Boston Public Radio

As Harvard reportedly considers a $500 million settlement with the Trump administration, U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark expressed concern over institutions “bending the knee” to Trump but Harvard might be the exception.

Two Market Basket executives were placed on leave for "disruptive behavior." They say they were just asking questions. One of them was later fired.

Two local farmers share how they're trying to offset costs for their customers, despite cuts to food benefits at the state and federal levels.

The mayor acknowledged increased drug activity in the South End and other neighborhoods, but said the situation is improving overall.

Karen Read was found not guilty of murder and manslaughter in the 2022 death of her boyfriend John O'Keefe.

So far, $50 million has been spent on demolition to prepare the new facility, according to the mayor.

Today: Boston Globe Love Letters columnist Meredith Goldstein discusses the region's newest romance-specific brick-and-mortar bookstore, Lovestruck Books, in Harvard Square.And, the team from the Urban Nutcracker joins Jim and Margery at the BPL for Live Music Friday.

BPR Full Show 12/20: The 2024 Finale

We start the show by asking people how they maintain a "no crap for Christmas" policy.Ashish Jha was Biden’s COVID-19 response coordinator, now he’s the dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health. He joins to talk about RFK Jr. at the helm of HHS and whether the U.S. is ready for another pandemic.Former secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral reacts to a Georgie appeals court disqualifying Fani Willis, GOP officials targeting Liz Cheney for prosecution in 2025 and the third guilty plea in the Cambridge/Watertown brothel case.Former secretary of education Paul Reville discusses how Linda McMahon will impact the Department of Education, skill gaps at Massachusetts community colleges, a lawsuit alleging price-fixing at major universities, and pushback to Newton’s multilevel teaching model. Vulture podcast critic Nick Quah talks about this year's best shows. Then it's "Am I the A-Hole" day. At issue is an early Christmas dinner time.

Today:Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University school of public health, and former COVID-19 coordinator under President Biden joins Jim and Margery in Studio 3 -- He reflects on mistakes made around school closures and vaccine mandates.And, our final Am I The A-Hole segment of the year: Is one family member the jerk for wanting to hold the big Christmas meal later in the afternoon than 1:00 p.m., so he can enjoy time with his own young children and family before meeting up with the big group?

Today: Andrea Cabral and Sue O'Connell fill in for Jim and Margery.We speak with national security expert Juliette Kayyem about the Wisconsin school shooting, and the drone mania on the east coast.And, Linda Matchan, editor for Globe Santa, and the Greater Boston Food Bank’s Catherine D’Amato, discuss ways we can help each other this giving season.