Boston Public Radio

Boston Public Library president says the plan will bring funding to libraries and homes for residents.

Gov. Maura Healey voices support for online lottery, marking her first 100 days in office with a Boston Public Radio interview.

Tillie Walden will become the youngest cartoonist laureate for the Green Mountain state.

Hiring, more funding and dealing with diversions like slow zones need to be immediate priorities, says LivableStreets Alliance’s Stacy Thompson.

“We want to be that connecting dot, honoring cultural heritage but also recognizing that culture is not static and continues to be created.”

There’s still legislative work to do on guns in Massachusetts, says the co-leader of Massachusetts’ Moms Demand Action chapter.

Today:Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University school of public health, and former COVID-19 coordinator under President Biden joins Jim and Margery in Studio 3 -- He reflects on mistakes made around school closures and vaccine mandates.And, our final Am I The A-Hole segment of the year: Is one family member the jerk for wanting to hold the big Christmas meal later in the afternoon than 1:00 p.m., so he can enjoy time with his own young children and family before meeting up with the big group?

Today: Andrea Cabral and Sue O'Connell fill in for Jim and Margery.We speak with national security expert Juliette Kayyem about the Wisconsin school shooting, and the drone mania on the east coast.And, Linda Matchan, editor for Globe Santa, and the Greater Boston Food Bank’s Catherine D’Amato, discuss ways we can help each other this giving season.

We start the show by asking about the acceptance of political violence, following the healthcare executive murder. Then, GBH News executive arts editor Jared Bowen discusses Commonwealth Shakes' A Christmas Carol and Made in Germany at the Harvard Art Museums. National security expert Juliette Kayyem discusses the Wisconsin school shooting, and the arrest of a US-Iranian citizen in Massachusetts in connection to a drone strike that killed American soldiers in Jordan earlier this year. Catherine D'Amato of the Greater Boston Food Bank and Linda Matchan of Globe Santa talk about how to help the hungry and less fortunate this holiday season. CNN's John King joins to discuss the latest national politics headlines. Then we open up the phone lines to hear about your best and worst holiday office party experiences.

Today:Looking for the best bottle to bring to that family or office holiday party? TJ and Hadley Douglas of The Urban Grape have you covered. And, through December 29th, Boston audiences have a chance to see SIX on its North American tour, at the Emerson Colonial Theater through Broadway in Boston. We’ll talk with the women playing Catherine of Aragon & the notorious Anne Boleyn.

We start the show by asking listeners whether they are making big purchases in expectation of Trump tariffs in 2025. TJ and Hadley Douglas of Urban Grape join us for a holiday wine tasting, and to discuss how American wine producers could be impacted by the tariffs.NBC Boston's Sue O'Connell discusses the two men arrested for flying a drone near Logan, Trump considering a pardon for Eric Adams and the fate of TikTok.Carol Rose of the ACLU of Massachusetts discusses the DOJ's report on Worcester police and data privacy legislation proposed by Sen. Warren that aligns with the ACLU's work to pass the Location Shield Act.Two of Henry VIII's wives join us, Anne Boleyn (Gaby Albo) and Catherine of Aragon (Chani Maisonet), from the Boston cast of SIX.Then, we ask whether gift cards are ever acceptable as holiday gifts.