Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about extreme heat waves sweeping the U.S., and their connections to climate change. Trenni Kusnierek talks about the Boston Celtics’ new head coach, Ime Udoka, and the latest news from the Olympic and Paralympic trials. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Michael Curry discusses Massachusetts’ current vaccination rate, and explains how he’s reaching out to vaccine hesitant communities. He also shares his thoughts on former police officer Derek Chauvin’s sentencing. Curry is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and a member of Governor Charlie Baker’s COVID Vaccine Advisory Group. He’s also a Member of the National NAACP Board of Directors, and the Chair of the Board’s Advocacy & Policy Committee. Rick Steves talks about Europe reopening to American tourists, and offered his perspective on visiting England’s Cotswolds region. He also weighs in on Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ statement that federal marijuana laws may no longer be necessary. Steves is an author, television and radio host and the owner of the Rick Steves' Europe tour group. You can catch his television show, "Rick Steves’ Europe," weeknights at 7:30 p.m. on GBH 2 and his radio show, “Travel With Rick Steves,” Sundays at 4 p.m. on GBH. Sebastian Junger speaks about his latest book, “Freedom,” which looks at the meaning of freedom in its many iterations. Junger is a journalist, author and filmmaker. Rebecca Ostriker updates us on the Spotlight team’s latest reporting on the Baker administration’s response to the COVID-19 crisis at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. Ostriker is a news reporter for the Boston Globe. John King talks about the condo building collapse near Miami, and climate change denialism in Congress. King is CNN's Chief National Correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m.

Today on Boston Public Radio: EJ Dionne talks about the bipartisan infrastructure bill compromise, explaining which policies made the cut. 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 the return of traffic as more people return to work. Adam Reilly and Saraya Wintersmith update us on the Boston mayoral race and the Massachusetts governor’s race. They also share their thoughts on how Massachusetts politicians responded to the COVID-19 crisis. Reilly is co-host of GBH’s Politics podcast, “The Scrum.” Saraya Wintersmith covers Boston City Hall for GBH. Ned Hinkle and Ivy Moylan explain how the Brattle Theatre pivoted during the pandemic, offering virtual screenings of rare movies and theatre rentals. They also talk about their plans for reopening on July 2. Hinkle is the Creative Director of the Brattle Theatre. Moylan is the Executive Director of The Brattle Theatre. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III discuss the shooting of two Black people in Winthrop that is now being investigated as a hate crime. They also share their thoughts on the sentencing of former police officer Derek Chauvin. 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 an executive director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Together, they host GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast. Corby Kummer talks about the conservative backlash against the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, and the Supreme Court’s ruling that limits union representatives’ ability to organize farmworkers. 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. We end the show by asking listeners about their experiences with reply-all accidents.

Food writer Corby Kummer talked with Boston Public Radio on Monday about the future of food banks, following the release of a survey from Duke World Food Policy Center that looks at long-term shifts among hunger relief organizations. “One of the ideas is to allow people to shop for what they want. Don't just give them what you're able to get,” he said. “Find out from them what they want, what they need, [and] make it easy and dignified for them to be able to get there.” Food banks should also implement hours accessible to food pantry guests, and have pantry staff educated on the needs of their communities, Kummer added. “The wave of the future is, go to the community first and figure out what they need,” he said. “Don’t design something you think will be good for them.” 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.

