Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: Our show began by opening up the lines for our listeners to share if they believe our country is goin backwards as state legislatures fight to roll back trans and gay rights, reproductive rights, and child labor laws. GBH’s Jeremy Siegel and Nicci Kadilak of the Burlington Buzz join to discuss Jeremy’s reporting on local news Medical ethicist Art Caplan discusses the GOP trap of the COVID lab leak theory: He argues we should be talking about lousy security, underfunding, poor pay, etc in labs, not just “zoonotic spillover” Food policy writer Corby Kummer discusses the end of COVID SNAP benefits, and food makers pushing ‘sleep’ snacks (night cereal) Alejandra Caraballo, clinical instructor at Harvard Law’s cyberlaw clinic and a former staff attorney at the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, discusses pushes to roll back trans rights. Nick Quah, Vulture mag’s podcast critic discusses his favorite podcasts of the year so far, and delves into podcasting’s market shift away from big money in new projects. We ended the show by asking listeners to share their thoughts on forming relationships with AI and chatbots.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joined for “Ask the Mayor,” discussing the Globe's public records request stating that she does not use text for anything work related and taking listener calls. NBC Sports Boston anchor and reporter Trenni Casey discussed March Madness, online betting’s launch in Mass., and the Natural Selection snowboarding competition. GBH executive arts editor Jared Bowen covered the MFA exhibiting enslaved Black potters’ work in ‘Hear Me Now’, the biggest showing of Vermeer paintings ever at the Rijksmuseum selling out, and U.S. Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally comments on suggestive Instagram photos. Lee Pelton, CEO & President of the Boston Foundation, discussed Boston’s reparations task force, and a new round of funding from TBF from the “Business Equity Fund”, and the high costs of childcare. John King joins for the latest political headlines including Biden's administration approval of The Willow Project. King is CNN’s chief National Correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics." We closed the show by asking listeners about their experiences during the Nor’easter. Do they still feel confident against freezing weather or have they gotten to used to the warmer weather this season?

Today on Boston Public Radio: We started off the show by asking listeners about their financial concerns following the U.S. bank failures. Jennifer Nassour & Jesse Mermell joined for a political panel and discussed Sen. Elizabeth Warren's comment on Boston Public Radio that made national headlines regarding her support for President Joe Biden's reelection. When asked if she would support Vice President Kamala Harris on the 2024 ticket, she said, “I really want to defer to what makes Biden comfortable on his team.” Soon after, she told GBH News that she “fully” supports a Biden-Harris ticket. Boston Globe columnist Renée Graham joined to discuss her latest columns, from Fox News and Tucker Carlson’s “big lies” to growing watching and loving the drag character Geraldine Jones played by Flip Wilson. She would even be allowed to stay up past her bedtime to watch this show. Matt Ruskin wrote and directed Hulu’s new movie focused on the two women who broke the Boston Strangler story. He came on Boston Public Radio ahead of the release next week of “Boston Strangler” for a spoiler-free peek into the making of the film. He talks about how he got interested in the story and his respect for journalism. The Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III discussed lawmakers reconsidering the secrecy of the confessional, Pope Francis' statement on celibacy requirements and today marking 10 years since Francis was elected to be head of the Catholic Church. Boston Globe’s film critic Odie Henderson talked about the Oscars and getting 16 out of 23 of his predicted winners right. He shares how watching the Oscars brings people together. We wrapped up the show by discussing single-use plastic bags vs reusable tote bags. A new CNN story reports that it takes about 7,100 uses for a reusable bag to be environmentally friendly.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to hear from listeners three years into COVID-19. Boston Medical Center’s Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett discussed the real-world impact of corporations and big money on our health and wellness. GBH's Callie Crossley, host of Under the Radar with Callie Crossley, discussed the announcement this week from the Justice Department that Louisville Police Department routinely discriminates against Black residents. The Department of Justice investigated the police department in the wake of Breonna Taylor's killing in 2020. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed the ethics of medical tourism. He’s the Drs. William F and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor and founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine in New York City. Sue O’Connell discussed Tennessee's push to revoke marriage equality. She's the co-publisher of Bay Windows and South End News, and contributor to Current, on NBC L-X and NECN. We heard from the LGBT-centered chorus Coro Allegro for Live Music Friday, and spoke with Artistic Director David Hodgkins and Executive Director Yoshi Campbell. We ended the show by opening the lines to hear from listeners about -- and allow Jim his annual commentary calling for -- permanent Daylight Saving Time.

Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC Political Director Chuck Todd joined for his weekly roundup of political news. We opened the lines to hear from listeners about the housing crisis, as Boston City Council approved Mayor Wu's rent control proposal this week. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung joined to discuss We re-aired a conversation Jim and Margery had with former president Jimmy Carter from 2014, about his book "A Call To Action." Former education secretary Paul Reville discussed Governor Healey's call for tuition-free community college. Jazz singer Nnenna Freelon and violinist Chelsey Green joined the show ahead of their concert Friday as part of the Boston celebrity series. For more information, go to CelebritySeries.org. We ended the show by hearing from listeners about mess. Are you, like Marie Kondo, rethinking the so-called lifechanging magic of cleaning up?

