Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners if Americans would have the same courage as Ukrainians if Russia invaded. Jenifer McKim and Vanessa Rosa talk about a recent investigative report into receiverships in Springfield, which has led to some people losing their homes. McKim is a senior investigative reporter at the GBH News center for investigative reporting. Rosa is an Assistant Professor of Latina/o Studies at Mount Holyoke, where she studies racism and urban inequality in cities. Callie Crossley discusses what’s at stake with inaccuracies in the 2020 census and the history of a World War Two unit made up completely of Black women receiving posthumous Congressional medals. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. Katherine Tallman updates listeners on the latest with Coolidge Corner Theatre, and how the movie theater industry is managing two years into the pandemic. Tallman is the CEO and Executive Director of the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline. Shirley Leung shares different ways to think about hybrid work and talks about anti-Russian sentiments affecting local businesses. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Sue O’Connell weighs in on backlash against Disney’s tepid response to anti-LGBTQ legislation in Florida, and a new type of spider coming to New England. O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and South End News, and contributor to Current, on NBC L-X and NECN. We end the show by asking listeners their thoughts on why Americans do not embrace bidets like other countries.

It’s been two years since Governor Charlie Baker declared a COVID state of emergency in Massachusetts. To mark the occasion, In It Together brought back some old friends of the show to reflect on the pandemic and where we go from here. Arun Rath speaks with Boston Medical Center’s Dr. Cassandra Pierre, Franciscan Children’s Hospital behavioral health director Dr. Fatima Watt, La Colaborativa executive director Gladys Vega, and local comedian Lamont Price, as well as GBH reporters Craig LeMoult and Meg Woolhouse.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates listeners on the latest in politics, including President Joe Biden’s response to Ukraine and the disagreement between the U.S. and Poland over fighter jets. Todd is the moderator of “Meet The Press” on NBC, host of “Meet The Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Then, we ask listeners their latest opinions on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Jon Gruber breaks down the economics of sanctions and how they’re going so far in an attempt to stop Russia. Gruber was instrumental in creating both the Massachusetts healthcare reform and the Affordable Care Act, and his latest book is “Jump-Starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth And The American Dream.” Andrea Cabral talks about the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision to overturn an overly harsh sentence, and the Quincy post office manager arrested for selling confiscated cocaine. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Juliette Kayyem discusses the state of Ukraine and the latest on Jan. 6 prosecutions. Kayyem was formerly an assistant secretary for homeland security under President Barack Obama, now the faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Her forthcoming book is “The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters.” Arun Rath previews tonight’s In It Together reunion show, commemorating two years since Governor Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency because of the pandemic. Arun Rath is the host of All Things Considered here at GBH, which you can catch weekdays from 4 to 7 P.M. Tonight’s In It Together reunion special will air right afterward, at 7 P.M. tonight.  We end the show by asking listeners for their memories from the start of the pandemic.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners for their thoughts on loosening pandemic restrictions around the country. Art Caplan shares his thoughts on Florida breaking with CDC recommendations that healthy kids should still get vaccinated. Caplan is 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. Audrey Schulman and Zeyneb Magavi talk about the fight for cleaner energy in New England, and the challenges ahead in breaking away from fossil fuels. Schulman and Magavi are co-directors of the Cambridge nonprofit Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET). Ali Noorani explains how the Ukrainian refugee crisis is an opportunity for the U.S. to affirm the country’s commitment to human rights, and talks about his forthcoming book, “Crossing Borders: The Reconciliation of a Nation of Immigrants.” Noorani is President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Immigration Forum. Yuriy Matsarsky discusses his experiences on the ground in Ukraine after leaving his job in journalism to volunteer for the country’s defense forces. Matsarsky is a longtime Ukrainian journalist who, two weeks ago, put down his pen and took up arms to defend his country against the Russian invasion. Christopher Muther talks about exploring Black history in Richmond, Va., and searching for landmarks of Gilded Age New York. Muther is a travel writer for the Boston Globe. To wrap up the show, we talk with listeners about cheating at Wordle.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about rising gas prices before carrying President Joe Biden's speech announcing a ban on the import of Russian oil. Trenni Kusnierek discusses Russia’s detainment of WNBA player Brittney Griner, and the 50th Iditarod race, which started this past weekend. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston. She's also a BPR contributor. Deborah Douglas and Amber Payne talk about the upcoming relaunch of The Emancipator, and their partnership with BU’s Center for Anti-Racist Research and the Boston Globe. Douglas and Payne are co-editors in chief of The Emancipator, in partnership with the Boston Globe opinions team and the Boston University Center for Anti-Racist Research. Ty Burr shares his thoughts on the latest movies, from “The Batman” to “Power of the Dog.” Burr’s reviews and thoughts on all things movies can be found at “Ty Burr’s Watch List” on Substack. John King updates us on the latest political headlines, focusing on President Joe Biden’s announcement that imports of Russian oil would be banned. King is CNN's Chief National Correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. We end the show by asking listeners how they find joy after doomscrolling.

