Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: EJ Dionne talks about the death of former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards. He also weighs in on the Supreme Court’s ruling on two Arizona voting laws, and term limits for Supreme Court justices. Dionne is a columnist for The Washington Post and a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution. His latest book is "Code Red: How Progressives And Moderates Can Unite To Save Our Country.” Next, we talk with listeners about state Rep. Edward Coppinger’s proposal to add an extra, opt-in year of learning for high school students. Charlie Sennott discusses the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, and shares his thoughts on Haiti’s calls for U.S. military presence in the wake of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse’s assassination. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project. Adam Reilly and Saraya Wintersmith update us on the latest news from the Boston mayoral race and Massachusetts governor’s race, from former Boston Police Chief Dennis White’s claims of gender and racial discrimination to republican Geoff Diehl’s gubernatorial campaign launch. Reilly is co-host of GBH’s Politics podcast, “The Scrum.” Saraya Wintersmith covers Boston City Hall for GBH. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III share their thoughts on the removal of multiple Confederate statues in Charlottesville, and Parents United’s demands for “true diversity of thought” in New England private schools. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail, and a visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at the Boston University School of Theology. Price is the founding pastor of Community of Love Christian Fellowship in Allston. Together, they host GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast. Richard Blanco explains the craft behind the letter poem, and highlights examples of letters as poems. Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history. His new book, "How To Love A Country," deals with various socio-political issues that shadow America. We wrap up the show by asking listeners how they felt about Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk’s space race.

The U.S. Supreme Court has gutted most of the Voting Rights Act. In a Washington Post column after the decision was announced on July 1, EJ Dionne wrote dryly that the day may as well come to be known as “Oligarchy Day.” EJ Dionne joined Boston Public Radio on Monday, to discuss the ruling, and its implication for American democracy. He said the Supreme Court decision — with the six conservative justices voting in favor — was “outrageous, given that conservatives always say ‘we don’t legislate from the bench.’” Dionne said the decision will make it harder for the federal government to go to court to question voting restrictions that may appear neutral but could be discriminatory. EJ Dionne is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a columnist for the Washington Post. His latest book is Code Red: How Progressives and Moderates Can Unite To Save Our Country.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening phone lines, asking listeners if they thought it was time for the government and employers to mandate vaccines. Andy Ihnatko talks about the multiple states that have filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google, and offers tips on safely handling damaged lithium-ion batteries. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Callie Crossley speaks about Zaila Avant-garde’s historic win of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. She also talks about Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott’s plans to revive failed GOP voting legislation, and Harvard University’s plans to return civil rights leader Standing Bear’s tomahawk to the Ponca Tribe. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. Dr. Marcia Chatelain discusses the historic role McDonald’s plays in the Black community, and the origins of Black capitalism. Dr. Chatelain is a professor of history in African American studies at Georgetown University. She’s the author of Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America, which won a Pulitzer Prize this year for history. Shirley Leung talks about Massachusetts’ settlement with the Sackler family for their role in the opioid crisis. She also discusses the story of Toni Columbo, who runs a reweaving business in Charlestown. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Sue O’Connell explains the status of LGBTQ+ rights in Japan, and shares her thoughts on Britney Spears’ conservatorship. O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and the South End News, as well as NECN's political commentator and explainer-in-chief. We end the show by hosting our own spelling bee with listeners.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates us on the latest political headlines, from vaccine hesitancy amid the rise of the Delta COVID-19 variant to the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on voting rights. 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 talk with listeners about the struggles millennials face in saving up for retirement. Andrea Cabral discusses the criminal indictment against the Trump Organization, sharing her thoughts on potential defense strategies. She also talks about the Massachusetts Department of Correction phasing out solitary confinement. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Ali Noorani explains the political backlash President Joe Biden might encounter by lifting COVID-era travel restrictions along the U.S. Mexico border, and talks about the evacuation of Afghan interpreters and drivers following U.S. troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan. Noorani is President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Immigration Forum. His latest book is "There Goes the Neighborhood: How Communities Overcome Prejudice and Meet the Challenge of American Immigration.” Paul Reville talks about the lack of diversity among school superintendents in Massachusetts, citing poor treatment of superintendents of color. He also shares his thoughts on Brandeis University’s “Oppressive Language List.” Reville is the former Massachusetts secretary of education, and a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he also heads the Education Redesign Lab. His latest book, co-authored with Elaine Weiss, is: "Broader, Bolder, Better: How Schools And Communities Help Students Overcome The Disadvantages Of Poverty.” Paul Goodnight and Larry Pierce talk about their new mural, “No Strings Detached,” and share their thoughts on the importance of public art. Artists Paul Goodnight and Larry Pierce’s mural is titled “No Strings Detached.” It’s on view now at Breezes Laundromat on Blue Hill Ave in Dorchester. Their mural is one of six artworks that are part of the Mentoring Murals public art initiative launched by the nonprofit Now+There. We end the show by asking listeners whether they’ve cancelled their vacation plans due to the rise of the Delta COVID-19 variant.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Jonathan Gruber explains the economics behind condominiums, from condo ownership to building expenses. He also argues for stronger protections for homeowners in the event of major structural repairs. Gruber is the Ford Professor of Economics at MIT. He was instrumental in creating both the Massachusetts health-care 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." Next, we talk with listeners about their experiences with condo boards and condo ownership. Juliette Kayyem talks about the challenges rescuers are now facing in Surfside, Fla. She also discusses the Rise of the Moors standoff on I-95. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. State Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz discusses her decision to run for governor, citing inequity around the state as one of the deciding factors in launching her campaign. Chang-Díaz is running for governor of Massachusetts on the Democratic ticket. Corby Kummer talks about a change in tipping etiquette during the pandemic, and a decline in Sweetgreen orders coinciding with the rise of working from home. He also discusses the Washington Farm Bureau lobbying against health protections for emergency workers. 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. Art Caplan shares his thoughts on low vaccination rates in the face of the Delta COVID-19 variant. He also talks about medical conservatorships following increased scrutiny of and investigations into the conservatorship of Britney Spears. Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. We wrap up the show by asking listeners what their metric for health and fitness is.

