>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": AS THE EYES OF MUCH OF THE WORLD ARE FOCUSED ON RUSSIA AND UKRAINE AND THE U.S.

TRIES TO CALM THINGS WITH EVER-INCREASING ECONOMIC SANCTIONS, MANY HAVE ALL BUT FORGOTTEN ABOUT ANOTHER COUNTRY WHERE THE U.S. HAS BEEN RELYING ON SANCTIONS IN LIEU OF TROOPS: AFGHANISTAN, WHERE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE HAS SPIRALED INTO A FULL-BLOWN HUMANITARIAN CRISIS SINCE THE U.S. WITHDRAWAL.

THEN, LATER, A TRIBUTE TO THE QUEEN OF SOUL, ARETHA FRANKLIN, IS COMING TO BOSTON.

THE ARTISTS BEHIND IT JOIN ME.

PLUS, AN UPDATE ON A CASE WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING, THAT OF CHARLES BOGUES, WHO PLED GUILTY TO THE 1993 MURDER OF LOUIS D. BROWN BUT SAYS PROSECUTORS LIED TO GET HIM TO DO IT.

♪♪ >> Braude: UKRAINE HAS BEEN CALLING UP ITS MILITARY RESERVISTS AS THE VIOLENCE WITH RUSSIAN SOLDIERS IN THE EAST IS WORSENING.

AND WHILE JOE BIDEN HAS ALREADY CALLED RUSSIA'S ACTIONS AN INVASION, HE'S HOPING INFLICTING SOME FINANCIAL PAIN ON VLADIMIR PUTIN MIGHT KEEP HIM FROM TAKING THINGS EVEN FURTHER.

>> I'M GONNA BEGIN TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS AND RESPONSE FAR BEYOND THE STEPS WE AND OUR ALLIES AND PARTNERS IMPLEMENTED IN 2014.

AND IF RUSSIA GOES FURTHER WITH THIS INVASION, WE STAND PREPARED TO GO FURTHER AS WITH SANCTIONS.

>> Braude: OF COURSE, THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME BIDEN HAS RELIED ON SUCH SANCTIONS TO TRY TO KEEP THE PEACE ABROAD.

AFTER HE PULLED U.S.

TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN LAST YEAR, HE OPTED FOR ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES AGAINST THE TALIBAN THERE, TOO, CUTTING OFF FOREIGN AID, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR NEARLY HALF OF THE NATION'S ECONOMY, AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF ITS GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

BIDEN ALSO FROZE MORE THAN $9 BILLION OF THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT'S FOREIGN RESERVES AND NOW PLANS TO RETURN ONLY HALF TO THE COUNTRY FOR HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT, DIVERTING THE OTHER HALF TO FAMILIES OF 9/11 VICTIMS WHO SUED THE TALIBAN.

AND THIS HAS ALL DEALT A POWERFUL BLOW TO AFGHANISTAN'S ECONOMY, WHICH FORMER U.K. FOREIGN SECRETARY DAVID MILLIBAND SAID AT A U.S. SENATE HEARING EARLIER THIS MONTH IS RAPIDLY DETERIORATING.

>>> SIX MONTHS AGO AFGHANISTAN WAS A POOR COUNTRY; HOWEVER, TODAY AFGHANISTAN IS A STARVING COUNTRY.

>> Braude: MILLIBAND URGED BIDEN TO MAKE AN URGENT CHANGE IN HIS POLICY, AS HAVE OTHERS, WITH "NEW YORK TIMES" COLUMNIST EZRA KLEIN GOING >> Braude: DAVID IGNATIUS, IT IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, JIM.

>> Braude: DO YOU SHARE MILLIBAND'S ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN?

>> I THINK EVERYTHING I HEAR, INCLUDING FROM DAVID MILLIBAND, THAT IT IS IT IS VIRGING ON DISASTER.

THERE HAS GOT TO BE WAYS TO GET AID TO THE COUNTRY WITHOUT THE TALIBAN'S HANDS ON IT, SO THE LEVEL OF STARVATION, SUFFERING, JUST THE HUMAN COST THIS WINTER IS REDUCED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

>> Braude: I'VE READ MOST ABOUT THE STARVATION ISSUES, BUT WHAT I HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH ABOUT LATELY IS THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG GIRLS.

WE FREQUENTLY HAD ON THIS SHOW A LOCAL WOMAN WHO OPENED A SCHOOL FOR GIRLS SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT IT SEEMS THE PROBLEM IS NOT JUST THE TALIBAN'S ATTITUDE ABOUT EDUCATING WOMEN, YOUNG GIRLS, BUT ALSO THE ABILITY TO PAY TEACHERS.

