Boston Public Radio Podcast

We start the show by getting your reactions to the Senate Democrats who agreed to help Republicans re-open the government.  President Trump just gave a pardon to former Mr. Four Seasons Landscaping himself, Rudy Giuliani – along with dozens others – for charges related to trying to overthrow the free and fair 2020 election. We discuss that and more with Brian McGrory, former editor of the Boston G...

It's our Friday media analysis segment “Press Play” with NBC 10 Boston's media maven Sue O’Connell and GBH’s Adam Reilly, on the Pentagon’s new MAGA press crew and a new report showing teens think the media is biased and boring.  As the Trump administration continues its assault on free thought and open inquiry, how are local libraries weathering the storm? We ask Boston Public Library’s David Leo...

BPR Full Show 11/6: How To Share Office Donuts

Governor Maura Healey joins for Ask the Governor. Then we open the  phone lines to hear listener reactions to yesterday's elections results.  Faith Soloway, Bitch and Melissa Ferrick are all part of a musical comedy show "One Long Earring." They perform ahead of a show tomorrow night at the Crystal Ballroom. GBH's Jared Bowen discusses Kennedy Center ticket sales plummeting and Serj Tankian's exhi...

Massachusetts AG Andrea Campbell takes from audience members. Senator Ed Markey on the government shutdown, food access, and small businesses feeling the pressure amid tariffs.  The Boston Foundation's Lee Pelton joins to discuss how the government shutdown is impacting nonprofit work Tiffani Faison and Zimu Chen are restaurateurs behind two of Boston Magazine's favorite new spots: Bubble Bath + D...

Today: ACLU of Massachusetts executive director Carol Rose discusses the challenges to the rule of law under the current presidential administration, and the legal victories holding those in power accountable.  And David Shapiro, head of the YMCA of Greater Boston, discusses how his organization is joining the effort to keep vulnerable Massachusetts residents fed through the government shutdown. B...

National security expert Juliette Kayyem on the investigation into an explosion at a Harvard Medical School building over the weekend, and President Trump’s continued attacks on Venezuelan boats, even as the UN cites human rights violations. Plus, why he's threatening U.S. military action in Nigeria. Carol Rose of the ACLU of Massachusetts discusses the ACLU-led class action suit on behalf of deta...

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island discusses the government shutdown and his latest efforts to limit the influence of special interest groups in elections. GBH's Callie Crossley weighs in on SNAP benefits drying up, a new debate around autonomous vehicles in Boston and Trump reinstalling a confederate statue in D.C.  Nick Shea is a rapper/portrait artist who’s grown an online following since...

Today: Brandon Cardet Hernandez, member of the Boston Public School Committee, discusses the literacy bill making its way through Beacon Hill, bell-to-bell phone bans in schools, and getting rid of the MCAS as a graduation requirement. Then economic scholar Chuck Collins discusses his latest book: Burned by Billionaires: How Concentrated Wealth and Power are Ruining Our Lives and Planet. 

BPR Full Show 10/30: Day 30 Of Shutdown

Boston Globe travel writer Christopher Muther talks about the impact of the government shutdown on air travel, why international tourists are skipping the U.S. and therapy dogs at Logan airport. Kelly Beatty from Sky & Telescope on a “ Boston Henge ” phenomenon in Back Bay, the Smithsonian's plans to get the Discovery shuttle to Texas and an asteroid that's maybe headed for the moon in 2032. ...

Today:  Former New York Mayor Bill de Blasio discusses the New York City mayor's race; he's endorsed Zohran Mamdani. We'll talk about his hope for the future of New York and Democrats across the country. And, Boston Medical Center’s Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett joins us with Dr. Lisa Fontes on the health impacts of domestic violence, and how to prevent it.

Former NY mayor, one-time presidential candidate Bill DeBlasio calls in to discuss the NYC mayor's race; he's endorsed Mamdani Sports authority Trenni Casey discusses the NBA gambling indictments Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett and Dr. Lisa Fontes discuss domestic violence and prevention/awareness through the lens of public health Anthony Amore, current director of security at the Gardner Museum, dis...

Today: Josh Paul and Tariq Habash both resigned from the Biden administration over the president's handling of Israel's war in Gaza following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack in 2023. They have since co-founded “A New Policy”  – a group that aims to reform U.S. policy  – and join to discuss what a true "American first" policy in the Middle East would look like.

Amherst College’s Ilan Stavans shares his latest book "Conversations on Dictionaries: The Universe in a Book" on the power of dictionaries in shaping culture. Plus we get his take on polling that shows Latinos in America might be turning away from Trump. Vulture podcast and TV critic Nick Quah shares the best podcasts he's heard this year.  Josh Paul and Tariq Habash are co-founders of “A New Poli...

Today: Presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin joins Jim and Margery at the Boston Public Library to reflect on lessons in leadership from her book Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln , released 20 years ago this week.

Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin celebrates 20 years since Team of Rivals was published , the one book Barack Obama said he’d want on a desert island.  Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joins for “Ask the Mayor.”  We talk to her about Mass & Cass, whether she’ll insert herself into the Markey/Moulton Senate race, new pushback from Boston’s business community, and Trump’s suggestion this mont...

Today:   Jeremy Ben-Ami, founder and president of J-Street, discusses the cautious hope many are feeling in the days after a ceasefire took hold in Gaza, and how American Jews are responding to this political moment.

BPR Full Show 10/23: AITA For Tearing Down White House?

Today: We hear from listeners about the sticking issue of the government shutdown: healthcare costs.

The Culture Show's Jared Bowen discusses the Louvre heist, and ballroom demolition at the White House and an Indigenous art at the ICA. NBC Sports Boston's Trenni Casey on the Shakespearean trajectory of Bill Belichicks career, Shohei Ohtani's run for GOAT of baseball, and a women's pro baseball league coming to Boston. Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem on the latest Trump effort to...

CNN's John King on national politics Frontline's Michael Kirk discusses his new RFK Jr documentary airing tonight Chris Kimball of Milk Street is on to promote his latest cookbook "Milk Street Shorts" Animal Rescue League CEO Edward Schettino and VP of animal welfare Cheryl Traversi discuss the rise in vet costs and the increase in pets being surrendered. They discussed the resources they have to...

Congressman Seth Moulton discusses his bid to unseat Senator Ed Markey and the Democrats' response to the Trump administration. NPR critic-at-large Eric Deggans discusses how to find trustworthy news sources in today's slop-fest of an information ecosystem. Plus, he reviews "The Diplomat" on Netflix and "The Paper" on Peacock. Former education secretary Paul Reville discusses rising illiteracy in...

Today: Congressman Seth Moulton discusses his bid to unseat Senator Ed Markey; and the Democrat response to the Trump administration more generally. Plus, former Washington Post (and Boston Globe) editor Marty Baron says Trump is laying the groundwork to prosecute members of the press, and calls on leadership in the industry to stand with their reporters.

Former Washington Post and Boston Globe editor Marty Baron joins for Press Play. He talks about news outlets refusing to sign the new Pentagon press rules, the future of NPR, and what to expect from the Trump administration in response to No Kings protests this weekend.   NBC10 Boston's Sue O’Connell on Trump’s threats to Boston, Marjorie Taylor Greene calling GOP men weak, and a judge’s order to...