BPR Talks 9/30/26: Waving Hello in Boston

This is “BPR Talks” – where we feature the call-in segments of the day. If you’re looking for the full two hours with guests,  you can find the full episode right here in the same feed.Today on the show: We all saw the “dirtbag” hearing with former special counsel Jack Smith’s congressional testimony yesterday – and Senator Eric Schmitt’s … total screw up. It got us thinking: In life or at work, do you double down when you’re humiliated – or own up? Then, we talk with you about your interactions with strangers…. Do you wave? Say hello? Walk by silently, hoping no one notices you exist?Listen in to find out!

Juliette Kayyem discusses Hegseth directing the Defense Dept. to fight foreign actors disrupting the election ... And reporting now in WashPo that Netanyahu ignored warnings ahead of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.Beth Simone Noveck discusses the local communities fighting back against data centers, and Trump's "Golden Age of AI" pitch.Joseph Carr, of Josh Wine, tells his brand story.Mahmoud Khalil joins BPR ahead of an event at Brookline Booksmith, discussing "No Land to Stand On," his memoir from detention.

This is “BPR Talks” – where we feature the call-in segments of the day. If you’re looking for the full two hours with guests,  you can find the full episode right here in the same feed.Today on the show:  We’ll start the show today with an examination of … empathy, as leaders of the far-right take issue that empathy is actually good…what do we lose as human beings, in our politics, when we toss empathy aside? Then we’ll end the show with you…it’s national coffee day, so forget the tariffs and high prices, pour a cup of joe and call us… what is it about a good cup of coffee? And when is it OK to switch out the iced coffee? Listen in to find out!

NBC Sports Boston's Trenni Casey on the first American man to win the UCI world cycling championships in over 30 years. And a Mass. program to stop school sports bullying. CNN's John King with the latest national political headlines. Tufts International policy expert Dan Drezner on the US-Canada relationship and the terror plot at a U.K. Air Base.And GOP candidate for state treasurer Elizabeth Dionne on why she's running. 

This is “BPR Talks” – where we feature the call-in segments of the day. If you’re looking for the full two hours with guests,  you can find the full episode right here in the same feed.Today on the show: On the heels of Trump’s fawning all over authoritarian Chinese president Xi … we’ll open the phone and text lines to ask: is the US position in the world waning? And will it ever recover from Trump’s damage? Then we’ll end the show talking TV, perfect for a rainy day – The New York Times has released its list of the 100 best TV shows of the 21st Century so far… Did your favorites make the cut? Listen in to find out!

Boston Medical Center’s Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett on an improvement in teenage mental health and how state lawmakers are planning to address violence against healthcare workers.Princeton’s Khalil Gibran Muhammad the latest federal funding cuts against higher ed.Evan Horowitz from the Tufts Center for State Policy Analysis on his ballot question explainers ahead of the election.Plus, we’ll speak with the GOP candidate for Attorney General Mike Walsh. 

This is the Best of BPR Podcast where we publish the week's top segments. In case you're missing us over the weekend... now you have something to listen to!On today's Show: Teddy Walker of Protect Trans Futures joins with Harvard attorney Alejandra Caraballo, and a trans youth to discuss restrictions on access to healthcare in MassachusettsBrian Levine (director of the UMass Cybersecurity Institute) discusses the recent cyberattack at Springfield Public Schools, these types of attacks in general, and personal data privacy and security measures people can takeWe’ll speak with our pals Monte Belmonte and Kaliis Smith from “The Fabulous 413.” 

We'll open the calls with NEPM Executive Editor and Big E historian Liz Roman riding along — and hear from Anthony Hough, of Big E vendor/ West Springfield staple "White Hut" (Jim and Margery experienced their Uncrustadouble, double cheeseburger sandwiched between two deep fried uncrustables ...)Rachel Maddow of MS Now zooms in to discuss her coverage of the protest movement, the White House banning her org among others, and other national news.Sarah Willie-LeBreton, president of Smith College, joins in Starr Studio.AG Andrea Campbell does Ask the AG from the Starr Studio, 12-1

Artificial intelligence has integrated into our daily lives; its omnipresence is reinvigorating a modern Luddite movement. In this episode of Not My Politics, Zoe speaks with Maine librarian Hannah Cyrus – whose “Avoiding AI” and “Breaking Up With Big Tech” workshops have been growing in popularity. She makes the case for AI skepticism, and offers concrete steps for those looking to disentangle themselves from the web.Companion reading list:Technofeudalism by Yanis VaroufakisBlood in the Machine by Brian MerchantFollow us on Instagram @GBH_NotMyPolitics and stay tuned for more episodes.

Chuck Todd zooms in with the latest national political headlines.Brian Levine, head of UMass Amherst's cybersecurity institute, joins to discuss Springfield's cyber attack, AI threats, and more. Sarah Voiland of Red Fire Farm & Russell Braen of Park Hill Orchard, join to discuss their work strengthening the local food system, the necessity of agrotourism for small farmers, and Mountain Day in WMass. Monte + Kaliis of the Fab413 join for a BPR crossover.