CNN's John King on the latest national political headlines NBC Sports Boston's Trenni Casey joins in person to discuss outrageous ticket prices for the World Cup and John Cena's retirement Food policy analyst Corby Kummer zooms in to discuss the Market Basket family back in court today Mahsa Khanbabai, attorney for Rumeysa Ozturk, zooms in to discuss her client's case Boston Mayor Michelle Wu answered listener questions for Ask The Mayor 1-2.

Cristina Quinn, of The Washington Post's Try This podcast, co-hosts with Jim today.  Amherst College professor Ilan Stavans discusses a far-right win in the the Chilean presidential elections and the mass shooting at a Hanukkah event in Australia. Daniel Drezner, dean of international politics at Tufts Fletcher School, discusses the Trump/MAGA foreign policy evolution. Bertil Jean-Chronberg of Bonde Fine Wine Shop and Alexandra Whiznant of Zuzu's Petals wine and dessert bar join for a wine panel. They bring some bubby, crème brûlée...and a blow torch. MIT economist Jon Gruber talks about his appearance on 60 Minutes talking about pros and price tag of genetic therapies. Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III discuss a new poll that finds no religious revival among young Americans, despite a different media narrative. Plus, the Democrats in Congress trying to take back faith from the right. Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem gives the latest on the deadly Brown University mass shooting. Then we espouse on the benefits of using cold, hard cash to stay within your shopping budget. 

Andrea Cabral and Shirley Leung are in the host seats. They talk with:  NPR critic-at-large Eric Deggans on journalism ethics in the wake of Olivia Nuzzi, AI taking over podcast jobs at the Washington Post, and more media news. GBH's Callie Crossley on why Greater Boston’s gender wage gap is shrinking…while the racial wage gap is growing. And on DEI in Boston business, and about a student from her alma mater who’s bringing Black dolls to local kids. It's a holiday edition of Live Music Friday with students from the Boston Latin School Concert Choir, ahead of their annual Family Holiday Concert this Sunday. NBC10 Boston media maven Sue O’Connell is fresh back from covering the trial of Brian Walshe, accused of murdering his wife. She gives us the latest in the case and tries to explain to us why everyone is obsessed with these grisly murder trials. 

Today: Andrea Cabral and Shirley Leung fill in for Jim and Margery. “Status: Venezuelan" is a new documentary co-produced by FRONTLINE and ProPublica, following a family trying to hold on to their legal status in the U.S., as the second Trump administration targets Venezuelans. ProPublica filmmakers Mauricio Rodríguez Pons and Almudena Toral join us on zoom to discuss.

Andrea Cabral and Shirley Leung are in the host seats today.  Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner discusses a number of Supreme Court-related topics: gerrymandering, religious vaccine mandates, and presidential power. Mauricio Rodriguez Pons and Almudena Toral are behind Frontline's latest film, in partnership with ProPublica: Status Venezuelan. They zoom in to discuss. Trenni Casey discusses early controversy in the World Cup draw, as Egypt and Iran protest being drawn to play in Seattle during the tournament's 'Pride Match.' Plus, the grandpa playing quarterback in the NFL. MIT economist Jon Gruber on Trump's plan to deliver direct cash to kids; and the latest on ACA subsidies.

The Culture Show's Jared Bowen discusses ABC signing Kimmel to a one-year contract a social media ban for kids in Australia and his interview with Patti Smith. Harvard national security expert Juliette Kayyem on cracks showing in the Trump Cabinet — namely, Pete Hegseth and Kristi Noem. Franchie Viaud of JustBookish in Dorchester and Cathy and Bruce Jacobs of Turtle Books in Brookline join for an indie bookstore panel. Musician Will Dailey performs ahead a show at the Paradise Rock Club this weekend. Naturalist Sy Montgomery joins via zoom for the Afternoon Zoo to talk piano-playing octopuses and falcons protecting cherry crops in Michigan.

Today: Franchie Viaud, bookstore manager at Just Book-ish in Dorchester, and Cathy and Bruce Jacobs, co-owners of Turtle Books in Brookline, discuss the importance of independent bookstores. And, musician Will Dailey joins ahead of a show at the Paradise Rock Club.

Today:  We get your thoughts on the nativity scene put up by St. Susanna Parish, featuring a sign reading "ICE was here" in the spot where Jesus, Mary and Joseph are usually centered in the manger.

CNN's John King zooms in for a politics roundup ACLU of MA executive director Carol Rose discusses some of their high profile cases this year; the ACLU birthright citizenship case picked by SCOTUS to debate the merits, their work monitoring Flock's surveillance network, and more Author Jeff Pearlman discusses his book "Only God Can Judge Me" about Tupac Shakur State Rep. David Muradian and David Nangle, Executive Director of SIGMA (Stop iGaming) discuss the state's new proposed gambling rules

Today:  We speak with GBH News reporter Sarah Betancourt and Project Citizenship executive director Gail Breslow about an incident at a Faneuil Hall naturalization ceremony last week, where people were pulled out of line based on their country of origin and prohibited from finishing the years-long process, based on new guidance from the Trump administration. And, award-winning cookbook author Dorie Greenspan discusses her latest book, "Dorie's Anytime Cakes."

