Boston Public Radio

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.

Black voters in southern states live within the history of discrimination, Crossley said, and will do everything they can to continue racial progress.

Google and Facebook are among the companies canceling annual events over concerns about coronavirus.

Today on Boston Public Radio: – NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd talked about the partisan split over reopening the U.S., and his assessment that America is “the dirty country” in context of the global health crisis. – Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed the current Supreme Court debate over birth control coverage, and her take on the statements made by Suffolk County DA Rachel Rollins about laissez-faire public defenders. – We opened lines to talk with callers about the return of golf courses and gun shops to Massachusetts. – We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Thursday press conference. – Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam called in to lead the BPR book club, where he discussed James Taylor’s new audio biography with Jim, Margery, and listeners who called in.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed issues with President Trump’s goal of reopening the country by Memorial Day, and his reporting on how to ethically determine what kinds of medical care are ‘essentiail’ during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jim and Margery discussed President Trump’s public reversal on his promise of shutting down his coronavirus task force. Boston Globe editor Brian McGrory discussed the stigmas around Coronavirus deaths, and the addition of the “Comfort Zone” section in the Globe. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discussed the pressure from GOP members to reopen the economy, and warnings from weather analysts about this years’ hurricane season. Lincoln Project co-founder and former New Hampshire GOP chair Jennifer Horn discussed the Lincoln Project's new attack ad on President Trump, and why the group of Republicans are working to vote the president out of office in November. We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Wednesday press conference. We opened our lines to talk with listeners about all things coronavirus WGBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen talked about the toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on smaller museums around the world, and a virtual film series from the Coolidge Corner theater on the career of Lee Grant.

Today on Boston Public Radio: – Rep. Joe Kennedy discussed concerns about meat plant workers returning to work, and his call for an investigation into the violent conflict at a Bristol County ICE detention center. – Food writer Corby Kummer discussed unsafe working conditions for meat plant workers, and proposed legislation to expand food stamps and bring additional cash for restaurants owners. – We opened lines to talk with listeners about Monday's anti-lockdown protests at the Mass. State House. – Carol Rose from the Mass. ACLU talked about voting rights in the age of coronavirus, and her group’s campaign to have Gov. Baker grant additional clemency to non-violent offenders in state prisons. – Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang talked about the success of the $1,200 federal stimulus checks, and the goals of his ‘Move Humanity Forward’ PAC. – We reopened lines to talk with listeners about anti-lockdown protests and your thoughts on the federal government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis.

President Donald Trump classified meat plants as essential infrastructure last week, implying that they must remain open. Food writer Corby Kummer spoke with Boston Public Radio *on Tuesday about the ability of meat packing plants to stay open amid coronavirus outbreaks. "[Meat packing plants] are among the most dangerous, inhumane, cruelly run business operations in the United States," Kummer said. "Social distancing is impossible [in meat packing plants] because you're under incredible pressure to keep the line speed up." Meat packing plants consist of horrible working conditions, Kummer noted. "There's no reason to keep these cruel inhumane places open." *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: Dr. Benjamin Linas, infectious disease physician at Boston Medical Center, discussed why Mass. has the third most COVID-19 cases in the U.S., and responded to questions from callers. We opened our lines to talk with callers about Gov. Charlie Baker’s new mandate that all Mass. residents wear face masks. We aired live audio from Gov. Baker’s Monday press conference. WGBH news analyst and GroundTruth Project CEO Charlie Sennott talked about World Press Freedom Day, and his fears about the future of journalism at home and abroad. TV expert Bob Thompson discussed the overrated importance of bookshelves in virtual conferences and interviews, and gave a breakdown of the best and worst TV of the week. Travel guru Rick Steves gave his thoughts on the eventual reemergence of international travel, and explained his newfound appreciation for the domestic aspects of life.