Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to talk with teachers about the complications that come with a return to school in the fall.  Boston NAACP President Tanisha Sullivan previewed the 2020 NAACP virtual convention, and talked about the state of racial inequity in Mass.  CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discussed news that national security advisor Robert O’Brien tested positive for COVID-19, and recapped Tuesday’s congressional hearing with AG Bill Barr.  Medical ethicist Art Caplan talked about challenges with distributing a potential COVID-19 vaccine, and recapped the recent outbreak of coronavirus cases in Major League Baseball.   – Saida Grundy, author and assistant professor of sociology and African American studies at Boston University, discussed her latest writing for The Atlantic on the limits of anti-racist literature.  – Politico’s Stephanie Murray discussed the latest news on the Senate race between Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Joe Kennedy ahead of the September 1st primary, and talked about the challenges in campaigning for Congress during the pandemic.  – We opened lines to talk with listeners about your quarantine TV habits, in light of the newly-released 2020 Emmy nominations. 

Today on Boston Public Radio: Dr. Davis Rosman, president of the Mass. Medical Society, discussed an uptick in the rate of positive COVID-19 cases across Mass., and why he thinks Gov. Baker should consider scaling back the state’s reopening.   We opened lines to ask listeners: are the rewards of backing off on reopening worth it to keep coronavirus at bay? FRONTLINE filmmaker Michael Kirk talked about episode two of “United States of Conspiracy,” which reports on the career of InfoWars host Alex Jones.  NBC Sports Boston reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek discussed an outbreak of coronavirus within the Miami Marlins, and what it could mean for Major League Baseball in 2020.  Naturalist Sy Montgomery discussed her latest book, “Condor Comeback,”  about the efforts to save the endangered bird from extinction.   CNN’s John King talked about congressional negations around further coronavirus relief, and other national headlines.  Playwright Ryan Landry gave an update on his newfound painting career, and talked about his experience being interviewed for HBO’s documentary on lawyer and Donald Trump mentor Roy Cohn. 

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to talk with listeners about the new coronavirus travel restrictions, announced Friday by Gov. Baker. Drs. Meabh O’Hare and Josh Budhu discussed their recent writing on excited delirium, a medical condition they describe as "junk science" with strong ties to police brutality. WGBH News Analyst and GroundTruth Project CEO Charlie Sennott explained the rationale behind his concern for the health of American democracy, and discussed the U.S.’ deteriorating relationship with China.  TV expert Bob Thompson reflected on the life of TV host Regis Philbin, and explained why he’s not impressed with the simulated crowds in MLB broadcasts.  Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, reflected on the passing of local civil right advocate Mimi Jones, and talked about the recent speech by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, decrying derogatory remarks made against her by a congressional colleague.  Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discussed a State House bill to establish a “Distressed Restaurant Trust Fund,” and the racial reckoning at Boston-based bakery Tatte.  We opened lines to ask listeners: is this summer heart testing your ability to social distance?

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to talk with listeners about the return of baseball, on opening day for the Red Sox. Media maven Sue O’Connell discussed the rebuke from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to derogatory comments made by Rep. Ted Yoho, as well as news that the Hallmark Channel will include LGBT storylines in their 2020 holiday movie lineup.  Beat the Press host Emily Rooney talked about the release of President Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen from jail, and read her weekly list of fixations and fulminations. Food writer Corby Kummer talked about the decision by Trader Joe's to discontinue racist branding on their ethnic food packaging, and several ways that supermarkets are repurposing space that used to be used for salad and hot-food bars.  Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed news that Facebook ignored research about racial biases on their platforms, and controversy around comments made on the livestream feed of the U.S. Army's Esports team.  Under the Radar host Callie Crossley discussed artist Dustin Klein's work, shining images onto a confederate monument in Virginia, and a racist comments made to 14 year-old boy in Newburyport as he was handing out free donuts.  Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lori McKenna talked about her new album, “The Balladeer,” and promoted a Friday-night livestream concert out of Cambridge's Club Passim. 

