Episodes
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BPR Full Show 1/15/21: Thoughts For Melania
Today on Boston Public Radio: We kick things off by opening lines, talking with listeners about the slow rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Mass. Media Sue O’Connell talks about the prospective mayoral campaign of William Gross, Boston’s first Black police commissioner, First Lady Melania Trump’s reaction to the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol, and a recent Supreme Court ruling restricting access to abortion pills. Beat the Press host Emily Rooney discusses a pending investigation from Mass. A.G. Maura Healey into a road rage incident involving Suffolk County D.A. Rachael Rollins, and questions around whether a Natick Town Meeting member ought to be prosecuted after photos emerged of her inside the Capitol building during the Jan. 6 insurrection. She also reads a ban-themed list of fixations and fulminations. R.I Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse talked about what’s to come for the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump, and whether he thinks it’s appropriate for federal leaders to invoke the 14th amendment to censure Congressional proponents of the President’s election-related conspiracy theories. He also recounts his experience being at the Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection. Jennifer Horn talks about the future of the Lincoln Project, and the Republican Party as a whole, post-Donald Trump. Horn is former Chair of the New Hampshire Republican Party, a co-founder of the Lincoln Project, and a columnist for the New Hampshire Union Leader. Under the Radar and Basic Black host Callie Crossley discusses criminal charges being brought against eight former Mich. state officials over their alleged roles in the Flint water crisis. She also returns to conversation about the incoming Second Gentleman, Doug Emhoff, and weighs in on a soon-to-be published thriller novel from political activist Stacey Abrams. We close out Friday’s show by talking with listeners about a new campaign launched by the Boston Globe, urging readers to make a commitment to ordering takeout at least once a week to support restaurants struggling through the pandemic. -
BPR Full Show 1/14/21: The 'Backfire' Question
Today on Boston Public Radio: Rep. Jim McGovern talks about the significance of Wednesday’s impeachment of President Trump, where he played a key role, and reflects on what’s to come for American democracy. Next, we open lines to talk about Wednesday’s impeachment, and whether you’re worried about it backfiring on President-elect Biden. Former Suffolk County sheriff and secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral raises some legal questions about the Senate’s ability to conduct an impartial impeachment trial of President Trump. She also talks about the failings of Capitol police in preventing last week’s riot, and reflects on the death of Lisa Montgomery, the first woman to be federally executed in nearly 70 years. National Immigration Forum CEO Ali Noorani discusses the legacy of President Trump’s immigration policy, and what he’s hoping from President-elect Biden on issues like refugee resettlement and President Trump’s travel ban. He also talks about challenges with getting undocumented immigrants access to COVID-19 vaccines. Former Mass. education secretary Paul Reville talks about the state of hybrid learning in Mass., and presses for the reinstatement of standardized testing in order for officials to have a clearer understanding of the pandemic’s toll on statewide learning. Next, we reopen lines to check in with parents and teachers, to hear how remote learning is impacting your lives and the lives of students in the Commonwealth. GBH executive arts editor Jared Bowen talks about his impressions of Frederick Wiseman’s “City Hall,” an in-depth documentary about the administration of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. He also reviewed the film “Sound of Metal,” and discussed an exhibit of works by photographer Robert Frank at the Addison Gallery. -
Wall Or No Wall, Trump ‘Fundamentally’ Marred U.S. Immigration System, Says Expert Noorani
Despite recent statements made by President Trump in Alamo, Tx., Ali Noorani said on Thursday’s Boston Public Radio that the outgoing president's years-long promise of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border fell far short of expectations. "He claimed that hundreds of mile of wall had been built,” the National Immigration Forum CEO said of Trump’s Tuesday statement, but noted that "if you look at the numbers, most of the work that has been done in terms of border infrastructure has been fortifying existing infrastructure." Still, he said Trump’s efforts to stifle immigration during his presidency will have an impact that extends beyond dreams of a massive border wall. “We also have to be realistic – and be clear – that by shutting down the border to perfectly legal asylum claims, by shutting down the border and forcing tens of thousands of migrants to wait in Mexico while their claims are being processed, he did fundamental change the way the border region is seen on the U.S. side… [and] also on the Mexican side.” "I think the Biden administration is going to have a lot of work to do to rebuild an immigration system, much less a functioning border management system,” he said. Ali Noorani is President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Immigration Forum. His latest book is "There Goes the Neighborhood: How Communities Overcome Prejudice and Meet the Challenge of American Immigration.” -
BPR Full Show 1/13/21: Round Two
