Boston Public Radio

The COVID-19 pandemic appears to be disproportionately impacting communities of color, according to limited national data that has been released.

The inaugurial poet read some of his own work, along with pieces by Bill Collins, James Tate, and Naomi Shihab Nye.

Farmers are experiencing an abundance problem that's leading to waste.

Pollution in New Delhi, India is at the lowest levels it's been in years.

The TV expert commended the show’s creators for pulling off the new format.

The former Patriot opened up to the radio host about his relationship with the team, head coach Bill Belichick and President Trump.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to ask our listeners: Should younger generations set our moral compass? John Huet and John Phillips, the creative duo behind The Uncornered Photo Documentary Project, spoke about their project on the Boston Common. Homeland security expert Juliette Kayyem discusses President Donald Trump's changing stance on gun reform. Rupa Shenoy, reporter for The World, joined to discuss her multi-part series on slavery. TV expert Bob Thompson explained the CBS-Viacom merger. Naturalist Sy Montgomery talked about two gay penguins in the Berlin Zoo trying to hatch an egg of their own, and other animal-related headlines. Celtic Sojourn's Brian O'Donovan and harpist Maeve Gilchrist previewed the first annual Rockport Celtic Festival.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to ask our listeners how they feel about the Sen. Elizabeth Warren - Native American controversy. Washington Post Climate Reporter Steven Mufson explained how extreme climate change is hitting the United States, with temperatures especially heating up in New England. The start of the new school year is right around the corner and Andrea Campbell, president of the Boston City Council, discussed her education plan. Author Miles Howard spoke about his latest book, "The Early Voters: Millennials, in Their Own Words, on the Eve of a New America." Author Dan Albert talked about his latest book, "Are We There Yet?: The American Automobile Past, Present, and Driverless." CNN's John King gave the latest updates on the 2020 presidential campaigns. We opened the lines again, this time to ask our listeners about oversharing online, especially when it comes to posting photos of their children.

Today on Boston Public Radio: WGBH's own Adam Reilly and Boston Globe reporter Frank Phillips provided a politics round table. WGBH News Analyst Charlie Sennott discusses President Donald Trump's role in Israel banning two Congresswomen from visiting the country on a political trip. Medical Ethicist Art Caplan discussed a new report that one in every 1,000 black men dies at the hands of police officers in America. We opened the lines to hear listeners' thoughts on an impending recession. Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett G Price III joined us for another edition of All Rev'd Up, where they discussed Jay Z's new deal with the NFL. Industrial designer Garrett Benisch discussed his efforts to design products with sustainability in mind, including a pen made with ink from refined human waste. Inaugural poet Richard Blanco joined us for another edition of Village Voice.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis spoke about his advocacy for the North-South rail link, as well as his views on the 2020 presidential race. Senator and 2020 presidential candidate Michael Bennet joined Jim, and guest host Shirley Leung, to speak about his candidacy. WGBH’s Emily Rooney quizzed our hosts on the Woodstock music festival. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh came on for “Ask the Mayor,” to take our listeners calls and questions. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed algorithms that exist to detect hate speech online. WGBH’s Callie Crossley spoke about the backlash Jay-Z is facing after signing into a partnership with the National Football League. Revolving Museum founder Jerry Beck and high school teach Coraly Rivera talked about the “Poetry Museum” arriving in downtown Boston next week.

Products that are deemed harmful, like cigarettes and alcohol, come with an added excise tax - dubbed the 'sin tax' - when consumers purchase them. Now Germany, and several Nordic countries, think it's time to add a sin tax on meat. The hope is that higher prices will disincentivize consumers from buying meat, specifically beef, that contributes to the worsening of climate change. Americans eat an average of over 200 pounds of meat a year, and cows contribute 41% of livestock greenhouse gas emissions. Food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio to discuss the meat tax and alternatives to beef. "There are many ways to get animal protein if you want animal protein, go ahead. But don't have it from the animals that are contributing so much more to greenhouse gases and methane emissions," he said. "In the U.S. there's lots of reasonably priced alternative protein. Let them eat those alternatives and save the climate." The meat tax wouldn't hurt consumers' wallets too hard, Kummer said, but would be in place to stir people's conscience. "This isn't going to make meat unaffordable, it's just going to say, 'Think again - this is terrible for the environment and for the future.'" By Hannah Uebele