Boston Public Radio

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On Monday’s “Boston Public Radio,” food writer Corby Kummer made a boldest assertion when he declared the city’s outdoor dining as “better than Paris.” Kummer, a senior editor for The Atlantic, admitted the take was likely to spark controversy. His reasoning? That “people in Boston are nicer, and they make the entire experience pleasanter.” “It’s just better to be in Boston in general” he added. The subject was broached during a back-and-forth on the question of $7,500 outdoor dining fees for restaurant owners in Boston’s North End. Kummer said he understood the reasoning for the fees, but wasn’t sure North End restaurant owners alone ought to foot the bill. “The city of Boston should say ‘[here are] exactly the problems we ran into. Here are possible solutions. Here’s what the money can go towards to remedy all of this, and have you got better ideas’ – rather than just coming out with what looks like a penalty if you happen to be in the North End.” 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 began the show by asking listeners for their thoughts on whether Justice Clarence Thomas should face consequences due to his wife Ginni Thomas’ alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. Art Caplan talked about the “slap heard around the world” and Will Smith’s reaction to Chris Rock’s dig at his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, at the Academy Awards as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s leadership, and Ukraine's humanitarian crisis as the country runs out of medical supplies. Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. Ken Burns explained why he chose Benjamin Franklin as the focus of his latest documentary, diving into Franklin’s early life, as well as his impact as a scientist and an inventor. Burns is an award-winning documentarian. Corby Kummer discussed the impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine – known as Europe’s bread basket – could have on global food supplies. He also updated us on the latest news from the North End as restaurateurs fight city fees for outdoor dining. Kummer is a senior editor at The Atlantic, an award-winning food writer, and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition and Policy. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III shared their thoughts on the morality behind Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Academy Awards, and whether the future of Christianity will rely upon African women. 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, the Inaugural Dean of Africana Studies at Berklee College of Music. Together they host the All Rev’d Up podcast. We ended the show by talking with listeners about Will Smith’s Academy Awards slap “heard around the world,” and what they would do in a situation in which someone they care about gets slighted publicly.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners whether they’re excited – or furious – over the return to the office. Shirley Leung talks about the life and legacy of former Fidelity Investments CEO Edward “Ned” Johnson III, and the North End restaurateurs fighting against $7,500 participation fees for outdoor dining. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Callie Crossley discusses Ginni Thomas’ texts connecting her to the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, and shares her thoughts on the Senate’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. Tiffani Faison and Irene Li join us to talk about the James Beard Awards, and how their businesses have fared over the course of the pandemic. Faison is an award-winning chef and the woman behind Sweet Cheeks, Orfano, Fool’s Errand, and the recently-opened Tenderoni’s, Dive Bar, and Bubble Bath at High Street Place. She’s also a judge on Food Network’s “Chopped,” and a competitor on “Tournament of Champions.” Li is the woman behind Mei Mei Dumplings, and just won the James Beard Award for Leadership. Jennifer Nawada and Mark McCullough answer listeners’ questions and calls on all things related to landscaping and masonry. Nawada and McCollough are the landscaping and masonry experts, respectively, for PBS’ longstanding home repair show “This Old House” and its spinoff, “Ask this Old House.” Jennifer also owns Nawada Landscape Design, and Mark owns MJM Masonry, both based out of Boston.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd shares his reactions to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearings, the latest on Ukraine and other news from D.C. Todd is the moderator of “Meet The Press” on NBC, host of “Meet The Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Then, we ask listeners whether or not they think former President Donald Trump is truly above the law, after senior Manhattan prosecutor Mark F. Pomerantz resigned following the DA’s decision to stop pursuing an indictment of Trump. Andrea Cabral reacts to the decision to not prosecute former President Donald Trump, and breaks down her frustration with the GOP’s questioning during Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearing. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Paul Reville discusses whether the Northampton principal should be suspended for calling her students “asshats,” and the range of challenges in education that are causing the teacher shortage. Reville is former state secretary of education and a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he also runs the Education Redesign Lab. Nick Quah weighs in on the world of podcasts, including why Joe Rogan has found success, and what he thinks about new shows like “Normal Gossip” and “Dead Eyes.” Quah is Vulture’s podcast critic. Then, we ask listeners for their thoughts on if a principal should be suspended for calling students “asshats.” We end the show by airing President Joe Biden’s speech where he announced more aid to Ukraine, including accepting up to 100,000 refugees fleeing the war.

As Americans try to curb their methane emissions from coal mining and oil and natural gas systems, changes may come to the kitchen as well. Award-winning food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Monday to talk about induction cooking as an alternative to gas stoves. Induction cooking uses electric currents to directly heat pots and pans through magnetic induction. Instead of using thermal conduction, such as a gas or electric element transferring heat from a burner to a pot or pan, induction heats the cooking vessel itself almost instantly. Melissa Clark of The New York Times makes the case to get rid of gas stoves. A lot of new buildings don’t have gas hookups and 75 percent of methane emissions from gas stoves occur when the stove is off. In addition to the environmental benefits, Kummer has other reasons he thinks induction cooking is a good option. “This doesn't smell, it's much cleaner, it's incredibly easy to just take a sponge to because it's a flat glass cooking surface,” he said. Kummer explained that you can get an induction stove cover for a regular stove for only a few hundred dollars. “You can order one tonight from Lowe’s or Walmart, they’re incredibly easy to come by.” 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.