Boston Public Radio

The state's hospitals have done well to prepare for the surge, but the national response has been mired by politics.

Almost as soon as word of a new coronavirus outbreak that first infected people in China reached the internet, conspiracy theories about its origin spread quickly.

Crossley pushed back on the notion that drugs are the reason for higher COVID-19 cases in communities of color.

What will life after social distancing look like?

"The most powerful human being on the entire planet" wants more attention, says O'Connell.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley said Gov. Charlie Baker is open to rescinding state-issued voluntary guidelines for hospitals regarding rationing medical equipment.

Today on Boston Public Radio we're on tape, bringing you some of our favorite conversations from recent years: Imani Perry talks about parenthood and how Black parents talk to their children about race. Perry is a professor of African American Studies at Princeton University. Her latest book is "Breathe: A Letter To My Sons.” Richard Blanco reads his favorite “aubade” poems — about lovers departing at dawn — including “Aubade with Burning City” by Ocean Vuong and “Ghosting Aubade” by Amie Whittemore. Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history. His latest book, "How To Love A Country," deals with various sociopolitical issues that shadow America. Lizzie Post weighs in on cannabis culture in her book, “Higher Etiquette: A Guide to the World of Cannabis, From Dispensaries to Dinner Parties.” Post is a writer, co-director of The Emily Post Institute and great-great-granddaughter of etiquette writer Emily Post. Christopher Kimball previews his latest cookbook “Vegetables,” sharing his favorite ways to bring vegetables to the center of the plate. Chris Kimball co-founded America’s Test Kitchen, and now runs Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street in Boston. His latest cookbook is “Vegetables.” Farah Stockman talks about how class divides manifest themselves culturally and politically in the United States, and why higher-class, well-educated communities struggle to understand and represent the majority of Americans. Farah Stockman is a member of the New York Times editorial board, and a Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter. Her latest book is “American Made: What Happens to People When Work Disappears.” Howard Bryant discusses his book, "The Heritage: Black Athletes, a Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism." Bryant is a columnist and commentator for ESPN. Lindy West previews her latest book, "The Witches Are Coming," a collection of essays about feminism in the #MeToo moment. West is a writer, comedian and activist. Joshua Foer talks about “Atlas Obscura: An Explorers Guide To The World’s Hidden Wonders.” Foer is a freelance journalist and author of "Moonwalking With Einstein: The Art And Science Of Remembering Everything.”

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd shares his thoughts on the reaction from Washington D.C. in the wake of the Uvalde shooting, and why politicians refuse to take action on gun control. 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 their thoughts on a growing sense that political action feels hopeless, in a moment where policy often does not match the desires of Americans. Andrea Cabral responds to the Uvalde shooting, the failings of the Supreme Court and a romance novelist convicted for killing her husband after writing a blog post titled “How to Murder Your Husband.” Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and secretary of public safety, and former CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. First Lady of Iceland Eliza Reid previews her book, “Secrets Of The Sprakkar: Iceland's Extraordinary Women And How They Are Changing The World,” and explains why Iceland is leading the globe in gender equity. Reid is the First Lady of Iceland. Governor Charlie Baker and Steve Kadish discuss their recently released book on public governance. Then, Baker takes questions from listeners on topics including gun control, the MBTA and Boston public schools. Baker is Governor of Massachusetts. Kadish is a senior research fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School, and previously served Baker’s Chief of Staff and Chair of the Commission on the Future of Transportation. Their book is “Results: Getting Beyond Politics to Get Important Work Done.”

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening the phone lines, talking with listeners about gun violence in America in the wake of a mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Art Caplan shares his thoughts on the moral apathy Congress seems to have in cases of gun violence, and cases of monkeypox in the U.S. Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor and founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine in New York City. Juliette Kayyem explains how language is used to sanitize stories of gun violence, and updates us on the latest news out of Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman killed 19 elementary school students and two teachers. Kayyem is former assistant secretary for homeland security under President Barack Obama, and the faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. We continue our discussion with listeners on the epidemic of gun violence in America. Paul Reville discusses the impact of school shootings on survivors. He also talks about the Mass. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) audit of Boston Public Schools. Reville is the former secretary of education and a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he also runs the Education Redesign Lab. His latest book, co-authored with Lynne Sacks, is “Collaborative Action for Equity and Opportunity: A Practical Guide for School and Community Leaders.” Sy Montgomery talks about the dolphins using coral mucus to heal, and new research into how Asian elephants mourn the dead. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist and a BPR contributor. Her latest book is "The Hawk’s Way: Encounters with Fierce Beauty.” We end the show by revisiting our discussion with listeners on mass shootings in America.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Mayor Michelle Wu takes questions from listeners on topics including the state of Boston’s public schools, the latest at Mass. and Cass and failures that led to former Boston Police Union President Patrick Rose remaining on patrol after reports of child sexual assault. Wu is Mayor of Boston. Trenni Kusnierek discusses the most recent Celtics win, the murder of elite cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson and controversy over Qatar hosting the World Cup due to its anti-LGBTQ policies. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Then, we ask listeners their thoughts on the Celtics’ playoffs run. Melissa Etheridge previews her upcoming concerts, and recalls her three months at Berklee College of Music and her experience coming out as lesbian. Etheridge is a multiple Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and activist. She’s coming to town to perform at the City Winery on June 5, 6, 8 and 9. Mark Esper talks about his recent book, insights from his time working in the Trump Administration and whether he thinks Former President Donald Trump could find success running in 2024. Esper is the former Secretary of Defense under President Donald Trump. His new memoir is “A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times.” John King updates listeners on the state of national politics, including the recent slew of Republican primaries, and concerns over Pennsylvania Democratic Senate nominee John Fetterman’s health following a stroke. King is CNN's chief national correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. We end the show by asking listeners whether they’re ready to return to concerts this summer.

In their fight against the alternative milk and nut-milk industries, Big Dairy has been lobbying Congress and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reserve the term “milk” for fluids obtained through “lacteal secretion” — and the FDA looks like it may enforce a stricter definition for “milk” soon. Chief among the National Federation of Milk Producers’ concerns are that consumers are “being misled about the nutritional content of plant-based imitators relative to real dairy products.” Award-winning food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Monday to share his thoughts on the situation. “I think it's ridiculous,” Kummer said. “I think anybody who buys almond milk understands it's not cow’s milk.” In the wide-ranging interview, Kummer also discussed the latest news from the nation’s baby formula shortage, and talked about the lack of nutrition education in medical schools. Kummer is 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.