Boston Public Radio

Inmates in Parchman, MS have used contraband cell phones to expose poor living conditions.

On Dec. 29, 2019 seventeen term congressman Rep. John Lewis announced that he is receiving treatment for stage four pancreatic cancer

A new report estimates more than a billion animals are 'dead or dying' from the fires.

In three weeks, voters in New Hampshire will cast their votes in the first presidential primary of the 2020 election.

On Sunday, the New York Times decided to select their endorsement for the candidate to beat former reality television star and President Donald Trump via their television show “The Weekly”.

The proposed legislation hopes to modernize state police hiring, promotions, accountability and discipline within the department.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners for their thoughts on loosening pandemic restrictions around the country. Art Caplan shares his thoughts on Florida breaking with CDC recommendations that healthy kids should still get vaccinated. 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. Audrey Schulman and Zeyneb Magavi talk about the fight for cleaner energy in New England, and the challenges ahead in breaking away from fossil fuels. Schulman and Magavi are co-directors of the Cambridge nonprofit Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET). Ali Noorani explains how the Ukrainian refugee crisis is an opportunity for the U.S. to affirm the country’s commitment to human rights, and talks about his forthcoming book, “Crossing Borders: The Reconciliation of a Nation of Immigrants.” Noorani is President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Immigration Forum. Yuriy Matsarsky discusses his experiences on the ground in Ukraine after leaving his job in journalism to volunteer for the country’s defense forces. Matsarsky is a longtime Ukrainian journalist who, two weeks ago, put down his pen and took up arms to defend his country against the Russian invasion. Christopher Muther talks about exploring Black history in Richmond, Va., and searching for landmarks of Gilded Age New York. Muther is a travel writer for the Boston Globe. To wrap up the show, we talk with listeners about cheating at Wordle.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about rising gas prices before carrying President Joe Biden's speech announcing a ban on the import of Russian oil. Trenni Kusnierek discusses Russia’s detainment of WNBA player Brittney Griner, and the 50th Iditarod race, which started this past weekend. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston. She's also a BPR contributor. Deborah Douglas and Amber Payne talk about the upcoming relaunch of The Emancipator, and their partnership with BU’s Center for Anti-Racist Research and the Boston Globe. Douglas and Payne are co-editors in chief of The Emancipator, in partnership with the Boston Globe opinions team and the Boston University Center for Anti-Racist Research. Ty Burr shares his thoughts on the latest movies, from “The Batman” to “Power of the Dog.” Burr’s reviews and thoughts on all things movies can be found at “Ty Burr’s Watch List” on Substack. John King updates us on the latest political headlines, focusing on President Joe Biden’s announcement that imports of Russian oil would be banned. King is CNN's Chief National Correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. We end the show by asking listeners how they find joy after doomscrolling.

Social media users and investors are calling on various U.S. fast food companies with operations in Russia to speak on the country’s invasion of Ukraine, with many companies remaining silent and continuing business as usual. A number of U.S.-based fast food chains in Russia — such as Starbucks, Papa John’s, and Yum Brands-owned KFC and Pizza Hut — are owned and operated by franchisees, making it difficult for companies to uniformly close stores due to political issues. “[Companies] don't have as much control over their franchisees,” food writer Corby Kummer told Boston Public Radio on Monday. “It's mostly franchise owners who decide whether or not to close the restaurant because of political turmoil, not the brands themselves.” According to the New York Times, however, McDonald’s owns the majority of its 847 restaurants in Russia, with the country accounting “for 9 percent of the company’s total revenues and 3 percent of its operating income” — leaving the company in a prime position to make a statement. PepsiCo, which counts itself as the largest food and beverage manufacturer in Russia, is in a similar position. “[McDonald’s and PepsiCo] can make a difference; they're not doing it yet. They're not stopping bottling and sales there,” Kummer said. “Starbucks and others that don't own their own franchises, they're doing something clever, which is saying, ‘Okay, so we're not telling our franchise operators to shut down. But we're going to donate a percentage of all the income that they make to Ukraine.’” “Starbucks was saying they condemn the unprovoked, unjust, and horrific attacks. McDonald's can act. They're the ones that I'd like to see take a stand and say, ‘You guys shut down for a while.’” 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 acts of heroism out of Ukraine. Charlie Sennott discusses the state of misinformation and propaganda surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sennott is a news analyst for GBH, where he also heads up the Groundtruth Project. Michael Curry shares his thoughts on President Joe Biden’s first year in office. He also discusses the long-term COVID issues many immunocompromised people still face. Curry is president and CEO of the Mass. League of Community Health Centers. He’s also a Member of the National NAACP Board of Directors, where he serves as chair of the Board’s Advocacy & Policy Committee. Corby Kummer talks about Mayor Michelle Wu’s efforts to confront a food desert in Mattapan, and the various local restaurateurs who are aiding Ukraine. 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. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III weigh in on how faith communities are responding to Ukraine. They also talk about the Supreme Court declining to review the lower court decision that freed Bill Cosby. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist and the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail. Emmett G. Price III is founding pastor of Community of Love Christian Fellowship in Allston, the Inaugural Dean of Africana Studies at Berklee College of Music. Together, they host GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast. Vsevolod Petriv and Tetiana Litus share how local Ukrainians are responding to the Russian invasion, and their thoughts on whether the U.S. is doing enough to help the people of Ukraine. Petriv is president of the Boston branch of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. Litus is a 24-year-old Ukrainian who just moved to the U.S. a few months ago. We end the show by asking listeners if they want more permanent outdoor dining in their neighborhoods.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening phone lines, talking with listeners about surging gas prices associated with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Shirley Leung talks about the closure of Amazon’s brick and mortar bookstores, and the Green Line extension to Somerville. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. David Leonard shares how people increasingly turned to library services throughout the pandemic. Leonard is the president of the Boston Public Library. Bill McKibben discusses the UN’s recent climate report, and concerns over Russian attacks on nuclear power plants in Ukraine. 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.” Judge Nancy Gertner weighs in on the Supreme Court’s reinstatement of the death penalty for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Judge Gertner is a retired U.S. District Judge for the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts. She’s currently a senior lecturer on law at Harvard University. Andy Ihnatko updates us on the latest tech headlines, explaining how the tech industry has responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Callie Crossley talks about the life and legacy of Autherine Lucy Foster, the first Black woman to attend the University of Alabama. She also discusses the racism facing African students fleeing Ukraine. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. Sue O’Connell shares her thoughts on Gov. Greg Abbott’s order targeting the parents of transgender kids, and reflects on the queerness of Gen Z. O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and South End News, and contributor to Current, on NBC L-X and NECN. We wrap up the show by talking with listeners about the 50th anniversary of The Godfather.