Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today: Conservative commentator and never-Trumper Bill Kristol of The Bulwark discusses the American right, and the complicated relationship conservatives have with Donald Trump. And, if you’re still unsure whether to drop the MCAS as a graduation requirement, or legalize psychedelics, Evan Horowitz of Tufts Center for State Policy Analysis – ballot question explainer extraordinaire – gives one last rundown ahead of election day.

Former Globe editor Brian McGrory discusses threats to journalism, trust, the truth and democracy ahead of this election. Then, we open the phone lines to check in with listeners on their voting plans and how they're feeling on Election Day Eve. Charlie Sennott from the GroundTruth Project discusses Israel voiding its 1967 agreement recognizing UNRWA and other news from around the world. Longtime Republican operative and now anti-Trump conservative William Kristol discusses the final days of campaigning and the future of the GOP. Evan Horowitz from the Center for State Policy Analysis gives a final explainer on the MA ballot questions. And people call in with their thoughts on each one.

Thea Hopkins, an Aquinnah Wampanoag singer/songwriter performed for Native American Heritage Month Callie Crossley reacted to Trump’s comments about being the protector of women “like it or not" Marvin Gilmore spent decades helping to lift up communities of color in Boston. He joined alongside friend (& James Beard nominated chef) Tracy Chang to celebrate his 100th birthday. James Carville explained his full confidence in the Harris campaign

Today: Andrea Cabral fills in for Jim. NBC’s Chuck Todd discusses the last few whirlwind days of campaigning … from Trump’s garbage man orange vest stunt … to the Nikki Haley voters who are still undecided, as she tells voters in Pennsylvania to stop being so emotional, and vote for Trump. And, some good news – higher city investments in Black-owned businesses. We talk about this, and Trump’s promise to put the vaccine-denying RFK Jr. in charge of public health if he wins, with Michael Curry of the NAACP.

BPR Full Show 10/31: Happy Halloween!

Today: We get listener reactions to a stark gender divide in this year’s race – with women supporting Harris at much higher rates than men. And, a brief reprieve from politics with naturalist Sy Montgomery. From baby turtles named after everyone's favorite public radio show hosts, to Sy’s new book – What The Chicken Knows – all about what we can learn from our feathered farmyard friends.

Jim Dao, editorial page editor at the Boston Globe, on newspaper endorsements. The Globe endorsed Harris, and included an explainer as to why. Jared Bowen wore his chaps as promised plus he discussed the Clark Art Institute's $45m donation National security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed the threats to this election -- the existing 'stop the steal' movement, conspiracy theories, and "secrets" between Trump and Mike Johnson. Massachusetts Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Services Jon Santiago reacted to Tony Hinchcliffe's racist joke Naturalist and author Sy Montgomery zooms in to discuss her forthcoming book "What The Chicken Knows"

Today: CNN’s chief national correspondent, John King joins us just one week out from when vote counting begins. The Man of the Magic Wall tells us not to expect the results on Tuesday or even Wednesday night … And, state auditor Diana DiZoglio discusses her ballot campaign to expressly authorize her office to audit the legislature – on the heels of two legislative leaders saying they might change her petition even if voters pass it.

Today the presidential candidates give their closing arguments to voters. We ask listeners what issues Harris should focus on during her speech at the Ellipse. Trenni Casey, anchor/reporter for NBC Sports Boston, discusses the NFL concussion protocol after Patriot's QB Drake May took a helmet-to-helmet hit on Sunday, and a Hail Mary pass by the Washington Commanders. Sue O'Connell of NBC10 discusses the ramped-up rhetoric leading up to the election, efforts to rescue Newburyport's Pink House, and Elon Musk's latest claims about aliens. CNN's John King joins one week until election day to discuss how voters across the political spectrum are feeling. State auditor Diana DiZoglio discusses her ballot campaign that would authorize her to audit the legislature and the legislative leaders who say they might just change the law if it passes. Election day isn't the only thing we're counting down to. Halloween is Thursday, so we ask listeners about their favorite candies.

The Washington Post killed their planned endorsement of Kamala Harris. Former editor Marty Baron joins us to discuss, and the newspaper man doesn’t mince words: he calls it a spineless, cowardly decision. And, a return to the gilded age – with union-busting billionaire robber barons operating in this country under very different rules than the rest of us. We discuss with former labor secretary Robert Reich.

