Boston Public Radio

Most schools are taking very thoughtful approaches to their reopening plans, Rooney says.

In their own way, inmates at the Muskegon Correctional Facility in Michigan honored George Floyd.

The “Under the Radar” host said the packaging is problematic because of power dynamics between a white-owned company and the nonwhite cultures they profit off of.

The travel writer and television host said travelers grounded by the pandemic can find a lot to explore in their own hometowns.

The Greater Boston Food Bank president talked about the newly signed bill that will guarantee breakfast to more students.

The former Mass. Education Secretary said parents and teachers are right to be frustrated over the lack of clarity on how schools are going to operate in the fall.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the show by taking calls from our listeners to ask if they are returning to public transit following the grand opening of a new branch on the Green Line. The Medford branch connects Tufts University to downtown Somerville. Washington Post Columnist E.J. Dionne, Jr. discussed some of his latest columns, including his plea to conservative Christians to change their mind on same-sex marriage. He also discussed Senator Kyrsten Sinema's decision to switch her party registration. Stephanie Leydon and Frances Amador of City Life/Vida Urbana discussed the latest installment of "Priced Out,” a GBH News series covering the rising rental costs in Boston, and the tenants organizing for the right to stay housed. Food Policy writer Corby Kummer discusses the return of the restaurant Eastern Standard, free school lunches for children, an angry Olive Garden manager and "Pilk.” Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III talk about the end of Trevor Noah's tenure on "The Daily Show," the release of Brittney Griner, and fractions within the Methodist church over positions on LGBTQ rights. Massachusetts Institute of Technology economist Jon Gruber explained why pedestrian and auto deaths are on the rise in the U.S. despite falling rates globally, and the economic impacts of big cars. Then we ended the show taking our listeners’ calls about what they plan on binging during the holiday season as the Golden Globe nominations are released.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by asking listeners for their thoughts on Brittney Griner’s homecoming. Shirley Leung discussed her latest columns on fighting homelessness and “not in my backyard” sentiments as well as local ties to FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Callie Crossley gave her thoughts on the latest in culture: Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez being investigated by the House ethics committee, and Bill Cosby being sued for sexual assault and drugging. Crossley is the host of GBH's Under the Radar and Basic Black. Sue O’Connell talked about Brittney Griner’s release from prison, and the recent affair between the hosts of Good Morning America. O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and South End News, and contributor to Current on NBC LX and NECN. Jacques Pepin chatted about his career, and gave us some insight into the process behind his new book “Art of the Chicken.” Pépin is a chef, author and PBS contributor. Chad Stokes and Sybil Gallagher joined us for Live Music Friday ahead of a benefit show on Saturday for Calling All Crows, an organization that mobilizes music fans to feminist activism. Stokes’ band, ‘Chad Stokes & The Pintos,’ played us some music. Stokes and Gallagher are co-founders of Calling All Crows. We ended the show by asking listeners if inflation is affecting their holiday cheer.

Today on "Boston Public Radio" : NBC's Chuck Todd zoomed in to discuss how Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock's victory over Republican candidate Herschel Walker in Georgia was the latest sign that former President Donald Trump's brand of conservatism is waning in popularity. He also discussed the latest upheaval to the media industry following the closing of the Washington Post Magazine, a strike at the New York Times and the continuing closures of local newspapers under control by large conglomerates. Chuck Todd is the Moderator of Meet the Press, host of Meet the Press Daily on MSNBC, and the Political Director for NBC News. We then held a call-in segment, where our listeners talked about where they receive their news and how they miss the local coverage provided by smaller newspapers. Governor Charlie Baker came into the studio for his last segment of "Ask the Governor" on BPR before he leaves office in January. He talked about how he doesn't own a car and is confused by newer models, some of his proudest moments in office, and received calls from former Governor Bill Weld, Governor-elect Maura Healey and U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh. Nadia Liu Spellman of Dumpling Daughter joined with her mother, restaurateur Sally Ling, to discuss their respective culinary careers and their new book "Dumpling Daughter Cookbook." We ended the show by talking with listeners about whether they let their children swear.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by talking with listeners about recent criminal charges against members of the Trump Organization, and potential criminal referrals from the Jan. 6 Committee. Michael Curry argued for a statewide strategy in maintaining hospital bed expansions. Curry is the President and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. He’s also a Member of the National NAACP Board of Directors, where he chairs the board’s Advocacy & Policy Committee. He also serves on Governor-elect Maura Healey’s transition team, and Attorney General-elect Andrea Campbell’s transition team. Juliette Kayyem discussed the arrest of multiple people in Germany for planning to overthrow the government, and an attack on a power grid in North Carolina that has left tens of thousands without power for days. Kayyem is former assistant secretary for homeland security under President Barack Obama, and the faculty chair of the homeland-security program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Her latest book is: “The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters.” Dan Adams talked about the moms seeking out medical marijuana for their children with severe disabilities, and a blight affecting cannabis crops in Mass. Adams is the Boston Globe’s cannabis reporter and author of “This Week In Weed.” Corby Kummer explained how Vermont’s dairy farms are pivoting to adapt to climate change, and talked about panettone for the holidays. Kummer is executive director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at The Atlantic and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Ed Dworsky talked about his mission to fight shrinkflation in food products. Dworsky is founder and editor of ConsumerWorld.org and Mouseprint.org. He’s a former director of consumer affairs education at the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs. We ended the show by asking listeners whether they’ve encountered shrinkflation.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse discussed dark money’s influence on the Supreme Court. Sen. Whitehouse’s latest book is “The Scheme: How The Right Wing Used Dark Money To Capture the Supreme Court.” Then, we opened the phone lines, continuing our conversation on the Supreme Court with listeners. Lee Pelton talked about the Boston Foundation’s Inaugural Boston Climate Progress Report, which finds that Boston is behind in its goals for carbon emissions. Pelton is the president and CEO of The Boston Foundation. Next, we spoke with listeners about charitable donations during the holiday season. Carol Rose shared her analysis of the Supreme Court’s hearing of a case involving a Christian graphic designer arguing that she has the right to refuse serve same-sex couples on religious grounds. She also discussed alleged case leaks from Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. Rose is the executive director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. John King updated us on the latest news from Georgia’s runoff election. King is CNN’s chief national correspondent. He’s also host of “Inside Politics,” weekdays at noon. We ended the show by talking with listeners about Oxford naming “goblin mode” the 2022 word of the year.