HAS ANY OF THAT BEEN ADDRESSED, OR NO?

>> IT IS BEING ADDRESSED, BUT INADEQUATELY.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR AFGHANISTAN, TOM WEST, IS TRYING TO FREE UP MONEY THAT CAN BE USED TO PAY AFGHAN CIVIL SERVANTS THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF THE SERVICE'S TEACHERS, AND THE CHRONIC CONDITION THAT IS ON REOPENING SCHOOLS TO ALLOW GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN TO BE EDUCATED AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND THEY ALSO WANT TO FIND WAYS TO MONITOR THAT.

THE TALIBAN HAS MADE NOT PROMISES BUT INDICATIONS IT IS PREPARED TO OPEN SCHOOLS TO GIRLS, BUT THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOME WAY TO VERIFY THAT.

SO PEOPLE SEE IT AS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

THEY WANT TO GET THE MONEY TO THE TEACHERS TO BE ABLE TO REOPEN THE SCHOOLS.

THERE JUST SIMPLY ISN'T YET AN ADEQUATE CHANNEL TO TALK TO THE TALIBAN AND GET WHAT WE WOULD THINK OF AS RELIABLE, BINDING COMMITMENTS TO DO THESE THINGS.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED IN THE INTRODUCTION TO YOU, THE $7 BILLION OF APPROACH ASSETS.

THE FIRST HALF, OR A HALF, GOING TO THE FAMILIES OF VICTIMS WHO ARE SUING THE TALIBAN.

THE OTHER HALF TO THE NATION.

IS THE FORMER DEFENSE DEFENSIBLE, AND IS THE LATTER DOABLE?

YOU SEEM TO BE SUGGESTING THERE IS NO CONDUIT FOR THAT?

>> THERE IS A CONDUIT.

THERE ARE WAYS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CRAFTING THEIR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS OPERATING MAINLY IN ENGLAND, THAT ARE PROVIDING MONEY TO BE USED BY N.G.O.s, BY OTHERS WHO CAN PAY AIDE WORKERS, IN SOME CASES YOU CAN GET MONEY TO TEACHERS.

SO THERE IS A REAL EFFORT TO GET MONEY INTO THE COUNTRY, EVEN THOUGH SANCTIONS STILL ARE IN PLACE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A CLEARER PICTURE.

THAT IS ONE PROBLEM, THAT BEING SO MANY FEWER JOURNALISTS THERE, WE NEED A CLEARER PICTURE OF WHAT THE SUFFERING LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO TAKE ACTION.

>> Braude: SPEAKING OF SUFFERING, ONE OF THE SADDEST PARTS OF MANY SAD MOMENTS ABOUT THE EVACUATION WAS LEAVING SO MANY PEOPLE WHO RISKED THEIR LIVES, AFGHANS WHO RISKED THEIR LIVES FOR A GOAL THAT WAS NEVER ACHIEVED.

ARE WE DOING ANY BETTER ON THAT FRONT, OR ARE THEY ESSENTIALLY ABANDONED WHERE THEY ARE?

>> THEY ARE LARGELY ABANDONED.

FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THE NUMBER OF FLIGHTS OUT, IS VERY LIMITED.

THE TALIBAN DOESN'T WANT EDUCATED PEOPLE WHO CAN KEEP THE COUNTRY RUNNING TO ALL FLEE, SO THEY'RE MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO GET OUT.

I THINK IT IS JUST A TERRIBLE SITUATION.

WHAT I WOULD SAY, JIM, HAVING SPENT 20 YEARS STRUGGLING TO, UM, DEFEAT THE TALIBAN, TO CREATE A FREE AND MODERN AFGHANISTAN, THE IDEA OF JUST ABANDONING IT NOW TO ITS FATE STRIKES, I THINK, PEOPLE AS WRONG, AND I THINK IT IS WRONG.

SO I HOPE PEOPLE CAN FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO GET PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING MONEY.

>> Braude: BUT TO BE CREATIVE, YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION.

ONE OF THE THINGS I FEAR, AND I KNOW YOU DO, OUR GOVERNMENT HAS A HARD TIME WALKING AND CHEWING GUM AT THE SAME TIME.

AND WITH ALL EYES ON UKRAINE, ARE THERE ENOUGH EYES ON AFGHANISTAN?

