Boston Public Radio

The Flixbus is promising better bus service for an affordable price.

Should young football players be allowed to tackle, when research shows repeated hits cause long-term brain damage?

A new law in California guarantees free meals to public school students.

Inaugural poet Richard Blanco gave Jim and Margery a crash course in poetry.

TV guru Bob Thompson previewed the week in entertainment.

In his latest special report for The Boston Globe, Nestor Ramos looks into how the Cape is changing in the face of climate change.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened up the lines and asked our listeners: Is it time to get rid of the SAT? Trenni Kusnierek, NBC Sports Boston anchor and reporter, examined the debate over putting up netting in baseball stadiums to protect fans from being hit by foul balls. Carol Rose, executive director of ACLU of Massachusetts, discussed the ROE Act and other efforts to protect abortion access in the state. The Boston Globe’s travel writer, Christopher Muther, told us about his favorite new travel destination: a cat sanctuary in Hawaii. Sue O’Connell, host of NECN’s “The Take,” looked at the legacy of the Stonewall Riots 50 years on. CNN’s John King, host of “Inside Politics,” shared the latest national news. We opened up the lines and asked you about whether airlines should get rid of carry-on bags to make it easier for people to evacuate planes in case of emergencies.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Our political roundtable with analyst Charlie Chieppo and former state treasurer Shannon O’Brien tackled the latest headlines. Charles Sennott, founder of The GroundTruth Project, discussed President Donald Trump’s state visit to the U.K. We opened up the lines and asked listeners about the movement to go flightless (no, we’re not talking about penguins.) Some people are eschewing flights in favor of ground transportation like trains out of concerns about the environmental impacts of air travel. Would you do the same? Reverend Irene Monroe and Reverend Emmett Price shared their thoughts on Robert F. Smith vacating student loan debt for graduates of Morehouse College and other topics on “All Revved Up.” Television expert Bob Thompson looked at the return of Deadwood, Ava DuVernay’s new film about the Central Park Five, and other must-see moments in TV this week. Then we opened up the lines and asked listeners about a new study on the adverse health effects of binge-watching TV. To celebrate Pride Month, poet Richard Blanco shared two of his own poems about growing up gay on the latest installment of “Village Voice.”

Today on Boston Public Radio: Senate President Karen Spilka discussed charter schools, a bill on sex education, and more. Author Ben Mezrich shared his latest book: “Bitcoin Billionaires: A True Story of Genius, Betrayal, and Redemption.” It’s our favorite sporting event of the year: the National Spelling Bee! We opened up the lines and tested our listeners on their spelling chops. Emily Rooney, host of Beat the Press, shared her thoughts on a decades-old serial killer case. Former state secretary of education Paul Reville looked at a proposal from The College Board to add an “adversity score” to a student’s SAT scores. Homeland security expert Juliette Kayyem analyzed former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s statements to the public earlier this week. Playwright Ryan Landry examined the culture of the “beach read.” Louise Riley Sacco and Michael Frank of the Museum of Bad Art in Somerville faced off on our Friday News Quiz.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Journalist Chuck Todd joined us on the line to discuss Special Counsel Robert Mueller's statement to the public about the Russia investigation. Todd is the moderator of "Meet the Press," host of "Meet the Press Daily" on MSNBC, and the political director for NBC News. Then we opened up the lines and asked our listeners: Did Mueller make it harder yesterday for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to tune out the drumbeat for impeachment? Joining for another edition of "Law and Order" was Andrea Cabral, former Suffolk County sheriff, former state secretary of public safety, and current CEO of Ascend. We hear a lot about 2020 candidates focusing on our health care, but should there be just as much attention put on policies that affect our health? Dr. Sandro Galea, dean of Boston University's School of Public Health, discussed his new book "Well: What We Need to Talk About When We Talk About Health." Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey took our questions and yours on "Ask the AG."

Today on Boston Public Radio: Special Counsel Robert Mueller issued his first public address since the release of his report on Russian interference in the 2016 election. We broadcast his remarks, and then asked our listeners for their thoughts. Chairman of the Democratic National Committee Tom Perez discussed the upcoming primaries, voting cybersecurity, and more. As the death toll on Mount Everest hits a four year high, some are wondering if the Nepalese government should begin to limit the number of permits it issues to climbers hoping to summit the world’s highest peak. Medical ethicist Arthur Caplan weighed in. Harvard Business School professor Mike Norton shared his latest research on the ‘ask-braggart’: the technique of asking someone a question just as a way to talk about themselves. Then we opened up the lines and asked listeners if they’ve experienced this in their own lives. Animal behaviorist Sy Montgomery explained how climate change is threatening Bengal tigers. WGBH executive arts editor Jared Bowen reviewed a new musical at the A.R.T. about the Arab Spring, “We Live In Cairo,” and other arts and cultural events around town.