Episodes
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BPR Full Show 09/25/19: Sufficiently Bad
Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened up the lines to callers to discuss House Democrat’s impeachment inquiry into President Trump’s dealings with Ukraine. Sue O’Connell, political analyst for NECN, discussed President Trump's statements about LGBTQ rights at the UN General Assembly, as well as conservative media's response to Greta Thunberg's U.N. Climate address. Homeland security expert Juliette Kayeem discussed the newly released memo of President Trump’s phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky, as well as the president’s recent speech at the U.N. General Assembly, and how the Bahamas is struggling to recover from hurricane Dorian. Art Kaplan, an expert in medical ethics, discussed the ethical implications of face transplants, as well as Massachusetts’ temporary ban on the sale of vaping products. Alex Beam defended his controversial opinion that funerals are better than weddings. -
BPR Full Show 09/24/19: A Very Happy Young Girl
Today on Boston Public Radio: Massachusetts Sen. President Karen Spilka discussed the timeline of the state’s hands-free driving bill, as well as upcoming changes to the state’s education investments. NBC Sports Boston Anchor Trenni Kusnierek spoke about Antonio Brown’s departure from the New England Patriots, along with the broader issue of rape culture in the U.S. Climate change activist Bill McKibben discussed Greta Thunberg’s U.N climate address, as well as Ed Markey’s environmental legacy in light of his upcoming Senate race against Rep. Joe Kennedy. Food writer Corby Kummer discussed food-conscious religious communities’ relationship to the imitation meat industry. Political writer Robert Kutner spoke about his new book, The Stakes: 2020 and the Survival of American Democracy. CNN’s Chief National Correspondent John King discussed President Trump’s Ukraine scandal, as well as Elizabeth Warren’s climbing support in early polls. -
USDA Relocation Is Part Of Trump's 'War On Science,' Says Corby Kummer
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expected to relocate to Kansas City, Missouri at the end of this month. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue says the move will save millions of dollars, but many see it as a purposeful attack on USDA researchers. Food writer Corby Kummer joined *Boston Public Radio *on Tuesday to speak about the consequences the relocation will have on the USDA and climate research. "This is one of the great tragedies of the Trump administration," he said. "These researchers have been compiling the statistics of crop yield, weather patterns, and productivity for animals, but they're "too science-y," they have bad news about climate and the Trump administration has waged a war on science." Purdue has set an ultimatum to it's researchers: relocate or give up your job, Kummer said. "This was one of the agencies that had the respect of the world, and is now being shredded and decimated." Two-thirds of its current employees will be unable to relocate, according to the USDA. Purdue did this intentionally to get rid of researchers, Kummer said. "The move is meant to knock researchers out and get rid of those who were giving them bad news about the climate." -
BPR Full Show 09/23/19: A Whistleblower In Our Midst
Today on Boston Public Radio: Steve Kerrigan, CEO of the Edward M Kennedy Community Health Center, and Jennifer Horn, former chair of the New Hampshire Republican party, joined us for a political roundtable. They discussed Joe Kennedy III's bid for Ed Markey's senate seat, a whistleblower complaint lodged against President Donald Trump, and other political headlines. WGBH News Analyst Charlie Sennott delved further into the recent whistleblower complaint against Trump. The Trump administration has thus far refused to release any information about the complaint, but media reports indicate it is related to a conversation Trump had with Ukraine. We opened the lines to hear from listeners about their views on impeaching President Donald Trump. TV critic Bob Thompson recapped the Emmys and reviewed Netflix's latest police procedural, Criminal. Reverends Irene Monroe and and Emmett G. Price III joined us to discuss the Rhode Island Diocese's failure to protect parishioners from a predatory priest. WGBH Science Correspondent Heather Goldstone gave us an update from climate action summits in New York. Inaugural poet Richard Blanco highlighted the anthology “What Saves Us: Poems of Empathy and Outrage in the Age of Trump,” Edited by Martin Espada. -
BPR Full Show 09/20/19: Aliens Exist
Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the phones to hear from listeners about climate actions across the world today, and heard from WGBH reporter Bianca Vasquez Toness live from the field at Boston’s climate strike at City Hall. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed a new report that shows the abortion rate in America is at the lowest rate since Roe V. Wade. WGBH’s Emily Rooney joined us for her famous list of fixations and fulminations. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed whether the Jeffrey Epstein scandal at MIT is a sign of big tech’s moral bankruptcy. Boston Globe consumer protections reporter Sean Murphy discussed some of his latest cases, including a family whose trip to Ireland ballooned to $17,000. We opened the lines again to hear from listeners about whether they’ve completely foregone phone calls for texting. Chefs Peter Davis of Henrietta’s Table and Erin Miller of Urban Hearth joined us for our weekly news quiz and to preview WGBH’s upcoming Chef’s Gala, which will be emceed by Jim and Margery. -
BPR Full Show 09/19/19: Bankruptcy Isn't For Billionaires
Today on Boston Public Radio: · Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker discussed education reform, controversies surrounding RMV license suspensions, as well as recent calls for the resignation of MIT’s president over the handling of donations from Jeffery Epstein. · Chuck Todd, moderator of MSNBC’s Meet The Press, discussed congressman Joe Kennedy’s Senate run, which is expected to be announced Saturday. · Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey discussed the state’s current suit against OxyContin producer Purdue Pharma. · Alex Beam explained the dishwasher lobby’s efforts to persuade the Trump administration to weaken environmental rules, and why chess tournament players are losing weight. Beam is a Boston Globe Columnist, whose latest book is “The Feud: Vladmir Nabakov, Edmund Wilson and the End of a Beautiful Friendship.” -
BPR Full Show 09/18/19: Cock-A-Doodle-Doo!
Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to ask our listeners: is the voting public enamored with outlaws? Former Massachusetts education secretary Paul Reville spoke about Boston Public Schools' late bus problem. Homeland security expert Juliette Kayyem talked about President Donald Trump's next national security advisor. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discussed Jeffrey Epstein's donations to Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Jenifer McKim, senior investigative reporter at WGBH's New England Center for Investigative Reporting, joined to speak about her reporting on suicides among college students. Naturalist Sy Montgomery talked to us about the pros and cons of spaying and neutering our pets, as well as the legal verdict of a rooster being allowed to cock-a-doodle-doo. WGBH's executive arts editor Jared Bowen gave us his review on the Downton Abbey movie. -
BPR Full Show 09/17/19: Minimalism In The Age of Trump
Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to hear listener thoughts on the impact criminal punishment of corporations accused of wrongdoing has on society. Attorney General Maura Healey is one of a handful of AGs not accepting a settlement with Purdue Pharma, as she seeks harsher conditions. NBC Sports Boston reporter Trenni Kusnierek joined us to break down the latest news on Patriots player Antonio Brown, who has been accused of sexual misconduct, and other allegations of wrongdoing. Boston City Council President Andrea Campbell discussed her call to curtail corruption at City Hall by establishing a full-time inspector general. Michael Norton, professor of business administration at Harvard Business School, discussed minimalism in the age of Trump. Food writer Corby Kummer discussed the latest food policy headlines. CNN's John King broke down the latest political news regarding gun legislation. Playwright Ryan Landry dished on the controversy around "Saturday Night Live" hire and fire: Shane Gillis. -
Claims That Say Plant-Based Milk Is Insufficient For Children Are 'Bogus,' Says Corby Kummer
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has given their support to the dairy industry and recommended that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) not allow plant-based milks to use the label 'milk' on their products. Food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Tuesday to explain the money-based bias in studies that say children are better off drinking cow's milk. "The American Academy of Pediatrics gets lots of money from the dairy board," Kummer said. "So they pay attention to dairy board sponsored studies that say pediatricians are concerned that children might be lacking nutrients. It's a bogus study because New Food Economy called up a bunch of pediatricians who said they're not worried. It's just industry that wants to protect the designation of milk and doesn't want to lose its market." While cow's milk is a nutrient-packed product, it's incorrect to say that switching to plant-based milks will harm children, Kummer added. "The nutrient density of cow's milk is incredibly high and it's great for children, but it doesn't mean that if parents decide they want their kids to have almond milk or soy milk that its going to destroy their childrens' health," he said. "Most pediatricians said they've never seen it be a problem." 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 09/16/19: Plenty Of Oil!
Today on Boston Public Radio: Michael Curry and Jennifer Braceras joined our political roundtable covering the latest in policy and news. Curry is senior vice president and general counsel at Mass League of Community Health Centers, and a member of the National NAACP Board of Directors. Braceras is a political columnist, senior fellow with the Independent Women’s Forum, and a former Commissioner of the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Charlie Sennott, executive director of The GroundTruth Project, spoke about the attack on the Saudi Arabian oil supply. Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, went over the latest immigration headlines. 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang talked to us about his race to the nomination. Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III spoke about the call for slavery reparations. We opened the lines to ask our listeners about sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. TV expert Bob Thompson talked about Shane Gillis,* Saturday Night Live's* controversial hire.
