Boston Public Radio Podcast

Is the next big challenge in food production disappearing seed diversity? Joining *Boston Public Radio *to weigh in on this topic and more was Corby Kummer. Kummer is executive director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at The Atlantic, and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened up the lines and asked listeners about new rape allegations against the president. Then sports reporter Trenni Kusnierek updated us on the sex trafficking case against Bob Kraft. Boston City Council President Andrea Campbell discusses her plan to overhaul Boston Public Schools. Does the new Boston-centered TV series “City On A Hill” capture the city in the 90s? TV critic Bob Thompson weighed in. Taco Bell is ringing in a new vegetarian menu. Food writer Corby Kummer discussed. CNN’s John King, host of “Inside Politics,” got us up to speed on the national news.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We went over the latest political headlines with former state treasurers Shannon O’Brien and Joe Malone. Charles Sennott, founder of The GroundTruth Project, explained Trump’s 180 on Iran. We opened up the lines and asked listeners about the opening of the Encore Boston Harbor casino this weekend. Attorney General Maura Healey took our questions and yours. We continued our conversation about the casino and also previewed a brand new podcast from Reverend Irene Monroe and Reverend Emmet Price: “All Rev’d Up.”

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened up the lines and asked listeners about the opening of the Encore Boston Harbor casino this weekend. After years of planning, construction, and controversy, is the long nightmare finally over? Or has it just begun? Medical ethicist Arthur Caplan discusses New York’s latest move on vaccine exemptions and other health stories. Emily Rooney, host of “Beat the Press,” shared her famous list of observations and frustrations. Donald Trump refuses to apologize for his comments about the Central Park Five. Callie Crossley, host of “Under the Radar with Callie Crossley,” weighed in on that and more. The Boston Globe’s business columnist Shirley Leung called in live from the curved escalator of Encore Boston Harbor (well, close by, but you get the idea.) It’s a pledge master face-off on our Friday News Quiz. WGBH’s own Edgar B. Herwick III and Andy Hicks got quizzed on their knowledge of Jim and Margery trivia.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd, host of “Meet the Press,” brought us updates on the latest national news. We asked listeners about Joe Biden’s comments citing his past relationships with segregationist senators as evidence that he can reach across political divides. Is he totally out of touch? Former Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea Cabral discussed the mysterious details around the shooting of Red Sox legend David Ortiz. It’s the summer solstice! Are you celebrating the season? Or are you despondent because the days just get shorter from here? We asked you. Massachusetts Gaming Commission chair Cathy Judd-Stein discussed the opening of the Encore Boston Harbor casino in Everett this weekend. Harvard Graduate School of Education professor Paul Reville looked at a study that suggests students who work while in college earn higher wages once they graduate.

Today on Boston Public Radio: MIT economist Jon Gruber discussed the social and economic impacts of when women have abortions. We opened up the lines and asked our listeners about the affordable housing crunch in Boston. Have you left the city because of sky-high rents? Are you thinking about it? Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam gave us an evolutionary explanation of how dogs won humans over. WGBH executive arts editor Jared Bowen shared his reviews of productions of “Miss Saigon,” “Yerma,” and other shows around town. Naturalist Sy Montgomery explored the latest news from the Animal Kingdom, including the work of a turtle sanctuary and rescue in central Massachusetts. It’s time for our summer concert roundtable! WCRB’s Brian McCreath, Berklee’s Rob Hochschild, and WGBH’s own Brian O’Donovan shared their picks.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened up the lines and asked listeners about the controversy over the U.S. Women's Soccer Team celebrating its high-scoring win against Thailand. Is criticism of the team sexism in action? Trenni Kusnierek, reporter and anchor at NBC Sports Boston, weighed in on that and other sports headlines. Kade Crockford, director of the Technology for Liberty Program at the ACLU of Massachusetts,** **talked about the launch of the ACLU’s campaign to regulate facial recognition technology. Lawyer Ruth Greenberg, the head of the compassionate release pop-up clinic at Boston University, discussed why the state's Department of Corrections is failing to grant more terminally-ill prisoners compassionate release. Legendary actor Ed Asner of "Up" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" shared his new play, "God Help Us." John King, CNN's Chief National Correspondent and host of "Inside Politics," updated us on the latest national news. It's the 80th anniversary of "The Wizard Of Oz." Joining us with

