Episodes
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Undocumented Workers 'Locked Out' From Economic Relief, Says Corby Kummer
Food writer Corby Kummer spoke to Boston Public Radio *on Friday about undocumented restaurant workers who are unable to get a stimulus check or file for unemployment. "We need to figure out how to protect undocumented workers and how to get them the kind of social safety nets that they're completely locked out from, even though in order to work, they pay taxes," he said. "They pay umemployment taxes which they're never able to access." A lot of restauranteurs are prioritizing hiring back undocumented workers during reopening, Kummer added. "Because they are the backbone of the restaurant industry, they're the dishwashers and prep cooks," he said. "What are we going to do moving forward to protect these workers?" *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 6/4/20: On Justice, On Peace
Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd discussed former Secretary of Defense James Mattis’ rebuke of President Trump in The Atlantic, as well as pusback from current Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the issue of using military force to quell Black Lives Matter protests. We opened lines to talk with listeners about James Mattis’ condemnation of President Trump, and hear your thoughts on the president's response to Black Lives Matter protests. Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed the role that police unions play in perpetuating police violence, and weighed in on the purported significance of officers who take a knee with Black Lives Matter protesters. We reopened lines to ask listeners: is peaceful protesting too peaceful to be heard? Partners in Health Co-Founder Dr. Paul Farmer spoke on the state of Massachusetts’ contact tracing initiative, and responded to question from listeners. -
BPR Full Show 6/3/20: On Protesting in a Pandemic
Today on Boston Public Radio: Medical ethicist Art Caplan talked about the risks of protesting during a pandemic, and his views on the danger of rushing a COVID-19 vaccine. We opened lines to ask listeners: are you worried about the spread of the coronavirus at Black Lives Matter protests? We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Wednesday press conference. Boston Globe cannabis reporter Dan Adams discussed ties between racist marijuana prohibition laws and the current Black Lives Matter protests, as well as the looting on Sunday of Pure Oasis, the state's first Black-owned legal pot shop. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discussed new charges expected to be brought against the three additional police officers present during the killing of George Floyd, as well as the president’s authority within the 1807 Insurrection Act. -
BPR Full Show 6/2/20: The Photo-Op
Today on Boston Public Radio: Boston Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius talked about what her administration is doing to support students during the COVID-19 pandemic, and responded to questions from listeners. We opened lines to hear your thoughts on President Trump’s condemnation of Black Lives Matter protesters. Carol Rose from the Mass. ACLU talked about President Trump’s vow to enact the 213-year-old Insurrection Act, and her thoughts on reforms Massachusetts can and should enact to better protecting resident liberties. Civil Rights Attorney Harvey Silvergate remembered the life of his wife, photographer Elsa Dorfman, who passed away on Saturday. CNN’s John King discussed Trump’s photo-op Monday in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church, and other national headlines. We reopened our lines to continue the conversation about Black Lives Matter protests. -
BPR Full Show 6/1/20: Exhausted
Today on Boston Public Radio: Rep. Ayanna Pressley spoke about the protesting that took place in Boston on Sunday, and discussed her latest legislation, co-authored with Rep. Ilhan Omar, to address police brutality. We opened lines to talk with callers about the killing of George Floyd, and Sunday’s protests. WGBH News reporter Tori Bedford recapped her experience covering the protests. Dr. David Fajgenbaum discussed his new memoir, "Chasing My Cure: A Doctor's Race to Turn Hope Into Action.” Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, discussed their views on the nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd, and what they make of Gov. Baker’s decision to prioritize the reopening of churches amid the ongoing pandemic. We aired live audio from Gov. Marty Walsh’s Monday press conference. We closed the show by reopening our lines to continue the conversation with listeners about Sunday's protests. -
BPR Full Show 5/29/20: The Hottest Night of Spring
Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to talk with listeners about the nationwide protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd. Media maven Sue O’Connell reflected on the life of LGBT activist Larry Kramer, and explained what’s happening with this year’s pride parade in Boston. Beat the Press host Emily Rooney discussed the arrest of CNN reporter Omar Jimenez on live TV, and gave her take on whether Twitter is right to fact-check the president. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discussed guidelines for safe reopening amid coronavirus, and talked about the value of mail-in voting. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which President Trump is attempting to limit with a new executive order. Under the Radar host Callie Crossley talked about her feelings on the death of George Floyd, as well as the woman who called 911 on a Black man after he asked her to leash her dog in Central Park. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discussed the economic consequences of cancelling this year’s Boston Marathon, and her reporting on the Boston businesses that aren’t rushing to reopen. -
BPR Full Show 5/28/20: Mourning George Floyd
Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd discussed the U.S. passing a grim milestone in COVID-19 deaths, and the uproar over the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd. Jim and Margery briefly weighed in on the death of George Floyd Former Mass. Education Secretary Paul Reville discussed the surge in de facto student dropouts in Boston Public Schools, and the litany of other challenges for schools systems adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic. Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed the police killing of George Floyd, and her thoughts on why outrage over his death alone won’t be enough to affect systemic change in U.S. police forces. Heather Goldstone talked about troubling data on this year’s hurricane season, and how the ongoing pandemic will affect how governments handle the fallout. We opened lines to talk with listeners about your thoughts on the police killing of George Floyd. Brattle Book Shop owner and “Antiques Roadshow” appraiser Ken Gloss gave tips on curating the books in your Zoom backdrop, and recounted some of his best stories from his career working with antique books. -
BPR Full Show 5/27/20: Getting Back on the Rails
Today on Boston Public Radio: Ahead of Gov. Baker’s press conference, we opened lines to talk with listeners about your thoughts on using public transit during the coronavirus pandemic. We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Wednesday press conference. Former Secretary of Transportation Jim Aloisi called in to offer context around what the Baker administration had to say regarding the MBTA and Mass. transportation. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed why long-term care facilities were unprepared for the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether parents should feel safe sending their kids to Summer camp this year. Food writer Corby Kummer talked about ethical problems with how food delivery service Instacart treats its workers, and safety guidelines for people ordering food during the pandemic. We reopened lines to ask parents: are you prepared to send your kids off to Summer camp this year? -
'Do Not Use Instacart' Says Corby Kummer
Instacart, an American grocery delivery service company, has been receiving criticism over its treatment of workers during the coronavirus pandemic. Food writer Corby Kummer spoke with Boston Public Radio *on Wednesday about how many Instacart workers haven't received safety kits or extended pay for having to quarantine. Instacart had announced back in March that it would offer two weeks of extended pay to in-store shoppers diagnosed with COVID-19, or placed in quarantine by an authority. "[Instacart] did everything they could to break their promise, and essentially break the health of workers," Kummer said. "A number of Instacart workers claimed the two weeks of pay, that Instacart promised them if they were ill, but Instacart denied the claims and made them go through red tape hurtles until the workers would give up." Instacart is not following through on its new guidelines to support the health of its workers, Kummer added. "They say that they care and that they're putting millions into healthcare, but all they do is cycle through workers, give the longtime workers worse routes, and don't care at all about their health," he said. "I will tell everybody I know, 'Do not use Instacart.'" *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 5/26/20: The Most Powerful Grandma in America
Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to ask listeners: with hair salons and barbershops back open in Mass., will you be heading out to get your hair cut? TIME Magazine journalist Molly Ball discussed her new biography on Speaker Nancy Pelosi, titled “Pelosi." Environmental journalist Bill McKibben discussed the minor impact of quarantine on global carbon emissions, and the lessons we can gleam about our current climate crisis from the U.S.’ sluggish COVID-19 response. We opened lines to talk with listeners about the state’s gradual reopening, ahead of Gov. Charlie Baker’s Tuesday press conference. We aired live audio from Gov. Baker’s press conference. Behavioral economist Mike Norton talked about the exclusionary power of the inside joke, and responded to comments and questions from listeners. CNN’s John King discussed the politicization of the COVID-19 crisis, and President Trump’s efforts to quash mail-in voting.
