Boston Public Radio

Mayor Marty Walsh said the city hopes to test 180,000 people before reopening the economy.

The president suggested earlier this week that disinfectants could be injected in human bodies to fight the coronavirus.

The "Beat the Press" host said coronavirus anxiety has her panic-running her dishwasher and drinking more coffee than ever.

The former state education secretary cautioned that weak implementation could further widen the state’s achievement gap.

With many of the region's popular summer season arts offerings cancelled, the economy will take a hit.

According to a recent poll conducted by Suffolk University and the Boston Globe between March 24-27, less than a fifth of respondents said they owned a gun, but one in seven responded “yes” when asked if they wished they did.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by talking with listeners about new polling that puts the economy and inflation at the top of mind for voters just three weeks out from the midterm elections. Trenni Casey talked about Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s marriage to Dana Blumberg. Casey is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Jim Aloisi and Stacy Thompson discussed MA Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey questioning MBTA officials over multiple safety incidents, and the current state of driving in Boston. 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. Corby Kummer talked about the $24.6 billion Kroger-Albertsons merger, and backlash after Dunkin’ Donuts altered their rewards program. 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. We then continued our conversation on changes to the Dunkin’ Donuts rewards program with listeners. John King updated us on the latest political headlines, focusing on Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake’s denial of the 2020 election results. King is CNN's Chief National Correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Maggie Haberman joined us to talk about her new book on former President Donald Trump titled, “Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America.” Haberman is a senior political reporter at The New York Times and CNN analyst. Then, we opened our lines to ask: Are American politics irreparably warped? What does it say about us that we can’t stop talking about former President Trump? Charlie Sennott from the GroundTruth Project discussed the latest news in international politics. From the recent escalations in the war in Ukraine and China’s president, Xi Jinping, readying himself for his newest presidential term. Bill McKibben discussed today’s climate news, why the world shouldn’t rely on King Charles III to lead on climate policy, lessons after Hurricane Ian — which ripped through Florida just a few weeks ago — and investments into storm preparation. McKibben is an environmentalist, author, journalist and founder of 350.org. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett Price discussed Boston Muslims pushing for double-parking privileges, recent abortion rallies in Boston and Kanye’s deep-dive into antisemitism. Monroe and Price are hosts of GBH’s podcast All Rev'd Up. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III on BPR | Oct. 17, 2022 We closed the show by asking listeners about their thoughts on sacrificing certain things to fight climate change.

Writer George Saunders received a MacArthur fellowship in 2006, and his first novel, “Lincoln in the Bardo,” published in 2017, won the Booker Prize. His latest collection of short stories, “Liberation Day,” is scheduled for release on October 18. Ahead of Saunders’ upcoming appearance at Harvard Bookstore (October 25) GBH’s Arts and Culture reporter James Bennett II interviewed Saunders about the writer’s penchant for surreal settings, his quirky -- yet fully realized -- characters and his knack for sublimating the drama of daily drudgery. We hope you enjoy this bonus podcast!

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by asking listeners for their thoughts on the death penalty, after a jury sentenced the Parkland school shooter to life in prison. Shirley Leung talked about her latest piece on Massachusetts Question 1 aka "the millionaire's tax," the return of the looming eviction wave, and the Boston Pops clarinet player who went on to make $100 milllion for Boston University through the stock market. Callie Crossley shared her thoughts on the Jan. 6 hearings, the new Little Mermaid movie, and the newest product from Kellogg: Eggo-Nog. Jared Bowen discussed an MFA’s directors dealings with a dubious English art dealer, “My Obsession” at the Boston Ballet, Step Afrika!’s “Drumfolk,” and shared his thoughts on the movies “Tár” and “Hocus Pocus 2.” Regie Gibson joined us with his Atlas Soul Trio ahead of a pair of shows with the Boston Celebrity Series to talked about his love of language, and play a few songs.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updated us on the latest political headlines, focusing on today’s Jan. 6 hearing. 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. Next, we opened the phone lines, talking with listeners about the January 6th House Select Committee hearings. Andrea Cabral discussed a Connecticut jury ordering Alex Jones to pay Sandy Hook victims’ families nearly $1 billion in damages. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and secretary of public safety, and former CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Rick Steves joined us to talk about the essential artwork on view throughout Europe. Steves is a television host, guidebook author, activist and owner and founder of Rick Steves’ Europe. His latest special, “Rick Steves Art of Europe,” is available for streaming on PBS Passport. We then switched to live coverage of today’s hearing on the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.