Boston Public Radio

Joe Spaulding, the longtime president and CEO of the Boch Center, first met the theater’s current namesake in the ticket line for a Cat Stevens concert. The rest is history.

But Republican Michael Sullivan, former U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, disagreed: “I felt a great deal of sadness.”

President and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers Michael Curry spoke about new COVID-19 variant called FLiRt and the impact on Black and Brown communities who struggle with long COVID.

Katie Theoharides discussed the new parking system at Crane Beach and the impact of climate change on shoreline access.

Moulton and a group of bipartisan veterans washed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial ahead of Monday's ceremonies.

Director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen Institute, Corby Kummer, explained why shoppers in Massachusetts, especially in Boston, are facing higher grocery costs.

Brian McGrory, head of BU Journalism, discusses Trump's behavior at his latest string of rallies, and the lack of public information available on the death of the State Police recruit.Then we open the phone and text lines to get your election thoughts two weeks until election day. Charlie Sennott, founder of The GroundTruth Project, discusses the killing of Yahya Sinwar and what it means for conflict in the Middle East.Chris Dempsey of Speck Dempsey urban planning & Rep. William Straus, outgoing chair of the legislature's Transportation Committee, discuss transit-oriented headlines on derailments, rail links, congestion studies, and e-bike injuries.For our text question of the day: after decades of ruling the NFL, how have you adjusted to the Patriot’s fall from grace?Khalil Gibran Muhammad, professor of History Race and Public Policy at Harvard, discusses the school's decision to ban more than 12 students from the library over a silent "study-in" anti-war protest in objection over Israel's military actions in the Middle East — and the professors who demonstrated in their defense.Almost a fifth of workers in Boston skip their lunch breaks altogether. Are you someone who respects the sacred work lunch break, or are you shoveling food while on the job?

We had our Ballot Question 1 debate with Mary Connaughton from the Pioneer Institute arguing yes, and political science professor Jerold Duquette arguing no.Adam Ezra for Live Music Friday performed and talked about his work raising hundreds for homeless veterans.Gina McCarthy & Johanna Neumann discussed the stakes for this November’s election as it relates to climate action.Comedian Jenny Slate talked about her new book called LIFEFORM.

Today:BPR hosts a debate on Ballot Question 1, which would grant the state auditor authority to audit the finances and workings of the legislature. Mary Connaughton, director of government transparency and COO at the Pioneer Institute, argues for YES on 1. Jerold Duquette, professor of political science at Central Connecticut State University and co-founder of MassPoliticsProfs.org, argues for NO on 1.

Today:Roxana Rivera, co-chair of the Yes on 3 coalition and Assistant to the President at 32BJ SEIU, joins to discuss Ballot Question 3 - which would allow rideshare drivers for companies like Uber and Lyft to collectively bargain for better working conditions. Mass Fiscal Alliance wrote the opposition memo for this ballot question in the Secretary of State's voter guidebook, but no group formally launched an opposition to it. Mass Fiscal declined BPR's request to debate the issue.

Roxanna Rivera joins as a representative for Yes on 3 and United Justice. She makes the case for ballot question 3, which would allow ride share workers the right to unionize. Representatives from the group Mass. Fiscal Alliance, who wrote the official language for the “no” side, say they are not a ballot question committee and declined our invitation to join. Then we opened the phone lines to hear from listeners about how they plan to vote.Former secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral reacts to Nebraska’s high court ruling in favor of allowing people with felony records to vote. She also discussed the latest death-row case out of Texas involving a man who advocates say was falsely accused.Mass Education Sec. Patrick Tutwiler joins for his first-ever interview with Jim & Margery. He talks about why he's in favor of keeping MCAS graduation requirements, plans to divvy out $20 million for early literacy, and efforts to bolster student mental health support. Rep. Ayanna Pressley joins with reflections on Harris’ interview Brett Baier on Fox and the state’s new liquor license law and violence in the Middle East.Then it's Am I the A-hole day.