Boston Public Radio Podcast

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt isn’t supporting her nephew’s mother, a Brazilian woman detained by ICE. We talk to BU journalism’s Brian McGrory about that, and why CNN has become the unwanted stepchild in the new Netflix-Warner Brothers deal. If a new state proposal takes hold it would allow sewage to be dumped into the Charles and Mystic Rivers indefinitely, backsliding on decades of progress to end the practice. We talk to Emily Norton and Patrick Herron from the Charles and Mystic River watershed associations. James Beard award-winning cookbook author Dorie Greenspan joins us to talk about her latest book: “Dorie's Anytime Cakes" and why everyone should always have a cake on the kitchen counter.We check in with GBH reporter Sarah Betancourt and Project Citizenship’s Gail Breslow on ICE’s latest cruelty: targeting immigrants on the cusp of citizenship at their swearing-in ceremony at Faneuil Hall. Tufts’ food policy analyst Corby Kummer on the latest threats to SNAP: withholding benefits from blue states

Former public safety secretary Andrea Cabral joins Margery at the library. Jason Koebler and Emanuel Maiberg are co-founders of 404 Media. They join for Press Play media analysis to talk about their reporting on Flock, an automatic license plate reader company used by police departments and federal immigration agencies.Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung recaps her latest columns on Mayor Wu and Boston's economy, liquor stores near Boston College and Boston's worsening traffic. Black Hole Symphony returns for Live Music Friday. They perform at the New England Philharmonic on Dec. 14. We talk with founder David Ibbett and Shep Doeleman.Edgar B. Herwick III joins to answer a few recent questions submitted to the Curiosity Desk. NBC Boston's Sue O’Connell discusses her coverage of the Brian Walshe trial, rats in Camberville, and that Dedham church putting up an "ICE was here" sign in their nativity scene.

Today: Live music with the Black Hole Symphony, performing “Mars Symphony,” ahead of a December 14th show with the New England Philharmonic.And two co-founders of 404 Media, Jason Koebler and Emanuel Maiberg, discuss their independent journalism outlet, and reporting at the intersection of surveillance, artificial intelligence, and immigration policy.

Today:Adam Gardner of Guster and David Schneider of The Zambonis are also members of The LeeVees – a band that exclusively performs songs about Hanukkah. They grace us with some live music in Studio 3.And, Massachusetts Congressman Bill Keating discusses the latest news related to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth – Signalgate and Venezuelan boat strikes.

Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner is among dozens of former judges calling out the targeted and intentional deterioration of the rule of law in the U.S. court systemAndrea Cabral, former public safety secretary, discusses Trump's targeting of Somali migrants including Rep. Ilhan OmarDr. Megan Ranney, dean of Yale School of Public Health, discusses myriad public health issues: a vaccine advisory panel meeting today, the latest on mass shootings/gun violence, and restoring trust in public health/scientific institutionsCongressman Bill Keating discusses Admiral Bradley's appearance before the Senate to answer questions about the Sept. 2 boat strikesAdam Gardner & David Schnieder reunite in Studio 3 as The LeeVees, their Hanukkah themed band

The Culture Show's Jared Bowen discusses Wicked: For Good, the latest AI-generated pop song, plus, his art-filled tour of Berlin.National security expert Juliette Kayyem discusses the war crimes allegations against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. And her thoughts on the attack on national guardsmen in D.C.Imari Paris Jeffries of Embrace Boston and Rev. Jay Williams of Union Combined Parish discuss their big plans for the upcoming MLK weekend and for the nation's 250th anniversary.Evan Horowitz of Tufts' Center for State Policy Analysis joins for a year-end roundup of state policy challenges: Medicaid work requirements, fiscal pressure on municipalities, and his new class at Tufts, "AI and the Future of American Politics."

Today:Evan Horowitz, executive director of the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University’s Tisch College, discusses the state's economy, the certified ballot questions for 2026's election, and more.

CNN chief national correspondent John King with the latest national political headlinesConductor Keith Lockhart discusses the Boston Holiday Pops 2025 season, which kicks off this weekActor Ethan Hawke zooms in ahead of his event tomorrow with Jared at the CoolidgeLee Pelton of the Boston Foundation discusses the organization's One+ mortgage program, and housing affordability more broadly

Today:Actor Ethan Hawke zooms into BPR ahead of an event at the Coolidge Corner Theater this week. His latest film is "Blue Moon."

