Boston Public Radio

The world that we reopen into will be "180 degrees different" from our previous idea of normal, Kayyem says.

The medical ethicist said activists should take more responsibility for putting others' lives at risk.

The one-time $1,200 stimulus check just won't be enough for Americans to survive a long economic recovery, Gruber says.

Spring SAT and ACT tests were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Will the tests revive?

The attorney general is looking to "keep the pressure on as we go forward" in regards to worker safety.

The pandemic's unknowns are anxiety-provoking, and social distancing regulations don't help, says Dr. Ken Duckworth.

Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett returned to Boston Public Radio Monday, offering some clarity on why Massachusetts lags behind the rest of the nation when it comes to the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. According to a Washington Post vaccine tracker, the Bay State currently ranks 41st in the nation, with just under seven percent of residents having received their first dose. For comparison, Connecticut has managed to vaccinated almost 10 percent, while West Virginia has managed to get first-doses to close to 11 percent of residents. The Boston Medical Center official blamed a combination of factors for what she described as “several bottlenecks” in the state’s rollout. These issues include supply constraints, smaller-than-anticipated doses of vaccine per vile in the case of the Pfizer vaccine, and a lower-than-expected outtake among staff at long-term care facilities. “I think we are all, even those of us in healthcare, are feeling the effects of the rub here,” she said. Monday’s interview concluded with Gergen Barnett answering listener questions, on topics like vaccine efficacy, the possibility of mobile vaccine clinics, and why you shouldn’t cancel that dentist appointment. Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett is the vice chair of Primary Care Innovation and Transformation and Residency Director in the Department of Family Medicine at Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical School.

On Boston Public Radio Friday, Emily Rooney described how a group of people organized by social media used a Wall Street tactic to redistribute millions of dollars away from hedge funds, and into the pockets of amateur traders by buying up stock from a dying retailer, GameStop. “This was an insurrection by a group of people who said we’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore, and they beat Wall Street at their own game and now Wall Street is really really mad,” she said. How did they do it? BPR producer Zoe Mathews checked in with MIT economist Jon Gruber for a primer, ahead of his definitive explainer next week on the show.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Dr. Howard Koh, former state commissioner of the Department of Public Health, talks about new updates from pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson on their forthcoming COVID-19 vaccine, and the risks posed by the coronavirus variants that are popping up around the world and here in the U.S. He also speaks about President Biden’s handling of the pandemic during his first 10 days in office, and the bumpy vaccine rollout here in Mass. Next, we open lines to talk with listeners about your experiences trying to get the COVID-19 vaccine in Mass. Boston City Councilor At-Large Annissa Essaibi George calls in to talk about her newly-announced mayoral campaign. She speaks on her push to bring more mental-health professionals into Boston schools, offers her take on Boston mayor Marty Walsh’s handling of the pandemic, and talks about what she’d do differently to support struggling businesses. Ali Noorani, CEO of the National Immigrant Forum, talks about President Biden’s reversal of his predecessor's immigration agenda, and the pushback he’s getting from GOP leadership. He also talks about his impressions of Biden’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas. Beat the Press host Emily Rooney critiques the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Mass., recaps recent clean-energy goals set by automaker GM, and does her best to explain what’s going on with GameStop and the stock market. Dr. Deirdre Leigh Barrett, Harvard researcher and author of “Pandemic Dreams,” gives an update on her work studying pandemic-era dreaming, and talks about the apparent impact of factors like gender and occupation on how we're process the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the Radar and Basic Black host Callie Crossley discusses her concerns with members of Congress bringing guns in congressional chambers, President Biden’s plan to move forward with printing Harriet Tubman’s face on $20 bills, and the passing of actress Cicely Tyson. She also defends the barbecue of her hometown, Memphis, Tenn., as the gold-standard.

Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd weighs in on the members of the GOP aligning with former President Trump on impeachment, and talks about frustration with what he describes as “fact-deserts” throughout much of the U.S. He also discusses the challenge for President Biden in negotiating with Republican leadership to pass his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. Next, we open lines to talk with listeners about your experiences using state government resources to schedule COVID-19 vaccinations. Former Suffolk County sheriff and secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral discusses her concerns with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green’s history of supporting QAnon and other dangerous conspiracy theories. She also talks about Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys extremist group who was revealed by Reuters to be a former government informant, and weighs in on a recent flurry of anti-protest bills from GOP congressional leaders. GBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen recaps his hours-long experience trying to get his father a COVID-19 vaccination appointment. He also discusses the reopening of museums and movie theaters in Boston, reviews the new Claude Monet exhibit at the MFA, and talked about the ongoing light show at the Hatch Shell. Mass. A.G. Maura Healey returns for our monthly edition of “Ask the A.G.” She speaks about the abrupt resignation of Boston Police Commissioner William Gross, the complicated rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Mass., as well as the status of her office's ongoing investigation into a road rage incident concerning Suffolk County D.A. Rachael Rollins. As always, Healey also responds to questions and comments from listeners.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Former Mass. education secretary Paul Reville discusses the CDC’s latest statement reassuring schools that they can operate safely in-person, and frustration from the Mass. educators about their standing in the state's vaccine rollout plan. Next, we turned to listeners, hearing your thoughts on whether the state ought to prioritize vaccinating teachers ahead of school reopening in Mass. M.I.T. economist Jonathan Gruber breaks down President Biden's plan to expand the child tax credit, and explained the significance of making those credits fully refundable. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem talks about the state of the forthcoming Senate impeachment trial of President Trump. She also discusses how President Biden is preparing FEMA to take preemptive action against natural disasters brought by climate change. Medical ethicist Art Caplan weighs in on President Biden’s handling of the pandemic during his first week in office, and talks about the need for countries to anticipate snags in vaccine manufacturing and distribution. He also touches on the slow rollout of vaccines in Mass., and concerns he has with the 22,000 fans attending this year's Super Bowl. Then, we return to callers for the ongoing conversation about teacher vaccinations and in-person learning. Sy Montgomery returns for our monthly edition of "Afternoon Zoo." Among other animal stories, she talks about the bizarre and slow-paced mating rituals of the Shipworm, the majesty of mosquito birth, and the thieving monkeys of Bali.