>> SO ALL EYES AT THE TOP LEVEL OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ARE ON UKRAINE, AND YOU CAN'T REALLY FAULT THAT.

>> Braude: OF COURSE.

>> THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S COORDINATOR FOR AFGHANISTAN, TOM WEST, IS WORKING AS HARD -- I'VE TALKED WITH HIM.

HE IS MEETING WITH INTERNATIONAL RELIEF OFFICIALS, THE HEAD OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE RED CROSS.

PETER MOORE MET WITH HIM RECENTLY, AND HE SPOKE TO ME AFTER HE LEFT WEST'S OFFICE, HEN SAID AND HE SAID HE THOUGHT THE U.S. WAS COMMITTED TO GETTING THINGS DONE, TRYING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR MONEY TO FLOW FOR HUMANITARIAN REASONS, DESPITE THE TALIBAN'S GOVERNMENT THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO DO IT IN A STRAIGHT WAY.

>> Braude: YOU WROTE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THAT BIDEN'S GREAT FOREIGN POLICY ACCOMPLISHMENT THUS FAR HAD BEEN RESTORING OUR GLOBAL ALLIANCES, AND YOU MADE A POINT OF THE EXCEPTION OF THE LACK OF CONSULTATION WITH OUR ALLIES AROUND AFGHANISTAN.

I ASSUME THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT THAT EXPERIENCE INFORMS THE COLLABORATIVE, VERY PUBLIC POSITION THAT BIDEN HAS TAKEN ON THIS WHOLE UKRAINE THING, DO YOU NOT?

>> I DO.

I WAS JUST WAS IN MUNICH FOR THE SECURITY CONFERENCE, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN EUROPEANS AND AMERICANS SINGING FROM THE SAME SONG BOOK IF YOU WILL, IN THAT SAME WAY FOR MANY YEARS.

AND I THINK IT IS ATTRIBUTABLE, IN LARGE PART, TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S STRENUOUS EFFORTS TO KEEP OUR EUROPEAN ALLIES INFORMED FROM THE VERY INTELLIGENCE WARNINGS THAT WE HAD THAT SOMETHING NEW WAS HAPPENING IN AFGHANISTAN AND UKRAINE IN OCTOBER.

WHEN THAT INTELLIGENCE CAME THROUGH, THE FIRST THING THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DID WAS SEND C.I.A.

DIRECTOR BILL BURNS TO MOSCOW TO TALK TO THE RUSSIANS TO SAY, HEY, WE SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

KNOCK IT OFF.

AND THE SECOND THING THEY DID WAS TO GO BRIEF THE EUROPEAN ALLIES.

THEY MADE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO AN EXTENT THAT WE OFTEN DON'T.

WE OFTEN DON'T SHARE INTELLIGENCE.

AND I THINK THAT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE.

IT IS STRIKING TO ME ON THE EVE OF WHO KNOWS WHAT THE NEXT HOURS AND DAYS WILL BRING -- IT COULD BE A NIGHTMARE, BUT I THINK THAT THE U.S. AND EUROPEAN ALLIES ARE UNITED.

I THINK THE GERMANS HAVE TAKEN THE TOUGHEST MOVE YET.

WE OFTEN CRITICIZE THEM FOR NOT BEING TOUGH ENOUGH AGAINST RUSSIA, AND THEY HAVE STOPPED NORDSTREAM PIPELINE, WHICH IS A BIG DEAL.

>> Braude: IT IS A HUGE DEAL.

THE ONLY THING I WORRY ABOUT THIS LEGACY OF AMERICA FIRST HAS BECOME AMERICA ONLY.

AND WHILE JOE BIDEN HAS GONE OUT OF HIS WAY, AT LEAST IN THE LAST 24 HOURS TO BE PRETTY TRANSPARENT WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, NOT ONLY ABOUT WHAT HE THINKS RUSSIA IS DOING BUT ABOUT WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES WILL BE FOR AMERICANS -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW "THE ASSOCIATED PRESS" POLL THAT CAME OUT.

IT IS NOT THE MOST PRECISE QUESTION.

SHOULD THE UNITED STATES HAVE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE, A MAIN ROLE?

THE BREAKDOWN AMONG PARTIES WITH VIRTUALLY THE SAME.

A LITTLE MORE AMONG REPUBLICANS, BUT NOT MUCH LESS ABOUT DEMOCRATS.

THAT'S BAD NEWS FOR A PRESIDENT TRYING TO RALLY THE FOLKS BACK HOME, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS BAD NEWS.

