuss Marty Walsh siding with the NFL in a dispute over players wearing pride jerseys, plus the Twitter labelling NPR's account as 'state-affiliated media' (which is untrue), the latest pro-gun legislation out of Florida and more. Sophia Chen, Jane Park & Felice Ling are all a part of a late-night event “Asian Glow” at the Pao Arts Center in Chinatown. It’s all about creating space for Asian creatives & performers, we’ll hear some music from singer/songwriter Jane Park and magic from Felice Ling. We wrapped up the show America’s favorite Easter-time debate: peeps. We asked listeners for their thoughts while a producer attempted to buy some peeps but they were sold out in various stores.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd on Wisconsin Supreme Court election result takeaways and it’s connection to the issue of abortion and other national headlines. We opened the lines to ask listeners about their thoughts on the superintendent who lost his job offer for using the word ‘ladies’ in an e-mail. Did listeners think he committed a microaggression? Andrea Cabral continued analysis of the Wisconsin Supreme Court election and future ramifications, the Alpaca Cop Squad in Missouri and more. Paul Reville on high graduation & low college attendance rates for BPS students, the case of leading candidate for superintendent of the Easthampton Public Schools who lost his job offer for using the word ‘ladies’ in an e-mail and more. Volunteer Jen Robinson from Moms Demand Action and co-lead of the Massachusetts chapter is on to discuss substantive action everyday people we can do to address gun violence in Massachusetts and beyond. Sarah Thompson and Kendall DeBoer from the MFA are on to talk about the MFA’s exhibit of works of (and inspired by) Japanese print-maker Katsushika Hokusai and his Great Wave off Kanagawa. We wrapped up the show by asking listeners how they maintain a healthy lifestyle despite pills that advertise magic weight loss.

We opened the phone lines to check in with listeners one day after Trump’s arraignment and the announcement of his 34 felony charges. Then, medical ethicist Art Caplan weighed in on MIT scientists who are calling for a pause in AI development, and a legal challenge to Obamacare in Texas that imperils the availability of HIV drugs, cancer screenings and other preventative care without copays. National security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed Harvard University’s police response to a hoax emergency call, Finland joining NATO and the arrest of a WSJ journalist in Russia. GBH’s Jared Bowen discussed the Elliot Norton Award nominees and a production of Coriolanus at the Actors’ Shakespeare Project. Comedian Aida Rodriguez joined us before her show at the City Winery Boston on April 12. Food policy analyst Corby Kummer discussed big dairy’s all-out push to bring Gen-Z back from nut-milk nirvana; and the rise in popularity of turbot. A new analysis based on 40 years of the research was published in JAMA, finding that even mild drinking has negative impacts. We asked listeners, will this new research impact their behavior? Or, do the stress relief and social aspects of drinking provide enough cover for them to rationalize any negative health impacts?

Today former President Donald Trump was arraigned in Manhattan. No video cameras were allowed in the courtroom. We asked listeners whether they thought the public should be able to view the proceedings. NBC Sports Boston’s Trenni Casey gave a rundown of the NCAA basketball title games, plus insights on the new Major League Baseball rules. ACLU of Massachusetts executive director Carol Rose discussed the Trump arraignment and a SCOTUS immigration case that centers on free speech. Martin Smith of Frontline discussed the new three-part series titled "America and the Taliban". Part one airs tonight on PBS. Lee Pelton, president and CEO of the Boston Foundation discussed the upcoming report that examines Black wealth in Boston. As Trump entered the courthouse, we broadcasted live to hear from Michael Curry, former federal judge Nancy Gertner and Ron Sullivan, the faculty director of the Harvard Criminal Justice Institute and the Harvard Trial Advocacy Workshop.

