Boston Public Radio

The Massachusetts legislature, citing economic downturns due to COVID-19, appears unlikely to adopt a higher gas tax. Transportation advocates say that's a missed opportunity.

The "All Rev'd Up" hosts were critical of what they described as a whitewashing, in U.S. schools, of the nation's history of racial injustice and white violence.

Commissioner for Elementary and Secondary Education Jeff Riley said schools may continue to operate fully remotely if there is a high rate of community transmission of COVID-19 in their district.

On Monday, media scholar Bob Thompson joined Boston Public Radio to share what he's watching on TV this week.

On Monday, Sennott joined Boston Public Radio to go over the latest international headlines.

The 'Make Way For Ducklings' artist speaks about the importance of public art and describes her latest piece.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Georgia Public Broadcasting political reporter Stephen Fowler gives a primer on Tuesday's Senate runoff races in Ga., and discusses President Trump's controversial call to Ga. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger over the weekend, where he pressured Raffensperger to nullify his state's election tally. Next, we open our lines to talk with listeners about the latest effort from GOP congressional leaders to call President-elect Joe Biden’s election victory into question. New Yorker writer and environmental advocate Bill McKibben discusses President Trump’s legacy of inaction on global warming, and the potential impact that President-elect Biden's incoming environmental team could have in combatting the global climate crisis. The.Ink publisher Anand Giridharadas weighs in on Congress' failure to approve $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks, and discusses why he believes federal leaders are paving the way for future billionaire bailouts. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of the podcast All Rev’d Up, reflect on Monroe’s recent writing for GBH about the nation’s ongoing struggle to address white supremacy. They also weigh in on reporting about the problematic legacy of Boston police sergeant Clifton McHale, and the muted reaction it garnered from city leaders. TV expert Bob Thompson reviews the "City Hall,” filmmaker Frederick Wiseman’s in-depth documentary about Boston Mayer Marty Walsh’s administration. He also offers his take on CNN’s new documentary “Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President," as well as Netflix's “Bridgerton" and “History of Swear Words.” We close out Monday’s show by talking with listeners about a new study, published last month in Nature, which found that man-made “stuff” now outweighs all living biomass on the earth.

Thursday's Boston Public Radio is entirely on tape and features the ultimate BPR book club — back to back conversations from over the years with some of our favorite writers. Some highlights of the show include: George Saunders discussed his novel, "Lincoln in the Bardo," his first foray into what he describes as serious prose. Writer Susan Orlean discusses her latest book, a tribute to the public library, "The Library Book." ESPN’s Howard Bryant discusses his book, "The Heritage: Black Athletes, a Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism."

Wednesday's Boston Public Radio is entirely on tape, and features the ultimate BPR book club: back to back conversations from over the years with some of our favorite writers. Some highlights of the show include: Poet Kevin Young discusses his latest collection of poetry, BROWN. Kevin Young is poetry editor of the New Yorker and the incoming director of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture. Owner of Parnassus Books Ann Patchett makes a pitch to all readers to shop at local, independent book stores. She also discussed her book, "Commonwealth." Writer T.C. Boyle drops in on the dropout culture with his novel "Outside Looking In," which is based on the research of Timothy Leary.

Today on Boston Public Radio, GBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen and NBC 10's Sue O'Connell filled in for Jim Braude and Margery Eagan. Former Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed the latest with President Donald Trump's pardons. Then, Irish comedian Maeve Higgins talked about maintaining friendships through the pandemic. The rest of Tuesday’s show featured re-airs of some of our favorite segments: Norman Mineta talked about the PBS documentary of his life and career, "Norman Mineta and His Legacy: An American Story." Mineta is a former statesman who served as cabinet secretary for Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. New Yorker writer George Packer discussed his latest book, “Our Man: Richard Holbrooke And The End Of The American Century.” John Waters spoke about his latest book, “Mr. Know-It-All: The Tarnished Wisdom Of A Filth Elder.” Waters is a filmmaker, writer, artist, and social commentator. Raphael Bob-Waksberg discussed his collection of short stories "Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory." Bob-Waksberg is the creator of the animated Netflix show “Bojack Horseman.” Ben Mezrich discussed his latest book, “Bitcoin Billionaires: A True Story of Genius, Redemption and Betrayal.”

Today on Boston Public Radio: Jared Bowen and Sue O’Connell fill in for Jim and Margery. First, they get a politics roundup from Beacon Hill to Capitol Hill, with GBH reporter Adam Reilly. Then, Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett G Price III join us for this week’s edition of All Rev’d Up. The rest of Monday’s show features re-airs of some of our favorite segments: Author and journalist Naomi Klein joins Jim and Margery to talk about her book, "On Fire: The Burning Case for a Green New Deal." New Yorker staff writer and “Revisionist History” host Malcolm Gladwell discusses his new book, “Talking To Strangers: What We Should Know About The People We Don't Know.” Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ronan Farrow discusses his new book, “Catch And Kill: Lies, Spies, And A Conspiracy To Protect Predators,” about his experience reporting on the crimes of disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. Harvard Business School’s Michael Norton discusses his latest research about why minimalism has become the new status symbol. Journalist Joshua Foer discusses the latest edition of “Atlas Obscura: An Explorers Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders.”