Boston Public Radio

On Monday, Sen. Cory Booker announced he would be dropping out of the 2020 presidential contest.

Retired Pope Benedict XVI voices support for the Catholic Church's practice of a celibate priesthood, while Pope Francis is considering the possibility of allowing older, married men to be ordained as priests in the Amazon region.

On Friday, the mayor called on the state legislature to "be bold" and act on the state's transportation issues.

Despite low revenues, Leung says the move isn't an indicator of troubles for the casino.

Tom Steyer and Michael Bloomberg are rising in the national polls after spending millions on TV ads.

Two actors spoke about the thematic racial tensions in the play.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Ali Noorani talks about the resignation of Ambassador Daniel Foote, Special Envoy for Haiti, as the Biden Administration comes under fire for its treatment of Haitian refugees at the border. Noorani is the President & Chief Executive Officer of the National Immigration Forum. His forthcoming book is Crossing Borders: The Reconciliation of a Nation of Immigrants. Then, we ask listeners for their thoughts on the Biden Administration’s handling of the humanitarian crisis and treatment of Haitian migrants at the border. Callie Crossley continues the conversation about the treatment of Haitian migrants, and weighs in on the mayor’s race and perceptions of Annissa Essaibi George as OFD, or “Originally From Dorchester,” and Michelle Wu as NFH, or “Not From Here,” born in Chicago. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. Andy Ihnatko weighs in on accusations of labor issues at Apple, newest potential security leaks and Gen-Z struggles with older technology. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Sue O' Connell discusses the status of LGBTQ+ rights with the ten year anniversary of the end of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy, which kept LGBTQ+ service members in the closet. 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. John King updates listeners on the results of the Arizona audit of the 2020 presidential election, which confirmed President Joe Biden’s win. He also talks about current political gridlock around the Infrastructure Bill. 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 with guest and staff tributes to outgoing BPR producer Chelsea Merz, who is leaving GBH after over ten years.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start the show by talking with listeners about the current gridlock in Congress, and why divisions persist despite Democrats’ control of the Senate, House and Presidency. Shirley Leung discusses her latest column about the escalating humanitarian crisis at Mass and Cass, and its impact on local businesses and nonprofits in the area. Leung is a business columnist for The Boston Globe and a BPR contributor. Dr. Eric Dickson gives a window into the pandemic in Central Massachusetts, where the largest healthcare system in Central New England has run out of ICU beds amid an influx of COVID-19 cases. Dickson is the President and CEO of UMass Memorial Health, based in Worcester. Paul Reville updates listeners on all things schools, including dropping MCAS scores and why he thinks Massachusetts schools are not as effective as they should be. 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.” Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu talks about her views on racial justice, the transportation crisis and other visions for Boston as she moves forward in the race for city mayor. Wu is a Boston City Councilor At-Large running for mayor of Boston. Jon Gruber argues that the demand for workers amid high unemployment is due to workers’ desire for more humane hours, higher wages and generally better working conditions. Gruber teaches economics at MIT. He was instrumental in creating both the Massachusetts health-care 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 ways they have built community during the pandemic.

Award-winning food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Wednesday to share his thoughts on the movement within the restaurant industry to raise wages and foster better working environments in order to recruit workers. “There's a worker shortage. But more than that, there's a wage shortage,” Kummer said. “If you offer people more money, they will apply for jobs.” That’s no easy feat for restaurant owners, Kummer noted. “Pay people more, give them paid time off, try to give them health insurance, all the stuff that's very expensive,” Kummer said. “Very expensive means you have to have a better business plan. That sounds easy, but it actually has been a huge challenge for restaurant owners before and after the pandemic.” 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.

Today on Boston Public Radio: First, we talk with listeners about “missing white woman syndrome” following the death of Gabby Petito, and how the media fixates on the disappearances of white women while ignoring people of color. Superintendent Brenda Cassellius weighs in on dropping MCAS scores, proposals to expand athletics in public high schools and the status of school funding. Cassellius is the superintendent of Boston Public Schools. Juliette Kayyem discusses the low turnout at the Justice for Jan. 6 rally, assesses the current influence of Donald Trump and critiques the Biden Administration’s response to Haitian migrants at the border. 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. Corby Kummer talks about how we should reframe the worker shortage in restaurants as a wage shortage. 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. Art Caplan weighs in on what should happen to doctors spreading vaccine misinformation, and how healthcare workers are experiencing “compassion fatigue” when treating unvaccinated COVID-19 patients. 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 updates listeners on latest news from the animal kingdom, including sexual harassment by male octopuses and animal rescue efforts. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist and a BPR contributor. Then, we talk with listeners about the economic barriers to staying healthy.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Michelle Singletary talks about the effect of COVID-19 on Social Security Retirement funds, and her recent column on the financial impact of vaccine refusal on unvaccinated individuals. Singletary is a nationally syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, whose award-winning column "The Color of Money" provides insight into the world of personal finance. Then, we take calls from listeners about their thoughts on sharing desks as workplace protocols change throughout the pandemic. Michael Curry discusses latest efforts to combat vaccine hesitancy, and the importance of considering racial and socioeconomic equity when thinking about vaccine mandates. 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 & Policy Committee. Trenni Kusnierek gives an update on all things sports, including the Boston Bruins’ fully vaccinated status and the Red Sox’ lack thereof. She also discusses the Anti-Doping Agency’s announcement that they will reconsider marijuana as a banned substance, following runner Sha’Carri Richardson’s suspension amid the summer Olympics. Kusnierek is an anchor and reporter for NBC Sports Boston, as well as a Boston Public Radio contributor. Attorney General Maura Healey answers questions from listeners in this month’s Ask the AG, including about lack of access to Real ID licenses for immigrants and combatting overdose deaths in Black and Brown communities. Maura Healey is the Massachusetts Attorney General.