Boston Public Radio

IKEA has shared it's Swedish meatball recipe online, as it's stores remain closed during the coronavirus pandemic.

The national security expert said the president's executive order would have a negligible impact, and accused him of pandering to his base.

The MIT economist proposed creating a “care corps” program to bring more workers to the nation’s sorely under-staffed nursing homes.

When COVID-19 was ramping up in America, the United States sent millions of masks to China.

A new documentary highlights the civil rights issues at the center of the drug lab scandals, and the broader war on drugs.

The GroundTruth CEO commended the work of female leaders and healthcare workers abroad and at home.

Note: BPR is on tape for the holidays. For Thursday’s program, we brought you some of our favorite conversations from the not-too distant past. Today on Boston Public Radio: 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.” Michael Norton talks about the science behind why humans have such difficulty enjoying leisure time. Norton is the Harold M. Brierley Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, and his latest book is "Happy Money: The Science Of Smarter Spending.” Bill Buford discussed differences between attitudes around restaurant dining in France and the U.S., in a conversation about his new book, "Dirt: Adventure In Lyon As A Chef In Training, Father, And Sleuth Looking For The Secret Of French Cooking.” Alan Alda talked about the joy of creating his new interview podcast, and a recent (pre-pandemic) trip he made with BPR contributor Sy Montgomery to the New England Aquarium. Alan Alda is an actor, and hosts the podcast "Clear + Vivid With Alan Alda." Sy Montgomery discussed her book "Condor Comeback," about an ongoing conservation effort to bring the California Condor back from the brink of extinction. Sy Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist, whose latest book is "Becoming A Good Creature.” Rick Steves talked about keeping our travel dreams alive during the coronavirus pandemic. Steves is an author, television and radio host, and the owner of “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. Richard Blanco joined us for another edition of "Village Voice." Blanco is the fifth presidential inaugural poet in U.S. history. His new book, "How To Love A Country,” deals with various socio-political issues that shadow America.

Today on Boston Public Radio: MIT economist Jon Gruber breaks down the economics behind Congress’ latest COVID relief package, and discusses his research into March's CARES Act, where he found that unemployment insurance has had more of an impact on keeping jobs and stimulating the economy than Paycheck Protection Program loans. Next, we open lines to talk with listeners about Congress' latest $900 billion coronavirus stimulus bill, and get your takes whether it’s going to be enough to help you get by. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem talks about President Trump’s latest controversial wave of pardons, and weighs the potential impact Trump could have on national security in the final weeks of his administration. NBC Sports Boston reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek talks about a recent appeal made by players on the Boston Celtics to have Gov. Baker reconsider his support for the use of facial recognition software by Mass. law enforcement. She also speaks on the Patriots’ underwhelming 2020 season, and other sports headlines. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discusses the latest news on the pandemic front, including how the U.S. is faring in its vaccine rollout, the departure of White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx, and worrying COVID-19 mutations out of the UK. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discusses news that President Trump won't be passing along the POTUS Twitter account to President-elect Biden, incoming privacy software from Apple that'll make it harder for websites to track user data on other platforms, and other tech headlines. We close out Wednesday's by reopening lines for a conversation with listeners about best tipping practices for the holiday season.

President Donald Trump granted pardons and commutations to 20 people on Tuesday. Among those pardoned were four Blackwater guards convicted in connection with a 2017 killing of Iraqi civilians -among those killed were two boys, 8 and 11. Homeland security expert Juliette Kayyem spoke with Boston Public Radio on Wednesday about the danger these pardons pose. “First of all, Trump’s failure to embrace a peaceful transfer of power quickly, threatens, or at least would amplify the radicalization of some small parts of the population,” she said. '“[These pardons] do it too because it says, you can be ruthless, murderous, horrible human beings, who murders children.” Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

On Wednesday, medical ethicist Art Caplan returned to Boston Public Radio, where he weighed in on the latest news around the COVID-19 pandemic. Among them, he discussed frustrations with the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in hospitals throughout the U.S., and unanswered questions around who deserves vaccine priority. “There are these issues of priority and who’s really at risk that’ve started to rear their heads,” he said, warning that more confusion is likely to come once the general public can apply for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. “It’s predictive of what I think we’re gonna see in maybe January, February, March, as other people start to say ‘hey, what about me?’" During the conversation, Caplan also discussed the departure of White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx, and explained why he’s not worried that a mutated version of the coronavirus, discovered last week in the U.K., will be resistant to the current vaccines. Art Caplan is the Drs. William F and Virginia Connolly Mitty Chair, and director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the NYU School of Medicine.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Maura Healey talks about the state’s [Police Reform bill](x-note://D757CE1A-EB87-42C4-BFAC-970FF042F9C1/EWSNote/wgbh.org/news/local-news/2020/12/22/ag-healey-police-reform-bill-as-amended-is-a-really-good-thing), responding to questions about the efficacy of facial recognition technology and no-knock warrants. She also discusses her office's plan to ask the federal Department of Homeland Security to end its partnership with the Bristol County Sheriff's office, and responds to questions from listeners as part of our monthly series “Ask the AG.” Boston Globe editorial writer David Scharfenberg discusses his reporting for the Boston Globe on segregation in Mass.’ public school system, and some of the lessons that officials can take from other states' approach to the issue in order to tackle the racial inequity. Havard Business School professor Ashley Whillans talks about America’s "time poverty” crisis, and offers tips for organizing our lives to better prioritize happiness over money, in a conversation around her new book, "Time Smart: How to Reclaim Your Time and live a Happier Life.” Washington Post reporter Annie Linskey talks about Congress’ new $900 billion stimulus package, and how she’s expecting President-elect Joe Biden to handle the country’s economic crisis after he assumes the presidency in January. Documentarian Frederick Wiseman discusses his new in-depth documentary about Boston Marty Walsh's administration, titled “City Hall.” We end the show by opening lines, reviving the age-old debate around the ethics of re-gifting holiday presents.