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.

Today:A congressional double-feature: Representatives Stephen Lynch and Ayanna Pressley zoom in to discuss the Oversight Committee hearing held last week featuring Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and other political news.

Congressman Stephen Lynch zooms in to discuss last weeks Oversight Committee hearing, his role on the DOGE subcommittee and his vote in support of the Laken Riley act.Ilan Stavans of Amherst College explains the Latino Freeze Movement and discusses Trump making the official language English. Plus, we discuss his new book of poetry translations "Lamentations of Nezahualcóyotl: Nahuatl Poems."Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley discusses her experience at the Congressional Oversight hearing where Mayor Wu and other Democratic city leaders discussed their immigration policies. And, the Massachusetts groups suing Trump for rolling back temporary protected status for Haitian and Venezuelan migrants.Kira Khazatsky, president and CEO of Jewish Vocational Services, joins in studio with Dawn Hayes, major gifts officer, to discuss JVS' work of connecting communities with educational and career training.

Today:Gina McCarthy headed the Environmental Protection Agency under Obama, and served as Climate Czar for Biden. She joins to talk about Trump’s rollback of environmental protections, and his incessant proclamations of “drill baby drill.” It’s Live Music Friday, we’ll hear from The Conifer Quartet – part of the musician-led cooperative “Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra,” ahead of a show this weekend.

The Conifer Quartet is an ensemble within the musician-led cooperative Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra. They have a show Sunday at the Allen Center in Newton and join us for Live Music Friday.Alan Solomont is the former U.S. ambassador to Spain. He's fresh of a visit to the Middle East and he joins us to reflect on the latest news about and Israel's war with Hamas.Gina McCarthy is the former head of the EPA and so-called “Climate Czar” under Joe Biden. She joins to talk about Trump rolling back her former agency and other climate headlines.Due to a technical difficulty with Marty Baron, former editor of the Boston Globe and Washington Post (it's live radio, folks!), we end the show with a call-in free-for-all about grammar rules and grammar pet peeves.

We bring you live audio from the House Oversight Committee's hearing of Democratic mayors, including Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who faced questions about whether their city's "sanctuary" policies violate federal immigration laws. Plus, analysis of the hearing from former federal judge Nancy Gertner, NAACP's Michael Curry and GBH political reporter Adam Reilly. Our final hour is "Ask the AG" with Attorney General Andrea Campbell.