NightSide With Dan Rea

Several electric vehicle companies have removed AM radio from their models due to the claim of reception interference caused by electric motors. Aside from EVs, Ford Motor Co. announced their plans to remove AM radio in most of its “new and updated 2024 models.” There are concerns of Americans losing access to important safety alerts broadcast over the AM airwaves if such removal occurs. U.S. Rep. Richard Neal along with many other lawmakers are fighting back to keep AM radio alive in EVs and vehicles alike. Rep. Neal joined Dan to discuss.

Happy Passover and Happy Easter to all the NightSide listeners! Dan discussed his own Easter traditions and heard about your holiday traditions and what the holiday means to you.

The Biden Administration has released two after-action reviews of America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in which they in part blame former President Donald Trump for the chaotic withdrawal. They list two main contributing factors that include the short timeline of the withdrawal and the state of military operations when Trump left office. Dan discussed the flaws in the Afghan exit and what the U.S. should have done differently.

Dan wrapped up this first topic on felons voting in MA, then dove into his second topic of the evening:

According to a recent poll done by the polling and political advocacy firm Priorities for Progress, a majority of MA voters, three quarters of voters in fact, would rather have Beacon Hill use its budget surplus to reduce taxes not increase overall spending. The majority of these voters appear to be in line with Gov. Maura Healey and her nearly $1 billion tax relief and reform proposal. Where do you come down in this poll?

There is a proposed amendment to the Massachusetts constitution that aims to allow prisoners with felony convictions the right to vote. Over 20 years ago the right to vote for prisoners was revoked but that could soon reverse course if the Legislature’s joint committee on election laws advances the legislation. Do you think prisoners with felony convictions should have the right to vote? Why or why not?

Do you think Michelangelo’s David statue is porn? Well, some parents view it that way…Parents of a Tallahassee, FL 6th grade class complained about what they view was a controversial lesson about the nude statue of David in art class. As a result of the complaints, the school’s principal was forced to resign. What’s appropriate and not appropriate in human body depictions for the purpose of art education?

This week we discussed how an Easthampton school superintendent candidate had his job offer rescinded for addressing two female colleges as “ladies” in an email exchange. It brought up the conversation about what language categorizes as a “microaggression” and when it’s perceived by some as such, how to navigate that conversation. Dan heard your thoughts on inclusive language in today's world.

This week we discussed how an Easthampton school superintendent candidate had his job offer rescinded for addressing two female colleges as “ladies” in an email exchange. It brought up the conversation about what language categorizes as a “microaggression” and when it’s perceived by some as such, how to navigate that conversation. Susan Brady, CEO of Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership joined Dan to discuss.

We’ve entered a time where we’re seeing more and more robots as commonplace in everyday life. While stores and restaurants have had self-service checkout machines for quite some time now, they have started to introduce other robots such as janitorial robots to clean up messes and food serving robots. Dan shared a personal experience he had with a self-service machine that had him thinking about the future of AI in our world.

Are you concerned that AI will replace your job? Dan shares a personal experience he had with a self serving machine at a store that had him thinking about what our future will look like and how much AI will replace in the world we grew up in.