Boston Public Radio Podcast

The closure of schools, businesses, and restaurants, due to the coronavirus pandemic, has created a problem of abundance with farmers across the country. Food writer Corby Kummer spoke with Boston Public Radio *on Monday, about farmers who have excess food. "There's this double problem of not enough farm workers to harvest food, and food not being distributed," he said. "A single chicken processor is smashing 750,000 unhatched eggs every week and the nation's largest dairy cooperative estimates farmers are dumping 3.7 million gallons of milk each day, because cows don't stop giving milk, chickens don't stop laying eggs, but the distribution channels are getting clogged." This newfound problem is a terrible irony of fresh food going to waste, Kummer added. "Then, what's going to come down the line are all of these crops that are going to ripen, and there won't be labor to pick them and they will be plowed under." *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: — NBC's Chuck Todd discussed the 2020 race, and whether Joe Biden will be able to woo Bernie Sanders supporters. — CEO of Ascend, Andrea Cabral, spoke about how the coronavirus pandemic is an opportunity for prison reform. — Rep. Richard Neal, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, analyzed the coronavirus stimulus package. — We then broadcasted Governor Charlie Baker's press conference, discussing Massachusett's surge of unemployment claims.

Today on* Boston Public Radio:* We opened the lines to hear from listeners about how best to enforce stay-at-home orders. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discussed the pandemic's effect on the local economy, especially small businesses. WGBH's Emily Rooney was back with her famous list, and more. Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell discussed how COVID-19 is disproportionately hitting minority communities nationwide, including some in her district. We closed out the show by opening the lines to hear from listeners again, about their experiences with life in the age of coronavirus.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to ask listeners: do you feel guilty going to grocery stores and putting clerks at risk? MIT economist Jon Gruber explained why he believes the stimulus package’s $100 billion for hospitals won’t be enough. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discussed the string of inspector general firings by President Trump, and the resignation of Navy Secretary Thomas Moldy. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed proposals for how hospitals will ration care under the stress of the current pandemic, and troubling racial disparities in COVID-19 deaths. Cannabis reporter Dan Adams explained why many recreational pot shops are at risk of shutting down for good, and discussed his reporting on the mutual aid groups springing up around the state to help people in need. WGBH Arts Editor Jared Bowen discussed how various theater companies are adapting to social-distancing, uploading shows online and offering opportunities to talk one-on-one with actors over the phone. We opened our lines to talk with listeners about the end of Bernie Sanders' presidential bid.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to ask listeners whether you’re also addicted to the president's daily coronavirus briefings. NBC Sports Boston reporter Trenni Kusnierek recapped a husband’s tragic bungle of his wife’s virtual triathlon, and weighed in when sports might make their return to the U.S.  Carol Rose from the ACLU of Massachusetts spoke on how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting the U.S. court system, and discussed the ongoing debate over whether to release certain prisoners to protect them from COVID-19.  Travel writer Christopher Muther discussed whether U.S. airlines deserve the $50 billion bailout they’re asking for, and reviewed some freeze-dried meals to try while you’re social-distancing.  CNN’s John King discussed Tuesday’s Wisconsin primaries and why they’re still happening, as well as what we could see in future stimulus packages from Congress. We opened our lines to ask: one month into quarantine, what have you learned you can live without?

Today on Boston Public Radio: Dr. Vanessa Kerry, founder and CEO of Seed Global Health, talked about the week ahead in the COVID-19 crisis, and took questions from callers.  WGBH News analyst and GroundTruth Project CEO Charlie Sennott discussed Sunday’s coronavirus address from Queen Elizabeth II, and news of a Russian doctor who was detained for criticizing the Kremlin’s COVID-19 response. TV expert Bob Thompson weighed ethical concerns surrounding CNN anchor Chris Cuomo’s interviews with his brother, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and talked about the launch of the short-form streaming service Quibi.  Former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich discussed his latest book, titled “The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It.” We opened our lines to talk with listeners about the role and value of socialism, and whether it’s been elevated in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.    Poet Richard Blanco joined us for a social distancing-themed edition of "The Village Voice." 

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to talk with listeners about the financial strains brought by the coronavirus pandemic.  Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed how weak or nonexistent internet access is exacerbating the COVID-19 crisis for low-income Americans, and reviewed medical tech for those looking to monitor their health from home. *Beat the Press *host Emily Rooney talked about the Patriots plane that brought medical supplies to Massachusetts from China, and recent sexual assault allegations made against Joe Biden.  Food writer Corby Kummer discussed the toll that COVID-19 is taking on the food and restaurant industry, and the resurgence of Americans raising chickens.  Media maven Sue O’Connell criticized Jared Kushner’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and drew parallels between our current situation and the AIDS crisis. *Under the Radar *host Callie Crossley discussed misinformation about coronavirus on Fox News, and technology that companies are using to spy on employees working from home.  We re-opened our lines to callers to continue the coronavirus conversation.  We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Friday press conference.

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke with Boston Public Radio *on Friday about whether the restaurant industry will survive the coronavirus crisis. "I've been talking this week to a lot of restaurateurs to - most of them are saying they have so little operating capital left, even if they've tried to stay open to do takeout or help feed front line health workers." Restaurant owners have had to make tough choices whether to remain opened or closed during this time, Kummer added. "The ones who are heroically staying open - all their legal advice is 'Do not stay open, it's going to be less complicated to reopen if you're shut down tight,'" he said. "All of the legal liability is much easier and less complicated if restaurants have shut down, so what a choice these restaurant owners have been facing." *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: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd discussed Florida’s bungled response to the coronavirus outbreak, and the death threats being made against Dr. Anthony Fauci. Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse called in to discuss the 15 COVID-19-related deaths at a state-run veteran’s home in his city. We opened our lines to talk with listeners about how you’re dealing with the grimness of the coronavirus pandemic. Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral talked about the gun industry’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and debate in federal courts over whether to release detained migrants to protect them from the coronavirus. Dr. Gary Gottlieb, former CEO of Partners Healthcare and Partners in Health, discussed his recent Boston Globe piece on how healthcare systems need to adapt to handle the stress brought by COVID-19. We opened our lines to talk with listeners about the coronavirus. We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Thursday press conference. Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam discussed his latest book, “Broken Glass: Mies Van Der Rohe, Edith Farnsworth, and the Fight Over a Modernist Masterpiece.”

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to ask callers: are you donning a facial mask to slow the spread of the coronavirus? MIT economist Jon Gruber broke down how the recently passed stimulus bill will impact everyday Americans, and discussed what he hopes to see in any future aid packages. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discussed gun stores being deemed “essential” during the coronavirus pandemic, and how authorities around the world are enforcing stay-at-home policies. Medical ethicist Art Caplan answered questions about COVID-19 symptoms, and discussed why it’s important that hospitals plan for what to do if they can't keep up with demands for care. Dr. Katherine Dallow, Vice President of Clinical Programs and Strategy at Blue Cross Blue Shield, discussed what we currently understand about the coronavirus, and answered questions from callers. Ali Noorani, Executive Director for the National Immigration Forum, discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting immigrant communities and the U.S. immigration system.