Social media users and investors are calling on various U.S. fast food companies with operations in Russia to speak on the country’s invasion of Ukraine, with many companies remaining silent and continuing business as usual. A number of U.S.-based fast food chains in Russia — such as Starbucks, Papa John’s, and Yum Brands-owned KFC and Pizza Hut — are owned and operated by franchisees, making it difficult for companies to uniformly close stores due to political issues. “[Companies] don't have as much control over their franchisees,” food writer Corby Kummer told Boston Public Radio on Monday. “It's mostly franchise owners who decide whether or not to close the restaurant because of political turmoil, not the brands themselves.” According to the New York Times, however, McDonald’s owns the majority of its 847 restaurants in Russia, with the country accounting “for 9 percent of the company’s total revenues and 3 percent of its operating income” — leaving the company in a prime position to make a statement. PepsiCo, which counts itself as the largest food and beverage manufacturer in Russia, is in a similar position. “[McDonald’s and PepsiCo] can make a difference; they're not doing it yet. They're not stopping bottling and sales there,” Kummer said. “Starbucks and others that don't own their own franchises, they're doing something clever, which is saying, ‘Okay, so we're not telling our franchise operators to shut down. But we're going to donate a percentage of all the income that they make to Ukraine.’” “Starbucks was saying they condemn the unprovoked, unjust, and horrific attacks. McDonald's can act. They're the ones that I'd like to see take a stand and say, ‘You guys shut down for a while.’” 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: We begin the show by talking with listeners about acts of heroism out of Ukraine. Charlie Sennott discusses the state of misinformation and propaganda surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sennott is a news analyst for GBH, where he also heads up the Groundtruth Project. Michael Curry shares his thoughts on President Joe Biden’s first year in office. He also discusses the long-term COVID issues many immunocompromised people still face. Curry is president and CEO of the Mass. League of Community Health Centers. He’s also a Member of the National NAACP Board of Directors, where he serves as chair of the Board’s Advocacy & Policy Committee. Corby Kummer talks about Mayor Michelle Wu’s efforts to confront a food desert in Mattapan, and the various local restaurateurs who are aiding Ukraine. 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. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III weigh in on how faith communities are responding to Ukraine. They also talk about the Supreme Court declining to review the lower court decision that freed Bill Cosby. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist and the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail. Emmett G. Price III is founding pastor of Community of Love Christian Fellowship in Allston, the Inaugural Dean of Africana Studies at Berklee College of Music. Together, they host GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast. Vsevolod Petriv and Tetiana Litus share how local Ukrainians are responding to the Russian invasion, and their thoughts on whether the U.S. is doing enough to help the people of Ukraine. Petriv is president of the Boston branch of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. Litus is a 24-year-old Ukrainian who just moved to the U.S. a few months ago. We end the show by asking listeners if they want more permanent outdoor dining in their neighborhoods.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening phone lines, talking with listeners about surging gas prices associated with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Shirley Leung talks about the closure of Amazon’s brick and mortar bookstores, and the Green Line extension to Somerville. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. David Leonard shares how people increasingly turned to library services throughout the pandemic. Leonard is the president of the Boston Public Library. Bill McKibben discusses the UN’s recent climate report, and concerns over Russian attacks on nuclear power plants in Ukraine. McKibben is an author, educator and environmentalist. He’s the founder of 350.org and ThirdAct.org. He has a new newsletter on Substack titled “The Crucial Years.” He’s also got a new, serialized book titled “The Other Cheek: An Epic Nonviolent Yarn.” Judge Nancy Gertner weighs in on the Supreme Court’s reinstatement of the death penalty for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Judge Gertner is a retired U.S. District Judge for the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts. She’s currently a senior lecturer on law at Harvard University. Andy Ihnatko updates us on the latest tech headlines, explaining how the tech industry has responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Callie Crossley talks about the life and legacy of Autherine Lucy Foster, the first Black woman to attend the University of Alabama. She also discusses the racism facing African students fleeing Ukraine. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black.  Sue O’Connell shares her thoughts on Gov. Greg Abbott’s order targeting the parents of transgender kids, and reflects on the queerness of Gen Z. O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and South End News, and contributor to Current, on NBC L-X and NECN. We wrap up the show by talking with listeners about the 50th anniversary of The Godfather.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates us on the latest political headlines, focusing on the Jan. 6 committee’s potential charges against former President Donald Trump. Todd is the moderator of “Meet The Press” on NBC, host of “Meet The Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Next, we open the phone lines, talking with listeners about the return to the office. Andrea Cabral talks about former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia asking for a sixth extension for the date he’s scheduled to go to prison. She also shares her thoughts on the trial of Newton District Court Judge Shelley Joseph, who allegedly tried to help an undocumented immigrant evade a federal agent who showed up at the courthouse to detain him. Cabral is the former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety. She’s now the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Jared Bowen shares his latest arts and culture roundup, from “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical” to the American Repertory Theater’s “Ocean Filibuster.” Bowen is GBH’s executive arts editor and the host of "Open Studio." Gov. Charlie Baker discusses the Boston Globe’s report that a top official at state soldiers’ homes was fired after bringing his safety concerns to Mass. Inspector General Glenn Cunha. He also answered listeners’ questions and calls.

As scores of Ukrainian citizens cross the border into Poland fleeing the Russian invasion, chef José Andrés greets them with warm meals. Award-winning food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Wednesday to talk about Andrés work in feeding refugees as the crisis grows. Currently, Andrés is set up in Poland, providing food to refugees through his group World Central Kitchen, which works to feed people on the frontline of global disasters. “These refugees who are spending 36, 48 hours in the road, in lines, how are they managing to survive?,” Kummer asked. “Throwing their possessions away, waiting with children, it's freezing cold. I don't know how they make it. So he's right there where need is great.” Kummer said that the group is hoping to make it into Ukraine itself, particularly to deliver flour to a group of nuns in Lviv also working to prepare meals. Andrés got his start in Spain, and first made national headlines after pulling a contract from Trump Hotel over the former President’s comments about refugees. In addition to his work feeding refugees, Kummer said he’s constantly working to support young chefs, and is “a legend in the food world.” 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.