Boston Public Radio Podcast

Kat Wallace, singer/songwriter, performed in honor of her debut album “Grand Design” coming out. Callie Crossley weighed in on the GOP’s DEI witch hunt, and new fear over ICE agents at school bus stops Nancy Gertner on how SCOTUS is likely to rule on new Trump orders Irene Li & Tracy Chang discussed some Lunar New Year goings-on next week for their award-winning restaurants Mei Mei Dumplings and Pagu.

Chuck Todd on Sean Hannity's interview with Trump. Andrea Cabral on the role of the DOJ in carrying out Trump’s first-round of executive orders, and reaction from police groups to his pardoning of J6 rioters. Phillip Martin & Denise Jillson on a billionaire’s grip on real estate in Harvard Square, off of Phillip’s recent reporting. Denise is Executive Director at the Harvard Square Business Association. Jon Gruber talked about what’s (likely) to come for Medicaid, Inflation Reduction Act funding and more

Today: National security analyst Juliette Kayyem discusses the Trump administration saying they will target schools and churches for immigration raids. And, naturalist Sy Montgomery discusses the changing science around insects' ability to feel pain.

President Donald Trump issued several executive orders that roll back climate progress. We take listener reactions on his energy policies. GBH executive arts editor Jared Bowen discusses a photography exhibit, Cara Romero: Panûpünüwügai (Living Light), at the Hood Museum in Dartmouth, NH. National security analyst Juliette Kayyem discusses Trump's border executive orders and J6 pardons. Mark Pothier and Walter Robinson of the Plymouth Independent discuss local news efforts and clashes with town officials. Naturalist Sy Montgomery zooms in to discuss chimpanzees sharing familial language, insects feeling pain and animals struggling in the LA fires. Now that we know bugs feel pain, will we stop killing them? We ask listeners.

Jeffrey Thielman, president and CEO of the International Institute of New England, on their work resettling refugees and protecting immigrants. David Cash, former regional EPA director for New England, discusses Trump's energy plans Shirley Leung on our modern oligarchy, with tech titans on bended knee for Trump. John King on Trump's executive orders

Today: Wrapped up in Trump’s day-one actions were a string of executive orders designed to upend U.S. immigration policy – We talk with Jeffrey Thielman, President and CEO the International Institute of New England. And, David Cash, who until yesterday 11:59 AM headed the New England branch of the Environmental Protection Agency… Now he’s watching Donald Trump do his best to dismantle U.S. climate policy.

BPR 1/20: The Inauguration & MLK Day Special

Robert Pinsky is a three-time U.S. Poet Laureate, who’s performed alongside Bruce Springsteen and for Lisa Simpson. He joined alongside Berklee professor and bandmate Stan Strickland for Live Music Friday. Ron Mitchell & Breje Williams reflected on MLK’s legacy of activism ahead of MLK day Diana DiZoglio on efforts to bring transparency to the state legislature LaTosha Brown,activist & organizer behind Black Voters Matter, on Kamala’s loss, and the path towards equity under Trump 2.0.

Today: LaTosha Brown, the co-founder of the national voting rights group Black Voters Matter, reflects on the 2024 election, and the need to buckle in for the work of the next four years. And, three-time poet laureate Robert Pinsky joins for Live Music Friday, accompanied by Stan Strickland, ahead of a show at Regattabar in Harvard Square.

Today: Legendary environmentalist Bill McKibben joins to discuss how the incoming energy secretary refuses to link the rise in wildfires to climate change … And how those fires are reshaping the home insurance industry. And, Boston University professor Anthony Jack studies higher education leadership. He chronicled the vast disparities among Harvard students during pandemic-related campus closures, and argues elite campuses remain very unequal in his new book: “Class Dismissed: When Colleges Ignore Inequality & Students Pay the Price.”

NBC political director Chuck Todd returns for his Thursday D.C. roundup. Then we ask listeners about a potential TikTok ban. Former secretary of public safety, Andrea Cabral, weighs in on Pam Bondi's AG confirmation hearing, Jack Smith hanging up his hat and other law & order headlines. Environmentalist Bill McKibben returns for his monthly roundup of climate headlines. This week, that's the L.A. wildfires and climate resistance under Trump. Anthony Jack is a professor at Boston University and author of the book “Class Dismissed: When Colleges Ignore Inequality & Students Pay the Price.” He joins us to discuss. Am I the A-hole if I use the ADA stall when I don't have a disability? Callers discuss.

Today: We ask listeners to weigh in on Boston Mayor Michelle Wu not taking maternity leave after becoming just one of very few women to give birth while holding elected office … A source with intimate knowledge of the matter calls in. And, tech guru Andy Ihnatko explains what the end of Tik-Tok would look like, and why thousands of users are flocking to yet another China-owned video sharing app, instead of Mark Zuckerberg’s “Reels.”