After a major bipartisan win on infrastructure last week, President Biden nearly stepped in it when he declared he’d only sign it if a separate bill including his other priorities arrived on his desk “in tandem” with the infrastructure bill. Washington Post columnist EJ Dionne told Boston Public Radio on Monday Biden’s statements — and the frantic weekend of backtracking that followed — highlight just how complicated and fragile our current political system is. “In effect, we have what I count as the six party system,” he said. The majority of the Democratic party is comprised of “the Biden part of the party,” but there are progressives and conservatives on either side of that, said Dionne. On the Republican side there are the loyal Trump supporters; economic conservatives, who Dionne referred to as the “McConnell-ites … who want to make Biden’s life miserable”; and a small cadre of moderate conservatives. “In order to get done what he wants to get done, Biden has to play the politics of both of these complicated parties,” said Dionne, who noted that the Presidents’ efforts to assuage all six factions appear to be successful so far. EJ 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.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Juliette Kayyem updates us on the building collapse near Miami, and shares her thoughts on former police officer Derek Chauvin’s upcoming sentencing hearing. 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. Senate President Karen Spilka weighs in on Gov. Charlie Baker’s proposal to make August and September sales tax free. She also talks about the upcoming expiration of mail-in voting laws. Then, we talk with listeners about the increasing demand for a four-day work week. Danielle Allen explains why she chose to run for governor of Massachusetts, citing pandemic disparities as one of her main motivations for running. She also shares her thoughts on the Baker administration’s handling of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. Danielle is running for governor on the Democratic ticket. Allen was most recently the director of Harvard’s Safra Center for Ethics. Federico Erebia talks about his rescue of Pepito the Squirrel, and how his friendship with Pepito translated to children’s books. Erebia is a retired physician, woodworker, artist, author and illustrator. His latest books are “The Amazing True Stories of Pepito the Squirrel,” and “More Amazing Stories of Pepito the Squirrel.” Richard Blanco shares his poems “One Pulse—One Poem” and “Until We Could” to mark Pride Month. Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history. His new book of poems, “How To Love A Country,” deals with various socio-political issues that shadow America. We end the show by asking listeners what they think about the hybrid wedding model.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates us on the latest political headlines, from President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill to Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-FL) questioning of critical race theory in the U.S. military. 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 Gov. Charlie Baker’s proposal to make August and September sales tax free. Gov. Charlie Baker discusses his proposal to make August and September sales tax free, and the Spotlight investigation into the leadership at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. He also updates us on the status of COVID-19 testing and vaccination rates across the state. Bill McKibben talks about increasing instances of extreme weather across the nation, explaining its relation to climate change. He also discusses the protests against Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline. McKibben is a contributing writer to The New Yorker, a founder of 350.org, and the Schumann Distinguished Scholar in environmental studies at Middlebury College. He also writes The Climate Crisis, The New Yorker’s environmental newsletter. His latest book is “Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?” Paul Reville speaks about the GOP’s focus on critical race theory in schools, and Massachusetts’ new regulations on vocational schools’ admissions policies. 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.” Shirley Leung shares her thoughts on Gov. Baker’s proposal for a sales tax free August and September, and explains how the #MeToo movement is impacting the craft beer industry. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. We wrap up the show by continuing our discussion with listeners on Gov. Baker’s proposal to make August and September sales tax free.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Art Caplan shares his thoughts on the opening of a safe injection site in Somerville, and whether COVID-19 vaccine incentives work. Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. Next, we talk with listeners about a new survey that found that 40% of Massachusetts’ remote workers won’t return to the office until January. Brian McGrory discusses the Boston Globe’s recent Pulitzer Prize win for their Spotlight investigation into how states fail to track and keep dangerous drivers off of roads. He also talks about Senate Republicans’ blockage of the For the People Act. McGrory is the editor-in-chief of the Boston Globe. Jared Bowen updates us on the local arts organizations that benefited from the latest round of donations from billionaire MacKenzie Scott. He also talks about artist Firelei Báez’s exhibit at the ICA Watershed, and a retrospective of painter Alice Neel at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Bowen is GBH’s executive arts editor and the host of Open Studio. Steve Hoffman explains the Cannabis Control Commission’s equity goals, and how the cannabis delivery licensing process works. He also discusses a lawsuit from Haverhill-based cannabis store Stem over “community impact” fees imposed by the city on cannabis companies. Hoffman is the chairman of the Cannabis Control Commission. Tatishe Nteta discusses his research and polling into why nearly two-thirds of Americans oppose reparations for slavery, stating that the most common reason for opposition was the belief that descendants of enslaved people are not deserving of money. Nteta is an associate professor of political science at UMass Amherst, and the director of UMass Poll. We wrap up the show by asking listeners about ear cleaning and whether they would use an ear spoon.