Boston Public Radio

Even if the nation did open its economy back up sooner rather than later, it won't be business as usual.

The economic journalist was dismissive of President Trump’s proposal to re-open the economy in April.

The president of Pine Street Inn discusses how homeless people are being impacted by the novel coronavirus

It's responsible to discuss public health restrictions' impacts on our economy during the coronavirus pandemic. But how we talk about it matters.

Social distancing from humans doesn't mean you can't be connected to all life.

Governor Charlie Baker has to be more direct about social distancing guidelines, regarding the novel coronavirus, says O'Connell.

Andrea Cabral and Jared Bowen were in for Jim and Margery today, live from the Boston Public Library. We asked listeners about the state of the roadways today: pedestrian deaths are up, it seems like nobody is enforcing the distracted driving law and cars and trucks keep getting bigger. What’s up on the roads? Trenni Casey of NBC Sports Boston previewed the Boston Marathon and discussed a push on Beacon Hill to curb toxic youth sports culture in Massachusetts. Caitlin Saks, senior producer for NOVA, discussed their newest film out today called Weathering the Future. The film is about frontline communities combating climate change with real solutions. Food policy analyst Corby Kummer discussed the effects Michelin ratings can have on a city’s dining scene, and how years of drought forced a shutdown of the salmon fishing season in California. Elaina Repucci of Simple Sips and Karen Clarke of Clarke’s Cakes & Cookies joined to discuss how their food business are growing through the Commonwealth Kitchen incubator. CNN’s John King joined via zoom to analyze the latest politics headlines. Will the four-day work week ever become a reality in America? A pair of Massachusetts lawmakers are pushing for a pilot program. We asked listeners if they are on board. Or, do they love the flow of a five-day week and time away from home?

Last Friday, a federal judge in Texas revoked the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, a key medication used for abortions. We opened the phone lines to hear listeners’ reactions. National security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed the leaked Pentagon documents that show the U.S. spying on Russia, Ukraine, Israel and South Korea. Dr. Cheryl Hamlin is a local OBGYN who regularly flew to Mississippi pre-Dobbs to provide abortion care. She joined us along with reproductive rights activist Susan Yanow, who has worked with Self-Managed Abortion, Safe and Supported (SASS) to educate people about self-managed medication abortions. They discussed the Texas ruling that halts FDA approval of a key abortion pill. Jim Aloisi & Stacy Thompson joined for a transit panel to discuss new general manager Phillip Eng’s first day on the job. Plus, T contractors who are stole more than $8 million and a stellar Lexington zoning proposal that meets the state’s new housing law. The Reverends Irene Monroe & Emmett G. Price III discussed the commercialization of Easter; how some U.S. Jews protested Israel’s right-wing leaders during their Passover Seder this year; and how January 6th tore apart one multiracial church in North Carolina. Boston Globe TV critic Matthew Gilbert discussed Succession, Ted Lasso and the blessing that is cursing on TV. Swearing on TV can be gratifying and an authentic expression of emotion. We asked listeners if they agree. Or, do they think profanity has gone too far?

Today on Boston Public Radio: The world is watching Tennessee after 2 young black democratic lawmakers were expelled for speaking out of turn at a gun safety protest. Tennessee republicans didn't expel the 3rd white democratic lawmaker who was participated in the same protest. We opened the lines for listeners to weigh in. Boston Globe's Shirley Leung will talk about the state’s clawback of unemployment benefits after a 3 year pause, the state gambling commission rejecting bets on the marathon, and more. Nancy Gertner is back via Zoom, we’ll talk with her about Clarence Thomas privately accepting (very) expensive gifts from one GOP donor. She’ll also talk about the Trump charges, and what the Wisconsin Supreme Court vote mean for Democrats in post-Dobbs America. J. Ivy is a Grammy-winning poet and the man who gave John Legend his name. He’s performing at the Boston City Winery, he’ll join via Zoom. Sue O’Connell will discuss Marty Walsh siding with the NFL in a dispute over players wearing pride jerseys, plus the Twitter labelling NPR's account as 'state-affiliated media' (which is untrue), the latest pro-gun legislation out of Florida and more. Sophia Chen, Jane Park & Felice Ling are all a part of a late-night event “Asian Glow” at the Pao Arts Center in Chinatown. It’s all about creating space for Asian creatives & performers, we’ll hear some music from singer/songwriter Jane Park and magic from Felice Ling. We wrapped up the show America’s favorite Easter-time debate: peeps. We asked listeners for their thoughts while a producer attempted to buy some peeps but they were sold out in various stores.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd on Wisconsin Supreme Court election result takeaways and it’s connection to the issue of abortion and other national headlines. We opened the lines to ask listeners about their thoughts on the superintendent who lost his job offer for using the word ‘ladies’ in an e-mail. Did listeners think he committed a microaggression? Andrea Cabral continued analysis of the Wisconsin Supreme Court election and future ramifications, the Alpaca Cop Squad in Missouri and more. Paul Reville on high graduation & low college attendance rates for BPS students, the case of leading candidate for superintendent of the Easthampton Public Schools who lost his job offer for using the word ‘ladies’ in an e-mail and more. Volunteer Jen Robinson from Moms Demand Action and co-lead of the Massachusetts chapter is on to discuss substantive action everyday people we can do to address gun violence in Massachusetts and beyond. Sarah Thompson and Kendall DeBoer from the MFA are on to talk about the MFA’s exhibit of works of (and inspired by) Japanese print-maker Katsushika Hokusai and his Great Wave off Kanagawa. We wrapped up the show by asking listeners how they maintain a healthy lifestyle despite pills that advertise magic weight loss.

We opened the phone lines to check in with listeners one day after Trump’s arraignment and the announcement of his 34 felony charges. Then, medical ethicist Art Caplan weighed in on MIT scientists who are calling for a pause in AI development, and a legal challenge to Obamacare in Texas that imperils the availability of HIV drugs, cancer screenings and other preventative care without copays. National security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed Harvard University’s police response to a hoax emergency call, Finland joining NATO and the arrest of a WSJ journalist in Russia. GBH’s Jared Bowen discussed the Elliot Norton Award nominees and a production of Coriolanus at the Actors’ Shakespeare Project. Comedian Aida Rodriguez joined us before her show at the City Winery Boston on April 12. Food policy analyst Corby Kummer discussed big dairy’s all-out push to bring Gen-Z back from nut-milk nirvana; and the rise in popularity of turbot. A new analysis based on 40 years of the research was published in JAMA, finding that even mild drinking has negative impacts. We asked listeners, will this new research impact their behavior? Or, do the stress relief and social aspects of drinking provide enough cover for them to rationalize any negative health impacts?