Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: WGBH News Political Reporter Adam Reilly and Joanna Weiss of Experience Magazine joined us for a politics roundtable. They discussed the presidential campaign of former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Friday’s impeachment testimony from Marie Yovanovitch, and the method behind President Trump’s use of humor. Charlie Sennott discussed Marie Yovanovitch’s Friday testimony, and the rise of populist nationalism around the globe. Sennott is a WGBH News Analyst and CEO of "The GroundTruth Project." We opened lines to callers to ask: is the Democratic primary moving too far to the left like President Obama has implied, or is big structural change the zeitgeist of the party? Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed a new rule by the Trump administration that aims to increase transparency between hospitals and insurance companies. TV critic Bob Thompson discussed season 3 of Netflix's "The Crown,” and a disclaimer being shown for classic Disney films on Disney+ to denote what the co

Today on Boston Public Radio: We aired live audio from Friday's impeachment testimony, and opened our lines to hear impressions from callers.

Today on Boston Public Radio: MSNBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd discussed Wednesday’s impeachment hearing, and the addition of Deval Patrick to the 2020 presidential race.  We opened our lines to callers to hear your thoughts on Wednesday’s impeachment hearing.  Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed efforts to save Rodney Reed, a Texas man currently facing the death penalty. Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigrant Forum, discussed the Supreme Court’s forthcoming decision on DACA, and its potential implications for the Trump presidency.  Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick phoned in to discuss his newly announced campaign for president.  Paul Reville, former Massachusetts Secretary of Education, spoke about gun violence in the shadow of Wednesday’s shooting at a Santa Clarita high school, as well as the looming $100,000 per year cost of college tuition.  Harvard Business School historian Nancy Koehn discussed the failures of

Today on Boston Public Radio: We aired live audio from Wednesday's public hearings in the House impeachment inquiry.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to hear your thoughts on a potential 2020 presidential run by former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick.  Montana Governor Steve Bullock discussed his own 2020 run, and his views on the future of the Democratic Party. Former Secretary of Transportation James Aloisi and Chris Dempsey, Director of Transportation for Massachusetts, discussed mishaps on MBTA shuttle buses, and the ongoing debate over how aggressively to invest in Massachusetts transportation.  Food writer Corby Kummer spoke about a surge of baguette vending machines in France, and a new study decrying the rise of hyper-palatable foods in the U.S.  NBC Sports Boston Reporter Trenni Kusnierek discussed the New York Times opinion piece by runner Mary Cain, and the firing of former Bruins coach Bob Cherry from “Hockey Night” following his anti-immigrant comments.  CNN’s John King broke down what to expect from the upcoming public impeachment hearings.  Actor Marika Aubrey spoke about the musi

Hold tight to your baguettes - the French countryside is beginning to lose many of its bakeries. Food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio *on Tuesday to speak about why modern day consumerism is driving the death of rural bakeries and what this poses for communal camaraderie. "It's why we go to France - for the village bakery in every town," Kummer said. "We want it to be charming when we go to France but [the French] are living in the modern world, and the modern world is not good to artisan bakeries." The increased demand for instant delivery and detached shopping experiences is leading to the closure of many small town bakeries, Kummer said. "People are following the method of ordering Amazon delivery and going to malls because they want convenience - it's happening everywhere." The closing of bakeries also ends the breaking-of-bread camaraderie that community members share, Kummer added. "The bakery, in many of these villages, was the last place you could meet people - it's just a natural

Today on Boston Public Radio: Frank Phillips and Peter Gelzinis discussed the latest political headlines. Phillips is a Boston Globe coorespondent, and Gelzinis is a columnist emeritus for The Boston Herald. Charlie Sennott discussed the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and Boris Johnson’s reelection campaign. Sennott is a WGBH News Analyst and CEO of the GroundTruth Project. We opened our lines to callers to discuss Amy Klobuchar’s recent statements about gender hierarchies and Pete Buttigieg’s qualifications for the presidency. Kelly Wirth, co-founder of climate activist group Mothers Out Front and Saya Ameli Hajebi of the Sunrise Movement discussed the road ahead for environmental activism. Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam discussed the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and a decades-long lobbying effort to install a statue of Ronald Reagan in Berlin. TV critic Bob Thompson discussed James Dean’s CGI likeness being cast in an upcoming Vietnam-era film,  Seth Meyers’ Net

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to callers to discuss former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg potentially entering the 2020 race.  Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed ongoing questions regarding Twitter’s ban on political ads, and Google’s new "paper phone." Emily Rooney, host of WGBH News' Beat The Press, joined us for her famous list of fixations and fulminations. Media maven Sue O’Connell discussed growing representation for the LGBTQ community on broadcast TV, and considered whether or not Bruce Springsteen is a gay icon.  Under the Radar host Callie Crossley discussed a study indicating that low-income districts had longer wait times in the 2018 election, and news of Kansas City voters removing Martin Luther King’s name from a boulevard.  Former Senate investigator Daniel J. Jones and screenwriter Scott Z. Burns discussed their new film, “The Report.” Artists Keith Maddy and Ed Stitt joined for our weekly news quiz to promote the upcoming Open Studios event in Fenway. 

