Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today on Boston Public Radio: Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed President Trump's refusal to wear a mask, and made the case that anti-lockdown protestors ought to sign a waiver acknowledging the risk of their actions. MIT economist Jon Gruber talked about the latest aid proposal brought forward by the House of Representatives, and his thoughts on what it’s going to take to stabilize the U.S. economy. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discussed the Trump administration’s efforts to have charges against Michael Flynn dropped, and the steps she thinks states need to take to reopen safely. We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s press conference. We opened our lines to ask listeners: Should lockdown protestors who contract COVID-19 defer limited care resources to proper social distancers? CNN’s John King discussed whether he thinks President Trump would actually fire Dr. Anthony Fauci, and new polling on support for former Vice President Joe Biden ahead of the presidential election in November.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to ask: are you getting the leadership you need from President Trump on coronavirus?  Former Mass. Education Secretary Paul Reville discussed whether high school seniors ought to consider taking a gap year, and and talked about the continuing economic turmoil for some colleges and universities in adapting to the pandemic.  AG Maura Healey joined us for the monthly edition of “Ask the AG.”  We reopened our lines to talk with listeners about anything and everything related to the pandemic.  We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Tuesday press conference. 

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to talk with listeners about the disconnect between President Trump's words and actions around COVID-19. Dr. Ken Duckworth from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mass. talked about the troubling mental health risks brought by the pandemic, and responded to questions from callers. Writer and Brigham & Women’s Hospital physician Dr. Daniela Lamas discussed easements of her hospitals's visitor policy to help grieving families, and talked about the long-term physical and mental toll that follows prolonged stays in an ICU . TV expert Bob Thompson reviewed Jerry Seinfeld's new stand-up special, and commemorated the life of comedian Jerry Stiller. We reopened our lines to continue the coronavirus conversation with listeners, ahead of Gov. Charlie Baker’s Monday press conference. We aired live audio of the governor's press conference.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Sen. Ed Markey discussed his latest stimulus proposal in the Senate, and what he thinks about corporate liability protections in the age of coronavirus. We opened our lines to talk with listeners about murder hornets, coronavirus, historic unemployment, and everything else that’s horrible right now. *Beat the Press *host Emily Rooney aired her grievances over the fact that golf courses got reopening priority over tennis courts, and read a murder hornet-themed list of fixations and fulminations. *Under the Radar *host Callie Crossley discussed the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, as well as the latest news around Tara Reade’s sexual assault allegation against Joe Biden. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung assessed Gov. Charlie Baker’s approach to reopening businesses in Massachusetts, and talked about the toll quarantine is wreaking on the state's economy. Writer and journalist Iris Krasnow discussed her new memoir, “Camp Girls: Fireside Lessons on Friendship, Courage,

Today on Boston Public Radio: – NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd talked about the partisan split over reopening the U.S., and his assessment that America is “the dirty country” in context of the global health crisis.  – Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed the current Supreme Court debate over birth control coverage, and her take on the statements made by Suffolk County DA Rachel Rollins about laissez-faire public defenders.   – We opened lines to talk with callers about the return of golf courses and gun shops to Massachusetts.  – We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Thursday press conference. – Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam called in to lead the BPR book club, where he discussed James Taylor’s new audio biography with Jim, Margery, and listeners who called in. 

Today on Boston Public Radio: Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed issues with President Trump’s goal of reopening the country by Memorial Day, and his reporting on how to ethically determine what kinds of medical care are ‘essentiail’ during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Jim and Margery discussed President Trump’s public reversal on his promise of shutting down his coronavirus task force.  Boston Globe editor Brian McGrory discussed the stigmas around Coronavirus deaths, and the addition of the “Comfort Zone” section in the Globe. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discussed the pressure from GOP members to reopen the economy, and warnings from weather analysts about this years’ hurricane season.  Lincoln Project co-founder and former New Hampshire GOP chair Jennifer Horn discussed the Lincoln Project's new attack ad on President Trump, and why the group of Republicans are working to vote the president out of office in November.  We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Wednesday press conference.  We opened

Today on Boston Public Radio: – Rep. Joe Kennedy discussed concerns about meat plant workers returning to work, and his call for an investigation into the violent conflict at a Bristol County ICE detention center. – Food writer Corby Kummer discussed unsafe working conditions for meat plant workers, and proposed legislation to expand food stamps and bring additional cash for restaurants owners. – We opened lines to talk with listeners about Monday's anti-lockdown protests at the Mass. State House. – Carol Rose from the Mass. ACLU talked about voting rights in the age of coronavirus, and her group’s campaign to have Gov. Baker grant additional clemency to non-violent offenders in state prisons. – Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang talked about the success of the $1,200 federal stimulus checks, and the goals of his ‘Move Humanity Forward’ PAC. – We reopened lines to talk with listeners about anti-lockdown protests and your thoughts on the federal government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis.

