Boston Public Radio

For their day jobs, they run two Massachusetts cities—Salem and Somerville—but occasionally Boston Public Radio can convince Kim Driscoll and Joseph…

You already know the story of what happened to the Titanic. But what about another famed ocean liner, the Lusitania?Erik Larson, author of The Devil in…

Former employees of Florida Governor Rick Scott says he forbade staff from discussing climate change—including using the terms "global warming" or "sea…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech to Congress tomorrow, but not everyone will be welcoming him with open arms. That's because…

Charles Sennott, co-founder of GlobalPost and head of The GroundTruth Project, joined Boston Public Radio to discuss the international headlines of the…

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf raised eyebrows Monday when suggested that the best way for America to combat ISIS was through addressing its root…

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening the phone lines, talking with listeners about gun violence in America in the wake of a mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Art Caplan shares his thoughts on the moral apathy Congress seems to have in cases of gun violence, and cases of monkeypox in the U.S. Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor and founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU School of Medicine in New York City. Juliette Kayyem explains how language is used to sanitize stories of gun violence, and updates us on the latest news out of Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman killed 19 elementary school students and two teachers. Kayyem is former assistant secretary for homeland security under President Barack Obama, and the faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. We continue our discussion with listeners on the epidemic of gun violence in America. Paul Reville discusses the impact of school shootings on survivors. He also talks about the Mass. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) audit of Boston Public Schools. Reville is the former secretary of education and a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he also runs the Education Redesign Lab. His latest book, co-authored with Lynne Sacks, is “Collaborative Action for Equity and Opportunity: A Practical Guide for School and Community Leaders.” Sy Montgomery talks about the dolphins using coral mucus to heal, and new research into how Asian elephants mourn the dead. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist and a BPR contributor. Her latest book is "The Hawk’s Way: Encounters with Fierce Beauty.” We end the show by revisiting our discussion with listeners on mass shootings in America.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Mayor Michelle Wu takes questions from listeners on topics including the state of Boston’s public schools, the latest at Mass. and Cass and failures that led to former Boston Police Union President Patrick Rose remaining on patrol after reports of child sexual assault. Wu is Mayor of Boston. Trenni Kusnierek discusses the most recent Celtics win, the murder of elite cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson and controversy over Qatar hosting the World Cup due to its anti-LGBTQ policies. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Then, we ask listeners their thoughts on the Celtics’ playoffs run. Melissa Etheridge previews her upcoming concerts, and recalls her three months at Berklee College of Music and her experience coming out as lesbian. Etheridge is a multiple Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and activist. She’s coming to town to perform at the City Winery on June 5, 6, 8 and 9. Mark Esper talks about his recent book, insights from his time working in the Trump Administration and whether he thinks Former President Donald Trump could find success running in 2024. Esper is the former Secretary of Defense under President Donald Trump. His new memoir is “A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times.” John King updates listeners on the state of national politics, including the recent slew of Republican primaries, and concerns over Pennsylvania Democratic Senate nominee John Fetterman’s health following a stroke. King is CNN's chief national correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. We end the show by asking listeners whether they’re ready to return to concerts this summer.

In their fight against the alternative milk and nut-milk industries, Big Dairy has been lobbying Congress and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reserve the term “milk” for fluids obtained through “lacteal secretion” — and the FDA looks like it may enforce a stricter definition for “milk” soon. Chief among the National Federation of Milk Producers’ concerns are that consumers are “being misled about the nutritional content of plant-based imitators relative to real dairy products.” Award-winning food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Monday to share his thoughts on the situation. “I think it's ridiculous,” Kummer said. “I think anybody who buys almond milk understands it's not cow’s milk.” In the wide-ranging interview, Kummer also discussed the latest news from the nation’s baby formula shortage, and talked about the lack of nutrition education in medical schools. Kummer is executive director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at The Atlantic and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners how they’re finding positivity amid a slew of bad news. Michael Curry discusses federal funding to combat hate crimes in the wake of the Buffalo shooting, and the conflict between politics and public health as COVID cases rise again. Curry is chair of the NAACP Advocacy and Policy Committee, and is president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. Chris Burrell shares insights from his investigative reporting into the inaccessibility of Massachusetts beaches. Burrell is an investigative reporter for GBH News. The first story in his series “Barriers at the Beach” is now out, GBHnews.org. Then, we take calls from listeners about their experiences with Massachusetts beaches. Corby Kummer talks about how the baby formula shortage became so dire, and the problems with the Food and Drug Administration. Kummer is executive director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at The Atlantic and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III weigh in on a new report on decades of sex abuse cover-ups in the Southern Baptist Church. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist and the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail. Price is founding pastor of Community of Love Christian Fellowship in Allston, and the Inaugural Dean of Africana Studies at Berklee College of Music. Together they host the “All Rev’d Up” podcast. Richard Blanco reads poetry on motherhood, including his poem “Mother Picking Produce,” and “Different Mothers” by Kim Dower. Blanco is the fifth presidential inaugural poet in U.S. history. His latest book, “How to Love a Country,” deals with various socio-political issues that shadow the United States. We end the show by discussing a recent study that showed women receive higher emotional benefits from hugs than men.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Attorney General Maura Healey answers questions from listeners, including on criminal justice reform, housing prices skyrocketing and racism from officials in Everett. Healey is attorney general of Massachusetts and a candidate for governor. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh shares insights from his move to the federal government, and takes calls from listeners on income inequality, the state of inflation, workers rights and more. Walsh is Secretary of Labor, and former mayor of Boston. James Bennett II discusses the latest news in arts and culture, including praise of the new film “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” Olivia Rodrigo’s local appearance at Roadrunner and the rise and fall of comedian Dane Cook. Bennett II is GBH’s arts and culture reporter. Sue O’Connell talks about the baby formula shortage, the faltering future of People Magazine’s print addition and LGBTQ teachers leaving Florida in the wake of the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” Bill. O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and South End News, and contributor to Current, on NBC LX and NECN. Elena Spencer and Kristo Kondakçi previews the upcoming “Symphony for Science,” raising money for the Science Club for Girls. Also, orchestra members Sophia Szokolay, Elena Spencer, Victoria Suha, Alan Toda-Ambaras and Leina Xu perform a few pieces. Spencer is co-founder, president and CEO of the Kendall Square Orchestra. Kondakçi is musical director. We end the show asking listeners about their workplace nemesis.