Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: Sen. Ed Markey called in to discuss the national impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, and what he’s doing to help lessen the crisis.   We opened lines to talk with callers about everything to do with the coronavirus.  We aired live audio of President Trump’s coronavirus task force briefing.  We re-opened our lines to continue the coronavirus conversation with listeners.  Ali Noorani, Executive Director for the National Immigration Forum, discussed President Trump’s characterization of COVID-19 as the "Chinese Virus.” Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed the big ethical dilemma for Americans stuck in quarantine: should you be avoiding sex?

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to talk with callers about the coronavirus outbreak.  NBC Sports Boston reporter Trenni Kusnierek talked Tom Brady’s announcement that he’ll be leaving the Patriots, andthe latest on the sports world’s response to COVID-19.  We re-opened our lines to continue the coronavirus conversation with listeners.  We aired live audio of President Trump’s coronavirus task force briefing.  Former Secretary of Transportation James Aloisi and Chris Dempsey, Director of Transportation for Massachusetts, discussed the MBTA’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak, and whether clearer roads might nudge state lawmakers to consider congestion pricing.  We re-opened our lines to talk with listeners about coronavirus.  We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s press conference on the state’s coronavirus response.  We took a break to continue our coronavirus conversation with listeners.  CNN’s John King broke down Tuesday’s press conference, talked Tuesday’s Democratic primaries, and offered a tip on where Tom Brady could be headed next season. 

Today on Boston Public Radio: Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone explained how he and other Massachusetts mayors are confronting the coronavirus outbreak.  We opened our lines to talk with callers about your experiences dealing with the coronavirus.  WGBH News Analyst and GroundTruth Project CEO Charlie Sennott explained the virus’ global impact, and how other countries are dealing with the outbreak.  TV expert Bob Thompson discussed the best TV to watch while you’re social distancing.  We re-opened our lines to talk with callers about the coronavirus.  Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius explained how city schools are dealing with coronavirus, and what she’s doing to ensure that all kids can access meals amid school cancellations.  Boston restaurateur Tiffani Faison discussed the impact of coronavirus on Boston's food industry, and how her restaurants are accommodating the city through the outbreak.  Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, who also leads the Massachusetts Sheriffs Association and the Major County Sheriffs of America, explained how Middlesex County prisons are adapting to the coronavirus outbreak.  We re-opened our lines to continue the coronavirus conversation with listeners. 

Today on Boston Public Radio: Bina Venkataraman, former chief policy advisor on the Council of Advisors on Science and Technology under President Obama, discussed the latest news on coronavirus. Rep. Joe Kennedy discussed the state’s response to coronavirus, and how it’s impacting his campaign for Senate. *Beat the Press *host Emily Rooney talked about the media’s coverage of coronavirus and gave her famous list of fixations and fulminations. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey joined us for our monthly edition of “Ask the AG.” Boston Globe columnist Shirley Leung discussed the impact coronavirus is poised to have on Boston’s economy. Under the Radar host Callie Crossley discussed “Race to Dinner,” a program that hosts conversations about racism for wealthy white liberal women over dinner. Moe Isaza and Matt Conner of Teeling Whiskey joined us for our weekly news quiz.

Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd weighed in on the Trump administration’s handling of coronavirus, and Tuesday night’s Democratic primaries.  Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, medical director of the Special Pathogens Unit at B.U.’s School of Medicine, talked about coronavirus and took questions from listeners.  Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed the 23-year prison sentence for disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, and the threat coronavirus poses to prison populations. Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam talked about how the rich are prepping for coronavirus, and his latest Globe piece on the popularity of Bernie Sanders in the wealthy city of Newton.  Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed best methods for sanitizing your tech, and news that Amazon will begin selling their cashier-less "Go” system to retailers.  Former Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville explained how schools and universities are responding to coronavirus, and the Senate’s Wednesday vote to overturn a ruling on debt forgiveness for students misled by for-profit colleges.  We opened our lines to talk with callers about everything to do with coronavirus.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the phone lines and asked our listeners to weigh in on the Democratic presidential primary. MIT Economics Professor Jonathan Gruber discussed President Trump’s economic proposals for handling COVID-19. Juliette Kayyem discussed various responses to containing COVID-19. Kayyem is a 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. Medical ethicist Art Caplan provided some insight about how to handle the spread of COVID-19. Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty chair and director of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU’s Langone Medical Center. Jenifer McKim joined us to discuss her recent reporting on homeless students in Massachusetts. Dr. Robin Cook joined us to share his thoughts on COVID-19. Jared Bowen discussed the impact COVID-19 has had on the local arts community. Bowen is WGBH’s Executive Arts Editor.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to ask listeners: are you buying into the coronavirus hype? NBC Sports Boston reporter Trenni Kusnierek discussed how anxieties around coronavirus are impacting the world of sports, and the positive impact that napping has on athlete recovery. Sheila Hemani and Pete Miraglia from Draper Labs discussed their "Globe Initiative Challenge," which seeks to boost research on microplastics and coral reef restoration. Food writer Corby Kummer discussed a surge in food delivery orders amid coronavirus anxiety, and the heightened risks posed to delivery drivers. Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins joined to discuss her first year in office, the February attack on two Spanish-speaking East Boston residents, and take questions from callers. CNN’s John King discussed the latest headlines around coronavirus and Tuesday’s primaries. We re-opened our lines to ask callers: who would you like to see as vice president on the Democratic ticket in November?

