Boston Public Radio

This weekend, an army of activist brass bands descends on Somerville to celebrate the tenth annual HONK! Fest. To celebrate, Jim Braude and Margery Eagan…

In the wake of the shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon, Democrats in Congress have launched a renewed push for gun control legislation like…

Doctors Without Borders, the international organization in charge of a hospital in Afghanistan bombed by an American airstrike this weekend, has called…

Thomas Hughes was a 29 year old investment banker at the prestige firm of Moelis & Company when he missed a family Easter brunch at the Yale Club in New…

Over the weekend, an American airstrike in the northern city of Kunduz, Afghanistan led 12 staff members and seven patients dead at a hospital run by the…

The former British Ambassador to Lebanon Tom Fletcher has achieved a rare distinction among those who have recently left their jobs: his resignation…

Today, on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to callers to hear your thoughts on Tuesday night’s Democratic presidential debate. Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam discussed the passing of Alexi Leonov, the first man to walk in space. National security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed the repercussions of Trump’s decision to pull troops from Northeast Syria, along with the latest on the House impeachment inquiry. Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral stopped by to talk about an appeal by attorneys representing Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Author and naturalist Sy Montgomery discussed a recent study indicating that dog ownership may lead to a longer life, along well as a “karaoke parlor” phenomenon among Humpback whales. WGBH Arts Editor Jared Bowen reviewed “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead,” now showing at the Huntington Theater. He also discussed A24’s upcoming film “The Lighthouse,” and a documentary on the Cocoanut Cove fire called “Six Locked Doors."

Today on Boston Public Radio: John Rosenthal, co-founder of Newton based nonprofit Stop Handgun Violence, discussed the gun safety organization’s 25th anniversary. NBC Sports Boston reporter Trenni Kusnierek discussed a recent PSA likening youth tackle football to smoking cigarettes. She also discussed Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge’s record-breaking marathon run. Pediatrician Dr. Jon Winickoff spoke with listeners about the risks of vaping, in light of a Tuesday hearing on Massachusetts’ temporary vaping ban. Food writer Corby Kummer discussed the temporary closure of 111 year old New York deli Barney Greengrass, along with a controversial video revealing how Panera Bread prepares its Mac and Cheese. Boston Globe travel writer Christopher Muther spoke about Logan airport’s low rating in a recent airport satisfaction survey, as well as a new bus service offering travel from Boston to New York for five dollars. CNN chief national correspondent John King previewed Tuesday night’s Democratic presidential debate. We opened the lines to callers to ask: what are you expecting out of Tuesday night’s debate?

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Saturday that assures all California public school students a state-funded meal regardless of whether they have unpaid meal fees or not. "It's preventing lunch shaming," Kummer said. One student helped raise awareness about the problem of lunch shaming before the bill was signed, Kummer noted. "A nine year old boy in Napa County saved up all his money and used it to pay off his 3rd grade classes lunch debt," he said. Bills like this need to become national policy, Kummer added. "The appropriate solution is universal free lunch in public school systems," he said.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Charlie Chieppo and Michael Curry joined us for our political round-table to speak about the latest in national and local politics. Charlie Chieppo is principal of Chieppo Strategies, Senior Fellow at the Pioneer Institute and Adjunct Professor at Suffolk University. Curry is senior vice president and general counsel at Mass League of Community Health Centers, and a member of the National NAACP Board of Directors. Television expert Bob Thompson reviewed the latest in TV and movies, including the upcoming Netflix show 'Living with Yourself,' featuring Paul Rudd. Boston Globe columnist Nestor Ramos spoke about his reporting on climate change is hitting Cape Cod. We opened the lines to talk with our listeners about the Kurdish-Turkish conflict. Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, called in to give the latest developments with Trump's immigration policies. Poet Richard Blanco spoke about the creative process and inspiration behind writing poetry. We opened the lines again, this time to ask our listeners what they thought about Ellen Degeneres' selfie with George W. Bush.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to callers to ask: in light of the whistleblower news in Washington, have there ever been times when you’ve had to take a stand against authority? Was it the right choice? Tech Writer Andy Inathko discussed big tech’s relationship to China, following Apple’s choice to pull an app that helped pro-democracy groups in Hong Kong track police whereabouts. NBC Sports Boston Reporter Trenni Kusnierek discussed the NBA’s catering to Chinese interests, as well as basketball player Enes Kanter’s essay about refusing to be silent on Turkey President Erdogan’s authoritarian leadership. Author Imani Perry joined Boston Public Radio to discuss her latest book: "BREATE: A Letter To My Sons.” Harpreet Sareen, Assistant Professor at the Parson School of Design, discussed his research on cyborg botany, and the movement to make plant-robot hybrids. Boston Globe columnist Shirley Leung discussed her latest column on why local craft breweries are pushing for more diversity. For our weekly news quiz, all-female Brazilian brass band Fanfarra Feminina Sagrada Profana joined to promote the upcoming HONK! Festival in Somerville.