Boston Public Radio Podcast

It's one week post election, so we start the show by asking listeners -- regardless of who you voted for -- what are you most happy about and most worried about in 2025?  S. Mitra Kalita, co-founder of URL-Media and a former CNN executive, discussed what might become of "the media" in Donald Trump's second presidency. Congressman Seth Moulton addressed his recent comments on trans athletes. Boston...

Live Music Friday with a performance from the Boston Civics Orchestra, celebrating their 100th season kick-off this Sunday.  Nancy Gertner on abortion rights, the future of the Supreme Court and Trump pardons. Joe Curtatone, President of the Alliance for Climate Transition joined alongside Rahsaan Hall, President of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts.  Meredith Goldstein ran through a handf...

Today: We asked listeners about what you want to hear from us in the wake of Trump’s election? And you answered: All politics all the time is not what matters to you. So …  Am I The A-Hole is back … When a Trump-supporting step-dad offers to let his son’s fiancée use his car – but it’s all MAGA’d out with bumper stickers – and she refuses to drive it … Is she the jerk, or is the grown man playing...

NBC political director Chuck Todd joins with his reaction to Tuesday’s election. Then, we open up the phone lines to ask how Democrats can move forward after this national shift to the right and ask Trump voters why the Dems just weren't connecting with them. Former secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral talks about the implications of a GOP-controlled Senate (and possibly House) under a second...

Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin discussed the election, historic precedence for non-consecutive terms and more National security analyst Juliette Kayyem on threats to this election from other nations, and internally; and how the rest of the world is responding Michael Curry of the NAACP spent election day in Michigan poll-watching. He talked about his experience and the election results generally.

Today: Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin talks us through a stunning Trump victory last night – an overperformance from the right, and a failure from the Democrats to rally voters behind Harris. And we talk with Michael Curry, of the NAACP, about the generational shift this election in terms of race and equity.

Election Day has arrived. We had numerous local political figures call into our show. Senator Elizabeth Warren, GOP candidate John Deaton, Governor Maura Healey, Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and representatives from each ballot question. We took listeners calls throughout the show to get first hand stories on what election day is looking like.

Today: Conservative commentator and never-Trumper Bill Kristol of The Bulwark discusses the American right, and the complicated relationship conservatives have with Donald Trump. And, if you’re still unsure whether to drop the MCAS as a graduation requirement, or legalize psychedelics, Evan Horowitz of Tufts Center for State Policy Analysis – ballot question explainer extraordinaire – gives one la...

Former Globe editor Brian McGrory discusses threats to journalism, trust, the truth and democracy ahead of this election. Then, we open the phone lines to check in with listeners on their voting plans and how they're feeling on Election Day Eve. Charlie Sennott from the GroundTruth Project discusses Israel voiding its 1967 agreement recognizing UNRWA and other news from around the world. Longtime...

Thea Hopkins, an Aquinnah Wampanoag singer/songwriter performed for Native American Heritage Month Callie Crossley reacted to Trump’s comments about being the protector of women “like it or not" Marvin Gilmore spent decades helping to lift up communities of color in Boston. He joined alongside friend (& James Beard nominated chef) Tracy Chang to celebrate his 100th birthday. James Carville exp...

Today: Andrea Cabral fills in for Jim.  NBC’s Chuck Todd discusses the last few whirlwind days of campaigning … from Trump’s garbage man orange vest stunt … to the Nikki Haley voters who are still undecided, as she tells voters in Pennsylvania to stop being so emotional, and vote for Trump.  And, some good news – higher city investments in Black-owned businesses. We talk about this, and Trump’s pr...

BPR Full Show 10/31: Happy Halloween!

Today:  We get listener reactions to a stark gender divide in this year’s race – with women supporting Harris at much higher rates than men. And, a brief reprieve from politics with naturalist Sy Montgomery. From baby turtles named after everyone's favorite public radio show hosts, to Sy’s new book – What The Chicken Knows – all about what we can learn from our feathered farmyard friends.