Today on Boston Public Radio: MSNBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd discussed the written testimony of Ukraine Ambassador Bill Taylor, and the wider implications of Tuesday’s election for the Democratic in 2020.  New York Times writer and “Shrill” author Lindy West discussed her latest book, “The Witches are Coming.” Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral spoke about the retirement of Massachusetts State Police Col. Kerry Gilpin, and divides over the death penalty in the Republican Party.  Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, discussed the prosperity gospel and President Trump’s spiritual advisor, as well as Pete Buttigieg’s relationship to Black voters.  Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam discussed the “okay boomer” meme and how it reflects current generational tensions.  Boston Globe columnist Shirley Leung discussed the significance of a diverse group of new lawmakers elected in Massachusetts on Tuesday.  We opened the lines t

Subscribers of Amazon Prime — the e-commerce giant’s membership service for discounted shipping rates and streaming video content — will now receive free membership to the company’s on-demand grocery service, AmazonFresh. According to Corby Kummer, a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Amazon’s move is the latest part of its growing effort to expand into the grocery business. Kummer said the key to Amazon’s strategy is cutting down on staff at Whole Foods, which the company acquired in 2017, to reduce operating costs and fund the delivery service. “While they chop local jobs of people who are at cash registers or people who smile at you when you go to Whole Foods ... they can lose money hand over fist,” Kummer said. “All of your friends who are smiling at you at Whole Foods are going to be gone, because you’re buying into meal delivery.” According to a February report from Bain & Company done in partnership with Google, 3 percent of US grocery shopping occurs o

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to callers to hear your thoughts on First Lady Melania Trump’s visit to Boston Medical Center. Medical Ethicist Art Caplan discussed concerns over whether law enforcement ought to have access to data from consumer DNA kits. CNN Analyst Juliette Kayyem discussed E.U. Ambassador George Sondland’s revised testimony regarding President Donald Trump's call with the president of Ukraine, lax enforcement of the S.T.O.P. Act, and the future for disaster relief in fire-prone areas of California. WGBH Science Correspondent Heather Goldstone discussed President Donald Trump formalizing his decision to pull the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord, and E.P.A. regulators allowing toxic chemicals to be dumped in the Merrimack River. Behavioral Economist Michael Norton discussed the psychology behind “pseudo-secret” menu options. WGBH Arts Editor Jared Bowen reviewed the Polaroid exhibit at the M.I.T. Museum, as well as a production of “X” at the Flat Earth Theater

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to callers to talk about Tuesday’s elections and the 2020 presidential race. NBC Sports Boston Reporter Trenni Kusnierek discussed the high school referee shortage in Massachusetts, and new Red Sox Chief Officer Chaim Bloom. Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU, discussed the Press Pause on Face Surveillance Campaign, along with revelations uncovered by the ACLU that Boston Police are collaborating with ICE officials.  Food writer Corby Kummer discussed the firing of McDonalds CEO Steve Easterbrook, and Amazon’s latest plan to dominate the food delivery industry.  Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigrant Forum, discussed the Trump administration’s crackdown on refugees in the U.S., and flaws in Democratic Party's appeals to Latinx voters.  CNN’s John King talked about the latest headlines surrounding the 2020 election.  Playwright Ryan Landry spoke about his recent TEDx talk, titled “Cage of Normalcy,” and previewed a new show fro

Today on Boston Public Radio: Shannon O’Brien and Charlie Chieppo discussed the latest headlines around the 2020 presidential race and the House impeachment inquiry. Charlie Chieppo is principal of Chieppo Strategies, Senior Fellow at the Pioneer Institute and Adjunct Professor at Suffolk University. Shannon O'Brien is former State Treasurer and Democratic nominee for governor. Charlie Sennott discussed President Trump’s foreign policy in Lebanon, Brexit, and The Authoritarian's Playbook, a new podcast from the GroundTruth Project. Sennott is a WGBH News Analyst and CEO of the GroundTruth Project. We opened the lines to callers to ask: how do you feel about the verbal abuse of high school sports referees? TV critic Bob Thompson discussed Sesame Street’s 50th anniversary special, and reviewed Apple TV’s “The Morning Show” and “Dickinson.” Inaugural poet Richard Blanco discussed the vibrant world of ecopoetry. Director/producer Lynn Novick, producer Sarah Botstein, and Bard Prison Initiative alum Sebastia

Today on Boston Public Radio: Massachusetts Rep. Stephen Lynch called in to discuss Thursday's House vote to formalize the impeachment inquiry, as well as his aspirations to fill the Federal Oversight Committee chair seat left open by the passing of Rep. Elijah Cummings. Boston Globe travel writer Christopher Muther discussed the first week of Logan airport’s new rideshare pickup system, and the bizarre flavors of Kit Kat sold in Japan. Emily Rooney, host of WGBH News' Beat The Press, joined us for her famous list of fixations and fulminations. Mark Volpe from the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Andreas Schultz from Germany's Gewandhaus discussed Leipzig week at the B.S.O. Callie Crossley, host of WGBH’s Crossfire, discussed new bulletproof memorials for Emmett Till, and John Legend’s updated spin on “Baby It’s Cold Outside." CBS Boston anchors Lisa Hughes and David Wade joined us for our weekly news quiz.