Today on Boston Public Radio: Rep. Jake Auchincloss discusses Wednesday’s impeachment vote in the House of Representatives, taking place mere days after he was sworn into his first congressional term, and why he’s optimistic about America’s future. BPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius talks about the current state of hybrid learning at Boston Public Schools, and reflects on the lessons she and other education officials have learned in the first 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem responds to last week’s insurrection, and the resignation of Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf one week before President-elect Biden takes office. She also speaks on her recent piece for The Atlantic, “How MAGA Extremism Ends.” We opened our lines to talk with listeners about Wednesday’s impeachment proceedings, and whether you believe President Trump ought to be removed from office over his role in last week’s insurrection. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discusses COVID-19 vaccine refusals at U.S. nursing homes, and the complicated logistics of creating a vaccine mandate. He also offers his take on President-elect Biden’s strategy for COVID-19 vaccine rollout, releasing as many first doses to Americans as are available. We return to listeners to discuss Wednesday's impeachment proceedings, and the likelihood of a second presidential impeachment in 13 months. M.I.T. economist Jon Gruber puts Wednesday’s impeach proceedings into the context of U.S. economics, reflecting on the cost-benefit analysis of last week’s riot, and a potential second impeachment of President Trump. -
'Democracy Bridges The Divide,' CNN's Kayyem Says About American Divisions Post-Trump
CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem joined Boston Public Radio on Wednesday, reflecting on last week’s riot and her recent piece for the Atlantic, “How MAGA Extremism Ends,” about the path towards peace in the U.S. “It took me a while to feel comfortable writing this,” she said of the essay and its stark condemnation of President Trump. “It’s very hard to admit to yourself, even though you believe it, ‘look, my president is the spiritual and operational leader of a domestic terrorism group.’ We didn’t learn that in fourth grade.” But she concluded that with mounting opposition from members of his own party, major U.S. corporations, and bans across social media, the president’s influence is dramatically waning. “We’re a divided nation, but very few people take to arms,” she noted. “Very few people in his group are willing to blow things up – we should remember that.” She added, “Democracy bridges the divide. You have better politicians, you have ways in which we build our communities, even when we have political differences.” Juliette Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, 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. -
BPR Full Show 1/12/21: Money Talks
Today on Boston Public Radio: We open lines to talk with listeners about anxiety related to last week’s storming of the Capitol, and the troubling possibility of similar attacks ahead of President-elect Biden’s inauguration. NBC Sports Boston reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek discusses Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s decision not to accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Trump, Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s future with her WNBA team, The Atlanta Dream, and whether the postponed-2020 Summer Olympic Games will need to be held off again this summer. Boston Globe Editor-in-Chief Brian McGrory talks about his reaction to last week’s riot at the Capitol building, and coverage of the chaos from the Boston Globe's Jazmine Ulloa. He also touches on Bill Belichick’s decision not to accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh's acceptance of President-elect Biden’s nomination for labor secretary. Boston City Councilor and mayoral candidate Michelle Wu discusses Mayor Walsh being nominated for labor secretary, and whether it'll impact her own campaign for city mayor. She also responds to Harvard University's Tuesday decision to cut ties with Rep. Elise Stefanik, and talks about her vision for city police reform. Food writer Corby Kummer talks about recent federal and state stimulus packages, and whether they’ll be enough to support restaurants struggling through the pandemic. He also discusses New York Times reporting about animal cruelty at U.S. dairy farms. CNN’s John King responds to President Trump's Tuesday dismissal of his own role in last week's riot in the Capitol building, and discusses the state of Congress’ impeachment of the president. He also touches on news of Congress members testing positive for COVID-19 days after hiding in rooms with maskless colleagues. We close out Tuesday’s show by opening lines, talking with listeners about whether an inauguration ceremony could be held safely in light of last week’s attack on the Capitol building. -
Food Delivery Is A 'Rotten Business,' Says Corby Kummer
Food writer Corby Kummer spoke to Boston Public Radio on Tuesday about how the pandemic has affected the lives of food delivery workers. “So much of the gig economy is being laid bare by the pandemic,” he said. “In one way, restaurant delivery has gone up by 40 or 50 percent, a huge amount.” DoorDash went public on the New York Stock Exchange in December. But it’s one of the worst actors in the industry, Kummer noted. “It steals tips from workers and it directs them to deliberately unprofitable roads that won’t pay off for delivery workers,” he said. DoorDash is doing very well, but it’s a “rotten business” for the actual delivery people, Kummer added. “Do anything you can to avoid DoorDash, GrubHub, Seamless, and UberEats,” he said. 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. -
BPR Full Show 1/11/21: This Is Us
