Boston Public Radio

Former education secretary says state education officials need to make determinations about learning requirements as school shifts online.

In response to the outbreak, MassInc conducted a tracking poll, sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, to gauge public sentiment about COVID-19 within Massachusetts.

Self-isolation is one of the most effective ways of preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

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

Note: We’re on tape today, replaying some of our favorite conversations. On Today’s Boston Public Radio Actor Ed Asner discussed his new play, called "God Help Us!” Restauranteurs Andrew Li and Irene Li talked about their new cookbook, which they wrote with their sister Margaret Li, called "Double Awesome Chinese Food: Irresistible and Totally Achievable Recipes from our Chinese-American Kitchen." Bren Smith, a former commercial fisherman, discussed his new memoir, “Eat Like a Fish: My Adventures as a Fisherman Turned Restorative Ocean Farmer." Writer Christopher Castellani discussed his latest novel, "Leading Men." US Women’s National Team Soccer player Sam Mewis stopped by the GBH studio days after winning the Women’s World Cup Championship.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Jennifer Nassour and Steve Kerrigan recapped down Tuesday’s primaries, and debated President Trump's odds of winning reelection in November. Nassour is a former Chairwoman of the Mass GOP, founder of Conservative Women For A Better Future, and President of the Pocketbook Project. Kerrigan is the CEO of the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center and former CEO of the DNC. We opened lines to hear your takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discussed ongoing Russian interference ahead of the November election, and a new campaign ad from Joe Biden that counters the president’s claim of being the “law and order” candidate. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed President Trump’s unprompted denial that he had a series of mini-strokes, and weighed in on the ethical problems with the Trump Administration’s efforts to fast-track a coronavirus vaccine. Food writer Corby Kummer talked about claims from some conservatives that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris would like ban hamburgers, and discussed ongoing turmoil for restaurants struggling to stay afloat through the coronavirus pandemic. Writer David Gessner discussed his latest book, “Leave It As It Is: A Journey Through Theodore Roosevelt's American Wilderness,” which dives into the former president's complicated legacy as a conservationist. GBH President and CEO Jon Abbott called in to talk about the station’s rebrand, and explain why you might want to hold on to all your old WGBH merch.

Medical ethicist Art Caplan spoke with Boston Public Radio on Wednesday about herd immunity, regarding COVID-19. “Herd immunity, bad idea - Sweden tried it - didn’t work,” he said. “Sweden basically said, let’s let [COVID-19] run its course, we’re not going to isolate, we’re going to let everybody get infected, and then once that’s done we won’t be able to infect each other, we’ll all have antibodies.” But Sweden had terrible death rates, Caplan noted. “Too many old people died, too many vulnerable people died, so they admitted it was a mistake.” President Donald Trump’s new virus advisor, Dr. Scott Atlas, is pushing for a herd immunity response, Caplan added. “This idea is now circulating back in the White House with this new advisor Dr. Scott Atlas,” he said. “I don’t know why we’re listening to this again, because we have this giant example of a country failing.” Art Caplan is the Drs. William F and Virginia Connolly Mitty Chair, and director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke to Boston Public Radio on Wednesday about the need to wear a mask when going out to eat. “Our diner code of conduct says to wear masks at all times away from the dining table: when entering the restaurant, ordering and interacting with servers, when walking to the restroom or just getting fresh air,” he said. “So that’s the most important thing you can do to protect servers, and also diners.” 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.

CNN analyst and national security expert Juliette Kayyem called in to Boston Public Radio on Wednesday, where she recapped a Wednesday report from ABC News accusing officials from the Department of Homeland Security of withholding information about Russian interference in the upcoming election. The report, she noted, also details how attacks on Joe Biden from President Trump appear to “either amplify, mirror, or follow” messaging from Russian bots across social media. Kayyem also weighed in on a new ad from Joe Biden's campaign, and explained why the president is losing a “culture war” over face masks. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, and faculty chair of the homeland security program at the Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.