Boston Public Radio

The “Open Studio” host offered several recommendations for ways listeners can support artists and theater workers.

The federal government will need to provide a safety net to protect people and businesses who are struggling during the spread of COVID-19.

Todd predicts that we have until the end of April before people start getting cabin fever.

The National Immigrant Forum's executive director accused the Trump administration of 'trying to create a narrative that blames the foreigner’ for the coronavirus.

The senator liked the impact of COVID-19 to World War II and the Great Depression.

Ordering food delivery is fine if you follow a protocol to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start the show by opening phone lines, talking with listeners about Rep. Liz Cheney’s (R-WI) ouster from GOP leadership. Jonathan Gruber weighs in on whether the U.S. should implement a value-added tax to help fund President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” agenda. 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." Juliette Kayyem discusses the cyber attack on the Colonial Pipeline, and explained how ransomware attacks on private companies are on the rise. She also talks about the crash of a Chinese rocket in the Indian Ocean, and the potential for more space debris and rocket parts to fall to earth. 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. Art Caplan shares his thoughts on the possibility of school COVID-19 vaccine mandates, and an increase in Americans on diets. Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. Chuck Wexler explains the nationwide decline in police applicants, and discusses changes in police training over the last few decades. Wexler is the executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), and a former member of the Boston Police Department. Brendan Nyhan talks about his research into misinformation, emphasizing the role digital technology has played in accelerating the spread of misinformation. Nyhan is a professor in the Department of Government at Dartmouth College, and the co-founder of Bright Line Watch, which monitors practices of and threats to American democracy. We end the show by asking listeners what they thought about Apple’s new AirTag tracking devices.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with Shirley Leung about a survey from Leading Asian Americans to Unite for Change (LAAUNCH) that found that of 2,766 American adults who were asked to name a well-known Asian American, the most common answer was “I don’t know.” We then open the phone lines to continue the conversation with listeners. Trenni Kusnierek shares her thoughts on International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach’s cancellation of a trip to Japan due to a rise in COVID-19 cases across the country. She also talks about San Francisco Giants outfielder Drew Robinson’s return to baseball after a suicide attempt. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Michael Curry updates us on the current state of vaccine equity in Massachusetts, highlighting the lack of accessible vaccination sites in rural areas of the state and the rise of mobile vaccine clinics. Curry is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and a member of Governor Charlie Baker’s COVID Vaccine Advisory Group. He’s also a Member of the National NAACP Board of Directors, and the Chair of the Board’s Advocacy & Policy Committee. Akiba Solomon discusses the Marshall Project’s Language Project, which looks at how the media reports and writes about people who are incarcerated or were formerly incarcerated. Solomon is a senior editor at the Marshall Project. Michael Moss previews his new book, and explains how some drug addiction experts are shifting their attention to food addiction. Moss is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author. His latest book is “Hooked: Food, Free Will, and How the Food Giants Exploit Our Addictions.” John King updates us on the latest political headlines, from Rep. Liz Cheney’s (R-WI) potential ouster from GOP leadership to Caitlyn Jenner’s campaign for California governorship. King is CNN's Chief National Correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. We wrap up the show by asking listeners what comfort snacks they ate throughout the pandemic.

Today on Boston Public Radio: EJ Dionne discusses this week's GOP vote over the political future of Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., who faces a potential ousting from her position as the third highest-ranking House Republican. He also talks about what President Biden’s infrastructure plan could mean for blue-collar workers on both sides of the political spectrum, and whether Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer ought to resign. Dionne is a columnist for The Washington Post and a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution. His latest book is "Code Red: How Progressives And Moderates Can Unite To Save Our Country.” Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett from Boston Medical Center offers her takes on the latest issues pertaining to the pandemic, from vaccine hesitancy to the debate around freedoms of post-vaccine life. She also responds to listener questions and comments during the hour-long conversation. Next, we turn to listeners to talk about reopening here in New England, and whether you're comfortable easing up on mask usage after getting fully vaccinated. Richard Blanco talks about the relationship between poetry and photography, and shares a series of poems prompted by photographs. Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history, whose new book "How To Love A Country" deals with various socio-political issues that shadow America. This June, he'll be running a virtual workshop at the Writers Harbor Poetry Week, focusing on using photos as prompts for poems. Nancy Schön discusses her new book, "Ducks On Parade!", chronicling all the different ways people have dressed up her famous "Make Way For Ducklings" sculpture in the Boston Public Garden, both festive and political. Schön is the artist behind over a dozen prominent public sculptures and many in private collections, whose latest book is available now. We close out Monday's show by opening phone lines to talk with listeners about whether you'd consider returning to cruise ships, as the industry makes its push to return to the U.S.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners about vaccine hesitancy among parents. Sue O’Connell remembers the life of local trans activist Jahaira DeAlto. She also talks about the U.S. birth rate decline and an increase in “gray divorce.” O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and the South End News, as well as NECN's political commentator and explainer-in-chief. Emily Rooney talks about South Carolina lawmakers voting to allow execution by firing squad as an alternative to the electric chair. She also shares what she has and hasn’t missed during the pandemic as part of her famous list. Rooney is host of Beat the Press, which you can watch Friday nights at 7 p.m. Shirley Leung explains how local Indian American businesspeople are uniting to send PPE and other medical supplies to India. She also talks about continuing violence against Asian Americans across the U.S. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Andy Ihnatko shares his thoughts on Facebook's decision to uphold their ban on former President Donald Trump, and privacy concerns over Apple’s AirTags. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Callie Crossley discusses the death of Mikayla Miller, and her family’s calls for transparency and justice. She also talk about the multiple state legislatures that are passing voting restriction bills. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. We end the show by talking with listeners about the statewide reopening of ball pits.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates us on the increasing number of GOP members calling for the ouster of Rep. Liz Cheney. 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. We then talk with listeners about the state of the GOP as Rep. Liz Cheney loses support in the party. Andrea Cabral shares her thoughts on the trial of former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia, and the latest updates in the Sean Ellis case. She also discusses the controversy surrounding a juror in the Derek Chauvin trial after photos of him wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt and attending the 2020 March on Washington surfaced. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Congressman Richard Neal discusses President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan, focusing on rail service improvements in Massachusetts. He also talks about his plan to make the child tax credit expansion permanent. Congressman Richard Neal is Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. He represents Massachusetts’ 1st Congressional District. Next, we ask listeners how they feel about raising taxes for corporations and individuals who make over $400,000 a year. Sy Montgomery previews her latest book, “The Hummingbirds’ Gift: Wonder, Beauty, and Renewal on Wings,” and talks about veterinarians’ reluctance to handle hummingbirds due to their fragile bodies. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist and a BPR contributor. Her latest book is "The Hummingbirds’ Gift: Wonder, Beauty, and Renewal on Wings." We end the show by talking with listeners about the growing number of people who opt to shower once a week.