THOSE ARE SCARY NUMBERS.

IF TWICE AS MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT WE SHOULD PLAY ONLY A MODEST ROLE IN WHAT WILL BE THE BIGGEST INTERNATIONAL MILITARY CRISIS IN EUROPE SINCE 19 45, SOMETHING IS JUST OUT OF WACK IN AMERICA THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR OUR INTERESTS.

THE IDEA WE CAN IGNORE A BIG WAR IN EUROPE AND IT DOESN'T AFFECT US -- I'M SORRY, FOLKS, BUT WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE YOUR GASOLINE PUMP IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SO IT DOES AFFECT US.

I THINK BIDEN NEEDS TO COMMUNICATE THAT MORE TO THE COUNTRY.

I THINK IT IS GOOD HE SAYS THIS AFFECTS YOU, BUT PEOPLE NEED TO BUY INTO THAT.

>> Braude: THE DIFFICULTY HE IS HAVING IS NOT JUST WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

THE DIFFICULTY HE IS HAVING WITH AN OUTSPOKEN FORMER PRESIDENT WHO CONTINUES TO COZY UP TO PUTIN.

I'M SURE YOU HEARD -- HERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT TRUMP HAD TO SAY YESTERDAY ON A RADIO SHOW ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.

>> I SAID THIS IS GENIUS.

PUTIN DECLARES A BIG PORTION OF UKRAINE.

PUTIN DECLARES IT AS INDEPENDENT.

OH, THAT'S WONDERFUL.

SO PUNISHMENT PUTIN IS NOW SAYING IT IS INDEPENDENT, A LARGE SECTION OF UKRAINE.

I SAID, HOW SMART IS THAT?

AND HE IS GOING TO GO IN AND BE A PEACEKEEPER.

WE COULD USE THAT ON OUR SOUTHERN BORDER.

THAT'S THE STRONGEST PEACE-FORCE THAT I'VE EVER SEEN.

THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP PEACE, ALL RIGHT.

>> Braude: HOW DOES A CURRENT PRESIDENT OVERCOME THAT WHEN 70 MILLION PEOPLE SEEM TO BUY WHAT HE IS SELLING?

>> YOU KNOW, THE HONEST ANSWER IS YOU JUST HAVE TO IGNORE IT.

IT IS JUST SO COMPLETELY, TO ME, OFF THE WALL.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD TRUMP POSSIBLY BE TALKING ABOUT IN THIS ENDORSEMENT.

I WISH THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS AS SIMPLE AS TRUMP AND TRUMP'S INFLUENCE.

IT ISN'T.

THOSE POLL NUMBERS TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT IS QUITE INDEPENDENT OF DONALD TRUMP -- >> Braude: WHICH IS?

>> THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AFTER 20 YEARS OF FRUSTRATING, UNSUCCESSFUL WARS, ARE SICK OF THE KINDS OF FOREIGN INVOLVEMENT THAT OUR ELITES TELL THEM ARE NECESSARY.

AND SO I GET IT.

THAT'S WHY COMMUNICATING TO THE COUNTRY AND SAYING THAT THIS REALLY DOES MATTER, AND HERE IS WHY IT MATTERS.

WHOEVER IS WHY YOUR FUTURE IS AT STAKE IN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN UKRAINE, A COUNTRY REAL FAR AWAY, BUT IT DOES MATTER.

UNLESS THAT COMMUNICATION IS DONE, I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO STICK WITH, AS YOU PUT IT EARLIER, AMERICA FIRST.

WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT THIS?

THAT QUESTION HAS TO BE ANSWERED STRAIGHT UP.

>> Braude: DAVID, THE LAST THING, I'M ASKING YOU TO PLAY NOTE NOTRE DAMAS, IS THERE AN OFF-RAMP THAT ALLOWS PUTIN TO SAVE FACE?

>> JIM, THERE WAS AN OFF-RAMP UNTIL YESTERDAY UNTIL PUTIN BNEW IT UP.

ONE WAS THE ARGUMENT, BECAUSE THAT WAS A WAY TO RESOLVE THE CRISIS IN THE DONBAS.

RUSSIA HAD AGREED TO IT.

THE UNITED STATES SUPPORTS IT.

OUR EUROPEAN ALLIES HAVE BEEN WORKING AND NEGOTIATING WITH UKRAINE.

THAT WAS THE EXIT RAMP.

AND WITH PUTIN'S DECLARATION THAT THESE ARE NOW INDEPENDENT REPUBLICS, THE MINSK AGREEMENTS HAVE ESSENTIALLY BEEN TORN INTO SHREDS.

THAT'S THE CLEAREST SIGN TO ME THAT PUTIN IS GOING TO KEEP GOING.

THE WAY TO GET OUT OF THIS HAS NOW DISAPPEARED.

HE IS NOW DEMANDING A PROMISE THAT UKRAINE NEVER ENTER NATO OR SOME VERSION OF THAT.

AND HE IS NOT GOING TO GET THAT.

SO I THINK THIS ONE IS GOING TO GO ON FOR A LONG TIME, AND I FEAR IT IS GOING TO GET REALLY, REALLY VIOLENT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE, WHO WILL BE FIGHTING IT ALONE.

>> Braude: DAVID, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

AND BE CLEAR, CAMBRIDGE MISSES YOU.

>> IT IS MY BIRTHPLACE, HOME TOWN.

LOVE TO BE BACK THERE.

>> Braude: I DON'T LIKE TO USE THE WORD "ICON" TOO OFTEN, BUT WITH 18 GRAMMY AWARDS AND 44 NOMINATIONS, 112 SINGLES MAKING THE BILLBOARD CHARTS, AND OVER 75 MILLION RECORDS SOLD, ICON ISN'T EVEN ENOUGH TO DESCRIBE ARETHA FRANKLIN.

AND THIS FRIDAY, AT THE BERKLEE PERFORMANCE CENTER, HER LEGACY IS BEING CELEBRATED IN "A TRIBUTE TO ARETHA FRANKLIN: THE QUEEN OF SOUL."

>> AIN'T NOTHIN' LIKE THE REAL THING, AIN'T NOTHIN' LIKE THE REAL THING, BABY.

♪♪ OOH, OOH OOH, AIN'T NOTHIN' LIKE THE REAL THING ♪ >> Braude: THAT WAS DAMIEN SNEED, BAND LEADER, VOCALIST, AND COMPOSER, WHO TOURED WITH FRANKLIN IN THE LATER YEARS OF HER CAREER.

HE'LL BE JOINED IN FRIDAY'S TRIBUTE SHOW BY VALERIE SIMPSON, THE LEGENDARY SONGWRITER AND PRODUCER WHO, ALONG WITH HER LATE HUSBAND, NICKOLAS ASHFORD, WROTE THAT SONG YOU JUST HEARD, "AIN'T NOTHIN' LIKE THE REAL THING," PLUS HITS LIKE "AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH", I'M EVERY WOMAN," "YOU'RE ALL I NEED TO GET BY," AND "I DON'T NEED NO DOCTOR," WHICH WAS FIRST RECORDED BY RAY CHARLES AND HAS BEEN COVERED DOZENS OF TIMES SINCE, AND WHICH SIMPSON PERFORMED A FEW YEARS BACK AT BERKLEE'S COMMENCEMENT.

>> HE PUT ME ON THE CRITICAL LIST WHEN ALL I NEED IS HIS SWEET KISS.

HE GAVE ME A MEDICATED LOTION, BUT IT DIDN'T SOOTHE MY EMOTION.

C'MON.

>> Braude: VALERIE SIMPSON AND DAMIEN SNEED JOIN ME NOW.

>> Braude: WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> HI!

>> Braude: VALERIE, I WANT YOU TO KNOW I CAME TO WORK IN A HORRIBLE MOOD THIS MORNING AND I SAT AT MY DESK AND WATCHED YOU SING AT THE PIANO "I'M EVER WOMAN," AND MY WHOLE DAY CHANGED.

>> I'M SO GLAD.

SEE WHAT MUSIC CAN DO.

>> Braude: NO, SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO, I THINK IS THE APPROPRIATE THING.

YOU BOTH KNEW -- STARTING WITH YOU, VALERIE SIMPSON, WHAT AFFECT DID SHE HAVE ON YOU PROFESSIONALLY, PERSONALLY, BOTH?

>> I THINK PROBABLY BECAUSE SHE WAS SUCH A GREAT PIANIST, AND I LOVE THE PIANO, AND A WONDERFUL VOCALIST, THAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT TOUCHED MY HEART, YOU KNOW.

WE SHARED THAT IN COMMON.

AND THEN SHE HAPPENED TO LIKE ASHFORD AND SIMPSON SONGS AND RECORDED A LOT OF THEM.

>> Braude: IF THAT'S THE CASE, I HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON WITH ARETHA FRANKLIN.