Today on Boston Public Radio: There’s history in the making with former president Trump being indicted. But is the media going overboard with too much Trump coverage? We opened the lines for listeners to let us know how they’re keeping afloat. Harvard labor lawyer Terri Gerstein discussed child labor laws being rolled back throughout the country. Charlie Sennott joined from Belfast to fill us in on the Good Friday Agreement, the WSJ journalist arrested for espionage in Russia, and the consequences of a "Trump revival" for foreign leaders.  E.J. Dionne discussed some of his latest columns on Biden's presidential legacy, being stuck in a "Trump world", and the departure of the chair of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers. The Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III on to discuss Pope Francis' illness (and announcement that he's "Still Alive"), Mel King's influence on Boston leadership and whether DeSantis can break Trump's hold on the religious right.  Film critic Odie Henderson will discuss Affleck and Damon's new movie "Air", the dungeons & dragons movie, "John Wick: Chapter 4" and the new Reggie Jackson documentary, "Reggie". We ended the show on a peculiar note — Turkeys. April is mating season for the creatures and we wanted to know about the encounters people have had with turkeys.

Jared Bowen filled in for Jim Braude at the Boston Public Library. Turns out Jim was too busy taking photos of Trump supporters outside of Mar-A-Lago. Last night the news broke about Trump’s indictment by a Manhattan grand jury. We started the show by hearing from former federal judge Nancy Gertner with her reactions and legal analysis. Then we opened the phone lines to hear from listeners. What were their reactions to the news, and what does the indictment mean for next year’s presidential election? Sue O’Connell discussed the transphobia surrounding the Tennessee mass shooting. On the lighter side, she celebrated the one-year anniversary of Wordle, and ancient artifacts that may or may not be sex toys. Corby Kummer joined to discuss the James Beard Award nominees, a meatball made from mammoth DNA and the state of food insecurity in Massachusetts. Journalist Andrea Bernstein from WNYC and co-host of the Peabody winning podcast Trump, Inc. joined to discuss Trump’s indictment. Will Dailey, a local singer/songwriter, joined for Live Music Friday. He performed two songs and spoke to Margery and Jared about his new podcast called Sound of Our Town.

Chuck Todd on the latest out of D.C., and his contentious interview last Sunday with Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina. Then we opened the phone and text lines to get listener’s take on Red Sox Opening Day. Does this mean it’s officially spring? Turns out, we have many nature-loving listeners who depend on the sound of spring peepers to signal the new season, not the ump’s call. Andrea Cabral on Chat-GPT making its way to Indian courtroom. She also discussed an indictment charge for the man who drove his car into a Hingham Apple store, the skiing trial of Gwyneth Paltrow and Adnan Syed (of “Serial” fame) getting his murder conviction reinstated. Michael Curry on accusations of racism in Wayland after a Black superintendent was placed on leave, and how some members of the NAACP are looking to get a travel advisory for Florida. He also touched on a few medical stories, including over the counter Narcan and a nursing home COVID outbreak. Elie Honig is a former federal prosecutor turned podcaster. The latest season of his show Up Against the Mob focuses on organized crime in Springfield. He joined to discuss. Kara Baskin is on to discuss some of her latest parenting/advice columns. This week it’s how to talk to your kids about gun violence, navigating perimenopause, bracing for college admissions season as a parent, and navigating a breakup/divorce during March (the month to do it, apparently). We continued the college admissions discussion by hearing from listeners. What advice would they give to parents or young kids about college?

Today on Boston Public Radio: Several schools throughout the state of Massachusetts went into lockdown after receiving swatting calls. Even though the threats are false, the impact is real. We asked listeners to share their thoughts. Michael Curry, President and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, joined to reflect on longtime Boston political activist Mel King and his legacy. Senator Elizabeth Warren joined to discuss her senate re-election bid and her demands for more oversight of the Federal Reserve. National security expert Juliette Kayyem on the Washington Post piece detailing damage done by AR-15s to young bodies and the significance of Trump at Waco. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discusses Sen. Sanders grilling Moderna for quadrupling COVID vaccine price and Cigna’s penny-pinching practice of having doctors reject claims without reading them. Boston Globe travel writer Christopher Muther talks about his latest column on a Rockport man retracing his grandfather’s path through WWI France and a new cat café in Peabody from an internet cafe in Bogotá. Naturalist Sy Montgomery discusses the battle for your garage space -- Black vs Brown widow spiders; a new study confirming neuroscience research is lacking female mice; and a wiring map of an insect’s brain hinting at vast complexity. We ended our show by going down the rabbit hole of electric cars. They seem great but does the difficulty of charging them turn people off? Listeners texted and called in to let us know.