Best Wgbhnews Podcasts (2024)

1
Shannon Liss-Riordan makes her case for AG 27:42

2y ago27:42

27:42

The Democratic primary contest to succeed outgoing Attorney General Maura Healey has become one of the most interesting races in Massachusetts this election cycle. In this episode of the Scrum, labor lawyer Shannon Liss-Riordan discusses what she believe sets her apart from rivals Andrea Campbell and Quentin Palfrey. Plus, Politico’s Lisa Kashinsky…

1
The feds have lost confidence in the T. Who's responsible, and what happens next? 31:09

2+ y ago31:09

31:09

The Federal Transit Administration announced this week that it's taking on an "increased safety oversight role" of MBTA after a series of troubling breakdowns, including the horrific death of Robinson Lalin, who was killed after after his arm got caught in the door of a Red Line train. Jim Aloisi of Transit Matters and Stacy Thompson of LivableStre…

1
Are Massachusetts politics as great as we like to think? 27:30

2+ y ago27:30

27:30

The idea that Massachusetts politics are exceptional dates back at least to John Winthrop's description of the young Massachusetts Bay colony as a "city on a hill." But while things are certainly different here, that doesn't necessarily mean they're better. Erin O'Brian and Jerold Duquette, the editors of "The Politics of Massachusetts Exceptionali…

1
Will Massachusetts legalize sports betting? 28:30

2+ y ago28:30

28:30

Massachusetts took a big step towards expending the gambling industry recently when the Senate passed a bill that would legalize sports betting---but there are some huge and potentially irreconcilable differences between the Senate plan and the one the House passed last year. Adam Reilly spoke with Shira Schoenberg, a reporter at Commonwealth magaz…

1
Can Elizabeth Warren save the Democrats from electoral disaster? 28:30

2+ y ago28:30

28:30

Senator Elizabeth Warren is sounding the alarm ahead of the midterm elections, calling on her fellow Democrats to focus squarely on Americans’ economic concerns to avoid a blowout in November. But does she have the influence to inspire President Biden and the rest of her party to act? Talking Politics Host Adam Reilly speaks with Robert Kuttner, th…

1
Remote access transformed politics during the pandemic. Will it last? 28:15

2+ y ago28:15

28:15

Public meetings have been more transparent than ever thanks to remote access and participation adopted during the pandemic. But now, as safety protocols are lifted, there are signs the political establishment wants to go back to the way things used to be. Advocates say it’s the wrong move — including Kade Crockford, the director of the Technology f…

1
Massachusetts roads are getting more dangerous. Are automated traffic cameras the answer? 28:30

2+ y ago28:30

28:30

As Massachusetts drivers head back to the roadways, there’s been a troubling uptick in speeding and fatalities—prompting renewed interest in automated traffic cameras in Somerville and at the State House. Stacey Beuttell, the executive director of WalkBoston, and Mary Maguire, the director of public and government affairs for AAA Northeast, joined …

1
The North End dining debate and the future of protest in Boston 28:30

2+ y ago28:30

28:30

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is taking some heat over the city’s outdoor dining policy for the North End, which includes fees absent in other neighborhoods and a shorter window. The Boston Globe’s Joan Vennochi and Boston Post-Gazette’s Pam Donnaruma join Talking Politics Host Adam Reilly to discuss Wu’s recent attempt for a compromise and how, exactly…

1
Chris Doughty and Kate Campanale Make Their Case for the Corner Office 28:30

2+ y ago28:30

28:30

In their first joint media appearance, Republican governor and LG candidates Chris Doughty and Kate Campanale join Adam Reilly to discuss their political identities, their take on outgoing Governor Charlie Baker’s anti-COVID efforts, and their priorities if they win. First, though, Yawu Miller of the Bay State Banner and Mike Deehan of GBH News rec…

1
Wu Hits the Hundred-Day Mark 28:30

2+ y ago28:30

28:30

One hundred days isn’t enough time to say whether Mayor Michelle Wu will be able to realize her biggest political goals, like creating a Boston Green New Deal or implementing some form of rent stabilization. But it’s an appropriate point for sizing up Wu’s early victories and setbacks — and asking whether she’s made good, so far, on her pledge to g…

