Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: Our political roundtable featuring Jennifer Nassour and Michael Curry weighed in on the latest headlines. Nassour is former Chairman of the MassGOP and COO of ReflectUS, and Curry is Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Mass League of Community Health Centers and a member of the National NAACP Board of Directors. Charles Sennott analyzed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's first summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sennott is the founder of The GroundTruth Project and a WGBH News analyst. Will the economy be the defining issue of the 2020 election? We opened up the lines and asked our listeners. Social psychologist Michael Norton looked at the ways oversimplifying the ways we care for family and friends can backfire. Norton is the Harold M. Brierley Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School and is the author of "Happy Money: the Science of Happier Spending." Then we opened up the lines and asked listeners for their stories. Another hate crime has rattled a synagogue. Reverend Irene Monroe and Reverend Emmett Price discussed on "All Revved Up." Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist and the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail and a* *visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at Boston University School of Theology. Price is a Professor of Worship, Church & Culture and Founding Executive Director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Bob Thompson shared his take on the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Thompson is founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a Trustee Professor of Television and Popular Culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Richard Neal, discussed the House's request for President Donald Trump's tax returns. We opened up the lines and asked our listeners about a new Massport ban on rideshare vehicles outside the terminals at Logan Airport. Emily Rooney, host of "Beat the Press," shared her own suggestions for reducing congestion in the city. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh took questions from our listeners on "Ask the Mayor." Christopher Muther, travel writer and columnist at The Boston Globe, shared his take on the news that Delta is reducing its seat incline by two inches. The Boston Globe's intrepid consumer protections reporter Sean Murphy took on some tough consumer dilemmas. We celebrated Independent Bookstore Day with Clarissa Murphy and Katie Eelman, the co-directors of Metro Boston Bookstore Day, who told us about their trolley tours to Boston-area bookstores this weekend.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Former Vice President Joe Biden announced today that he is running for president in 2020. We opened up the lines and asked listeners: Are you all in for Biden? Is Biden's entrance into the race the moment you've been waiting for — or the one you've been dreading? Why do so many presidential candidates seem to be obsessed with James Joyce? Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam explained. Should prisoners be able to vote? Andrea Cabral weighed in. Cabral is the former Suffolk County Sheriff, state Secretary of Public Safety, and CEO of Ascend. Poet Richard Blanco discussed his new book, "How To Love A Country." Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history. The Mueller Report highlighted how vulnerable the U.S. voting system is. How secure is the system in Massachusetts? Secretary of State Bill Galvin joined us. Should drug companies be held criminally responsible for opioid overdoses? Medical ethicist Arthur Caplan weighed in. Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Chair, director of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU Langone Medical Center, and the co-host of the "Everyday Ethics" podcast. A new survey finds that Massachusetts commuters are at the breaking point. We asked listeners: Are you one of them?

Today on Boston Public Radio: Congresswoman Katherine Clark discussed the Mueller report, whether Democrats should pursue impeachment, and other top national stories. With former Vice President reportedly announcing his 2020 candidacy tomorrow, we asked our listeners: Do you see him as the future of the Democratic Party? Homeland security expert Juliette Kayyem analyzed the terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka. Is humanity in the throes of an empathy collapse? Nancy Koehn of the Harvard Business School looked at a disheartening new study. Ali Noorani of the National Immigration Forum discussed the constitutionality of a citizenship question on the 2020 census. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko went over the latest headlines at the intersection of technology and policy. Comics Julia Jeffries and Kelly MacFarland previewed the 10th annual Women In Comedy Festival coming to the Boston area in May.

