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.

In their fight against the alternative milk and nut-milk industries, Big Dairy has been lobbying Congress and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reserve the term “milk” for fluids obtained through “lacteal secretion” — and the FDA looks like it may enforce a stricter definition for “milk” soon. Chief among the National Federation of Milk Producers’ concerns are that consumers are “being misled about the nutritional content of plant-based imitators relative to real dairy products.” Award-winning food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Monday to share his thoughts on the situation. “I think it's ridiculous,” Kummer said. “I think anybody who buys almond milk understands it's not cow’s milk.” In the wide-ranging interview, Kummer also discussed the latest news from the nation’s baby formula shortage, and talked about the lack of nutrition education in medical schools. 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 how they’re finding positivity amid a slew of bad news. Michael Curry discusses federal funding to combat hate crimes in the wake of the Buffalo shooting, and the conflict between politics and public health as COVID cases rise again. Curry is chair of the NAACP Advocacy and Policy Committee, and is president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. Chris Burrell shares insights from his investigative reporting into the inaccessibility of Massachusetts beaches. Burrell is an investigative reporter for GBH News. The first story in his series “Barriers at the Beach” is now out, GBHnews.org. Then, we take calls from listeners about their experiences with Massachusetts beaches. Corby Kummer talks about how the baby formula shortage became so dire, and the problems with the Food and Drug Administration. 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 a new report on decades of sex abuse cover-ups in the Southern Baptist Church. 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 the “All Rev’d Up” podcast. Richard Blanco reads poetry on motherhood, including his poem “Mother Picking Produce,” and “Different Mothers” by Kim Dower. Blanco is the fifth presidential inaugural poet in U.S. history. His latest book, “How to Love a Country,” deals with various socio-political issues that shadow the United States. We end the show by discussing a recent study that showed women receive higher emotional benefits from hugs than men.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Attorney General Maura Healey answers questions from listeners, including on criminal justice reform, housing prices skyrocketing and racism from officials in Everett. Healey is attorney general of Massachusetts and a candidate for governor. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh shares insights from his move to the federal government, and takes calls from listeners on income inequality, the state of inflation, workers rights and more. Walsh is Secretary of Labor, and former mayor of Boston. James Bennett II discusses the latest news in arts and culture, including praise of the new film “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” Olivia Rodrigo’s local appearance at Roadrunner and the rise and fall of comedian Dane Cook. Bennett II is GBH’s arts and culture reporter. Sue O’Connell talks about the baby formula shortage, the faltering future of People Magazine’s print addition and LGBTQ teachers leaving Florida in the wake of the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” Bill. O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and South End News, and contributor to Current, on NBC LX and NECN. Elena Spencer and Kristo Kondakçi previews the upcoming “Symphony for Science,” raising money for the Science Club for Girls. Also, orchestra members Sophia Szokolay, Elena Spencer, Victoria Suha, Alan Toda-Ambaras and Leina Xu perform a few pieces. Spencer is co-founder, president and CEO of the Kendall Square Orchestra. Kondakçi is musical director. We end the show asking listeners about their workplace nemesis.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners their experiences navigating a difficult housing market. Gregory Fried and Phillip Martin discuss Martin’s investigation into Massachusetts’ growing neo-Nazi movement, and why white supremacy is taking a hold. Martin is GBH’s Senior Investigative Reporter. Fried is a Professor of Philosophy at Boston College, where he studies white supremacy. His most recent book is “Towards a Polemical Ethics: Between Heidegger and Plato.” Kara Baskin breaks down her latest stories, including on the baby formula shortage, and the work of Eleanor Forbes, who directs mental health support for Boston Uncornered, a Dorchester nonprofit working with ex-gang members. Baskin is a Food & Parenting writer for the Boston Globe, and a humor writer for McSweeney's. Shirley Leung talks about how Gen-Z is affecting the workplace, the state of inflation and cryptocurrency as an option for retirement plans. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Maine State Senator Chloe Maxmin and Canyon Woodward shares tips on how politicians can connect with rural America, in the wake of Democratic losses in red regions. Maxmin is the youngest person ever elected to Maine’s State Senate, where she serves Maine’s 13th District. Woodward was her campaign manager in both 2018 and 2020. The book they wrote together is “Dirt Road Revival: How to Rebuild Rural Politics and Why Our Future Depends on It.” Jonathan Gruber explains how the potential end of Roe v. Wade would affect the economy. Gruber is the Ford Professor of Economics at MIT. His latest book is "Jump-Starting America How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth and the American Dream." We end the show by asking listeners how they enjoy days off.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by discussing the latest slew of midterm primaries. Art Caplan discusses the baby formula shortage, and a new study that could predict traumatic brain injury outcomes. 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. Juliette Kayyem talks about the Buffalo shooting, and why the “lone wolf” framing does not capture the state of white supremacy in the U.S. Kayyem is former assistant secretary for homeland security under President Barack Obama, and the faculty chair of the homeland-security program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Stacy Thompson makes the case for better bike infrastructure, and talks with listeners about the debate between bike lanes and parking. Thompson is executive director of Livable Streets. Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow discusses her viral speech defending herself against Republican “groomer” attacks, and why her identity as a “straight white Christian married suburban mom” inspired her to take political action. McMorrow is a State Senator representing Michigan’s 13th District. Neal Thompson tells stories from the Kennedy family, tracing the political family’s lineage from Ireland to the U.S. Thompson’s new book is “The First Kennedys: The Humble Roots of an American Dynasty.” We end the show by discussing the return of restaurant buffets.