Episodes
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BPR Full Show 1/8/21: Freedom of Tweets?
Today on Boston Public Radio: Rep. Ayanna Pressley discusses House plans to bring forward articles of impeachment against President Trump next week, following Wednesday’s riot. She also reflects on what it was like being in the Capitol during the storming, and spoke about Boston City Council President Kim Janey potentially becoming both Boston’s first Black mayor, and its first woman mayor. We open lines to callers, to discuss whether President Trump ought to be removed from office follow Wednesday's storming of the U.S. Capitol, and if it’s worth it in his final 12 days as president. Emily Rooney talks about President-elect Biden's choice of Boston Mayor Walsh for U.S. Labor Secretary, and the open question of who’ll win next year’s mayoral race. She also reads a list of must-see movies to watch in quarantine, and previewed this week's Beat the Press. Ramona Diaz discusses the brutal drug war and assaults on press freedoms by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, in a conversation about her new documentary, “A Thousand Cuts.” Rep. Seth Moulton responds to Wednesday’s storming of the U.S. Capitol building, and discusses why he thinks it’s imperative that Congress act to remove President Trump from office in the final days of his term. He also recounts his experience being in the Capitol during the attempted coup. Andy Ihnatko talks about the social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook that've banned or temporarily suspended President Trump in light of his rhetoric around Wednesday’s storming of the Capitol. He also weighs in on debate around what constitutes free speech on social media platforms, and the recent widespread Russian hacking of U.S. cyber infrastructure. Callie Crossley discusses a statement made by former Celtics head coach Doc Rivers, comparing law enforcement’s response to Wednesday’s insurrection to what was seen at Black Lives Matter protests. She also touches on social media's reaction to the death of Ashley Babbitt, who died during Wednesday’s chaos. We close out Friday’s show by returning to listeners, to talk about social media and disinformation in the aftermath of Wednesday’s pro-Trump mob. -
BPR Full Show 1/7/21: It Happened Here
Today on Boston Public Radio: Washington Post op-ed columnist E.J. Dionne responds to Wednesday’s chaos incited by Trump mob in Washington, D.C., and the impact it might have on the future of President Trump’s political influence post-presidency. He also weighs in on President-elect Biden's choice of Merrick Garland, his former college friend, to serve as A.G. Former Pentagon official Rosa Brooks reacts to the storming of the Capitol building by President Trump’s supporters, which she predicted in exercises laid out by her bipartisan Transition Integrity Project. She also offers her thoughts on the path forward for maintaining democratic stability in the U.S. Next, we open lines to talk with listeners about your thoughts on Wednesday’s chaos, and the future of the U.S. post-Trump. Former Suffolk County sheriff and secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral discusses the lawlessness of yesterday’s pro-Trump mob. She also offers her take on the lackluster response from authorities defending the U.S. Capitol building, and compares Wednesday’s police enforcement to what was seen at Black Lives Matter protests throughout 2020. Next, we return to listeners to talk about Wednesday’s storming of the U.S. Capitol building, and the response from political leaders and members of the media. Rep. Bill Keating talks about his experience being barricaded in his office at the Capitol on Wednesday, and the rising number of his colleagues looking to pursue invoking the 25th amendment to remove President Trump from office. We close out Thursday's show by returning to our callers, getting your final impressions (for now) of Wednesday's events. -
BPR Full Show 1/6/21: Coup Coup
Today on Boston Public Radio: M.I.T. economist Jonathan Gruber talks about what an expanded stimulus relief package might look like with Democrats in control of the Senate. He also responds to listener questions about what’s in the latest $900 billion package, passed in December. Next, we open lines to talk with callers about the Republicans challenging President-elect Biden’s win, and get your thought on the legacy of Trumpism in American politics. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discusses the state of President-elect Joe Biden’s transition to the White House, and the Trump supporters gathering in Washington to contest Congress’ certification of Biden's Electoral College win on Wednesday. Medical ethicist Art Caplan breaks down the latest news on the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S., and questions around who ought to have vaccine priority. Next, we open lines to callers, returning to the discussion about resistance to President-elect Joe Biden’s November win. Angell Animal Medical Center’s Dr. Virginia Sinnott-Stutzman joins us for an inaugural edition of “Ask the Vet,” talking about pet care during the pandemic and responding to listener questions. -
'Worth Taking A Pause For': CNN's Kayyem Reflects on Warnock Senate Win
Speaking on Boston Public Radio Wednesday, CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem took a moment to reflect on Tuesday’s Senate runoff victory for Democrat Raphael Warnock in Georgia. Warnock will join the Senate after serving 15 years as pastor at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. presided as co-pastor throughout the 1960’s. "A man of faith entering politics is rare enough, but the extent to which he views his faith as requiring him to have entered politics at this moment is really something that is worth taking a pause for,” she said, adding “I’ve been really intrigued by that very un-threatening combination of faith and public service… I think a lot of us have grown weary of faith in public service, given what’s been done in the name of religion and religious leaders supporting some pretty bad behavior.” Juliette 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. -
Art Caplan On Primary Care Physicians Getting Left Out Of Vaccine Distribution
Some primary care physicians are being left out of the first wave of COVID-19 vaccinations, even if they are treating patients with the illness. Medical ethicist Art Caplan told Boston Public Radio on Wednesday the issue is a “snafu” in the distribution plans that routed much of the initial doses to hospitals, and left out doctors with no hospital affiliation. “If you write rules for the states, like the CDC, or the states adopt rules that say give the vaccine first to nursing homes then to healthcare workers, then you’re giving them out at hospitals and nursing homes,” said Caplan. “The reason they’re getting missed even if they have patient populations that have a lot of COVID … it’s just not where they are.” -
