Today: 

Boston Globe Love Letters columnist Meredith Goldstein discusses the region's newest romance-specific brick-and-mortar bookstore, Lovestruck Books, in Harvard Square.

And, the team from the Urban Nutcracker joins Jim and Margery at the BPL for Live Music Friday.

We start the show by asking people how they maintain a "no crap for Christmas" policy.

Ashish Jha was Biden’s COVID-19 response coordinator, now he’s the dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health. He joins to talk about RFK Jr. at the helm of HHS and whether the U.S. is ready for another pandemic.

Former secretary of public safety Andrea Cabral reacts to a Georgie appeals court disqualifying Fani Willis, GOP officials targeting Liz Cheney for prosecution in 2025 and the third guilty plea in the Cambridge/Watertown brothel case.

Former secretary of education Paul Reville discusses how Linda McMahon will impact the Department of Education, skill gaps at Massachusetts community colleges, a lawsuit alleging price-fixing at major universities, and pushback to Newton’s multilevel teaching model. 

Vulture podcast critic Nick Quah talks about this year's best shows. 

Then it's "Am I the A-Hole" day. At issue is an early Christmas dinner time.

Today:

Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University school of public health, and former COVID-19 coordinator under President Biden joins Jim and Margery in Studio 3 -- He reflects on mistakes made around school closures and vaccine mandates.

And, our final Am I The A-Hole segment of the year: Is one family member the jerk for wanting to hold the big Christmas meal later in the afternoon than 1:00 p.m., so he can enjoy time with his own young children and family before meeting up with the big group?

Today: Andrea Cabral and Sue O'Connell fill in for Jim and Margery.

We speak with national security expert Juliette Kayyem about the Wisconsin school shooting, and the drone mania on the east coast.

And, Linda Matchan, editor for Globe Santa, and the Greater Boston Food Bank’s Catherine D’Amato, discuss ways we can help each other this giving season.

We start the show by asking about the acceptance of political violence, following the healthcare executive murder. Then, GBH News executive arts editor Jared Bowen discusses Commonwealth Shakes' A Christmas Carol and Made in Germany at the Harvard Art Museums. National security expert Juliette Kayyem discusses the Wisconsin school shooting, and the arrest of a US-Iranian citizen in Massachusetts in connection to a drone strike that killed American soldiers in Jordan earlier this year. Catherine D'Amato of the Greater Boston Food Bank and Linda Matchan of Globe Santa talk about how to help the hungry and less fortunate this holiday season. CNN's John King joins to discuss the latest national politics headlines. Then we open up the phone lines to hear about your best and worst holiday office party experiences. 

Today:

Looking for the best bottle to bring to that family or office holiday party? TJ and Hadley Douglas of The Urban Grape have you covered. 

And, through December 29th, Boston audiences have a chance to see SIX on its North American tour, at the Emerson Colonial Theater through Broadway in Boston. We’ll talk with the women playing Catherine of Aragon & the notorious Anne Boleyn. 

We start the show by asking listeners whether they are making big purchases in expectation of Trump tariffs in 2025. 

TJ and Hadley Douglas of Urban Grape join us for a holiday wine tasting, and to discuss how American wine producers could be impacted by the tariffs.

NBC Boston's Sue O'Connell discusses the two men arrested for flying a drone near Logan, Trump considering a pardon for Eric Adams and the fate of TikTok.

Carol Rose of the ACLU of Massachusetts discusses the DOJ's report on Worcester police and data privacy legislation proposed by Sen. Warren that aligns with the ACLU's work to pass the Location Shield Act.

Two of Henry VIII's wives join us, Anne Boleyn (Gaby Albo) and Catherine of Aragon (Chani Maisonet), from the Boston cast of SIX.

Then, we ask whether gift cards are ever acceptable as holiday gifts. 

Today:

We talk with one of the legislators – State Senator Nick Collins – who led the charge to defeat Boston Mayor Wu’s plan to shift the tax burden towards commercial properties in the city.

And, states don’t have to give into anticipatory obedience on everything Trump will try to rollback – We talk with Terri Gerstein of NYU's Wagner Labor Institute and Paul Sonn of the National Employment Law Project, who say states can and should act now to shore up worker protections ahead of Jan. 20. 

South Boston Senator Nick Collins discusses the demise of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's proposed tax shift plan that would have helped Boston homeowners.

ABC News just agreed to give $15 million to Donald Trump's presidential library fund to settle a lawsuit. We open the phone lines to get your thoughts on whether legacy media can be trusted to hold "Truth to Trump" in his second term. 

Terri Gerstein of NYU Wagner Labor Initiative and Paul Sonn of the National Employment Law Project share what states can do before Jan. 20 to ensure labor protections under another Trump era.

Ilan Stavans of Amherst College discusses the very-much-alive Yiddish language and what Democrats always miss about immigration. Plus, a few Hanukkah recipes from his book "Sabor Judio."

Charlie Sennott of the GroundTruth Project gives a round-up of the world news: France's government crisis, the rebel government in Syria, South Korea's impeachment and Ukraine's plea to Donald Trump.

We ask listeners what tattoo Jim should get, now that he's decided 70-something is the perfect age get inked for the first time.

Boston Globe travel writer Christopher Muther discusses the holidays in Iceland and a magical airport in Singapore.

We finish with another BPR moldy chestnut: holiday tipping. Yea or nay?