Boston Public Radio

On Dec. 18, a federal appeals court struck down an integral part of the Affordable Care Act that imposes a penalty on an individual if they are not covered by health insurance.

The episode garnered just under 10 million viewers, but Thompson thinks it was just a competent showing.

Healey is suing eight out-of-state online retailers for allegedly selling flavored tobacco products in the wake of new Massachusetts law.

The mayor took aim at the home rule process, which requires municipalities to receive state approval before taking certain actions like raising taxes.

Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung warns against a speedy Hynes Convention Center sale.

Rooney spoke about her impression of the presidential candidate's debate performance.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd talked about the political impacts of climate change-induced severe weather, Ron DeSantis’ upcoming governor race, the latest in the Brett Favre welfare scandal. Todd is the moderator of “Meet The Press” on NBC, host of “Meet The Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Then, we asked listeners if they’ve become more judgmental post-COVID. Andrea Cabral discussed the latest in the Brett Favre welfare scandal, the potential of Ginny Thomas’s role in the Jan. 6th hearing, and new polls showing millions of Americans say they support violence to get Trump back in power. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and secretary of public safety, and former CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. J.B. Smoove talked about how he landed his Curb Your Enthusiasm role, and gave us a taste of his “Physical Therapy” tour. J.B. Smoove plays Leon Black on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. He has a show at the Wilbur Friday night. Kevin Green & Frank Lowenstein from the global climate nonprofit Rare, which recently set up their first state-wide initiative in Boston, told us about how tiny actions we take can make huge impacts on the environment. Green leads the Center for Behavior & the Environment at Rare, Lowenstein is the Senior Director of Rare. Jon Gruber gave us his insights on the “nondelegation doctrine,” a philosophy which SCOTUS justices used in last spring's case West Virginia vs. the EPA, and its wide reaching implications for things like healthcare. Gruber was instrumental in creating both the Massachusetts health-care reform and the Affordable Care Act. His latest book is “Jump-Starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth and the American Dream.” We ended the show by asking listeners if they are taking small actions to help the environment.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the show by hearing from listeners about Hurricane Ian baring down on Florida's gulf coast, and how climate change is making storms more extreme. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed medical transparency for people seeking political office, Biogen's results from a clinical trial of a drug they're developing that aims to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. 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. Congressman Jim McGovern called into the show from the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health to discuss the administration's efforts to end hunger in the United States. Tom Nichols discussed Russia's conscription and the latest developments in the war in Ukraine. Nichols is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where he writes the Peacefield newsletter. Matt Gertz discussed how right-wing media has been covering the January 6 committee hearings, and what to expect around the upcoming midterm elections. Gertz is a senior fellow at Media Matters. Shirley Leung discussed ballot questions before voters this November, including the Fair Share Amendment and one involving dental insurers. Leung is a business columnist at the Boston Globe. We closed the show by talking with listeners about lingering stigma around imbibing in marijuana around their children.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We started the show by hearing our listener's reactions to the news that NASA had successfully launched a satellite into an asteroid to test its ability to redirect the paths of objects in space. Trenni Casey discussed how Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka’s year-long suspension for having an inappropriate relationship with a female staff member impacted the official launch of the C’s season. Casey also discussed how replacement coach Joe Mazzulla’s relative inexperience could affect the team's prospects. Trenni is an anchor and reporter with NBC Sports Boston, and a Boston Public Radio contributor. Nancy Gertner discussed the upcoming Jan. 6 insurrection hearing scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Sept. 27, which was subsequently postponed due to the impending Hurricane Ian. Gertner also examined the six legal cases former President Donald Trump is facing and whether or not he could actually be criminally prosecuted. Nancy Gertner is a retired federal judge in Massachusetts and a senior lecturer at Harvard Law School. Jared Bowen recounted his visit to the grand opening of the MIT Museum and whether art made with artificial intelligence is a toy or a weapon — or even art at all. He also covered the latest production of “La Bohéme,” which is playing at Boston Lyrical Opera. Jared Bowen is GBH’s Executive Arts Editor and host of the TV series Open Studio, airing Friday nights on GBH 2. Corby Kummer discussed New York City’s delayed attempts to ban foie gras; Katz and other “old-school delis” having their moment in the spotlight; and California’s farm labor bill. Corby 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. John King discussed how polling is still fluid ahead of the upcoming midterms, creating a hazy picture for who will control Congress come January. John King is CNN’s chief National Correspondent and anchor of Inside Politics.

The last time a Presidential administration held a summit on hunger, Richard Nixon was president – giving way to the federal food stamp program we know today. On Wednesday, President Biden will hold his own hunger summit in DC, aiming to bring food and nutrition into the practice of medicine and healthcare. “It took years of work to get the White House to consider having its own conference, which they’re calling Hunger, Health and Nutrition,” said food policy writer Corby Kummer, whose organization the Aspen Institute is involved in the conference and who will be attending. Kummer said one concrete action that will come out of the conference will be recommendations to expand paid, medically tailored meals, as well as access to SNAP. “And then the real work will begin of actually enacting them,” said Kummer. Corby 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 started the show by hearing from listeners about what their ideal work week would look like, as more and more people seek alternatives to the traditional 9 to 5. Michael Curry discussed the latest COVID-19 numbers in Massachusetts, the Mass Black Expo aiming to foster community for Black entrepreneurs, and the latest on diversity in state contracts. Michael Curry is 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. Poet Richard Blanco read some of his own poetry tackling identity to help us celebrate Hispanic heritage month. Blanco 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 America. Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett G Price III discussed the moral issues of the day, like how 75% of Republican evangelicals saying they want the US to be declared a Christian nation, and psychotherapists incorporating faith into their practices. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker discussed the state of the MBTA, the state's response to dozens of Venezuelan migrants sent here by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and took listener calls.