Boston Public Radio

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.

The “Under the Radar” host said difficult conversations are the best way to confront the realities of racism.

"We need uniformity," Attorney General Maura Healey said, urging the state to ease rules around testing, lab licensing and unemployment insurance.

Two local bartenders brought the spirit of St. Patrick's Day to the studio.

Media maven and BPR contributor Sue O’Connell spoke on a federal judge’s Tuesday ruling in a case calling Harvard’s admission practices into question. Homeland security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed the latest national headlines surrounding President Trump and Ukraine, as well as hurricane recovery effort in the Bahamas. Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum forum, discussed a surge of immigration cases being processed as criminal cases under the Trump administration. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed the future of the Affordable Care Act, along with vape manufacturer JUUL’s new CEO. WGBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen talked about the films “Joker” and “Ad Astra,” as well as “Passengers,” a contemporary circus production currently playing at Boston’s Cutler Majestic Theater. Progressive writer Miles Howard and Politico’s Stephanie Murray discussed challenges to Sen. Ed Markey’s campaign ahead of his upcoming Senate race against Rep. Joe Kennedy.

Meat company West Texas Provisions, Inc sold over $1 million of degraded meat to 32 prison institutions in 18 states. The meat was marketed by West Texas Provisions as USDA approved, when in fact no such inspection was held. The meat packing plant also violated ground meat standards by adding whole cow hearts into their products. Food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Tuesday to explain why this violates health and ethics standards. "They paid no attention to food safety for meat that went into prisons and [West Texas Provisions] would send people in the night, when the inspectors weren't there, to cut up the heart valves and put them in," he said. "This kind of contempt treats people as second class citizens, as if they aren't really people." This kind of health abuse only adds to the unjust treatment that prisoners face, Kummer said. "It is part of the whole movement in this country to treat prisoners as animals, as refuse and as members of society who don't deserve any kind of humane treatment," he said. "This is defeating the whole purpose of the correctional system, which is trying to get people back into society, because how do they expect these people to want to be productive members of society when they've been abused in prison?" 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.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to ask our listeners about the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump. NBC Sports Boston's Trenni Kusnierek spoke about college athletics in California. ACLU of Massachusetts' Matt Segal discussed their lawsuit against the city of Boston to release more information about "Operation Clean Sweep." Food writer Corby Kummer talked about eating insects and McDonald's roll out Beyond Meat burgers in Canada. Martin Smith discussed his latest FRONTLINE documentary, "The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia." CNN's John King spoke about the latest updates regarding impeachment. Playwright Ryan Landry discussed if Judy Garland is still a gay icon.

Today on Boston Public Radio: WGBH News Political Reporter Adam Reilly and Experience Magazine Editor Joanna Weiss discussed the latest headlines in national politics, from impeachment to the 2020 election. Charlie Sennott, WGBH News Analyst, discussed international news, including the one year anniversary of journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder by Arab officials, and a potential no-confidence vote of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnston. TV expert Bob Thompson discussed the the latest in television, including Netflix’s "The Politician" and the final season of Amazon’s "Transparent". Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, discussed a recent scandal for Harvard’s President Lawrence Bacow, who likened an update of donor rules to the ratifying of the 13th Amendment. WGBH News Reporter Craig LeMoult discussed his recent series on previously misunderstood health risks associated with life near high-transportation areas, like highways and airports.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Raj Chetty, Harvard Economist, discussed his research into housing vouchers and their value in bringing people out of the poverty cycle. Emily Rooney, host of WGBH News' Beat the Press, joined to give her weekly list of fixations and fulminations. Richard Trethewey and Jeff Sweenor from NECN’s This Old House discussed their show’s upcoming season premier, and took restoration questions from listeners. Shirly Leung, Boston Globe Business Columnist, discussed the impact of Gov. Charlie Baker’s vaping ban on Massachusetts vape shops. Under The Radar host Callie Crossley discussed the new Downton Abbey movie, as well as a recent scandal involving $1 million dollars to charity and racist tweets. Jason McCool and Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone stopped by for the weekly news quiz