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke with Boston Public Radio on Friday about Trader Joe's racist labeling on certain products, such as 'Trader Ming's' and 'Trader José's.' "Trader Joe's is finally saying no to racist branding that perpetuates the worst kind of stereotyping," he said. 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: Mass. Cannabis Commission Control Commission Chairman Steve Hoffman and Commissioner Shaleen Title discussed the bureaucratic hurdles keeping Black-owned cannabis shops from getting off the ground, four years after marijuana legalization in Mass.   We opened lines to hear your thoughts on the years-long delay of the Mass. legislature in getting Black-owned marijuana businesses off the ground.  Ali Noorani, Executive Director for the National Immigration Forum, talked about news of ICE’s concealment of a COVID-19 outbreak at one of their detention centers, and weighed the President’s authority to restrict whether undocumented immigrants get counted in the 2020 census.  WGBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen talked about the reopening of Boston’s museums, and new art from local muralist Rob Gibbs and photographer Raina Matar.  Former Mass. Education Secretary Paul Reville discussed new guidelines for school reopening in Mass., and offered his take on pushback to school reform from BPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius.  Congressman Joe Kennedy discussed the Senate’s lack of a COVID-19 relief bill, which was expected today, and offered his thoughts on police reform and term limits for Supreme Court justices.  We opened lines to talk with listeners about a new Mass. law allowing bars to offer to-go cocktails. 

Today on Boston Public Radio: Medical ethicist Art Caplan recapped the president’s Tuesday night reprise of coronavirus briefings, and offered his take on the anxieties around a rushed COVID-19 vaccine. We opened lines to talk with listeners about Gov. Charlie Baker’s extension of the state’s eviction moratorium. CNN analyst and national security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed the deployment of militarized federal troops in Portland, Ore., and talked about the various groups raising doubt over the effectiveness of a rushed COVID-19 vaccine. Boston Police sergeant and Mass. Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers President Eddie Chrispin offered his take on the current legislation to address policing in Mass., and why he believes police officers ought to have more input on reform. Mass. Attorney General Maura Healey discussed the state's extension of the eviction moratorium, and responded to listeners' questions and comments as part of our monthly “Ask the AG” segment.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to ask listeners: do you have concerns about the prospect of a “warp speed” coronavirus vaccine? NBC Sports Boston reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek talked about San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler’s decision to kneel during the National Anthem at a Monday night game, and the latest headlines around how sports leagues are navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Journalist Daffodil Altan talked about her latest project for FRONTLINE, a documentary titled “COVID’s Hidden Toll,” that reckons with the treatment of meat packing industry and farm workers during the coronavirus pandemic. Charles Stewart III, Kenan Sahin Distinguished Professor of Political Science at MIT, discussed mail-in voting preparedness and other election security questions ahead of the November election. Bay State Banner Senior Editor Yawu Miller talked about the state of Mass. police reform, and recounted his experience being questioned by Boston Police officers while reporting on Boston Police. CNN’s John King talked about the president’s return to coronavirus press briefings, and other national headlines. We opened our lines to talk with listeners about your expectations for the president reprisal of the coronavirus press briefings.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to ask callers: why do you think Americans aren’t taking to the streets over the 140,000 coronavirus deaths in the U.S.?  Litigator Kevin O’Connor talked politics, and his campaign for Sen. Ed Markey's Senate seat on the Republican ticket.  Dr. Katherine Dallow, Vice President of Clinical Programs and Strategy at Blue Cross Blue Shield, spoke about the state of COVID-19 in Mass., and responded to questions from callers.  Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, reflected on the legacy of Rep. John Lewis, and C.T. Vivian, who both died last week.  TV expert Bob Thompson reviewed the season six premiere of W. Kamau Bell’s “United Shades of America,” and explained why NBC affiliate stations opted out of airing the “30 Rock" reunion special. With the launch of NBC’s Peacock streaming service, we opened our lines to ask listeners: do you feel overwhelmed with the number of options for watching TV? 

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to ask listeners: are you hesitant about the return to physical classrooms in the fall? Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discussed the influence of Gov. Charlie Baker on the Mass. Supreme Judicial Court, and the dire need for housing assistance ahead of the August 18 eviction moratorium lift.  Under the Radar host Callie Crossley talked about hurdles with the current mail-in voting system, and renewed efforts to bring justice to family of DJ Henry, an Easton teenager who was killed by police in New York in 2010. We opened the lines to talk with listeners about your thoughts on mail-in voting ahead of the November election.  Christopher Wilkins, Music Director of the Boston Landmarks Orchestra, talked about their online Summer concert series, and why the orchestra is highlighting works by Black American composers. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh called in for our monthly edition of “Ask the Mayor.”