Boston Public Radio

While mere mortals may spend the evening queuing around the block for tickets to see the new Star Wars film "The Force Awakens," WGBH's own Jared Bowen is…

After last winter, does the very thought of ice dams give you the chills? Richard Trethewey and Tom Silva of Ask This Old House are here to the rescue…

Mayor Marty Walsh supports the concept of a "just cause eviction" petition circulated by housing activists and is working with his staff on ways it could…

Late Saturday night, delegates from 195 countries around the world attending the COP21 conference agreed to a historic climate deal to reduce greenhouse…

Security on "soft" targets—a term used to describe targets with historically low security, like schools, office buildings, and other public spaces—has…

Nothing says "happy holidays" like a Friday News Quiz. To prove it, we brought two bona fide Santa Clauses—that's right, two!—to face off on this week's…

Today on Boston Public Radio: While campaigning in New Hampshire, Joe Biden emphasized his plans to try to work with congressional Republicans if he wins the presidency in 2020. We opened up the lines and asked listeners: Is Biden being smart, and appealing to Republicans and independents who have tired of President Trump? Or will he alienate progressive Democrats and younger voters? Maine could soon be the seventh state in the nation to legalize assisted suicide. Medical ethicist Arthur Caplan discussed. Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Chair and director of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU Langone Medical Center, and the co-host of the "Everyday Ethics" podcast. In the aftermath of mass shootings there is always talk about passing laws about background checks, high-capacity magazines, and improving policies and treatment for mental health. Is it time to add silencers to that list? National security expert Juliette Kayyem weighed in. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN and on the faculty of Harvard's Kennedy School. A new FRONTLINE documentary takes a look at how law enforcement is changing its approach to sex trafficking. We spoke to filmmaker Lauren Mucciolo. Federal prosecutors are investigating the Massachusetts prison system thanks to reports from the New England Center for Investigative Reporting. Reporter Jenifer McKim joined us. WGBH's executive arts editor Jared Bowen reviewed the new Elton John biopic "Rocketman" and other new movies, plays, and cultural events around town. We opened up the lines and asked listeners about Trump's trip the U.K.

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."