If you shop at grocery stores in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania or New Jersey, then you may have met Marty the Robot taking care of a clean-up on Aisle 4. But food writer Corby Kummer told Boston Public Radio that he thinks this technology has alternative motives.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We went over the latest political headlines with analyst Charlie Chieppo and former NAACP of Massachusetts president Michael Curry. Charles Sennott, executive director of The GroundTruth Project, discussed rising tensions with Iran and the latest updates on the shooting of Red Sox legend David Ortiz. We opened up the lines and asked our listeners: With the Red Line yet to bounce back after a nasty derailment last week, what will it take to fix the beleaguered MBTA? Do our leaders have enough of a sense of urgency on this issue? Food writer Corby Kummer looked at the robots invading our grocery stories and the new marketing ploy Kraft is using to get kids to use salad dressing. On “All Revved Up,” Reverend Irene Monroe and Reverend Emmett Price discussed a police incident in Phoenix that is raising red flags. Daniela Lamas, a pulmonary and critical care physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a staff writer for the medical TV drama “The Resident,” explains how she sometime

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened up the lines and asked you about a statue of Myrtle the Turtle that’s making waves in Boston. Residents complain the bronze statue gets too hot in the sun during the day and is dangerous for children to play on. Should it stay or should it go? We talked to comedian Hannah Gadsby, creator of the Netflix special Nanette, about her new show coming to Boston. Sue O’Connell, host of “The Take,” discussed the turtle statue and other happenings around town. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh took our questions and yours for a full hour on “Ask the Mayor.” Raphael Bob-Waksberg, creator of “Bojack Horseman,” shared his new collection of short stories, “Someone Who Will Love You In All Your Damaged Glory.” Callie Crossley, host of “Under the Radar with Callie Crossley,” looked at the cultural impact of Ava DuVernay’s new documentary about the Central Park Five. Our Friday News Quiz featured two architects, Eric Robinson and Kevin Deabler, who are partnering with affordable housing develo

Today on Boston Public Radio: A recent poll shows that millennials and generation Z are embracing socialism. We opened the lines to hear listeners' thoughts on Sen. Bernie Sanders putting Democratic socialism front and center in his campaign. Playwright Melinda Lopez discussed her adaptation of the 1934 play "Yerma," a meditation on motherhood, running at the Huntington Theater Company through June 30. Andrea Cabral, former Suffolk County Sheriff, former secretary of Public safety, and CEO of Ascend, joined the show to discuss the recent return to convict-leasing programs for the agricultural sector. We spoke with NBC Sports Boston reporter Trenni Kusnierek about the Boston Bruins' big loss in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Wednesday night. Former Secretary of Education Paul Reville broke down a recent U.S. News and World Report rankings of Boston schools. Reville is also a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education where he runs the Education Redesign Lab. Poet Richard Blanco shared some or

Today on Boston Public Radio: The MBTA is having a full-on meltdown, with two train derailments taking place over the course of a few days. We opened up the lines and asked listeners: Is it time to raise taxes to fix the beleagured transit system? Should children be able to make their own medical decisions about vaccines? Medial ethicist Arthur Caplan weighed in on the ongoing debate. Homeland security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed the president’s attempt to block Congress from accessing documents about the 2020 Census citizenship question. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung talked about the Raytheon - United Technologies merger. Are face scans at airports a privacy trap? Tech writer Andy Ihnatko explained. Author and Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam discussed the untimely (or timely?) death of the friendship tree gifted to President Trump from French President Emmanuel Macron. Art curator Pedro Alonzo discussed the upcoming public art installation New Horizon, which features a reflective hot

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has good news about the state of the country's school lunch programs, but it didn't do much to broadcast it. Food writer Corby Kummer explained on Boston Public Radio.

