Boston Public Radio

People need to go beyond reading books about anti-racism, the BU professor says.

The NAACP national convention was supposed to be held in Boston this summer. With the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the events have gone virtual.

The medical ethicist reflected on a recent New York Times editorial from Judith Heumann and John Wodatch.

COVID-19 has changed the way candidates campaign, and how voters elect them.

Ready to get back to the office? You could be waiting for over a year, Kayyem says.

Temporary employment benefits expire at the end of this week.

Some food writers and critics skeptical over butter boards — a TikTok food trend consisting of softened butter over a charcuterie board and topped with various herbs, spices, fruits, and more — are now wholeheartedly embracing the buttery dish. Even legendary chef Jacques Pépin jumped on the trend, posting a video to Facebook with his own take on the butter board. “A couple of things: they’re easy to make. As Jacques said in his sexy accent, you put it on a plate — you don’t have to put it on a board,” Kummer said. “What’s great about them is that you can invent whatever you want, as much as you think you’re going to go through, and it lasts — you don’t have to throw it out. You have to refrigerate it and then bring it back to room temperature, but it’s very practical.” 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.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updated us on the latest political headlines, focusing on upcoming midterm elections and America’s worsening political divide. Todd moderates “Meet the Press,” and co-hosts “Meet the Press Now” on NBC Now. We then opened up phone lines, asking listeners about what’s on their minds ahead of the midterm elections. Art Caplan weighed in on whether it’s time to declare pandemic amnesty. Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor and founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine in New York City. Dr. Kimberly Parker discussed the potential impact of the Supreme Court hearing on cases regarding affirmative action. Parker is a former teacher and authority on all things education. Currently, she directs the Crimson Summer Academy at Harvard. She was formerly president of the Black Educators’ Alliance of Massachusetts. Her latest book is "Literacy is Liberation: Working Towards Justice Through Culturally Relevant Teaching.” Corby Kummer remembered the lives of food writers Julie Powell, the blogger behind “The Julie/Julia Project,” which served as the inspiration for Nora Ephron’s “Julie & Julia” movie, and Gael Greene, restaurant critic and founder of Citymeals on Wheels. 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. Jon Gruber explained how the Federal Reserve could fight inflation by raising interest rates – and the implications of doing so. Gruber is the Ford Professor of Economics at MIT. His latest book is “Jump-Starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth and the American Dream.” We ended the show by talking about a decrease in worker productivity, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the show by hosting an hour-long debate on Ballot Question 4, which asks voters if they want to keep or appeal a law in place allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. Sen. Brendan Crighton argued in favor of a Yes vote, which would keep the law on the books. Maureen Maloney, whose son was killed by an undocumented driver, represented the No side for Fair and Safe Massachusetts. Our listeners called in, gave their opinions and asked for clarification. National Security Expert Juliette Kayyem discussed the police response to the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, this past May. CNN released new audio of a 10-year-old calling from inside the classroom, 40 minutes before police officers breached the room. Kayyem also discussed the arraignment of Paul Pelosi’s attacker as well as the online misinformation that’s been fueling political extremism. Kayyem is the 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. Wall Street Journal Tech Reporter Joanna Stern discussed Elon Musk’s strategy to try to make Twitter profitable and what that could mean for the user experience. She also explained the technology behind Apple’s new crash detection system. She ended by explaining some of the stumbles that Mark Zuckerberg has experienced in trying to push his Metaverse on the rest of the world. Joanna Stern is the Senior Personal Technology Columnist at the Wall Street Journal. Retired Federal Judge Nancy Gertner joined to talk about the implications of people staking out ballot drop boxes in Arizona and how it amounts to potential illegal voter intimidation. She provided updates on the multiple legal issues that the Trump family and their namesake company face in civil and criminal court. She ended by explaining the legal arguments behind affirmative action cases before the Supreme Court. Gertner is a retired federal judge and a senior lecturer at Harvard Law School. Chris Kimball of Milk Street discussed his new book "Cook What You Have," a guide on crafting cuisine from what’s left over in your pantry. He also discussed his new show on Roku, “Milk Street Cooking School.” We ended the show by asking our listeners a very important question: do you brush your teeth before or after breakfast?

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by opening phone lines, talking with listeners about increasing political violence in the leadup to midterm elections. Trenni Casey talked about Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen’s divorce, and the Patriots’ current season. Trenni Casey is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston. Lee Pelton discussed the Supreme Court’s affirmative action cases, and The Boston Foundation’s recently released report card on housing in Boston. Lee Pelton is the president and CEO of The Boston Foundation. Elvis Jocol Lara and Delmarina Lopez talked about El Mundo’s “Latino 30 Under 30,” and the current state of democracy. Elvis Jocol Lara is the creator of El Mundo’s “30 Under 30,” now in its 5th year. Delmarina Lopez is an attorney and the first Afro-Latina to be elected to the Chicopee City Council. She’s one of the under-30’s highlighted in this year’s list. Carol Rose shared her thoughts on the legal arguments heard in the Supreme Court’s affirmative action cases. She also talked about how the ACLU is shoring up election infrastructure ahead of the midterms. Carol Rose is the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. John King updated us on the latest political headlines, focusing on the attack of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, in the couple’s San Francisco home. John King is CNN’s chief national correspondent and the host of “Inside Politics.” We ended the show by asking listeners if they would shorten their showers in the name of climate change, as European leaders urge residents to conserve hot water.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Dan Cence and Andrew Farnitano joined us for an hourlong debate on Massachusetts’ Ballot Question 1 — known as the Fair Share Amendment, millionaires tax or tax hike amendment. We also opened up the lines to listeners with questions on the initiative, which would add an additional 4% tax on individuals’ income above $1,000,000. Cence is a spokesperson for the Coalition to Stop the Tax Hike Amendment and CEO of the Issues Management Group. Farnitano is the communications director for Fair Share for Massachusetts and a consultant at Crawford Strategies. Charlie Sennott discussed the latest news in international politics, from the recent halting of grain shipments by Russia to the election of Lula over Bolsonaro in Brazil and his latest piece in the Boston Globe on the degradation of journalism. Sennott is the founder and executive director of the GroundTruth Project. Christopher Muther joined the show and discussed his recent time in the Greek Peloponnese peninsula. He also talked about the concept of “dark tourism” and offered listeners some tips for striking up small talk with strangers anywhere. Muther is a travel writer and columnist for the Boston Globe. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III discussed the proliferation of antisemitism around the United States, voter intimidation concerns ahead of the midterm elections and the recent passing of Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts III. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist and the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail. Price is founding pastor of Community of Love Christian Fellowship in Allston, and the Inaugural Dean of Africana Studies at Berklee College of Music. Together, they host GBH's All Rev’d Up podcast. Andris Nelsons discussed the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming trip to Japan. Nelsons is the music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. We closed the show with a call-in segment with listeners about when the cut-off age should be for trick or treating.