1
When Baker Leaves, Can Bakerism Abide? 28:30

2+ y ago28:30

28:30

Governor Charlie Baker’s second and final term is nearing its end, but the governor has a developing plan to shape Massachusetts politics for years to come. The Boston Globe’s Emma Platoff and Politico’s Lisa Kashinsky join Adam Reilly to discuss that topic. Also on the conversational agenda: Danielle Allen’s gubernatorial exit and critique of the …

1
Wash, Rinse, Repeat: Another leadership change at the Boston Public Schools 28:30

2+ y ago28:30

28:30

When BPS superintendent Brenda Cassellius exits this spring after a three-year tenure, she’ll be the latest in a series of short-term leaders for the state’s biggest public-school system. So what will it take for her successor to turn things around? GBH News politics editor and Latyoa Gale — director of advocacy at Neighborhood Villages Action Fund…

1
In Massachusetts politics in 2022, who counts as a "progressive"? 28:30

2+ y ago28:30

28:30

In this week’s Talking Politics debrief, Saraya Wintersmith, Peter Kadzis, and Adam Reilly size up Andrea Campbell and Rahsaan Hall’s bids for attorney general and Plymouth County district attorney; a new push for reparations in Boston; Republican gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl’s hiring of Trump confidante Corey Lewandowski; and secretary of s…

1
Is Michelle Wu winning the vax-mandate fight? 28:30

2+ y ago28:30

28:30

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu was dealt a blow to her employee-vaccine mandate this week, when a court temporarily halted it from going into effect. But some argue she's still winning the bigger battle. Adam Reilly is joined by the Bay State Banner's Yawu Miller and UMass Dartmouth's Shannon Jenkins on that, their disappointment with the latest voting-r…

1
Why won't the Massachusetts Legislature act on voting rights? 26:46

2+ y ago26:46

26:46

Ever since the Capitol insurrection, the fight over the future of voting rights has emerged as an issue of paramount importance, with Republican-controlled states taking steps to make voting more difficult and pave the way for the overturning of future elections and congressional Democrats trying, and failing, to advance legislation to create new n…

1
Will Wu's Mass And Cass Plan Work? 26:46

2+ y ago26:46

26:46

For years, the encampments at Mass and Cass embodied some of society’s most intractable problems — addiction, mental health, and homelessness — and constituted a crisis in their own right. Now they’re gone thanks to a new initiative by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. But will her solution hold? And what will the people who called Mass and Cass home do no…

1
The politics of COVID in Massachusetts 26:43

2+ y ago26:43

26:43

COVID has been political ever since the pandemic started. But as the omicron variant surges, disputes over authority, policy, and the tension public health and personal autonomy have become especially sharp. Adam Reilly sizes up these fault lines and how they could shift in the future with GBH News political editor PEter Kadzis, state Senator Becca…

1
How 2021 is ending--and what to watch in 2022 26:46

2+ y ago26:46

26:46

On this episode of Talking Politics, Sue O’Connell fills in for Adam Reilly (health and safety protocols). She and the rest of the GBH News political team—Saraya Wintersmith, Mike Deehan, and Peter Kadzis—size up the biggest end-of-the-year happenings, including Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s plan to address the longstanding crisis at Mass and Cass and…

1
Who's Afraid Of Rachael Rollins? 26:43

2+ y ago26:43

26:43

Most of President Biden’s nominees had a much easier path to confirmation than Rachael Rollins, the Suffolk DA-turned-US Attorney for Massachusetts. So what is it about Rollins and her approach that gets Republicans so riled up? How will Rollins’ MO shift in her new role? And as Governor Baker gets ready to pick her replacement, what considerations…

1
After Baker Bails, What's Next? 26:42

2+ y ago26:42

26:42

This week's announcement by Governor Charlie Baker (R-MA) that he won't see a third term threw Massachusetts politics into a state of upheaval. On the Democratic side, current candidates Ben Downing, Danielle Allen, and Sonia Chang-Diaz now face a bevy of prospective new rivals, including former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and former Boston mayoral ca…

