Boston Public Radio

Two transportation experts give their takes on whether it's for the best that transportation services have been reduced.

Mayor Joe Curtatone said he believed the nation is past the point of containing the pandemic.

BPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius explained how families can access food services during the Coronavirus outbreak.

How will the loss of late night comedy and commentary affect viewers at home?

Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian said they have banned visits and limited programming in an effort to keep inmates safe and healthy.

President Donald Trump’s handling of the spread of COVID-19 has earned criticism from some who think the president has not acted swiftly enough to prevent the virus' spread.

Food writer Corby Kummer talked with Boston Public Radio on Monday about the future of food banks, following the release of a survey from Duke World Food Policy Center that looks at long-term shifts among hunger relief organizations. “One of the ideas is to allow people to shop for what they want. Don't just give them what you're able to get,” he said. “Find out from them what they want, what they need, [and] make it easy and dignified for them to be able to get there.” Food banks should also implement hours accessible to food pantry guests, and have pantry staff educated on the needs of their communities, Kummer added. “The wave of the future is, go to the community first and figure out what they need,” he said. “Don’t design something you think will be good for them.” 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.

After a major bipartisan win on infrastructure last week, President Biden nearly stepped in it when he declared he’d only sign it if a separate bill including his other priorities arrived on his desk “in tandem” with the infrastructure bill. Washington Post columnist EJ Dionne told Boston Public Radio on Monday Biden’s statements — and the frantic weekend of backtracking that followed — highlight just how complicated and fragile our current political system is. “In effect, we have what I count as the six party system,” he said. The majority of the Democratic party is comprised of “the Biden part of the party,” but there are progressives and conservatives on either side of that, said Dionne. On the Republican side there are the loyal Trump supporters; economic conservatives, who Dionne referred to as the “McConnell-ites … who want to make Biden’s life miserable”; and a small cadre of moderate conservatives. “In order to get done what he wants to get done, Biden has to play the politics of both of these complicated parties,” said Dionne, who noted that the Presidents’ efforts to assuage all six factions appear to be successful so far. EJ 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.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Juliette Kayyem updates us on the building collapse near Miami, and shares her thoughts on former police officer Derek Chauvin’s upcoming sentencing hearing. 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. Senate President Karen Spilka weighs in on Gov. Charlie Baker’s proposal to make August and September sales tax free. She also talks about the upcoming expiration of mail-in voting laws. Then, we talk with listeners about the increasing demand for a four-day work week. Danielle Allen explains why she chose to run for governor of Massachusetts, citing pandemic disparities as one of her main motivations for running. She also shares her thoughts on the Baker administration’s handling of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. Danielle is running for governor on the Democratic ticket. Allen was most recently the director of Harvard’s Safra Center for Ethics. Federico Erebia talks about his rescue of Pepito the Squirrel, and how his friendship with Pepito translated to children’s books. Erebia is a retired physician, woodworker, artist, author and illustrator. His latest books are “The Amazing True Stories of Pepito the Squirrel,” and “More Amazing Stories of Pepito the Squirrel.” Richard Blanco shares his poems “One Pulse—One Poem” and “Until We Could” to mark Pride Month. Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history. His new book of poems, “How To Love A Country,” deals with various socio-political issues that shadow America. We end the show by asking listeners what they think about the hybrid wedding model.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates us on the latest political headlines, from President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill to Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-FL) questioning of critical race theory in the U.S. military. 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 talk with listeners about Gov. Charlie Baker’s proposal to make August and September sales tax free. Gov. Charlie Baker discusses his proposal to make August and September sales tax free, and the Spotlight investigation into the leadership at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. He also updates us on the status of COVID-19 testing and vaccination rates across the state. Bill McKibben talks about increasing instances of extreme weather across the nation, explaining its relation to climate change. He also discusses the protests against Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline. McKibben is a contributing writer to The New Yorker, a founder of 350.org, and the Schumann Distinguished Scholar in environmental studies at Middlebury College. He also writes The Climate Crisis, The New Yorker’s environmental newsletter. His latest book is “Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?” Paul Reville speaks about the GOP’s focus on critical race theory in schools, and Massachusetts’ new regulations on vocational schools’ admissions policies. Reville is the former Massachusetts secretary of education, and a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he also heads the Education Redesign Lab. His latest book, co-authored with Elaine Weiss, is: "Broader, Bolder, Better: How Schools And Communities Help Students Overcome The Disadvantages Of Poverty.” Shirley Leung shares her thoughts on Gov. Baker’s proposal for a sales tax free August and September, and explains how the #MeToo movement is impacting the craft beer industry. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. We wrap up the show by continuing our discussion with listeners on Gov. Baker’s proposal to make August and September sales tax free.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Art Caplan shares his thoughts on the opening of a safe injection site in Somerville, and whether COVID-19 vaccine incentives work. Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. Next, we talk with listeners about a new survey that found that 40% of Massachusetts’ remote workers won’t return to the office until January. Brian McGrory discusses the Boston Globe’s recent Pulitzer Prize win for their Spotlight investigation into how states fail to track and keep dangerous drivers off of roads. He also talks about Senate Republicans’ blockage of the For the People Act. McGrory is the editor-in-chief of the Boston Globe. Jared Bowen updates us on the local arts organizations that benefited from the latest round of donations from billionaire MacKenzie Scott. He also talks about artist Firelei Báez’s exhibit at the ICA Watershed, and a retrospective of painter Alice Neel at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Bowen is GBH’s executive arts editor and the host of Open Studio. Steve Hoffman explains the Cannabis Control Commission’s equity goals, and how the cannabis delivery licensing process works. He also discusses a lawsuit from Haverhill-based cannabis store Stem over “community impact” fees imposed by the city on cannabis companies. Hoffman is the chairman of the Cannabis Control Commission. Tatishe Nteta discusses his research and polling into why nearly two-thirds of Americans oppose reparations for slavery, stating that the most common reason for opposition was the belief that descendants of enslaved people are not deserving of money. Nteta is an associate professor of political science at UMass Amherst, and the director of UMass Poll. We wrap up the show by asking listeners about ear cleaning and whether they would use an ear spoon.