Boston Public Radio

On Monday, the Trump administration formally informed the United Nations of their intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement.

Public hearings in the impeachment hearings into President Donald Trump will begin next week.

Massachusetts students led the nation in reading scores, but performed worse than two years ago.

The executive director of the National Immigrant Forum expressed frustration with several Trump administration policies.

Amazon recently announced that subscribers to Amazon Prime will be able to receive free delivery on grocery sales purchased through their website.

Chaim Bloom replaces Dave Dombrowski as the leader of roster operations for the franchise.

Ractopamine is a controversial feed additive that many pork manufacturers give to their market hogs in order to increase size and production. The feed additive is banned in the European Union, China, and over a hundred other nations, but is allowed to be used in the United States. Yet earlier this month, Tyson Foods, the largest American pork processor, announced it will prohibit ractopamine from its hogs beginning in 2020. Food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio *on Tuesday to talk about why some American manufacturers are rethinking the use of ractopamine and why the feed additive is banned in many countries. "This is one of the many drugs fed to animals that fattens pigs faster so they gain weight and come to market much faster," Kummer said. "Obviously it's cheaper for producers because they can sell their pigs off and kill them sooner." Ractopamine's effects are harmful to both humans and hogs, Kummer said. "It's really dangerous and it causes crazed behavior, as if you're completely hopped up and nutty if there's too high of a human dose, and I think it's terrible for the health of the pigs too," he said. "China has banned it, the US has not, and the USDA never had a good excuse for this." Some American-owned companies like Tyson Foods are stopping their use of ractopamine so that they can sell pork to the Chinese market, Kummer added. "Manufacturers need that Chinese market and swine flu is killing off half the pigs in China," he said. *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.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to callers to hear your thoughts on the latest regarding the House impeachment inquiry. NBC Sports Boston Reporter Trenni Kusnierek discussed a series of headlines surrounding this year's World Series. Boston Globe cannabis reporter Dan Adams discussed the impact of Massachusetts’ vaping ban on local marijuana retail shops,** **and other headlines related the state’s marijuana sector. Food writer Corby Kummer discussed new revelations about ethical cocoa farming in West Africa, and a spiking interest in healthy vending machine options. We opened lines to callers to ask: do you want to see healthier options in your vending machines? CNN’s John King discussed Tuesday's impeachment hearing testimony from Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, and Rep. Scott Lynch's ambitions to become chair of the House Oversight and Reform Committee. Joshua Foer, co-author of “Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders,” discussed the guide’s second edition.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Jennifer Braceras and Steve Kerrigan joined us for our political round table. Braceras is a political columnist, senior fellow with the Independent Women’s Forum, and a former Commissioner of the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Kerrigan is President and co-founder of the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund, and former CEO of the DNC. Charlie Sennott discussed the death of ISIS founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Sennott is a WGBH News Analyst and CEO of the GroundTruth Project. MIT economist and Affordable Care Act architect Jonathan Gruber discussed Elizabeth Warren’s Medicare For All plan, and the possible ways she might finance it. We opened our lines to callers to hear your thoughts on Medicare For All. Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, discussed newly uncovered links to slavery at Boston’s Old North Church, as well as rapper Kanye West's latest gospel-inspired album, “Jesus Is King.” TV critic Bob Thompson reviewed the latest season of Netflix’s “BoJack Horseman,” and commemorated the 10 year anniversary of the Balloon Boy debacle. We re-opened lines to callers to hear your thoughts on whether Halloween ought to be moved to the last Saturday of October.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed a measles outbreak at Disney Land, and a California doctor accused of gross negligence over vaccine exemptions. Emily Rooney, host of WGBH News' Beat The Press, joined us for her famous list of fixations and fulminations. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh discussed plans to manage opioid addiction in Boston, took questions from callers, and announced news that Boston Public Libraries will no long charge late fees to kids under 18. Media maven Sue O’Connell discussed the supposed controversy over Chick-Fil-A’s plans to open a location in Boston. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony to Congress, and Google's new Pixel 4 smartphone. Catherine Allgor and Peter Drummey of the Massachusetts Historical Society joined us for our weekly news quiz to promote an upcoming exhibit on the Boston Massacre.

Today on Boston Public Radio: MSNBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd discussed the latest headlines regarding the House impeachment inquiry. Boston Globe opinion columnist Shirley Leung discussed Tom Brady’s Netflix appearance, and a recent interview with the ex-wife of disgraced former Providence mayor Buddy Cianci. Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed an increase of pretrial incarcerations in Massachusetts. Food writer Corby Kummer discussed a new California law legalizing the consumption of roadkill, and news that Amazon is delivering customers expired food. ** ** WGBH science editor Heather Goldstone discussed recent innovations to clean ocean waste, and the threats they pose to ecosystems floating on the ocean's surface. We opened the lines to callers to ask: why aren’t more Americans interested in protesting Trump? Journalist and author Ronan Farrow joined to discuss his new book, “Catch and Kill."