Boston Public Radio

Comedian Jay Leno discussed his oddly fond memories of Massachusetts.

Massachusetts' first Black governor says it's necessary for Democrats to play "the long game."

Kimberlé Crenshaw says laws passed now will still stand in a century, and it's long past time to protect the teaching of Black history.

“Ratcheting” back regulations is both an economic and social justice issue for cannabis business owners, said Shannon O’Brien.

Eversource and HEET are teaming up to bring geothermal energy to Massachusetts.

Environmentalists and the fishing industry are going head to head in the courts over a proposed shutdown of one of Alaska's largest fisheries, but it still might not be enough to save king salmon.

Today:W pull back the curtain on the legislature’s transportation committee with outgoing chair Rep. William Straus, and former assistant transportation secretary Chris Dempsey,And, a robust debate over lunch – we open the lines to ask listeners if they’re among the nearly 20% of Boston workers who say they skip lunch.

Brian McGrory, head of BU Journalism, discusses Trump's behavior at his latest string of rallies, and the lack of public information available on the death of the State Police recruit.Then we open the phone and text lines to get your election thoughts two weeks until election day. Charlie Sennott, founder of The GroundTruth Project, discusses the killing of Yahya Sinwar and what it means for conflict in the Middle East.Chris Dempsey of Speck Dempsey urban planning & Rep. William Straus, outgoing chair of the legislature's Transportation Committee, discuss transit-oriented headlines on derailments, rail links, congestion studies, and e-bike injuries.For our text question of the day: after decades of ruling the NFL, how have you adjusted to the Patriot’s fall from grace?Khalil Gibran Muhammad, professor of History Race and Public Policy at Harvard, discusses the school's decision to ban more than 12 students from the library over a silent "study-in" anti-war protest in objection over Israel's military actions in the Middle East — and the professors who demonstrated in their defense.Almost a fifth of workers in Boston skip their lunch breaks altogether. Are you someone who respects the sacred work lunch break, or are you shoveling food while on the job?

We had our Ballot Question 1 debate with Mary Connaughton from the Pioneer Institute arguing yes, and political science professor Jerold Duquette arguing no.Adam Ezra for Live Music Friday performed and talked about his work raising hundreds for homeless veterans.Gina McCarthy & Johanna Neumann discussed the stakes for this November’s election as it relates to climate action.Comedian Jenny Slate talked about her new book called LIFEFORM.

Today:BPR hosts a debate on Ballot Question 1, which would grant the state auditor authority to audit the finances and workings of the legislature. Mary Connaughton, director of government transparency and COO at the Pioneer Institute, argues for YES on 1. Jerold Duquette, professor of political science at Central Connecticut State University and co-founder of MassPoliticsProfs.org, argues for NO on 1.

Today:Roxana Rivera, co-chair of the Yes on 3 coalition and Assistant to the President at 32BJ SEIU, joins to discuss Ballot Question 3 - which would allow rideshare drivers for companies like Uber and Lyft to collectively bargain for better working conditions. Mass Fiscal Alliance wrote the opposition memo for this ballot question in the Secretary of State's voter guidebook, but no group formally launched an opposition to it. Mass Fiscal declined BPR's request to debate the issue.