Boston Public Radio Podcast

We opened the lines to discuss how close the election is and if the country is ready to elect a woman  Trenni Casey, NBC Sports Boston anchor/reporter, discussed the NWSL Boston's botched new team name rollout and the Patriots gone soft Sue O'Connell, political commentator NBC10, discussed the Karen Read Dateline episode Ahead of Susan G Komen's annual More Than Pink fundraiser this weekend, we ta...

Today: W pull back the curtain on the legislature’s transportation committee with outgoing chair Rep. William Straus, and former assistant transportation secretary Chris Dempsey, And, a robust debate over lunch – we open the lines to ask listeners if they’re among the nearly 20% of Boston workers who say they skip lunch.

Brian McGrory, head of BU Journalism, discusses Trump's behavior at his latest string of rallies, and the lack of public information available on the death of the State Police recruit. Then we open the phone and text lines to get your election thoughts two weeks until election day.  Charlie Sennott, founder of The GroundTruth Project, discusses the killing of Yahya Sinwar and what it means for con...

We had our Ballot Question 1 debate with Mary Connaughton from the Pioneer Institute arguing yes, and political science professor Jerold Duquette arguing no. Adam Ezra for Live Music Friday performed and talked about his work raising hundreds for homeless veterans. Gina McCarthy & Johanna Neumann discussed the stakes for this November’s election as it relates to climate action. Comedian Jenny...

Today: BPR hosts a debate on Ballot Question 1, which would grant the state auditor authority to audit the finances and workings of the legislature. Mary Connaughton, director of government transparency and COO at the Pioneer Institute, argues for YES on 1. Jerold Duquette, professor of political science at Central Connecticut State University and co-founder of MassPoliticsProfs.org, argues for NO...

Today: Roxana Rivera, co-chair of the Yes on 3 coalition and Assistant to the President at 32BJ SEIU, joins to discuss Ballot Question 3 - which would allow rideshare drivers for companies like Uber and Lyft to collectively bargain for better working conditions. Mass Fiscal Alliance wrote the opposition memo for this ballot question in the Secretary of State's voter guidebook, but no group formall...

Roxanna Rivera joins as a representative for Yes on 3 and United Justice. She makes the case for ballot question 3, which would allow ride share workers the right to unionize. Representatives from the group Mass. Fiscal Alliance, who wrote the official language for the “no” side, say they are not a ballot question committee and declined our invitation to join.  Then we opened the phone lines to he...

Today: We bring you our debate on ballot question 2 - whether to eliminate the MCAS exam as a graduation requirement. Representing YES on 2 is Deb McCarthy, vice president of the Massachusetts Teachers Union. Representing NO on 2 is Keri Rodrigues, co-founder of the National Parents Union. And, Sunita Williams, NASA astronaut and commander of expedition 72 zooms into us from the International Spac...

Ballot question #2 debate: Deb McCarthy, VP of the Mass Teachers Association represents YES on 2; Keri Rodrigues, founder of the National Parents Union. NASA astronaut Sunita Williams joined over Zoom into the show from the International Space Station We opened the lines to hear from listeners about their opinions on question 2 National security expert Juliette Kayyem on FEMA making "operational a...

Today: We host a debate on Ballot Question 4 - whether to legalize certain psychedelic drugs. Representing Yes on 4: Emily Oneschuck from Massachusetts for Mental Health Options. Representing No on 4: Dr. Nassir Ghaemi, a psychiatrist and researcher specializing in depression and bipolar illness.

Ballot Question #4 debate with Emily Oneschuk, grassroots campaign director for Massachusetts for Mental Health Options, representing YES; and Dr. Nassir Ghaemi, professor of psychiatry at Tufts Medical Center and clinical lecturer at Harvard Medical School, representing NO Attorney General Andrea Campbell spent the hour taking listener questions for Ask The AG CNN's John King discussed the latest...

Today on the podcast:  BPR hosts its first of five ballot question debates, starting with Question 5 - to eliminate the tipped minimum wage, and bring tipped workers up to the state minimum wage, currently $15 an hour.  Alex Galimberti, organizer for One Fair Wage Massachusetts and a former restaurant worker, argues in favor of eliminating the tipped wage. Opposite Alex, is Doug Bacon, local resta...

Our first debate of the week on Question 5 - the minimum wage for tipped workers -- with Alex Galimberti, founder of the organization’s Mass. chapter of One Fair Wage and former restaurant worker representing YES, and Doug Bacon, head of Red Paint Hospitality, on behalf of the Committee to Protect Tips, representing NO. We then opened the lines to hear listener thoughts on Q5. Charlie Sennott of t...

