Boston Public Radio

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The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists called for more empathy towards the nation’s poorest.

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The "Beat the Press” host stuck to her guns when pressed by Jim and Margery.

To borrow the famous sentiment from songwriter Joni Mitchell, “you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.” This week, ice cream manufacturer Klondike announced the discontinuation of their popular taco-shaped ice cream snack the Choco Taco. Choco Tacos have been around since the 80’s, and news of the snack’s demise was widely lamented across the internet. Speaking Tuesday on Boston Public Radio, food writer Corby Kummer called the Klondike brand “wonderful,” “nostalgic,” and “iconic,” noting the Choco Taco’s unique appeal in the landscape of novelty ice cream. “[Klondike] had a very clever idea, which is to package in a taco shape, vanilla ice cream with chocolate covered so-called taco shell – and then, nuts that go all around the semi-circle of the taco… that means you can mix the chocolate and nuts and the wafer more in every bite, ‘cause it’s more distributed when you just think of the shape,” Kummer said. For those upset about the news, he added that Klondike already offers several similar alternatives to the taco-shaped treat. “Go out and buy a Drumstick,” Kummer said. “It’s the same ingredients in a different shape and you’ll still be a happy ice cream fan.” For fans discouraged by Klondike’s decision, he added that there are several other ice cream brands offering similar products. "You can boycott Klondike and go for rival products that have the same ingredients in them,” he joked. Kummer is 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 begin the show by asking listeners if they support the proposed return of happy hour in Mass. Michael Curry talks about recent white supremacist activity in Boston and the racial discrepancies in Mass. healthcare surrounding abortion and COVID-19. Curry is chair of the NAACP Advocacy and Policy Committee, and is president and CEO of the Mass. League of Community Health Centers. Mona Haydar and Sebastian Robins reflect on their experience road tripping across Route 66, including the communities they met, the history they encountered, and how their upbringings and backgrounds as Muslim Americans influence their perspectives and storytelling. Haydar is a rapper, poet, activist and chaplain. Robins is an educator and chaplain. Together, they host the PBS series "The Great Muslim American Road Trip." Jimmy Liang discusses his journey from being brought up by a food-loving family to owning the largest Asian food group in Mass., what it takes to design a restaurant today, and how the food culture in Boston and its surrounding cities is changing. Liang is the founder, CEO, and chef of the JP Fuji group. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett Price talks about a recent incident involving a Sesame Place character’s racist behavior toward children and the city’s response to recent white supremacist activity in Boston. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist and the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail. Price is founding pastor of Community of Love Christian Fellowship in Allston and the Inaugural Dean of Africana Studies at Berklee College of Music. Together, they host GBH's All Rev’d Up podcast. Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett discusses the newest variant of COVID-19, the monkeypox vaccine, and answered listeners’ questions during this month’s edition of “Ask the Doctor.” Gergen-Barnett is the vice chair of Primary Care Innovation and Transformation in the Department of Family Medicine at Boston Medical Center and a Clinical Associate Professor at Boston University Medical School.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening phone lines, talking with listeners about last night’s Jan. 6 hearing. Devra First and Christopher Muther join us to share their list of hidden gems on Cape Cod. First writes about food and reviews restaurants for the Boston Globe. Muther is a travel writer for the Boston Globe. Shirley Leung discusses efforts to protect abortion rights in Mass., and the state of the MBTA in the wake of the Orange line train fire over the Mystic River on Thursday. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Bill McKibben talks about his recent book, “The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon: A Graying American Looks Back at His Suburban Boyhood and Wonders What the Hell Happened." He also shares his thoughts on heat waves across the U.S. and Europe. McKibben is an author, educator and environmentalist. He’s the founder of 350.org and ThirdAct.org. He has a new newsletter on Substack titled “The Crucial Years.” He’s also got a new, serialized book titled “The Other Cheek: An Epic Nonviolent Yarn.” Andy Ihnatko updates us on the latest tech headlines, focusing on the publishing industry’s lawsuit against the Internet Archive. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. David Ibbett and James Monroe talks about translating the science of black holes into song through the Black Hole Symphony. Cellist Johnny Mok, soprano Agnes Coakley-Cox, and flutist and piccolo player Jessica Smith perform. Ibbett is the founder of the Multiverse Concert Series, and composer of the Black Hole Symphony. Monroe is the Senior Producer Adult Programs & Theater Experiences at the Museum of Science. We then ask listeners to share their favorite places to visit on Cape Cod.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners about the case for former President Donald Trump’s prosecution following the Jan. 6 hearings. Then, we re-air a segment with Lee Feinberg and Terri Randall about the NOVA documentary “Ultimate Space Telescope,” and the James Webb Space Telescope. Andrea Cabral shares her thoughts on the upcoming Jan. 6 hearing, as well as Steve Bannon's contempt of Congress trial and the Biden administration’s response to the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and secretary of public safety, and former CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Gov. Charlie Baker joins us to talk about the state of the MBTA, the future of abortion access, and his plan to tackle the housing crisis. He also answered listeners’ questions and calls during “Ask the Governor.” Baker is Governor of Massachusetts. Andris Nelsons discusses the way COVID-19 has impacted musicians, the reemergence of vocal performances at Tanglewood, and his upcoming summer concerts with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Nelsons is Music Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners how they’re coping with the heat in Boston. Juliette Kayyem discusses record-breaking heat across Europe, and the Secret Service reportedly turning over just one text to the Jan. 6 panel. 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. Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo weighs in on the Boston Police Department’s response to the Patriot Front march through downtown Boston in early July. He also shares his thoughts on Boston’s new police commissioner, Michael Cox. Paul Reville talks about Education Commissioner Jeff Riley’s proposal to raise the passing score needed for 10th grade MCAS tests. Reville is the former secretary of education and a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he also runs 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.” Art Caplan shares his thoughts on the doctor who performed an abortion for a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio taking the first legal step against Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita in a potential defamation case. 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. Sy Montgomery talks about black bears breaking into New Hampshire homes, and explains how to keep pets safe and cool during heat waves. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist and BPR contributor. Her latest book is "The Hawk’s Way: Encounters with Fierce Beauty.” We end the show by talking with listeners about their summer office attire.