Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today:Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joined Jim and Margery at the Boston Public Library on March 11, 2025 to discuss her appearance in a Congressional hearing about Boston's immigration policies, the growing field of contenders for Boston mayor, and of course, bike lanes.

Mayor Wu joined for the first hour to discuss testifying in front of Congress and answer listener questions. ACLU of MA's Carol Rose discusses hiring freezes at local educational institutions like MIT and Harvard.Donald Berwick, former administrator of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, currently a lecturer of healthcare policy at Harvard Medical School, discusses Republican-backed cuts to Medicaid under their current budget proposal.Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discusses the progressives trying to ditch big brands like Amazon and Target

Today:A congressional double-feature: Representatives Stephen Lynch and Ayanna Pressley zoom in to discuss the Oversight Committee hearing held last week featuring Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and other political news.

Congressman Stephen Lynch zooms in to discuss last weeks Oversight Committee hearing, his role on the DOGE subcommittee and his vote in support of the Laken Riley act.Ilan Stavans of Amherst College explains the Latino Freeze Movement and discusses Trump making the official language English. Plus, we discuss his new book of poetry translations "Lamentations of Nezahualcóyotl: Nahuatl Poems."Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley discusses her experience at the Congressional Oversight hearing where Mayor Wu and other Democratic city leaders discussed their immigration policies. And, the Massachusetts groups suing Trump for rolling back temporary protected status for Haitian and Venezuelan migrants.Kira Khazatsky, president and CEO of Jewish Vocational Services, joins in studio with Dawn Hayes, major gifts officer, to discuss JVS' work of connecting communities with educational and career training.

Today:Gina McCarthy headed the Environmental Protection Agency under Obama, and served as Climate Czar for Biden. She joins to talk about Trump’s rollback of environmental protections, and his incessant proclamations of “drill baby drill.” It’s Live Music Friday, we’ll hear from The Conifer Quartet – part of the musician-led cooperative “Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra,” ahead of a show this weekend. 

The Conifer Quartet is an ensemble within the musician-led cooperative Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra. They have a show Sunday at the Allen Center in Newton and join us for Live Music Friday.Alan Solomont is the former U.S. ambassador to Spain. He's fresh of a visit to the Middle East and he joins us to reflect on the latest news about and Israel's war with Hamas.Gina McCarthy is the former head of the EPA and so-called “Climate Czar” under Joe Biden. She joins to talk about Trump rolling back her former agency and other climate headlines.Due to a technical difficulty with Marty Baron, former editor of the Boston Globe and Washington Post (it's live radio, folks!), we end the show with a call-in free-for-all about grammar rules and grammar pet peeves.

We bring you live audio from the House Oversight Committee's hearing of Democratic mayors, including Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who faced questions about whether their city's "sanctuary" policies violate federal immigration laws. Plus, analysis of the hearing from former federal judge Nancy Gertner, NAACP's Michael Curry and GBH political reporter Adam Reilly. Our final hour is "Ask the AG" with Attorney General Andrea Campbell. 

Today:Peter Wolf, lead vocalist for the J. Geils Band, solo artist, and a former Boston disc jockey joins Jim and Margery in Studio 3 to talk about his new memoir: "Waiting on the Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters, and Goddesses."And, Boston University professor Anthony Jack discusses threats to the Department of Education, and the impact of Trump's rhetoric in general, on higher education.

Political analyst Chuck Todd reacts to Trump’s Tuesday address to congress, plus yesterday’s "sanctuary city" hearings and other headlines from D.C.Former public safety secretary Andrea Cabral discusses SCOTUS rejecting Trump’s request to freeze USAID funds, plus Tesla protests and reactions to Wednesday’s hearing with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.Boston University’s Anthony Jack talks about recent education headlines, including Linda McMahon at the helm of the Department of Education --- and her efforts to dismantle it. Plus, how universities are interacting with ICE.Peter Wolf, former David Lynch roommate & lead singer for The J. Geils Band, has a new memoir. He joins in studio to discuss his life and his recent decision to cancel an event at the Kennedy Center.

Political commentator Anand Giridharadas of The Ink newsletter discusses some of his latest coverage on the Trump administration, and the media's response.Former MA education secretary Paul Reville discusses new data showing New England students about a half a year behind where they should be in learning, how the state plans to rework its graduation requirements post-MCAS, and threats to education coming from the federal government.Food policy analyst Corby Kummer discusses farmers responding to federal funding freeze, tariffs, etc. And, a free speech trial concerning a painting in a pastry shop.Technology writer Andy Ihnatko discusses the latest tech headlines, and what it means for DOGE to have access to personal data.