Today on Boston Public Radio:
We opened lines to ask: Are the high early voting turnout numbers easing your Election Day jitters?
Joan Donovan talked about the rise of the QAnon conspiracy theory, and how media manipulation has allowed it to spread so effectively. Donovan is the research director of the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, where she leads the field in examining internet and technology studies, online extremism, media manipulation, and disinformation campaigns.
Juliette Kayyem discussed rising cases of COVID-19 throughout the U.S., and explained why she’s reassured by the deployment of National Guard troops to cities throughout Texas ahead of the election. 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.
Jon Gruber talked about the ways varying election outcomes could impact the future of the Affordable Care Act, and responded to questions from listeners. Gruber is the Ford Professor of Economics at M.I.T., and was instrumental in creating both the Mass. health care reform, and the Affordable Care Act. His latest book is "Jump-Starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth and the American Dream."
Next, we opened lines for our seasonal inquiry, asking: with temperatures expected to drop below 30 degrees this week, how cold does it need to get before you activate your heat?
Sy Montgomery returned for our monthly edition of “Afternoon Zoo,” where she talked about the different ways groups of animals pick their pack leaders, and the reasons why certain animals will occasionally social distance. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist and monthly Boston Public Radio contributor. Her latest book is “Condor Comeback.”