But carnivores may not have to quit meat cold turkey in order to have a significant positive impact on the environment, says Corby Kummer. 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: Legislators on Beacon Hill are considering a bill that would ban youth tackle football until eighth grade. We opened up the lines and asked our listeners: Is it for the government to decide? The concussion wars are playing out at the University of Colorado. Trenni Kusnierek, sports reporter and anchor for NBC Boston, discussed that and more. Congressman Stephen Lynch shared his take on the Mueller report, what Democrats should do next, and the ever-expanding field of 2020 candidates. Can eco-conscious carnivores have their steak and eat it too? Weighing in was Corby Kummer, a senior editor at The Atlantic, an award-winning food writer and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition and Policy. A new FRONTLINE documentary looks at the debate over abortion and how it’s playing out in Pennsylvania. We spoke with Elizabeth Leiter, co-producer of "The Abortion Divide." CNN's John King brought us up to speed on national news. King is the host of "Inside Politics" and CNN's chief National Correspondent. We opened up the lines and asked our listeners about the end of the Stop & Shop supermarket strike.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Our political roundtable with Jennifer Braceras and Jeffrey Sanchez discussed the news that Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton is throwing his hat in the ring and running for president in 2020. Braceras is a political columnist, senior fellow with the Independent Women’s Forum, and a former Commissioner of the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Sanchez is a former State Representative and Ways and Means Chairman. Charles Sennott discussed the rise of Christian Zionism in the United States. Sennott is the founder of The GroundTruth Project and a WGBH News analyst. Attorney General Maura Healey weighed in on the Mueller Report and took questions from our listeners. Reverend Irene Monroe and Reverend Emmett Price discussed pushback from students at a Christian college after administrators decided to invite Vice President Mike Pence to speak at their commencement. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail, and a visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at Boston University School of Theology. Price is a Professor of Worship, Church & Culture and Founding Executive Director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. We opened up the lines and asked our listeners about Moulton's candidacy. Television expert Bob Thompson went over the best and worst TV moments of the week. Thompson is founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a Trustee Professor of Television and Popular Culture at the Newhouse School of Public communications at Syracuse.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley discussed her reaction to the Mueller report, whether House Democrats should pursue impeachment, and other top stories. We opened up the lines and asked our listeners for their reactions to the Mueller report, one day out. Emily Rooney, host of "Beat the Press," shared her famous list of observations and frustrations. Andy Ihnatko explained how Google is making John Legend the voice of Google Assistant through the use of novel speech synthesis technology. Ryan Landry explained the history behind "Gay Bob," the world's first gay doll that debuted in the 1970s. Landry is a playwright, lyricist, actor, and founder of the Gold Dust Orphans theatrical company. Callie Crossley, host of "Under the Radar with Callie Crossley," discussed the organization She The People, which is organizing the first presidential forum focused on women of color. The team behind BareWolf Brewing faced off on our Friday News Quiz.

Today on Boston Public Radio: A redacted version of the Mueller report was released to the public today. We opened up the lines and heard comments from our listeners. Are workplace wellness programs doing their job when it comes to making employees healthier and cutting costs? Medical ethicist Arthur Caplan weighed in. Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Chair and director of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU Langone Medical Center. He’s also the co-host of the "Everyday Ethics" podcast. Andrea Cabral joined us for "Law and Order," her weekly round-up of criminal justice headlines. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff, state secretary of public safety, and CEO of Ascend. Legal analyst and former Mueller colleague Michael Zeldin brought us his ultimate analysis of the Mueller report. Congressman Jim McGovern weighed in on the report's release and how House Democrats will respond. Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam brought us his weekly explainer. We opened up the lines and took calls from listeners on the Mueller report.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Boston Public Schools has named three finalists for the job of district superintendent. Joining *Boston Public Radio *to share his analysis was Paul Reville, former state secretary of education and a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he also runs the Education Redesign Lab. Environmentalist and author Bill McKibben discussed his new book, "Falter: Has The Human Game Begun To Play Itself Out?" National security expert Juliette Kayyem told listeners what to expect from the release of the Mueller report tomorrow. Kayyem is on the faculty of Harvard’s Kennedy School and a CNN analyst. Should the government allow people to file their taxes for free? Shirley Leung, The Boston Globe's interim Editorial page editor, weighed in. Then we opened up the lines and asked listeners for their thoughts. Does the animal kingdom have its own judicial system? Sy Montgomery, a journalist, naturalist, and author of "How to Be A Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals," explained. WGBH executive arts editor and "Open Studio" host Jared Bowen discussed the play "American Moor" and other notable arts and culture events around town.