Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners if they’ve been experiencing mass malfunction in their daily lives. Trenni Kusnierek recaps the Tokyo Olympics, weighing in on the financial toll countries take to host the Olympics, and American long distance runner Molly Seidel’s bronze win. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Boston City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George shares her thoughts on Acting Mayor Kim Janey’s handling of the investigation into former Boston Police officer Patrick Rose, and whether Boston should mandate proof of vaccination for indoor dining and gyms. She also addresses concerns over her husband’s housing development business. City Councilor Essaibi George is running for mayor of Boston. Jim Aloisi and Stacy Thompson talk about the return to pre-pandemic levels of traffic, and highlight various ways that the MBTA Commuter Rail could alleviate congestion. They also discuss the impact climate chan

Following the passage of numerous Republican-backed voting restrictions across the country, Democrats and left-leaning institutions are criticizing President Joe Biden, demanding a more aggressive plan to combat voting rights restrictions. Washington Post columnist EJ Dionne joined Boston Public Radio on Monday, weighing in on whether the criticism was deserved. “I am actually in the camp that says Biden has to do more,” Dionne said. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with President Biden in late July to discuss voting rights legislation, which Dionne labelled as “something of a victory.” “I don’t think they read him the riot act, but I think they were very clear to him that this really matters to the party’s chances in the future,” Dionne said. EJ Dionne is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a columnist for the Washington Post. His latest book is Code Red: How Progressives and Moderates Can Unite To Save Our Country.

Today on Boston Public Radio: EJ Dionne updates us on the latest political headlines, from Ohio’s House race to the state of the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Dionne is a columnist for The Washington Post and a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution. His latest book is "Code Red: How Progressives And Moderates Can Unite To Save Our Country.” Then, we talk with listeners about the U.N.’s climate report. Catherine D’Amato discusses hunger rates across Massachusetts, sharing how the pandemic exacerbated food insecurity in the state. She also explains why some people are reluctant to apply to food source programs. D’Amato is president and CEO of The Greater Boston Food Bank. Casey Soward talks about The Cabot’s reopening plans amid the rise of the Delta variant, and how the performing arts venue fared over the course of the pandemic. Soward is the executive director of The Cabot in Beverly, Mass. Shirley Leung discusses her column on anti-Asian hate crime victim Liem Tran, and a proposed ballot questio

The Atlantic’s Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Friday, to discuss Attorney General Maura Healey’s lawsuit against food delivery platform GrubHub for allegedly charging illegal fees to Massachusetts restaurants. Attorney General Healey claims that the company tacked on excess delivery fees greater than the state’s pandemic-era parameter that no delivery service could charge delivery fees greater than 15% of an order’s menu price. “It’s this restaurant by restaurant, tiny business by tiny business, gouging and cheating of GrubHub, and Seamless, and Uber Eats,” Kummer said. “They’ve all been doing it.” Kummer added that while other cities and states are enacting delivery fee caps, some food delivery platforms claim that the caps are unfair. “All of DoorDash, GrubHub, they are mounting a suit against the city of San Francisco, because San Francisco enacted a permanent 15% cap through the pandemic,” Kummer said. “I think that the whole country should be enacting these caps.” Corby Kummer is a senio

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening phone lines, asking listeners whether they’ve ended relationships due to disagreements on masking and vaccines. Corby Kummer shares his thoughts on Tyson requiring workers to get vaccinated, and Attorney General Maura Healey’s lawsuit against GrubHub for allegedly charging illegal fees to Massachusetts restaurants. He also remembers the life of inventor and pitchman Ron Popeil. Kummer is the 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. Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu discusses her run for mayor of Boston, sharing her plans to close the city’s wealth gap and highlighting her support for rent control. She also weighs in on the investigation into former Boston Police officer Patrick Rose over claims of child sexual abuse. Boston City Councilor Wu is running for mayor of Boston. Bill McKibben update

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd updates us on the latest political headlines, from calls for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign due to claims of sexual harassment to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ response to the COVID-19 crisis. Todd is the moderator of “Meet The Press” on NBC, host of “Meet The Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Then, we ask listeners whether they think asking for proof of vaccination is a violation of privacy. Andrea Cabral discusses former President Donald Trump’s request to block the release of his tax returns, and claims that Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) led a “reconnaissance tour” of the U.S. Capitol Building before the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. She also shares her thoughts on Mexico’s lawsuit against multiple U.S.-based gun manufacturers for allegedly facilitating the flow of weapons to drug cartels. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Kari Kue

