Boston Public Radio

The BPS Superintendent weighed in on a host of issues, from equity among Mass. superintendents to how she plans to spend $400 million in federal funds.

"Of course we should have same-day [registration]," Healey said. "This is an area I absolutely disagree with [Baker] on."

“We know that white liberals will talk the talk but not walk the walk here,” Rev. Irene Monroe said.

Pressley also talked about why "Black Lives Matter" should include Haitian refugees.

"Getting to the point where there's a relatively simple process for people to credential the fact that they've been vaccinated will be important for a whole bunch of reasons," Baker said.

Joseph Allen said Americans need clearer guidance on where the pandemic ends and quasi-normalcy begins.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Dr. Davis Rosman, president of the Mass. Medical Society, discussed an uptick in the rate of positive COVID-19 cases across Mass., and why he thinks Gov. Baker should consider scaling back the state’s reopening. We opened lines to ask listeners: are the rewards of backing off on reopening worth it to keep coronavirus at bay? FRONTLINE filmmaker Michael Kirk talked about episode two of “United States of Conspiracy,” which reports on the career of InfoWars host Alex Jones. NBC Sports Boston reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek discussed an outbreak of coronavirus within the Miami Marlins, and what it could mean for Major League Baseball in 2020. Naturalist Sy Montgomery discussed her latest book, “Condor Comeback,” about the efforts to save the endangered bird from extinction. CNN’s John King talked about congressional negations around further coronavirus relief, and other national headlines. Playwright Ryan Landry gave an update on his newfound painting career, and talked about his experience being interviewed for HBO’s documentary on lawyer and Donald Trump mentor Roy Cohn.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to talk with listeners about the new coronavirus travel restrictions, announced Friday by Gov. Baker. Drs. Meabh O’Hare and Josh Budhu discussed their recent writing on excited delirium, a medical condition they describe as "junk science" with strong ties to police brutality. WGBH News Analyst and GroundTruth Project CEO Charlie Sennott explained the rationale behind his concern for the health of American democracy, and discussed the U.S.’ deteriorating relationship with China. TV expert Bob Thompson reflected on the life of TV host Regis Philbin, and explained why he’s not impressed with the simulated crowds in MLB broadcasts. Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, reflected on the passing of local civil right advocate Mimi Jones, and talked about the recent speech by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, decrying derogatory remarks made against her by a congressional colleague. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discussed a State House bill to establish a “Distressed Restaurant Trust Fund,” and the racial reckoning at Boston-based bakery Tatte. We opened lines to ask listeners: is this summer heart testing your ability to social distance?

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to talk with listeners about the return of baseball, on opening day for the Red Sox. Media maven Sue O’Connell discussed the rebuke from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to derogatory comments made by Rep. Ted Yoho, as well as news that the Hallmark Channel will include LGBT storylines in their 2020 holiday movie lineup. Beat the Press host Emily Rooney talked about the release of President Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen from jail, and read her weekly list of fixations and fulminations. Food writer Corby Kummer talked about the decision by Trader Joe's to discontinue racist branding on their ethnic food packaging, and several ways that supermarkets are repurposing space that used to be used for salad and hot-food bars. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed news that Facebook ignored research about racial biases on their platforms, and controversy around comments made on the livestream feed of the U.S. Army's Esports team. Under the Radar host Callie Crossley discussed artist Dustin Klein's work, shining images onto a confederate monument in Virginia, and a racist comments made to 14 year-old boy in Newburyport as he was handing out free donuts. Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lori McKenna talked about her new album, “The Balladeer,” and promoted a Friday-night livestream concert out of Cambridge's Club Passim.

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke with Boston Public Radio on Friday about Trader Joe's racist labeling on certain products, such as 'Trader Ming's' and 'Trader José's.' "Trader Joe's is finally saying no to racist branding that perpetuates the worst kind of stereotyping," 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.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Mass. Cannabis Commission Control Commission Chairman Steve Hoffman and Commissioner Shaleen Title discussed the bureaucratic hurdles keeping Black-owned cannabis shops from getting off the ground, four years after marijuana legalization in Mass. We opened lines to hear your thoughts on the years-long delay of the Mass. legislature in getting Black-owned marijuana businesses off the ground. Ali Noorani, Executive Director for the National Immigration Forum, talked about news of ICE’s concealment of a COVID-19 outbreak at one of their detention centers, and weighed the President’s authority to restrict whether undocumented immigrants get counted in the 2020 census. WGBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen talked about the reopening of Boston’s museums, and new art from local muralist Rob Gibbs and photographer Raina Matar. Former Mass. Education Secretary Paul Reville discussed new guidelines for school reopening in Mass., and offered his take on pushback to school reform from BPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius. Congressman Joe Kennedy discussed the Senate’s lack of a COVID-19 relief bill, which was expected today, and offered his thoughts on police reform and term limits for Supreme Court justices. We opened lines to talk with listeners about a new Mass. law allowing bars to offer to-go cocktails.