Episodes
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BPR Full Show Jan. 16, 2026: National (Fig) Newton Day
Former New York Times editor Jill Abramson joins for Press Play to discus her latest column that asks why the press is still struggling to cover Trump, even as he governs increasingly like a king. Shannon O'Brien, reinstated chair of the Cannabis Control Commission, discusses her return and what's ahead for the pot industry in Massachusetts.The co-organizers of "Which Side? A Protest Music Teach-Out" join for Live Music Friday, ahead of a Burren Back Room session on Jan. 20. Our guests are organizers Joyce Linehan, James Sullivan, and musicians Jon Butcher, Ali McGuirk, Magen Tracey, and Erica Mantone.Rep. Bill Keating zooms in to discuss Trump’s aggressive posture towards Greenland, and investigations into the killing of Renee Good. NBC10 Boston' media maven Sue O'Connell on the hot, hockey series phenomenon on HBO: Heated Rivalry…A gay love story that has women swooning. Plus, how the internet is turning press for the new Melania Trump documentary into a meme. -
BPR Full Show Jan. 15, 2026: The Chat And Cut
Political analyst and podcaster Chuck Todd on the MAGA-fication of CBS news, and the first amendment implications of a federal investigation into a Washington Post reporter. Former Massachusetts secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral on ICE’s gestapo-like tactics in Minnesota and one woman’s story of how she was recruited into the agency. Amherst College’s Ilan Stavans on what Latino voters are making of Trump’s Venezuelan takeover. Plus, the lengths American citizens are going to protect their undocumented parents, including enlisting in the military.Environmentalist Bill McKibben gives a rundown on the global damage the Trump administration is inflicting on the climate, including the EPAs new air pollution rules and oil in Venezuela. Then, it's Am I The A Hole day. Today’s scenario involves a man at our beloved Costco, calling out a woman who cut him in line. Who’s the bigger jerk, the flippant line cutter or the man who swore at her for cutting him? -
BPR Full Show Jan. 14, 2026: Dr. Atul Gawande On The Lives Lost From Ending USAID
The Culture Show's Jared Bowen on a new PBS series “Breaking the Deadlock,” that explores the role of government in life and death decisions. Plus, we’ll get his thoughts on the new Bradley Cooper movie “Is this thing on?” and other arts headlines.Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley discusses her calls for an independent investigation into the ICE killing in Minnesota, and for extended ACA subsidies.Tufts international affairs expert Daniel Drezner on violence in Iran – where the death toll of protesters against the regime has soared past 2,500.Food policy analyst Corby Kummer on the closing of Time Out Market in Fenway, the environmental impact of the new dietary guidelines and how restoring wild oyster reefs in Massachusetts is a win for conservationists and seafood bars. Dr. Atul Gawande is the former assistant administrator for global health at USAID. He explains how the shutdown of the aid organization has had ripple effects around the world…including contributing to the deaths of over half a million people worldwide, most of them children. It’s the topic of his Oscar-shortlisted documentary “Rovina’s Choice.” -
BPR Full Show Jan. 13, 2026: Hygge Season
MA Attorney General Andrea Campbell joins for Ask the AG.Andris Nelsons of the Boston Symphony Orchestra joins to preview their special America250 programming.Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discusses her latest column on the impact of Boston's liquor license expansion and what Trump's pressure on the Federal Reserve mean for businesses in Massachusetts.Retired judge Nancy Gertner on the resignation of several top Minnesota attorneys, the Supreme Court trans athlete case, and Trump's push to change how the midterms are conducted, through redistricting, tighter voter registration rules and by gutting cybersecurity protections. -
BPR Full Show 1/12: Tote Bag Checks And Balances
We talk to former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, Rufus Gifford, about what President Trump's continued threats of taking over the Danish territory of Greenland would it all mean for Europe, NATO and beyond.Chris Dempsey, former assistant transportation secretary, and former state Rep. Bill Straus, join for a transportation panel. They discuss the FIFA World Cup coming to Gillette Stadium and whether our transit system is capable of handling the influx of riders.Boston Medical Center’s Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett explains this year's brutal flu season. Plus, HHS secretary RFK Jr.'s new guidelines for nutrition and childhood vaccine schedule updates. Princeton University scholar Khalil Gibran Muhammad on President Trump's saying he thinks Civil Rights-era protections have led to white people being “very badly treated.” And we talk about the administration’s continued war with Harvard University. -
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BPR Full Show 1/07: We Signed Up For Soup
The Culture Show's Jared Bowen discusses the growing number of artists canceling their Kennedy Center appearances, his take on Marty Supreme and more cultural news from across the region. Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem on what President Trump's threats of military action beyond Venezuela mean for security at home. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung on the Kraft Group finally striking a deal to open a new professional soccer stadium in Everett, just before the deadline. Eric Segal, Nastasia Lawton and Rev. Fred Small were all arrested when they tried to deliver care packages – with food, bedrolls and menstrual products – to detainees at an ICE processing center in Burlington. They join to talk about their arrest and why they’re standing up to the Trump administration’s gestapo. Then, it's soup season. We open the phone and text lines, and Jim reveals which soup is the most erotic. -
BPR Full Show 1/6: Things Are Getting Bad...Again
CNN's John King with the latest national political headlines.Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU of Mass on oral arguments in Boston over their NIH grants lawsuit. She'll also discuss the anniversary of J6 and the Trump administration's efforts to rewrite history.Lee Pelton of the Boston Foundation discusses the problem of rental deserts in Greater Boston, and the issue of affordability generally.Congressman Jake Auchincloss zooms in to discuss Democrats' response to Trump's actions in Venezuela.Trenni Casey of NBC Sports Boston discusses the Patriots being good on the field, and bad off the field. Plus, a whole new year of Jordon Hudson obsession in sports media. -
BPR Full Show 1/5: All You Need Are Friends
Tufts University’s international affairs scholar Daniel Drezner on the United States' weekend invasion of Venezuela to depose its authoritarian leader, Nicolas Maduro. Tufts food policy analyst Corby Kummer forecasts 2026 food trends and how to stick to New Year's resolutions. Plus, he updates us on how the Trump administration’s agriculture investments will impact farmers. Bioethicist Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel discusses his new book “Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life.”There are more lawmakers of color than ever on Beacon Hill. But the legislature still remains disproportionately white. We talk to Mass League of Community Health Center’s Michael Curry about that, and what a boost in rural health system federal funding could mean for western Mass.
