Boston Public Radio

Some conservative leaders in the Catholic church have called the president's faith into question over his stance on abortion rights.

Biden's plan includes $1,400 relief checks to most Americans and would be paid for entirely by borrowing.

The travel guru talks about the value of international travel and why he's not worried about people staying home after the pandemic.

Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins is on the short list to be the U.S. attorney for Massachusetts.

The former Department of Homeland Security official also said she's hoping to see Republicans embrace Biden's calls for unity.

The variant — B.1.1.7 — has reached the state this week, according to the state's Department of Public Health.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.