Boston Public Radio

"It's either a legal product or it's not," Rooney said.

Gov. Charlie Baker stands by his transit plans, he said Thursday.

TV expert Bob Thompson breaks down the disclaimer Disney Plus included on some of its older programming that warns of "outdated cultural depictions."

President Trump's proposals would provide more transparent prices to patients.

The GroundTruth Project CEO spoke about discord in Hong Kong and the rise of populist nationalism

"Charlie Numbers and the Woolly Mammoth" is the first in a series the authors hope to produce.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Attorney General Maura Healey discusses her lawsuit against the Boston Police Department over its refusal to provide internal affairs records on former Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White, and shares her thoughts on Gov. Charlie Baker’s decision to mandate vaccines for Executive Department employees. She also answers listeners’ calls. Michael J. Bobbitt explains how the arts and culture sector weathered the pandemic, and talks about what the future of performing arts spaces could look like as more venues reopen. Bobbitt is the executive director of the Mass Cultural Council. We then play the All Rev’d Up podcast episode “Blackness and Cultural Appropriation.” Next, we talk with listeners about Amazon’s bid to get a warehouse distribution center in Boston. Ethan Murrow shares the process behind his wall drawing “The Greenhouse,” which references the old-growth forests that once covered Cape Cod. Murrow is the contemporary artist behind “The Greenhouse,” which is on view at the Cahoon Museum of American Art through Oct. 3. We end the show by asking listeners if they were comfortable returning to performing arts venues as COVID-19 cases rise.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Michelle Singletary explains why she believes remote working should become a permanent employee benefit, and talks about how the extension of the eviction moratorium impacts renters. 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. Congressman Seth Moulton shares his thoughts on President Joe Biden’s response to the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, calling on the administration to do more to protect Afghan allies and refugees. Congressman Moulton represents Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional district. Then, we ask listeners how their lives would change if remote working and the Child Tax Credit became permanent benefits. Rudy Hypolite and Robert Lewis Jr. discusses the Emmy-nominated documentary “This Ain’t Normal,” which looks at gang-involved youth in Boston and the organizations trying to change their lives. Hypolite is an award-winning independent filmmaker and director of the documentary “This Ain’t Normal.” Lewis is the founder of the nonprofit The BASE. David Abel talks about the U.N.’s climate report, explaining what a change in climate could look like for Boston. He also discusses how low-income neighborhoods in Boston experience hotter temperatures compared to high-income areas. Abel is a Pulitzer-prize winning writer who covers the environment for the Boston Globe. Next, we open the phone lines, talking with listeners about Mike Richards’ decision to step down as host of “Jeopardy!”. Ryan Landry shares what the past few months has been like for him as a performer, and talks about music from his album “The Vamps.” Ryan Landry is a Playwright, lyricist, actor and founder of the Gold Dust Orphans theatrical company. His new album is “The Vamps.”

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates us on the latest political headlines, from President Joe Biden’s handling of U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan to California’s recall election. 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 open the phone lines, talking with listeners about COVID-19 booster shots. Andrea Cabral discusses the death of Stephanie Gerardi, who was shot and killed by a Saugus Police officer responding to a mental health call. She also talks about the verbal altercation between Larry David and Alan Dershowitz in Martha’s Vineyard. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Nancy Schön shares the process behind her latest sculpture, which is based on Edward Lear’s poem, “The Owl and the Pussy Cat.” Schön’s latest public art installation is titled “Diversity — The Owl and the Pussy Cat.” It’s at the Nonquit Street Green at Upham’s Corner in Dorchester. Her latest book is “Ducks on Parade!” Paul Reville explains how schools are preparing for the upcoming school year amid the rise of the Delta variant, arguing that schools should have multiple contingency plans in place. 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 Elaine Weiss, is: "Broader, Bolder, Better: How Schools And Communities Help Students Overcome The Disadvantages Of Poverty.” Rep. Richard Neal discusses President Biden’s response to the Taliban toppling the Afghan government, and the fate of the infrastructure bill as it heads to the House of Representatives. Rep. Neal is Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. He represents Massachusetts’ 1st Congressional District. We end the show by asking listeners how they felt about Disney’s Genie+, which allows Disney park visitors to pay for the ability to skip lines.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Gov. Charlie Baker discusses Massachusetts’ COVID-19 vaccination and hospitalization rates, and defends his decision to not mandate masks in schools statewide. He also talks about the Biden administration’s statement on booster shots, claiming that he was given no guidance on formulating a booster shot plan. Then, we open the phone lines, talking with listeners about mask mandates in schools. Juliette Kayyem shares her thoughts on the U.S. response to the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, and whether airlines should require passengers to be vaccinated before traveling. 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. Acting Mayor Kim Janey discusses current vaccination rates in Boston, and the investigation into former Boston Police officer Patrick Rose over claims of child sexual abuse. She also highlights her plans for the return of an addiction treatment facility to Long Island. Art Caplan weighs in on the CDC’s recommendation that schools enact mask mandates, and upcoming COVID-19 booster shots. He also talks about Texas Gov. Greg Abbott testing positive for COVID-19. Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. Sy Montgomery talks about the deaths of Tatoosh, the New England Aquarium’s giant Pacific octopus, and Barry the Owl, a barred owl in Central Park. She also shares stories of seagull attacks. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist and a BPR contributor. Her latest book is "The Hummingbirds’ Gift: Wonder, Beauty, and Renewal on Wings." We end the show by asking listeners about their experiences with seagull thievery and attacks.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners whether Gov. Charlie Baker should reinstate a statewide mask mandate. Trenni Kusnierek talks about long-distance runner Molly Seidel’s run in the Falmouth Road Race, and shares her thoughts on Naomi Osaka’s press conference walkout. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Jelani Cobb explains how he positioned the Kerner Commission Report in today’s political context for his book, “The Essential Kerner Commission Report.” Cobb is a staff writer at The New Yorker, and is the Ira A. Lipman Professor of Journalism at the Columbia Journalism School. Rachel Miller shares her experiences from working in the restaurant industry, and how she kept her business afloat during the pandemic. She also talks about the decision to create a mask and vaccine plan for her restaurant. Miller is the chef and owner of Nightshade Noodle Bar in Lynn. Michael Curry and Derrick Johnson discuss the current state of voting rights, and weigh in on whether the White House is doing enough to protect them. Curry is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and a member of Governor Charlie Baker’s COVID Vaccine Advisory Group. He’s also a member of the National NAACP Board of Directors, and the Chair of the Board’s Advocacy & Policy Committee. Johnson is the president of the NAACP. John King updates us on the latest political headlines, from President Joe Biden’s response as the Taliban toppled the Afghan government to the state of the filibuster. King is CNN's Chief National Correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. We wrap up the show by asking listeners if they’re patronizing businesses that mandate masks or proof of vaccination.