Today on Boston Public Radio: MSNBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd discussed the latest headlines regarding the House impeachment inquiry. We opened lines to hear from callers on Thursday’s House impeachment vote. Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral covered the latest in a case surrounding the suicide of a Boston College student who faced repeated harassment from his girlfriend.  Nancy Koehn, Harvard Business School historian, discussed Amazon’s plans to deliver $1.00 items with free, next day delivery.  Paul Reville, former Massachusetts Secretary of Education, discussed Massachusetts’ standing in public education, and a federal judge holding Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in contempt.  Jane McMullen, director of the Frontline documentary “Trouble in Paradise,” discussed her documentary on last year's Camp Fire in Paradise, California.  Boston Globe columnist Shirley Leung discussed news that Rep. Lori Trehan’s husband loaned $300,000 to her 2018 campaign

Today on Boston Public Radio: Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed the U.S.’ defunding of a program to study potentially crippling diseases, and a new study indicating that 45% of Americans have driven drowsy.  We opened lines to callers to ask: do you ever drive while drowsy? National security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed the U.S. raid to kill Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and Tuesday’s impeachment hearing testimony from Lt. Col. Alexander Vindam.  Susan Rice, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., discussed her legacy in the Obama administration in light of her new book, “Tough Love.” Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam discussed tensions between Gen Z-ers and Baby Boomers over the older generation's response to climate change.  Media maven Sue O’Connell discussed President Trump’s relationship to dogs, and the resignation of California Rep. Katie Hill.  WGBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen reviewed Moonbox Productions’ rendition of “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” and Greater Boston Stage Company’s production

Ractopamine is a controversial feed additive that many pork manufacturers give to their market hogs in order to increase size and production. The feed additive is banned in the European Union, China, and over a hundred other nations, but is allowed to be used in the United States. Yet earlier this month, Tyson Foods, the largest American pork processor, announced it will prohibit ractopamine from its hogs beginning in 2020. Food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio *on Tuesday to talk about why some American manufacturers are rethinking the use of ractopamine and why the feed additive is banned in many countries. "This is one of the many drugs fed to animals that fattens pigs faster so they gain weight and come to market much faster," Kummer said. "Obviously it's cheaper for producers because they can sell their pigs off and kill them sooner." Ractopamine's effects are harmful to both humans and hogs, Kummer said. "It's really dangerous and it causes crazed behavior, as if you're completely hop

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to callers to hear your thoughts on the latest regarding the House impeachment inquiry. NBC Sports Boston Reporter Trenni Kusnierek discussed a series of headlines surrounding this year's World Series. Boston Globe cannabis reporter Dan Adams discussed the impact of Massachusetts’ vaping ban on local marijuana retail shops,** **and other headlines related the state’s marijuana sector. Food writer Corby Kummer discussed new revelations about ethical cocoa farming in West Africa, and a spiking interest in healthy vending machine options. We opened lines to callers to ask: do you want to see healthier options in your vending machines? CNN’s John King discussed Tuesday's impeachment hearing testimony from Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, and Rep. Scott Lynch's ambitions to become chair of the House Oversight and Reform Committee. Joshua Foer, co-author of “Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders,” discussed the guide’s second edition.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Jennifer Braceras and Steve Kerrigan joined us for our political round table. Braceras is a political columnist, senior fellow with the Independent Women’s Forum, and a former Commissioner of the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Kerrigan is President and co-founder of the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund, and former CEO of the DNC. Charlie Sennott discussed the death of ISIS founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Sennott is a WGBH News Analyst and CEO of the GroundTruth Project. MIT economist and Affordable Care Act architect Jonathan Gruber discussed Elizabeth Warren’s Medicare For All plan, and the possible ways she might finance it.  We opened our lines to callers to hear your thoughts on Medicare For All.  Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett Price, hosts of WGBH’s All Rev’d Up, discussed newly uncovered links to slavery at Boston’s Old North Church, as well as rapper Kanye West's latest gospel-inspired album, “Jesus Is King.” TV critic Bob Thompson reviewed the latest s

Today on Boston Public Radio: Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed a measles outbreak at Disney Land, and a California doctor accused of gross negligence over vaccine exemptions.  Emily Rooney, host of WGBH News' Beat The Press, joined us for her famous list of fixations and fulminations. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh discussed plans to manage opioid addiction in Boston, took questions from callers, and announced news that Boston Public Libraries will no long charge late fees to kids under 18.  Media maven Sue O’Connell discussed the supposed controversy over Chick-Fil-A’s plans to open a location in Boston.  Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony to Congress, and Google's new Pixel 4 smartphone.  Catherine Allgor and Peter Drummey of the Massachusetts Historical Society joined us for our weekly news quiz to promote an upcoming exhibit on the Boston Massacre.