Episodes
-
BPR Full Show: A Reopening
Today on Boston Public Radio: Rep. Jon Santiago shares his thoughts on Gov. Baker’s vaccine rollout hearing, and whether Mass. is ready to reopen. He also discusses his entrance into the Boston mayoral race. Santiago is a Democratic State Representative for the 9th Suffolk district, a candidate for mayor, and an ER doctor at Boston Medical Center. We open the phone lines to hear what listeners had to say about Gov. Baker’s plans to reopen Mass. Sue O’Connell talks about the House’s passage of the Equality Act, and the uphill battle it faces in getting passed by the Senate. She also shares her thoughts on CPAC and Gov. Baker’s vaccine rollout. O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and the South End News, as well as NECN's political commentator and explainer-in-chief. Rosa Brooks discusses her new book, “Tangled Up In Blue: Policing The American City,” and describes her experiences as a reserve police officer in D.C. Brooks is a former Pentagon official in the Obama administration and a professor of law and policy at Georgetown Law. Her latest book is "Tangled Up In Blue: Policing The American City." Mass. Attorney General Maura Healey weighs in on the Baker administration’s vaccine rollout, and the plan to reopen schools by April. She also responds to questions from listeners. Healey is Massachusetts' attorney general. -
BPR Full Show: Schooled
Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd weighs in on CPAC and the state of the Republican party. He also shares his thoughts on how Gov. Cuomo’s nursing home scandal and sexual harassment allegations could impact the N.Y. Democratic party. Todd is the moderator of “Meet the Press” on NBC, host of “Meet the Press Daily" on MSNBC, and the Political Director for NBC News. We ask listeners what they thought about Gov. Baker and Mass. Education Commissioner Riley’s plan to reopen schools by April. Andrea Cabral discusses the recent acquittal of police officers involved in the death of Daniel Prude. She also argues that had former President Trump’s tax records been released earlier, members of Congress would have been more likely to impeach him. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Andy Ihnatko updates us on the latest tech headlines, from a global computer chip shortage to Facebook’s decision to ban Myanmar’s military from its platforms. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Paul Reville shares his thoughts on Gov. Baker and Mass. Education Commissioner Riley’s plan to reopen schools by April, and how school systems could address learning loss. He also discusses the mental health issues students are facing without in-person learning. Reville is the former Mass. secretary of education, and a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he also heads the Education Redesign Lab. His latest book, co-authored with Elaine Weiss, is: "Broader, Bolder, Better: How Schools And Communities Help Students Overcome The Disadvantages Of Poverty.” Jared Bowen talks about his recent interview with ornithologist and illustrator David Sibley. He also reviews Minari, Nomadland, and the Boston Lyric Opera’s The Fall of the House of Usher. Bowen is GBH’s executive arts editor and the host of Open Studio. -
'The Right Direction To Go In': Former Mass. Education Secretary Reville On Gov. Baker's Push To Reopen Schools
Speaking on Boston Public Radio Thursday, former Mass. education secretary Paul Reville expressed support for a proposal presented Tuesday by the Baker administration, effectively forcing elementary classrooms to reopen by April. "I do think it’s the right direction to go in,” he said, citing decreasing COVID-19 cases in the state, and increasing knowledge about how to conduct in-person learning safely. He acknowledged, though, that the process is likely to be "complicated and controversial.” During the announcement earlier this week, Education Commissioner Jeffery Riley said he plans to ask schools in March to give him authority to determine when hybrid and remote learning models no longer count towards state-mandated learning hours. He added that the goal is to bring elementary student back by April, followed by middle and high school students “later in the school year." "It is not a set mandate,” Reville explained, calling the proposal an “indirect route” to getting children back in classrooms. “The governor has not done something he could do, which is declare emergency powers and mandate and require local districts to do it.” "I think the motivation and the statistics they’re citing, particularly on children’s mental health issues, is really compelling when you take a look at the number of cries for help that are coming in and being unmet by the mental health system,” he said, “many of which were being met in some way shape or form by school, or by virtue of being in schools.” Reville is the former Mass. secretary of education and a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he also heads the Education Redesign Lab. His latest book, co-authored with Elaine Weiss, is: "Broader, Bolder, Better: How Schools and communities help Students Overcome the Disadvantages of Poverty.” -
BPR Full Show: Just Another Day at the Office