Massachusetts is considering new regulations for elderly home care. We talk with Mass League of Community Health Center’s Michael Curry about that, and the latest on rising health insurance costs as Affordable Care Act subsidies sunset. Tufts food policy analyst Corby Kummer breaks down the rising costs of pantry staples bananas and even… pasta. Plus, he’ll tell us why Bostonians pay some of the highest prices in the country for their daily caffeine fix. Boston Medical Center’s Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett discusses her argument for stable housing and why it's vital for keeping people healthy. And, she explains what the latest CDC vaccine changes mean for people in Massachusetts. Plus, we remember English playwright and screenwriter Tom Stoppard and revisit our 2019 interview with him at Tanglewood. The Trump administration is imposing new restrictions on all refugees from Afghanistan after an Afghan national was charged in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington DC last week. We check in wit

Today: After an Afghan national was charged in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington DC last week, the Trump administration is imposing new restrictions on all refugees from Afghanistan. We check in with Fariba, an Afghan refugee with US citizenship, about what that means for her community. And, we talk with Alexandra Weber of the International Institute of New England about the impact on refugee communities.

Today:Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon of the War on Cars podcast join to discuss their new book "Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile"

Today:Javier Marin is executive chairman of El Planeta, the leading Spanish-language newspaper in Massachusetts. He discusses his new book "Live From America: How Latino TV Conquered the U.S.”

Today:National security expert Juliette Kayyem discusses the chaotic few days of peace negotiations with Russia and Ukraine.

Former secretary of public safety, Andrea Cabral, discusses how federal immigration forces are misusing "less lethal" weapons against protesters.Harvard's national security expert Juliette Kayyem on the latest developments in the Ukraine-Russia deal, plus Congressman Mark Kelly under Pentagon investigation for his involvement in a video from Democratic lawmakers calling on troops to defy illegal orders.Doug Gordon and Sarah Goodyear discuss their new book "Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile."Playwright Ryan Landry previews this year's Gold Dust Orphans holiday show.Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discusses this year's holiday squeeze as consumers are expected to cut Black Friday spending for the first time since 2021.

CNN's John King zooms in for the latest national political headlinesTrenni Casey discusses Killington's independent era for skiing in the NortheastAbdallah Fayyad, Globe ideas writer, joins via zoom to discuss his latest piecesCongressman Jim McGovern calls into the show on the annual March for the Food Bank of Western Mass. Javier Marin, executive chairman of El Planeta, joins in person to discuss his new book:  “Live From America: How Latino TV Conquered the U.S.”

Today:Ukrainian journalist and Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov presents his latest film “2000 Meters to Andriivka” tomorrow night on PBS. It offers a vantage point of war rarely seen in non-fiction films: a first-hand look at the toll of war on the frontline soldiers.

Paul Reville, former education secretary, discusses the federal influence in our education systems — from efforts to dismantle the Education Department to Harvard Vocational School.Oscar-winning documentarian Mstyslav Chernov on his latest FRONTLINE PBS film "2000 Meters to Andriivka" that captures the Ukraine-Russia war from the point of view of frontline fighters.Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III join for All Rev'd Up on BPR. They discuss how the multiethnic faith community of New Bedford is faring amid immigration attacks. Giselle Byrd reflects on her appointment to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. Byrd, a community activist, executive director of Theater Offensive performing company, and a Black transgender woman, has received death threats since the news of her appointment.Folk singer/songwriter Tom Rush zooms in to celebrate his induction into Boston's Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame.

Jinx Monsoon & BenDeLaCreme return to preview their “The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show” tour, which stops at the Wang Theater on Nov. 22ndLyndia Downie & Judge Kathleen Coffey join for a Thanksgiving check-in. Coffey is the founder & retired judge for the Homeless Court, which helps low-level offenders clear their records in order to get their life back on track. Lyndia of course is Executive Director of the Pine Street Inn.Hayley Reardon & Judit Neddermann are our guests for Live Music Friday, ahead of a show tonight at City Winery Boston. Reardon is a Marblehead native, Judit is visiting from Barcelona. Alex Green, vice-chair of the  Massachusetts Special Commission on State Institutions and a lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School, on the latest on a bill sent to Governor Healey's desk that would make it easier for family members to obtain records of their disabled loved ones who lived in institutional housingSue O’Connell on Larry Summers/Harvard/Epstein fallout, a proposed Boston city hal

Today: Singer-songwriters Haley Reardon and Judit Neddermann perform tonight at City Winery in Boston. They perform for us at the library accompanied by Pau and Arnau Figueres.And, Harvard Lecturer and vice-chair of the Massachusetts Commission on State Institutions, Alex Green, discusses new legislation that would allow families and researchers access to records involving people with disabilities who lived in state institutions.