Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start the show by opening phone lines, asking listeners whether they thought colleges should mandate vaccines for returning students. Jonathan Gruber shares his thoughts on President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan, arguing that investment into infrastructure could create jobs across America. 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 discusses the nationwide move away from mass vaccination sites to private sites. She also shares what she thought we should be asking when a mass shooting occurs. 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. Ali Noorani explains how former President Donald Trump left an indelible mark on the U.S. Immigration Court system. He also discusses the spike in unaccompanied minors migrating to the U.S. 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.” Art Caplan weighs in on the Boston Globe’s Spotlight investigation that found that numerous Boston hospital CEOs moonlighted on corporate boards. He also touches on the controversy behind Dr. Oz hosting “Jeopardy.” Caplan is the Drs. William F and Virginia Connolly Mitty Chair, and director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the NYU School of Medicine. Jared Bowen gives us his latest arts and cultural rundown, highlighting the American Repertory Theater’s “The Conjurors’ Club,” and the Museum of Russian Icons. Bowen is GBH’s executive arts editor and the host of Open Studio. We wrap up the show by talking with listeners about emerging from pandemic hibernation.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start the show by asking listeners how they felt about Prudential’s Pulse of the American Worker Survey, which found that 1 in 4 workers plan to leave their job post-pandemic. Trenni Kusnierek talks about the Stanford Cardinal’s NCAA women’s basketball win, and the MLB’s decision to move their All-Star game out of Atlanta due to Georgia’s passage of controversial voting restrictions. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Carol Rose shares her thoughts on nationwide attacks on transgender rights, calls for vaccine passports and the fight against Georgia’s voting restrictions. Rose is the Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts.  Michael J. Bobbitt discusses the pandemic’s impact on Massachusetts’ arts and cultural institutions, from financial issues to COVID-19 stage performance guidelines. He also weighs in on how the arts and culture sector could rebuild in the wake of COVID-19. Bobbitt is the executive director  of the Mass Cultural Council. Shirley Leung talks about Acting Mayor Kim Janey’s “All Inclusive” Boston tourism campaign, and the team who put it together. She also discusses the Boston Globe’s Spotlight investigation that found that Boston hospital chiefs moonlight on corporate boards at a much higher rate than the national level. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. John King updates us on the latest from the Derek Chauvin trial, and the sex trafficking investigation into Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz. King is CNN's Chief National Correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. We wrap up the show by talking with listeners about jumping the vaccine line using “fauxmorbidities.”

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening phone lines, talking with listeners about the country's perception of Boston as a racist city. Michelle Singletary walks us through tax season, explaining taxes collected on unemployment and the Child Tax Credit. Singletary is a nationally syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, whose award-winning column, "The Color of Money,"  provides insight into the world of personal finance. Lylah Alphonse updates us on the latest Rhode Island-based headlines, from COVID-19 vaccination rates to the state of Providence schools. Alphonse is the Rhode Island editor for the Boston Globe, where she leads a team covering and exploring the Ocean State. Bob Thompson discusses the comeback of Court TV, and their coverage of the Derek Chauvin trial. He also touches on the controversy surrounding Dr. Oz hosting “Jeopardy.” Thompson is the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a professor of television and popular culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett Price share their thoughts on the trial of Derek Chauvin, and the nationwide perception of Boston as a racist city. They also discuss a decline in church membership across the country. 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. Richard Blanco celebrates the start of National Poetry Month by highlighting Asian American poets. 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 the reopening of elementary schools across Massachusetts.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start the show by asking listeners whether they’re ready to mend relationships with family members who supported President Donald Trump. Sue O’Connell weighs in on conservatives’ reactions to both the sex trafficking investigation into Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz and Lil Nas X’s music video for “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name).” She also discusses the decrease in divorce rates due to the pandemic. 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. District Attorney Rachael Rollins discusses the National Bureau of Economic Research study validating her decision to dismiss low-level, nonviolent offenses, or resolve them without jail time. She also shares her thoughts on the Sean Ellis case, and her push for a new trial. Rollins is the district attorney for Suffolk County. Andy Ihnatko updates us on the latest news at the intersection of tech and politics, from bots to help you find vaccine sites to Apple blocking ProtonVPN from updating their VPN app. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Callie Crossley explains how Black executives are calling on corporations to fight Georgia voting restrictions. She also weighs in on recent apologies from the Jan. 6 Capitol rioters. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. Don Lemon previews his new book, “This Is The Fire: What I Say To My Friends About Racism." He also shares his thoughts on the trial of Derek Chauvin. Lemon anchors “CNN Tonight with Don Lemon,” airing weeknights at 10 p.m. He’s also a #1 bestselling New York Times author. His latest book is “This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism.” We wrap up the show by talking with listeners about the rise of a new type of small talk: vaccine appointments.

The most recent stimulus package signed by President Joe Biden — the American Rescue Plan — dedicates $1.8 billion for K-12 schools in Massachusetts, with Boston Public Schools getting $400 million. “It’s going to be an enormous windfall for the school system,” former Massachusetts Education Secretary Paul Reville tells Boston Public Radio. “It’s going to mean an intensive period of first of all competition for how to spend that money.” Reville said the next few months will be a period of politicking in Boston — in a good way — as the city goes through a mayoral race, emerges from the pandemic, and sets priorities for the future. Biden has also just unveiled his infrastructure plan that proposes $100 billion for school construction. Reville also discussed the state’s efforts to return students to schools, and new developments in vaccine safety for younger people. Paul Reville is a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he also runs 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.”