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Carl Nassib coming out, and what this could mean for the world of professional sports. Trenni Kusnierek talks about former journalist Kat O’Brien’s New York Times op-ed detailing her experiences with sexual assault and harassment while covering major-league baseball. She also updates us on how the Tokyo Olympics and International Olympic Committee are handling COVID-19 precautions. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett discusses current vaccination rates in Massachusetts, and talks about the nationwide spread of the COVID-19 Delta Variant. She also answers listeners’ questions. Gergen Barnett teaches in the Department of Family Medicine at Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical School. Elizabeth Hinton shares her research into the cycle of police and mob violence facing Black Americans, and how Black communities’ responses to brutality have been characterized throughout history. Hinton is an associate professor of history in the Department of History and the Department of African American Studies at Yale. She’s also a professor of law at Yale Law School. Her latest book is “America on Fire: The Untold History of Police Violence and Black Rebellion Since the 1960s.” John King updates us on the upcoming Senate vote on whether to advance the For the People Act, and shares his thoughts on Arizona’s 2021 election audit. 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 talking with listeners about the fate of voting rights as the Senate considers advancing a sweeping voting rights package.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start the show off by talking with listeners about how they’re filling their kids’ summers. Tracy Chang talks about the logistics behind operating a restaurant and two nonprofits during the pandemic, and how measures to “recession-proof” her business weathered COVID-19. Chang is the chef and owner behind PAGU. She also created the nonprofits Project Restore Us and Off Their Plate. Charlie Sennott updates us on President Joe Biden’s meeting with Vladimir Putin, weighing in on former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s critique of the meeting. He also talks about Israel’s new leadership. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project. Richard Blanco marks Pride month by reading two of his poems, “One Pulse—One Poem,” and “Until We Could,” which was developed into a short film. 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. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III shares their thoughts on Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday, arguing that the commercialization of the holiday leads to the erasure of its history. They also talk about Roman Catholic bishops moving to ban President Biden from receiving communion over his stance on abortion. 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 an executive director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Together, they host GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast. We wrap up the show by asking listeners if they participate in bedtime revenge procrastination.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about a post-vaccine spending boom, and the fight to stay frugal this summer. Steven Maler and John Douglas talk about Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s return to outdoor theater with their rendition of “The Tempest,” for the 25th anniversary of Free Shakespeare on the Common. John Douglas Thompson is the actor starring as Prospero, and Steven Maler is the Founding Artistic Director of Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. Kellie Carter Jackson discusses her latest piece for The Atlantic, “What the Push to Celebrate Juneteenth Conceals,” about the legacy of Juneteenth and right-wing outrage over so-called critical race theory. Carter Jackson is an assistant professor of Humanities and an assistant professor of Africana Studies at Wellesley College, and the author of “Force and Freedom: Black Abolitionists and the Politics of Violence.” Media Maven Sue O’Connell weighs in on the Supreme Court’s decision to side with a Catholic adoption agency refusing to work with same-sex couples, and controversy around kink at this year’s Pride parade. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discusses some of the downsides for consumers in Congress’ latest effort to reign in big tech companies. He also talks about updates made to Google’s algorithm to help protect users from online slander. Callie Crossley, host of GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black, talks about the significance of Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday, the series of more moderate voting rights proposals brought forward this week by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-WV, and her recent commentary celebrating “girl dads.” Chocolatier and lobster fisherman Josiah Mayo talks about his whirlwind week as the first mate of Michael Packard, the fisherman who was nearly swallowed by a humpback whale off the coast of Cape Cod.