Boston Public Radio

Gergen Barnett returned to Boston Public Radio on Tuesday to discuss the underwhelming number of Americans who've received their initial COVID-19 vaccinations.

The "All Rev'd Up" hosts reflected on the chaos of 2020 and the path forward for racial equity.

As the world's billionaires get richer, American legislators are still fighting over COVID-19 relief.

How will the upcoming Biden administration's address climate policy?

Listen to the full episode of Boston Public Radio from Dec. 24, 2020.

The state senate has compromised on Gov. Baker's face recognition technology requests.

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.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Mass. Cannabis Commission Control Commission Chairman Steve Hoffman and Commissioner Shaleen Title discussed the bureaucratic hurdles keeping Black-owned cannabis shops from getting off the ground, four years after marijuana legalization in Mass. We opened lines to hear your thoughts on the years-long delay of the Mass. legislature in getting Black-owned marijuana businesses off the ground. Ali Noorani, Executive Director for the National Immigration Forum, talked about news of ICE’s concealment of a COVID-19 outbreak at one of their detention centers, and weighed the President’s authority to restrict whether undocumented immigrants get counted in the 2020 census. WGBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen talked about the reopening of Boston’s museums, and new art from local muralist Rob Gibbs and photographer Raina Matar. Former Mass. Education Secretary Paul Reville discussed new guidelines for school reopening in Mass., and offered his take on pushback to school reform from BPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius. Congressman Joe Kennedy discussed the Senate’s lack of a COVID-19 relief bill, which was expected today, and offered his thoughts on police reform and term limits for Supreme Court justices. We opened lines to talk with listeners about a new Mass. law allowing bars to offer to-go cocktails.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Medical ethicist Art Caplan recapped the president’s Tuesday night reprise of coronavirus briefings, and offered his take on the anxieties around a rushed COVID-19 vaccine. We opened lines to talk with listeners about Gov. Charlie Baker’s extension of the state’s eviction moratorium. CNN analyst and national security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed the deployment of militarized federal troops in Portland, Ore., and talked about the various groups raising doubt over the effectiveness of a rushed COVID-19 vaccine. Boston Police sergeant and Mass. Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers President Eddie Chrispin offered his take on the current legislation to address policing in Mass., and why he believes police officers ought to have more input on reform. Mass. Attorney General Maura Healey discussed the state's extension of the eviction moratorium, and responded to listeners' questions and comments as part of our monthly “Ask the AG” segment.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to ask listeners: do you have concerns about the prospect of a “warp speed” coronavirus vaccine? NBC Sports Boston reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek talked about San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler’s decision to kneel during the National Anthem at a Monday night game, and the latest headlines around how sports leagues are navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Journalist Daffodil Altan talked about her latest project for FRONTLINE, a documentary titled “COVID’s Hidden Toll,” that reckons with the treatment of meat packing industry and farm workers during the coronavirus pandemic. Charles Stewart III, Kenan Sahin Distinguished Professor of Political Science at MIT, discussed mail-in voting preparedness and other election security questions ahead of the November election. Bay State Banner Senior Editor Yawu Miller talked about the state of Mass. police reform, and recounted his experience being questioned by Boston Police officers while reporting on Boston Police. CNN’s John King talked about the president’s return to coronavirus press briefings, and other national headlines. We opened our lines to talk with listeners about your expectations for the president reprisal of the coronavirus press briefings.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to ask callers: why do you think Americans aren’t taking to the streets over the 140,000 coronavirus deaths in the U.S.? Litigator Kevin O’Connor talked politics, and his campaign for Sen. Ed Markey's Senate seat on the Republican ticket. Dr. Katherine Dallow, Vice President of Clinical Programs and Strategy at Blue Cross Blue Shield, spoke about the state of COVID-19 in Mass., and responded to questions from callers. Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, reflected on the legacy of Rep. John Lewis, and C.T. Vivian, who both died last week. TV expert Bob Thompson reviewed the season six premiere of W. Kamau Bell’s “United Shades of America,” and explained why NBC affiliate stations opted out of airing the “30 Rock" reunion special. With the launch of NBC’s Peacock streaming service, we opened our lines to ask listeners: do you feel overwhelmed with the number of options for watching TV?