NightSide With Dan Rea

For the final hour of the week, Dan shared a story about a couple he recently had dinner with. Each had created their own bucket list without knowing what was on the other's list. When they finally compared them, they were amazed to discover they had both chosen the very same destination! Curious where it was? Listen to the podcast to find out. Dan also awarded a NightSide mug to the first listener who guessed the destination correctly!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The war with Iran is now approaching its fifth month, with no clear end in sight as U.S. and Iranian forces continue exchanging strikes and tensions remain high across the Middle East. The fighting has extended beyond Iran’s borders, affecting U.S. bases, regional allies, and key shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns about global energy supplies and the risk of a broader regional war. Is this a conflict without end? 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has unveiled a street safety plan following the death of city transportation planner and cyclist Louisa Gag, pledging more permanent protected bike lanes, stronger truck safety measures, and an outside review of the city's Streets Cabinet. The plan also calls for evaluating the Mission Hill intersection where Gag was killed, expanding durable bike lane barriers, improving school-zone safety, and upgrading technology to better enforce traffic and parking laws. What will these enhanced safety measures mean for bicyclists and motorists moving forward?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Massachusetts voters will get the chance this November to weigh in on whether the state’s recreational marijuana law should be repealed. Supporters of the ballot question say legalization has led to public health and safety concerns, while opponents argue the industry has created jobs, brought in tax revenue, and provides a regulated way for adults to buy cannabis. The vote will determine whether Massachusetts sticks with the law approved by voters in 2016 or takes a different path. Ryan Dominguez, Stop the Repeal Campaign Chair, joined Dan to discuss.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan opened up the phone lines for callers to continue discussions from earlier in the night, or bring up new topics they'd like to hear us cover!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A deadly attack in Boston has sparked calls for action. A Bedford man is facing charges in connection with two violent incidents, including the death of a man found with serious injuries near Boylston and Tremont streets and a separate assault near Beach Street. The Downtown Boston Neighborhood Association is calling for a renewed task force to address public safety concerns, and co-founder Rishi Shukla joined Dan to discuss. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cyclospora cases have surged across the U.S., sickening thousands in a foodborne outbreak linked to fresh produce, including iceberg lettuce. The parasite can cause severe diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, and weight loss, and outbreaks are often difficult to trace because symptoms may not appear for up to two weeks. Dan spoke with Timothy Lytton, Regents' Professor at Georgia State University College of Law and author of Outbreak: Foodborne Illness and the Struggle for Food Safety, about why cyclosporiasis is just one part of a much larger food safety problem.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Massachusetts Senate is considering a proposal to eliminate Chapter 62F, a voter-approved law that requires excess state tax revenue to be returned to taxpayers. Republican candidate for Governor Brian Shortsleeve says repealing 62F would amount to a permanent tax increase by allowing Beacon Hill to retain billions in excess revenue rather than returning it to taxpayers. Shortsleeve joined Dan to talk about his pledge to protect Chapter 62F and oppose any effort to repeal or weaken it.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a recent video statement, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani acknowledged that the city does not have the legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits for the United Nations General Assembly. However, Mamdani said he still believes the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant should be enforced and urged the federal government to join the ICC and execute the warrant. In response, Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said it is Mamdani, not Netanyahu, who should be arrested.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new investigation by ProPublica and the Anchorage Daily News found that a federal broadband subsidy program is providing more than $340,000 a year to deliver internet service to hundreds of mostly empty buildings on Alaska’s remote Adak Island. The funding comes through the Universal Service Fund, a fee collected from telecommunications customers that helps bring internet access to rural communities. Residents who remain on the island say they’ve turned to Starlink because it offers faster service. Dan talked with Anchorage Daily News investigative reporter Kyle Hopkins about whether this money is being spent where it’s needed.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.