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd talks about the sex trafficking investigation into Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz. He also shares his thoughts on President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan. 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 opens the phone lines, talking with listeners about distracted walkers. Andrea Cabral discusses the witnesses in the Derek Chauvin trial, and the trauma they’ve faced and are now revisiting in court. She also argues that people who don’t know about violence against Black Americans are intentionally ignoring history. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Bill McKibben weighs in on the climate aspects of President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plans, and the University of Michigan’s decision to divest from fossil fuels. 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 explains how the American Rescue Plan Act might be used to help reopen schools across the U.S. He also touches on the low positivity rate in pooled COVID-19 testing in Massachusetts schools.  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.” Corby Kummer talks about the increase in online grocery orders due to the pandemic, and the need for more cold food storage to meet these demands. He also shares his thoughts on Krispy Kreme’s decision to give away free donuts to vaccinated individuals. 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 wrap up the show by asking listeners if they were opting into April Fool’s Day after a year of gloom.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is offering a free glazed doughnut per day for the rest of the year to anyone who shows their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card. Food writer Corby Kummer spoke to Boston Public Radio on Thursday about the company’s announcement. “How many people do you think are actually going to take advantage of it every day?” he said. “Not nearly as many as the much of free publicity Krispy Kreme has gotten for this announcement.” The company also sweetened the deal for its employees, Kummer noted. “I’m going to praise Krispy Kreme because they’re also offering up to four hours of paid time off for each vaccination for their employees,” he said.” “This is really important to incentivize employees.” 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: Jonathan Gruber shares his thoughts on President Joe Biden’s tax plans. He also explains capital gains taxes. 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 ask listeners whether they think Massachusetts should make vaccines mandatory. Juliette Kayyem explains why it’s rare for U.S. mass shooters to be charged with committing a hate crime or terrorist act. She also discusses gun legislation. 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 weighs in on calls to make vaccines mandatory, and the potential of an international COVID-19 vaccination passport. He also shares his thoughts on Arkansas’ passage of a bill restricting access to gender-affirming medical care for transgender children. Caplan is the Drs. William F and Virginia Connolly Mitty Chair, and director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the NYU School of Medicine. Joanne Chang and Christopher Myers recap how their restaurants, Myers + Chang and the Flour Bakery and Café franchise, have weathered the pandemic over the past year. They also talk about the rise in anti-Asian racism, and how it’s impacting Asian restaurants. Chang and Myers are the duo behind the restaurant Myers + Chang and the Flour Bakery and Café franchise. Chang is a James Beard award-winning pastry chef and author. Her latest book is "Pastry Love." Myers has been in the fine dining business for years.  Sy Montgomery joins us for this month’s edition of The Afternoon Zoo, discussing new research on sea slugs’ responses to parasites and a viral video of a penguin being chased by orca whales. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist and a BPR contributor. Her latest book is "Becoming A Good Creature."

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start the show by talking with listeners about the CDC’s warning of a possible fourth wave of COVID-19. Trenni Kusnierek talks about Boston Pride’s National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) title win, and New Hampshire’s Tuckerman Inferno pentathlon. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Michael Curry discusses the current state of the vaccine equity gap in Massachusetts, arguing for more resources for community-based organizations. He also talks about his experience being bused into Charlestown as a child. 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. Christopher Muther updates us on the state of hotels during the pandemic, and Iceland’s new rule requiring international visitors to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a previous COVID-19 infection. Muther is a travel writer and columnist for the Boston Globe. Lee Pelton and Roger Brown share their thoughts on running colleges during a pandemic, and what they think the future of higher ed could look like. Pelton, after serving as president of Emerson since 2011, will be joining the Boston Foundation in June as their next president and CEO. Brown has served as the president of Berklee College of Music since 2004, and will be stepping down this year. John King weighs in on President Joe Biden’s first 100 days in office, the challenges facing voting rights and the fate of the filibuster. King is CNN’s Chief National Politics Correspondent and anchor of “Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. We wrap up the show by asking listeners whether they’ve bought into camping fever.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Charlie Sennott talks about the cargo ship Ever Given blocking the Suez Canal, and Brazil’s COVID-19 crisis. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project. Next, we ask listeners if they thought Dr. Deborah Birx and other members of former President Trump’s White House were complicit in COVID-19 deaths. E.J. Dionne updates us on the latest political headlines, from voting restrictions in Georgia to hopes for President Joe Biden’s infrastructure agenda. 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.” Shirley Leung speaks about her recent Boston Globe column, where she wrote about Asian parents giving “the talk” to their children on how to deal with racism. She also discusses the pandemic’s impact on the hotel industry, explaining that it might take years for hotels to recover economically. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett Price share their thoughts on the Catholic Church’s opposition to a U.S. suicide hotline due to its support of LGBT+ people. They also talk about evangelist Franklin Graham’s promotion of the COVID-19 vaccine, causing outrage among some Evangelical Christians. 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. Walter Isaacson previews his new book, “The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race.” Isaacson is a professor of American history at Tulane University, the host of the podcast “Trailblazers,” and a host on  “Amanpour and Company.”  His latest book is “The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race.” We end the show by talking with listeners on whether they felt stuck — just like the Ever Given ship in the Suez Canal — during the pandemic.