Today on the podcast … we talk with Amherst College professor Ilan Stavans about the atmosphere on college campuses across the U.S., and why he thinks immigration is the top issue going into this year’s presidential election. Then, it’s our annual Presidents Day call-in quiz … turns out our listeners know a thing or two about presidents, so we might need to make it harder next year…

Best Of BPR: Professor Ilan Stavans And Our President's Day Quiz

Join hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan for a smart local conversation with leaders and thinkers shaping Boston and New England. We feature our favorite conversation from each show. To hear the full show, please visit wgbhnews.org/bpr To share your opinion, email bpr@wgbh.org or call or text 877-301-8970 during the live broadcast from 11AM-2PM Monday through Friday.

News

This week marks 20 years since the first same sex couple got married in Massachusetts. We speak with Margaret Marshall, the author of the historic decision, retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court. She talks not just about the legacy of that decision, but about civil disobedience and civic engagement in today’s world.

Best Of BPR 5/16: Marking 20 Years Of Same-Sex Marriage With Margaret Marshall

Margaret Marshall was Chief Justice for the Supreme Judicial Court in 2004, and wrote the historic decision than declared same-sex marriage legal for the first time anywhere in the U.S. She joined to reflect on the 20-year milestone.

Former public safety secretary Andrea Cabral reacted to the latest on Trump’s Manhattan trial, controversy around ShotSpotter and the winner of the Westminster Dog Show.

Joe Hanson is the new host of GBH’s High School Quiz Show and the host of the web-series Be Smart. He joined to preview HSQS’s upcoming finale & quiz Jim and Margery.

Medical ethicist Art Caplan talked about the death of the person who received the first pig kidney transplant, issues with Elon Musk’s brain chip company Neuralink and the proliferation of STIs among the 60+ crowd.

Boston Globe Love Letters columnist Meredith Goldstein recapped a few of her latest articles.

BPR Full Show 5/16: Physics for Poets

Today:

Longtime PBS cooking legend Lidia Bastianich is set to get a Lifetime achievement award at the Emmys. She joins us on zoom to talk about her storied career.

Then, we’ll follow that up with longtime Globe journalist and best-selling author Larry Tye on his new book “The Jazzmen.”

Best Of BPR 5/15: Celebrating Lidia & Larry Tye's "The Jazzmen"

We opened the lines to discuss the debate Trump and Biden will have next month with listeners. 

Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung discussed the Globe's Tech Power Players of 2024 list

Keith Lockhart announced the Boston Pops July 4 plans, embargoed until 12pm

Juliette Kayyem discussed the Biden administration's "critical infrastructure" memo, and the battle for Trump's VP.

Larry Tye discussed his new book about jazz, "The Jazzmen"

Dr. Alok Patel, host of NOVA's new film "Secrets In Your Data" and Eva Galperin, director of cybersecurity for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, joined via zoom to discuss the film, airing tonight.

Lidia Bastianich zoomed in to discuss being Lidia, she's getting a lifetime achievement award at the Emmys.

We ended the show by visiting the topic of taking care of plants.

BPR Full Show 5/15: It's Happening... A Debate Between Trump & Biden

Today:

What does the DEA rescheduling marijuana really mean for the industry? Not much, says cannabis equity champion Shaleen Title – she’s a former cannabis commissioner here in Massachusetts, and now runs the Parabola Center think tank for cannabis equity.

Then, retired federal judge Nancy Gertner will update us on the latest from Michael Cohen’s testimony tying Trump directly to allegations of a catch-and-kill scheme to protect his 2016 election chances.

Best Of BPR: Professor Ilan Stavans And Our President's Day Quiz

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