Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: Following Joe Biden’s nomination Thursday night, we opened lines to hear your takes on the former vice president and now-official 2020 Democratic presidential nominee. Media maven Sue O’Connell talked about her impressions of this week's Democratic National Convention, and why some are calling it “the gayest convention ever." Under the Radar and Basic Black host Callie Crossley offered her impressions of the Democratic National Convention, and explained what it was about Kamala Harris that led her to write a prescient open letter to the newly-elected senator in 2016. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discussed her reporting on the handful of businesses stepping up to support employees with child care, and a partial return of in-person business conferences to Boston. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius called in to discuss their strategy for schooling in the fall, and responded to questions and comments from listener

Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd discussed Thursday morning's news of the arrest of former Trump advisor Steve Bannon. He also recapped everything that’s going on with the Democratic National Convention.  We opened lines to talk with listeners about your thoughts on the first three nights of the DNC. Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed Thursday's arrest of Steve Bannon, and a Florida appeals court’s decision to throw out video evidence in the prostitution case against Patriots owner Robert Kraft.  Sen. Elizabeth Warren discussed why she’s all in for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, her thoughts on the looming eviction crisis, and why she feels it’s important for the federal government to support the arts during the coronavirus pandemic.  Former Mass. Education Secretary Paul Reville broke down the latest headlines from the education sector, with K-12 schools and colleges scrambling to sort out how they’ll operate this sch

Today on Boston Public Radio: Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed prescription delays brought by USPS cutbacks, and the importance of keeping kids active and socially distanced throughout the pandemic.   We opened lines to ask parents: is life during COVID-19 making your kids more active or less active? CNN analyst and national security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed Tuesday's release of the final volume of the Senate Intelligence Committee's investigation into Russian election interference, and sharp critiques of the president's handling of national security from Miles Taylor, his former DHS Chief of Staff. Mass. AG Maura Healey discussed her office’s forthcoming lawsuit against the Trump administration over changes at the USPS, and spoke to callers as part of our monthly “Ask the AG” segment. Journalist and naturalist Sy Montgomery discussed the important work of the Turtle Rescue League, bizarre mating habits of Brazilian frogs, and the reason why sharks like to have friends.

Medical ethicist Art Caplan made his weekly call into Boston Public Radio on Wednesday, where he discussed worries about kids not getting much-needed exercise while they’re learning from home. The conversation came on the heels of a recent study from the American Heart Association indicating only about 40 percent of American adolescents are aerobically fit.  "The best we could do, I think, is build it into our plans for remote education this fall,” he said. "Let’s talk recess and phys ed as well as math and English.” Caplan also stressed that group sports aren't the ideal solution to the problem, saying “[if] we get a rebound of COVID, then the kids are gonna be bringing it to the field. It’s not that they get it there, it’s that they track it in – so to speak." Arthur Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Chair, and the director of the division of medical ethics at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

The Senate Intelligence Committee released a nearly 1,000 page report on Tuesday, detailing Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. The report describes President Donald Trump’s campaign advisors as having extensive contact with Russian intelligence officials during the 2016 election. Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, was said to have had the most extreme link with Russian intelligence. Homeland security expert Juliette Kayyem spoke with Boston Public Radio on Wednesday about this new report. “The substance of it is more damning than the Mueller Report because it shows, and more than implies, the direct relationship with Manafort and senior leaders in the Russian intelligence agency,” she said.  Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Today on Boston Public Radio:  We opened our lines to ask listeners: are you experiencing work-from-home burnout?  Trenni Kusnierek talked about the recent appointment of Jason Wright as the NFL’s first Black team president, and Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask’s decision to step away from the NHL. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Boston Sports, and a Boston Public Radio contributor.  Steve Kerrigan recapped the Monday night kick-off of the Democratic National Convention. Kerrigan is the CEO of the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, and former CEO of the Democratic National Convention.  Chris Dempsey discussed the return of commuters to the roads of Mass., and the data behind why public transportation might be safer than you think. Dempsey directs the coalition Transportation for Mass., and is a former Mass. assistant secretary for transportation.  Journalist Robert Kuttner discussed failures in U.S. coronavirus testing, and his recent piece for the American Prospect titled "Falling Upwar

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to talk with listeners about concerns regarding President Trump’s moves to curb mail-in voting ahead of the November election.  TV expert Bob Thompson talked about ABC's decision to finally release an episode  of "Black-ish,” which the network thought too controversial to air in 2018. He also reviewed HBO's “Lovecraft Country.”  WGBH News Analyst and GroundTruth Project CEO Charlie Sennott discussed widespread protests in Lebanon in the wake of the Beirut explosion, and implications of the recent diplomatic agreement struck between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, discussed the faiths of Sen. Kamala Harris and former Vice President Joe Biden, and questions about their impact on a Biden-Harris administration.  Dr. Ken Duckworth talked about mental health issues pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic, and responded to questions and comments from listeners. Ken Duckworth is the senior medica

