NightSide With Dan Rea

Earlier Wednesday morning, State Trooper Kevin Trainor, a 30-year-old officer who has served with the MA State Police for 3 years, was killed in a head on collision while trying to stop a wrong-way driver on RT 1 in Lynnfield. The wrong way driver was also killed. The State Police are remembering Trainor as a hero with State Police Colonel Geoffrey Noble, saying he's "confident that had this trage...

Jeff Robbins, former delegate to the U.N. Human Rights Commission, joined us to talk about the Maine Senate Race that has gained a lot of attention after Gov. Janet Mills (the Democrat favorite and front runner) dropped out of the race paving the way for Graham Platner, a newcomer and more progressive type of Democrat who can really shake things up for the Democratic Party. See omnystudio.com/list...

Earlier Wednesday morning, State Trooper Kevin Trainor, a 30-year-old officer who has served with the MA State Police for 3 years, was killed in a head on collision while trying to stop a wrong-way driver on RT 1 in Lynnfield. The wrong way driver was also killed. The State Police are remembering Trainor as a hero with State Police Colonel Geoffrey Noble, saying he's "confident that had this trage...

8:05PM: Loud piledriving expected at Sagamore Bridge next few months as MassDOT load testing begins. What residents & drivers should know. Guest: Luisa Paiewonsky, Executive Director of MassDOT's Mega Projects Delivery Office  8:15PM: AAA Study Finds Street Racing on Public Roads Is a Growing Concern. Nearly a third of respondents said they regularly see racing drivers weaving through tra...

Authorities believe that the suspected arsonist in the devasting Palisades/LA fires is a man who shares the same mindset as Luigi Mangione (the United Healthcare CEO killer), a resentment towards the rich. Prosecutors in the case say they have evidence of the suspected arsonist praising Mangione, expressing a strong dislike of capitalism and evidence of a fascination with fire, all of which they b...

Authorities believe that the suspected arsonist in the devasting Palisades/LA fires is a man who shares the same mindset as Luigi Mangione (the United Healthcare CEO killer), a resentment towards the rich. Prosecutors in the case say they have evidence of the suspected arsonist praising Mangione, expressing a strong dislike of capitalism and evidence of a fascination with fire, all of which they b...

Based on data from a new Gallup World Poll used to put together the 2026 World Happiness Report, young people are less happy than they were a decade ago, with heavy social media use linked to lower life satisfaction and higher levels of stress and sadness. The data shows that declines in interpersonal trust, institutional trust, perceived social activity and social meeting frequency account for mu...

8:05PM: FBI Boston Recovers 17th Century Reliquary Urn Stolen from Italian Church. Guest: Pasquale Morra – FBI Boston Special Agent  8:15PM: The FTC is cracking down on “Ghost Cars” – how some car dealers are pulling bait and switch tactics promoting or advertising cars that have already been sold or don’t exist at all to get folks into the dealership to sell the...

In 2025, New Hampshire lawmakers passed a measure to eliminate their annual motor vehicle inspection requirement, effective Jan. 31, 2026. The vendor that had overseen the state’s vehicle inspections, Gordon-Darby Holdings Inc., challenged that measure, filing a lawsuit. The state was made aware by federal and state officials that repealing the inspection program without first obtaining the...

In 2025, New Hampshire lawmakers passed a measure to eliminate their annual motor vehicle inspection requirement, effective Jan. 31, 2026. The vendor that had overseen the state’s vehicle inspections, Gordon-Darby Holdings Inc., challenged that measure, filing a lawsuit. The state was made aware by federal and state officials that repealing the inspection program without first obtaining the...

Massachusetts GOP gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve is a former Marine, MBTA chief administrator and acting general manager who just secured his place on the September Republican primary ballot along with opponent Mike Minogue. Shortsleeve has been calling on Minogue to debate him for months now ahead of the primary election, to which Minogue has brushed off his requests, instead challengi...