Today on Boston Public Radio: President Donald Trump has tapped Ken Cuccinelli to head the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Joining with his analysis was Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum as well as the author of "There Goes the Neighborhood: How Communities Overcome Prejudice and Meet the Challenge of American Immigration." A new poll says that 60% of voters believe the state is not adequately funding education — and that they're open to paying more taxes and reallocating funds to help districts that need it. We opened up the lines and asked listeners: Do you agree? From multiple derailments on the MBTA to the coming "A-pike-alypse," we discussed all things transit with Jim Aloisi and Chris Dempsey. Aloisi is former state transportation secretary, a member of the TransitMatters board, and a contributor to Commonwealth Magazine. Chris Dempsey is the director of Transportation for Massachusetts and a former assistant secretary of transportation. Is Trump pla

Today on Boston Public Radio: We talked about all things with politics with WGBH reporter Adam Reilly and UMass political science professor Erin O’Brien. Television expert Bob Thompson discussed the return of “Big Little Lies” and other highlights from the small screen this week. We were joined by Atara Rich-Shea and Mallory Hanora of CourtWatch MA, a grassroots group that observes arraignments daily in Suffolk County municipal courts and advocates for criminal justice reform. Charles Sennott, founder of The GroundTruth Project, discussed the shooting of David Ortiz in the Dominican Republic and other international news. On “All Revved Up,” Reverend Irene Monroe and Reverend Emmett Price looked at the controversial plans to hold a so-called “Straight Pride” parade in Boston this summer. Annie Copps, a chef, instructor, and author, discussed this year’s Readable Feast, a festival for regional cookbook writers. Then we opened up the lines and asked our listeners: What are your favorite cookbooks?

Today on Boston Public Radio: It seems like just yesterday that Joe Biden was against the Hyde Amendment. Oh wait…that’s because it was *yesterday. We opened up the lines and asked you about Biden’s change of heart, but also more broadly about how you feel when people you know *change their minds. Then we examined a species on the verge of extinction: the American diplomat. Author George Packer shared his new biography of Richard Holbrooke, “Our Man.” Emily Rooney, host of Beat the Press, shared her famous list of observations and frustrations. Food writer Corby Kummer explained what it is about working in an office that turns people into snack fiends. Boston Globe business reporter Shirley Leung looked at the slew of store closings in Harvard Square. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko explained YouTube’s new anti-harassment policies. Will they be enforced? Former U.S. ambassador to Spain and Andorra Alan Solomont and Susan Lewis Solomont, author of “Lost and Found In Spain,” faced off on our Friday News Quiz.

Why does working in an office give people an insatiable appetite for snacks? Food writer Corby Kummer explained. Kummer is a senior editor at The Atlantic, an award winning food writer, and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition and Policy.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Washington Post reporter Annie Linskey discussed former Vice President Joe Biden's place in the vast field of 2020 Democratic candidates for president. Andrea Cabral discussed the grim reality that awaits Paul Manafort at Rikers Island. Marco Werman and Daniel Ofman of PRI's The World discussed their recent series on millennial Russians, who have only ever known the country under the leadership of Vladimir Putin. Harvard Business School historian Nancy Koehn broke down the movement to get Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. Science correspondent Heather Goldstone examined President Donald Trump's climate change comments from his meeting with Prince Charles. Jonathan Alsop, founder of Boston's Wine School previewed his upcoming Boston Talks at WGBH next week: Rosé All Day.

Today on Boston Public Radio: While campaigning in New Hampshire, Joe Biden emphasized his plans to try to work with congressional Republicans if he wins the presidency in 2020. We opened up the lines and asked listeners: Is Biden being smart, and appealing to Republicans and independents who have tired of President Trump? Or will he alienate progressive Democrats and younger voters? Maine could soon be the seventh state in the nation to legalize assisted suicide. Medical ethicist Arthur Caplan discussed. Caplan is the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Chair and director of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU Langone Medical Center, and the co-host of the "Everyday Ethics" podcast. In the aftermath of mass shootings there is always talk about passing laws about background checks, high-capacity magazines, and improving policies and treatment for mental health. Is it time to add silencers to that list? National security expert Juliette Kayyem weighed in. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN and on the fac

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened up the lines and asked our listeners: Is it time to get rid of the SAT? Trenni Kusnierek, NBC Sports Boston anchor and reporter, examined the debate over putting up netting in baseball stadiums to protect fans from being hit by foul balls. Carol Rose, executive director of ACLU of Massachusetts, discussed the ROE Act and other efforts to protect abortion access in the state. The Boston Globe’s travel writer, Christopher Muther, told us about his favorite new travel destination: a cat sanctuary in Hawaii. Sue O’Connell, host of NECN’s “The Take,” looked at the legacy of the Stonewall Riots 50 years on. CNN’s John King, host of “Inside Politics,” shared the latest national news. We opened up the lines and asked you about whether airlines should get rid of carry-on bags to make it easier for people to evacuate planes in case of emergencies.