Boston Public Radio

The former state education secretary expressed frustrations with a new amendment to an education budget bill.

Medical ethicist Art Caplan reviewed tapes of an investigation into one hospital's efforts to fudge statistics, disregarding patient care.

The artisan baker discussed his latest book of recipes and stories.

Cummings was on his way to being the first African American speaker of the House, Chuck Todd said.

President Trump has sought to distance the United States from the ongoing conflict between the Kurds and the Turkish government.

Tsarnaev's attorneys say they brought concerns an unfair trial to the court, but their allegations were never looked into.

Today on Boston Public Radio: EJ Dionne discusses this week's GOP vote over the political future of Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., who faces a potential ousting from her position as the third highest-ranking House Republican. He also talks about what President Biden’s infrastructure plan could mean for blue-collar workers on both sides of the political spectrum, and whether Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer ought to resign. 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.” Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett from Boston Medical Center offers her takes on the latest issues pertaining to the pandemic, from vaccine hesitancy to the debate around freedoms of post-vaccine life. She also responds to listener questions and comments during the hour-long conversation. Next, we turn to listeners to talk about reopening here in New England, and whether you're comfortable easing up on mask usage after getting fully vaccinated. Richard Blanco talks about the relationship between poetry and photography, and shares a series of poems prompted by photographs. Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history, whose new book "How To Love A Country" deals with various socio-political issues that shadow America. This June, he'll be running a virtual workshop at the Writers Harbor Poetry Week, focusing on using photos as prompts for poems. Nancy Schön discusses her new book, "Ducks On Parade!", chronicling all the different ways people have dressed up her famous "Make Way For Ducklings" sculpture in the Boston Public Garden, both festive and political. Schön is the artist behind over a dozen prominent public sculptures and many in private collections, whose latest book is available now. We close out Monday's show by opening phone lines to talk with listeners about whether you'd consider returning to cruise ships, as the industry makes its push to return to the U.S.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners about vaccine hesitancy among parents. Sue O’Connell remembers the life of local trans activist Jahaira DeAlto. She also talks about the U.S. birth rate decline and an increase in “gray divorce.” 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 talks about South Carolina lawmakers voting to allow execution by firing squad as an alternative to the electric chair. She also shares what she has and hasn’t missed during the pandemic as part of her famous list. Rooney is host of Beat the Press, which you can watch Friday nights at 7 p.m. Shirley Leung explains how local Indian American businesspeople are uniting to send PPE and other medical supplies to India. She also talks about continuing violence against Asian Americans across the U.S. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Andy Ihnatko shares his thoughts on Facebook's decision to uphold their ban on former President Donald Trump, and privacy concerns over Apple’s AirTags. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Callie Crossley discusses the death of Mikayla Miller, and her family’s calls for transparency and justice. She also talk about the multiple state legislatures that are passing voting restriction bills. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. We end the show by talking with listeners about the statewide reopening of ball pits.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates us on the increasing number of GOP members calling for the ouster of Rep. Liz Cheney. 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. We then talk with listeners about the state of the GOP as Rep. Liz Cheney loses support in the party. Andrea Cabral shares her thoughts on the trial of former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia, and the latest updates in the Sean Ellis case. She also discusses the controversy surrounding a juror in the Derek Chauvin trial after photos of him wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt and attending the 2020 March on Washington surfaced. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Congressman Richard Neal discusses President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan, focusing on rail service improvements in Massachusetts. He also talks about his plan to make the child tax credit expansion permanent. Congressman Richard Neal is Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. He represents Massachusetts’ 1st Congressional District. Next, we ask listeners how they feel about raising taxes for corporations and individuals who make over $400,000 a year. Sy Montgomery previews her latest book, “The Hummingbirds’ Gift: Wonder, Beauty, and Renewal on Wings,” and talks about veterinarians’ reluctance to handle hummingbirds due to their fragile bodies. 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 talking with listeners about the growing number of people who opt to shower once a week.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about Facebook’s decision to uphold their ban of former President Donald Trump. Jonathan Gruber weighs in on President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan, explaining how it could impact the caregiving and nursing home industry. 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." Juliette Kayyem discusses Facebook’s decision to uphold its ban on former President Trump, arguing for increased legislative oversight towards the company. She also talks about the core stage of a Chinese rocket falling to earth, and where it could land upon reentry. 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 sending COVID-19 vaccines abroad, and the FDA’s proposed ban on menthol cigarettes. Caplan is the Drs. William F and Virginia Connolly Mitty Chair, and director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the NYU School of Medicine. Corby Kummer talks about Impossible Foods’ recent national ad campaign, and shares his thoughts on plant-based meat alternatives. He also touches on restaurants’ updated COVID-19 rules. 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. Jared Bowen updates us on the latest arts and culture events, from costume designer Ruth Carter’s exhibit at the New Bedford Art Museum to Sonya Clark’s “Monumental Cloth” exhibit at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. He also remembers the life and legacy of Olympia Dukakis. Bowen is GBH’s executive arts editor and the host of Open Studio. We wrap up the show by asking listeners what pandemic restrictions they would like to keep post-pandemic.

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke to Boston Public Radio on Wednesday about what it’s like to eat on the International Space Station (ISS). “There’s something endlessly fascinating about food in space,” he said. “First of all, space ice cream was developed for a NASA gift shop, it has never been eaten in space or sent up in a spaceship." Dehydrated gift shop space ice cream dates back to 1974, long after humans took to space flight, Kummer said. “What it does is help subsidize NASA museums, it’s a best-seller.” The French have developed food for ISS astronauts that is much more gourmet than what many would expect, Kummer added. “The French of course have come up with much better food in space, including bœuf bourguignon and lobster,” he said.