Today on Boston Public Radio: Sen. Ed Markey explains why he believes President Trump should be impeached, in the wake of last week's riot in the Capitol. He also touches on the future of left-wing legislative efforts now Democrats will control both houses of Congress, and responded to recent reporting on his bizarre donut-eating habit. Next, we open lines to let listeners weigh in on whether President Trump should be impeached a second time, following last week’s Pro-Trump riot in the Capitol building. GBH News analyst and GroundTruth Project CEO Charlie Sennott discusses global reaction to last week's storming of the Capitol, historic levels of voter registration in Ga. ahead of the 2020 election, and the vital role that journalists have played in documenting rising authoritarianism at home and abroad. The Washington Post’s Michelle Singletary returns to talk about her ongoing Post series, “Sincerely, Michelle," about racial inequities in the world of personal finance. She also addresses misconceptions about race and philanthropy, and why 2021 tax season is going to be, in her words, "a hot mess." Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price reflect on the historic Senate win of Rev. Raphael Warnock in Ga., and chilling images of the Confederate flag being carried through the halls of Congress during last week's attempted coup. Shirley Leung discusses her latest reporting for the Boston Globe on the response from local corporations and businesses to last week’s riot at the Capitol, and news that Boston City Council President Kim Janey is poised to become the city’s first Black and female mayor. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. We close out Monday’s show by returning to listeners, getting your thoughts on news that Patriots coach Bill Belichick is slated to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. -
BPR Full Show 1/8/21: Freedom of Tweets?
Today on Boston Public Radio: Rep. Ayanna Pressley discusses House plans to bring forward articles of impeachment against President Trump next week, following Wednesday’s riot. She also reflects on what it was like being in the Capitol during the storming, and spoke about Boston City Council President Kim Janey potentially becoming both Boston’s first Black mayor, and its first woman mayor. We open lines to callers, to discuss whether President Trump ought to be removed from office follow Wednesday's storming of the U.S. Capitol, and if it’s worth it in his final 12 days as president. Emily Rooney talks about President-elect Biden's choice of Boston Mayor Walsh for U.S. Labor Secretary, and the open question of who’ll win next year’s mayoral race. She also reads a list of must-see movies to watch in quarantine, and previewed this week's Beat the Press. Ramona Diaz discusses the brutal drug war and assaults on press freedoms by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, in a conversation about her new documentary, “A Thousand Cuts.” Rep. Seth Moulton responds to Wednesday’s storming of the U.S. Capitol building, and discusses why he thinks it’s imperative that Congress act to remove President Trump from office in the final days of his term. He also recounts his experience being in the Capitol during the attempted coup. Andy Ihnatko talks about the social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook that've banned or temporarily suspended President Trump in light of his rhetoric around Wednesday’s storming of the Capitol. He also weighs in on debate around what constitutes free speech on social media platforms, and the recent widespread Russian hacking of U.S. cyber infrastructure. Callie Crossley discusses a statement made by former Celtics head coach Doc Rivers, comparing law enforcement’s response to Wednesday’s insurrection to what was seen at Black Lives Matter protests. She also touches on social media's reaction to the death of Ashley Babbitt, who died during Wednesday’s chaos. We close out Friday’s show by returning to listeners, to talk about social media and disinformation in the aftermath of Wednesday’s pro-Trump mob. -
BPR Full Show 1/7/21: It Happened Here
Today on Boston Public Radio: Washington Post op-ed columnist E.J. Dionne responds to Wednesday’s chaos incited by Trump mob in Washington, D.C., and the impact it might have on the future of President Trump’s political influence post-presidency. He also weighs in on President-elect Biden's choice of Merrick Garland, his former college friend, to serve as A.G. Former Pentagon official Rosa Brooks reacts to the storming of the Capitol building by President Trump’s supporters, which she predicted in exercises laid out by her bipartisan Transition Integrity Project. She also offers her thoughts on the path forward for maintaining democratic stability in the U.S. Next, we open lines to talk with listeners about your thoughts on Wednesday’s chaos, and the future of the U.S. post-Trump. Former Suffolk County sheriff and secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral discusses the lawlessness of yesterday’s pro-Trump mob. She also offers her take on the lackluster response from authorities defending the U.S. Capitol building, and compares Wednesday’s police enforcement to what was seen at Black Lives Matter protests throughout 2020. Next, we return to listeners to talk about Wednesday’s storming of the U.S. Capitol building, and the response from political leaders and members of the media. Rep. Bill Keating talks about his experience being barricaded in his office at the Capitol on Wednesday, and the rising number of his colleagues looking to pursue invoking the 25th amendment to remove President Trump from office. We close out Thursday's show by returning to our callers, getting your final impressions (for now) of Wednesday's events.
