Boston Public Radio

In Ezra Klein’s book “Why We’re Polarized,” he explores the reasons and history behind America's political divisions.

The former Mass. Education Secretary said he expects a more severe response from the university once an internal investigation is concluded.

On Wednesday, Dershowitz said that advanced a controversial legal theory in which he claimed a president could invite electoral interference from a foreign power to aid them because it would be in the public interest.

Trump defense attorney Alan Dershowitz argued in the impeachment trial the president is allowed to engage in a quid pro quo.

What would the former Patriots player and convicted murderer have been like without football brain injuries?

Yes, we should be focusing on the flu, but we should also be wary of just how unprepared we are for an outbreak in America.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Rep. Jim McGovern talks about the significance of Wednesday’s impeachment of President Trump, where he played a key role, and reflects on what’s to come for American democracy. Next, we open lines to talk about Wednesday’s impeachment, and whether you’re worried about it backfiring on President-elect Biden. Former Suffolk County sheriff and secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral raises some legal questions about the Senate’s ability to conduct an impartial impeachment trial of President Trump. She also talks about the failings of Capitol police in preventing last week’s riot, and reflects on the death of Lisa Montgomery, the first woman to be federally executed in nearly 70 years. National Immigration Forum CEO Ali Noorani discusses the legacy of President Trump’s immigration policy, and what he’s hoping from President-elect Biden on issues like refugee resettlement and President Trump’s travel ban. He also talks about challenges with getting undocumented immigrants access to COVID-19 vaccines. Former Mass. education secretary Paul Reville talks about the state of hybrid learning in Mass., and presses for the reinstatement of standardized testing in order for officials to have a clearer understanding of the pandemic’s toll on statewide learning. Next, we reopen lines to check in with parents and teachers, to hear how remote learning is impacting your lives and the lives of students in the Commonwealth. GBH executive arts editor Jared Bowen talks about his impressions of Frederick Wiseman’s “City Hall,” an in-depth documentary about the administration of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. He also reviewed the film “Sound of Metal,” and discussed an exhibit of works by photographer Robert Frank at the Addison Gallery.

Despite recent statements made by President Trump in Alamo, Tx., Ali Noorani said on Thursday’s Boston Public Radio that the outgoing president's years-long promise of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border fell far short of expectations. "He claimed that hundreds of mile of wall had been built,” the National Immigration Forum CEO said of Trump’s Tuesday statement, but noted that "if you look at the numbers, most of the work that has been done in terms of border infrastructure has been fortifying existing infrastructure." Still, he said Trump’s efforts to stifle immigration during his presidency will have an impact that extends beyond dreams of a massive border wall. “We also have to be realistic – and be clear – that by shutting down the border to perfectly legal asylum claims, by shutting down the border and forcing tens of thousands of migrants to wait in Mexico while their claims are being processed, he did fundamental change the way the border region is seen on the U.S. side… [and] also on the Mexican side.” "I think the Biden administration is going to have a lot of work to do to rebuild an immigration system, much less a functioning border management system,” he said. Ali Noorani is President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Immigration Forum. His latest book is "There Goes the Neighborhood: How Communities Overcome Prejudice and Meet the Challenge of American Immigration.”

Today on Boston Public Radio: Rep. Jake Auchincloss discusses Wednesday’s impeachment vote in the House of Representatives, taking place mere days after he was sworn into his first congressional term, and why he’s optimistic about America’s future. BPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius talks about the current state of hybrid learning at Boston Public Schools, and reflects on the lessons she and other education officials have learned in the first 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem responds to last week’s insurrection, and the resignation of Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf one week before President-elect Biden takes office. She also speaks on her recent piece for The Atlantic, “How MAGA Extremism Ends.” We opened our lines to talk with listeners about Wednesday’s impeachment proceedings, and whether you believe President Trump ought to be removed from office over his role in last week’s insurrection. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discusses COVID-19 vaccine refusals at U.S. nursing homes, and the complicated logistics of creating a vaccine mandate. He also offers his take on President-elect Biden’s strategy for COVID-19 vaccine rollout, releasing as many first doses to Americans as are available. We return to listeners to discuss Wednesday's impeachment proceedings, and the likelihood of a second presidential impeachment in 13 months. M.I.T. economist Jon Gruber puts Wednesday’s impeach proceedings into the context of U.S. economics, reflecting on the cost-benefit analysis of last week’s riot, and a potential second impeachment of President Trump.

CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem joined Boston Public Radio on Wednesday, reflecting on last week’s riot and her recent piece for the Atlantic, “How MAGA Extremism Ends,” about the path towards peace in the U.S. “It took me a while to feel comfortable writing this,” she said of the essay and its stark condemnation of President Trump. “It’s very hard to admit to yourself, even though you believe it, ‘look, my president is the spiritual and operational leader of a domestic terrorism group.’ We didn’t learn that in fourth grade.” But she concluded that with mounting opposition from members of his own party, major U.S. corporations, and bans across social media, the president’s influence is dramatically waning. “We’re a divided nation, but very few people take to arms,” she noted. “Very few people in his group are willing to blow things up – we should remember that.” She added, “Democracy bridges the divide. You have better politicians, you have ways in which we build our communities, even when we have political differences.” Juliette Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We open lines to talk with listeners about anxiety related to last week’s storming of the Capitol, and the troubling possibility of similar attacks ahead of President-elect Biden’s inauguration. NBC Sports Boston reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek discusses Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s decision not to accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Trump, Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s future with her WNBA team, The Atlanta Dream, and whether the postponed-2020 Summer Olympic Games will need to be held off again this summer. Boston Globe Editor-in-Chief Brian McGrory talks about his reaction to last week’s riot at the Capitol building, and coverage of the chaos from the Boston Globe's Jazmine Ulloa. He also touches on Bill Belichick’s decision not to accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh's acceptance of President-elect Biden’s nomination for labor secretary. Boston City Councilor and mayoral candidate Michelle Wu discusses Mayor Walsh being nominated for labor secretary, and whether it'll impact her own campaign for city mayor. She also responds to Harvard University's Tuesday decision to cut ties with Rep. Elise Stefanik, and talks about her vision for city police reform. Food writer Corby Kummer talks about recent federal and state stimulus packages, and whether they’ll be enough to support restaurants struggling through the pandemic. He also discusses New York Times reporting about animal cruelty at U.S. dairy farms. CNN’s John King responds to President Trump's Tuesday dismissal of his own role in last week's riot in the Capitol building, and discusses the state of Congress’ impeachment of the president. He also touches on news of Congress members testing positive for COVID-19 days after hiding in rooms with maskless colleagues. We close out Tuesday’s show by opening lines, talking with listeners about whether an inauguration ceremony could be held safely in light of last week’s attack on the Capitol building.