Best Of BPR 7/07: The 'Alligator Alcatraz' Trap & Trump's Budget Is A Catastrophe For Local Health Care

Today:Amherst College humanities professor Ilan Stavans discusses the Florida detention center dubbed Alligator Alcatraz by the right.And, CEO of the Mass League of Community Health Centers, Michael Curry, discusses impacts to local healthcare under the latest national budget.

NAACP & Mass League of Community Health Centers' Michael Curry discusses the national budget and its impact to healthcare in Massachusetts. Plus, the global impacts of cutting USAID.Boston University Journalism Chair Brian McGrory discusses the Boston Globe's fact-check of the Boston mayoral race the growing death toll in Texas from devastating floods, all while key weather service roles were vacant.Ilan Stavans of Amherst College discusses the so-called "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center in South Florida — the implications of the media adopting this name and the conditions at the facility. Nick Quah, podcast critic at Vulture, shares his best podcasts of 2025 so far.

Today:Economist Juliet Schor discusses her new book "Four Days a Week: The Life-Changing Solution for Reducing Employee Stress, Improving Well-Being, and Working Smarter."Paul Dama is the restaurant manager at Suya Joint, a Nigerian restaurant in Boston. He escaped Boko Haram's torture, sought asylum in the United States in 2019 and is authorized to work here legally. Earlier this month, Dama was taken into ICE custody, while on his way to church on Father's Day. Cecilia Lizotte, his sister, and the chef and owner at Suya Joint, discusses his situation.

Anand Giridharadas, political commentator behind The Ink newsletter, discusses Zohran Mamdani bringing democratic socialism back into the conversation.Economist Juliet Schor discusses her new book Four Days a Week: The Life-Changing Solution for Reducing Employee Stress, Improving Well-Being, and Working Smarter.Boston Globe travel writer Christopher Muther discusses the Godfrey Hotel making a top 10 list, and his picks for travel when he really wants to escape.Cecilia Lizotte, chef and owner of Suya Joint, joins to discuss the ICE detainment of her brother Paul, manager at the restaurant.Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner joins for a SCOTUS end-of-term roundup.

Eric Deggans joins for Press Play. Eric is the TV critic for NPR and the Knight Chair in Journalism and Media Ethics at Washington and Lee University. He discusses Trump's threat to sue CNN and the New York Times and other media stories from this week.For Live Music Friday we talk with Charles River Jazz Festival founder Seba Molnar and two other organizers about the free festival and a new era for emerging jazz artists in Boston. Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner joins briefly to talk about today’s SCOTUS decisions on birthright citizenship and the ACA's preventative care mandate.Environmentalist Bill McKibben talks about provisions in Trump’s spending bill that stand to worsen the climate crisis, and how inaction is making our summers hotter. Media maven Sue O’Connell (NBC10 Boston) joins for a reflection on the Karen Read trial, Trump’s use of swearwords this week, Jeff Bezos' Venetian wedding and more.

Today:The Charles River Jazz Festival occurs July 12 at the Herter Park Amphitheater on Soldier’s Field Road. More info and and to reserve a free ticket go to BostonJazzFoundation.org. Festival founder Seba Molnar joinswith foundation co-founder Moriah Phillips, and vice-chair Jess Curin. They all perform.And, retired federal judge Nancy Gertner reviews the Supreme Court's end-of-term rulings released today, including limiting orders blocking the Trump administration's birthright citizenship ban.

Today:U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley zooms in on the three-year anniversary of the reversal of Roe v. Wade, and a brand new Supreme Court ruling giving states the power to cut off Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood.And, Joe Knowles of the Family Health Project joins with Roxbury mother Dalia to discuss the benefits of offering direct cash payments to new mothers -- Knowles' initiative provides $400 every month for the first three years of a child's life to local mothers.

Governor Maura Healey joins for Ask the Governor.GBH News executive arts editor Jared Bowen discusses the Boston Public Art Triennial, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club and the fate of Iran's architectural treasures with escalation of war.Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem discusses the emerging details of the U.S. strike on Iran and the proposed "Golden Dome"  US-wide missile defense system.Boston Globe Love Letters columnist Meredith Goldstein discusses some of her recent columns and podcast episodes including how to deal with a partner's moodiness and the role of artificial intelligence in dating.

CNN's John King on the latest national political headlines.Jim O'Connell + Derek Winbush join to discuss 40 years of Boston Health Care for the Homeless.Jordina Shanks of Fenway Health and civil rights attorney Alejandra Caraballo join to discuss the Supreme Court's ruling on gender affirming care for trans youth.Senator Ed Markey discusses attacks to public media, and the latest national headlines.Brittany Jasnoff, executive editor of Boston magazine, joins with Jason Santos — chef/owner at Citrus & Salt — and Lydia Shire — chef/partner at Scampo ... both are winners of the Best of Boston 2025 list this year.

Today:Senator Ed Markey joins, with reaction to Iran and the latest on recission for PBS and NPR. Then we’ll get reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision last week to uphold a ban on gender affirming care in Tennessee, giving states broad powers to ban or regulate transgender medical care for minors.We talk with Jordina Shanks, CEO of Fenway Health – the largest provider of trans health care in New England – and trans rights activist, Harvard’s Alejandra Caraballo.