Boston Public Radio

The Boston mayor voiced displeasure with City Councilor Michelle Wu's critiques of his administration's use of private donations to fund emergency relief efforts.

The European Union is excluding Americans as it reopens its borders to travelers because of high coronavirus case rates in the United States.

The city councilor said the fund does not go far enough in tackling structural inequality.

Cabral said the decision by the Justice Department to resume executions shows a significant break from government policy under both Republican and Democratic administrations.

On Thursday, "Meet the Press" host Chuck Todd joined Boston Public Radio to discuss the state of the 2020 race.

The MIT economist talked through all the ways America's immigrants fuel the country's economy.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We asked listeners if they’ve ever ran the Boston Marathon. And if they’re in the group of people who keep telling themselves they’ll just run it the next year, when is it time to admit the truth to yourself? An earlier-than-usual Live Music Friday with Zili Misik, an Afro-Latin band. The founder and front-woman of the band Kera Washington shared music from the African diaspora that is bound to get you in the groove. GBH’s senior investigative reporter Phillip Martin is featured in the three-part Netflix documentary “American Manhunt: The Boston Bombing.” He discussed his reporting on the tragedy and subsequent trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The artist behind the Boylston Street memorial to victims of the bombing, Pablo Eduardo, reflected on the years-long effort to bring the project to fruition. He also touches on the role of public art in our experience dealing with tragedy and grief. Dave Fortier is a bombing survivor and president of the One World Boston Foundation, which helps connect survivors of terrorist attacks with community and resources. He shared what the foundation’s all about, and how he’s feeling just days before running his 11th Boston marathon. Sue O’Connell shifted things up and talked NPR’s Twitter exit, an Instagram account dedicated to AI depictions of Republicans as drag queens, Bud Light’s ad campaign clashing with far-right ghouls and Kid Rock, and Trump’s chaotic interview with Tucker Carlson. Maura Healey joined for “Ask the Governor.” She reflected on her first 100 days in office, the FBI’s arrest of Jack Teixeira, the House’s $1.1 Billion tax package, Phillip Eng at the MBTA, and more.

Today on Boston Public Radio: CAI's Patrick Flanary, NEPM's Nancy Cohen and GBH's Katie Lannan discussed what listeners had had to say about Gov. Healey's first 100 days in office. We opened the lines to ask listeners if they are beginning to boycott Florida in solidarity with Equality Florida – that’s the largest LGBT advocacy group in the state – that issued an advisory for queer visitors and potential queer-intentifying residents. Andrea Cabral weighs in on the latest law & order headlines... this week that's Trump's attempts to postpone the E. Jean Carroll trial, Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg suing Rep. Jim Jordan to stop interference in his case against the former present. Michelle Wu is on for "Ask the Mayor". She'll discuss her newly unveiled $4.28 billion spending plan for 2024, what the city's got planned for marathon Monday, as well as new steps to make housing greener in Boston, a federal embezzlement trial for four BPD officers and more. We ended the show by asking listeners how they feel about dogs in restaurants, bars, and even a library. Considering that over in Everett, Park-9 Dog Bar opened up.

Jim and Margery started the show with a reflection on Boston political leader and civil rights activist, Mel King, whose funeral they attended yesterday. Former mayor Kim Janey and former governor Deval Patrick also joined to remember King’s life and legacy. Next we heard from listeners about outdoor dining. Now the weather is warm, should more downtown streets be closed to cars and opened to the people? Mary Louise Kelly discussed her new book, It.Goes.So.Fast. Former Boston Police Department commissioner and prolific marathoner Bill Evans discussed what will be his 24th time running the Boston Marathon and reflected on the 10 years since the bombings. Tillie Walden is Vermont’s youngest cartoonist laureate. Her first graphic memoir, Spinning, was published in 2017 and draws from her experience growing up as a competitive ice skater. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discussed her latest reporting on board members at the Alliance for Business Leadership, who quit over how a sexual harassment and discrimination case was handled. And, she talked about the Massachusetts housing crisis. We know it’s hard to work and parent. We opened the phone lines to hear from listeners about how they walk the tightrope that is being a working parent. What would make it easier?

Andrea Cabral and Jared Bowen were in for Jim and Margery today, live from the Boston Public Library. We asked listeners about the state of the roadways today: pedestrian deaths are up, it seems like nobody is enforcing the distracted driving law and cars and trucks keep getting bigger. What’s up on the roads? Trenni Casey of NBC Sports Boston previewed the Boston Marathon and discussed a push on Beacon Hill to curb toxic youth sports culture in Massachusetts. Caitlin Saks, senior producer for NOVA, discussed their newest film out today called Weathering the Future. The film is about frontline communities combating climate change with real solutions. Food policy analyst Corby Kummer discussed the effects Michelin ratings can have on a city’s dining scene, and how years of drought forced a shutdown of the salmon fishing season in California. Elaina Repucci of Simple Sips and Karen Clarke of Clarke’s Cakes & Cookies joined to discuss how their food business are growing through the Commonwealth Kitchen incubator. CNN’s John King joined via zoom to analyze the latest politics headlines. Will the four-day work week ever become a reality in America? A pair of Massachusetts lawmakers are pushing for a pilot program. We asked listeners if they are on board. Or, do they love the flow of a five-day week and time away from home?

Last Friday, a federal judge in Texas revoked the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, a key medication used for abortions. We opened the phone lines to hear listeners’ reactions. National security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed the leaked Pentagon documents that show the U.S. spying on Russia, Ukraine, Israel and South Korea. Dr. Cheryl Hamlin is a local OBGYN who regularly flew to Mississippi pre-Dobbs to provide abortion care. She joined us along with reproductive rights activist Susan Yanow, who has worked with Self-Managed Abortion, Safe and Supported (SASS) to educate people about self-managed medication abortions. They discussed the Texas ruling that halts FDA approval of a key abortion pill. Jim Aloisi & Stacy Thompson joined for a transit panel to discuss new general manager Phillip Eng’s first day on the job. Plus, T contractors who are stole more than $8 million and a stellar Lexington zoning proposal that meets the state’s new housing law. The Reverends Irene Monroe & Emmett G. Price III discussed the commercialization of Easter; how some U.S. Jews protested Israel’s right-wing leaders during their Passover Seder this year; and how January 6th tore apart one multiracial church in North Carolina. Boston Globe TV critic Matthew Gilbert discussed Succession, Ted Lasso and the blessing that is cursing on TV. Swearing on TV can be gratifying and an authentic expression of emotion. We asked listeners if they agree. Or, do they think profanity has gone too far?