20th Hour - Are You An Optimist or Pessimist?

For NightSide’s last hour of the week we like to keep it light and have fun. This week is a simple question: Are you an optimist, or a pessimist? 

Electricity bills are expected to go up this Winter. The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts an average electricity bill rise of approximately 4% from November until March 2026, reaching about $1,130 nationally. What are you doing, if anything, to mitigate the impact of those increased energy rates? 

The Young Republicans, an organized political youth organization in the U.S. is under fire for a leaked Telegram chat group that contained antisemitic, racist, and homophobic text messages. Among the group chat are leaders of the organization who some prominent Republican leaders and others are calling on to resign or step down from their positions. Dan discussed the serious nature of these remarks and how there is no place in politics, whether the Republican Party or other, for such hateful and offensive speech.

The Young Republicans, an organized political youth organization in the U.S. is under fire for a leaked Telegram chat group that contained antisemitic, racist, and homophobic text messages. Among the group chat are leaders of the organization who some prominent Republican leaders and others are calling on to resign or step down from their positions. Dan discussed the serious nature of these remarks and how there is no place in politics, whether the Republican Party or other, for such hateful and offensive speech.

After Applegreen, the company originally awarded the contract to redevelop and operate 18 Massachusetts highway service plazas, backed out, MassDOT decided to start the bidding process all over again instead of awarding the contract to Global Partners, the second runner up. In addition, Thursday MassDOT Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt resigned. President and CEO of Global Partners, Eric Slifka commented on the latest and Boston Globe business reporter Jon Chesto checked in to discuss.

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!A New MA Real Estate Law that prevents home sellers from accepting an offer based on a buyer waiving a home inspection. Guest: Mark Triglione - President of the 2025 Greater Boston Association of Realtors & Broker/Owner of Premiere Realty Group in Reading EVERY DAY IS SUNDAY: How Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft, and Roger Goodell Turned the NFL into a Cultural & Economic Juggernaut. Guest: Ken Belson - New York Times Business & NFL reporter & author of new book Boston skyline’s iconic CITGO sign is moving… on up.Guest: Gayla Cawley – Boston Herald ReporterA facelift at 28? Why young people are turning to plastic surgery… Guest: Dr. Bruce Hermann – Plastic Surgeon

U.S. Representative Seth Moulton made the announcement that he is challenging Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey for his Senate seat in the 2026 primary. In Moulton’s announcement video, he addressed Sen. Markey’s age saying, “it’s time for a new generation of leadership for Democrats and for America.” Do you agree with Moulton and think it’s time for new ideas and new leadership? What are you looking for in a candidate?

U.S. Representative Seth Moulton made the announcement that he is challenging Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey for his Senate seat in the 2026 primary. In Moulton’s announcement video, he addressed Sen. Markey’s age saying, “it’s time for a new generation of leadership for Democrats and for America.” Do you agree with Moulton and think it’s time for new ideas and new leadership? What are you looking for in a candidate?

With the recent closure of roughly 20 Starbucks locations throughout Boston, how does that impact coffee culture in Boston? Will the chain’s closures help boost local coffee companies and coffee shops? What is your coffee routine and has it been disrupted at all by these closures? George Howell, the founder of the local coffee company George Howell Coffee joined us to discuss coffee culture locally here in Boston and the industry in general as it relates to consumers.

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!The Nova Exhibition, honoring the Tribe of Nova massacre with relics and survivor stories, runs in South Boston through Oct. 21. Guest: Tal Mazor – Nova Festival Survivor What motorists need to be aware of with seeing more moose and deer on the roadways this Fall.  Guest: Martin Feehan - Deer & Moose Biologist, Wildlife Health Specialist at Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife With the release of the Israeli hostages, we discuss the neuroscience of trauma and survival. Guest: Dr. Nicholas Wright - leading neuroscientist and adviser to the Pentagon, author of book: WARHEAD: How the Brain Shapes War and War Shapes the Brain With Halloween coming up, we discuss how watching scary movies or engaging in spooky activities like going to a haunted house, impacts your heart. Should certain people forgo getting “scared”? Guest: Dr. James Udelson - Chief of Cardiology at Tufts Medical Center