Boston Public Radio

Trump has repeatedly contradicted public statements from health officials as the administration tries to shape their response to the new illness.

16 million people have been placed under quarantine in Northern Italy, the center of the country's financial industry.

As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the world and the United States, news organizations have been delivering constant coverage of the virus’ spread.

The Atlantic writer discussed a simple alternative to dangerous rodenticides.

Gilbert Tsang and Meg Tartasky of Mem Tea Imports joined BPR for our weekly news quiz.

"It's important as we celebrate Pete Buttigieg's success," she said.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners for their thoughts on newly released details about former President Donald Trump’s toilet habits, including that he clogged White House toilets by trying to flush documents. Judge Nancy Gertner discusses Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins’ comments about Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and the death penalty, and the ethics of the Supreme Court. Judge Gertner is a retired U.S. District Judge for the U.S. District Court here in Massachusetts. She’s currently a Senior Lecturer on Law at Harvard University. Callie Crossley talks about a bipartisan bill passed by Congress strengthening protections for victims of sexual misconduct, the Obama Portraits headed to the MFA and research showing homes on streets named after Confederate leaders are valued lower than homes on other streets. She’s currently a Senior Lecturer on Law at Harvard University. Matt Gilbert rounds up the best in television, including “Maid,” “A Teacher,” “Unorthodox,” “Normal People” and “Inventing Anna.” Gilbert is the TV critic for The Boston Globe. Rick Steves updates listeners on his latest travels, including romantic spots in Europe and why he loves Istanbul. Steves is an author, television and radio host and the owner of the Rick Steves’ Europe tour group. You can catch his television show, “Rick Steves’ Europe,” weeknights at 7:30 p.m. on GBH 2 and his radio show, “Travel With Rick Steves,” Sundays at 4 p.m. on GBH. Sue O’Connell weighs in on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ new “Don’t Say Gay” law banning teachers from discussing sexuality and queerness in schools and Dolly Parton paying tuition costs her employees. 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. We end the show by asking listeners their plans for the Super Bowl.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners how they’re coping with the high levels of inflation. Paul Reville weighs in on Governor Charlie Baker’s decision yesterday to end mandatory masking in schools, and Superintendent Brenda Cassellius announcing her resignation. 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 Lynne Sacks, is “Collaborative Action for Equity and Opportunity: A Practical Guide for School and Community Leaders.” Andrea Cabral talks about new technology in detecting stoned drivers, and a new report from the state detailing the racial breakdown of traffic stops in Mass. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Andy Ihnatko discusses the Justice Department charging two people with laundering $4.5 billion in crypto currency, and the death of 3G networks and the potential problem that might bring for cars. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Shirley Leung updates listeners on the state’s attempts to get money back after overpaying unemployment money to residents, and employers offering paid leave after pregnancy loss. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Jon Gruber breaks down the economics of the rose industry in advance of Valentine’s Day. Gruber 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.” We end the show by asking listeners about when and how they cry, and if they find it cathartic.

Concern is growing over what the Boston Globe is calling a potential “spudpocalypse” threatening Massachusetts’ potato supply. Award-winning food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Wednesday to explain whether Massachusetts residents might see a drop in potato stock at their local grocery stores. The spuds most at-risk are grown on Prince Edward Island (PEI), where farmers ship between 250 million to 300 million pounds of potatoes to the U.S. annually. According to the Globe, “Massachusetts residents consume an average of 75 million pounds of PEI potatoes each year, second only to Puerto Rico.” Lately, potato crops on Prince Edward Island have been decimated by potato wart, a fungus that poses no threat to humans but produces spores and appendages on potatoes. “It's been very bad for the [Prince Edward Island] potato industry; not all that bad for the Massachusetts potato supply,” Kummer said. “We have to be worried about Prince Edward Island farmers and their access to markets. They're hoping that Puerto Rico is going to reopen the market soon.” While potatoes from the island popularly known as the home of Anne of Green Gables may be harder to find in Massachusetts, local farmers should be keeping grocery store shelves full. “Western Mass has potato farms,” Kummer said. “So it's an opening for local potato growers.” Kummer is the executive director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at The Atlantic and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We open the show by asking listeners for their thoughts on the “Freedom Convoy” of truckers and conspiracy theorists protesting COVID-19 precautions and vaccine mandates. Art Caplan shares his thoughts on a recent neo-Nazi demonstration outside Brigham and Women’s Hospital that targeted two physicians for their efforts to make healthcare more equitable, as reported on by GBH senior investigative reporter Phillip Martin. Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor and founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine in New York City. Juliette Kayyem discusses the “Freedom Convoy” protests against vaccine mandates, and Senator Mitch McConnell’s pushback on the Republican National Committee labeling the Jan. 6 Capitol riots as “legitimate political discourse.” Kayyem is former assistant secretary for homeland security under President Barack Obama, and the faculty chair of the homeland-security program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Corby Kummer talks about the potato shortage that could hit New England, and the large restaurant chains that received federal pandemic assistance from the Small Business Administration. Kummer is the executive director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at The Atlantic and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Michael Curry shares his thoughts on Gov. Charlie Baker’s decision to lift a statewide school mask mandate on Feb. 28. Curry is president and CEO of the Mass. League of Community Health Centers. He’s also a Member of the National NAACP Board of Directors, where he serves as chair of the Board’s Advocacy & Policy Committee. Abbie Richards talks about her work combating misinformation on TikTok, and how conspiracy theories run rampant on platforms with little-to-no content moderation. Richards is currently working on her masters in climate studies, and is a co-founder of EcoTok, an environmental TikTok collective that specializes in social media-based climate communication. To wrap up the show, we ask listeners whether they’ve been rapid-testing before going on dates or meeting up with friends.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start the show by opening phone lines, checking in with listeners about how their kids have been faring at school. Trenni Kusnierek talks about a decline in viewership during the Beijing Olympics, and tennis player Peng Shuai’s meeting with International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston, and a BPR contributor. Imran Ahmed discusses the spread of misinformation on social media, and explains how social media platforms should combat misinformation online. Ahmed is CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, an international not-for-profit organization working to stop the cycle of online hate and misinformation. Robert Lewis Jr. shares the latest on his community youth outreach work through the BASE. He also talks about his new role as the head of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston. Lewis Jr. is founder of The BASE in Roxbury, which he’s led for the past nine years. In March, he will become president of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston. Elle Simone Scott talks about some of her favorite recipes, and her journey in the traditionally male and white food world. Scott is Executive Editor and Inclusion Leader at America's Test Kitchen. She is also founder of the mentoring organization SheChef. Her forthcoming book, “Boards: Stylish Spreads for Casual Gatherings,” is out in April. John King updates us on the latest political headlines, focusing on the resignation of President Joe Biden’s top science adviser Eric Lander for workplace harassment. King is CNN’s chief national correspondent and host of Inside Politics Monday through Friday at noon. We then ask listeners for their bad boss stories.