NightSide With Dan Rea

President Trump and China President Xi Jinping dined at the White House recently. Professor Greg Stoller of the Boston University Questrom School of Business previewed the issues that were on the table for discussion.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What would Mike Walsh do if he became Massachusetts attorney general? Walsh says he wants to make the office more independent, focus on fraud, waste and abuse of taxpayer money, and push back against state policies he believes infringe on local control. Dan talked with Walsh about his campaign, his priorities, and what he would bring to the attorney general’s office.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cursive writing is slowly disappearing from classrooms as more schools focus on typing, technology, and digital communication. Many students can read printed handwriting but struggle to read or write traditional cursive. Some states are bringing cursive lessons back into schools, while others are clearly moving away from it. Do you think cursive writing is still an important skill for kids to learn, or should we just let it go?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Massachusetts students are still struggling to get back to where they were before the pandemic, with the latest MCAS results showing declines in English language arts and continued gaps in math. Only 40% of students in grades 3 through 8 met or exceeded expectations in English, down two points from last year, while just 45% of 10th graders met the standard. Dan took a closer look at what the latest numbers say about the state of education in Massachusetts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Continued conversation about how gas prices are climbing in Massachusetts, and Gov. Maura Healey is proposing a two-month suspension of the state’s 24-cent-per-gallon gas tax to give drivers some relief. Healey says the move could provide about $120 million in savings, but House Speaker Ron Mariano has raised concerns about losing money used for roads and bridges. The plan still needs approval from the Legislature, so Dan took a closer look at the debate over suspending the gas tax.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gas prices are climbing in Massachusetts, and Gov. Maura Healey is proposing a two-month suspension of the state’s 24-cent-per-gallon gas tax to give drivers some relief. Healey says the move could provide about $120 million in savings, but House Speaker Ron Mariano has raised concerns about losing money used for roads and bridges. The plan still needs approval from the Legislature, so Dan took a closer look at the debate over suspending the gas tax.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Continued conversation about how President Trump spoke at the United Nations, defending his foreign-policy record and arguing that American strength is helping confront some of the world’s biggest conflicts. He focused heavily on the war with Iran, warning that he could “annihilate” the Islamic Republic if a deal isn’t reached. Trump also criticized the U.N. and other international institutions while discussing his administration’s efforts involving Cuba, Greenland, Ukraine and other global issues. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Trump spoke at the United Nations, defending his foreign-policy record and arguing that American strength is helping confront some of the world’s biggest conflicts. He focused heavily on the war with Iran, warning that he could “annihilate” the Islamic Republic if a deal isn’t reached. Trump also criticized the U.N. and other international institutions while discussing his administration’s efforts involving Cuba, Greenland, Ukraine and other global issues. Dan took a closer look at Trump’s speech and the message he delivered to world leaders.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China’s Communist government is facing growing criticism over how it treats people of faith, with Christians, Buddhists, Muslims and Falun Gong practitioners among those whom critics say face persecution and government repression. There are also growing concerns about China’s use of advanced surveillance technology to monitor and control people, as well as the export of that technology to other countries. Dan talked with former Kansas Senator and Governor Sam Brownback, who shares excerpts from his book, China’s War on Faith.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new state audit highlights problems at the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance, finding long call center waits, delayed benefit payments, and complaints that weren’t properly tracked. More than half of callers spent over 30 minutes on hold, while nearly a quarter waited more than an hour during the period examined by the audit. The DUA says it has made significant improvements since then, but the findings raise questions about how well Massachusetts is serving people who are out of work and relying on unemployment benefits. Dan spoke with Larry Edelman, associate editor and columnist for The Boston Globe, and MA State Auditor Diana DiZoglio.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.