Boston Public Radio

Mayor Michelle Wu signed the proposal and sent it to the state Legislature. But she says the extension of voting rights for immigrants needs more study.

Maura Healey, Bill Weld and Marty Walsh called in to reflect on his tenure.

Staff and hospital beds are short across the state.

The bill would make it easier for Afghan nationals who supported the U.S. military operation there to permanently settle in America.

Catherine Peterson and Cathy Carr Kelly discussed the challenges facing Boston’s art scene on Boston Public Radio.

The Earthshot Prize, founded by Prince William, is coming to Boston this week.

Homeland security expert Juliette Kayyem spoke with Boston Public Radio on Friday about Olivia Troye, former homeland security, counterterrorism and coronavirus adviser to Vice President Mike Pence, who quit her job in July and has now endorsed Joe Biden. “She’s a significant staffer, so it is big in the sense that she left the task force, she left government, and then she goes public in support for Biden,” Kayyem said. “It assures the president to be the pig that he is in terms of how he talks about people.” Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd weighed in on the latest headlines around November’s elections, and President Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. GBH News’ Adam Reilly discussed new GBH/MassINC polling on voter attitudes around the 2021 Boston mayoral race. We opened lines to ask listeners: is it time for leaders in the science and medical communities to call out President Trump’s reckless statements on coronavirus and climate change? Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed the recent settlement reached between the city of Louisville, Ky. and the family of Breonna Taylor, as well as last week’s study from Harvard Law School on stark racial disparities in the Mass. justice system. Harvard Business School behavioral economist Michael Norton discussed research on leisure, and what we know about those of us who have a hard time letting loose. We also opened lines to hear your thoughts on active and inactive leisure time. Shannon O’Brien, former Mass. Treasurer and advisory board member of the Brookline-based voting app Voatz, discussed growing interest in online voting, and the pros and cons of current online voting systems. Travel guru Rick Steves called in to reflect on a series journals he wrote as a teenage traveling “urchin,” and discuss how traveling has shaped his worldview. We opened lines to talk with listeners about what Rick Steves describes as the “traveler’s mindset,” and ask: have you been able to use the coronavirus pandemic to discover new things about the places around you?

Today on Boston Public Radio: MGH psychiatrist and pediatrician Dr. Elizabeth Pinsky discussed how remote learning can hinder childhood development, in a conversation sparked by her recent Atlantic piece, titled "We Flattened the Curve. Our Kids Belong in School." We opened lines to hear your thoughts on the rollout of remote learning, and whether Mass. ought to be doing more to prioritize children’s mental wellbeing. Boston City Counselor and mayoral candidate Michelle Wu called in to talk about why she’s running to lead the city, and how she’d improve on the job being done by current mayor Marty Walsh. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed the ways companies are navigating COVID-19 testing for employees, and President Trump’s willingness to hold largely mask-free rallies during the coronavirus pandemic. We opened lines to talk with listeners about Michelle Wu’s campaign for mayor, and the improvements you’d like to see from future Boston leadership. Naturalist and journalist Sy Montgomery discussed the varying ways animals cope with wildfires, and why dogs have such a hard time recognizing people in face masks.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Mass. AG Maura Healey reflected on the life and career of Mass. Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants, who died on Monday. Deval Patrick, former Mass. Gov. and Chairman of the Together Fund, called in to continue the conversation about the life and legacy of former Mass. SJC Chief Justice Gants. NBC Sports Boston reporter and anchor Trenni Kusnierek talked about the Patriots' win – and Tom Brady’s loss – this past Sunday, and weighed in on the growing number of NFL and NBA players using their platform to advocate for social justice causes. Heather Goldstone, Chief Communications Officer at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, discussed the link between climate change and the current string of record-setting hurricanes and wildfires in the U.S., and touched on why the COVID-19 pandemic has had a minimal impact on the climate crisis. Jim Aloisi and Chris Dempsey discussed potential service cuts and fare hikes for the MBTA, and Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu’s track record on transportation issues in light of news that she’s running for city mayor. Jim Aloisi is former Mass. Transportation Secretary, a member of the Transit Matters Board, and a contributor to Commonwealth Magazine. Chris Dempsey is the Director of Transportation for Massachusetts and former Mass. Assistant Secretary of Transportation. GBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen talked about the Museum of Fine Arts' reopening, a new exhibit at Mass MoCA from artist Blane De St. Croix., and the documentary “Our Time Machine,” which was released to “virtual theaters” last Friday. CNN’s John King talked about the near-certain coronavirus transmission taking place at the president's reelection rallies, and news Tuesday of a diplomatic deal reached between Israel, the U.A.E., and Bahrain. We opened lines to ask listeners: as museums and movie theaters reopen, do you feel comfortable returning to the great indoors?

Transportation experts Jim Aloisi and Chris Dempsey joined Boston Public Radio on Tuesday, where they attested to Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu’s record on transportation issues, in light of her newly-announced campaign for city governor. "I think she’s already impacted the conversation,” Dempsey said. "She has been a leader on transportation since she joined the City Council, not just within the city of Boston but really across the region and across the state.” Aloisi agreed, saying he believes Wu “has already triggered conversations that are good ones.” "I think that the dynamic between her and [current mayor Marty Walsh] in terms of thinking about dedicated bus lanes, protected cycling lanes, is good one,” he said, adding that any future leadership in Boston will need to implement aggressive measures to modernize the city's transportation infrastructure. The two also weighed in on MBTA proposals to mitigate a looming budget crisis with fare hikes and service cuts, as well as Mayor Walsh’s announcement that Boston will be increasing bus lanes and making a series of bike lanes permanent. Jim Aloisi is former Mass. Transportation Secretary, a member of the Transit Matters Board, and a contributor to Commonwealth Magazine. Chris Dempsey is the Director of Transportation for Massachusetts and former Mass. Assistant Secretary of Transportation.