Today on Boston Public Radio:
We opened lines to talk with listeners about Gov. Charlie Baker’s latest easing of restrictions in Massachusetts, and the slow rollout of COVID-19 vaccines here in the commonwealth.
Sue O'Connell discussed President Joe Biden's latest executive order addressing Title VII protections for LGBT Americans, and weighed in on the planned appointment of Dr. Rachel Levine to assistantant secretary of health. The appointment would make Levine the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. O’Connelly is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and the South End News, as well as NECN's political commentator and explainer-in-chief.
Robert Kuttner discussed the state of America’s debt and why he’s not concerned about the impact of President Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package on the country’s deficit. He also touched on Republican resistance to Biden’s $3 trillion green infrastructure plan, and recapped his reporting on white supremacists hiding in law enforcement. Kuttner is the co-founder and current co-editor of The American Prospect, and a professor at Brandeis University’s Heller School for Social Policy and Management.
Emily Rooney talked about the Boston Globe’s new “Fresh Start” initiative, which’ll allow people to apply to have past coverage of them anonymized. She also touched on misinformation coming out of Fox News, and read an inauguration-themed list of fixations and fulminations. Rooney is host of Beat the Press, which you can watch Friday nights at 7 p.m.
Andy Ihnatko talked about potential security concerns with Biden having a Peloton bike in the White House. He also spoke about the legacy of outgoing FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, and offered tips on getting the best possible deal out of your internet or cable provider. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com
Callie Crossley talked about Biden’s move to cancel former President Trump’s 1776 Commission, created in reaction to the New York Times’ 1619 Project. She also weighed in on Black business owners in Tulsa, Okla., who say they’re being priced out of a historic Black neighborhood, and reports that former First Lady Melania Trump outsourced thank you notes to her White House staff. Crossley is the host of GBH News' Under the Radar and Basic Black.
We closed out Friday's show by talking with listeners about the button in the Oval Office that summoned drinks for presidents Obama and Trump, hearing about all the thing's you'd like to be able to summon with the push of a button.