Today on Boston Public Radio: Jonathan Gruber weighs in on the debate over President Biden’s pledge to raise the federal minimum wage to $15. Gruber is the Ford Professor of Economics at MIT. He was instrumental in creating both the Massachusetts health-care reform and the Affordable Care Act, and his latest book is "Jump-Starting America How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth and the American Dream." Next, we open the phone lines to ask listeners about the absence of office culture during the pandemic. Art Caplan talks about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, as well as the lack of diversity in vaccine trial participants. Caplan is the Drs. William F and Virginia Connolly Mitty Chair, and director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the NYU School of Medicine. Tanja Bosak discusses NASA’s Perseverance rover, sharing what scientists expect to find on the Mars mission. She also talks about what it was like collaborating on the Perseverance rover in the midst of the pandemic. Bosak is a geobiologist for MIT and a return sample scientist on the Perseverance team. Bob Thompson reviews PBS’ The Black Church and Mr. Soul!, as well as NBC’s Kenan and Young Rock. He also highlights films predicted to win Golden Globe awards Thompson is the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a professor of television and popular culture at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Juliette Kayyem shares her thoughts on Tuesday’s Senate hearing on the Jan. 6 Capitol siege. 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. Richard Blanco marks Black History Month by sharing poems from writers such as Gwendolyn Brooks, Terrance Hayes, and Danez Smith. Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history. His new book, "How To Love A Country," deals with various socio-political issues that shadow America. -
BPR Full Show: Time Out
Today on Boston Public Radio: We open the phone lines to hear how listeners are processing the news that half a million Americans have died from COVID-19. Trenni Kusnierek discusses some professional athletes’ reluctance to do vaccine PSAs. She also shares her thoughts on the debate over whether Olympic athletes should jump the vaccine line. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Rep. Bill Driscoll previews this Thursday’s Mass. vaccine rollout oversight hearing, touching on the Vaxfinder website crash and the Baker administration’s response. Driscoll represents Milton & Randolph's 7th Norfolk District. Anne Miller talks about PPE supply shortages, and President Biden’s authorization of the Defense Production Act to ramp up PPE production. She also explains the differences between N95 and KN95 masks, and how to spot fake N95 and KN95 masks. Miller is the executive director of the Boston-based nonprofit Project N95. Shirley Leung discusses Malden’s eviction prevention measures, as well as inequities in Mass. vaccine distribution. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. John King updates us on the latest political headlines, from Merrick Garland’s confirmation hearing to the release of former President Trump’s tax records. King is CNN's Chief National Correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. We end the show by asking listeners what they thought about the debate on whether Olympic athletes should be able to jump the vaccine line. -
BPR Full Show: Quarantine Rolls On
Today on Boston Public Radio: Brian McGrory weighs in on the criticism lodged against Gov. Baker’s vaccine rollout. He also speaks about the Supreme Court’s denial of former President Trump's bid to conceal his financial records. McGrory is the editor-in-chief of The Boston Globe. Next, we open the phone lines to ask listeners what their experiences have been in registering for the COVID-19 vaccine. Michelle Singletary discusses this year’s confusing tax season, and how listeners can prepare their tax forms. She also talks about the underfunding of the IRS, which has a backlog of over 11 million unprocessed 2019 tax returns. Michelle Singletary is a nationally syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, whose award-winning column, "The Color of Money," provides insight into the world of personal finance. Her recent 10-part series titled “Sincerely Michelle,” breaks down enduring misconceptions involving race. She’s also the author of "The 21 Day Financial Fast." Councilor Michelle Wu shares her thoughts on the state of vaccine distribution in Boston, and her proposed ordinance to get a vaccine site in every Boston zip code. She also discusses her proposal for a city-owned broadband network. Wu is a Boston City Councilor and candidate for city mayor. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III discuss the criminalization and adultification of Black children, and the Supreme Court case asking justices whether the use of racial slurs create a hostile workplace. They also speak about Vatican City’s new anti, anti-vaxxer policy. 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 the Boston University School of Theology. Price is an executive director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Together, they host GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast. Ali Noorani shares the latest updates on President Biden’s immigration reform bill, and other immigration headlines. 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.” We wrap up the show by asking listeners how they’re spending their lunch breaks in quarantine. -
BPR Full Show: Hypocrisy
Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening the phone lines to talk with listeners about Sen. Ted Cruz and hypocrisy. Sue O’Connell weighs in on Sen. Ted Cruz trip to Cancun while Texans struggled with freezing temperatures and the loss of electricity. She also touches on the 2021 postponement of Boston Pride, and Elton John’s friendship with Rush Limbaugh. O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and the South End News, as well as NECN's political commentator and explainer-in-chief. Emily Rooney talks about John Connolly’s recent release from prison, and the closure of Kenmore Square’s Eastern Standard, Island Creek Oyster Club, and Hawthorne. She also previewed this week’s episode of Beat the Press. Rooney is host of Beat the Press, which you can watch Friday nights at 7 p.m. Andy Ihnatko explains the showdown involving Google, Facebook, and the Australian government over paying for news content. He also talks about the U.S. digital divide, President Biden’s pick for the acting chair of the FCC, and NASA’s Perseverance Rover. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Christopher Muther speaks about when people might be able to safely travel again, and the recent increase in flight bookings for summer travel. Muther is a travel writer and columnist for the Boston Globe. Callie Crossley discusses a Harvard study that found reparations for slavery would have decreased COVID-19 transmission and deaths in the Black community. She also previews Sunday’s edition of Under the Radar. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. We wrap up the show by asking listeners what their experiences have been in trying to get vaccinated. -
BPR Full Show: Crash Landing
Today on Boston Public Radio: Congressman Jake Auchincloss argues for the creation of a Mass. centralized preregistration vaccination site. He also explains why he believes former President Trump could be tried under the 14th Amendment for the Jan. 6 Capitol siege. Auchincloss is the Democratic congressman representing Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District. Andrea Cabral explains how Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and the NAACP are using the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act in their lawsuit against former President Trump and Rudy Giuliani. She also talks about the recent resurgence of debtors’ prisons. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of Ascend. Governor Baker addresses Thursday’s Vaxfinder website crash, as well as the criticism he's received on his handling of vaccine distribution. He also speaks about the state’s current vaccine capacity, and how his administration plans to increase the number of vaccines available in Mass. Chuck Todd discusses Rush Limbaugh’s influence on political culture, and the state of the Republican Party today. Todd is the moderator of “Meet the Press” on NBC, host of “Meet the Press Daily" on MSNBC, and the Political Director for NBC News. We open the phone lines to hear listeners’ experiences with vaccine registration. Councilor Andrea Campbell speaks about the state of vaccine distribution in Mass., and argues for a “Teacher Vaccination Week.” She also discusses the Boston mayoral race, and what running a mayoral campaign during a pandemic looks like. Campbell represents Boston's District 4, which includes parts of Dorchester, Mattapan, Jamaica Plain and Roslindale. She's also currently running for mayor of Boston. We end the show by talking with listeners about the Baker administration adding even more people to the vaccine eligibility pool. -
BPR Full Show: A State of Disarray
Today on Boston Public Radio: Art Caplan weighs in on the recent firing of a Texas doctor after he distributed ten vaccines that were about to expire. He also argues for moving elite athletes further ahead in the vaccination line. Caplan is the Drs. William F and Virginia Connolly Mitty Chair, and director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the NYU School of Medicine. Carlo DeMaria responds to claims made by Everett City Councilor Gerly Adrien of racist treatment from her colleagues during her appearance on Monday's show. He also talks about Everett’s response to the pandemic, and his decision to distribute masks to every city resident. DeMaria is the mayor of Everett, Mass. Juliette Kayyem talks about the internal disarray of the QAnon conspiracy community, and the energy distribution issues facing Texas during their winter weather emergency. 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. Next, we open the phone lines to hear listeners’ thoughts on national vaccine rollouts. Corby Kummer speaks about the lack of pandemic hazard pay for grocery store employees around the country, and how restaurateurs are mobilizing to assist vulnerable workers. Kummer is the 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. Sy Montgomery explains how songbirds find mates for life in other birds who literally sing their tune, and discusses vampire bats who adopt vampire bat cubs. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist and a BPR contributor. Her latest book is "Becoming A Good Creature." We wrap up the show by asking listeners about what they’ve given up in a year already full of sacrifices. -
Corby Kummer: Will Universal Free Lunches Last After The Pandemic?
Food writer Corby Kummer spoke to Boston Public Radio on Wednesday about universal free lunches amid the pandemic. “School lunch is one of the only mystifyingly good stories of the Trump administration during the pandemic - which is that they extended waivers so that entire families of students who were eligible for free school lunches could get them,” Kummer said. “All the children in the family would be eligible for these meals not just the students at eligible schools.” Universal school lunch aims to eliminate stigma around free meals, Kummer noted. “It’s not as big of a deal in Boston because there is universal lunch and breakfast offered to students already,” he said. “But in plenty of municipalities the terrible lunch shaming of students who are supposed to pay for school lunch but then fall into debt has been eliminated during COVID by these waivers.” There are now different bills trying to extend universal school lunch plans state-by-state and nationally, Kummer added. 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.
