Boston Public Radio

Tensions between Iran and the United States intensified in the days following the killing of the Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani by the United States.

WGBH Reporter Adam Reilly and Joanna Weiss of Experience Magazine joined Boston Public Radio to talk national and local politics.

Two owners of local sustainable business ventures joined Boston Public Radio for our weekly news quiz.

The CNN analyst offered her take on Thursday’s killing of Qassem Soleimani.

On Friday, Beat the Press host Emily Rooney shared her list of predictions for 2020.

Former governor and presidential candidate Deval Patrick said that slain Iranian Maj. Gen. Qaseem Soleimani deserved “the worst" on Friday.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Jennifer Nassour and Steve Kerrigan recapped down Tuesday’s primaries, and debated President Trump's odds of winning reelection in November. Nassour is a former Chairwoman of the Mass GOP, founder of Conservative Women For A Better Future, and President of the Pocketbook Project. Kerrigan is the CEO of the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center and former CEO of the DNC. We opened lines to hear your takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discussed ongoing Russian interference ahead of the November election, and a new campaign ad from Joe Biden that counters the president’s claim of being the “law and order” candidate. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed President Trump’s unprompted denial that he had a series of mini-strokes, and weighed in on the ethical problems with the Trump Administration’s efforts to fast-track a coronavirus vaccine. Food writer Corby Kummer talked about claims from some conservatives that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris would like ban hamburgers, and discussed ongoing turmoil for restaurants struggling to stay afloat through the coronavirus pandemic. Writer David Gessner discussed his latest book, “Leave It As It Is: A Journey Through Theodore Roosevelt's American Wilderness,” which dives into the former president's complicated legacy as a conservationist. GBH President and CEO Jon Abbott called in to talk about the station’s rebrand, and explain why you might want to hold on to all your old WGBH merch.

Medical ethicist Art Caplan spoke with Boston Public Radio on Wednesday about herd immunity, regarding COVID-19. “Herd immunity, bad idea - Sweden tried it - didn’t work,” he said. “Sweden basically said, let’s let [COVID-19] run its course, we’re not going to isolate, we’re going to let everybody get infected, and then once that’s done we won’t be able to infect each other, we’ll all have antibodies.” But Sweden had terrible death rates, Caplan noted. “Too many old people died, too many vulnerable people died, so they admitted it was a mistake.” President Donald Trump’s new virus advisor, Dr. Scott Atlas, is pushing for a herd immunity response, Caplan added. “This idea is now circulating back in the White House with this new advisor Dr. Scott Atlas,” he said. “I don’t know why we’re listening to this again, because we have this giant example of a country failing.” Art Caplan is the Drs. William F and Virginia Connolly Mitty Chair, and director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke to Boston Public Radio on Wednesday about the need to wear a mask when going out to eat. “Our diner code of conduct says to wear masks at all times away from the dining table: when entering the restaurant, ordering and interacting with servers, when walking to the restroom or just getting fresh air,” he said. “So that’s the most important thing you can do to protect servers, and also diners.” Kummer is a senior editor at The Atlantic, an award-winning food writer, and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition and Policy.

CNN analyst and national security expert Juliette Kayyem called in to Boston Public Radio on Wednesday, where she recapped a Wednesday report from ABC News accusing officials from the Department of Homeland Security of withholding information about Russian interference in the upcoming election. The report, she noted, also details how attacks on Joe Biden from President Trump appear to “either amplify, mirror, or follow” messaging from Russian bots across social media. Kayyem also weighed in on a new ad from Joe Biden's campaign, and explained why the president is losing a “culture war” over face masks. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, and faculty chair of the homeland security program at the Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Rep. Stephen Lynch called in to make his final pitch to primary voters, where he spoke on his views about Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and his regret for voting in favor of the Iraq War. Dr. Robbie Goldstein, an MGH physician and candidate for Massachusetts' 8th Congressional District, responded to criticisms from his opponent Rep. Stephen Lynch, discussed his opposition to the Hyde Amendment, and spoke on the importance of having members of Congress who trust science and hard data. We opened lines to hear your thoughts on Mass. primary pay, and recent statements from President Trump about police brutality and golf. Carol Rose, executive director of the Mass. ACLU, talked about the threat that a stripped-down USPS poses to voter rights, and explained why she believes voter intimidation is a more pressing threat to U.S democracy than voter fraud. Rep. Joe Kennedy III called in to make his final campaign pitch to Mass. primary voters, and discussed why he envisions himself to be a more effective senator than Sen. Ed Markey. We opened lines to continue the conversation about primary day voting and mail-in ballots with listeners. Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, reflected on the passing of actor Chadwick Boseman, and weighed in on last Friday’s Commitment March in Washington, D.C. CNN’s John King discussed President Trump’s scheduled visit to Kenosha, Wis., and explained why Americans should expect delayed results in the general election. Alex Morse, Holyoke Mayor and candidate for Massachusetts’ 1st Congressional District, offered his final pitch to voters, spoke on what he’s done with police reform in Holyoke, and reflected on the state's handling of a COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. We returned to listeners for a third and final time, to get your thoughts on mail-in voting and the primary elections.