BPR Full Show: "I'm Gonna Make Him An Offer He Can't Refuse"

Today on Boston Public Radio:

We begin the show by opening phone lines, talking with listeners about surging gas prices associated with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Shirley Leung talks about the closure of Amazon’s brick and mortar bookstores, and the Green Line extension to Somerville. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe.

David Leonard shares how people increasingly turned to library services throughout the pandemic. Leonard is the president of the Boston Public Library.

Bill McKibben discusses the UN’s recent climate report, and concerns over Russian attacks on nuclear power plants in Ukraine. McKibben is an author, educator and environmentalist. He’s the founder of 350.org and ThirdAct.org. He has a new newsletter on Substack titled “The Crucial Years.” He’s also got a new, serialized book titled “The Other Cheek: An Epic Nonviolent Yarn.”

Judge Nancy Gertner weighs in on the Supreme Court’s reinstatement of the death penalty for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Judge Gertner is a retired U.S. District Judge for the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts. She’s currently a senior lecturer on law at Harvard University.

Andy Ihnatko updates us on the latest tech headlines, explaining how the tech industry has responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com.

Callie Crossley talks about the life and legacy of Autherine Lucy Foster, the first Black woman to attend the University of Alabama. She also discusses the racism facing African students fleeing Ukraine. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. 

Sue O’Connell shares her thoughts on Gov. Greg Abbott’s order targeting the parents of transgender kids, and reflects on the queerness of Gen Z. O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and South End News, and contributor to Current, on NBC L-X and NECN.

We wrap up the show by talking with listeners about the 50th anniversary of The Godfather.