Boston Public Radio

As the longest government shutdown in U.S. history enters its fifth week, the future of federal food assistance remains uncertain.

Rev. Irene Monroe said the film, which is about the relationship between a black pianist and his white driver and bodyguard, is overly reliant on the trope of the "white hero."

Poet Richard Blanco highlighted his favorite works by poet Ada Limón, which are united by a common theme of searching for meaning in "seeming oblivion."

Healey said she is “actively reviewing” the existing policies and procedures that surround the reporting of cases of sexual misconduct.

After Barack Obama left Office, Pete Souza made sure he still remained a part of the national dialogue.

Richard Blanco, the nation's fifth inaugural poet, shared poems that seize on the changing of the seasons as an opportunity to reflect on death, rebirth, and the passage of time.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to talk with listeners about the police killing of Rayshard Brooks, and the significance of his death in the context of ongoing Black Lives Matter protests. Massachusetts Director of Transportation Chris Dempsey talked about the return of drivers to Mass. roads, and why he’d like to see Gov. Baker ride the MBTA amid coronavirus worries. We reopened lines to talk with business owners and consumers about how you’re adjusting to phase two of the state’s reopening. We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Monday press conference. TV expert Bob Thompson discussed “8:46,” the latest standup special from Dave Chappelle, and the cancellation of Paramount Network’s “Cops." Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, discussed the Supreme Court’s Monday ruling on transgender discrimination in the workplace, and whether Boston ought to remove a controversial statue of Abraham Lincoln in Park Square. Author Bill Buford discussed his new book, “Dirt: Adventures in Lyon as a Chef in Training, Father, and Sleuth Looking for the Secret of French Cooking."

Today on Boston Public Radio: Media maven Sue O’Connell talked about J.K. Rowling’s controversial stance on transgender issues, and the commencement address to a Kansas college from Ivanka Trump. We opened lines to talk with listeners about everything that’s going on around police reform, coronavirus, and election 2020. We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Friday press conference. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko talked about Microsoft’s ban on police use of their facial recognition technology, and explained how to “protest-proof” your phone. Under the Radar host Callie Crossley discussed President Trump’s scheduled Juneteenth rally in Tulsa, Okla., and a new charity founded by LeBron James to protect the voting rights of Black Americans. Joe Spaulding, president and CEO of the Boch Center, talked about plans for the theater’s gradual reopening, and previewed their “Ghost Light Series" that’ll be streaming in the fall.

Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd talked about President Trump’s scheduled rally in Tulsa, Okla. on Juneteenth, and whether Democrats will be able to win back the Senate in the November election. Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed concerns around U.S. voting protections, and what Black Lives Matter protesters mean when they call to defund the police. We aired live audio from Gov. Baker’s Thursday press conference. Former Mass. Education Secretary Paul Reville discussed challenges for teachers and school administrators in adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ways that students of color stand to be disproportionally impacted by those challenges. Quentin Palfrey, chair of the Voter Protection Corps, discussed Tuesday's voting debacle in Georgia, and the myriad of issues around voter protections ahead of the November election. WGBH Arts Editor Jared Bowen discussed an open letter from 300 prominent actors condemning racism within the theater industry, and talked about the decision by HBO Max to remove “Gone With the Wind” from their catalogue.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to talk with listeners about your thoughts on defunding the police. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed whether left-leaning media was hypocritical in criticizing anti-lockdown protests, and talked about pro-life opposition to a COVID-19 vaccine made using stem cells. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discussed the bullish legacy of AG Bill Barr, and Sen. Mitt Romney’s decision to join Black Lives Matter protests. Inaugural Poet Richard Blanco called in for another edition “Village Voice,” where he read a selection of poems about the act of protest. Drake University professor and author Jennifer Harvey discussed her writing on white privilege, and what she describes as “white silence” amid racism and police brutality in the U.S. Food writer Corby Kummer talked about the importance of supporting Black-owned restaurants, and why he’s no longer using food delivery services like Grubhub. We reopened our lines to talk with listeners about our interview with Jennifer Harvey, and the concept of white silence.

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke with Boston Public Radio *on Wednesday about food magazine Bon Appetit's recently exposed structural racism. "The Me Too movement came for sexism, and now the moment is coming for racism," he said. "The editor of Bon Appetit, Adam Rapoport, was discovered in an old photo dressed up in Puerto Rican bling, and his assistant said [Rapoport] liked the picture so much that he had it framed on his desk." The photo itself was appalling, but even more appalling was the culture of racism that has now been described at Bon Appetit, Kummer noted. "The terribly white culture of the Test Kitchen at Bon Appetit has made millions...and that's why I think this culture went unchallenged," he said. "So the editor resigned and the Bon Appetit staff posted something today saying the culture is going to change and that they're going to right the pay inequity." *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.