Boston Public Radio

The governor acknowledged criticism from lawmakers but insisted the current mix of state and local efforts is most effective.

Students and advocates are calling on Harvard University to acknowledge its role in slavery and offer reparations.

Healey tells Boston Public Radio she supports legislation to update the state's existing hate crime laws.

If reparations to slavery were enacted before the pandemic, COVID-19 transmission and deaths could have been mitigated dramatically, according to Dr. Michelle Morse.

Andrea Cabral speaks about concerns regarding the 845 unvaccinated members of the State Police.

Three Atlanta-area spas were attacked on Tuesday by the same suspected gunman, who killed eight people.

South Boston Senator Nick Collins discusses the demise of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's proposed tax shift plan that would have helped Boston homeowners.ABC News just agreed to give $15 million to Donald Trump's presidential library fund to settle a lawsuit. We open the phone lines to get your thoughts on whether legacy media can be trusted to hold "Truth to Trump" in his second term. Terri Gerstein of NYU Wagner Labor Initiative and Paul Sonn of the National Employment Law Project share what states can do before Jan. 20 to ensure labor protections under another Trump era.Ilan Stavans of Amherst College discusses the very-much-alive Yiddish language and what Democrats always miss about immigration. Plus, a few Hanukkah recipes from his book "Sabor Judio."Charlie Sennott of the GroundTruth Project gives a round-up of the world news: France's government crisis, the rebel government in Syria, South Korea's impeachment and Ukraine's plea to Donald Trump.We ask listeners what tattoo Jim should get, now that he's decided 70-something is the perfect age get inked for the first time.Boston Globe travel writer Christopher Muther discusses the holidays in Iceland and a magical airport in Singapore.We finish with another BPR moldy chestnut: holiday tipping. Yea or nay?

Funny Uncle Cabaret is a years-long tradition over at the Cambridge Dance Complex, a colorful & glamorous meditation on found families during the holidays. We heard from founder Peter DiMuro, singer Robert McFletcher Jones, and drag star Mizery McRae.Callie Crossley reflected on the passing of Nikki Giovanni… also weighs in on Zuckerberg & Bezos kissing Trump’s ring, Jay-Z allegations, and the LA Times owner weighing in on their opinion coverage.Clementina Chery discussed leading the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, celebrating 30 years working towards a gun violence-free Boston. Sy Montgomery on the world’s oldest known bird giving birth at 74. Also, moths communicating with plants, and the cruisin’ rats of Richmond.

We start the show full of holiday stress. So we ask listeners: how do you deal with holiday gifting stress? Or, are you like Jim who, supposedly, has everything under control this year? NAACP's Michael Curry reacts to the UnitedHealthcare shooting and resulting public discourse the healthcare system. Former secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral discusses Biden’s pardons, Trump plans to scrap ICE rules that prohibit the arrest of immigrants in churches & hospitals, and more. Environmentalist Bill McKibben talks changing tactics to fight climate change over the next four years.PBS travel guru Rick Steves takes us on a 20-minute Holiday food tour across Europe, from German gingerbread markets to Roman fruit cakes, to Swiss fondue. Plus, he teaches us a new Swiss word. Then it's a Santa-themed "Am I the A-Hole?"

Today:Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joins Jim and Margery at the Boston Public Library on December 11, 2024.

We start the show by continuing our discussion on the poor state of healthcare in the U.S. Then, GBH News art editor Jared Bowen discusses his recent trip to the Crystal Bridges museum in Arkansas and the 2025 Golden Globe nominations. And, it's Ask the Mayor with Michelle Wu. Actor and author Marianne Leone discusses her new book "Five Dog Epiphany: How a Quintet of Badass Bichons Retrieved Our Joy." Finally, Jim wanted to talk about regifting, Margery wanted to talk about reusable bags --- so we open up the phone lines to ask about both.