On Wednesday’s Boston Public Radio, food writer Corby Kummer derided the American lunchtime phenomena known as the “sad desk lunch,” where workers are forced to eat at the work spaces in order to save time and boost productivity. The back-and-forth was sparked by a recent New York Times story about the salad chain Sweetgreen, whose owners are presenting the company’s sales as something of a barometer for the return to workplaces, and the renewed appetite in what the article dubbed “desk salads.” “There’s a generic name for it that you’re forgetting,” Kummer quipped. “Sad desk lunch – it’s a whole phrase.” Rather than bringing lunch back to your desk to send emails while shoveling quinoa, he pushed for American bosses to adopt what he called “the French model.” “You are not allowed to work between 1:00 and 2:00,” he said. “You have to go and take your sad desk lunch to a communal table and make conversation with your workers. That’s part of the whole office serendipity, utopia, of chance encounters that lead to immense creativity that doubles the profits of the business.” During the 20-minute discussion, Kummer also touched on a recent story about a Georgia farmworker grappling with her family’s legacy as slave-owners, and the future of tipping in a post-pandemic America. Corby Kummer is a senior editor at The Atlantic, an award-winning food writer, and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition and Policy.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start the show by opening phone lines, asking listeners what they thought could boost nationwide vaccination rates. Trenni Kusnierek talks about Sha’Carri Richardson’s one-month suspension after she tested positive for marijuana. She then discusses Los Angeles Angels player Shohei Ohtani. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Jim Aloisi and Stacy Thompson discuss the current state of President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill, and the return to pre-pandemic levels of traffic and congestion. Aloisi is the former Massachusetts transportation secretary, a member of the Transit Matters board, and contributor to Commonwealth Magazine. Thompson is executive director of Livable Streets. Catherine Peterson talks about how local arts institutions have fared during the pandemic, detailing an arts labor shortage and a lack of economic support for arts. Peterson is the executive director of ArtsBoston. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III give historical context for the Rise of the Moors standoff on I-95, and shares their thoughts on 1619 Project creator Nikole Hannah-Jones’ departure from UNC after she was denied tenure. They also talk about the banning of Soul Cap swimming caps at the Olympics. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail, and a visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at the Boston University School of Theology. Price is the founding pastor of Community of Love Christian Fellowship in Allston. Together, they host GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast. John King updates us on the latest political headlines, from President Biden’s visit to Surfside, Fla., to Massachusetts’ gubernatorial race. King is CNN's Chief National Correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. We then talk with listeners about socializing over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Today we’re on tape, replaying some of our favorite conversations with a focus on author interviews. CNN’s Don Lemon discusses his latest book: "This Is The Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism." Chasten Buttigieg discusses his memoir, "I Have Something to Tell You." David Byrne discusses the film adaptation of his tour, "American Utopia," and his accompanying illustrated book. Derek DelGaudio discuses the film adaptation of his one man show: "In & Of Itself," and his new book, "AMORALMAN: True Stories and Other Lies." Gish Jen talks about her book, "The Girl at the Baggage Claim: Explaining the East-West Culture Gap." Meredith Goldstein discusses her latest novel, "Things that Grow."

Today on Boston Public Radio: Andrea Cabral weighs in on the criminal indictment against the Trump Organization, and the overturning of Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Then, we talk with listeners about the Pennsylvania Supreme Court vacating Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction. Rep. Ayanna Pressley discusses the future of voting rights legislation, calling for the abolishment of the filibuster. She also talks about her introduction of the Tenant Empowerment Act of 2021, and shared her hopes for the infrastructure bill. Tiffani Faison shares how she kept her four restaurants afloat throughout the pandemic, and talks about how the labor shortage has affected business. Tiffani Faison is the chef and owner of Sweet Cheeks, Tiger Mama, Fool’s Errand And Orfano. Sen. Elizabeth Warren discusses her renewed calls for a wealth tax following a ProPublica report that revealed how some billionaires avoided paying income taxes. She also speaks about her conversations with constituents on student loan debt forgiveness. Andy Ihnatko updates us on the latest tech headlines, focusing on research showing that only 19% of Wikipedia biographical entries are on women. He also shares his thoughts on Microsoft’s upcoming release of Windows 11. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. We wrap up the show by asking listeners whether they’re participating in VaxMillions.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start the show by talking with listeners about what economists are calling “The Great Pandemic Tipping Boom of 2020.” Jonathan Gruber explains the economics behind the music industry as more music venues reopen for live shows. He also talks about the lack of revenue musicians gain from streaming services and album releases. Gruber is the Ford Professor of Economics at MIT. He was instrumental in creating both the Massachusetts health-care 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." Juliette Kayyem updates us on the latest news from the partial condo building collapse near Miami, and the possibility of a criminal indictment of the Trump Organization. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Art Caplan shares his thoughts on disclosing your vaccination status at work. He also weighs in on parents’ concerns over their children getting vaccinated. Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. Shirley Leung talks about efforts to make the Seaport more equitable, and explains Gov. Charlie Baker’s push for affordable homeownership as a way of decreasing the racial wealth gap. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Ali Noorani discusses Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s plans to build a wall along the Texas-Mexico border. Noorani is President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Immigration Forum. His latest book is "There Goes the Neighborhood: How Communities Overcome Prejudice and Meet the Challenge of American Immigration.” We wrap up the show by asking listeners whether the live music experience has changed for them due to the pandemic.