Today: GBH investigative reporter Phillip Martin, journalist Tim Biba and Megan Squire of the Southern Poverty Law Center tell us about Odysee, an alternative YouTube for the alt-right.  And, Grammy-winner Gil Rose, baritone Aaron Engebreth and soprano Heather Buck, preview “Of Thee I Sing” and “Let ‘Em Eat Cake” tomorrow night at Jordan Hall with Odyssey Opera.

Gil Rose is our guest for Live Music Friday. He's leading a first-of-its-kind opera production that fuses two political satires from songwriting legends George & Ira Gershwin at NEC’s Jordan Hall. GBH News investigative reporter Phillip Martin, Tim Biba & the SPLC’s Megan Squire join to talk about the proliferation of Odysee, LBRY and other online platforms catering to white supremacists. ...

Today: Food policy analyst Corby Kummer discusses Boston restaurateur Barbara Lynch announcing she's closing all her locations. And, we open the lines for Am I The A-Hole. This week's prompt involves an exhausted new mother fed up with her husband not helping out around the house, so she cancels his streaming services and hires a maid with the extra cash.

We opened the lines to discuss on why we can't turn the TV off to hurricane coverage.  Paul Reville on a new federal class action lawsuit against 40 colleges, accusing them of conspiring to overcharge on tuition. Andrea Cabral on Fox News’ official misinformation fact sheet Corby Kummer reflected on Barbara Lynch restaurant closures Shirley Leung on ballot question 5  AITA for cancelling streaming...

Today: In Somerville, bomb threats forced workers at the public library to cancel a children’s reading event featuring local drag queens. NBC10's Sue O’Connell discusses that story, Trump’s close relationship with Putin, and Kamala Harris' media blitz before Nov. 5.  And financial consultant Chris Browning is host of Popcorn Finance, a snackable podcast series designed to help the average person g...

We opened the lines to continue the discussion about Hurricane Milton.  GBH's Jared Bowen discussed his star turn in Nassim, tonight. And, Schlock & Awe at the Coolidge NBC10's Sue O'Connell discussed the Harris campaign's media blitz, AG Campbell joining suit against TikTok,  Boston Globe advice/relationship columnist Meredith Goldstein discussed her latest, including a submission from a man...

Hurricane Milton is barreling towards the west coast of Florida, barely two weeks after Hurricane Helene left a path of destruction in the same area. We asked listeners how this natural disaster-riddled autumn is shaping their views on climate change.  NBC Sports Boston anchor/reporter Trenni Casey discusses the Patriots in disarray, and the latest on the NCAA settlement that would allow players t...

Today: We mark one year since Hamas terrorists from Gaza invaded Israel, killing more than 1,000 Israelis, and taking 250 hostage. In the 12 months since, Israel’s military response has resulted in more than 40,000 deaths of Palestinians – the majority civilians.  We talk with Maya Roman, a relative of one of the hostages, Carmel Gat, who was killed in August in captivity. And, we reflect with Amh...

We started the show with Maya Roman, family member of Carmel Gat, who was held hostage by Hamas for months until her death. Charlie Sennott of The GroundTruth Project on the 1 year mark of the deadly Hamas attack in Israel, and subsequent war(s) in response. Ilan Stavans of Amherst College will discuss how Oct. 7 marked a turning point in Israel's history and his new cookbook "Sabor Judio: The Jew...

Today: New England EPA administrator David Cash talks about the impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act, and what’s next for climate in 2024 – from offshore wind to the threatened coastline.  Live Music Friday with great local singer/songwriter Will Dailey. He’s got a new album “Boys Talking” out soon – and a show at the Sinclair next week. 

We opened the lines to discuss election workers.  Will Dailey performed for Live Music Friday Callie Crossley on election threats here in Mass ahead of November David Cash, New England’s EPA administraton on climate policy differences in a Harris or Trump administration Corby Kummer on FAS sewage sludge, threats to SNAP benefits for millions, and the art of the campaign meal-stop We ended the show...

Chuck Todd on VP debates & more… We opened the lines to discuss reactions to the Jack Smith case Andrea Cabral talked about Gov. Healey using executive powers to put newly passed gun regulations into effect. Shirley Leung discussed her latest liquor license reporting.  Joe Curtatone introduced us to another player in New England’s clean energy sector -- Bill DeCroce, CEO of Vicinity Energy. We...