Boston Public Radio

As the longest government shutdown in U.S. history enters its fifth week, the future of federal food assistance remains uncertain.

Rev. Irene Monroe said the film, which is about the relationship between a black pianist and his white driver and bodyguard, is overly reliant on the trope of the "white hero."

Poet Richard Blanco highlighted his favorite works by poet Ada Limón, which are united by a common theme of searching for meaning in "seeming oblivion."

Healey said she is “actively reviewing” the existing policies and procedures that surround the reporting of cases of sexual misconduct.

After Barack Obama left Office, Pete Souza made sure he still remained a part of the national dialogue.

Richard Blanco, the nation's fifth inaugural poet, shared poems that seize on the changing of the seasons as an opportunity to reflect on death, rebirth, and the passage of time.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to ask listeners: has President Trump gone too far in promoting misinformation about coronavirus? Beat the Press host Emily Rooney discussed the president’s daily coronavirus briefings, and read her weekly list of fixations and fulminations. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh called in for an hour-long edition of “Ask the Mayor.” Boston Globe Columnist Shirley Leung discussed how the unemployment crisis is playing out in Massachusetts, and what small businesses can expect from the latest federal aid package. CNN’s John King talked about the president’s latest false claim, where he denied saying UV light and disinfectant could be used to cure coronavirus, and Joe Biden’s warning that Trump could try to delay the election in November. Under the Radar host Callie Crossley talked about President Trump’s claims regarding disinfectant and COVID-19, and gave her thoughts on the disproportionately high impact of COVID-19 on communities of color.

Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd talked about his recent interview with Vice President Mike Pence, and broke down the debate in Washington over more stimulus funding. Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed why some are advocating to reopen gun shops, and President Trump’s threats to sue governors over closed businesses. We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Thursday press conference. Former Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic could shape the future of education in Massachusetts, and Harvard’s decision to return $8.6 million in coronavirus stimulus funds. Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam talked about the newly-published recipe to make IKEA’s Swedish meatballs at home, and where the rich are flocking to during the coronavirus pandemic. Jim and Margery talked about their concerns over the Trump administration's dismissal of science amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Today on Boston Public Radio: CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem talked about President Trump’s latest restrictions on immigration, and U.S. governors pushing for what she calls a “careless" reopening of state economies. MIT economist Jon Gruber discussed structural issues in America's nursing home industry, and how funding problems are exacerbating the crisis for seniors in need of care. We opened our lines to ask listeners: are you still watching Trump’s daily coronavirus briefings? We aired live audio from Gov. Baker’s Wednesday press conference. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed the shortage of protective gear in the U.S., and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s push to reopen nonessential business in his state. Food writer Corby Kummer discussed whether grocery clerks are heroes or victims in the coronavirus pandemic, and the dubious future of the Whole Foods hot bar.

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke with Boston Public Radio, *on Wednesday, about the way the food industry will be different, post-coronavirus crisis. "What we're looking at is maybe as few as 30 percent of independent restaurants coming back, it all depends on how long the current closings last," he said. "So one to two months closed has 70 percent coming back, than at 3 months it's 50 percent, and then if it's 6 months it's 30 percent - these are all just wild projections, but it's bad." Small independent restaurants could also fail during slow re-openings, since regulations will likely not allow full capacity, he said. "These restaurants might be gone forever, and everyday along with the obits, we're seeing constant obits of restaurants that won't be coming back." *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 our lines to ask listeners: does the federal stimulus rollout, which is proving to benefit a few large companies over smaller businesses, have you feeling cynical about the government’s handling of the pandemic? Matt Segal, legal director for the Massachusetts ACLU, discussed his role in litigating the drug-testing scandal documented in the Netflix series “How to Fix a Drug Scandal.” We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Tuesday press conference. Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius spoke about what her administration is doing to accommodate students working remotely, and took questions from listeners.