Boston Public Radio

Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse criticized Biden’s reasoning for pardoning his son, while Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley defended Biden's right to pardon his son but urged the president to use his executive powers to address sentencing disparities.

Boston Globe columnist Shirley Leung noted that Black Friday's excitement has changed, as fewer people lined up for early-morning sales. Instead, online shopping saw record sales.

The senator believes Trump will act in a revengeful way "towards individuals who he believes harmed him.”

Andrea Campbell said the attorney general's office can only get involved if the dispute between the auditor and Massachusetts Legislature goes to litigation.

RFK Jr's vaccine skepticism is concerning to doctors, but his calls for improving nutrition are appealing — if he can execute his plan.

The former Massachusetts governor says his party could learn from Donald Trump.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joins for Ask The Mayor.Then NBC Sports Boston anchor/reporter Trenni Casey discusses an NCAA $2.8 billion settlement, the Red Sox Mookie Betts trade getting Trump's attention and the Women's Final Four. CNN's John King zooms in for the latest national political headlines.Plus, Andris Nelsons & Chad Smith of the Boston Symphony Orchestra join ahead of a Friday Yo-Yo Ma performance of the works of Shostakovich.

Anand Giridharadas of The Ink newsletter discusses national politics & this weekend's protests across the countryRetired federal judge Nancy Gertner discusses Trump's third term talk and the latest on cases before the Supreme Court.Fiona Hill, senior fellow at Brookings and was the senior director for European and Russian affairs on the National Security Council during Trump's first administration on what has/hasn't changed.Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price discuss the decline of empathy as a valued trait in certain faith communities

Today:Fiona Hill has spent decades studying Putin and Russia – both as a scholar and as a US intelligence official – serving in George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump administrations. She discusses the shift in foreign policy agenda in the first few weeks of Trump's second administration, and threats to Democracy worldwide.

The Boston Lyric Opera's 80th anniversary production of "Carousel" starts tonight, and brings the beloved show back to its beginnings at the historic Colonial Theater – in 1945.We speak with Boston Lyric Opera CEO Bradley Vernatter, director and visionary Anne Bogart, and Boston Foundation's Lee Pelton, making his theatrical debut. Plus, performances from Chelsea Basler, Brendan Shapiro, and Mary Kray.

BPR Full Show 4/4: Look At Those Tariffs!