Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: We open the phone lines to hear how listeners are processing the news that half a million Americans have died from COVID-19. Trenni Kusnierek discusses some professional athletes’ reluctance to do vaccine PSAs. She also shares her thoughts on the debate over whether Olympic athletes should jump the vaccine line. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Rep. Bill Driscoll previews this Thursday’s Mass. vaccine rollout oversight hearing, touching on the Vaxfinder website crash and the Baker administration’s response. Driscoll represents Milton & Randolph's 7th Norfolk District. Anne Miller talks about PPE supply shortages, and President Biden’s authorization of the Defense Production Act to ramp up PPE production. She also explains the differences between N95 and KN95 masks, and how to spot fake N95 and KN95 masks. Miller is the executive director of the Boston-based nonprofit Project N95. Shirley Leung discusses Malden’s eviction prevention measures, as well as inequities in Mass. vaccine distribution. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. John King updates us on the latest political headlines, from Merrick Garland’s confirmation hearing to the release of former President Trump’s tax records. 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 what they thought about the debate on whether Olympic athletes should be able to jump the vaccine line.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Brian McGrory weighs in on the criticism lodged against Gov. Baker’s vaccine rollout. He also speaks about the Supreme Court’s denial of former President Trump's bid to conceal his financial records. McGrory is the editor-in-chief of The Boston Globe. Next, we open the phone lines to ask listeners what their experiences have been in registering for the COVID-19 vaccine. Michelle Singletary discusses this year’s confusing tax season, and how listeners can prepare their tax forms. She also talks about the underfunding of the IRS, which has a backlog of over 11 million unprocessed 2019 tax returns. Michelle 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. Her recent 10-part series titled “Sincerely Michelle,” breaks down enduring misconceptions involving race. She’s also the author of "The 21 Day Financial Fast." Councilor Michelle Wu shares her thoughts on the state of vaccine distribution in Boston, and her proposed ordinance to get a vaccine site in every Boston zip code. She also discusses her proposal for a city-owned broadband network. Wu is a Boston City Councilor and candidate for city mayor. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III discuss the criminalization and adultification of Black children, and the Supreme Court case asking justices whether the use of racial slurs create a hostile workplace. They also speak about Vatican City’s new anti, anti-vaxxer policy. 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. Ali Noorani shares the latest updates on President Biden’s immigration reform bill, and other immigration headlines. 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 how they’re spending their lunch breaks in quarantine.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening the phone lines to talk with listeners about Sen. Ted Cruz and hypocrisy. Sue O’Connell weighs in on Sen. Ted Cruz trip to Cancun while Texans struggled with freezing temperatures and the loss of electricity. She also touches on the 2021 postponement of Boston Pride, and Elton John’s friendship with Rush Limbaugh. 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. Emily Rooney talks about John Connolly’s recent release from prison, and the closure of Kenmore Square’s Eastern Standard, Island Creek Oyster Club, and Hawthorne. She also previewed this week’s episode of Beat the Press. Rooney is host of Beat the Press, which you can watch Friday nights at 7 p.m. Andy Ihnatko explains the showdown involving Google, Facebook, and the Australian government over paying for news content. He also talks about the U.S. digital divide, President Biden’s pick for the acting chair of the FCC, and NASA’s Perseverance Rover. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Christopher Muther speaks about when people might be able to safely travel again, and the recent increase in flight bookings for summer travel. Muther is a travel writer and columnist for the Boston Globe. Callie Crossley discusses a Harvard study that found reparations for slavery would have decreased COVID-19 transmission and deaths in the Black community. She also previews Sunday’s edition of Under the Radar. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. We wrap up the show by asking listeners what their experiences have been in trying to get vaccinated.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Congressman Jake Auchincloss argues for the creation of a Mass. centralized preregistration vaccination site. He also explains why he believes former President Trump could be tried under the 14th Amendment for the Jan. 6 Capitol siege. Auchincloss is the Democratic congressman representing Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District. Andrea Cabral explains how Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and the NAACP are using the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act in their lawsuit against former President Trump and Rudy Giuliani. She also talks about the recent resurgence of debtors’ prisons. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of Ascend. Governor Baker addresses Thursday’s Vaxfinder website crash, as well as the criticism he's received on his handling of vaccine distribution. He also speaks about the state’s current vaccine capacity, and how his administration plans to increase the number of vaccines available in Mass. Chuck Todd discusses Rush Limbaugh’s influence on political culture, and the state of the Republican Party today. 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. We open the phone lines to hear listeners’ experiences with vaccine registration. Councilor Andrea Campbell speaks about the state of vaccine distribution in Mass., and argues for a “Teacher Vaccination Week.” She also discusses the Boston mayoral race, and what running a mayoral campaign during a pandemic looks like. Campbell represents Boston's District 4, which includes parts of Dorchester, Mattapan, Jamaica Plain and Roslindale. She's also currently running for mayor of Boston. We end the show by talking with listeners about the Baker administration adding even more people to the vaccine eligibility pool.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Art Caplan weighs in on the recent firing of a Texas doctor after he distributed ten vaccines that were about to expire. He also argues for moving elite athletes further ahead in the vaccination line. 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. Carlo DeMaria responds to claims made by Everett City Councilor Gerly Adrien of racist treatment from her colleagues during her appearance on Monday's show. He also talks about Everett’s response to the pandemic, and his decision to distribute masks to every city resident. DeMaria is the mayor of Everett, Mass. Juliette Kayyem talks about the internal disarray of the QAnon conspiracy community, and the energy distribution issues facing Texas during their winter weather emergency. 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. Next, we open the phone lines to hear listeners’ thoughts on national vaccine rollouts. Corby Kummer speaks about the lack of pandemic hazard pay for grocery store employees around the country, and how restaurateurs are mobilizing to assist vulnerable 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. Sy Montgomery explains how songbirds find mates for life in other birds who literally sing their tune, and discusses vampire bats who adopt vampire bat cubs. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist and a BPR contributor. Her latest book is "Becoming A Good Creature." We wrap up the show by asking listeners about what they’ve given up in a year already full of sacrifices.