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is not taking a maternity leave, after giving birth to her third child just two days ago. We open the phone lines to hear what listeners think about taking parental leave in a modern, working world. One caller has a lot to say... GBH executive arts editor Jared Bowen discusses the impact of the California fires on Hollywood and the Oscars. Plus, the MFA exhibit "Deep Waters: Four Artists and the Sea." NBC Boston's Sue O'Connell previews Biden's farewell address and discusses why 2025 could be the year of the "Alpha Male." Tech podcaster Andy Ihnatko discusses the imminent TikTok ban and Meta's end of fact checking. Boston Globe advice columnist Meredith Goldstein talks about recent letters about getting over divorce guilt and dealing with a partner lost to conspiracy theories. Plus, the start of a new season of the Loves Letters podcast. Then we open the phone lines to ask listeners how they maintain relationships (or not) with people across the political divide.

BPR Full Show 1/14: Ask The Attorney General

Today: Amherst College's Ilan Stavans discusses the power of names, and Donald Trump's obsession with them. Khalil Gibran Muhammad of Princeton University discusses Mark Zuckerberg's shift away from fact-checking and content moderation on his Meta social media platforms.

Los Angeles still on fire, as the death toll tops 24, thousands of acres and homes destroyed. The governor has suspended environmental permitting and review requirements to rebuild – Is this the right move, as flames fueled by climate change encircle the city? We ask you: after a natural disaster, what’s the balance between rebuilding and climate resilience? Food policy analyst Corby Kummer discusses how congestion pricing might impact NYC restaurants and the dozens of Tatte employees forced to resign amid growing immigration crackdown fears. Ilan Stavans of Amherst College discusses Trump calling for a renaming of the Gulf of Mexico and Mexican President Sheinbaum's reply. Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett discusses the health hazards of smoke inhalation/poor air quality in relation to the LA fires and climate change more broadly. She also reflects on her father, David Gergen, who has dementia. Princeton's Khalil Gibran Muhammad discusses the tech world ending their DEI initiatives and why right-wing influencers are spreading lies about the LA fires in relation to diversity efforts. Then it's the buffet and you: We open the phone and text lines for you to wax poetic about buffets, the good the bad and the ugly.

Today: The 22nd annual Boston Celtic Music Festival kicks off Jan. 16. We talk with musician and festival organizers Lindsay O’Donovan – widow of the late, great Brian O’Donovan – and Matt Smith from Club Passim with live performances from the band Fox River and duo Hanneke Cassel & Adam Hendey. And, Imari Paris Jeffries of Embrace Boston discusses this year's gala honoring MLK's legacy; former Governor Deval Patrick zooms in too.

We ask listeners: do you have hope that the U.S. will have honest leaders again? The Boston Celtic Music Festival runs next Thursday through Sunday, at venues throughout Cambridge and Somerville. We’ll talk with Lindsay O’Donovan and Matt Smith (from Club Passim) with live performances from the band Fox River and duo Hanneke Cassel & Adam Hendey. GBH's Callie Crossley discusses the Democrats skipping Trump’s inauguration & the incoming administration’s comments about making Canada the 51st state. NBC10 Boston's Sue O’Connell on LA fires & Trump hush money sentencing. Plus Kelly’s Roast Beef changing ownership for the first time in 70 years. Embrace Boston's Imari Paris Jeffries & former Gov. Deval Patrick join ahead of the Embrace Honors MLK Gala. Then we discuss when and how to flake from plans.

Today: Former public safety secretary Andrea Cabral discusses Carter’s legacy of truth, and Merrick Garland’s plans to release the special counsel report on Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. And, Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discusses the future of DEI in higher education, and the latest development in the state's MBTA communities housing law.

Today's podcast starts with hour two of BPR. The first part of the show was dedicated to live broadcast of former President Jimmy Carter's memorial service. Former secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral on Attorney General Merrick Garland’s plans to release the final Jack Smith report about Trump’s 2020 election subversion. She’ll also talk about Trump asking for a delay in his hush-money sentencing, violent crime at Mass. shelters, and a state program that recruits and trains formerly incarcerated people to drive trucks. Former secretary of education Paul Reville reflects on Elon Musk’s threats to cut the Department of Education through his DOGE program. He’ll also talk about BPS recommending several school closures, state community colleges struggling with an influx of students and other education headlines For our text segment: People in positions of power who choose to close ranks when faced with public scrutiny. How much are we owed as members of the public? Do you assume, if they don’t offer an explanation, they’re guilty as charged? Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung talks about former Harvard president Claudine Gay and the future of DEI in higher ed. Plus, the latest on White Stadium and the SJC ruling against Milton. For Am I the A-hole day: what's the appropriate amount of time before someone can eat leftovers in the fridge?