Boston Public Radio

The former Mass. Secretary of Education said reallocated police funds could greatly benefit housing and mental health services throughout the Commonwealth.

President Donald Trump is starting back up 2020 campaign rallies, with his first, since the coronavirus, being held in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Juneteenth.

The author of "Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America" joined "Boston Public Radio" on Wednesday.

The editor-in-chief's racist photo was appalling, but even more so is the culture of racism that has now been described at Bon Appetit, Kummer noted.

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.

On Friday, food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio to discuss a recent article in "The Conversation," positing that city rat populations could be lowered not by increasing the use of rodenticides, but by wasting less food. "This a story saying, stop wasting so much food. Be a lot more careful about throwing out food, and be a lot more careful when you do throw it out,” Kummer said. In January, Malibu, Calif., banned rodenticides in an attempt to protect the local non-rat wildlife. A bill to make that ban statewide failed to pass the state Senate, but may reappear. Boston, meanwhile, continues to use rodenticides. Read More: Rethinking The Way We Handle Rats “Rats are like people,” Kummer said. “They like exactly the same food that people do, and in fact they have evolved in different countries — in Paris … they like butter, cheese and croissants!” (Readers will of course recall the iconic New York City Pizza Rat, who went viral in 2015.) “[Rats] like what people dump and put into open garbage cans. That’s what they evolve to eat. It’s what keeps them alive,” he said. Kummer also discussed his recent article for "Vanity Fair" about the future of fine dining and the chefs who are reimagining it. 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.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to ask callers: would you enjoy a two week self-quarantine? Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed a slew of ways that coronavirus fears have impacted the tech sector. Emily Rooney, host of WGBH News' Beat The Press, discussed the departure of anchor Chris Matthews from MSNBC, and read us for her famous list of fixations and fulminations. “Under the Radar” host Callie Crossley discussed Bernie Sanders' role in the split-up of Public Enemy, and why the Southern Black voters voted overwhelmingly for Joe Biden on Super Tuesday. Food writer Corby Kummer discussed fine dining as art at a New York restaurant, and Coca-Cola’s acquisition of Honest Tea. Media maven Sue O’Connell discussed the legacy of Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign, and the coming out of former GOP Rep. Aaron Schock. Gilbert Tsang and Meg Tartaskyof MEM Tea imports joined us for our weekly news quiz.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Washington Post reporter Annie Linskey reflected on the end of Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign. We opened our lines to continue the conversation about Elizabeth Warren’s election bid. Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed ICE agents on Peter Pan buses and Chief Justice John Roberts’ rebuke of statements by Sen. Chuck Schumer. Heather Goldstone, Chief Communications officer at the Woods Hole Research Center, discussed Jeff Bezos’ climate change pledge, and the role climate change has played in this winter's unusually warm weather. Boston Globe columnist Shirley Leung talked about the impact of coronavirus on Boston’s economy, and the passing of business executive Jack Welch. Director James Jacoby discussed his latest "Frontline" documentary, "Amazon Empire: The Rise and Reign of Jeff Bezos." Alex Beam talked about Harvey Weinstein’s prison consultant, and the passing of architect Henry Cobb. We re-opened lines to ask callers: do you feel guilty enjoying the warm weather brought by climate change?

Today on Boston Public Radio: Jennifer Nassour and Steve Kerrigan joined us for a political roundtable. Nassour is a former Chairwoman of the Mass GOP and founder of Conservative Women For A Better Future, and Kerrigan is the CEO of the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center and former CEO of the DNC. We opened our lines to talk with callers about the Super Tuesday results. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discussed the vegan protestors at Tuesday night's Joe Biden rally, and gave a primer on coronavirus preparedness. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed President Trump’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, and the ethical argument for cognitive tests for the elderly. We opened our lines to talk with callers about your strategies for not touching your face. NBC Sports Boston reporter Trenni Kusnierek recapped the latest rumors around Tom Brady’s future in the NFL, and the International Olympic Committee’s decision to not postpone the Tokyo games amid coronavirus worries. WGBH Arts Editor Jared Bowen reviewed Mass. Historical Society’s “Fire! Voices From the Boston Massacre” exhibition, and “rEVOLUTION,” currently showing at the Boston Ballet.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to talk with callers about your experiences voting on Super Tuesday. Former Trump 2016 Campaign Manager Corey Lewandowski weighed in on Super Tuesday, and commented on recent statements from Donald Trump Jr., on the politicization of the coronavirus. We returned to listener calls, to talk about who you’re voting for. Carol Rose from the ACLU broke down some of the 25 voting rights cases they’re currently fighting in court. Director Sarah Burns and Aseelah Muhammed from the new Ken Burns documentary “East Lake Meadows” discussed the film, which centers around a housing project on the outskirts of Atlanta. Rep. Stephen Lynch called in to advocate for former Vice President Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign. CNN’s John King gave his thoughts on Joe Biden’s surging campaign, and other Super Tuesday headlines. Former Massachusetts governor and 2020 Republican presidential candidate Bill Weld called in to make his case for voters. We re-opened our lines, closing the show with more listener conversations about Super Tuesday.