Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to talk with listeners about your experiences around school reopening. NBC Sports Boston reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek recapped the latest sports headlines, from losses by the Patriots and Celtics, to debate over whether college athletes should have more access to coronavirus testing than their collegiate peers. Filmmaker Michael Kirk discussed his latest documentary for FRONTLINE, “The Choice 2020: Trump vs. Biden.” Food writer Corby Kummer talked about guidelines for safe indoor dining, restaurants that're imposing COVID-19 surcharges, and why sales of tofu are through the roof. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discussed debate around who Gov. Charlie Baker ought to choose to replace the late SJC Chief Justice Ralph Gants, and spoke on how her kids are handling hybrid learning. CNN’s John King discussed Tuesday's news that the U.S. has passed 200,000 COVID-19 deaths, and increasing certainty that Senate Republicans will elect a Supreme Court justice before the November election. We reopened our lines to continue the conversation with listeners about how you’re handling the quasi-return to schools.

A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study found that adults who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 were twice as likely to have eaten at restaurants. But the study is facing criticism for its lack of distinction between diners who ate at indoor versus outdoor establishments, food writer Corby Kummer said. “I do trust the CDC, but the study they released did not differentiate between bars or restaurants or between indoor and outdoor dining,” he said. It’s a challenge for restaurants to successfully and safely have indoor dining, Kummer said, but possible if everyone, specifically diners, follow health guidelines. “There are going to be big problems for restaurants trying to open indoors, but there’s a path forward if they follow the rules and insist that their diners follow the rules,” he said. “As for bars, they’re probably not go to reopen until there’s a vaccine that’s well established, and that’s a good year.” 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: Dahlia Lithwick, a legal correspondent and senior editor at Slate, discussed the legacy of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as a feminist icon, and reflected on her experience interviewing her in January. Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy discussed his views on the danger of politicizing the Supreme Court, and why he believes most Senate Republicans will fall in line behind Sen. McConnell’s efforts to fill the vacancy left by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before the November election.  We opened lines to hear your impressions on the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and efforts by Senate leaders and President Trump to replace her before the November election.   Martha Minow spoke on late Justice Bader-Ginsburg, and the legal legacy left in her wake. Minow is the 300th Anniversary University Professor at Harvard University, and a former Dean of Harvard Law School. Her latest book is "When Should Law Forgive?" We reopened lines to talk with listeners about the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and what’s to come for the Supreme Court. Boston University law professor Jay Wexler, who clerked for Bader Ginsburg in the late nineties, talked about his experience working under the late Supreme Court justice.  Michael Curry and Jennifer Nassour offered their takes on Justice Bader Ginsburg’s passing, and weighed in on the effort by Senate Republicans and President Trump to fill her vacancy before the election. Curry is the Deputy CEO & General Counsel for the Mass. League of Community Health Centers and a member of the National NAACP Board of Directors, where he chairs the board's Advocacy and Policy Committee. Nassour is the former chair of the Mass. Republican Party, and founder of the Pocketbook Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and electing more female candidates to public office.  We closed the show by returning to listeners, to get your thoughts on the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and discuss the road ahead for the Supreme Court. 

Today on Boston Public Radio: Former FBI agent Peter Strzok weighed in on corruption and within the Trump administration and its impact on U.S. national security, in a conversation about his new book, “Compromised: Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump."  Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell offered her thoughts on Mayor Walsh's police task force, the rocky transition to hybrid learning for Boston Public Schools students, and discussed whether she intends to enter the 2021 Boston mayoral race.  Beat the Press host Emily Rooney reflected on Thursday night’s town hall with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, critiques of the media from writer James Fallows, and read a rank choice voting-themed list of fixations and fulminations.  CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discussed news that a former homeland security advisor to Vice President Mike Pence is publicly backing Joe Biden for president, and explained why she believes the Trump administration is directly responsible for the bulk of the nearly 200,000 U.S. coronavirus deaths. Under the Radar host Callie Crossley talked about a recent assertion from AG Bill Barr that COVID-19 restrictions are akin to slavery, and polls showing a close race for South Carolina’s Senate seat between Sen. Lindsay Graham and Democratic challenger Jamie Harrison.  Tech writer and BPR contributor Andy Ihnatko called in to answer all your remote-learning tech questions.

Homeland security expert Juliette Kayyem spoke with Boston Public Radio on Friday about Olivia Troye, former homeland security, counterterrorism and coronavirus adviser to Vice President Mike Pence, who quit her job in July and has now endorsed Joe Biden. “She’s a significant staffer, so it is big in the sense that she left the task force, she left government, and then she goes public in support for Biden,” Kayyem said. “It assures the president to be the pig that he is in terms of how he talks about people.” 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.

Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd weighed in on the latest headlines around November’s elections, and President Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.  GBH News’ Adam Reilly discussed new GBH/MassINC polling on voter attitudes around the 2021 Boston mayoral race.  We opened lines to ask listeners: is it time for leaders in the science and medical communities to call out President Trump’s reckless statements on coronavirus and climate change?  Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed the recent settlement reached between the city of Louisville, Ky. and the family of Breonna Taylor, as well as last week’s study from Harvard Law School on stark racial disparities in the Mass. justice system.  Harvard Business School behavioral economist Michael Norton discussed research on leisure, and what we know about those of us who have a hard time letting loose. We also opened lines to hear your thoughts on active and inactive leisure time.  Shannon O’Brien, former Mass. Treasurer and advisory board member of the Brookline-based voting app Voatz, discussed growing interest in online voting, and the pros and cons of current online voting systems.  Travel guru Rick Steves called in to reflect on a series journals he wrote as a teenage traveling “urchin,” and discuss how traveling has shaped his worldview. We opened lines to talk with listeners about what Rick Steves describes as the “traveler’s mindset,” and ask: have you been able to use the coronavirus pandemic to discover new things about the places around you?

Today on Boston Public Radio: MGH psychiatrist and pediatrician Dr. Elizabeth Pinsky discussed how remote learning can hinder childhood development, in a conversation sparked by her recent Atlantic piece, titled "We Flattened the Curve. Our Kids Belong in School." We opened lines to hear your thoughts on the rollout of remote learning, and whether Mass. ought to be doing more to prioritize children’s mental wellbeing.  Boston City Counselor and mayoral candidate Michelle Wu called in to talk about why she’s running to lead the city, and how she’d improve on the job being done by current mayor Marty Walsh.  Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed the ways companies are navigating COVID-19 testing for employees, and President Trump’s willingness to hold largely mask-free rallies during the coronavirus pandemic.  We opened lines to talk with listeners about Michelle Wu’s campaign for mayor, and the improvements you’d like to see from future Boston leadership.  Naturalist and journalist Sy Montgomery discussed the varying ways animals cope with wildfires, and why dogs have such a hard time recognizing people in face masks. 

Today on Boston Public Radio: Mass. AG Maura Healey reflected on the life and career of Mass. Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants, who died on Monday.  Deval Patrick, former Mass. Gov. and Chairman of the Together Fund, called in to continue the conversation about the life and legacy of former Mass. SJC Chief Justice Gants.  NBC Sports Boston reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek talked about the Patriots' win – and Tom Brady’s loss – this past Sunday, and weighed in on the growing number of NFL and NBA players using their platform to advocate for social justice causes.  Heather Goldstone, Chief Communications Officer at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, discussed the link between climate change and the current string of record-setting hurricanes and wildfires in the U.S., and touched on why the COVID-19 pandemic has had a minimal impact on the climate crisis.  Jim Aloisi and Chris Dempsey discussed potential service cuts and fare hikes for the MBTA, and Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu’s track record on transportation issues in light of news that she’s running for city mayor. Jim Aloisi is former Mass. Transportation Secretary, a member of the Transit Matters Board, and a contributor to Commonwealth Magazine. Chris Dempsey is the Director of Transportation for Massachusetts and former Mass. Assistant Secretary of Transportation.  GBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen talked about the Museum of Fine Arts' reopening, a new exhibit at Mass MoCA from artist Blane De St. Croix., and the documentary “Our Time Machine,” which was released to “virtual theaters” last Friday.  CNN’s John King talked about the near-certain coronavirus transmission taking place at the president's reelection rallies, and news Tuesday of a diplomatic deal reached between Israel, the U.A.E., and Bahrain.  We opened lines to ask listeners: as museums and movie theaters reopen, do you feel comfortable returning to the great indoors?

Transportation experts Jim Aloisi and Chris Dempsey joined Boston Public Radio on Tuesday, where they attested to Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu’s record on transportation issues, in light of her newly-announced campaign for city governor.  "I think she’s already impacted the conversation,” Dempsey said. "She has been a leader on transportation since she joined the City Council, not just within the city of Boston but really across the region and across the state.” Aloisi agreed, saying he believes Wu “has already triggered conversations that are good ones.” "I think that the dynamic between her and [current mayor Marty Walsh] in terms of thinking about dedicated bus lanes, protected cycling lanes, is good one,” he said, adding that any future leadership in Boston will need to implement aggressive measures to modernize the city's transportation infrastructure. The two also weighed in on MBTA proposals to mitigate a looming budget crisis with fare hikes and service cuts, as well as Mayor Walsh’s announcement that Boston will be increasing bus lanes and making a series of bike lanes permanent.  Jim Aloisi is former Mass. Transportation Secretary, a member of the Transit Matters Board, and a contributor to Commonwealth Magazine. Chris Dempsey is the Director of Transportation for Massachusetts and former Mass. Assistant Secretary of Transportation. 

Trenni Kusnierek spoke to Boston Public Radio on Tuesday about Tom Brady’s first performance as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer last Sunday. The Buccaneers lost to the New Orleans Saints 34-23. “Brady is 43 and I don’t think we’re going to see the same Tom Brady ever again,” Kusnierek said. “Don’t build your entire offense around Tom Brady and put it all on his shoulders.” Having an offense with a solid running game will take the pressure off Brady, she added. “Make it a versatile offense, similar to New Orleans with Drew Brees, who’s 41 years old,” she said. “Anything so that every time you need a score, it’s not solely on him.” Trenni Kusnierek is a sports reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston.