Boston Public Radio

A new investigative report from WGBH has found that the share of public contracts going to minority and black owned businesses is shrinking.

Playing sports is becoming more dangerous to the health of athletes in areas where climate change is hitting hardest.

A new study shows that states with expanded Medicaid programs saw a marked decrease in overdose deaths.

WGBH's executive arts editor discusses why there was only one person of color nominated in all of the Oscar acting categories.

The NECN commentator described the New Jersey Senator as a strong advocate for LBGT rights.

By some estimates the various conflicts in the war on terror have cost the U.S. more than $6 trillion.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners whether Boston should implement indoor vaccine mandates like those in New York City. Trenni Kusnierek discusses what the U.S. diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics means for the winter games and the Patriots’ win last night. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston, as well as a Boston Public Radio contributor. Tito Jackson previews his latest venture, a seven story complex housing marijuana food, drink and more. Jackson is a former city councilor, one-time mayoral candidate, and now marijuana entrepreneur. His business Apex Noire is expected to open in Boston early next year. Dr. Michael Mina updates listeners on the state of COVID-19 testing, including the reliability of at-home testing and why the U.S. should distribute more. Michael Mina is the Chief Science Officer at e-Med, a company that provides a plethora of at-home diagnostic testing. He most recently was an assistant professor of epidemiology at Harvard’s T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Carol Rose weighs in on recent Supreme Court hearings, including last week’s debate on abortion and an upcoming case on free speech involving flag poles at City Hall. She also talks about the city’s public health approach to homelessness at Mass. and Cass. Rose is the Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts. John King goes over the latest political headlines, including the status of West Virginian Democratic Senator Joe Manchin’s support for the Build Back Better Bill, and former President Donald Trump’s role in Republican political endorsements. King is CNN’s chief national correspondent and anchor of “Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays at noon and Sundays at 8 a.m. We end the show by asking listeners their thoughts on the rise of crocs and the rise of other comfortable fashion choices during the work from home era.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett begins the show by taking questions from listeners about booster shots, rapid tests and more. Gergen Barnett teaches in the Department of Family Medicine at Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical School. Then, we ask listeners their thoughts on the state of testing in the U.S., after President Joe Biden announced a plan to reimburse citizens for their purchase of tests. Richard Blanco reads his favorite “aubade” poems -- about lovers departing at dawn --- including “Aubade with Burning City” by Ocean Vuong and “Ghosting Aubade” by Amie Whittemore. Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history. His latest book, "How To Love A Country," deals with various socio-political issues that shadow America. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III discuss the persistence of racial harassment in schools, and religious communities that support abortion rights. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail and co-host of the All Rev’d Up podcast. Price is the founding pastor of Community of Love Christian Fellowship in Allston, the Inaugural Dean of Africana Studies at Berklee College of Music and co-host of the All Rev’d Up podcast. Michael Curry talks about Biden’s efforts to ramp up testing, and his administration’s plan to get through the second pandemic winter. Curry is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and a member of Gov. Charlie Baker’s COVID Vaccine Advisory Group. He’s also a member of the National NAACP Board of Directors and chair of the board’s advocacy and policy committee. We end the show by asking listeners if they have returned to movie theaters, as venues struggle to bring back patrons due to the pandemic.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Superintendent Brenda Cassellius answers questions from listeners about the state of schools, including the teacher shortage and wait lists for Boston’s exam schools. Cassellius is the superintendent of Boston Public Schools. Then, we ask listeners about the Omicron variant and how the pandemic is playing out in schools, including hearing from Massachusetts Teachers Association President Merrie Najimy. Makinde Ogunnaike and Josh Sariñana talk about how they turn physics and neuroscience into art and poetry, and the intersection of physics and religious faith. Ogunnaike is a PhD candidate in physics at MIT, where he researches quantum systems and the new states of matter they can create. He also runs the Harvard-MIT chapter of the National Society of Black Physicists. Sariñana is a fine art photographer, a writer and neuroscience marketing professional. He’s also the director of “The Poetry of Science.” Corby Kummer weighs in on who has intellectual property claims to a recipe, and where restaurants stand with restrictions and masking. Kummer is the 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. Andy Ihnatko discusses the latest developments in electric car technology, and Jack Dorsey’s decision to step away as CEO of Twitter. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Sue O’Connell updates listeners on the latest news in the Cuomo family scandal, after Chris Cuomo was suspended indefinitely from CNN. She also talks about the success of Amy Schneider, the first trans person to make “Jeopardy!” Tournament of Champions. O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and the South End News, as well as NECN's political commentator and explainer-in-chief. We end the show by talking with listeners about how they treated substitute teachers back in the day, amid a teacher shortage and dire need for substitutes.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd weighs in on yesterday’s Supreme Court deliberations over abortion and the status of Build Back Better. Todd is the moderator of “Meet the Press,” host of “Meet the Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Then, we ask listeners their thoughts on the Supreme Court arguments over abortion yesterday. Andrea Cabral continues the conversation about the Supreme Court’s stance on abortion, and the school shooting in Michigan and prosecutors’ hopes to charge the shooter’s parents for their son gaining access to the gun. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and the former Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She is currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Paul Reville talks about how the shortage of teachers is affecting substitute teachers, and how schools can work to combat the teacher shortage. Reville is the former Massachusetts secretary of education and a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he also heads 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.” Ryan Landry previews his theater company’s Christmas show this year, “A Grinchley Christmas.” Landry is a playwright, lyricist, actor and founder of the Gold Dust Orphans theatrical company. His new album is “The Vamps.” Jon Gruber talks about the economics of why people give, following Giving Tuesday this week. Gruber was instrumental in creating both the Massachusetts healthcare reform and the Affordable Care Act, and 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 about their giving habits.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We open the show by asking listeners for their thoughts on Gov. Charlie Baker’s announcement that he would not be seeking reelection. Dr. Cheryl Hamlin talks about her experience working at the last abortion clinic in Mississippi, which is central to the Supreme Court case that could overturn Roe v. Wade. Dr. Hamlin is an obstetrician and gynecologist at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, and she called into us from Jackson, Mississippi, where she’s on rotation at the last operating abortion clinic in the state. Art Caplan shares the latest news surrounding the Omicron COVID-19 variant, and weighs in on Dr. Mehmet Oz’s entrance into the Pennsylvania Senate race. Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. Juliette Kayyem discusses the shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan, and shares how smaller stores across the U.S. are hoarding products due to supply chain issues ahead of holiday shopping. 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. Jim Aloisi and Stacy Thompson talk about Gov. Charlie Baker’s decision to pull Massachusetts out of a multi-state compact aimed at reducing carbon emissions in the transportation sector. They also touch on Mayor Michelle Wu’s climate change and transit agenda. Aloisi is the former Massachusetts transportation secretary, a member of the Transit Matters board, and contributor to Commonwealth Magazine. Thompson is executive director of Livable Streets. Dr. Virginia Sinnott-Stutzman joins us for another edition of “Ask the Vet,” answering listeners’ questions and concerns about their pets. Sinnott-Stutzman is a senior staff veterinarian at Angell Animal Medical Center. We end the show by returning to our conversation with listeners on Gov. Baker’s decision not to seek reelection.