Boston Public Radio

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.

Grossman said he's concerned a majority of the $350 billion in small business loans will not go to minority owned businesses.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Jonathan Gruber explains the economics behind condominiums, from condo ownership to building expenses. He also argues for stronger protections for homeowners in the event of major structural repairs. Gruber is the Ford Professor of Economics at MIT. He was instrumental in creating both the Massachusetts health-care reform and the Affordable Care Act, and his latest book is "Jump-Starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth And The American Dream." Next, we talk with listeners about their experiences with condo boards and condo ownership. Juliette Kayyem talks about the challenges rescuers are now facing in Surfside, Fla. She also discusses the Rise of the Moors standoff on I-95. 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. State Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz discusses her decision to run for governor, citing inequity around the state as one of the deciding factors in launching her campaign. Chang-Díaz is running for governor of Massachusetts on the Democratic ticket. Corby Kummer talks about a change in tipping etiquette during the pandemic, and a decline in Sweetgreen orders coinciding with the rise of working from home. He also discusses the Washington Farm Bureau lobbying against health protections for emergency workers. 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. Art Caplan shares his thoughts on low vaccination rates in the face of the Delta COVID-19 variant. He also talks about medical conservatorships following increased scrutiny of and investigations into the conservatorship of Britney Spears. Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. We wrap up the show by asking listeners what their metric for health and fitness is.

On Wednesday’s Boston Public Radio, food writer Corby Kummer derided the American lunchtime phenomena known as the “sad desk lunch,” where workers are forced to eat at the work spaces in order to save time and boost productivity. The back-and-forth was sparked by a recent New York Times story about the salad chain Sweetgreen, whose owners are presenting the company’s sales as something of a barometer for the return to workplaces, and the renewed appetite in what the article dubbed “desk salads.” “There’s a generic name for it that you’re forgetting,” Kummer quipped. “Sad desk lunch – it’s a whole phrase.” Rather than bringing lunch back to your desk to send emails while shoveling quinoa, he pushed for American bosses to adopt what he called “the French model.” “You are not allowed to work between 1:00 and 2:00,” he said. “You have to go and take your sad desk lunch to a communal table and make conversation with your workers. That’s part of the whole office serendipity, utopia, of chance encounters that lead to immense creativity that doubles the profits of the business.” During the 20-minute discussion, Kummer also touched on a recent story about a Georgia farmworker grappling with her family’s legacy as slave-owners, and the future of tipping in a post-pandemic America. Corby 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 start the show by opening phone lines, asking listeners what they thought could boost nationwide vaccination rates. Trenni Kusnierek talks about Sha’Carri Richardson’s one-month suspension after she tested positive for marijuana. She then discusses Los Angeles Angels player Shohei Ohtani. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Jim Aloisi and Stacy Thompson discuss the current state of President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill, and the return to pre-pandemic levels of traffic and congestion. Aloisi is the former Massachusetts transportation secretary, a member of the Transit Matters board, and contributor to Commonwealth Magazine. Thompson is executive director of Livable Streets. Catherine Peterson talks about how local arts institutions have fared during the pandemic, detailing an arts labor shortage and a lack of economic support for arts. Peterson is the executive director of ArtsBoston. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III give historical context for the Rise of the Moors standoff on I-95, and shares their thoughts on 1619 Project creator Nikole Hannah-Jones’ departure from UNC after she was denied tenure. They also talk about the banning of Soul Cap swimming caps at the Olympics. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail, and a visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at the Boston University School of Theology. Price is the founding pastor of Community of Love Christian Fellowship in Allston. Together, they host GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast. John King updates us on the latest political headlines, from President Biden’s visit to Surfside, Fla., to Massachusetts’ gubernatorial race. King is CNN's Chief National Correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. We then talk with listeners about socializing over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Today we’re on tape, replaying some of our favorite conversations with a focus on author interviews. CNN’s Don Lemon discusses his latest book: "This Is The Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism." Chasten Buttigieg discusses his memoir, "I Have Something to Tell You." David Byrne discusses the film adaptation of his tour, "American Utopia," and his accompanying illustrated book. Derek DelGaudio discuses the film adaptation of his one man show: "In & Of Itself," and his new book, "AMORALMAN: True Stories and Other Lies." Gish Jen talks about her book, "The Girl at the Baggage Claim: Explaining the East-West Culture Gap." Meredith Goldstein discusses her latest novel, "Things that Grow."

Today on Boston Public Radio: Andrea Cabral weighs in on the criminal indictment against the Trump Organization, and the overturning of Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Then, we talk with listeners about the Pennsylvania Supreme Court vacating Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction. Rep. Ayanna Pressley discusses the future of voting rights legislation, calling for the abolishment of the filibuster. She also talks about her introduction of the Tenant Empowerment Act of 2021, and shared her hopes for the infrastructure bill. Tiffani Faison shares how she kept her four restaurants afloat throughout the pandemic, and talks about how the labor shortage has affected business. Tiffani Faison is the chef and owner of Sweet Cheeks, Tiger Mama, Fool’s Errand And Orfano. Sen. Elizabeth Warren discusses her renewed calls for a wealth tax following a ProPublica report that revealed how some billionaires avoided paying income taxes. She also speaks about her conversations with constituents on student loan debt forgiveness. Andy Ihnatko updates us on the latest tech headlines, focusing on research showing that only 19% of Wikipedia biographical entries are on women. He also shares his thoughts on Microsoft’s upcoming release of Windows 11. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. We wrap up the show by asking listeners whether they’re participating in VaxMillions.