Boston Public Radio Podcast

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. 

Today on Boston Public Radio: CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem talked about  President Trump’s latest restrictions on immigration, and U.S. governors pushing for what she calls a “careless" reopening of state economies.  MIT economist Jon Gruber discussed structural issues in America's nursing home industry, and how funding problems are exacerbating the crisis for seniors in need of care.  We opened our lines to ask listeners: are you still watching Trump’s daily coronavirus briefings?  We aired live audio from Gov. Baker’s Wednesday press conference.  Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed the shortage of protective gear in the U.S., and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s push to reopen nonessential business in his state.  Food writer Corby Kummer discussed whether grocery clerks are heroes or victims in the coronavirus pandemic, and the dubious future of the Whole Foods hot bar. 

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke with Boston Public Radio, *on Wednesday, about the way the food industry will be different, post-coronavirus crisis. "What we're looking at is maybe as few as 30 percent of independent restaurants coming back, it all depends on how long the current closings last," he said. "So one to two months closed has 70 percent coming back, than at 3 months it's 50 percent, and then if it's 6 months it's 30 percent - these are all just wild projections, but it's bad." Small independent restaurants could also fail during slow re-openings, since regulations will likely not allow full capacity, he said. "These restaurants might be gone forever, and everyday along with the obits, we're seeing constant obits of restaurants that won't be coming back." *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 opened our lines to ask listeners: does the federal stimulus rollout, which is proving to benefit a few large companies over smaller businesses, have you feeling cynical about the government’s handling of the pandemic? Matt Segal, legal director for the Massachusetts ACLU, discussed his role in litigating the drug-testing scandal documented in the Netflix series “How to Fix a Drug Scandal.”  We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Tuesday press conference.  Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius spoke about what her administration is doing to accommodate students working remotely, and took questions from listeners.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Seed Global Health CEO Dr. Vanessa Kerry discussed the surge of COVID-19 patients in Massachusetts, the role of The WHO in fighting the global pandemic, and took questions from callers.  We opened our lines to talk with callers about how you’re handling coronavirus anxiety. WGBH news analyst and GroundTruth Project CEO Charlie Sennott discussed the positive strides being taken by female world leaders in the fight against COVID-19, as well as the dangerous opportunities presented by the pandemic for authoritarians. Science reporter and FRONTLINE correspondent Miles O’Brien discussed his upcoming FRONTLINE documentary, "Coronavirus Pandemic," on the U.S. COVID crisis response.  TV expert Bob Thompson reviewed Saturday's “One World: Together At Home” concert, and Netflix’s new show “BlackAF.” We opened our lines to ask callers: if coronavirus acceptance was ranked like the stages of grief, which stage would you be at?  Poet Richard Blanco celebrated National Poetry Month by reading some “ars poetica” pieces, or poems about poetry.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Rep. Ayanna Pressley discussed her recent appeal to Gov. Baker to rescind COVID-19 crisis guidelines in order to address racial disparities in communities impacted by the coronavirus.   CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem recapped her latest writing for The Atlantic on the “strange purgatory” awaiting Americans post-quarantine, and criticized President Trump’s calls to pull funding for the World Health Organization.  Beat the Press host Emily Rooney recounted her bizarre experience walking down an empty Newbury Street in Boston, and read a Covid-themed list of fixations and fulminations.  Media maven Sue O’Connell discussed the sexual assault allegation against former Vice President Joe Biden, and criticized the still-standing FDA restrictions on gay men donating blood. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed a new contract-tracing app from Google and Apple, and local privacy concerns over Chinese regulations on the video game Animal Crossing.  Under the Radar host Callie Crossley discussed polling on who Americans trust during the coronavirus pandemic, and whether recent comments from Surgeon General Jerome Adams were offensive to Americans of color. We opened our lines to ask listers: are you enjoying be anti-social while you social distance? 

Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd discussed the president’s authority the re-open the country, and talked about Joe Biden’s limited public presence during the pandemic.  Boston Globe columnist Shirley Leung talked about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on small businesses, and how it could shape the identity of U.S. cities for years to come.  We opened our lines to talk with callers about how you think Massachusetts ought to go about reopening its economy.  Former Massachusetts Democratic chair Steve Grossman discussed his views on what needs to be done to protect small businesses and under-resourced communities.  We reopened or lines to continue the conversation about how the state’s economy and the coronavirus pandemic. We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Thursday press conference.  Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam previewed an upcoming edition of the “Boston Public Radio” book club, and dissected the #pantsdrunk internet trend. 

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to talk with listeners ahead of Gov. Charlie Baker’s Wednesday press conference.  We aired live audio of the governor's press conference.  A.G. Maura Healey called in to address the range of issues her office is confronting amid the coronavirus pandemic, and took questions from callers. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed President Trump’s decision to suspend funding for the World Health Organization, and racial disparities in COVID-19 victims. Writer and naturalist Sy Montgomery discussed whether house cats can catch the coronavirus, and pandas mating at a vacated Hong Kong zoo. 

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to talk with listeners about President Trump’s heated Monday press conference. NBC Sports Boston reporter Trenni Kusnierek discussed the slow reemergence of sports in the U.S., and athletic companies who’re pivoting to produce personal protective equipment.  Writer and TIME Editor-at-Large Anand Giridharadas discussed issues with the U.S. relying on billionaires to offer aid during the coronavirus pandemic.  Former Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville explained how the coronavirus pandemic is widening the gap between students from low and high-income families.  Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart talked about what the coronavirus pandemic has meant for his orchestra's annual July 4th concert, and what he’s been up to in quarantine. CNN’s John King broke down the latest national headlines. We re-opened our lines for a check-in with listeners to see how you’re doing. 

Today on Boston Public Radio: Dr. Sandro Galea, Dean of BU’s School of Public Health, discussed the likelihood of racial disparities in cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, as well as the implications surrounding the president’s potential firing of Dr. Anthony Fauci.   We opened our lines to ask: if President Trump fires Dr. Anthony Fauci, will he make America sick again? TV expert Bob Thompson reviewed the work-from-home edition of "Saturday Night Live," and the series finales of “Modern Family” and “Schitt’s Creek.” WGBH news analyst and GroundTruth Project CEO Charlie Sennott discussed issues with Sweden’s lax approach to the coronavirus, and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s release from an ICU after contracting COVID-19.  Food writer Corby Kummer discussed clogged distribution channels in the food industry, and the current state of safety conditions for grocery store workers across the country. We continued the conversation about Anthony Fauci’s potential firing with listeners.  We aired live audio of Gov. Charlie Baker’s Monday press conference.