Today on Boston Public Radio: We started the show by opening the lines to hear from listeners about a backslide of women’s rights, on International Women's Day. Joseph Feaster, chair of Boston's Reparations Task Force, joined with task force member Carrie Mays to discuss their work. National security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed the latest news on four Americans kidnapped in Mexico, two were found dead; Fox News lying to its viewers about the 2020 election; and CPAC's radicalization. GBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen discussed impressionist artists of the 1800s giving us a climate change warning in their blurred landscapes; and a roundup of arts and culture events to explore in and around Boston. GBH Reporter Liz Neisloss discussed her reporting on Everett's school committee not renewing their superintendent of schools' contract, amid a broader culture of discrimination and retribution allegations against City Hall. Naturalist and author Sy Montgomery joined to discuss her recent trip swimming with humpback whales in the Dominican Republic. We closed the show by opening the lines to hear from listeners about their favorite TV shows to re-watch.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson aired “new” footage from the Jan. 6 riot using it to downplay violence and further the narrative that “mainstream media” has lied. How do we confront the alternative facts movement around the Jan. 6 insurrection? We opened the phone lines to hear from listeners. Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox joined BPR for the first time to discuss reform initiatives and a rise in violence in Boston Public Schools. Commissioner Cox also commented on why the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency has not sustained civilian complaints against the police department. Trenni Casey discussed the Celtics blowing a massive point lead against the Nets; the Bruins being the team to beat this year; and a juicy anonymous survey from the NFL Players Association. Carol Rose discussed why Walgreens is pulling abortion pills from its stores in some states that have threatened legal action, President Biden’s new asylum restrictions and a story in the Boston Globe about local elected officials’ texts. Violinists Mark and Maggie O’Connor performed at the Boston Public Library for a Live Music Tuesday in advance of their performance at City Winery. John King discussed the latest national political headlines, including January 6th misinformation, the debt ceiling and the Democratic Party’s attempt to increase support from older voters. A New York Times piece out today asks the question “is ice the height of domestic luxury?” Since the late 1800s, Americans have been obsessed with ice water, but have we taken it to new levels with fancy molds of varying shapes and flavored infusions? We opened the lines to ask listeners if they are ice-obsessed, or if they prefer a more European, ice-less beverage.

We started the show to get the listener's thoughts on “do nothing days.” Are they happier for setting aside time for nothing, or are they dedicated to their to-do list? Michael Curry discussed the 300,000 people likely to be dropped from MassHealth this year, and Black employees, vendors, and convention guests alleging discrimination by the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority. Corby Kummer examined the allegations of ‘cookie espionage’ at a shop in Central Square, the future of SNAP food assistance and the restaurant kitchen fee trend.   Evan Horowitz from the Center for State Policy Analysis, delved into Gov. Healey’s budget and tax package.  Christopher Muther discussed a new low-cost airline running from Boston to London this fall and how Montreal has embraced winter into its city culture.  The Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III discussed President Biden’s visit to Selma to mark the 58th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. How much would you throw down to snag an exclusive adults-only plane ride? What can airlines do to make travel more kid-friendly? Listeners weighed-in on traveling with kids.

Outdoor dining in Boston remains a contentious issue this year, as Mayor Michelle Wu released plans that curtail what restaurants in the North End are allowed to offer. “This is bedeviling a lot of cities,” said Corby Kummer on Boston Public Radio on Monday, citing ongoing debates in New York City about traffic and trash concerns. Last year, North End businesses were required to pay an extra fee for al fresco dining. This year’s plan limits North End businesses to outdoor space only on sidewalks, and only those of “adequate” width, according to the Boston Globe. The Globe’s Editorial Board also published a piece calling for the city to make the North End a pedestrian zone for the summer to allow North End restaurants to offer more outdoor dining on par with the rest of the city. “I think the access should be equalized for all parts,” said Kummer. "The Globe is saying one-way traffic is one thing in the summer, shut it down, make it a pedestrian zone. That’s a great idea in principle, but you try re-routing traffic when the tunnels are going to be closed for construction.” Corby Kummer is 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, live from the Boston Public Library: South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh was found for guilty of the murder of his wife and son. We opened the phone lines to hear from listeners about their thoughts on the verdict. Shirley Leung discusses Healey’s tax proposal, Wu’s plan to revitalize downtown Boston, and the new leadership at MassBio and John Hancock. Callie Crossley discusses Melvin B. Miller passing the torch over at the Bay State Banner, Brian Flores’ discrimination case against the NFL, diverse casting in Disney’s Peter Pan remake, and her excitement for the return of McDonald’s Shamrock Shake and her love for Breakfast all day. James Bennett II talks Cocaine Bear, Academy Award categories that deserve more recognition, A.R.T’s “The Wife of Willesden,” a women in cartography exhibit on the BPL, and the Celebrity Series of Boston Jazz Festival. Vincent Pastore who played “Big Pussy” on the Sopranos joins to reflect on the show before his Sopranos Q&A with a few other cast members at the Boch Shubert Theater. St. Patrick’s Celtic Sojourn peformed live for Live Music Friday this week. This included Brian and Lindsay O’Donovan, guitarist Keith Murphy and fiddle player Katie McNally. We ended the show by asking listeners if they would consider living on Life at Sea Cruises for just $30,000 a year with all expenses included. That's around the average price of living in a studio apartment in Boston but the difference is you'd be sailing all around the world.