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt isn’t supporting her nephew’s mother, a Brazilian woman detained by ICE. We talk to BU journalism’s Brian McGrory about that, and why CNN has become the unwanted stepchild in the new Netflix-Warner Brothers deal.  If a new state proposal takes hold it would allow sewage to be dumped into the Charles and Mystic Rivers indefinitely, backsliding on decades of progress to end the practice. We talk to Emily Norton and Patrick Herron from the Charles and Mystic River watershed associations.  James Beard award-winning cookbook author Dorie Greenspan joins us to talk about her latest book: “Dorie's Anytime Cakes" and why everyone should always have a cake on the kitchen counter. We check in with GBH reporter Sarah Betancourt and Project Citizenship’s Gail Breslow on ICE’s latest cruelty: targeting immigrants on the cusp of citizenship at their swearing-in ceremony at Faneuil Hall.  Tufts’ food policy analyst Corby Kummer on the latest threats to SNAP: withholding benefits from blue states like Massachusetts over immigration data. Plus, why it might be the wrong (or right) week to quit caffeine. And we take your calls and texts on whether you believe in astrology. 

Today:  Live music with the Black Hole Symphony, performing “Mars Symphony,” ahead of a December 14th show with the New England Philharmonic. And two co-founders of 404 Media, Jason Koebler and Emanuel Maiberg, discuss their independent journalism outlet, and reporting at the intersection of surveillance, artificial intelligence, and immigration policy.

Former public safety secretary Andrea Cabral joins Margery at the library.  Jason Koebler and Emanuel Maiberg are co-founders of 404 Media. They join for Press Play media analysis to talk about their reporting on Flock, an automatic license plate reader company used by police departments and federal immigration agencies. Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung recaps her latest columns on Mayor Wu and Boston's economy, liquor stores near Boston College and Boston's worsening traffic.  Black Hole Symphony returns for Live Music Friday. They perform at the New England Philharmonic on Dec. 14. We talk with founder David Ibbett and Shep Doeleman. Edgar B. Herwick III joins to answer a few recent questions submitted to the Curiosity Desk.  NBC Boston's Sue O’Connell discusses her coverage of the Brian Walshe trial, rats in Camberville, and that Dedham church putting up an "ICE was here" sign in their nativity scene.

Retired federal judge Nancy Gertner is among dozens of former judges calling out the targeted and intentional deterioration of the rule of law in the U.S. court system Andrea Cabral, former public safety secretary, discusses Trump's targeting of Somali migrants including Rep. Ilhan Omar Dr. Megan Ranney, dean of Yale School of Public Health, discusses myriad public health issues: a vaccine advisory panel meeting today, the latest on mass shootings/gun violence, and restoring trust in public health/scientific institutions Congressman Bill Keating discusses Admiral Bradley's appearance before the Senate to answer questions about the Sept. 2 boat strikes Adam Gardner & David Schnieder reunite in Studio 3 as The LeeVees, their Hanukkah themed band

Today: Adam Gardner of Guster and David Schneider of The Zambonis are also members of The LeeVees – a band that exclusively performs songs about Hanukkah. They grace us with some live music in Studio 3. And, Massachusetts Congressman Bill Keating discusses the latest news related to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth – Signalgate and Venezuelan boat strikes.

Today: Evan Horowitz, executive director of the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University’s Tisch College, discusses the state's economy, the certified ballot questions for 2026's election, and more.

The Culture Show's Jared Bowen discusses Wicked: For Good, the latest AI-generated pop song, plus, his art-filled tour of Berlin. National security expert Juliette Kayyem discusses the war crimes allegations against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. And her thoughts on the attack on national guardsmen in D.C. Imari Paris Jeffries of Embrace Boston and Rev. Jay Williams of Union Combined Parish discuss their big plans for the upcoming MLK weekend and for the nation's 250th anniversary. Evan Horowitz of Tufts' Center for State Policy Analysis joins for a year-end roundup of state policy challenges: Medicaid work requirements, fiscal pressure on municipalities, and his new class at Tufts, "AI and the Future of American Politics."

CNN chief national correspondent John King with the latest national political headlines Conductor Keith Lockhart discusses the Boston Holiday Pops 2025 season, which kicks off this week Actor Ethan Hawke zooms in ahead of his event tomorrow with Jared at the Coolidge Lee Pelton of the Boston Foundation discusses the organization's One+ mortgage program, and housing affordability more broadly

Today: Actor Ethan Hawke zooms into BPR ahead of an event at the Coolidge Corner Theater this week. His latest film is "Blue Moon."

Massachusetts is considering new regulations for elderly home care. We talk with Mass League of Community Health Center’s Michael Curry about that, and the latest on rising health insurance costs as Affordable Care Act subsidies sunset.  Tufts food policy analyst Corby Kummer breaks down the rising costs of pantry staples bananas and even… pasta. Plus, he’ll tell us why Bostonians pay some of the highest prices in the country for their daily caffeine fix.  Boston Medical Center’s Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett discusses her argument for stable housing and why it's vital for keeping people healthy. And, she explains what the latest CDC vaccine changes mean for people in Massachusetts.  Plus, we remember English playwright and screenwriter Tom Stoppard and revisit our 2019 interview with him at Tanglewood.  The Trump administration is imposing new restrictions on all refugees from Afghanistan after an Afghan national was charged in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington DC last week. We check in with Fariba, an Afghan refugee with U.S. citizenship, about what that means for her community. And we talk with Xan Weber of the International Institute of New England about the impact on refugee communities.