Boston Public Radio Podcast

Today: Political philosopher Michael Sandel, author of “Democracy’s Discontent" joins Jim and Margery at the Boston Public Library.

The Culture Show's Jared Bowen on Bob Ross' paintings on the auction block to support public media, "Sardines" at the Huntington, Taylor Swift's record-breaking record sales, and other arts and culture news. Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem on President Trump's troop orders to Portland and Chicago, the air traffic controller debacle nationwide, and more. Political philosopher Michael Sandel (author of the celebrated 1996 book "Democracy's Discontent") joins us ahead of his GBH Ralph Lowell Annual Lecture Thursday night. Tufts food policy analyst Corby Kummer is joined by retiring Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema, who exposes his face to us for the first time.

BPR Full Show 10/7:

Today: Carol Rose, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, discusses our constitutional crisis, as the Supreme Court starts a new term.

Today: Paul Dama was here in the U.S. legally seeking asylum from Boko Haram, when he was taken by immigration officials on his way to church. He was held for months, and made to re-submit his asylum claim while detained; only granted freedom two weeks ago. He has returned to his job at Suya Joint in Nubian Square, alongside sister, chef and owner of the restaurant, Cecilia Lizotte. They both join us to discuss.

UMass President Marty Meehan joins us in studio to talk about school tuition, federal research cuts and their impact on scientific advancement. Former Assistant Secretary of Transportation, Chris Dempsey, and former Rep. Bill Straus join for a transit panel. Robert Putnam, author of Bowling Alone, discusses growing social isolation and what to do about it. Paul Dama and Cecilia Lizotte of the Roxbury restaurant Suya Joint recap Dama's months-long ICE detention and his eventually successful asylum claim.

BPR Full Show 10/3: Who Goes To Coffee Shops Anymore?

BPR Full Show 10/2: The Government Shutdown Continued...

Today: GBH News’ latest documentary “Living in Pryde” follows residents in "The Pryde" senior living facility at a time when queer rights are under attack. We speak with producer Rob Tokanel, Pryde executive director Gretchen Van Ness, and resident Eddie Whitman. And, Catherine D'Amato of the Greater Boston Food Bank walks us through impacts to food assistance during the government shutdown.

Today: Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner discusses a judge's ruling that federal officials unconstitutionally violated the free speech rights of pro-Palestinian protesters. Plus, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley discusses the government shutdown.

Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem with reaction to defense secretary Pete Hegseth’s summit for hundreds of top military leaders where he railed against America’s greatest threat: beards, guts and diversity. Forrmer Mass GOP chair Jennifer Nassour and former Democratic state rep Jay Kaufman discuss what needs to happen to reform the Massachusetts state legislature. The Culture Show's Jared Bowen talks all things arts and culture, including why the biggest stars in comedy: Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Boston’s own Bill Burr, are getting flack for agreeing to appear at a comedy festival in Saudi Arabia. Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner on a Boston judge ruling the Trump administration unlawfully targeted international students for pro-Palestinian activism, and the Supreme Court's new term. Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley talks about the Democrats’ role in the first full-blown government shutdown since 2018.

Gov. Maura Healey joins for Ask the Governor. CNN's John King zooms in with the latest on the looming government shutdown and the Trump-Netanyahu photo op. Boston Globe's Shirley Leung on the Boston city council's attempt to mitigate delivery scooter chaos, and how some Boston area companies are reducing their human workforce and supplementing it with AI. NBC10's Trenni Casey discusses the Boston Celtics media day, the Red Sox in the playoffs, and Robert Kraft selling a minority stake in the Patriots for $9 billion.

Andrea Cabral hosts with Margery today. NAACP board member Michael Curry discusses the weaponization of Charlie Kirk's murder on the right, and the white nationalist imagery in ICE recruitment materials. Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett discusses the Kennedy commission report on child health ignoring the leading cause of child death — gun violence. Plus, everything to know about vaccine season. Boston Globe film critic Odie Henderson previews horror movie season and shares some recent movie reviews. Princeton academic Khalil Gibran Muhammad on the potential fallout from Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee, and the educators fired over their comments in response to Charlie Kirk's murder.

GBH's Callie Crossley & Yawu Miller of The Flip Side join for our weekly Press Play media analysis segment. They talk about Massachusetts professors on conservative watchlists, and coverage of the federal investigation into Tom Homan. Their conversation was cut short due to some technical difficulties at the Boston Public Library. Nicholas Burns, former U.S. Ambassador to China, discusses Pete Hegseth’s ominous all-staff meeting, Trump's speech at the UN, plus thoughts on recent headlines about U.S.-China relations. Leo Blanco and Elsa Mosquera preview the third-annual Fiesta en la Plaza, happening this Sunday at Boston City Hall, to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Elsa is the festival’s producer and co-leader of the group Agora Cultural Architects. Leo is a Venezuelan-born piano player, professor, and leader of the Leo Blanco Trio. Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin reflects on history and lessons for this moment. She talks about how U.S. leaders of yore -- like Lincoln and W. Bush -- responded calmly in times of crisis. She also talks about how past presidents navigated criticism and satire.

Today: Sue O'Connell fills in for Jim. Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin reflects on how U.S. leaders have responded to times of crisis, and how past presidents navigated satire and criticism.

BPR Full Show 9/25: Can You Afford The American Dream?

Today: Axios business editor Dan Primack discusses the economy and likelihood of a recession. National security expert Juliette Kayyem discusses a shooting at a Dallas immigration facility on Wednesday that killed two detainees.

Jimmy Kimmel is back on the air. Did public resistance succeed in protecting free speech -- this time? GBH's Jared Bowen discusses Jimmy Kimmel's return to late night and The Rocky Horror Picture Show turning 50. National security expert Juliette Kayyem on the shooting at a Dallas ICE facility, Trump's UN speech, no federal charges yet in the Charlie Kirk case. We talk to Boston Debate League executive director Kimberly Willingham and hear students debate the subject of Boston city bike lanes. Food policy analyst Corby Kummer zooms in to discuss the USDA quietly removing a food insecurity tracker and the one year anniversary of Dani's Queer Bar.

BPR Full Show 9/23: Ask The Mayor with Mayor Michelle Wu

Today: We bring you our conversation from May 2025 with Maria Ressa – the Nobel prize winning journalist who was arrested repeatedly in the Philippines for reporting on corruption, human rights abuses and the weaponization of social media under former President Rodgrigo Duterte. She tells us she looks out on America in this current moment with "deja-vu" and "PTSD" from her own experiences living through authoritarianism.