Last week former President Joe Biden announced his prostate cancer diagnosis. Prostate cancer is the second deadliest cancer for men in the U.S. and is incredibly common. Boston Globe’s own Mark Shanahan knows that all too well. He was also diagnosed with it back in 2013 when he was 48 years old. His experience from diagnosis to cancer-free was the subject of a Boston Globe podcast released in 2020 called Mr. 80%. In this episode, Mark and Jazmin talk about the Joe Biden news and about Mark's experience with this disease before featuring the first episode of Mr. 80%.

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In the second issue of Voter Vibes, a periodic check-in with a wide range of New England voters about the second Trump administration, we asked a group of New England voters what they really think about President Trump's immigration policies.

This is what they said.

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Introducing Voter Vibes, a periodic check-in with a wide range of New England voters about the second Trump administration. First up: How's the economy doing?

We asked 14 New Englanders what they really think of the Trump-era economy. This is what they said.

Check out all the respondent's answers here.

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‘Media-trician’ Dr. Michael Rich thinks you should abandon screen time restrictions because "they don't work."

Dr. Rich is a doctor and researcher at Boston Children's Hospital. As director and founder of The Digital Wellness Lab and the Clinic for Problematic Interactive Media Use, he is an expert in the intersection of medicine, mental health, and screen time.

Host Jazmin Aguilera sits down with the self-described ‘mediatrician’ as he walks through what the Digital Wellness Lab and the Clinic for Interactive Media and Internet Disorders see on a day to day basis, how their research informs their guidelines for parents, and what tangible steps parents can take to develop healthy screen habits with their children.

To read the transcripts of this episode and learn more about Dr Rich and The Digital Wellness Lab go to Globe.com/theglobepodcast

Show Links:

The Digital Wellness Lab : DigitalWellnessLab.org

The Mediatrician's Guide : https://www.harpercollinsfocus.com/9780785255727/the-mediatricians-guide/

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The Boston Globe publishes thousands of stories each year, but only a select few capture the public’s attention for weeks on end. The Secret Lives of Shelby Hewitt: 32 year old high school imposter is one such story—a fascinating tale of a 32-year-old woman who posed as a teenager to re-enroll in high school. This deep dive reveals the ripple effects on the schools, the Department of Children and Families, and the lives of those deceived by her audacious con. Prepare to be captivated by the first installment in a series that uncovers the shocking truth behind the masquerade.

To read more about what happened to Shelby Hewitt and all those who were affected by her deception catch up on all of Patricia Wen’s reporting:

A new twist in the saga of Shelby Hewitt, high school imposter

‘I lied to you about something big’: Confessions of Shelby Hewitt, high school imposter

Click here to support more local journalism and audio offerings from the Boston Globe.

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In part three of this collaboration with WNYC’s On The Media, the deep history of Harvard and the distinctly American idea of “diversity” is the hidden subtext for much of the recent strife. For most of the past half-century, the academy (and the business world) has embraced a concept of diversity as a social good.That concept, was developed at Harvard and endorsed by the Supreme Court, until the high court ended race-based affirmative action in 2023. This episode also looks at what’s in store for universities as the incoming Trump-Vance administration promises to pressure them to change curricula.  

To check out more Boston Globe reporting on Harvard and Claudine Gay and support more high quality journalism click here.

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In part two of this collaboration with WNYC’s On The Media, Claudine Gay is accused of academic plagiarism, just days after giving testimony to Congress. The drip-drip of new allegations keeps the story in the headlines. It also reinforces critics’ allegation that Gay is a “diversity hire,” unworthy of the job. We hear from two of the writers who broke that news, and from a defender of Harvard’s diversity efforts.

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In part one of this collaboration with WNYC’s On The Media, Claudine Gay’s history-making inauguration as Harvard’s first Black president in September 2023 is seen by many as an inspirational moment for the university. 

But by December 2023, that hope sours as her presidency becomes a proxy battleground for American culture wars 

After war breaks out in the Middle East, Gay struggles to navigate  bitter campus  protests over war, anti-semitism, free speech, and the proper role of the university. The tensions are on full display when Gay testifies under oath, providing legalistic answers to outraged members of Congress. 

Claudine Gay’s short tenure as Harvard’s 30th president, a job she started two days  after the Supreme Court struck down Harvard’s program of race-based affirmative action, is seen by some as a symbol of what’s wrong with diversity efforts. 

It’s also a warning to all colleges and universities, who face a hostile incoming administration which has pledged to use its power to bring them into line.

This series slows down the whipsaw chain of events to bring listeners direct eyewitness accounts of what happened, from professors, wealthy donors, and spiritual leaders.

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Universities have become a battlefield in the American culture wars in a way that’s dramatic and new. In the past year, Congress subpoenaed and investigated the inner workings of private colleges for the first time; four ivy league presidents quit their jobs amid mounting pressure and many institutions rolled back their commitments to be welcoming places for all. Meanwhile, President-elect Trump campaigned to “reclaim” universities from the “Marxist maniacs and lunatics.” This series brings all of that into focus by examining the short, troubled tenure of Harvard’s 30th president, Claudine Gay. She started the job two days after the Supreme Court struck down Harvard’s program of race-based affirmative action. By the time Gay resigned, she had been tarred as a symbol of what’s wrong with diversity efforts.

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