1
Boston's Race Into History: The Elected School Committee Rides Again (Probably) 27:17

2+ y ago27:17

27:17

Yes, Michelle Wu won big in this month’s mayoral election — but the idea of Boston returning to an elected school committee won even bigger, albeit in a nonbinding ballot question. In this episode of Boston’s Race Into History, City Councilors Ricardo Arroyo and Julia Mejia, who are driving the push for local legislation that would end the current …

1
Boston's Race Into History: Closing The Wealth Gap(s) 26:43

3y ago26:43

26:43

Some Boston neighborhoods are filled with attractive homes, thriving businesses, and plenty of new construction. Others are visibly struggling — and more often than not, they’re areas where Bostonians of color outnumber their white counterparts. So how would Annissa Essabi George and Michelle Wu push to get the benefits of Boston’s booming economy …

1
Boston's Race Into History: Police Reform 26:41

3y ago26:41

26:41

Once again, Boston’s Race Into History slides into the space usually occupied by The Scrum. In this episode, we size up Annissa Essabi George and Michelle Wu’s contrasting visions of policing and police reform — and get some sharp insights from Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell and Tanisha Sullivan, president of the Boston Branch of the NAACP. …

1
Boston's Race Into History: Improving Public Education 27:29

3y ago27:29

27:29

Boston’s mayoral candidates have been vowing to improve the city’s public schools for decades—but somehow, the system never quite manages to get where everyone says the want it to go. So what’s the hold-up? And what can the next mayor do—whoever she is—to make BPS work better? In this episode of Boston’s Race Into History, Adam Reilly talks it over…

1
Boston's Race Into History: Mass and Cass 27:36

3y ago27:36

27:36

On the latest episode of Boston’s Race Into History—which is borrowing the Scrum’s space from now through early November—we size up Annissa Essabi George and MIchelle Wu’s similarities and differences when it comes to the crisis at Mass and Cass and the bigger problems the situation there embodies. Our guests are former Boston City Council candidat…

1
Boston's Race Into History: The Housing Crisis 27:29

3y ago27:29

27:29

The Scrum is on hiatus through Boston’s final mayoral election, in part because we’re doing a limited-run show on Boston’s mayoral race, “Boston’s Race Into History.” You can watch it Fridays at 7 pm on GBH Channel 2, or find it at GBHNews.org or on YouTube — but we’re also going to post the audio of episodes here. Video doesn’t work for everyone, …

1
Boston's Race Into History: Preliminary Preview with the GBH News Politics Team 59:59

3y ago59:59

59:59

GBH News reporter Adam Reilly welcomes local political experts who are closely watching Boston's mayoral race to see which of the five candidates will face each other in the race to the November elections, in a live event taped on the eve of the election. GBH News City Hall reporter Saraya Wintersmith and WBZ political commentator Jon Keller lead t…

1
Boston’s Mayoral Race: The Undecideds May Call The Shots 33:39

3y ago33:39

33:39

It’s an historic field of candidates. And five of them are battling for the voters' attention. They may be swimming in the same pool, but they are trying to find the lane that will bring them to victory and the mayor's office. You'll hear a lot of aquatic metaphors in this installment of The Scrum. So, brace yourselves. Our political analysts, Prof…

1
Historic Mayoral Election Reflects Boston's Changing Political DNA 41:29

3y ago41:29

41:29

We’re closing in on Boston’s preliminary mayoral election, so this week, The Scrum asks: How did the city get here? A field with five major candidates who are all people of color, four of them women, in a city that has exclusively elected white men to the mayor’s post. GBH News’ political editor Peter Kadzis gives a brief history lesson on local Bo…

1
Dems In Disarray: How The Party's Stumble To Victory In 2020 Explains Their Predicament Now 31:53

3y ago31:53

31:53

Excavating previously unknown details about a major media event is no easy task — but Edward-Isaac Dovere pulls it off admirably in his new book, “Battle For The Soul: Inside The Democrats’ Campaigns To Defeat Trump.” The book is packed with juicy background about weird personal proclivities (Bernie Sanders likes his hotel rooms ***cold***) and awk…

