Boston Public Radio

Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse criticized Biden’s reasoning for pardoning his son, while Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley defended Biden's right to pardon his son but urged the president to use his executive powers to address sentencing disparities.

Boston Globe columnist Shirley Leung noted that Black Friday's excitement has changed, as fewer people lined up for early-morning sales. Instead, online shopping saw record sales.

The senator believes Trump will act in a revengeful way "towards individuals who he believes harmed him.”

Andrea Campbell said the attorney general's office can only get involved if the dispute between the auditor and Massachusetts Legislature goes to litigation.

RFK Jr's vaccine skepticism is concerning to doctors, but his calls for improving nutrition are appealing — if he can execute his plan.

The former Massachusetts governor says his party could learn from Donald Trump.

We start the show with "Ask the Mayor" with Michelle Wu. Harvard national security analyst Juliette Kayyem discusses President Trump's posturing on Gaza and attempts within the government to shield itself from DOGE.Ashish Jha, dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health, on the Trump administration's assault on science and health research. Naturalist Sy Montgomery says its the season of love --- and not just for humans. New England foxes, skunks, coyotes, racoons, mink, and barred owls are getting hot and heavy around Valentine's Day.

Today:Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joined Jim and Margery at the Boston Public Library on Feb. 12, 2025. She discusses her upcoming testimony before Congress, Josh Kraft entering the Boston mayoral race, and the latest on plans for a soccer-specific stadium in neighboring Everett.

Today:Civil rights attorney Alejandra Caraballo discusses Trump's attacks on transgender people via executive order, and the institutions complying with alarming speed.Then, Nikki Shults and Stephen Pina of Everyday Boston join to spread some kindness with a card-writing campaign.

LGBTQ civil rights attorney Alejandra Caraballo on threats to gender affirming care and bans against transgender people in college sports and the militaryACLU of Massachusetts' Carol Rose on the history of birthright citizenship at the Supreme Court Nikki Shults and Stephen Pina of Everyday Boston discussed their "Love Your Wicked Awesome Neighbor” program, where people can write cards so strangers throughout the city will feel less alone around Valentines Day.CNN’s John King on national politics news

Today:Axios business editor Dan Primack discusses Trump's new tariffs on steel & aluminum: How they work and what they mean for U.S industry. Amy Carnevale of Mass GOP and Steve Kerrigan of Mass Dems debate the state's true-blue future, and discuss Governor Maura Healey announcing on BPR that she will run for re-election.