Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today:We asked listeners about what you want to hear from us in the wake of Trump’s election? And you answered: All politics all the time is not what matters to you. So … Am I The A-Hole is back … When a Trump-supporting step-dad offers to let his son’s fiancée use his car – but it’s all MAGA’d out with bumper stickers – and she refuses to drive it … Is she the jerk, or is the grown man playing a prank on a teenage girl the a hole? 

NBC political director Chuck Todd joins with his reaction to Tuesday’s election.Then, we open up the phone lines to ask how Democrats can move forward after this national shift to the right and ask Trump voters why the Dems just weren't connecting with them.Former secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral talks about the implications of a GOP-controlled Senate (and possibly House) under a second Trump term. She also discusses whether Biden should pardon Trump and the future of Jack Smith’s investigation into 2020 election subversion. Former secretary of education Paul Reville reacts to Ballot Question 2, which scrapped the MCAS graduation requirement. Reville had a key role in the original implementation of MCAS, nearly 20 years ago. We then take your mind off politics by talking about chickens for five minutes. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discusses her latest stories on women voter turnout and her interview with Katherine Clark. It's "Am I the A-hole" day. We ask about a dad who "pranked" hi

Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin discussed the election, historic precedence for non-consecutive terms and moreNational security analyst Juliette Kayyem on threats to this election from other nations, and internally; and how the rest of the world is respondingMichael Curry of the NAACP spent election day in Michigan poll-watching. He talked about his experience and the election results generally.

Today:Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin talks us through a stunning Trump victory last night – an overperformance from the right, and a failure from the Democrats to rally voters behind Harris.And we talk with Michael Curry, of the NAACP, about the generational shift this election in terms of race and equity.

Election Day has arrived. We had numerous local political figures call into our show. Senator Elizabeth Warren, GOP candidate John Deaton, Governor Maura Healey, Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and representatives from each ballot question.We took listeners calls throughout the show to get first hand stories on what election day is looking like.

Today:Conservative commentator and never-Trumper Bill Kristol of The Bulwark discusses the American right, and the complicated relationship conservatives have with Donald Trump.And, if you’re still unsure whether to drop the MCAS as a graduation requirement, or legalize psychedelics, Evan Horowitz of Tufts Center for State Policy Analysis – ballot question explainer extraordinaire – gives one last rundown ahead of election day.

Former Globe editor Brian McGrory discusses threats to journalism, trust, the truth and democracy ahead of this election.Then, we open the phone lines to check in with listeners on their voting plans and how they're feeling on Election Day Eve.Charlie Sennott from the GroundTruth Project discusses Israel voiding its 1967 agreement recognizing UNRWA and other news from around the world.Longtime Republican operative and now anti-Trump conservative William Kristol discusses the final days of campaigning and the future of the GOP.Evan Horowitz from the Center for State Policy Analysis gives a final explainer on the MA ballot questions. And people call in with their thoughts on each one.

Thea Hopkins, an Aquinnah Wampanoag singer/songwriter performed for Native American Heritage MonthCallie Crossley reacted to Trump’s comments about being the protector of women “like it or not"Marvin Gilmore spent decades helping to lift up communities of color in Boston. He joined alongside friend (& James Beard nominated chef) Tracy Chang to celebrate his 100th birthday.James Carville explained his full confidence in the Harris campaign

Today: Andrea Cabral fills in for Jim. NBC’s Chuck Todd discusses the last few whirlwind days of campaigning … from Trump’s garbage man orange vest stunt … to the Nikki Haley voters who are still undecided, as she tells voters in Pennsylvania to stop being so emotional, and vote for Trump. And, some good news – higher city investments in Black-owned businesses. We talk about this, and Trump’s promise to put the vaccine-denying RFK Jr. in charge of public health if he wins, with Michael Curry of the NAACP.

BPR Full Show 10/31: Happy Halloween!

Today: We get listener reactions to a stark gender divide in this year’s race – with women supporting Harris at much higher rates than men.And, a brief reprieve from politics with naturalist Sy Montgomery. From baby turtles named after everyone's favorite public radio show hosts, to Sy’s new book – What The Chicken Knows – all about what we can learn from our feathered farmyard friends.

Jim Dao, editorial page editor at the Boston Globe, on newspaper endorsements. The Globe endorsed Harris, and included an explainer as to why.Jared Bowen wore his chaps as promised plus he discussed the Clark Art Institute's $45m donationNational security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed the threats to this election -- the existing 'stop the steal' movement, conspiracy theories, and "secrets" between Trump and Mike Johnson.Massachusetts Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Services Jon Santiago reacted to Tony Hinchcliffe's racist jokeNaturalist and author Sy Montgomery zooms in to discuss her forthcoming book "What The Chicken Knows"

Today: CNN’s chief national correspondent, John King joins us just one week out from when vote counting begins. The Man of the Magic Wall tells us not to expect the results on Tuesday or even Wednesday night … And, state auditor Diana DiZoglio discusses her ballot campaign to expressly authorize her office to audit the legislature – on the heels of two legislative leaders saying they might change her petition even if voters pass it.

