Boston Public Radio

Harvard Alpaca Ranch boasts certified therapy alpacas like Sir Erik, who brings calm and smiles to nursing homes, libraries and even radio studios.

The state auditor is starting a ballot initiative to let voters decide whether the office has the power to audit the Legislature.

Actors are left without work opportunities, as they demand better pay and AI regulation.

The Massachusetts senator supports expanding the number of justices.

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."

Today:Boston University Journalism Department Chair Brian McGrory discusses the second attempt on Trump's life and Khalil Gibran Muhammad discusses how the end of race-based admissions changed college campuses this year.

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