President Donald Trump classified meat plants as essential infrastructure last week, implying that they must remain open. Food writer Corby Kummer spoke with Boston Public Radio *on Tuesday about the ability of meat packing plants to stay open amid coronavirus outbreaks. "[Meat packing plants] are among the most dangerous, inhumane, cruelly run business operations in the United States," Kummer said. "Social distancing is impossible [in meat packing plants] because you're under incredible pressure to keep the line speed up." Meat packing plants consist of horrible working conditions, Kummer noted. "There's no reason to keep these cruel inhumane places open." *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: Dr. Benjamin Linas, infectious disease physician at Boston Medical Center, discussed why Mass. has the third most COVID-19 cases in the U.S., and responded to questions from callers. We opened our lines to talk with callers about Gov. Charlie Baker’s new mandate that all Mass. residents wear face masks. We aired live audio from Gov. Baker’s Monday press conference. WGBH news analyst and GroundTruth Project CEO Charlie Sennott talked about World Press Freedom Day, and his fears about the future of journalism at home and abroad. TV expert Bob Thompson discussed the overrated importance of bookshelves in virtual conferences and interviews, and gave a breakdown of the best and worst TV of the week. Travel guru Rick Steves gave his thoughts on the eventual reemergence of international travel, and explained his newfound appreciation for the domestic aspects of life.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to talk with callers about the sexual assault allegation against former Vice President Joe Biden. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed the latest news around coronavirus tracing software from Apple and Google, and how social media companies are handling pandemic misinformation. Beat the Press host Emily Rooney gave her take on Joe Biden’s response to the sexual assault allegation against him, and read a coronavirus-themed list of fixations and fulminations. Media maven Sue O’Connell discussed the sexual assault allegation against Joe Biden, and the Trump administration’s proposed rollbacks on protections for trans people in U.S hospitals. Husband and wife duo Joanne Chang and Christopher Meyers, of the restaurant Meyers + Chang, talked about how their businesses are doing amid the pandemic, and give their take on the future for Boston's restauranteurs. We opened lines to ask listeners why you think Massachusetts is struggling to lower its cases of COVID-19. W

Today on Boston Public Radio: Suffolk County DA Rachel Rollins discussed how her administration is responding to the pandemic, and answered questions from callers.  We opened lines to ask callers: are there certain businesses you’d be okay with seeing reopen now?  We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s press conference.  Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed Sen. Mitch McConnell’s push to reopen the Senate, and the struggles of holding court proceedings over Zoom.  NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd also talked about Sen. McConnell’s plans to reopen the Senate, as well as the sexual assault allegation against Vice President Joe Biden.  We opened lines to continue our conversation about the possibility of a safe reopening of certain businesses and services. 

Today on Boston Public Radio: Congressman Jim McGovern gave his take on remote voting, and Washington politicians who refuse to wear face masks. Medical ethicist Art Caplan talked about the disproportionate number of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, and commemorated the life his mother, who passed away from the disease this week.   We opened our lines to talk with listeners about Vice President Mike Pence’s refusal to wear a face mask during his visit to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.  We aired live audio from Gov. Baker’s Wednesday press conference. Former Secretary of Transportation Jim Aloisi discussed the impact of COVID-19 on the MBTA, and how the pandemic could be used as an opportunity to improve the city's transit system.  CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem talked about her writing for the Atlantic on how states ought to handle reopening their economies, and JetBlue’s latest requirement that fliers wear face masks. Playwright Ryan Landry talked about his new painting habi

Today on Boston Public Radio: — We opened our lines to talk with listeners about coronavirus vigilantes, and whether there’s a public responsibility to reprimand people who ignore safety guidelines. — NBC Sports Boston reporter Trenni Kusnierek talked about last week's NFL draft, and the latest news around the Tokyo Olympics, currently scheduled for 2021. — We aired live audio from Charlie Baker’s Tuesday press conference. — Harvard behavioral economist Michael Norton talked about the rituals parents are introducing to their kids to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic, and took questions from listeners. — CNN’s John King discussed the latest political headlines.