In the time of coronavirus, we all still have to eat. As people fear gathering in large spaces, online food delivery orders are going up, but food writer Corby Kummer told Boston Public Radio on Tuesday there's likely no benefit to online ordering, in fact you may just be putting the couriers at risk. Kummer said various companies are instituting protocols to leave food at the door, instead of interacting directly with customers. "One irony is, people who are ordering are really worried about coming into contact with these deliverers, so they're saying 'Keep them out I don't want them contaminating me,'" said Kummer. "But it’s much more dangerous for the workers because they're going to house after house, door knob after door knob." While you may be able to control more external factors in your own home than in a restaurant, the food prepared through an online order still goes through the same preparation it would through a seated restaurant experience. "People think when they get online food delivery it's going to be perfectly safe, but if somebody is going to sneeze into your food in a restaurant, the the same food prep worker is making your online delivery, so as far as risk from getting something from somebody sneezing into your food, it's just as bad." Kummer's solution? If you're healthy and you're hungry, go outside and support a local industry. "I say it's a time to go out to restaurants. Until people are restricted ... you should be keeping these businesses alive," he said. "It’s a false rationale to think that you’re protecting yourself by ordering online, because plenty of hands are touching the food that come to you and the groceries that come to you." Corby Kummer is executive director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at The Atlantic and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy

Today on Boston Public Radio: Shannon O’Brien and Charlie Chieppo joined us for a politics roundup, covering the latest on coronavirus and the 2020 presidential race. We opened our lines to ask callers: do you think President Trump’s coronavirus response will impact his chances at re-election in November?  WGBH News Analyst and GroundTruth Project CEO Charlie Sennott discussed the latest headlines around the peace deal between the U.S. and the Taliban, and talk about the possibility of a unified Ireland.  WGBH’s Senior Investigative Reporter Phillip Martin broke down his reporting on the controversial relationship between M.I.T. and Russian technology institute Skoltech.  Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, discussed a D.C. church rector who tested positive for coronavirus, and Rev. Jesse Jackson’s endorsement of Sen. Bernie Sanders.  TV writer Bob Thompson discussed the end of “Judge Judy” and reviewed Hulu’s "the Devs.”  We re-opened our lines to ask callers whether climate change has become a higher priority for you in recent years. 

On Friday, food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio to discuss a recent article in "The Conversation," positing that city rat populations could be lowered not by increasing the use of rodenticides, but by wasting less food. "This a story saying, stop wasting so much food. Be a lot more careful about throwing out food, and be a lot more careful when you do throw it out,” Kummer said. In January, Malibu, Calif., banned rodenticides in an attempt to protect the local non-rat wildlife. A bill to make that ban statewide failed to pass the state Senate, but may reappear. Boston, meanwhile, continues to use rodenticides. Read More: Rethinking The Way We Handle Rats “Rats are like people,” Kummer said. “They like exactly the same food that people do, and in fact they have evolved in different countries — in Paris … they like butter, cheese and croissants!” (Readers will of course recall the iconic New York City Pizza Rat, who went viral in 2015.) “[Rats] like what people dump and put into open garbage cans. That’s what they evolve to eat. It’s what keeps them alive,” he said. Kummer also discussed his recent article for "Vanity Fair" about the future of fine dining and the chefs who are reimagining it. 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.