Boston Public Radio

Top public health officials refuted claims made by the president during a political rally that the country would slow down testing in response to an increase in cases.

The CNN correspondent said Democrats will be taking a risk in shutting the GOP bill down outright, in a vote scheduled for Wednesday.

Dismantling racism and robust public education go hand in hand.

The documentary looks into John Kapoor, a pharmaceutical entrepreneur whose actions are said to have fueled the opioid crisis.

The GroundTruth Project CEO also said the decision reflected a global crisis of systemic racism and police violence.

Middle school Milton teacher Zakia Jarrett was briefly placed on leave for a lesson she taught on racism.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners whether they think Vice President Kamala Harris is being treated unfairly by the media, and how women and people of color face double standards in politics. Art Caplan discusses the state of testing in the U.S., how the country went wrong by failing to push a broader testing regimen and the latest news on the Omicron variant. Caplan is director of the division of medical ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. Juliette Kayyem updates listeners on the status of the Jan. 6 investigation and gun laws in the aftermath of the Michigan school shooting. 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. Corby Kummer talks about Guy Fieri’s latest restaurant in Boston, and why the government should end restrictions on what food people on federal food assistance programs can buy. Kummer is the 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. Ali Noorani explains why federal courts forced the Biden Administration to reinstitute the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” policy, and how Build Back Better would affect immigration reform. Noorani is the president and chief executive officer of the National Immigration Forum. His forthcoming book is “Crossing Borders: The Reconciliation of a Nation of Immigrants.” We end the show by asking listeners whether golf courses should be scaled back given their negative impact on climate change.

Ahead of the opening of Guy Fieri’s Kitchen + Bar in the Theater District, food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio to share his thoughts on the celebrity chef’s second restaurant in Boston. Fieri, known for his eccentric taste in food, included menu items from his other restaurants, such as trash can nachos from Guy Fieri’s Tequila Cocina and Guy’s Famous BBQ Bloody Mary. Diners can also order specialties like Cajun chicken Alfredo, hot pastrami grinders, and candy apple sangrias. “It's like somebody has said, ‘let me think of everybody's secret food desires, and I'm gonna let it run rampant,’” Kummer said. “‘Here it all is, come on and let let loose your secret desires.’” Restaurant critics have largely panned Fieri’s restaurants, though Kummer notes that Bostonians should give Guy Fieri’s Kitchen + Bar a chance. “Enjoy yourself: nothing should be forbidden,” Kummer said. “This is about being libertine and being indulgent, which everybody needs to be every so often or else the food police are really going to be out of business.” Kummer is the 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: We begin the show by asking listeners whether Boston should implement indoor vaccine mandates like those in New York City. Trenni Kusnierek discusses what the U.S. diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics means for the winter games and the Patriots’ win last night. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston, as well as a Boston Public Radio contributor. Tito Jackson previews his latest venture, a seven story complex housing marijuana food, drink and more. Jackson is a former city councilor, one-time mayoral candidate, and now marijuana entrepreneur. His business Apex Noire is expected to open in Boston early next year. Dr. Michael Mina updates listeners on the state of COVID-19 testing, including the reliability of at-home testing and why the U.S. should distribute more. Michael Mina is the Chief Science Officer at e-Med, a company that provides a plethora of at-home diagnostic testing. He most recently was an assistant professor of epidemiology at Harvard’s T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Carol Rose weighs in on recent Supreme Court hearings, including last week’s debate on abortion and an upcoming case on free speech involving flag poles at City Hall. She also talks about the city’s public health approach to homelessness at Mass. and Cass. Rose is the Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts. John King goes over the latest political headlines, including the status of West Virginian Democratic Senator Joe Manchin’s support for the Build Back Better Bill, and former President Donald Trump’s role in Republican political endorsements. King is CNN’s chief national correspondent and anchor of “Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays at noon and Sundays at 8 a.m. We end the show by asking listeners their thoughts on the rise of crocs and the rise of other comfortable fashion choices during the work from home era.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett begins the show by taking questions from listeners about booster shots, rapid tests and more. Gergen Barnett teaches in the Department of Family Medicine at Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical School. Then, we ask listeners their thoughts on the state of testing in the U.S., after President Joe Biden announced a plan to reimburse citizens for their purchase of tests. Richard Blanco reads his favorite “aubade” poems -- about lovers departing at dawn --- including “Aubade with Burning City” by Ocean Vuong and “Ghosting Aubade” by Amie Whittemore. Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history. His latest book, "How To Love A Country," deals with various socio-political issues that shadow America. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III discuss the persistence of racial harassment in schools, and religious communities that support abortion rights. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail and co-host of the All Rev’d Up podcast. Price is the founding pastor of Community of Love Christian Fellowship in Allston, the Inaugural Dean of Africana Studies at Berklee College of Music and co-host of the All Rev’d Up podcast. Michael Curry talks about Biden’s efforts to ramp up testing, and his administration’s plan to get through the second pandemic winter. Curry is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and a member of Gov. Charlie Baker’s COVID Vaccine Advisory Group. He’s also a member of the National NAACP Board of Directors and chair of the board’s advocacy and policy committee. We end the show by asking listeners if they have returned to movie theaters, as venues struggle to bring back patrons due to the pandemic.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Superintendent Brenda Cassellius answers questions from listeners about the state of schools, including the teacher shortage and wait lists for Boston’s exam schools. Cassellius is the superintendent of Boston Public Schools. Then, we ask listeners about the Omicron variant and how the pandemic is playing out in schools, including hearing from Massachusetts Teachers Association President Merrie Najimy. Makinde Ogunnaike and Josh Sariñana talk about how they turn physics and neuroscience into art and poetry, and the intersection of physics and religious faith. Ogunnaike is a PhD candidate in physics at MIT, where he researches quantum systems and the new states of matter they can create. He also runs the Harvard-MIT chapter of the National Society of Black Physicists. Sariñana is a fine art photographer, a writer and neuroscience marketing professional. He’s also the director of “The Poetry of Science.” Corby Kummer weighs in on who has intellectual property claims to a recipe, and where restaurants stand with restrictions and masking. Kummer is the 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. Andy Ihnatko discusses the latest developments in electric car technology, and Jack Dorsey’s decision to step away as CEO of Twitter. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Sue O’Connell updates listeners on the latest news in the Cuomo family scandal, after Chris Cuomo was suspended indefinitely from CNN. She also talks about the success of Amy Schneider, the first trans person to make “Jeopardy!” Tournament of Champions. O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and the South End News, as well as NECN's political commentator and explainer-in-chief. We end the show by talking with listeners about how they treated substitute teachers back in the day, amid a teacher shortage and dire need for substitutes.