Today on Boston Public Radio: New York Times columnist Ben Smith talked about the media's responsibilities when it comes to covering President Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.    We opened our lines to check in with listeners, and talk about the struggles of working from home. We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Monday press conference.  TV expert Bob Thompson discussed last week’s Prince tribute on CBS, and reviewed “Homeland” and HBO’s “Bad Education.” Dr. Katherine Dallow, Vice President of Clinical Programs and Strategy at Blue Cross Blue Shield, talked about the status of coronavirus testing in Massachusetts, and answered questions from callers. 

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened our lines to ask listeners: has President Trump gone too far in promoting misinformation about coronavirus? Beat the Press host Emily Rooney discussed the president’s daily coronavirus briefings, and read her weekly list of fixations and fulminations. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh called in for an hour-long edition of “Ask the Mayor.” Boston Globe Columnist Shirley Leung discussed how the unemployment crisis is playing out in Massachusetts, and what small businesses can expect from the latest federal aid package. CNN’s John King talked about the president’s latest false claim, where he denied saying UV light and disinfectant could be used to cure coronavirus, and Joe Biden’s warning that Trump could try to delay the election in November. Under the Radar host Callie Crossley talked about President Trump’s claims regarding disinfectant and COVID-19, and gave her thoughts on the disproportionately high impact of COVID-19 on communities of color.

Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd talked about his recent interview with Vice President Mike Pence, and broke down the debate in Washington over more stimulus funding. Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed why some are advocating to reopen gun shops, and President Trump’s threats to sue governors over closed businesses.  We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Thursday press conference. Former Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic could shape the future of education in Massachusetts, and Harvard’s decision to return $8.6 million in coronavirus stimulus funds.   Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam talked about the newly-published recipe to make IKEA’s Swedish meatballs at home, and where the rich are flocking to during the coronavirus pandemic.  Jim and Margery talked about their concerns over the Trump administration's dismissal of science amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Today on Boston Public Radio: CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem talked about  President Trump’s latest restrictions on immigration, and U.S. governors pushing for what she calls a “careless" reopening of state economies.  MIT economist Jon Gruber discussed structural issues in America's nursing home industry, and how funding problems are exacerbating the crisis for seniors in need of care.  We opened our lines to ask listeners: are you still watching Trump’s daily coronavirus briefings?  We aired live audio from Gov. Baker’s Wednesday press conference.  Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed the shortage of protective gear in the U.S., and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s push to reopen nonessential business in his state.  Food writer Corby Kummer discussed whether grocery clerks are heroes or victims in the coronavirus pandemic, and the dubious future of the Whole Foods hot bar. 

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke with Boston Public Radio, *on Wednesday, about the way the food industry will be different, post-coronavirus crisis. "What we're looking at is maybe as few as 30 percent of independent restaurants coming back, it all depends on how long the current closings last," he said. "So one to two months closed has 70 percent coming back, than at 3 months it's 50 percent, and then if it's 6 months it's 30 percent - these are all just wild projections, but it's bad." Small independent restaurants could also fail during slow re-openings, since regulations will likely not allow full capacity, he said. "These restaurants might be gone forever, and everyday along with the obits, we're seeing constant obits of restaurants that won't be coming back." *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: We opened our lines to ask listeners: does the federal stimulus rollout, which is proving to benefit a few large companies over smaller businesses, have you feeling cynical about the government’s handling of the pandemic? Matt Segal, legal director for the Massachusetts ACLU, discussed his role in litigating the drug-testing scandal documented in the Netflix series “How to Fix a Drug Scandal.”  We aired live audio from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Tuesday press conference.  Boston Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius spoke about what her administration is doing to accommodate students working remotely, and took questions from listeners.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Seed Global Health CEO Dr. Vanessa Kerry discussed the surge of COVID-19 patients in Massachusetts, the role of The WHO in fighting the global pandemic, and took questions from callers.  We opened our lines to talk with callers about how you’re handling coronavirus anxiety. WGBH news analyst and GroundTruth Project CEO Charlie Sennott discussed the positive strides being taken by female world leaders in the fight against COVID-19, as well as the dangerous opportunities presented by the pandemic for authoritarians. Science reporter and FRONTLINE correspondent Miles O’Brien discussed his upcoming FRONTLINE documentary, "Coronavirus Pandemic," on the U.S. COVID crisis response.  TV expert Bob Thompson reviewed Saturday's “One World: Together At Home” concert, and Netflix’s new show “BlackAF.” We opened our lines to ask callers: if coronavirus acceptance was ranked like the stages of grief, which stage would you be at?  Poet Richard Blanco celebrated National Poetry Month by r