Today on Boston Public Radio: Art Caplan weighs in on New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio mandating proof of vaccination for people going to restaurants and gyms, and Acting Mayor Kim Janey’s comparison of vaccination passports to birtherism. Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. Next, we ask listeners whether they think mayors and town managers across Massachusetts should require proof of vaccination in order for people to go to restaurants and gyms. Juliette Kayyem discuss the fourth police officer to have died by suicide after responding to the Jan. 6 Capitol attacks, and New York Attorney General Letitia James’ investigation into claims of sexual harassment against Gov. Andrew Cuomo. She also calls for more serious repercussions for people who choose to be unvaccinated. 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 Kenne

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by talking with listeners about the return to college amid rising COVID-19 cases. Trenni Kusnierek highlights Simone Biles’ bronze medal win on the balance beam, and American shot putter Raven Saunders’ podium “X” protest. She also explains why sprinter Kristina Timanovskaya refused to return to Belarus after criticizing her coaches. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. John Barros discusses his mayoral campaign, and shared his thoughts on whether Boston should bring back rent control. He also talks about his experiences with the Boston Police Department while growing up in Boston. Barros is running for mayor of Boston. Carol Rose speaks about the Massachusetts Republican Party’s campaign to put a voter ID law on the ballot for 2022, and the ACLU’s stance on Texas and Mississippi’s abortion laws. Rose is the Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts. Rosemary Scapicchio talks about Nat

Today on Boston Public Radio: Michael Curry talks about the rise in breakthrough COVID-19 cases among vaccinated Americans, and shares his thoughts on how to persuade more people to get vaccinated. Curry is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and a member of Governor Charlie Baker’s COVID Vaccine Advisory Group. He’s also a Member of the National NAACP Board of Directors, and the Chair of the Board’s Advocacy & Policy Committee. Next, we open the phone lines, asking listeners whether their kids are using summer school to make up for a year of lost learning. Shirley Leung updates us on the return of conferences and conventions to Boston, and the increasing number of local businesses considering mandatory vaccines for employees. She also talks about the lack of entrepreneurs of color in the Seaport neighborhood. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse discusses the release of new information surrounding the FBI’s investigat

The small outermost Cape Cod community of Provincetown has gained national attention in the past few weeks after tourists and year-rounders saw a spike in infections from the COVID-19 Delta variant. Upwards of 70 percent of reported cases are understood to be among those who were vaccinated. Town Manager Alex Morse has since pointed out that of the 900 cases related to the P-Town cluster, there have been only 7 hospitalizations, and most people are only experiencing mild symptoms. Considering the high number of breakthrough cases, the vaccines appear to be doing a good job of limiting the impact of COVID. Still, there are concerns, particularly for the huge percentage of folks on the Cape living with HIV and AIDS. In P-Town, they account for about 10 percent of the nearly 3,000 year-round residents. In light of the potential impact, we felt it’d be apt to check in with someone from the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod to see how they’ve been holding up. Christine Iversen is a daily case manager for the AIDS

Today on Boston Public Radio: Saraya Wintersmith discusses Acting Mayor Kim Janey’s report on the investigation into former Boston Police officer Patrick Rose for alleged child sexual abuse. She also talks about the Boston Globe’s reporting on Boston City Councilor and mayoral candidate Annissa Essaibi George, and questions over whether she used her City Council position to benefit her husband’s housing development business. Wintersmith covers Boston City Hall for GBH. Next, we ask listeners what they thought was the best strategy to get more people vaccinated. Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett discusses the COVID-19 Delta variant and the CDC’s updated guidelines on mask mandates, as COVID-19 cases rise. She also answers listeners’ questions. Gergen Barnett teaches in the Department of Family Medicine at Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical School. Callie Crossley shares her thoughts on Costa Rican gymnast Luciana Alvarado’s tribute to Black Lives Matter in her Olympics routine, and teenager Kie

Food policy writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio to discuss the prevalence of genetically modified food in our society, and the shifting realization that engineered ingredients aren’t inherently evil. When genetically modified organisms first gained popularity in the 1990s, Kummer said “it was all about huge commercial gain.” Now, the development of a genetically modified tomato — with high nutrient value — not intended for large-scale sales may be changing perceptions of what genetically modified produce can offer. “It needs a rebranding, and that rebranding should be: here are more antioxidants in your tomato,” said Kummer. Corby 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: Chuck Todd updates us on the latest political headlines, from the Senate’s vote to move forward with the infrastructure bill to GOP lawmakers refusing to wear masks in Congress. Todd is the moderator of “Meet The Press” on NBC, host of “Meet The Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Then, we talk with listeners about the return of mask mandates. Andrea Cabral shares her thoughts on President Joe Biden’s nomination of District Attorney Rachael Rollins for U.S. attorney of Massachusetts. She also talks about the Rise of the Moors’ lawsuit against the Massachusetts State Police. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Corby Kummer explains why restaurant workers are leaving their jobs in droves, and how megadroughts are causing price fluctuations for wheat products. Kummer is the executive director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen

NBC Sports reporter Trenni Kusnierek joins Margery Eagan and Jared Bowen — in for Jim Braude — for an update from the Tokyo Olympics. Athletes are performing without fans, without their usual support systems, in scorching weather conditions, and in a highly regulated COVID-19 environment. And everyone is watching. Kusnierek discusses the pressure elite athletes are facing in these Olympic games, as tennis star Naomi Osaka and gymnastics phenom Simone Biles have both opened up about the mental health toll.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Alex Morse talks about the rise in COVID-19 cases in Provincetown, updating us on the latest plans to stop the spread of the virus. He also discusses the return of the indoor mask mandate. Morse is the Town Manager of Provincetown. Next, we talk with listeners about Simone Biles’ decision to withdraw from the individual all-around gymnastics competition in the Olympics due to concerns over her mental health. Juliette Kayyem discusses Tuesday’s congressional hearing on the Jan. 6 Capitol attacks, and shares her thoughts on the spread of misinformation surrounding the attacks from Fox News. She also talks about the security threats posed by climate change. 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. Jonathan Gruber explains the economics behind individuals who choose not to get vaccinated, following “signaling theory.” Grub

Today on Boston Public Radio: EJ Dionne talked about the For the People Act, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) rejection of two Republican appointees to a select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capital attacks. He also remembers the life and legacy of civil rights activist Bob Moses. Dionne is a columnist for The Washington Post and a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution. His latest book is "Code Red: How Progressives And Moderates Can Unite To Save Our Country.” Then, we open the phone lines, talking with listeners about rising COVID-19 cases across the nation. Charlie Sennott discusses his experiences in Kabul after the withdrawal of U.S. troops. He also shares his thoughts on Afghanistan’s future as the Taliban gains more ground. Sennott is a GBH News analyst and the founder and CEO of The GroundTruth Project. Adam Reilly and Saraya Wintersmith updates us on the latest news from the Boston mayoral race and Massachusetts gubernatorial race, focusing on Suffolk County District Attorney Rac

Today on Boston Public Radio: District Attorney Rachael Rollins discusses investigations into the attack of Rabbi Shlomo Noginski in Brighton, and the shooting in Winthrop that claimed the lives of Air Force veteran Ramona Cooper and retired state trooper David Green. She also talks about her plans to review drug cases that may have been compromised by mismanagement at the William A. Hinton State Laboratory Institute. Rollins is the district attorney for Suffolk County. Next, we open the phone lines, asking listeners how they feel about the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Shirley Leung talks about the Massachusetts legislature’s push to legalize sports betting in the state, and explained how employers are relying on improved MBTA service to bring people back into the office. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Roger Bennett shares his experience growing up in Liverpool, and why he relates more to the U.S. than his home country of England. Bennett is the co-host of The Men In Blazers podcast and NBC s

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start the show by opening phone lines, talking with listeners about the potential return of happy hour. Jenifer McKim shares the latest installment of the investigative series “Unseen,” explaining how dating apps like Grindr perpetuate the abuse, assault, and trafficking of underage boys. McKim is an investigative reporter with the GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting. Andrea Cabral discusses the criminal charges against former State Police Captain James Coughlin and his wife, Leslie, after teenager Alonzo J. Polk IV drowned at a high school graduation party hosted by the couple. She also shares her thoughts on the Biden administration legal team deciding that incarcerated individuals released from prison over COVID-19 concerns must return post-pandemic. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Bruce Marks talks about the current state of housing in Massachusetts

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening phone lines, talking with listeners about the Child Tax Credit. Dr. Joseph Cooper explains the history of protest at the Olympics, following the International Olympic Committee urging athletes to remain politically neutral during the Tokyo games. Dr. Cooper is the inaugural J. Keith Motley Endowed Chair for Sport Leadership and Administration at UMass Boston. Juliette Kayyem discusses former President Donald Trump’s recent statement on the Jan. 6 Capitol attacks, and the end to recovery efforts at the Champlain South Towers. 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. Art Caplan weighs in on the return of mask mandates as COVID-19 cases rise nationwide, and misinformation surrounding vaccines on social media. Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University Schoo

Today on Boston Public Radio: We open the show by talking with listeners about the return of mask mandates. Christopher Muther talks about the Winthrop High School students behaving badly on American Airlines Flight 893. He also discusses the opening of the ‘Quin House, and the LGBTQ+ history behind Rehoboth Beach. Muther is a travel writer and columnist for the Boston Globe. Trenni Kusnierek shares the COVID-19 restrictions she’s encountered thus far in Tokyo in advance of the Olympic games. She also talks about the backlash against Naomi Osaka, who recently opened up about her mental health struggles. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Barbara Roessner discusses the founding of The New Bedford Light, and shares her thoughts on the state of local news coverage. Roessner is the founding editor of The New Bedford Light. Jonathan Martinis explains the history and laws behind conservatorships, calling for states to adopt laws on supported