As of last week, all food processor employees in Michigan must now be routinely tested for COVID-19, making it the first state in the nation with this requirement. Food writer Corby Kummer told Boston Public Radio on Friday that "this is a piece of good news" in the meatpacking industry, which has so far been "callous and cruel to its workers, not caring if they live or die." 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: - Massachusetts Congressman Stephen Lynch spoke about the US Postal Service removing many mail-processing machines across the country. - Political commentator Sue O'Connell explained the recent allegations against Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, who is running against Congressman Richard Neal for Massachusetts's 1st congressional district seat. - WGHB's Emily Rooney gave her thoughts on Massachusetts's 4th congressional district race. - Food writer Corby Kummer spoke about Michigan becoming the first state to mandate that meatpacking workers must have regular COVID-19 screenings. - Callie Crossley discussed how recent right-wing journalists and politicians are mispronouncing vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris' name. - Yankee Magazine's Annie Copps spoke about the surge in home cooking that's occurred during the pandemic.

Today on Boston Public Radio: - NBC's Chuck Todd shared his thoughts on Joe Biden, presumptive Democratic nominee for president, choosing Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate. - Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell spoke about her call for Boston schools to start the year fully remote. - Andrea Cabral, former secretary of public safety and sheriff of Suffolk County, explained why the Massachusetts Bail Fund is facing criticism. - Brown University Economics Professor Emily Oster talked about how to safely reopen schools this fall. - American playwright Paula Vogel spoke about how the performing arts are adapting to life online. - Boston Globe Business Columnist Shirley Leung discussed diversifying the boards of some of the commonwealth's largest companies.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Former Mass. Treasurer and state gubernatorial candidate Shannon O’Brien discussed presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s choice of Kamala Harris as his running mate. Michael Curry talked about Biden’s pick and how Harris on the ticket might influence voters. Curry is the deputy CEO and general council for the Mass. League of Community Health Centers and a member of the NAACP board of directors, where he also chairs the board’s advocacy and policy committee. We opened our lines to talk with listeners about Harris joining Biden’s presidential ticket. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed evolving attitudes around faster, less effective coronavirus testing, and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ethically dubious claims about Russia's supposed COVID-19 vaccine. Colby College sociologist and former police officer Neil Gross talked about why he believes progressives looking to effect change in police forces should consider joining them. MIT economist Jon Gr

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to ask listeners: as Congress quarrels about further coronavirus relief, how are you coping with the economic stress of the pandemic?  NBC Sports Boston reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek talked about the status of college football, and how Boston’s sports teams are faring with their respective returns.  Journalist Oscar Guerra discussed his new documentary for FRONTLINE, “Love, Life & the Virus.”  Ali Noorani, Executive Director for the National Immigration Forum, talked about unique economic burdens for immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic, and recent polling of American attitudes around immigration.  Boston Globe travel writer Christopher Muther talked about what he thinks it’s going to take for Americans to feel comfortable flying again, and his recent experience navigating COVID requirements to vacation with his parents in Maine.  CNN’s John King discussed the dysfunction in Washington over more coronavirus relief, and President Trump’s call to

Today on Boston Public Radio: CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discussed the U.S.’ passing of 5 million coronavirus cases, and a new report from American intelligence about Russian meddling in the 2020 election. We opened lines to talk with listeners about the Trump administration’s escalating attacks on the U.S. Postal Service. Politico’s Stephanie Murray broke the latest news around the Mass. Senate race., and a recent scandal for congressional challenger Alex Morse. TV expert Bob Thompson reviewed the miniseries “Upright”, Disney Plus' “Howard,” and the TV remake of “The Fugitive.” Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, talked about words with racist origins that we still use, and a disconnect within the Catholic Church around the Black Lives Matter movement. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko recapped cybersecurity news from last week's Black Hat security conference, and discussed President Trump’s attempt to ban U.S. companies from working with Tik Tok and WeChat. Poet Richard Bla

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to talk with listeners about your thoughts on the return to colleges and universities in the fall.  Food writer Corby Kummer discussed the restaurant industry’s reckoning around toxic workplace culture, and a commemorative feast at a Michigan prison to celebrate the life of George Floyd.  Beat the Press host Emily Rooney discussed a Georgia High School suspending students for sharing photos of crowded hallways, and read her list of fixations and fulminations.  Nia Grace, owner of Darryl’s Corner Bar & Kitchen and co-founder of the Boston Black Hospitality Coalition, discussed Boston's Black Restaurant Month, and talked about how Darryl’s is holding up through the pandemic.  Media maven Sue O’Connell talked about President Trump’s claim that Joe Biden is “anti-god,” and reflected on worries about the efficiency of the USPS ahead of the November election.  Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discussed major conflicts of interest for the president