Former Washington Post editor Marty Baron discussed the paper's decision not to endorse a presidential candidate We opened the lines to discuss newspaper endorsements GroundTruth Project Charlie Sennott spoke from Michigan to discuss Arab American voters concerned with Harris over the administration's support for Israel amid widespread civilian deaths in Gaza. Former labor secretary Robert Reich on the presidential race being so close Revs Irene Monroe and Emmett Price on Harris' increasing but cautious discussion of faith on the campaign trail We ended the show discussing Halloween decorations and Skelly

We talk about the best bad movies to watch, and the rock stars still rocking with James Bennett II, arts & culture reporter for GBH and a co-host of The Culture Show, daily at 2:00 on 89.7 GBH. And, Music Worcester will kick off a feat we’re pretty sure no one has done before. 11 years of music: everything ever composed by Johannes Sebastian Bach over his 65 years on this planet. They’re calling it, fittingly, “The Complete Bach,” and it begins this weekend with a bang. 25 year-old Zlotomir Fung, cellist and professor at Juilliard, performs; Music Worcester executive director Adrien Finlay tells us about the program.

We open the lines to talk about election anxiety across the political spectrum and what we can do to combat it in the final days ahead. Live Music Friday with folks from Music Worcester, who are kicking off an 11-year series around the music of Bach. We’ll talk with Executive Director Adrien Finlay and 25 year-old cello master Zlatomir Fung, who’s headlining this weekend’s BACHtoberfest. Bay State Banner co-publishers Ron Mitchell & André Stark discuss dual interviews with Ayanna Pressley, drama over at the LA Times about a decision not issue a presidential endorsement and split opinions on Ballot Question 5. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discusses what we know (and don’t know) about the Celtic's sale and the local businesses getting support through Jaylen Brown’s incubator project. We hear from you about whether fish should be banned from small spaces. GBH News arts and culture reporter James Bennett II talks about the era of flop movies, like Megalopolis & Joker 2. He’ll also talk about an exhibit about the occult at the Peabody Essex, a new BSO program to encourage young kids of color to take up classical music, and more. Boston is ranked as the 12th rattiest city, according to the pest control company Orkin. We ask listeners about the rats – stories, fears and if we should just learn to live with them already.

Today: Trump's fascistic comments on the campaign trail are raising critical questions about what could happen if he loses the election, again. We talk it through with former Massachusetts public safety secretary Andrea Cabral. And, homelessness in Boston is on the rise – affecting about 11,000 young people in this city. We’ll talk with Elisabeth Jackson, president and CEO of the nonprofit Bridge Over Troubled Waters, and Richard Brunson, a retired clinical coordinator, about the challenges – and services available – to homeless youth.

Chuck Todd discussed his weekly D.C. roundup, a week and a half out from the election We opened the lines to discuss two local ballot questions Andrea Cabral on the very-real possibility that Trump won’t accept an election loss, and what that means for the future of our small-d democratic system. Jinx Monsoon & BenDeLaCreme previewed this year’s edition of the Jinx & Dela Holiday show, coming to Boston December 2nd. Bridge Over Troubled Waters CEO Elisabeth Jackson and retired Clinical Coordinator Richard Brunson joined for a conversation about youth homelessness in Boston For this week's AITA, we debated who the a-hole was on a nearly empty train.

First, your thoughts on Trump's latest comments about Hitler and a former general calling him a fascist. Jared Bowen, GBH executive arts editor, discusses AI operas and Manet at the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum. Michael Curry of the NAACP & Mass League of Community Health Centers discusses the gender gap in health center visits and Biden's last minute push for OTC birth control insurance coverage. Mike Madrid, co-founder of the Lincoln Project, discusses what both political parties get wrong about Latinos, and his book "The Latino Century." We read texts on the fall of Rudy Guiliani. Boston Globe travel writer Christopher Muther discusses the new citizenM hotel and a Land of Oz hidden in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Then, we ask what lengths you would go to retrieve a lost cell phone.

Today: We talk with Mike Madrid, a co-founder of the anti-Trump Republican group Lincoln Project, and author of “The Latino Century” And, new rules proposed by the outgoing Biden administration that would make over-the-counter birth control free for insured Americans. We talk with Michael curry, CEO of the Mass League of Community Health Centers, about this -- and the sexism at play in this election.

Today: NBC Sports Boston's Trenni Casey discusses the botched rollout of Boston's new National Womens Soccer League team, the Bos Nation FC, with their "too many balls" ad campaign. And, media maven Sue O'Connell -- who was at the Karen Read trial for NBC10 -- discusses the network's Dateline episode about John O'Keefe's death and the murder charges against Karen Read.

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 talked with two local doctors Julie Palmer and Ann Partridge about breast cancer awareness and research CNN's John King discussed the latest national political headlines We ended the show by talking about hugs

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.