The Wake Up

Last week, Harvard President Claudine Gay testified before campus about antisemitism on campus. Now her comments are drawing some backlash — along with some support. Student reporters Claire Yuan and Miles Herszenhorn of the Harvard Crimson, who have been covering the president's testimony and campus reactions, joined Paris and Jeremy to discuss the latest.

What holiday movies should you be watching this December? Film critic and write Sarah G. Vincent explores a classic: The many versions of A Christmas Carol. Plus: Ahead of the Army-Navy football game this weekend, GBH's Esteban Bustillos asks for the wisdom of the crowds. Is Boston an Army town or a Navy town?

What can 400 years of Boston transit history tell us about the contemporary issues facing the T? A lot. GBH intern Ivaylo Mihalev visits an exhibit on display at the BPL that traces the way public transportation has shaped -- and reshaped -- Boston since the 1600s.

Four UMass Lowell students got to attend COP28, the UN Climate Change Conference, in Dubai. Hear about their experiences, and how they found themselves empowered.

A new Frontline documentary takes an in-depth look at the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, exploring the police response. Paris talks to reporter Lomi Kriel of the Texas Tribune and ProPublica about it. And on a lighter note: Jeremy and actor Kate Flannery, best known for her role as Meredith on "The Office," talk about her childhood dreams of being a public media sta...

For three days, a handful of Beacon Hill Democrats tried to pass a supplemental budget bill in an informal session where most members were missing. And for three days, Beacon Hill Republicans showed a rare flex of power, using procedural points to end the session. So what's going on? GBH's Katie Lannan has an explanation.

The Bunker Hill Monument has been under scaffolding lately, undergoing restoration in preparation for the battle's 250's anniversary in 2025. But what's the history behind the monument? GBH's Curiosity Desk reporter, Edgar G. Herwick III, joins Paris and Jeremy for some trivia.

King tides --- those super high tides that send the ocean to coastal residents' doorsteps --- are now a regular sight in the Boston area. GBH's meteorologist Dave Epstein says they've always been around, but warming ocean waters means they're creeping higher every century.

Grab your hand cream and lip balm: Winter is here, and so are dry air and drier skin. How can you tell which days will be extra dry? GBH Meteorologist Dave Epstein dives into dew points and relative humidity to explain.

For decades, special education students and English language learners in Boston Public School had fewer choices than their peers, and were often left underserved. Now the district has a new plan, developed under scrutiny from the state Department of Education, to better serve all its students. Superintendent Mary Skipper joined Paris to discuss it.

Massachusetts lawmakers, responding to Supreme Court rulings and waves of gun violence, are considering 56 bills related to ghost guns, people's ability to sue gun makers, and who can carry weapons where. What's at stake, and what can people expect? GBH State House reporter Katie Lannan talks to Jeremy.

Forty years ago this week, 100 million Americans turned on their TVs to watch “The Day After,” a movie about what could happen in Lawrence, Kansas after a nuclear strike. Professor, veteran TV producer, and author David Craig joins Paris to talk about how the film shaped the way Americans saw nuclear policy in the Cold War’s final years.

As you finish up eating Thanksgiving leftovers, Jeremy Siegel (with an assist from film critic Sarah G. Vincent) get you ready to check out the latest film directed by Alexander Payne, The Holdovers (starring Paul Giamatti), in theaters now. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, from GBH and the entire Morning Edition crew.

It's been 60 years since President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. Paul Landis was there as a secret service agent. For decades, he kept his memories of that day to himself: The horror, the chaos, an in-tact bullet. But now he's sharing them.

It's been a big year for Black Boston: The reveal of The Embrace memorial to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, the NAACP National Convention, and more. So how does has that felt in Boston’s Black cultural center? As part of the Walk Down the Block series, Paris talks to people to find out. Plus: Nicole Obi, CEO of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, talks about Nubi...

The Massachusetts Legislature failed to make a deal before its deadline last week, leaving $250 million for the state's shelter crisis in limbo. So what's next? GBH State House reporter Katie Lannan joins Paris to discuss. 

Looking to see some movies this Thanksgiving? Film writer and critic Sarah G. Vincent has some picks, including a Thanksgiving slasher film.

Meteorologist Dave Epstein breaks down some climate news for local gardeners, plus have you ever cancelled plans because of Mercury retrograde? Nodded emphatically at a water sign? Gasped upon seeing a Tower tarot card? If so, you're not alone: Spiritual practices like these are getting more popular. Morning Edition's own Rachel Armany talks to local witches, readers, and experts about finding mea...

Leaf blowers are loud, smoggy, bad for ecosystems, and bad for the health of people using them. So why are they so ubiquitous, and what are some reasonable alternatives? GBH News reporter Liz Neisloss joins Jeremy to discuss her latest story.

A federal bust of an alleged local prostitution ring has brought to light a debate about how to stop sex trafficking: Should the industry be decriminalized completely? Or should people who pay for sex still be prosecuted? GBH Center for Investigative Reporting's Jenifer McKim joins Jeremy to talk about it.

The end of the working year at the Massachusetts legislature ends sooner than you may think: This is the last week of 2023 to get major legislation passed until January. GBH State House reporter Katie Lannan joins Jeremy to talk about some bills up for debate, including a long-awaited budget bill, prescription drug cost policies, and more.

Soprano, opera legend and five-time Grammy winner Renée Fleming is coming to Boston this weekend, playing pieces from her album Voice of Nature. She talked to Jeremy about finding her way to a professional music career and how climate change and the human relationship with nature inspired her new album.

Paris is joined by Sherrod Blakely, BU lecturer and sports journalist for NBC Boston to talk about the NBA’s “In-Season Tournament” that tips off on Friday night, and what that “championship” could mean for the Boston Celtics and their fan base.

If you've been monitoring the vibes, you'll know that 1970s and '80s rock is having a resurgence. Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, who played with Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers, talked to Jeremy about his Boston roots and his upcoming show. Plus: Kurt Faustin of the Dropout Summit, also happening this weekend, talks to Paris about the things we don't learn in school.

The White House released guidelines on how employees should and shouldn't use generative AI. But while it's encouraging that the White House is addressing the issue, some advocates worry that falling to far behind on regulating the technology is dangerous. Professor Usama Fayyad of Northeastern University, who runs the school's Institute for Experiential AI, joins Jeremy to discuss.