Boston Public Radio

Gov. Charlie Baker defended his administration's efforts to improve diversity in public contracts.

O'Connell wants Buttigieg to succeed as a representative of the gay community, but isn't completely convinced by his candidacy based on his other attributes.

Studies from Denmark show that employers can handle parental leave.

The medical ethicist argued that the practice allows ICE to treat detainees like criminals.

No violent outbreaks occurred during the Richmond rally, yet civic rights were silenced, says Kayyem.

"I just think for fans, it’s jarring, ” the NBC Sports reporter said in an interview Tuesday.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about actions they’re taking in the wake of multiple mass shootings. Bill McKibben shares his thoughts on the lack of action in the U.S. on climate change policies, and worsening water quality at Boston-area beaches. 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.” Chris Muther talks about his experiences with masking on airlines, and shared his off-the-beaten-path weekend spots in Boston. Muther is a travel writer for the Boston Globe. Michael Curry weighs in on President Joe Biden’s proposed $10,000 student debt relief plan, and lack of movement on gun control legislation in Washington. Curry is chair of the NAACP Advocacy and Policy Committee, and is president and CEO of the Mass League of Community Health Centers. Andy Ihnatko explains what internet surveillance might look like in a post-Roe America. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Jessica Bennett discusses the verdict reached in the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial, sharing her thoughts on our cultural obsession with “celebrity misfortune.” Bennett is is a contributing opinion editor at the New York Times, and the author of two bestselling books, Feminist Fight Club: A Survival Manual for a Sexist Workplace, and This Is 18: Girls’ Lives Through Girls’ Eyes. We end the show by talking with listeners about their favorite summer foods.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about student anxiety, following a new GBH report that cites increased levels of bullying in Boston schools. Rep. Ayanna Pressley calls for stricter gun control measures – such as universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons – in the wake of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas. She also discusses broadening student debt relief from President Joe Biden’s proposed plan to forgive $10,000 per borrower in student loans. Juliette Kayyem discusses the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) announcement of an investigation into the police response to the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and diminishing attention towards Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 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. Shirley Leung talks about recent crypto scams targeting Asian Americans, and the out-of-state journey some women in Mass. take to get an abortion. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Jerrod Carmichael joins us ahead of his June 3 show at The Wilbur, sharing his vision behind the HBO special “Rothaniel.” Carmichael is a comedian, actor, and filmmaker. Corby Kummer talks about Taco Bell’s five-city drag brunch tour, and Guy Fieri’s cult icon status. 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. We end the show by asking listeners how their spring cleaning projects have gone.

It’s been nearly 15 years of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” and Guy Fieri’s imprint on America’s cultural landscape has reached new heights. Award-winning food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Wednesday to share his thoughts on the Fieri fandom, following a recent New York Times profile of the celebrity chef. “The [New York Times] decided they were really going to celebrate Guy Fieri, and if he's raised $20 million [for restaurant workers, let's celebrate him, too,” Kummer said. During the wide-ranging interview, Kummer also shared his thoughts on Taco Bell’s touring drag brunch, the discontinuation of mission-driven brand Honest Tea, and more. 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 talking with listeners about gun reform. Trenni Kusnierek updates us on the Celtics’ win over the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, and the U.S. Open’s return to The Country Club in Brookline this June. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Chris Doughty talks about his run for Mass. governor, and shared his thoughts on the state of the Republican party. Doughty is a Republican candidate for governor. Jenifer McKim and Rose Webster-Smith discuss the corporations buying up Springfield single family homes, following McKim’s reporting for GBH News. McKim is a senior investigative reporter for the GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting. Webster-Smith is the program director for the nonprofit Springfield No One Leaves. Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett talks about the latest news regarding monkeypox cases in the U.S., and answers listeners’ questions during this month’s edition of “Ask the Doctor.” Gergen-Barnett is the vice chair of Primary Care Innovation and Transformation and residency director in the Department of Family Medicine at Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical School. We end the show by returning to our conversation on gun reform.

Today on Boston Public Radio we’re on tape, bringing you some of our favorite conversations from recent months: John Della Volpe talks about Gen Z’s relationship to political activism, and the events that pushed them to action. Della Volpe is director of polling at Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics and a former campaign adviser to President Joe Biden. His new book is: “Fight: How Gen Z Is Channeling Their Fear And Passion To Save America.” Howard Mansfield previews his book, "Chasing Eden: A Book of Seekers," about communities throughout American history that sought freedom, happiness and utopia. Mansfield is an author who writes about history, architecture and preservation. Kim Kelly tells stories about the history of labor movements in the United States, and how they connect to renewed union pushes today. Kelly is a journalist, columnist for Teen Vogue and author of “FIGHT LIKE HELL: The Untold History of American Labor.” Rosa Brooks discusses her book, “Tangled Up In Blue: Policing The American City,” and describes her experiences as a reserve police officer in Washington, D.C. Brooks is a former Pentagon official in the Obama administration and a professor of law and policy at Georgetown Law. Valerie Biden Owens shares what life was like growing up in the Biden family, and talks about her experiences as the longtime campaign manager and political adviser to her older brother, President Joe Biden. Biden Owens is chair of the Biden Institute at the University of Delaware, a partner at Owens Patrick Leadership Seminars and a senior advisor to Diversified Search Group. Her book, “Growing Up Biden: A Memoir,” was released on Tuesday. Jelani Cobb explains how he positioned the Kerner Commission Report in today’s political context for his book, “The Essential Kerner Commission Report.” Cobb is a staff writer at The New Yorker and the Ira A. Lipman Professor of Journalism at the Columbia Journalism School. Ken Burns dives into Benjamin Franklin’s life, previewing his latest documentary on Franklin’s early life and work as a scientist and inventor. Burns is an award-winning documentarian. Sy Montgomery talks about her encounters with birds of prey while learning falconry. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist and a BPR contributor. Her latest book is "The Hawk’s Way: Encounters with Fierce Beauty.”