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: Dr. Tina Opie discusses the rise of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) trainings in the corporate world, and explained how companies can foster more inclusive work environments. She also shares her thoughts on whether it’s time to retire dress codes mandating strict business attire. Dr. Opie is an Associate Professor in the Management Division at Babson and the founder of Opie Consulting Group. Next, we talk with listeners about the return to office dress codes, post-pandemic. Juliette Kayyem updates us on the release of a Senate report on the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, explaining how threats were not taken seriously by law enforcement agencies. She also talks about the ransomware attacks on the Colonial Pipeline and the Steamship Authority. 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. Art Caplan shares his thoughts on the potential for herd immunity in the U.S., and vaccine hesitancy among 18-24 year-olds. He also discusses the FDA’s approval of Aducanumab, a treatment for Alzheimer’s. Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. Shirley Leung talks about her recent column on disparities among Asian Americans, and grocery chain Roche Bros. outsourcing delivery drivers. She also discusses Roger Lau’s appointment as deputy executive director of the Democratic National Committee. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Jonathan Gruber weighs in on the GOP governors cutting unemployment aid, and whether unemployment benefits are causing a labor shortage. Gruber is the Ford Professor of 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 wrap up the show by asking listeners about unemployment benefits, and Republican politicians’ claims that these benefits disincentivize work.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Saraya Wintersmith talks about the firing of Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White for alleged domestic violence. Wintersmith covers Boston City Hall for GBH News. Then, we asks listeners whether they’ve lost trust in law enforcement due to recent scandals facing the Boston Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Trenni Kusnierek updates us on COVID-19 precautions at the Tokyo Olympics, and the NFL’s decision to end the use of “race-norming” to assess athletes’ brain injuries. She also talks about golfer Jon Rahm’s withdrawal from the PGA TOUR Memorial Tournament after testing positive for COVID-19. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Carol Rose explains her concerns behind a surveillance network proposal that would connect nine communities across Greater Boston, and how the pandemic highlighted the need for the passage of the VOTES Act. Rose is the Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts. Brian Moskwetah Weeden discusses his plans for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, and the effects of environmental degradation on tribal lands. He also talks about calls for reparations for Native Americans. Moskwetah Weeden is the Chair of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council. Next, we talks with listeners about whether they would become more engaged if more events were held on Zoom, post-pandemic. John King shares his thoughts on how Sens. Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) decision to vote against Democrats’ voting rights bill could impact President Joe Biden’s agenda, and audio of a 2019 phone call in which Rudy Giuliani asked Ukrainian officials to investigate conspiracy theories about President Biden. King is CNN's Chief National Correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m.

Today on Boston Public Radio: EJ Dionne updates us on the latest political headlines, from former President Donald Trump’s speech at the North Carolina Republican Convention to Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) statement that he would not support Democrats’ voting rights bill. Dionne is a columnist for The Washington Post and a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution. His latest book is "Code Red: How Progressives And Moderates Can Unite To Save Our Country.” Next, we talk with listeners about Sen. Manchin (D-WV) and bipartisanship in Congress. Charlie Sennott weighs in on Israeli politicians’ agreement to form a new government, and Vice President Kamala Harris’ trip to Guatemala and Mexico. He also talks about a chemical cargo ship that burned for two weeks before sinking off the coast of Sri Lanka. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project. Douglass Williams talks about what the past year has been like for his South End restaurant MIDA, and the recent opening of a second MIDA location in Newton. Williams is the chef and owner of MIDA, which is in Boston’s South End and in Newton. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III share their thoughts on reparations for the damage done during the Tulsa massacre, and how Black Americans think about death. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist, the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail, and a visiting researcher in the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program at the Boston University School of Theology. Price is an executive director of the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Together, they host GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast. We end the show by asking listeners whether air conditioning at the office could draw them away from working from home.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start the show by opening the phone lines, talking with listeners about whether they’re reassessing their relationships as we emerge from the pandemic. Sue O’Connell explains how LGBTQ activists are challenging Boston Pride to diversify its board, and the nationwide debate over involving police in pride. She also talks about George P. Bush announcing his run for attorney general in Texas. 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. Emily Rooney shares her thoughts on a government report which found that there was no conclusive evidence that unidentified aerial phenomena were alien spacecraft, but could not identify what the UFOs were. She also previews tonight’s Beat the Press. Rooney is the host of Beat the Press, which you can watch Friday nights at 7 p.m. Next, we ask listeners if they would swim in London’s Sky Pool. Yamiche Alcindor discusses her experiences covering former President Donald Trump and his administration, and her friendship with the late journalist Gwen Ifill. She also talks about her new role as the moderator of Washington Week. Alcindor is the moderator of Washington Week. She is also the White House correspondent for PBS NewsHour, and a political contributor for NBC News and MSNBC. Callie Crossley talks about Facebook's decision to suspend former President Trump for two years, and shares her thoughts on a veteran’s mic getting cut off during a Memorial Day speech in which he acknowledged Black people’s role in the creation of the holiday. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates us on the latest political headlines, from former President Donald Trump shutting down his blog to his claims that he’ll be reinstated as president in August. 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 ask listeners what pandemic hobbies and behaviors they’re giving up. Andrea Cabral walks us through Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White’s termination hearing, and discusses Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema’s (D-AZ) defense of the filibuster. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Corby Kummer discusses calls for the Massachusetts legislature to extend pandemic-era cocktails to-go and caps on delivery service commissions. He also talks about the ransomware attack against meat packer JBS. 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 talks about the new Apple iPad, and Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich’s lawsuit against Google on claims that they deceptively and unfairly tracked users. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. We end the show by talking with listeners about multiple airlines barring in-flight alcohol due to unruly passengers.