Boston Public Radio

When Botham Jean’s brother Brandt took the stand at the sentencing of his brother’s killer Amber Guyger, he had an unusual request for the judge. On the stand, Brandt forgave Guyger for killing his brother, and asked the judge if he could hug her. The judge allowed it.

Harvard's admissions process passes muster in federal court, but isn't perfect, Reville said.

Roosevelt introduced sweeping progressive policies with his New Deal. Can today's progressives do the same around climate change?

MGH employees do more than take care of patients — they also sing!

The civil rights organization wants more information about potential civil rights violations.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is trying to block state department officials' testimony.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Richard Neal, discussed the House's request for President Donald Trump's tax returns. We opened up the lines and asked our listeners about a new Massport ban on rideshare vehicles outside the terminals at Logan Airport. Emily Rooney, host of "Beat the Press," shared her own suggestions for reducing congestion in the city. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh took questions from our listeners on "Ask the Mayor." Christopher Muther, travel writer and columnist at The Boston Globe, shared his take on the news that Delta is reducing its seat incline by two inches. The Boston Globe's intrepid consumer protections reporter Sean Murphy took on some tough consumer dilemmas. We celebrated Independent Bookstore Day with Clarissa Murphy and Katie Eelman, the co-directors of Metro Boston Bookstore Day, who told us about their trolley tours to Boston-area bookstores this weekend.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Former Vice President Joe Biden announced today that he is running for president in 2020. We opened up the lines and asked listeners: Are you all in for Biden? Is Biden's entrance into the race the moment you've been waiting for — or the one you've been dreading? Why do so many presidential candidates seem to be obsessed with James Joyce? Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam explained. Should prisoners be able to vote? Andrea Cabral weighed in. Cabral is the former Suffolk County Sheriff, state Secretary of Public Safety, and CEO of Ascend. Poet Richard Blanco discussed his new book, "How To Love A Country." Blanco is the fifth inaugural poet in U.S. history. The Mueller Report highlighted how vulnerable the U.S. voting system is. How secure is the system in Massachusetts? Secretary of State Bill Galvin joined us. Should drug companies be held criminally responsible for opioid overdoses? Medical ethicist Arthur Caplan weighed in. Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Chair, director of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU Langone Medical Center, and the co-host of the "Everyday Ethics" podcast. A new survey finds that Massachusetts commuters are at the breaking point. We asked listeners: Are you one of them?

Today on Boston Public Radio: Congresswoman Katherine Clark discussed the Mueller report, whether Democrats should pursue impeachment, and other top national stories. With former Vice President reportedly announcing his 2020 candidacy tomorrow, we asked our listeners: Do you see him as the future of the Democratic Party? Homeland security expert Juliette Kayyem analyzed the terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka. Is humanity in the throes of an empathy collapse? Nancy Koehn of the Harvard Business School looked at a disheartening new study. Ali Noorani of the National Immigration Forum discussed the constitutionality of a citizenship question on the 2020 census. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko went over the latest headlines at the intersection of technology and policy. Comics Julia Jeffries and Kelly MacFarland previewed the 10th annual Women In Comedy Festival coming to the Boston area in May.

But carnivores may not have to quit meat cold turkey in order to have a significant positive impact on the environment, says Corby Kummer. 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: Legislators on Beacon Hill are considering a bill that would ban youth tackle football until eighth grade. We opened up the lines and asked our listeners: Is it for the government to decide? The concussion wars are playing out at the University of Colorado. Trenni Kusnierek, sports reporter and anchor for NBC Boston, discussed that and more. Congressman Stephen Lynch shared his take on the Mueller report, what Democrats should do next, and the ever-expanding field of 2020 candidates. Can eco-conscious carnivores have their steak and eat it too? Weighing in was Corby Kummer, a senior editor at The Atlantic, an award-winning food writer and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition and Policy. A new FRONTLINE documentary looks at the debate over abortion and how it’s playing out in Pennsylvania. We spoke with Elizabeth Leiter, co-producer of "The Abortion Divide." CNN's John King brought us up to speed on national news. King is the host of "Inside Politics" and CNN's chief National Correspondent. We opened up the lines and asked our listeners about the end of the Stop & Shop supermarket strike.