Jim Dao, editorial page editor at the Boston Globe, on newspaper endorsements. The Globe endorsed Harris, and included an explainer as to why. Jared Bowen wore his chaps as promised plus he discussed the Clark Art Institute's $45m donation National security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed the threats to this election -- the existing 'stop the steal' movement, conspiracy theories, and "secrets" be...

Today: CNN’s chief national correspondent, John King joins us just one week out from when vote counting begins. The Man of the Magic Wall tells us not to expect the results on Tuesday or even Wednesday night …  And, state auditor Diana DiZoglio discusses her ballot campaign to expressly authorize her office to audit the legislature – on the heels of two legislative leaders saying they might change...

Today the presidential candidates give their closing arguments to voters. We ask listeners what issues Harris should focus on during her speech at the Ellipse. Trenni Casey, anchor/reporter for NBC Sports Boston, discusses the NFL concussion protocol after Patriot's QB Drake May took a helmet-to-helmet hit on Sunday, and a Hail Mary pass by the Washington Commanders. Sue O'Connell of NBC10 discuss...

The Washington Post killed their planned endorsement of Kamala Harris. Former editor Marty Baron joins us to discuss, and the newspaper man doesn’t mince words: he calls it a spineless, cowardly decision. And, a return to the gilded age – with union-busting billionaire robber barons operating in this country under very different rules than the rest of us. We discuss with former labor secretary Rob...

Former Washington Post editor Marty Baron discussed the paper's decision not to endorse a presidential candidate We opened the lines to discuss newspaper endorsements GroundTruth Project Charlie Sennott spoke from Michigan to discuss Arab American voters concerned with Harris over the administration's support for Israel amid widespread civilian deaths in Gaza.  Former labor secretary Robert Reich...

We talk about the best bad movies to watch, and the rock stars still rocking with James Bennett II, arts & culture reporter for GBH and a co-host of The Culture Show, daily at 2:00 on 89.7 GBH. And, Music Worcester will kick off a feat we’re pretty sure no one has done before. 11 years of music : everything ever composed by Johannes Sebastian Bach over his 65 years on this planet. They’re call...

We open the lines to talk about election anxiety across the political spectrum and what we can do to combat it in the final days ahead.  Live Music Friday with folks from Music Worcester, who are kicking off an 11-year series around the music of Bach. We’ll talk with Executive Director Adrien Finlay and 25 year-old cello master Zlatomir Fung, who’s headlining this weekend’s BACHtoberfest. Bay Stat...

Today: Trump's fascistic comments on the campaign trail are raising critical questions about what could happen if he loses the election, again. We talk it through with former Massachusetts public safety secretary Andrea Cabral. And, homelessness in Boston is on the rise – affecting about 11,000 young people in this city. We’ll talk with Elisabeth Jackson, president and CEO of the nonprofit Bridge...

Chuck Todd discussed his weekly D.C. roundup, a week and a half out from the election We opened the lines to discuss two local ballot questions Andrea Cabral on the very-real possibility that Trump won’t accept an election loss, and what that means for the future of our democratic system. Jinkx Monsoon & BenDeLaCreme previewed this year’s edition of "The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show," coming...

First, your thoughts on Trump's latest comments about Hitler and a former general calling him a fascist.  Jared Bowen, GBH executive arts editor, discusses AI operas and Manet at the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum. Michael Curry of the NAACP & Mass League of Community Health Centers discusses the gender gap in health center visits and Biden's last minute push for OTC birth control insurance c...

Today:  We talk with Mike Madrid, a co-founder of the anti-Trump Republican group Lincoln Project, and author of “The Latino Century” And, new rules proposed by the outgoing Biden administration that would make over-the-counter birth control free for insured Americans. We talk with Michael curry, CEO of the Mass League of Community Health Centers, about this -- and the sexism at play in this elect...

Today: NBC Sports Boston's Trenni Casey discusses the botched rollout of Boston's new National Womens Soccer League team, the Bos Nation FC, with their "too many balls" ad campaign. And, media maven Sue O'Connell -- who was at the Karen Read trial for NBC10 -- discusses the network's Dateline episode about John O'Keefe's death and the murder charges against Karen Read.