1
"A Peaceful Coup": How A New Budget Process Could Transform Boston Politics 25:23

3y ago25:23

25:23

If you’re a Scrum listener, you know that Boston has a strong-mayor form of government, with the mayor holding almost all the cards when it comes to actual power and the city council limited structurally in its ability to push back. But now that could be on the verge of changing, thanks to a proposal championed by City Councilor Lydia Edwards that …

1
The Rehabilitation Of Dianne Wilkerson 28:43

3y ago28:43

28:43

It’s one of the more improbable comeback stories in recent memory: after tumbling from the political heights and doing time in prison, former State Senator Dianne Wilkerson has emphatically re-established herself as a political force in Boston. Adam Reilly talks with Philip Martin about his new story detailing Wilkerson’s fall and rise; the record …

1
As Others Dems Dither, Downing Makes His Gubernatorial Case 40:30

3y ago40:30

40:30

Right now, any talk about the 2022 Massachusetts governor’s race is likely to be speculative. Maybe Charlie Baker will seek a third term! Maybe Maura Healey will finally challenge him! But there’s one notable exception: Ben Downing, the former Democratic state Senator, is in and has already been running for months. In this episode, Adam Reilly and …

1
What Does Justice For Mikayla Miller Look Like? 31:57

3+ y ago31:57

31:57

The death of Mikayla Miller, a 16-year-old from Hopkinton, is a deeply personal and emotional loss for her family. But since Miller's body was found last month, it's become something else: a case study in the distrust an increasingly wide segment of Americans have for law enforcement — and a political crisis for Middlesex County District Attorney M…

1
"Black women candidates are not interchangeable": Andrea Campbell In The Eye Of The Storm 26:31

3+ y ago26:31

26:31

It’s been a busy — and high-stress — stretch for Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell. A supporter of Acting Mayor Kim Janey emailed Campbell supporters suggesting that she drop out of the race to clear a path for Janey’s election citywide, prompting Campbell, who’s been running since September 2020, to retort, “Black women candidates for public o…

1
Jon Santiago On The State Of The Mayor's Race, Marty Walsh's Legacy, And Kim Janey's Tenure 38:36

3+ y ago38:36

38:36

He hasn’t been making headlines over the past few weeks, but Jon Santiago says he’s been laying the groundwork to win Boston’s 2021 mayoral contest — by landing key endorsements from elected officials, winning the support of unions, and talking with as many voters as possible. Santiago recaps his campaign’s progress in a conversation with Saraya Wi…

1
Ron Mariano: Different From The Old Boss? 25:41

3+ y ago25:41

25:41

There are certain stereotypes attached to Massachusetts State Government. The Senate is liberal; the House is (relatively) conservative; and they tend not to get along. When they do join forces, they’re often checked by the governor, and sometimes return the favor — though during Charlie Baker’s tenure, things have been pretty amicable. Three month…

1
"Never imagined that I'd see a Black mayor": Yawu Miller on Kim Janey's ascension — and what comes next 20:15

3+ y ago20:15

20:15

The intense national interest in Kim Janey’s ascension that her stewardship of Boston could change, or begin to change, perception of the city. It could also change the way the Boston sees itself. But there are some important caveats attached to the Janey era — starting with the fact that it could end in November, when Boston holds the final electi…

1
Whatever Happened To Dennis White? Plus, Previewing The Somerville Mayor's Race 25:58

3+ y ago25:58

25:58

The push for a more transparent Boston Police Department was one of the hallmarks of Marty Walsh’s second term. But now, as Walsh gets ready to head to Washington, his pick to run the BPD — Commissioner Dennis White — is on leave as the city investigates domestic-violence allegations that surfaced after his appointment. In this episode of the Scrum…