BPR Full Show 1/5/21: Peaches and Schemes
Today on Boston Public Radio: Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett discusses news around the COVID-19 vaccines, from their slower-than-anticipated rollout in the U.S., to questions of whether vaccine skeptics are right to feel hesitant about getting their shot. She also responds to questions and comments from listeners. Gergen Barnett is the vice chair of Primary Care Innovation and Transformation and Residency Director in the Department of Family Medicine at Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical School. Next, we open lines to talk with listeners about Tuesday’s runoff elections in Ga., and the possibility of an end to divided government in 2021. Carol Rose, Executive Director of the ACLU of Mass., discusses upsides and drawbacks to Mass.' newly-signed police reform law. She also touches on the significance of the state's newly-passed ROE Act, which expands abortion protections in Mass, and talks about Gov. Charlie Baker's decision to veto it. Then, we return to listener lines to talk about your feeling on returning to office spaces in 2021. CNN’s John King breaks down the latest headlines on the national stage, from the dual Senate runoff elections taking place in Ga. Tuesday, to the dozens of congressional Republicans saying they’ll contest certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s election victory. NBC Sports Boston reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek talks about Tuesday’s fully-masked basketball game between B.U. and Holy Cross, a first in college basketball, and reflects on the Patriots’ losing 2020 season without quarterback Tom Brady. -
BPR Full Show 1/4/21: A Whole 'Nother Bag of Beans...
Today on Boston Public Radio: Georgia Public Broadcasting political reporter Stephen Fowler gives a primer on Tuesday's Senate runoff races in Ga., and discusses President Trump's controversial call to Ga. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger over the weekend, where he pressured Raffensperger to nullify his state's election tally. Next, we open our lines to talk with listeners about the latest effort from GOP congressional leaders to call President-elect Joe Biden’s election victory into question. New Yorker writer and environmental advocate Bill McKibben discusses President Trump’s legacy of inaction on global warming, and the potential impact that President-elect Biden's incoming environmental team could have in combatting the global climate crisis. The.Ink publisher Anand Giridharadas weighs in on Congress' failure to approve $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks, and discusses why he believes federal leaders are paving the way for future billionaire bailouts. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of the podcast All Rev’d Up, reflect on Monroe’s recent writing for GBH about the nation’s ongoing struggle to address white supremacy. They also weigh in on reporting about the problematic legacy of Boston police sergeant Clifton McHale, and the muted reaction it garnered from city leaders. TV expert Bob Thompson reviews the "City Hall,” filmmaker Frederick Wiseman’s in-depth documentary about Boston Mayer Marty Walsh’s administration. He also offers his take on CNN’s new documentary “Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President," as well as Netflix's “Bridgerton" and “History of Swear Words.” We close out Monday’s show by talking with listeners about a new study, published last month in Nature, which found that man-made “stuff” now outweighs all living biomass on the earth. -
BPR Full Show 12/31/20: The Ultimate BPR Book Club
Thursday's Boston Public Radio is entirely on tape and features the ultimate BPR book club — back to back conversations from over the years with some of our favorite writers. Some highlights of the show include: George Saunders discussed his novel, "Lincoln in the Bardo," his first foray into what he describes as serious prose. Writer Susan Orlean discusses her latest book, a tribute to the public library, "The Library Book." ESPN’s Howard Bryant discusses his book, "The Heritage: Black Athletes, a Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism." -
BPR Full Show 12/30/20: The Ultimate BPR Book Club
Wednesday's Boston Public Radio is entirely on tape, and features the ultimate BPR book club: back to back conversations from over the years with some of our favorite writers. Some highlights of the show include: Poet Kevin Young discusses his latest collection of poetry, BROWN. Kevin Young is poetry editor of the New Yorker and the incoming director of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture. Owner of Parnassus Books Ann Patchett makes a pitch to all readers to shop at local, independent book stores. She also discussed her book, "Commonwealth." Writer T.C. Boyle drops in on the dropout culture with his novel "Outside Looking In," which is based on the research of Timothy Leary. -
BPR Full Show 12/29/20: Thank You For Being A Friend, And More From The BPR Book Club
Today on Boston Public Radio, GBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen and NBC 10's Sue O'Connell filled in for Jim Braude and Margery Eagan. Former Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed the latest with President Donald Trump's pardons. Then, Irish comedian Maeve Higgins talked about maintaining friendships through the pandemic. The rest of Tuesday’s show featured re-airs of some of our favorite segments: Norman Mineta talked about the PBS documentary of his life and career, "Norman Mineta and His Legacy: An American Story." Mineta is a former statesman who served as cabinet secretary for Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. New Yorker writer George Packer discussed his latest book, “Our Man: Richard Holbrooke And The End Of The American Century.” John Waters spoke about his latest book, “Mr. Know-It-All: The Tarnished Wisdom Of A Filth Elder.” Waters is a filmmaker, writer, artist, and social commentator. Raphael Bob-Waksberg discussed his collection of short stories "Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory." Bob-Waksberg is the creator of the animated Netflix show “Bojack Horseman.” Ben Mezrich discussed his latest book, “Bitcoin Billionaires: A True Story of Genius, Redemption and Betrayal.”
