Congressman McGovern on Impeachment II and on why he’s not sure if he can trust his colleagues across the aisle. The History of Swear Words. It’s a new Netflix series and we talk with one of it’s talking heads lexicographer Kory Stamper. I’ll take you driving with my newly permitted son, I’ll take you to Beer Heaven with Beer Mike and I’ll take you to the Library with the digital explosion of library checkouts thanks to the Pane.

Welcome to 2021. Having fun yet? This week I get Congressman Jim McGovern’s take on the failed coup in DC. Plus lots of your thoughts about it. I talk to a chef who got WAY more than their fair share of bad luck in an already bad luck time for restaurants. And I talk with a chef who went from working with Bobby Flay to making free meals for people in need in Brattleboro. And are aliens sending a radio signal from Proxima Centauri? Maybe something cool will come of 2021. This is a week of mornings.

The end of this wretched year. Some looking back and looking forward. To getting a vaccine, but what of the new variant? The return of the Muller Report. Looking forward to a stimulus check, if one is coming…with Congressman McGovern. To some fancy sparkling wines for tonight. To movie recommendations from Mr. Universe. And to going home to our pets who love us. Or do they? With Dr. Steve from Sunderland Animal Hospital

This week: James Beard award winning Chef Sandy D’Amato on the fate of the restaurant industry if Congress doesn’t bail them out. Congressman McGovern on whether or not Congress is going to bail them and you out. Non pandemic related words that were popular in 2020. Celebrating Xmas with the baby born on Christmas. No not THAT baby, my baby Atticus who’s now 16!

Zara Bode of the Sweetback Sister’s hunkered down holiday special live from…her house. Are US astronauts in an underground base on Mars? How likely are MA residents to get the COVID vaccine? With the Biden-Harris cabinet taking shape, will they appoint a hunger czar? And will that person be Congressman McGovern? Stirring up some love and some stovetop popcorn with one of the fore bearers of the craft beer movement in the Valley-The People’s Pint. More drinking with Berkshire Mountain Distillers. And more more drinking with some fancy wines to treat yourself with this holiday.

With the first vaccine in the world administered in the UK, it’s the return of The Muller Report with UMass virologist Dr. Mandy Muller. Now that it looks like Hunter Biden is in hot water after all, What does Congressman and Democrat Jim McGovern thinks this means for the Biden transition and the Biden Presidency? And what the hell is the holdup in Congress on COVID relief? Meet our golden ticket winner Northampton’s Mark Gryska. Word of the year runners up with Emily Brewster from Merriam-Webster.

Some post-gaming of the March for the Food Bank with Congressman McGovern, marchers and Food Bank supporters. Merriam-Webster’s word of this terrible year, 2020 with Emily Brewster, resident wordster from Merriam Webster. NASA’s new Space Race and a look at this year’s Hot Chocolate Challenge for Safe Passage

It’s Monte’s March Madness! Hear about the March. The effort to fight for food justice. The amazing ways listeners are participating the Incredibly Generous Mo Willems matching grant and Congressman McGovern on why he walks 43 miles, pushing a shopping cart with me every year. Plus, some wines for Thanksgiving. You know, for self-care.

Gearing up for the March for the Food Bank. I’ll introduce you to some people who couldn’t do the work of making sure our neighbors have enough to eat without the Food Bank. And I’ll encourage you to help us support that work. Congressman McGovern on President-elect Biden?

What a week it’s been! I. set out at the beginning of this week to turn and face the strange and scrapped most of my usual guests, with a few exceptions- Mr. Universe on what the scientific community makes of these elections and of course Congressman Jim McGovern seemed like a good person with whom to talk about the elections. I talk with pollster Rich Parr on whether or not we can trust pollsters in 2020. And I spent a lot of time talking with you, leaving the airwaves open for the rollercoaster of emotions that Election week can bring.