Boston Public Radio

Protests are a health risk amid COVID-19, but there are steps people can take to be safer about it.

'Today we're taking a closer look than we have in a long time,' at racism in America, poet Richard Blanco said.

The former Massachusetts governor said that George Floyd's death was "a heinous murder carried out by a person with a badge."

The Gold Dust Orphans theater company founder said it was important that Americans remember their country's racist legacy.

Demonstrations against police brutality are beginning to coalesce around a platform of policies. Is this a turning point in America?

The GroundTruth Project CEO said there's credence to concerns the president is slipping into authoritarianism.

Today on Boston Public Radio: First, we talk with listeners about the school bus driver shortage on back to school day. Denise Dilanni previews the new series from GBH, “The Future of Work,” about the current transformation of the American workforce brought by automation, the gig economy and COVID-19. The show airs on GBH2 on Sept. 15, the PBS Video app and the PBS Voices YouTube Channel. Dilanni is an executive producer at GBH and the series’ creator. Ambassador Philippe Etienne talks about the effect of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on Europe, and the impact of our nation’s withdrawal from Afghanistan on European peace efforts in the mid-east country. He also talks about America’s relationship with France under President Joe Biden, and the success of his country’s vaccine “health pass” system. Etienne is the French ambassador to the United States. Paul Reville discusses the return of Mass. students to classrooms amid the Delta variant and fights over mask mandates, vaccines and school bus shortages. Reville is the former Massachusetts secretary of education and a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he also heads the Education Redesign Lab. His latest book, co-authored with Lynne Sacks, is “Collaborative Action for Equity and Opportunity: A Practical Guide for School and Community Leaders.” Then, we continue our conversation with listeners about going back to school during the pandemic. Jon Gruber talks about the connection between a lack of abortion rights and worse lifetime outcomes, in the wake of the new Texas law. Gruber teaches economics at MIT. He was instrumental in creating both the Massachusetts health-care reform and the Affordable Care Act, and his latest book is "Jump-Starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth And The American Dream." In light of Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung's recent piece about the plight of hotel workers, we open phone lines to ask listeners their thoughts on hotel companies recommending guests forgo daily room cleanings at the expense of staff.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Art Caplan talks about the Supreme Court’s upholding of the new Texas abortion law and an Ohio judge protecting hospital patients from the latest controversial and off-label COVID-19 treatment — the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin. He also weighs in on conflicting attitudes surrounding vaccine booster shots. 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. Then, we hear listeners’ opinions on boycotting business that have not spoken out against the new Texas abortion law. Andrew Bacevich weighs in on who should take responsibility for the crisis in Afghanistan, the United States’ standing in the world 20 years after 9/11 and what service to the country should look like. Bacevich is the President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a Professor Emeritus of International Relations and History at Boston University and author of "The Age of Illusions: How America Squandered Its Cold War Victory.” State Rep. Mike Connolly discusses his bill looking into reversing the state’s Happy Hour ban, which he hopes could help restaurants bounce back from COVID-19. Connolly represents the Massachusetts House of Representatives’ 26th Middlesex district, which comprises East Cambridge and East Somerville. Laura Sullivan shares insights from her reporting on the Red Cross’ work in Haiti, and how the organization only built six homes in the country after raising half a billion dollars following the 2010 earthquake. She also talks about how to best support people in Haiti by donating to local organizations. Sullivan is an investigative correspondent for NPR who reported extensively on the Red Cross in 2015. Shirley Leung gives an update on the latest business headlines, including business leaders’ opinions on the mayor’s race, and a 50 million dollar donation from the Manning family to the UMass system. She also discusses how requesting housekeeping at hotels can keep staff employed. Leung is a business columnist for The Boston Globe and a GBH contributor. Then, we talk with listeners about the current coin shortage and the challenges of parking and paying for laundry.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We kick things off by opening phone lines to talk with listeners about the state of the pandemic moving into fall of 2021. Trenni Kusnierek discusses the latest news on COVID-19 in the world of sports, including a recent outbreak within the Boston Red Sox. She also touches on news of tennis champion Naomi Osaka’s indefinite exit from the sport. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston, and a Boston Public Radio contributor. Carol Rose weighs in on the broader, grim constitutional implications of Texas’ new abortion law. She also discusses the Supreme Court’s decision not to intervene. Rose is the Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts. Michael Curry talks about COVID-19 in the Commonwealth, and whether state leaders are doing enough to get residents vaccinated and quell the spread of the Delta variant. Curry is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and a member of Governor 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 & Policy Committee. Michael Kirk discusses the legacy of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and America's response ahead of the 20-year anniversary, in a conversation sparked by his new FRONTLINE documentary, “America After 9/11.” John King calls in for his weekly round-up of national headlines, with a focus on President Biden’s comments about climate change infrastructure and the state of his $3.5 trillion ‘human infrastructure’ bill in Congress. King is CNN's Chief National Correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. We close out Tuesday’s show by talking with listeners about new research into how the foods we eat impact our lifespan.

Today on Boston Public Radio we’re on tape, bringing you some of our favorite conversations from the not too distant past: Bishop Michael Curry joins us to preach the power of love in dark times, in a conversation sparked by his new book "Love Is The Way: Holding Onto Hope In Troubling Times.” Curry is the current presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church. Bill Buford discusses differences between attitudes around restaurant dining in France and the U.S., in a conversation about his new book, "Dirt: Adventures In Lyon As A Chef In Training, Father, And Sleuth Looking For The Secret Of French Cooking." Buford is an author and journalist. Alan Alda talks about the joy of creating his new interview podcast, and his trip to the New England Aquarium with BPR contributor Sy Montgomery. Alda is an actor, and hosts the podcast "Clear + Vivid With Alan Alda." Rick Steves shares his memories of his first visit to Afghanistan in 1978 and what travel may look like with the rise of the Delta variant. Steves is an author, television and radio host and the owner of the Rick Steves' Europe tour group. You can catch his television show, "Rick Steves’ Europe," weeknights at 7:30 p.m. on GBH 2 and his radio show, “Travel With Rick Steves,” Sundays at 4 p.m. on GBH.

Boston Public Radio is on tape today, bringing you some of our favorite conversations from the not too distant past. Sebastian Junger speaks about his latest book, “Freedom,” which looks at the meaning of freedom in its many iterations. Junger is a journalist, author and filmmaker. Michelle Singletary discusses her latest book, “What To Do With Your Money When Crisis Hits: A Survival Guide.” Singletary is a nationally syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, whose award-winning column "The Color of Money" provides insight into the world of personal finance. Michael Moss previews his new book and explained how some drug addiction experts are shifting their attention to food addiction. Moss is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author. His latest book is “Hooked: Food, Free Will And How The Food Giants Exploit Our Addictions.” Dr. Marcia Chatelain discusses the historic role McDonald’s plays in the Black community and the origins of Black capitalism. Dr. Chatelain is a professor of history in African American studies at Georgetown University. She’s the author of “Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America,” which won a Pulitzer Prize this year for history.