Boston Public Radio Podcast

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. Ezekiel Emanuel discusses his new book “Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life.” There are more lawmakers of color than ever on Beacon Hill. But the legislature still remains disproportionately white. We talk to Mass League of Community Health Center’s Michael Curry about that, and what a boost in rural health system federal funding could mean for western Mass.

BPR Full Show 12/24: Jim Is Not The Grinch

BPR Full Show 12/23: December Ask the Governor

BPR Full Show 12/22: Holiday Fruitcake

GBH's Adam Reilly and The Bay State Banner's Ron Mitchell join for Press Play media analysis. This week, they talk about media reaction to Trump’s White House address, Brian McGrory returning to the Globe and a profile of the photographer who captured Trump staff for the Susie Wiles Vanity Fair profile. Boston Medical Center's Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett on the CDC reversing its position on Hepatitis B vaccines for infants, cutting funding for the American Academy of Pediatrics, RFK Jr.’s move to ban gender affirming care for young people, and the so-called "Christmas Coronary effect." Atikin Rose is an up-and-coming R&B singer songwriter with a new EP due out next year. She joins for Live Music Friday alongside talent manager Rob Kelley-Morgan. Tony Williams and Peter Gwiazda celebrate 25 years of the Urban Nutcracker. Tony is the show’s founder and creative visionary. Peter is a dancer with Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. NBC10 Boston media maven Sue O’Connell talks Epstein files, Brian Walshe, and a NYTimes profile of the woman caught in that Coldplay kiss-cam last summer.

Today: Juliette Kayyem and Andrea Cabral fill in for Jim and Margery. GBH political reporter Adam Reilly and Bay State Banner publisher Ron Mitchell join for our media analysis segment Press Play. And, Atikin Rose joins for Live Music Friday, accompanied on piano by Hawk of "God-Tier Entertainment" and joined in the studio by the CEO of PUTINWORK Rob Kelley-Morgan.

BPR Full Show 12/18: A Christmas Story.... 24/7

Today: Volker Turk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, discusses the organization's work.

Volker Türk is the United Nations High Commissioner on human rights. We talk to him about the agency’s continued campaign against human rights violations worldwide, despite the U.S. pulling back support. Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem on the latest in the Brown University shooting investigation, as detectives scramble for footage of a possible suspect. Plus her thoughts on that Susie Wiles Vanity Fair article. Step aside vinyl, CDs and DVDs are BACK — at least for Gen-Z. We talk to The Culture Show’s Jared Bowen about that, plus the mythology of Hamnet and its connection to the Bard’s most famous soliloquy. While State auditor Diana DiZoglio’s effort to audit the legislature still hasn’t happened, despite the voters’ will, she’s launching a new ballot question that would subject both the Legislature and the governor's office to the state public records law. She joins us.

CNN's John King on the latest national political headlines NBC Sports Boston's Trenni Casey joins in person to discuss outrageous ticket prices for the World Cup and John Cena's retirement Food policy analyst Corby Kummer zooms in to discuss the Market Basket family back in court today Mahsa Khanbabai, attorney for Rumeysa Ozturk, zooms in to discuss her client's case Boston Mayor Michelle Wu answered listener questions for Ask The Mayor 1-2.

Cristina Quinn, of The Washington Post's Try This podcast, co-hosts with Jim today. Amherst College professor Ilan Stavans discusses a far-right win in the the Chilean presidential elections and the mass shooting at a Hanukkah event in Australia. Daniel Drezner, dean of international politics at Tufts Fletcher School, discusses the Trump/MAGA foreign policy evolution. Bertil Jean-Chronberg of Bonde Fine Wine Shop and Alexandra Whiznant of Zuzu's Petals wine and dessert bar join for a wine panel. They bring some bubby, crème brûlée...and a blow torch. MIT economist Jon Gruber talks about his appearance on 60 Minutes talking about pros and price tag of genetic therapies. Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III discuss a new poll that finds no religious revival among young Americans, despite a different media narrative. Plus, the Democrats in Congress trying to take back faith from the right. Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem gives the latest on the deadly Brown University mass shooting. Then we espouse on the benefits of using cold, hard cash to stay within your shopping budget.

