NightSide With Dan Rea

I bet most of you have never heard of the Island of Yap. No, it's not a made-up name! It's one of the main islands in the Federated States of Micronesia. Missionary Paul Zimmer and his family have been serving the people of Yap since 2001, bringing hope to the islands of the Pacific through efforts in education, renewable energy, and community development through their nonprofit organization. Paul joined Dan in this podcast to tell...

Technology was supposed to save us time, but for many of us, it feels like we're spending more and more of our lives troubleshooting it. From software updates and password resets to Wi-Fi outages and mysterious error messages, dealing with our electronics can feel like a never-ending part-time job. Is modern technology creating as much work as it's eliminating? Dan has had more than his share of technical issues this week, and ...

Technology was supposed to save us time, but for many of us, it feels like we're spending more and more of our lives troubleshooting it. From software updates and password resets to Wi-Fi outages and mysterious error messages, dealing with our electronics can feel like a never-ending part-time job. Is modern technology creating as much work as it's eliminating? Dan has had more than his share of technical issues this week, and he s...

Move over, Bridezillas — here come the "Cover Charge Brides." Some couples are charging guests anywhere from $10 to $1,000 or more just to attend their weddings! Unlike destination weddings, where guests may be expected to cover travel and lodging costs, these fees are simply for admission to the big day itself. Traditional wedding etiquette says the hosts pay for the wedding — not the guests. How would you react to a w...

Continued conversation about how the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration can move forward with ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 350,000 Haitians and about 6,000 Syrians who were permitted to live and work in the U.S. because of crises in their home countries. The decision overturns lower court rulings that had blocked the administration from ending those protections. The ruling is particularly ...

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration can move forward with ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 350,000 Haitians and about 6,000 Syrians who were permitted to live and work in the U.S. because of crises in their home countries. The decision overturns lower court rulings that had blocked the administration from ending those protections. The ruling is particularly significant in Massachusetts, whi...

Boston City Councilor Brian Worrell is pushing to make the city's temporary 3 a.m. last call for bars and restaurants permanent after later hours were approved for the World Cup and America's 250th anniversary celebrations. Supporters argue the move would strengthen Boston's economy and nightlife scene, while critics have raised concerns about noise, public safety, and impacts on neighborhoods. Dan spoke with Councilor Worrell abou...

Continued conversation about how a Massachusetts man convicted of killing his 2-year-old son with a Wiffle ball bat in 1983 has been granted parole after spending more than 40 years behind bars. The state's Parole Board unanimously approved the release of 78-year-old Richard Mayes, whose previous five parole requests had been denied. The decision has reignited debate over whether people convicted of violent crimes should be eligibl...

The New York House primaries delivered major wins for candidates backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, signaling that his progressive movement is gaining significant influence in New York politics. The results were widely viewed as evidence of the growing strength of progressive and democratic socialist politics in New York City and among the Democratic Party's left wing. Dan reviewed the results with Jeff Robbins, former U.S. Delegate t...

Boston was the center of many of the protests, clashes, and battles that ignited the American Revolution and ultimately led to American independence. From the Boston Tea Party to the Battles of Lexington and Concord and finally Evacuation Day on March 17, 1776, the city played a pivotal role in the nation's founding. The Revolution in Boston helped shape the United States, and Dan talked with Dr. Nat Sheidley, President and CEO of ...

A Massachusetts man convicted of killing his 2-year-old son with a Wiffle ball bat in 1983 has been granted parole after spending more than 40 years behind bars. The state's Parole Board unanimously approved the release of 78-year-old Richard Mayes, whose previous five parole requests had been denied. The decision has reignited debate over whether people convicted of violent crimes should be eligible for release after serving decad...

Continued conversation about how Boston has historically low rates of homicide and violent crime compared with many other major U.S. cities, leading researchers to rank it among the safer large cities in the country. Still, recent shootings and other crimes have raised concerns among residents and public officials. Experts say a city's overall safety should be measured by long-term trends, not isolated incidents. Do you think Bosto...

Boston has historically low rates of homicide and violent crime compared with many other major U.S. cities, leading researchers to rank it among the safer large cities in the country. Still, recent shootings and other crimes have raised concerns among residents and public officials. Experts say a city's overall safety should be measured by long-term trends, not isolated incidents. Do you think Boston is a safe city?

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Tick season is in full swing across New England, with emergency room visits for tick bites on the rise and tick-borne illnesses becoming more common in Massachusetts. You should still get outside and enjoy the outdoors, but be sure to take steps to protect yourself. Dan welcomed back Dan the “Tick Man,” who has everything you need to know about keeping those pesky little buggers away!

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Massachusetts' highest court disqualified a proposed rent-control ballot question over an exemption for religious housing. The Supreme Judicial Court ruled the proposal could not appear on the ballot because its exemption for religious organizations violated the Massachusetts Constitution. Although voters will not decide the issue this November, supporters are pursuing other proposals that would let cities and towns adopt limited r...

Many of the nation's top political leaders are well into their later years, from former President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump, both in their 80s, to Senator Mitch McConnell, 84, and Representative Maxine Waters, 87. Some argue the U.S. faces a broader gerontocracy problem, warning that even as younger leaders emerge, deeper demographic and economic imbalances will remain. Is the age of America's leaders becoming a problem,...

Continued conversation about how the MA Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that a proposed ballot question creating a "top-two primary," or "jungle primary," system can appear on the November ballot. Under the proposal, candidates of all parties would compete on a single primary ballot, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election regardless of party affiliation. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

The MA Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that a proposed ballot question creating a "top-two primary," or "jungle primary," system can appear on the November ballot. Under the proposal, candidates of all parties would compete on a single primary ballot, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Dan discussed this initiative with Danielle Allen, former gubernatorial candidate and...

Former Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins is seeking to return to the office she once held. Rollins says she was encouraged to run by members of the community, who helped gather the signatures needed to secure her place on the ballot for the September Democratic primary. She says her campaign will focus on continuing the policies and priorities she championed during her previous tenure as district attorney. Rollins jo...