8:05PM: The Price is Right Live, an interactive stage show coming to the Chevalier Theatre in Medford on May 8th! Guest: Todd Newton – Host of The Price is Right Live & Author & Entertainment Reporter  8:15PM: The 2026 Red Sox Hall of Fame! Includes Mike Timlin, Johnny Damon, and Bill Mueller. Guest: Mike Timlin – former 2x Red Sox World Series pitcher   8:30PM: Voter...

Dan asked the listeners if they've ever had an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction, or a moment where someone asked who dressed you?   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump said he is not satisfied with Iran's latest proposal and called the War Powers Resolution “unconstitutional.” The May 1 resolution deadline is now set to pass without action as lawmakers have left town for a week. Meanwhile, the U.S. is still facing pain at the pump, and tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union are set to increase to 25%. See omnystudio...

As Boston Mayor Michelle Wu continues to look for ways to generate revenue for affordable housing, she has signed a bill imposing a 2% fee on high-ticket real estate sales exceeding $2 million. Mayor Wu outlined that this is the fourth time the city has petitioned the state legislature for permission to impose such a fee, and it would have already generated $160 million had it been adopted the fir...

8:05PM:    El Niño has been making headlines lately as this year, we're in for a “Super” El Niño. What exactly does that mean, and how will it affect Massachusetts and beyond? Guest:  Dr. Emily Becker, Research Associate Professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Studies ...

For the last half hour of the show, Dan opened up the topic floodgates and invited callers to bring up any topic, or topic suggestions they'd like to hear on Nightside with Dan Rea. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Continued conversation about how President Trump has signed an executive order designed to fast-track both research on and access to the medicinal use of psychedelic drugs, including a $50 million investment in state governments to study how psychedelics might help people struggling with mental health illnesses. Dr. Kristen Cherian, a researcher of psychedelic medicine at Stanford University, join...

Recently, President Trump signed an executive order designed to fast-track both research on and access to the medicinal use of psychedelic drugs, including a $50 million investment in state governments to study how psychedelics might help people struggling with mental health illnesses. Drugs like ibogaine, which have not been approved by the FDA, have been used to decrease opioid cravings and trea...

The U.S. Senate race in Maine is getting interesting as Democratic candidate Gov. Janet Mills drops out of the race, pointing to a lack of campaign funds. She had the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and prominent left-leaning advocacy groups, as the Democrats hope to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins. Mills' exit paves the way for first-time political candidate Graham Planter...

8:05PM: Heart disease is by far the leading cause of death in the U.S.   Recent medical data indicate a significant and troubling rise in stroke rates among younger Americans (those under 65). What you need to know and how you survive a stroke! -   Survive Stroke Week 2026 is coming up May 3–9. It aims to raise awareness of stroke symptoms (BE FAST) and ensure immediate, lifesaving...

Former FBI director James Comey is now facing another indictment again. This time stemming from an Instagram post of seashells arranged in the sand to form the numbers "86 47" with a caption that read: "cool shell formation on my beach walk". Republicans took that as a threat or message of violence against President Trump with 86 meaning "to get rid of". The indictment charges Comey with two...

Former FBI director James Comey is now facing another indictment again. This time stemming from an Instagram post of seashells arranged in the sand to form the numbers "86 47" with a caption that read: "cool shell formation on my beach walk". Republicans took that as a threat or message of violence against President Trump with 86 meaning "to get rid of". The indictment charges Comey with two...

Incumbent Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) is up for reelection this year. GOP Candidate for U.S. Senate in MA, John Deaton joined us to discuss his campaign and the issues he's prepared to tackle if elected Senator for MA. Deaton won the Massachusetts GOP endorsement and will face the winner of this fall’s Democratic primary between incumbent Sen. Markey and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton. See omnystudio.c...

8:05PM: The Bruins cleaned up their turnovers and simplified their game, and they live to fight another day. Guest: Kevin Paul Dupont – Boston Globe Senior Staff sportswriter and columnist  8:15PM: A Pen to Change the World: The Life of J.K. Rowling-The only complete biography of the world’s most famous author, which includes exclusive interview content with relatives of Rowling....