Boston Public Radio

The public can now livestream into many court proceedings, but what does this mean for accessibility?

Rep. Jim McGovern, the Chair of the House Rules Committee, has proposed allowing members of the House to vote remotely or by proxy.

The Gold Dust Orphans Founder talked about his new painting habit, and hopes of staging a “Tiger King” themed Christmas play this December.

The former state transportation secretary said officials owe it to the essential workers who live in areas where high auto pollution is linked to COVID-19 deaths.

While some governors are taking steps to open up their states, most Americans aren't ready for this stage, Kayyem says.

Nursing home residents account for more than half of COVID-19 deaths in Massachusetts.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to talk with teachers about the complications that come with a return to school in the fall. Boston NAACP President Tanisha Sullivan previewed the 2020 NAACP virtual convention, and talked about the state of racial inequity in Mass. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discussed news that national security advisor Robert O’Brien tested positive for COVID-19, and recapped Tuesday’s congressional hearing with AG Bill Barr. Medical ethicist Art Caplan talked about challenges with distributing a potential COVID-19 vaccine, and recapped the recent outbreak of coronavirus cases in Major League Baseball. – Saida Grundy, author and assistant professor of sociology and African American studies at Boston University, discussed her latest writing for The Atlantic on the limits of anti-racist literature. – Politico’s Stephanie Murray discussed the latest news on the Senate race between Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Joe Kennedy ahead of the September 1st primary, and talked about the challenges in campaigning for Congress during the pandemic. – We opened lines to talk with listeners about your quarantine TV habits, in light of the newly-released 2020 Emmy nominations.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Dr. Davis Rosman, president of the Mass. Medical Society, discussed an uptick in the rate of positive COVID-19 cases across Mass., and why he thinks Gov. Baker should consider scaling back the state’s reopening. We opened lines to ask listeners: are the rewards of backing off on reopening worth it to keep coronavirus at bay? FRONTLINE filmmaker Michael Kirk talked about episode two of “United States of Conspiracy,” which reports on the career of InfoWars host Alex Jones. NBC Sports Boston reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek discussed an outbreak of coronavirus within the Miami Marlins, and what it could mean for Major League Baseball in 2020. Naturalist Sy Montgomery discussed her latest book, “Condor Comeback,” about the efforts to save the endangered bird from extinction. CNN’s John King talked about congressional negations around further coronavirus relief, and other national headlines. Playwright Ryan Landry gave an update on his newfound painting career, and talked about his experience being interviewed for HBO’s documentary on lawyer and Donald Trump mentor Roy Cohn.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to talk with listeners about the new coronavirus travel restrictions, announced Friday by Gov. Baker. Drs. Meabh O’Hare and Josh Budhu discussed their recent writing on excited delirium, a medical condition they describe as "junk science" with strong ties to police brutality. WGBH News Analyst and GroundTruth Project CEO Charlie Sennott explained the rationale behind his concern for the health of American democracy, and discussed the U.S.’ deteriorating relationship with China. TV expert Bob Thompson reflected on the life of TV host Regis Philbin, and explained why he’s not impressed with the simulated crowds in MLB broadcasts. Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, reflected on the passing of local civil right advocate Mimi Jones, and talked about the recent speech by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, decrying derogatory remarks made against her by a congressional colleague. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discussed a State House bill to establish a “Distressed Restaurant Trust Fund,” and the racial reckoning at Boston-based bakery Tatte. We opened lines to ask listeners: is this summer heart testing your ability to social distance?

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to talk with listeners about the return of baseball, on opening day for the Red Sox. Media maven Sue O’Connell discussed the rebuke from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to derogatory comments made by Rep. Ted Yoho, as well as news that the Hallmark Channel will include LGBT storylines in their 2020 holiday movie lineup. Beat the Press host Emily Rooney talked about the release of President Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen from jail, and read her weekly list of fixations and fulminations. Food writer Corby Kummer talked about the decision by Trader Joe's to discontinue racist branding on their ethnic food packaging, and several ways that supermarkets are repurposing space that used to be used for salad and hot-food bars. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed news that Facebook ignored research about racial biases on their platforms, and controversy around comments made on the livestream feed of the U.S. Army's Esports team. Under the Radar host Callie Crossley discussed artist Dustin Klein's work, shining images onto a confederate monument in Virginia, and a racist comments made to 14 year-old boy in Newburyport as he was handing out free donuts. Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lori McKenna talked about her new album, “The Balladeer,” and promoted a Friday-night livestream concert out of Cambridge's Club Passim.

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke with Boston Public Radio on Friday about Trader Joe's racist labeling on certain products, such as 'Trader Ming's' and 'Trader José's.' "Trader Joe's is finally saying no to racist branding that perpetuates the worst kind of stereotyping," he said. 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.