Boston Public Radio

Leaders of the Greater Boston Food Bank and Globe Santa are encouraging people to donate money or time this holiday season to support people in need.

The fall of the Assad regime ends a brutal dictatorship, but questions remain over the future of peace in Syria and the Middle East.

Roundhead Brewing Company was founded in 2022 by Luis Espinoza and Craig Panzer. The brewery blends Latin-inspired brewing with a community-focused mission, aiming to create cerveza que reúine — beer that brings people together.

Tariffs are meant to hold countries accountable and increase domestic manufacturing, but there could be costs to consumers and the economy.

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.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to get listener reactions to a Georgia grand jury report unanimously finding no evidence of fraud in the state's election, repudiating Donald Trump's claims to the contrary. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discussed new Black-owned businesses in Seaport. GBH's Callie Crossley discussed the sentencing of the Buffalo grocery store mass shooter, and comedian Chelsea Handler facing backlash for her satirical sketch riffing on the freedom of being a childless woman. Restaurateurs Tracy Chang of Pagu, Rachel Miller of Nightshade Noodle Bar, and Maria Rondeau of La Royal. All three have been named semifinalists for this year's James Beard awards. Roger Kabler is a Robin Williams impressionist. He joined to discuss his role in the film "Being Robin," screening at The Cabot in Beverly this weekend. Kim Kashkashian, a grammy winning musician and founding member of Music For Food, and Jennifer Hanlon Wigon, executive director of Women’s Lunch Place, joined for Live Music Friday, to discuss Music For Food's ongoing 13th season. Performances by violists William Coleman, Sarah Darling, Kim Kashkashian, Samuel Zacharia, and violinist Meesun Hong Coleman. We closed the show by opening the lines again to hear from listeners about AMC's new seating policy charging different prices depending on the seat's location in the theater.

Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC Political Director Chuck Todd discussed Nikki Haley jumping into the 2024 Presidential race, and other news as twe head into election season. Then, we opened the lines to discuss Bing's new search engine, powered by Chat-GPT, off of Kevin Roose's reporting in the New York Times. For the remainder of the show, we replayed conversations with: author Ben Shattuck; comedian Jenny Slate; naturalist and author Sy Montgomery; Mona Haydar & Sebastian Robins on their PBS show The Great Muslim American Road Trip; and musician Red Shaydez.

NBC Political Director Chuck Todd on the latest political headlines, including the State of the Union address from President Joe Biden. Andrea Cabral contrasts media coverage of Lindsay Clancy with a similar case involving a Black woman, Latarsha Sanders. Cabral is former Suffolk County Sheriff and former secretary of Public safety. Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui joins to answer questions related to the Cambridge police killing of Sayed Faisal. Arthur C. Brooks writes about happiness for the Atlantic. He joined to talk about a few of his latest columns.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Tracy Kidder and Dr. Jim O’Connell of the Boston Health Care for the Homeless program joined to discuss Kidder’s new book “Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O'Connell's Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People.” We opened the lines to get listener reactions on the mass shooting at Michigan State University. Juliette Kayyem discusses what we know about the Michigan State University shooting, recent swatting at multiple school districts in Mass, and her latest column in the Atlantic about the unidentified flying objects. Kayyem is former assistant secretary for homeland security under President Barack Obama, and the faculty chair of the homeland-security program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Jared Bowen discusses the American Heritage Museum’s Hanoi Hilton exhibit, August Wilson’s Seven Guitars by the Actor’s Shakespeare Project, and the Last Dance of Magic Mike. Bowen is GBH's Executive Arts Editor and host of Open Studio. Sy Montgomery discusses new research that finds orca mothers are so drained after raising one male calf that it drastically reduces their chances of having another one. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist and a BPR contributor. We ended the show by talking to listeners about the toll parenting has.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joined for Ask the Mayor, discussing her new rent control proposal and taking listener calls. NBC Sports Boston anchor and reporter Trenni Casey discussed the Super Bowl. Boston Globe advice columnist Meredith Goldstein discussed Valentine's Day and her Love Letters columns and podcast. Attorney General for Massachusetts Andrea Campbell joined for Ask the AG, discussing a new abortion legal hotline which can be reached by calling or texting (833) 309-6301, and taking listener calls.