Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: – Rep. Joe Kennedy discussed concerns about meat plant workers returning to work, and his call for an investigation into the violent conflict at a Bristol County ICE detention center. – Food writer Corby Kummer discussed unsafe working conditions for meat plant workers, and proposed legislation to expand food stamps and bring additional cash for restaurants owners. – We opened lines to talk with listeners about Monday's anti-lockdown protests at the Mass. State House. – Carol Rose from the Mass. ACLU talked about voting rights in the age of coronavirus, and her group’s campaign to have Gov. Baker grant additional clemency to non-violent offenders in state prisons. – Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang talked about the success of the $1,200 federal stimulus checks, and the goals of his ‘Move Humanity Forward’ PAC. – We reopened lines to talk with listeners about anti-lockdown protests and your thoughts on the federal government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis.

President Donald Trump classified meat plants as essential infrastructure last week, implying that they must remain open. Food writer Corby Kummer spoke with Boston Public Radio *on Tuesday about the ability of meat packing plants to stay open amid coronavirus outbreaks. "[Meat packing plants] are among the most dangerous, inhumane, cruelly run business operations in the United States," Kummer said. "Social distancing is impossible [in meat packing plants] because you're under incredible pressure to keep the line speed up." Meat packing plants consist of horrible working conditions, Kummer noted. "There's no reason to keep these cruel inhumane places open." *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: Dr. Benjamin Linas, infectious disease physician at Boston Medical Center, discussed why Mass. has the third most COVID-19 cases in the U.S., and responded to questions from callers. We opened our lines to talk with callers about Gov. Charlie Baker’s new mandate that all Mass. residents wear face masks. We aired live audio from Gov. Baker’s Monday press conference. WGBH news analyst and GroundTruth Project CEO Charlie Sennott talked about World Press Freedom Day, and his fears about the future of journalism at home and abroad. TV expert Bob Thompson discussed the overrated importance of bookshelves in virtual conferences and interviews, and gave a breakdown of the best and worst TV of the week. Travel guru Rick Steves gave his thoughts on the eventual reemergence of international travel, and explained his newfound appreciation for the domestic aspects of life.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to talk with callers about the sexual assault allegation against former Vice President Joe Biden. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed the latest news around coronavirus tracing software from Apple and Google, and how social media companies are handling pandemic misinformation. Beat the Press host Emily Rooney gave her take on Joe Biden’s response to the sexual assault allegation against him, and read a coronavirus-themed list of fixations and fulminations. Media maven Sue O’Connell discussed the sexual assault allegation against Joe Biden, and the Trump administration’s proposed rollbacks on protections for trans people in U.S hospitals. Husband and wife duo Joanne Chang and Christopher Meyers, of the restaurant Meyers + Chang, talked about how their businesses are doing amid the pandemic, and give their take on the future for Boston's restauranteurs. We opened lines to ask listeners why you think Massachusetts is struggling to lower its cases of COVID-19. We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Friday press conference.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Suffolk County DA Rachel Rollins discussed how her administration is responding to the pandemic, and answered questions from callers.  We opened lines to ask callers: are there certain businesses you’d be okay with seeing reopen now?  We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s press conference.  Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed Sen. Mitch McConnell’s push to reopen the Senate, and the struggles of holding court proceedings over Zoom.  NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd also talked about Sen. McConnell’s plans to reopen the Senate, as well as the sexual assault allegation against Vice President Joe Biden.  We opened lines to continue our conversation about the possibility of a safe reopening of certain businesses and services. 

Today on Boston Public Radio: Congressman Jim McGovern gave his take on remote voting, and Washington politicians who refuse to wear face masks. Medical ethicist Art Caplan talked about the disproportionate number of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, and commemorated the life his mother, who passed away from the disease this week.   We opened our lines to talk with listeners about Vice President Mike Pence’s refusal to wear a face mask during his visit to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.  We aired live audio from Gov. Baker’s Wednesday press conference. Former Secretary of Transportation Jim Aloisi discussed the impact of COVID-19 on the MBTA, and how the pandemic could be used as an opportunity to improve the city's transit system.  CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem talked about her writing for the Atlantic on how states ought to handle reopening their economies, and JetBlue’s latest requirement that fliers wear face masks. Playwright Ryan Landry talked about his new painting habit, and what he envisions for the future of his Gold Dust Orphans theater company.

Today on Boston Public Radio: — We opened our lines to talk with listeners about coronavirus vigilantes, and whether there’s a public responsibility to reprimand people who ignore safety guidelines. — NBC Sports Boston reporter Trenni Kusnierek talked about last week's NFL draft, and the latest news around the Tokyo Olympics, currently scheduled for 2021. — We aired live audio from Charlie Baker’s Tuesday press conference. — Harvard behavioral economist Michael Norton talked about the rituals parents are introducing to their kids to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic, and took questions from listeners. — CNN’s John King discussed the latest political headlines.

Today on Boston Public Radio: New York Times columnist Ben Smith talked about the media's responsibilities when it comes to covering President Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.    We opened our lines to check in with listeners, and talk about the struggles of working from home. We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Monday press conference.  TV expert Bob Thompson discussed last week’s Prince tribute on CBS, and reviewed “Homeland” and HBO’s “Bad Education.” Dr. Katherine Dallow, Vice President of Clinical Programs and Strategy at Blue Cross Blue Shield, talked about the status of coronavirus testing in Massachusetts, and answered questions from callers. 

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to ask listeners: has President Trump gone too far in promoting misinformation about coronavirus? Beat the Press host Emily Rooney discussed the president’s daily coronavirus briefings, and read her weekly list of fixations and fulminations. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh called in for an hour-long edition of “Ask the Mayor.” Boston Globe Columnist Shirley Leung discussed how the unemployment crisis is playing out in Massachusetts, and what small businesses can expect from the latest federal aid package. CNN’s John King talked about the president’s latest false claim, where he denied saying UV light and disinfectant could be used to cure coronavirus, and Joe Biden’s warning that Trump could try to delay the election in November. Under the Radar host Callie Crossley talked about President Trump’s claims regarding disinfectant and COVID-19, and gave her thoughts on the disproportionately high impact of COVID-19 on communities of color.

Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd talked about his recent interview with Vice President Mike Pence, and broke down the debate in Washington over more stimulus funding. Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed why some are advocating to reopen gun shops, and President Trump’s threats to sue governors over closed businesses.  We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Thursday press conference. Former Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic could shape the future of education in Massachusetts, and Harvard’s decision to return $8.6 million in coronavirus stimulus funds.   Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam talked about the newly-published recipe to make IKEA’s Swedish meatballs at home, and where the rich are flocking to during the coronavirus pandemic.  Jim and Margery talked about their concerns over the Trump administration's dismissal of science amid the coronavirus pandemic.