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke with Boston Public Radio on Friday about an innmate at the Muskegon Correctional Facility in Michigan who organized a special meal to honor the life of George Floyd. "This innmate decided as a tribute, and sign of solidarity to George Floyd, to gather together other prisoners who had the liberty to use plastic knives, and have a memorial tribute lunch, which took weeks of meticulous planning," 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: The Greater Boston Food Bank’s Catherine D’Amato talked about the state’s new “Breakfast After the Bell” program, and other ways Mass. is addressing food insecurity during the coronavirus pandemic.  We opened our lines to talk with listeners about your feelings around school reopening and distance learning. Under the Radar host Callie Crossley discussed a handful of obituaries for victims of COVID-19 that place blame on the government’s pandemic response, and news that Trader Joe's is sticking with their ethnically insensitive branding.   We aired our October interview with Susan Rice, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., where she discussed her book “Tough Love,” and spoke on the presidential campaign of Joe Biden.  Former Mass. Education Secretary Paul Reville talked about the confusion around how Mass. K-12 schools are going to operate in the fall.  We opened lines to ask listeners: with COVID-19 cases beginning to climb, should we consider scaling back reopening in Mass.

Today on Boston Public Radio: New York Times bestselling author Larry Tye discussed his new biography on Sen. Joseph McCarthy, “Demagogue: The Life and Long Shadow of Senator Joe McCarthy.” We opened lines to talk with listeners about the legacy of Sen. Joe McCarthy, and America’s love affair with bullies.  CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discussed the Tuesday explosion in Beirut, and a shift in tone from some GOP governors on coronavirus safety. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed an ethical quandary at Brigham and Women’s hospital over testing of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, and the dangers of fraudulent COVID-19 cures that are floating around the internet. Jane Oates, president of the nonprofit WorkingNation, defended the $600-a-week unemployment benefits, and addressed critiques of the program from some congressional Republicans.  We opened lines to talk with parents about your experiences juggling work from home while caring for the kids.  NBC Sports Boston reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek discus

Today on Boston Public Radio: Rep. Ayanna Pressley discussed the looming spike of evictions across the U.S., and how her HELP Act, introduced in Congress last week, would address the crisis.  We opened our lines to talk with listeners about who you think former Vice President Joe Biden ought to pick as his running mate in the 2020 election.  Carol Rose from the Mass. ACLU talked about the status of the state’s police reform efforts, and how the ACLU is responding to President Trump's deployment of federal agents in Portland, Oreg. Harriet Cross, the outgoing British Consul General to New England, talked about why she’s leaving Boston for Trinidad, and what mail-in voting looks like in the U.K.  Mass. State Sen. Becca Rausch broke down the Commonwealth's vote-by-mail system.  CNN’s John King discussed the latest Washington headlines, including news on the standstill over further COVID-19 reflief funding, and the president’s apparent reversal on messaging about mail-in ballots in Florida. We opened lines

Today on Boston Public Radio: Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone discussed his Friday decision to put a hold on phase three reopening in Somerville. Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed a federal appeals court's decision to vacate the death sentence for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. We opened lines to talk with listeners about the appeals court's decision to vacate Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s death sentence. Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, talked about why they feel Joe Biden ought to pick a Black woman as his VP candidate, and weighed in on the demolition of a Nelson Mandela mural in Roxbury. TV expert Bob Thompson discussed controversy around an allegedly toxic workplace culture at “Ellen,” and reviewed Beyonce’s “Black King” visual album and HBO’s documentary “The Weight of Gold.” Boston Medical Center’s Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett talked about the state of COVID-19 in both Mass. and the U.S., and responded to

Today on Boston Public Radio: Former Pentagon official and Georgetown University professor Rose Brooks talked about the Transition Integrity Project, her exercise examining various potential outcomes in the November election. We opened lines to ask listeners: are you anxious about the prospect of election interference and voter suppression in November? Media maven Sue O’Connell discussed the potential conflict of interest surrounding a trial of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and her concerns for underprivileged kids who might be unable to return to school in the fall. “Under the Radar” host Callie Crossley talked about lax mask enforcement policies at retail chains like Walmart, and gave her thoughts on Michelle Obama’s new podcast. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed Wednesday's Congressional testimony from several tech CEOs, and research showing that many election officials are vulnerable to cyber attacks. Brian O’Donovan, host of WGBH’s “A Celtic Sojourn,” talked about