Boston Public Radio

The rise of the delta variant of COVID-19 is instilling fear and “stabilizing the need” of nutrition assistance programs.

"The administration needs to catch up" on vaccine mandates, Wu said today on BPR.

Downie said the move, while only helpful in the short term, was likely to buy time for families working to get their hands on federal aid money.

Boston mayoral candidate John Barros joined Boston Public Radio for a wide-ranging interview about his candidacy.

The Rhode Island senator said he doesn't expect his voice is enough to change Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer's mind on the issue of stepping down from the nation's highest court while Democrats maintain power.

Family medicine doctor Katherine Gergen Barnett joined Boston Public Radio to go over the latest COVID-19 developments and take listener calls.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by asking our listeners how they feel about Elon Musk buying Twitter. Lyndia Downie, president of the Pine Street Inn, discussed the organization's plan to build more than 100 studio apartments at a former "Comfort Inn" in Dorchester despite the steep opposition from neighbors and local leaders. She also discussed the ongoing tension between the city of Boston and the state when it comes to Mass and Cass and ended by highlighting that Boston’s homeless population has dipped by 25 percent over two years. Callie Crossley talked about the divorce between Tom Brady and Giselle Bundchen. She also predicted the impact of Elon Musk buying Twitter, and weighed in on how the media covered John Fetterman's performance during his Pennsylvania senatorial debate with Dr. Mehmet Oz. Callie Crossley is the host of "Under the Radar with Callie Crossley.” Irene Li & Steven “Nookie” Postal brought food and talked about their respective journeys to reaching success in Boston's cuisine scene. Irene’s "Mei Mei Dumplings" has a new cafe and dumpling factory opening in South Boston. "Nookie" provided updates about his restaurants, the "Revival Café" and "Commonwealth Cambridge." Deborah Z. Porter, the director of the Boston Book Festival, and author Gish Jen stopped by to give a rundown on what to expect at the festival this weekend. Gish also discussed her latest book. The musician "BLKBOK" performed during the latest segment of "Live-Music Fridays." He's a Detroit-based classical pianist who’s worked with artists like Justin Timberlake and Rihanna. He had a show at City Winery on Thursday night. We ended the show by asking our listeners to call in and tell us about their favorite Halloween candy.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We started the show with Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Attorney General Maura Healey. Healey discussed her endorsement of tax reform, her support of ballot Question 1, and her desire to have more dense housing built in the state. She also discussed the climate policies she would like to implement if she wins the election on Nov. 8. Next, we took our listeners' calls on how they feel leading up to the midterms elections now that recent polling shows Republicans have a chance of taking control of both chambers of Congress. Then Andrea Cabral discussed the implications of Justice Clarence Thomas freezing a lower court decision that would’ve compelled Senator Lindsey Graham to testify about election tampering in Georgia. Thomas has faced calls to recuse himself from all 2020 election matters because of his wife Ginny’s history of pushing election conspiracy theories onto public officials. Cabral is former Suffolk County Sheriff and former secretary of Public Safety. Gov. Charlie Baker was in-studio for his last “Ask the Governor” segment before the election. He answered our listeners’ questions about struggles at the MBTA, his endorsement of Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson, and refused to say who he plans to vote for to succeed him in the corner office. Then finally, we opened the lines again to ask our listeners if they are among the 50 percent of Americans who told a poll that they believe in ghosts.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the show by taking listeners' calls, hearing their reactions to the news from the MBTA that Orange Line trains will run at reduced speeds until December despite work done during a 30-day shutdown. Jenifer McKim and Sarah Betancourt discussed GBH News' investigative reporting series ["Trafficking, Inc.,"](gbh.org/news/trafficking) which dives into labor trafficking in Mass. McKim is GBH News' Deputy Investigative Editor. Betancourt is a GBH News reporter. Juliette Kayeem discussed the death of former Defense Secretary Ash Carter, and backlash over a letter on Ukraine negotiations released by Democrats that has since been withdrawn. Kayyem was the assistant secretary for Homeland Security under former President Barack Obama, and is the faculty chair of the Homeland Security program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Her 2022 book is “The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters.” Erika Kinetz and Tom Jennings joined the show to discuss Frontline’s latest documentary, “Putin's Attack on Ukraine: Documenting War Crimes.” Kinetz is a global investigative reporter for the Associated Press. Jennings is a director for Frontline. Jared Bowen talked about ongoing arts events in and around Boston, from "Metal of Honor" at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum to Claudia Comte’s "Five Marble Leaves" along Boston's waterfront. Bowen is GBH News’ Executive Arts Editor. Joan Donovan joined us to discuss her new book, which looks into far-right meme culture and its dissemination into mainstream politics. Donovan is a media researcher and adjunct lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School. Her new book is “Meme Wars: The Untold Story of the Online Battles upending Democracy in America,” cowritten with Emily Dreyfuss and Brian Friedberg. We ended the show by asking listeners if they're pro- or anti-leaf blower.

A combination of farmers hatching fewer turkeys during the pandemic and an outbreak of avian flu is going to impact the cost of Thanksgiving this year for American consumers. Food policy writer Corby Kummer told Boston Public Radio on Tuesday to keep an eye out now for your family’s turkey day centerpiece. “If you see a turkey that’s the right size right now, buy it and freeze it, it’s probably going to get more expensive,” said Kummer. Corby Kummer is 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.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by asking listeners if they avoid spending money at morally questionable corporations. Shirley Leung weighed in on debates surrounding Massachusetts Ballot Question 1, commonly referred to as the "millionaires tax" or "fair share amendment." She also discussed the squeeze on Halloween candy this year. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Andrew Levitt, also known as Nina West, talked about LGBTQ+ activism amid homophobic attacks, his role playing Edna Turnblad in the 2022 tour of “Hairspray,” and his new children’s book, “The You Kind of Kind.” Levitt is a drag queen, singer, actor and author. Corby Kummer discussed the struggle for New York City’s street vendors to get more permits, and how inflation will impact Thanksgiving. 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. Anand Giridharadas shared insights from his new book, “The Persuaders,” including how storytelling is a tool for persuasion, the ways that people can more actively advocate in the midterm elections, and how President Joe Biden could be more effective at persuading. Giridharadas is a journalist, author and former New York Times columnist. John King gave us his thoughts ahead of the midterm elections and analyzed several specific races and debates. King is CNN's chief national correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. We ended the show by asking listeners where they draw the line in protesting politicians.