Nightside With Dan Rea

President Trump held a press conference announcing what he calls, “liberation day in DC” where he announced his plan to crackdown on violent crime in the nation’s capital. Despite preliminary year-to-date crime comparisons from Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department that show overall crime in D.C. has decreased by 7% since last year, with violent crime down 26% and property crime reduced by 5%, Trump placed DC Police under federal control and activated the National Guard to combat what he said was a wave of lawlessness. Do you think the federal government needs to get involved with local DC crime? 

President Trump held a press conference announcing what he calls, “liberation day in DC” where he announced his plan to crackdown on violent crime in the nation’s capital. Despite preliminary year-to-date crime comparisons from Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department that show overall crime in D.C. has decreased by 7% since last year, with violent crime down 26% and property crime reduced by 5%, Trump placed DC Police under federal control and activated the National Guard to combat what he said was a wave of lawlessness. Do you think the federal government needs to get involved with local DC crime? 

After a series of scandals at the Massachusetts State Police including the overtime scandal, the firing of Trooper Michael Proctor, and the death of a trainee at the MA State Police Academy, the State Police and Colonel Geoffrey Noble take on the challenge of trying to change the public perception of the State Police. What does the department need to do to restore public trust and a good reputation? 

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!The ethics of creating deepfakes or AI generated avatars of the dead! How technology is being used by some in end of life planning… Guest: Paul Fried – owner of I Made Arrangements – an end of life planning website & service Tanglewood Music Center to present an evening of silent film at the Coolidge Corner Theatre. Tanglewood composers, conductors, and instrumentalists will perform live on Tuesday, August 12. Guest: Kathy Tallman, CEO and Executive Director at the Coolidge Corner Theatre What to know about Powassan virus, a rare but serious tick-borne disease. Virus suspected of infecting newborn on Martha's Vineyard… Guest: Dr. Shira Doron - Tufts Medical Center Chief Infection Control OfficerThe Boston Triathlon returns to South Boston August 16-17, 2025 -Also an annual kids day at the Boston Triathlon on Saturday the 16th – free for all kids. Guest: Mike O’Neil – Event Director of the B

NightSide’s last hour of the week we like to keep it light and fun. In this 20th hour Dan asked listeners to call in and tell him about their hobbies.

High-profile celebrity attorney Alan Dershowitz got into a feud at a Martha’s Vineyard farmer’s market when a local vender would not sell him pierogis over his legal representation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Good Pierogi co-owner Krem Miskevich said they were “legally justified” in turning Dershowitz away. The owner said they believed selling to him was equivalent to supporting his decisions and statements. We discussed more details about “Pierogi-gate” and welcomed listeners’ thoughts! Alan Dershowitz joined us to discuss!

There is an ongoing effort to restore rent control in Massachusetts. Homes For All, a housing justice coalition in MA is pushing for a ballot initiative that would create a statewide “rent stabilization” program that would tie annual increases for most apartments to inflation, with a hard annual cap at 5 percent, but also include some exemptions. Are you for or against rent control? Why or why not? Greg Vasil,  CEO of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board joined us to discuss.*The Homes For All Massachusetts Coalition is not available to join this evening’s discussion*

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!A new AP poll finds that 86 percent of Americans are stressed over rising food prices and their ability to afford increased costs of living. How policy impacts prices that we pay for food, goods and services...Guest: Dr. Frank M. Sorrentino - Political Economic Analyst & author of Presidential Power and The American Political System How one Massachusetts company is quietly leading the Made-in-USA movement!Guest: William Gagnon - Excel Dryer Exec. VP and COO What are moon jellyfish? Why do they sting off Cape Cod but nowhere else?Guest: Nicole Corbett – Local marine researcher – Director/President of the Popponesset Water Stewardship Alliance Weekend Weather Forecast for BostonGuest: AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Thompson checked in!

Every now and then, we open the phone lines for listeners to bring up whatever topic they'd wish to discuss with Dan, or offer up show topic suggestions. 

Various sources say a summit between President Trump and Russian President Putin could occur as early as next week. If the meeting goes off without a hitch, it will be the first in-person summit between an American and Russian president in more than four years. Trump informed European leaders that he plans to hold a follow up trilateral meeting with Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Will Trump be able to get both leaders to agree to a meeting and will the three-year war in Ukraine end anytime soon? Who do you trust in all of this?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel intends to take military control of all of Gaza, despite ongoing criticism at home and abroad. Netanyahu went on to say they merely want a security perimeter, not to govern the region. Benny Sharoni, the Israeli Consul General to New England, joined us on NightSide to discuss the latest in the Israel-Hamas war.