Andrea Cabral and Shirley Leung are in the host seats. They talk with: NPR critic-at-large Eric Deggans on journalism ethics in the wake of Olivia Nuzzi, AI taking over podcast jobs at the Washington Post, and more media news. GBH's Callie Crossley on why Greater Boston’s gender wage gap is shrinking…while the racial wage gap is growing. And on DEI in Boston business, and about a student from her alma mater who’s bringing Black dolls to local kids. It's a holiday edition of Live Music Friday with students from the Boston Latin School Concert Choir, ahead of their annual Family Holiday Concert this Sunday. NBC10 Boston media maven Sue O’Connell is fresh back from covering the trial of Brian Walshe, accused of murdering his wife. She gives us the latest in the case and tries to explain to us why everyone is obsessed with these grisly murder trials.

Today: Andrea Cabral and Shirley Leung fill in for Jim and Margery. “Status: Venezuelan" is a new documentary co-produced by FRONTLINE and ProPublica, following a family trying to hold on to their legal status in the U.S., as the second Trump administration targets Venezuelans. ProPublica filmmakers Mauricio Rodríguez Pons and Almudena Toral join us on zoom to discuss.

Andrea Cabral and Shirley Leung are in the host seats today. Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner discusses a number of Supreme Court-related topics: gerrymandering, religious vaccine mandates, and presidential power. Mauricio Rodriguez Pons and Almudena Toral are behind Frontline's latest film, in partnership with ProPublica: Status Venezuelan. They zoom in to discuss. Trenni Casey discusses early controversy in the World Cup draw, as Egypt and Iran protest being drawn to play in Seattle during the tournament's 'Pride Match.' Plus, the grandpa playing quarterback in the NFL. MIT economist Jon Gruber on Trump's plan to deliver direct cash to kids; and the latest on ACA subsidies.

The Culture Show's Jared Bowen discusses ABC signing Kimmel to a one-year contract a social media ban for kids in Australia and his interview with Patti Smith. Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem on cracks showing in the Trump Cabinet — namely, Pete Hegseth and Kristi Noem. Franchie Viaud of JustBookish in Dorchester and Cathy and Bruce Jacobs of Turtle Books in Brookline join for an indie bookstore panel. Musician Will Dailey performs ahead a show at the Paradise Rock Club this weekend. Naturalist Sy Montgomery joins via zoom for the Afternoon Zoo to talk piano-playing octopuses and falcons protecting cherry crops in Michigan.

Today: Franchie Viaud, bookstore manager at Just Book-ish in Dorchester, and Cathy and Bruce Jacobs, co-owners of Turtle Books in Brookline, discuss the importance of independent bookstores. And, musician Will Dailey joins ahead of a show at the Paradise Rock Club.

Today: We get your thoughts on the nativity scene put up by St. Susanna Parish, featuring a sign reading "ICE was here" in the spot where Jesus, Mary and Joseph are usually centered in the manger.

CNN's John King zooms in for a politics roundup ACLU of MA executive director Carol Rose discusses some of their high profile cases this year; the ACLU birthright citizenship case picked by SCOTUS to debate the merits, their work monitoring Flock's surveillance network, and more Author Jeff Pearlman discusses his book "Only God Can Judge Me" about Tupac Shakur State Rep. David Muradian and David Nangle, Executive Director of SIGMA (Stop iGaming) discuss the state's new proposed gambling rules

Today: We speak with GBH News reporter Sarah Betancourt and Project Citizenship executive director Gail Breslow about an incident at a Faneuil Hall naturalization ceremony last week, where people were pulled out of line based on their country of origin and prohibited from finishing the years-long process, based on new guidance from the Trump administration. And, award-winning cookbook author Dorie Greenspan discusses her latest book, "Dorie's Anytime Cakes."

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt isn’t supporting her nephew’s mother, a Brazilian woman detained by ICE. We talk to BU journalism’s Brian McGrory about that, and why CNN has become the unwanted stepchild in the new Netflix-Warner Brothers deal. If a new state proposal takes hold it would allow sewage to be dumped into the Charles and Mystic Rivers indefinitely, backsliding on decades of progress to end the practice. We talk to Emily Norton and Patrick Herron from the Charles and Mystic River watershed associations. James Beard award-winning cookbook author Dorie Greenspan joins us to talk about her latest book: “Dorie's Anytime Cakes" and why everyone should always have a cake on the kitchen counter. We check in with GBH reporter Sarah Betancourt and Project Citizenship’s Gail Breslow on ICE’s latest cruelty: targeting immigrants on the cusp of citizenship at their swearing-in ceremony at Faneuil Hall. Tufts’ food policy analyst Corby Kummer on the latest threats to SNAP: withholding benefits from blue states like Massachusetts over immigration data. Plus, why it might be the wrong (or right) week to quit caffeine. And we take your calls and texts on whether you believe in astrology.