Boston Public Radio

In the wake of the revelation that President Donald Trump ordered the killing of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, dozens of Iranian-Americans were detained at the US-Canada border, sometimes for hours, by border security agents.

On Wednesday, national security expert Juliette Kayyem questioned President Trump's long term strategy surrounding Iran.

Should the Speaker of the House's strategy be to send the articles to the Senate for debate or wait until the situation with Iran has calmed down?

A Brooklyn restaurant is figuring out the economic and environmental incentives to becoming zero waste.

Boston school officials sharing student information with ICE, Boston Police not making street investigation information public, and more are on the organization's docket for 2020.

George Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue" is no longer copyrighted and is now accessible for public use.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by asking listeners whether they’re optimistic or pessimistic for the year to come. Trenni Casey updated us on the status of Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin, who collapsed mid-game on Monday under cardiac arrest. She also shared her thoughts on broader safety concerns in the world of sports, from lacrosse to hockey. Casey is an anchor and reporter with NBC Sports Boston, and a BPR contributor. Juliette Kayyem weighed in on a recent attack in New York, where a man from Maine attacked police officers in Times Square with a machete. She also dissected Republican Rep. George Santos' various lies, and shared how a potential re-opening of a criminal investigation into his past by Brazilian officials could complicate his time in Congress. 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. Gina McCarthy discussed the future of climate action in the U.S., and concerns over the Earth’s dwindling resources in the midst of climate change. McCarthy served as the first ever White House national climate advisor, serving President Joe Biden, the EPA administrator under President Obama and is co-chair of Governor-elect Maura Healey’s climate change transition policy committee. Nancy Gertner shared her thoughts on the final Jan. 6 committee hearing. Gertner is a retired federal judge, a senior lecturer at Harvard Law School, and a BPR regular. Corby Kummer talked about the rise of drive-throughs, ghost kitchens, and delivery apps over the course of the pandemic, as well as The Cheesecake Factory’s enduring legacy. 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 ended the show by talking with listeners about America’s fascination with The Cheesecake Factory.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by talking with listeners about the many lies and controversies of Republican Rep.-elect George Santos. Michael Curry shared his thoughts on Gov. Charlie Baker’s legacy, and Massachusetts’ new Behavioral Health Help Line. Curry is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. He’s also a member of the National NAACP Board of Directors, where he chairs the board’s Advocacy & Policy Committee. He serves on Governor-elect Maura Healey’s transition team, and Attorney General-elect Andrea Campbell’s transition team. Charlie Sennott discussed the life and death of Pope Benedict, and the passing of legendary journalist Barbara Walters. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and editor-in-chief of the Ground Truth Project. Kara Baskin talked about societal judgment for mothers foregoing breastfeeding, and managing your emotions as a parent. Baskin writes about food and parenting for Boston Globe. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III shared their thoughts on Pope Benedict’s religious doctrine and controversial handling of sexual abuse in the Catholic 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. Imari Paris Jeffries talked about the upcoming unveiling of Boston’s “The Embrace,” a sculpture memorializing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, and the Civil Rights movement. Jeffries is the executive director of Embrace Boston. The MLK “Embrace” monument will be unveiled on Friday, Jan. 13, on the Boston Common. We ended the show by asking listeners about their New Year’s resolutions.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by talking with listeners about the future of Twitter and TikTok, as the social media platforms face increasing scrutiny by U.S. lawmakers. Jeremy Siegel and Sonja Tengblad explained how the development of Logan Airport destroyed a Frederick Law Olmsted park, and shared how East Boston residents face negative health impacts as a result. Siegel is a co-host on GBH’s Morning Edition. Tengblad is a coordinator with the group Mothers Out Front – East Boston. Andrea Cabral discussed changes to mental healthcare for those incarcerated in Mass. correctional facilities. Cabral is the former sheriff of Suffolk County and former secretary of public safety here in the Commonwealth. Andy Ihnatko talked about increasing scrutiny of TikTok by members of Congress. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger. Shirley Leung shared her thoughts on Mayor Michelle Wu’s distant relationship with Boston’s business community, and supportive housing for those experiencing chronic homelessness. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Sy Montgomery joined us for this month’s edition of “The Afternoon Zoo,” sharing the story of 190-year-old Jonathan the Tortoise. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist, author and a BPR contributor. Her latest book is “The Hawk’s Way: Encounters with Fierce Beauty.” We ended the show by talking with listeners about outdoor holiday decorations and rising electric costs.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by asking our listener's if they've continued to follow the news from Ukraine as Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy prepared to meet U.S. President Joe Biden. Arthur Caplan came on to discuss a study which found that residents living in conservative parts of the country were more likely to experience higher levels of illness and death related to COVID-19. He also discussed how conservative policies on immigration is affecting staffing levels at nursing homes. Arthur 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. Juliete Kayyem discussed how the Supreme Court has temporarily upheld a Trump-era policy known as Title 42. The immigration policy allows the federal governemnt to deport undocumented immigrants based on public health grounds. 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. Chris Muther came on to rank airlines based on the customer experience. He also explained why he believes Arizona is the premier Christmas destination. Muther is a travel writer for the Boston Globe. Jim Aloisi and Stacy Thompson discussed Gov.-elect Maura Healey's approach to replacing the general manager of the MBTA, and how food delivery drivers are clogging Boston streets. Aloisi is a former transportation secretary, a member of the Transit Matters Board and contributor to Commonwealth Magazine. Thompson is executive director of Livable Streets Alliance. Rachel Miller Munzer and Rachel Sundet joined to talk about Jewish cuisine on the fourth night of Hanukkah. Munzer is an owner and the CRO of Mamaleh’s, a local delicatessen with three locations in the Boston area: in Cambridge’s Kendall Square, Brookline’s Washington Square and downtown Boston. Sundet is an owner and the pastry chef at Mameleh’s. We ended the show by taking our listener's calls to hear about what holiday traditions they are embracing ahead of this weekend.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We began the show by talking with listeners about yesterday’s Jan. 6 committee hearing, focusing on criminal referrals for former President Donald Trump. Jenny Slate and Ben Shattuck talked about the Golden Globes nomination for “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On,” and the legacy of Henry David Thoreau. Slate is a comedian, an alum of shows like “Parks and Rec,” “Saturday Night Live,” and the filmmaker behind “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.” Shattuck is a writer, the author of “Six Walks in the Footsteps of Henry David Thoreau,” and co-owner of Davoll’s General Store in South Dartmouth. Governor-elect and Attorney General Maura Healey discussed her focus on keeping innovation in Mass. competitive, and prioritizing climate policy in order to meet the state’s climate goals. She also answered listeners’ questions during “Ask the Governor-elect.” Jared Bowen shared his thoughts on Damien Chazelle’s film “Babylon,” and the Front Porch Arts Collective’s play “Chicken & Biscuits.” Bowen is GBH News’ executive arts editor. Tiffani Faison talked about the recent opening of Tenderoni’s in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood. Faison is a James Beard Award-nominated chef, restaurateur, and TV personality. Her new restaurant, Tenderoni’s, opened in Fenway last month. EJ Dionne updated us on the Jan. 6 committee’s criminal referrals for former President Donald Trump. Dionne is a columnist for the Washington Post. He’s also a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution, and his latest book is “100% Democracy: The Case For Universal Voting.” We ended the show by talking with listeners about everything Christmas-related – and…filmmaker James Cameron scientifically confirming that Jack would have died on the life raft even if Rose had simply moved over in “Titanic.”