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke to Boston Public Radio on Wednesday about universal free lunches amid the pandemic. “School lunch is one of the only mystifyingly good stories of the Trump administration during the pandemic - which is that they extended waivers so that entire families of students who were eligible for free school lunches could get them,” Kummer said. “All the children in the family would be eligible for these meals not just the students at eligible schools.” Universal school lunch aims to eliminate stigma around free meals, Kummer noted. “It’s not as big of a deal in Boston because there is universal lunch and breakfast offered to students already,” he said. “But in plenty of municipalities the terrible lunch shaming of students who are supposed to pay for school lunch but then fall into debt has been eliminated during COVID by these waivers.” There are now different bills trying to extend universal school lunch plans state-by-state and nationally, Kummer added. 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 to talk with listeners about whether they feel their life is on hold due to COVID-19. Trenni Kusnierek discusses the car crash involving former Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid the day of the Super Bowl, and the leeway given to NFL athletes for bad behavior. She also speaks about Mark Cuban’s decision to omit the national anthem from Dallas Mavericks home games, arguing that the national anthem should be reserved for major sports events. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Rick Steves talks about the possibility of a COVID-19 vaccine passport, and what the U.S. could learn from Germany about remembering its own dark history. 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. Chris Dempsey and Jim Aloisi speak about Gov. Baker’s recent vetoes on a $16.5 billion Mass. transportation bill, and what transportation could look like in Boston, post-pandemic. Aloisi is the former Massachusetts transportation secretary, a member of the Transit Matters board, and contributor to Commonwealth Magazine. Dempsey is the Massachusetts Director of Transportation and former assistant secretary of transportation. Next, we ask listeners what they want their work commute to be like post-pandemic. John King discusses the ongoing investigation into the Jan. 6 Capitol siege, the criminal inquiry into former President Trump’s Ga. election phone call, and the NAACP’s criminal suit against former President Trump and Rudy Giuliani over the Capitol riot. King is CNN's Chief National Correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. Dr. Virginia Sinnott-Stutzman shares why she believes veterinarians should be moved from Phase III to Phase II of Gov. Baker's vaccine line. She also talks about the rise in pet adoptions during the pandemic, and how veterinary hospitals are responding to increased visits. Sinnott-Stutzman is a senior staff veterinarian at Angell Animal Medical Center.

Before former President Trump’s impeachment trial began, Harvard Law School professor Jeannie Suk Gersen wrote in the New Yorker that his acquittal may send a worse message to society than if there were no trial at all. Gersen told Boston Public Radio on Monday, days after the acquittal vote, that she does think charging former President Trump for his role in inciting the insurrection and holding the public trial lessens the “message of impunity” for him. But, she said, the acquittal has “all kinds of resonance.” “It can mean that he was right in his election fraud claims, for some people that’s what it may mean, and for other people it may mean even worse things: that he has a political future in front of him and that he could be running for office in just a couple of years.” Jeannie Suk Gersen is a Harvard Law School professor, and a New Yorker contributor.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell condemned former President Trump for inciting the insurrection on Jan. 6, just hours after he’d voted to acquit Trump of the charge in the impeachment trial. McConnell, like many of his Republican colleagues, argued that regardless of Trump’s role, the impeachment trial was unconstitutional because it occurred after he had left office. Suffolk University Law Professor Renée Landers told Boston Public Radio that even though the acquittal was “preordained,” the trial itself was “necessary for the proceedings to happen, because … it established a record for the country about what happened on Jan. 6 and what the president’s actions were that day that led to an assault on the Capitol building.” Landers is a Professor of Law, Faculty Director of the Health and Biomedical Law Concentration, and Faculty Director of the Masters of Science in Law Life Sciences program at Suffolk University Law School in Boston.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Renée Landers shares her legal analysis of former President Trump’s impeachment trial, and discussed the importance of Congress establishing a timeline of what happened during the Jan. 6 Capitol siege for the public record. Landers is a professor of law and faculty director of the health and biomedical law concentration at Suffolk University’s School of Law. Next, we open the phone lines to hear listeners’ thoughts on the acquittal of former President Trump. Gerly Adrien speaks about her recent Boston Globe op-ed, where she discussed the higher standards she's being held to as a Black, female politician. She also touches on her colleagues’ calls for her resignation, and her ongoing campaign for reelection. Adrien is the City Councilor At-Large for the City of Everett. Jeannie Suk Gerson explains former President Trump’s acquittal in a political and cultural context. She also weighs in on whether Capitol siege rioters could be charged with treason, and former President Trump’s defense team’s legal strategy. Suk Gerson is the John H. Watson, Jr. Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and a contributor to The New Yorker. We talk with listeners about former President Trump’s impeachment trial. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III discuss the racist messaging behind former President Trump’s “Stop the Steal” narrative, and President Biden’s Lunar New Year message condemning racism against Asians. 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. Shirley Leung talks about the Baker administration’s handling of unemployment benefits and small business assistance. She also discusses Boston’s racial wealth gap. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. We wrap up the show by asking listeners how they were spending school vacation week during quarantine.