Today the presidential candidates give their closing arguments to voters. We ask listeners what issues Harris should focus on during her speech at the Ellipse.Trenni Casey, anchor/reporter for NBC Sports Boston, discusses the NFL concussion protocol after Patriot's QB Drake May took a helmet-to-helmet hit on Sunday, and a Hail Mary pass by the Washington Commanders.Sue O'Connell of NBC10 discusses the ramped-up rhetoric leading up to the election, efforts to rescue Newburyport's Pink House, and Elon Musk's latest claims about aliens.CNN's John King joins one week until election day to discuss how voters across the political spectrum are feeling.State auditor Diana DiZoglio discusses her ballot campaign that would authorize her to audit the legislature and the legislative leaders who say they might just change the law if it passes.Election day isn't the only thing we're counting down to. Halloween is Thursday, so we ask listeners about their favorite candies.

The Washington Post killed their planned endorsement of Kamala Harris. Former editor Marty Baron joins us to discuss, and the newspaper man doesn’t mince words: he calls it a spineless, cowardly decision.And, a return to the gilded age – with union-busting billionaire robber barons operating in this country under very different rules than the rest of us. We discuss with former labor secretary Robert Reich.

Former Washington Post editor Marty Baron discussed the paper's decision not to endorse a presidential candidateWe opened the lines to discuss newspaper endorsementsGroundTruth Project Charlie Sennott spoke from Michigan to discuss Arab American voters concerned with Harris over the administration's support for Israel amid widespread civilian deaths in Gaza. Former labor secretary Robert Reich on the presidential race being so closeRevs Irene Monroe and Emmett Price on Harris' increasing but cautious discussion of faith on the campaign trailWe ended the show discussing Halloween decorations and Skelly

We talk about the best bad movies to watch, and the rock stars still rocking with James Bennett II, arts & culture reporter for GBH and a co-host of The Culture Show, daily at 2:00 on 89.7 GBH.And, Music Worcester will kick off a feat we’re pretty sure no one has done before. 11 years of music: everything ever composed by Johannes Sebastian Bach over his 65 years on this planet. They’re calling it, fittingly, “The Complete Bach,” and it begins this weekend with a bang. 25 year-old Zlotomir Fung, cellist and professor at Juilliard, performs; Music Worcester executive director Adrien Finlay tells us about the program.

We open the lines to talk about election anxiety across the political spectrum and what we can do to combat it in the final days ahead. Live Music Friday with folks from Music Worcester, who are kicking off an 11-year series around the music of Bach. We’ll talk with Executive Director Adrien Finlay and 25 year-old cello master Zlatomir Fung, who’s headlining this weekend’s BACHtoberfest.Bay State Banner co-publishers Ron Mitchell & André Stark discuss dual interviews with Ayanna Pressley, drama over at the LA Times about a decision not issue a presidential endorsement and split opinions on Ballot Question 5.Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discusses what we know (and don’t know) about the Celtic's sale and the local businesses getting support through Jaylen Brown’s incubator project. We hear from you about whether fish should be banned from small spaces.GBH News arts and culture reporter James Bennett II talks about the era of flop movies, like Megalopolis & Joker 2. He’ll also talk about

Today:Trump's fascistic comments on the campaign trail are raising critical questions about what could happen if he loses the election, again. We talk it through with former Massachusetts public safety secretary Andrea Cabral.And, homelessness in Boston is on the rise – affecting about 11,000 young people in this city. We’ll talk with Elisabeth Jackson, president and CEO of the nonprofit Bridge Over Troubled Waters, and Richard Brunson, a retired clinical coordinator, about the challenges – and services available – to homeless youth.

Chuck Todd discussed his weekly D.C. roundup, a week and a half out from the electionWe opened the lines to discuss two local ballot questionsAndrea Cabral on the very-real possibility that Trump won’t accept an election loss, and what that means for the future of our small-d democratic system.Jinx Monsoon & BenDeLaCreme previewed this year’s edition of the Jinx & Dela Holiday show, coming to Boston December 2nd.Bridge Over Troubled Waters CEO Elisabeth Jackson and retired Clinical Coordinator Richard Brunson joined for a conversation about youth homelessness in BostonFor this week's AITA, we debated who the a-hole was on a nearly empty train.