We kicked off the program with three news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!Wildfires are raging in Canada. They’re worsening air quality in New England. Guest: Sucharita Kher - Pulmonologist at Tufts Medical Center An Act Relative to Transportation Safety in MA Guest: Sen. Nick Collins Never Forget Another Name! It can be awkward when you see someone you recognize, and who clearly knows you, but you just can't remember their name… what mental tricks will help their name stick, so you don't embarrass yourself later! Guest: Dr. Ivan Misner - Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior known globally as the "Father of Modern Networking" and a NYT bestselling author of over 25 books.

There is ongoing controversy over actress Sydney Sweeney’s jeans advertising campaign for American Eagle. The ad campaign’s tagline, “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” has Americans split over the ad’s wordplay. Critics of the ad say it promotes eugenics whereas American Eagle and supporters say it’s always been about the jeans. According to a YouGov Poll asking over 3K U.S. adults about the ad, a majority with 52% believe the wordplay in the ad is appropriate, whereas 16% found it inappropriate and 32% were undecided. Are we experiencing a cultural shift?

In her ongoing efforts to audit the state legislature, an effort State Auditor Diana DiZoglio has been at for quite a while, DiZoglio has now hired an outside law firm to bring the challenge to court. Last Fall, voters approved a measure, giving DiZoglio the authority to audit the MA House and Senate. However, state lawmakers have pushed back against the audit efforts saying an audit could violate the constitutional separation of powers between the branches. 

In her ongoing efforts to audit the state legislature, an effort State Auditor Diana DiZoglio has been at for quite a while, DiZoglio has now hired an outside law firm to bring the challenge to court. Last Fall, voters approved a measure, giving DiZoglio the authority to audit the MA House and Senate. However, state lawmakers have pushed back against the audit efforts saying an audit could violate the constitutional separation of powers between the branches. Diana DiZoglio joined us on NightSide to discuss!

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!Mass Lottery Produces Estimated $1.065 Billion In Net Profit For The Commonwealth In Fiscal Year 2025 - Record-setting sales for Keno and highest prize payout percentage to date for players!Guest: State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission 1 in 3 children in Massachusetts experiences clothing insecurity. Serious and often overlooked crisis: underwear insecurity. Cocotree Kids, a MA nonprofit, launched $10K fundraising campaign with hopes of providing 2,800 underserved children across Massachusetts with a weeks’ worth of underwear. Campaign kicked off August 5th & they already hit their goal! Guest: Catherine Maloy, Founder and Executive Director of Cocotree Kids Teens say they are turning to AI for friendship. More than 70% of teens have used AI companions and half use them regularly, according to a new study from Common Sense Media, a group that s

Tuesday, the House Oversight Committee issued a flurry of subpoenas seeking files from the Justice Department and testimony from ex-government and law enforcement officials. Jeffery Epstein is a former financier and convicted sex offender who was accused of serial sex trafficking of women and underage girls, giving access to high profile figures. We discussed the latest into this investigation.

On Tuesday, the House Oversight Committee issued a flurry of subpoenas seeking files from the Justice Department and testimony from ex-government and law enforcement officials. Jeffery Epstein is a former financier and convicted sex offender who was accused of serial sex trafficking of women and underage girls, giving access to high profile figures. We discussed the latest into this investigation.

UNITE HERE Local 26, the union representing hundreds of Fenway Park concession workers, warns a second strike could occur after failing to reach a satisfactory agreement with Aramark. Union workers are pushing for higher wages and other workplace protections. How could a second-strike impact fans going to a future game at Fenway? Union President, Carlos Aramayo joined us on NightSide to discuss the latest in the ongoing negotiations between Fenway Park concession workers and their employer.*Aramark has been invited to join the conversation & has not responded to our request*

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!Update on the Cape Cod Bridges Project – What’s the latest? Guest: Luisa Paiewonsky - Executive Director of MassDOT's Mega Projects Delivery Office Though we shouldn’t be nervous every time we go for a walk or a hike, we should certainly be aware and prepared to meet wildlife. How can you survive, or more importantly avoid, an animal attack? Guest: John Griffin, Senior Director of Urban Wildlife Programs at Humane World for Animals (formerly known as The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International) Those pesky mosquitoes go beyond just delivering itchy bites! They can carry potentially deadly diseases, and many people have misconceptions about this pest that could put them at risk! Fredericks shares common myths and actualities about mosquitoes. Guest: Jim Fredericks, Board-Certified Entomologist and Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at the National Pest Managemen