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.

After another apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump yesterday, we opened up the phone and text lines to hear from parents of how they're talking to kids about political violence this election. Brian McGrory of BU's Journalism department discusses the Globe's Spotlight coverage on Steward Healthcare. Plus, various political stories on Laura Loomer and Harris' ABC interview.Ilan Stavans of Amherst College discusses Mexico's independence day and the violent rhetoric around immigration espoused by Trump.Evan Horowitz of Tufts Center for State Policy Analysis breaks down this year's ballot questions facing Mass voters this November.Khalil Gibran Muhammad of Harvard Kennedy School takes a look at this year's college admissions, after the end of affirmative action.

Is our country in a civics education crisis? We got your thoughts. Fabiola Mendez & Elsa Mosquera are our guests for Live Music Friday this week, ahead of the free Fiesta en la Plaza taking place throughout Latinx Heritage Month in Boston. Ela is the co-founder of Agora Cultural Architects, who organized the festival. Fabiola is an award-winning cuatro player.Boston Globe reporters Jessica Bartlett & Mark Arsenault talk about their latest Spotlight reporting on Ralph de la Torre and the collapse of Steward Health Care.Transportation secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt joins for her first-ever interview on BPR. She talks about ongoing projects for MassDOT like the East-West Coast Rail, Cape Cod Bridges, the Allston Multimodal project and more. Then we read your texts on the court case between an estranged couple fighting over who gets to keep the $70,000 diamond engagement ring. Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner joins us from her "she-shed" in the woods and reacts to new GOP efforts to block mail-in ballots in swing states, a New York appeals court rejecting two new attempts by Trump to lift his gag order in his hush money case. And, she has thoughts on the engagement ring case. Then we opened the phone lines to debate the merits and pitfalls of kids getting cut during sport tryouts.

MIT Economist Jon Gruber breaks down each candidate's economic plans and concepts, and former public safety secretary Andrea Cabral offers her debate reactions.

Chuck Todd joined for his weekly D.C. roundup, focusing on Tuesday’s debateThen we opened the lines to discuss the dying art of the handshake... if it is dying?Andrea Cabral on debate fact-checkingPaul Reville on how to optimize free community college in Mass.Jon Gruber offered an expert’s perspective on Trump vs. Harris as it relates to the economyAITA for charging guests for my wedding? We opened the lines to discuss

Today:National security analyst Juliette Kayyem and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley discuss last night's debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump.