Boston Public Radio

The former Suffolk County said U.S. democracy as we know it will "cease to exist" if President Trump wins a second term.

Larry Calderone, president of Boston’s Police Patrolmen’s Association, weighed in on a range of reform proposals.

Barrett's vague response to what she's done to educate herself on racism was embarrassing and harmful, the Revs say.

Whitehouse detailed a 'court-capture machinery' to sway court rulings along partisan lines.

The Boston University law professor talked about his time standing vigil by the casket of Justice Ginsburg, and spoke on the expected appointment of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to his former boss' vacant Supreme Court seat.

The Massachusetts legislator weighed in on current protections for tenants and small landlords as the state approaches the end of its months-long eviction moratorium.

President Donald Trump granted pardons and commutations to 20 people on Tuesday. Among those pardoned were four Blackwater guards convicted in connection with a 2017 killing of Iraqi civilians -among those killed were two boys, 8 and 11. Homeland security expert Juliette Kayyem spoke with Boston Public Radio on Wednesday about the danger these pardons pose. “First of all, Trump’s failure to embrace a peaceful transfer of power quickly, threatens, or at least would amplify the radicalization of some small parts of the population,” she said. '“[These pardons] do it too because it says, you can be ruthless, murderous, horrible human beings, who murders children.” Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

On Wednesday, medical ethicist Art Caplan returned to Boston Public Radio, where he weighed in on the latest news around the COVID-19 pandemic. Among them, he discussed frustrations with the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in hospitals throughout the U.S., and unanswered questions around who deserves vaccine priority. “There are these issues of priority and who’s really at risk that’ve started to rear their heads,” he said, warning that more confusion is likely to come once the general public can apply for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. “It’s predictive of what I think we’re gonna see in maybe January, February, March, as other people start to say ‘hey, what about me?’" During the conversation, Caplan also discussed the departure of White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx, and explained why he’s not worried that a mutated version of the coronavirus, discovered last week in the U.K., will be resistant to the current vaccines. Art Caplan is the Drs. William F and Virginia Connolly Mitty Chair, and director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the NYU School of Medicine.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Maura Healey talks about the state’s [Police Reform bill](x-note://D757CE1A-EB87-42C4-BFAC-970FF042F9C1/EWSNote/wgbh.org/news/local-news/2020/12/22/ag-healey-police-reform-bill-as-amended-is-a-really-good-thing), responding to questions about the efficacy of facial recognition technology and no-knock warrants. She also discusses her office's plan to ask the federal Department of Homeland Security to end its partnership with the Bristol County Sheriff's office, and responds to questions from listeners as part of our monthly series “Ask the AG.” Boston Globe editorial writer David Scharfenberg discusses his reporting for the Boston Globe on segregation in Mass.’ public school system, and some of the lessons that officials can take from other states' approach to the issue in order to tackle the racial inequity. Havard Business School professor Ashley Whillans talks about America’s "time poverty” crisis, and offers tips for organizing our lives to better prioritize happiness over money, in a conversation around her new book, "Time Smart: How to Reclaim Your Time and live a Happier Life.” Washington Post reporter Annie Linskey talks about Congress’ new $900 billion stimulus package, and how she’s expecting President-elect Joe Biden to handle the country’s economic crisis after he assumes the presidency in January. Documentarian Frederick Wiseman discusses his new in-depth documentary about Boston Marty Walsh's administration, titled “City Hall.” We end the show by opening lines, reviving the age-old debate around the ethics of re-gifting holiday presents.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Michael Curry discusses the rollout of coronavirus vaccines throughout the U.S. and questions around skepticism in communities of color. Curry is the incoming president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, a member of Gov. Charlie Baker’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group, and a member of the National NAACP Board of Directors. Next, we open our lines to talk with listeners about holiday travel during the pandemic, asking: will we learn our lesson this time around, or will the promise of the vaccine make us only more prone to hit the road? Travel guru Rick Steves talks about some of the varied Christmas traditions practiced throughout Europe, from Norway to Austria. He also talks about his ongoing “Why We Travel” series and what a COVID-19 vaccine could signal for travel and tourism in the months aheads. T.V. expert Bob Thompson discusses news that streaming heavyweight “The Office” is getting pulled from Netflix and updates us on the future of Jeopardy post-Alex Trebek. He also reviews "The Stand” on CBS and Steve McQueen's "Small Axe,” currently streaming on Amazon. Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast, talk about pro-police reform protests staged over the weekend by some Massachusetts faith leaders. They also weigh in on pro-choice pastors, and the Netflix holiday special “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey.” Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung recaps her latest reporting on the global reverberations of Boston's economic downturn and offered her thoughts on news that Boston seafood staple Legal Seafoods is being sold. We close out Monday's show by reflecting on all the holiday traditions we’re missing out on this season, and asking about some of the new ones you're creating in their place.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Smith College associate professor Loretta Ross speaks on why it’s more productive to call people “in” rather than call them out, and the importance of have private – and occasionally uncomfortable – conversations with people we disagree with, in a discussion sparked by her forthcoming book, “Calling In the Calling Out Culture.” Next, we open lines and asked you about callout culture, asking: should 2021 be the year we try to call people in? Beat the Press host Emily Rooney talks about Vice President Mike Pence receiving his COVID shot Friday morning in front of the media, and the reemergence of Boston's great space saver debate. She also read a 2020 retrospective list of fixations and fulminations. Food writer Corby Kummer weighs in on frustration from some environmentalists and food justice advocates around news of President-elect Biden’s pick of Tom Vilsack to head the USDA. He also offers advice for restaurants struggling to afloat through the winter, and one sure-fire way diners can make things easier on them. Media maven Sue O’Connell gives her take on Boston’s notorious space saver debate, and discusses the significance for the LGBT community of President-elect Biden picking former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg to lead the U.S. Department of Transportation. Under the Radar host Callie Crossley talks about the billions of dollars in donations made during the pandemic by Mackenzie Scott, former wife of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. She also discusses donations from filmmaker Tyler Perry to the defense fund for Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend, and the historic significance of President-elect Joe Biden’s pick of Rep. Deb Haaland to head the Department of the Interior. We close out Friday's show by opening lines, to hear your takes for and against snow time space savers in Boston.