Episodes
-
BPR Full Show 8/4/20: Fastidiousocity
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 to talk with listeners about your thoughts on voting by mail. -
BPR Full Show 8/3/20: The Doctor Is (Back) In
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 listener questions and comments. -
BPR Full Show 7/31/20: JB²
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 the music venues that Boston is losing during the COVID-19 pandemic. We opened lines to listeners to continue the conversation about Boston's performance spaces. -
BPR Full Show 7/30/20: Lime Blanks the Fish
Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd weighed in on ongoing negotiations around federal coronavirus relief, and recapped the latest political headlines. We opened lines to ask listeners: with Federal unemployment benefits set to expire tomorrow, do you worry that the economic hole in the U.S. is about to get deeper? Andrea Cabral, former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety and CEO of Ascend, discussed the passing of Herman Cain, and talked about her problem with the statewide requirement that cannabis shops foot the bill for security details. Mass. State Rep. Mike Connolly discussed details of the state’s extended eviction moratorium, and the status of the COVID-19 Housing Stability Act, which he co-authored alongside Rep. Kevin Honan. Food writer Corby Kummer talked about the mysterious packages of seeds being delivered to the U.S. from China, and the valuable role that mutual aid societies are playing during the COVID-19 pandemic. We opened lines to ask listeners: how has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your eating habits? -
Corby Kummer: Meat Industry Misconduct Amid COVID-19
Food writer Corby Kummer spoke with Boston Public Radio on Thursday about the meat industry's transgressions amid the pandemic. "[The meat industry execs] are the evil actors - they won't release the number of people in their slaughterhouses who are infected or are dying, and OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] has been completely asleep at the wheel doing nothing to sue the slaughterhouses," 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. -
BPR Full Show 7/29/20: Knowing Vs. Acting
Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to talk with teachers about the complications that come with a return to school in the fall. Boston NAACP President Tanisha Sullivan previewed the 2020 NAACP virtual convention, and talked about the state of racial inequity in Mass. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discussed news that national security advisor Robert O’Brien tested positive for COVID-19, and recapped Tuesday’s congressional hearing with AG Bill Barr. Medical ethicist Art Caplan talked about challenges with distributing a potential COVID-19 vaccine, and recapped the recent outbreak of coronavirus cases in Major League Baseball. – Saida Grundy, author and assistant professor of sociology and African American studies at Boston University, discussed her latest writing for The Atlantic on the limits of anti-racist literature. – Politico’s Stephanie Murray discussed the latest news on the Senate race between Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Joe Kennedy ahead of the September 1st primary, and talked about the challenges in campaigning for Congress during the pandemic. – We opened lines to talk with listeners about your quarantine TV habits, in light of the newly-released 2020 Emmy nominations. -
BPR Full Show 7/28/20: The Case for Scaling Back
Today on Boston Public Radio: Dr. Davis Rosman, president of the Mass. Medical Society, discussed an uptick in the rate of positive COVID-19 cases across Mass., and why he thinks Gov. Baker should consider scaling back the state’s reopening. We opened lines to ask listeners: are the rewards of backing off on reopening worth it to keep coronavirus at bay? FRONTLINE filmmaker Michael Kirk talked about episode two of “United States of Conspiracy,” which reports on the career of InfoWars host Alex Jones. NBC Sports Boston reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek discussed an outbreak of coronavirus within the Miami Marlins, and what it could mean for Major League Baseball in 2020. Naturalist Sy Montgomery discussed her latest book, “Condor Comeback,” about the efforts to save the endangered bird from extinction. CNN’s John King talked about congressional negations around further coronavirus relief, and other national headlines. Playwright Ryan Landry gave an update on his newfound painting career, and talked about his experience being interviewed for HBO’s documentary on lawyer and Donald Trump mentor Roy Cohn. -
BPR Full Show 7/27/20: Listen Up!
Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to talk with listeners about the new coronavirus travel restrictions, announced Friday by Gov. Baker. Drs. Meabh O’Hare and Josh Budhu discussed their recent writing on excited delirium, a medical condition they describe as "junk science" with strong ties to police brutality. WGBH News Analyst and GroundTruth Project CEO Charlie Sennott explained the rationale behind his concern for the health of American democracy, and discussed the U.S.’ deteriorating relationship with China. TV expert Bob Thompson reflected on the life of TV host Regis Philbin, and explained why he’s not impressed with the simulated crowds in MLB broadcasts. Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, reflected on the passing of local civil right advocate Mimi Jones, and talked about the recent speech by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, decrying derogatory remarks made against her by a congressional colleague. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discussed a State House bill to establish a “Distressed Restaurant Trust Fund,” and the racial reckoning at Boston-based bakery Tatte. We opened lines to ask listeners: is this summer heart testing your ability to social distance? -
BPR Full Show 7/24/20: (Please Don't) Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to talk with listeners about the return of baseball, on opening day for the Red Sox. Media maven Sue O’Connell discussed the rebuke from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to derogatory comments made by Rep. Ted Yoho, as well as news that the Hallmark Channel will include LGBT storylines in their 2020 holiday movie lineup. Beat the Press host Emily Rooney talked about the release of President Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen from jail, and read her weekly list of fixations and fulminations. Food writer Corby Kummer talked about the decision by Trader Joe's to discontinue racist branding on their ethnic food packaging, and several ways that supermarkets are repurposing space that used to be used for salad and hot-food bars. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed news that Facebook ignored research about racial biases on their platforms, and controversy around comments made on the livestream feed of the U.S. Army's Esports team. Under the Radar host Callie Crossley discussed artist Dustin Klein's work, shining images onto a confederate monument in Virginia, and a racist comments made to 14 year-old boy in Newburyport as he was handing out free donuts. Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lori McKenna talked about her new album, “The Balladeer,” and promoted a Friday-night livestream concert out of Cambridge's Club Passim. -
Corby Kummer: Trader Joe's 'Finally' Says 'No' To Racist Labeling
Food writer Corby Kummer spoke with Boston Public Radio on Friday about Trader Joe's racist labeling on certain products, such as 'Trader Ming's' and 'Trader José's.' "Trader Joe's is finally saying no to racist branding that perpetuates the worst kind of stereotyping," 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.