1
The Revere-Winthrop Primary And What It Means For The Boston Mayor's Race 27:27

3+ y ago27:27

27:27

Jeffrey Turco, a moderate Democrat who voted for former President Donald Trump in 2016, defeated a number of more progressive candidates in the 19th District special election primary to succeed former House Speaker Robert Deleo. In this episode of the Scrum, Peter Kadzis talks with NBC10's Sue O'Connell and Liam Kerr of Priorities for Progress abou…

1
Annissa Essaibi George: The Scrum Interview 40:08

3+ y ago40:08

40:08

The first two candidates in Boston’s 2021 mayoral race, Michelle Wu and Andrea Campbell, committed to running before labor-secretary-in-waiting Marty Walsh’s plans were clear. But Annissa Essaibi George took a different tack. In this episode of the Scrum, AEG talks with Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly about why she wouldn’t have run against Walsh; how…

1
If Denver Can Elect Black Mayors, Why Can't Boston? 34:10

3+ y ago34:10

34:10

It’s looking increasingly likely that the next mayor of Boston will be a female person of color — but for years, the city’s inability or unwillingness to elect anyone other than white men has been a defining trait. In Denver, meanwhile, which resembles Boston in several respects, three of the last four mayors have been people of color. So what give…

1
What Baker's Vaccine Woes Tell Us About The Governor 33:10

3+ y ago33:10

33:10

In the eyes of the electorate, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has been able to do no wrong for the vast majority of his time in office. The state’s troubled COVID-vaccine rollout is a notable, potentially damaging exception to that rule. Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly size up the situation, and its deeper lessons, with Joan Vennochi of the Bost…

1
American Democracy: Buy Or Sell? 22:33

3+ y ago22:33

22:33

After the 2020 presidential election and the harrowing events that followed it—which are still playing out—the question of whether the United States can survive as a functioning polity is real and pressing. In this episode of the Scrum, Bay State Banner senior editor Yawu Miller joins Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly to size up where we’ve been and whe…

1
Andrea Campbell: The Scrum Interview 37:11

3+ y ago37:11

37:11

Now that Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is headed to Washington, you can’t swing a stick without hitting a potential mayoral candidate. But when Walsh’s plans were unclear, just two people had the guts to commit to running against him if he sought a third term — and Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell was one of them. In this episode of the Scrum, she …

1
What Makes Michelle Wu Run? 42:14

3+ y ago42:14

42:14

If you pay attention to Boston politics, four-term city councilor Michelle Wu is a familiar figure, known for her electoral prowess and her determinedly progressive politics. But there are some aspects of Wu’s political identity that even her fans might not be familiar with — including her conception of how Boston politics intersect (or *could* int…

1
The Case For A Massachusetts COVID Clampdown — Now, Not Later 27:15

3+ y ago27:15

27:15

Critics have argued for a while now that Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker isn’t doing enough to stem the spread of COVID-19 — relying instead on restrictions that were established weeks or months ago, and aren’t sufficient for the moment we find ourselves in. But over the past few days, as Massachusetts sets new records for reported daily cases…

1
Joe Biden's Boston Roots 31:24

3+ y ago31:24

31:24

Quick: if you hear the name “Joe Biden,” what places spring to mind? Delaware, for obvious reasons. Scranton, probably, along with the requisite dose of earthy Irish-American wisdom. But Boston should, too. The president elect didn’t grow up in this area, but some of Boston’s top political power brokers helped shape and guide his career — which was…

1
Election 2020: The Night(s) Before And The Morning After 31:52

4y ago31:52

31:52

If you’ve been around long enough, you still think of presidential elections as efficient events that provide clear answers in a finite period of time, exceptions to the rule notwithstanding ([cough] 2000 [cough]). But the 2020 election may shatter that romantic ideal once and for all — and when the dust settles and the results are in, whenever tha…

1
The Electoral College: What Is It Good For? 31:19

4y ago31:19

31:19

You already know that the Electoral College lets candidates win the presidency while losing the popular vote (Donald Trump in 2016 springs to mind). But you might *not* know about the long history of failed attempts to reform or eliminate the institution — or how little guidance the Electoral College actually would actually provide in a close, hotl…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Wgbhnews Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide