Boston Public Radio Podcast

Boston Globe editor Brian McGrory discusses the American politicians booed at the Olympics and the athletes speaking out against the Trump administration. Plus, more local Epstein connections on college campuses. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung on the updated White Stadium figures released by Mayor Wu, and why South Station is still kicking out homeless people at night even when temp...

Ruth Marcus, formerly of the Washington Post, joins for Press Play to talk about the sweeping layoffs at her former employer. John Barros, interim executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, discusses his new post, after serving as Boston's economic development chief. Legendary singer-songwriter Livingston Taylor joins for Live Music Friday to play some tunes and talk abou...

BPR Full Show 2/5: I Changed My Mind... Don't Yell At Me

Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem on the latest tranche of Epstein files and Trump's comments about nationalizing elections. A special live music Wednesday performance by jazz and contemporary composer Farayi Malek , ahead of a performance at the Umbrella Arts Center in partnership with the Salt Lick Incubator. We also talk to Eileen Williston, executive director of The Umbrella Art...

John King on the latest national political headlines. Corby Kummer discusses how food delivery apps have reshaped dining Reggie Ramos of Transportation4Mass joins for a transit discussion Ari Snider of Maine Public on the federal immigration surge in that state

We start the show by getting listener's thoughts on the messy DOJ Epstein file release that leaked several victim identities. What do you do when the government doesn’t have you back?  Sarah Sherman-Stokes of BU Law and Leah Hastings of Prisoner Legal Services of Massachusetts discuss Gov. Maura Healey's latest actions on immigration enforcement. They both argue that Healey isn't using her full po...

NBC10 Boston media maven Sue O'Connell joins for Press Play to discuss the arrest of Don Lemon, Bari Weiss' "scoops" based strategy and the FCC revisiting the equal time rule.  Governor Maura Healey joins for this month's Ask the Governor. Electric harpist Deborah Henson-Conant serenades us for Live Music Friday, ahead of a weekend show at The Center for Arts in Natick.

Chuck Todd joins for news of the day, asking a novel question: " Is This a Tipping Point " in America? Andrea Cabral discusses the legislators moving to restrict ICE in their states; and new deportation data in New England. Nancy Gertner discusses the Supreme Court's slow walk on Trump tariff case, and how Minnesota's chief judge is taking on ICE. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley zooms in from Minnes...

GBH executive arts editor Jared Bowen on how even apolitical spaces — film festivals, online niche communities — have become political in the wake of ICE's actions in Minnesota. Plus, "Job" at the SpeakEasy Stage and his conversation with actress Claire Foy. Nicholas Burns, former U.S. ambassador to China and NATO, discusses Trump's Greenland push and China's response to Trump's tariff warning sho...

BPR Full Show 1/27: When Enforcement Becomes Extremism?

We open the lines to hear reactions to yet another fatal shooting in Minneapolis – this time of a 37-year-old ICU nurse, Alex Pretti.  Boston Globe editor Brian McGrory weighs in on coverage of protests in Minneapolis and the Trump administration’s attempts to lie their way out of another extrajudicial killing, and the media’s role in calling out those lies.  Michael Curry sits on the national boa...

For our weekly media analysis segment “Press Play," GBH’s Callie Crossley and The Bay State Banner’s Ron Mitchell talk about press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisting Trump never mixed up Greenland with Iceland ... and Bari Weiss' retribution campaign against 60 Minutes reporters.  The Massachusetts Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism found that antisemitism is on the upswing in the stat...

Political analyst and podcaster Chuck Todd Food policy analyst Corby Kummer Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler Slate journalist Laura Jedeed who was offered a job at ICE after “minimal vetting Former Massachusetts Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral

The Culture Show 's Jared Bowen on the death of fashion designer Valentino and Boston's Winteractive art installations. Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem on President Trump's continued threats against Greenland that are sowing chaos among European allies at Davos. Singer-songwriter Juliana Hatfield performs for Live Music Friday. Her new album is called “Lightning Might Strike.”  Pr...

CNN chief national correspondent John King discussing the latest national political headlines. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu from 12-1 for Ask the Mayor NBC Sports Boston's Trenni Casey discussing the Pats, and the unruly NCAA

Former New York Times editor Jill Abramson joins for Press Play to discus her latest column that asks why the press is still struggling to cover Trump, even as he governs increasingly like a king.  Shannon O'Brien, reinstated chair of the Cannabis Control Commission, discusses her return and what's ahead for the pot industry in Massachusetts. The co-organizers of "Which Side? A Protest Music Teach...

Political analyst and podcaster Chuck Todd on the MAGA-fication of CBS news, and the first amendment implications of a federal investigation into a Washington Post reporter.  Former Massachusetts secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral on ICE’s gestapo-like tactics in Minnesota and one woman’s story of how she was recruited into the agency.  Amherst College’s Ilan Stavans on what Latino voters ar...

The Culture Show' s Jared Bowen on a new PBS series “Breaking the Deadlock,” that explores the role of government in life and death decisions. Plus, we’ll get his thoughts on the new Bradley Cooper movie “Is this thing on?” and other arts headlines. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley discusses her calls for an independent investigation into the ICE killing in Minnesota, and for extended ACA subsidies....

MA Attorney General Andrea Campbell joins for Ask the AG. Andris Nelsons of the Boston Symphony Orchestra joins to preview their special America250 programming. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discusses her latest column on the impact of Boston's liquor license expansion and what Trump's pressure on the Federal Reserve mean for businesses in Massachusetts. Retired judge Nancy Gertner...

We talk to former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, Rufus Gifford, about what President Trump's continued threats of taking over the Danish territory of Greenland would it all mean for Europe, NATO and beyond. Chris Dempsey, former assistant transportation secretary, and former state Rep. Bill Straus, join for a transportation panel. They discuss the FIFA World Cup coming to Gillette Stadium and whether...

BPR Full Show 1/9: Truth Is In The Video

BPR Full Show 1/8: Minneapolis ICE Shooting

The Culture Show's Jared Bowen discusses the growing number of artists canceling their Kennedy Center appearances, his take on Marty Supreme and more cultural news from across the region.  Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem on what President Trump's threats of military action beyond Venezuela mean for security at home.  Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung on the Kraft Group...

CNN's John King with the latest national political headlines. Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU of Mass on oral arguments in Boston over their NIH grants lawsuit. She'll also discuss the anniversary of J6 and the Trump administration's efforts to rewrite history. Lee Pelton of the Boston Foundation discusses the problem of rental deserts in Greater Boston, and the issue of affordability g...

Tufts University’s international affairs scholar Daniel Drezner on the United States' weekend invasion of Venezuela to depose its authoritarian leader, Nicolas Maduro.  Tufts food policy analyst Corby Kummer forecasts 2026 food trends and how to stick to New Year's resolutions. Plus, he updates us on how the Trump administration’s agriculture investments will impact farmers.  Bioethicist Dr. Ezeki...