DAVID, I TRY TO CONCEPTUALIZE WHAT IT WAS LIKE PLAYING FOR HER ALL OF THOSE YEARS.

WHAT IMPACT DID IT HAVE ON YOU?

>> IT HAS A GREAT IMPACT ON ME, BECAUSE I WAS NERVOUS THE ENTIRE TIME.

SHE HEARD EVERY NOTE.

SHE COULD TELL WHEN I WAS TWITCHING THE LEFT LEAD FROM TREMOLO TO OFF.

SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

>> Braude: DAVID, WHEN I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE TWO OF YOU COMING ON, YOU WERE IN THE PRESENCE OF, REGULARLY, WITH ARETHA FRANKLIN.

I WAS TRYING TO THINK IF I HAD EVER BEEN ALONE WITH ANYBODY WHO DID THE BEST OF WHAT THEY DID.

I HAD AN HOUR LONG INTERVIEW WITH BILL RUSSELL, AND MY RADIO CO-HOST AND I WERE IN THE SAME ROOM WITH RUSSELL, AND I TRIED STEPPING BACK REPEATEDLY, NOT LITERALLY, BUT GRAPPLING WITH THE REALITY THAT I WAS WITH A PERSON WHO DID SOMETHING BETTER THAN ANYTHING I EVER HAD.

DID YOU HAVE THOSE MOMENTS, DAVID?

>> MOST DEFINITELY.

EVERY MOMENT, WATCHING HER SING, WATCHING HER DO "BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER."

EVERY NIGHT EVERY SHOW WAS DIFFERENT.

SHE CAME WITH NEW ENERGY, NEW FIRE.

AND THAT'S HOW I FEEL WITH VALERIE SIMPSON ON STAGE.

I FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT HER.

>> Braude: I LOVE THAT.

I CAN TOTALLY BELIEVE IT.

VALERIE, FOLLOWING UP ON WHAT DAMIEN SAID, THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT SINGERS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL THERE IS ARETHA AND EVERYBODY ELSE.

WHAT PUT HER ON A PEDESTAL, APART FROM EVERYBODY ELSE WHO HAS DONE WHAT SHE DID?

>> I THINK I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THE DIVERSITY.

SHE DID EVERYTHING TOP SHELF.

SHE JUST COULDN'T HELP HERSELF.

I MEAN, IF IT WAS A BLUES SONG OR A POP SONG OR A GOSPEL SONG, SHE GAVE YOU THE TOP ECHELON OF THAT THING.

AND MOST PEOPLE, THEY HAVE AN AREA, BUT SHE COVERED THE WHOLE ARENA, AND I LOVE THAT ABOUT HER.

>> Braude: VALERIE, DO YOU HAVE A MOMENT FROM YOUR RELATIONSHIP THAT STAYS WITH YOU ABOUT ARETHA FRANKLIN?

>> WELL, YEARS AGO, BEFORE I KNEW HER WELL, SHE HAD DONE ONE OF OUR SONGS.

I INVITED HER TO MY HOME, AND SHE BROUGHT ALL OF HER CHILDREN, AND SHE BROUGHT HER BROTHERS, AND SHE DIDN'T TALK MUCH.

SHE ATE EVERYTHING.

WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME.

I WAS JUST THRILLED.

I DIDN'T THINK SHE WAS GOING TO COME, BUT SHE DID.

AND SO THAT'S HOW I RELATIONSHIP BEGAN.

>> Braude: I CAN'T IMAGINE HAVING ARETHA FRANKLIN OVER TO MY HOUSE -- >> FOR DINNER.

>> Braude: FOR DINNER!

DAVID, WHILE YOU WERE NOT QUAKING AT THE ORGAN, WHAT IS THE ONE MOMENT WITH ARETHA FRANKLIN THAT STAYS WITH YOU?

>> I THINK THERE WAS A PARTY AFTER OUR PERFORMANCE AT THE SANTA BARBARA BOWL, AND SHE INVITED ME TO COME SIT AT THE TABLE WITH HER AND TWO OF HER FRIENDS.

AND THAT MOMENT WAS VERY SPECIAL.

I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT EVENING.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, VALERIE, YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND, FOR VERY YOUNG PEOPLE HERE, WERE HUGE, I MEAN JUST HUGE.

BRILLIANT AND HUGE IN EVERY KIND OF WAY.

HAVING SAID THAT, WHEN YOU -- I READ THAT IN ONE OF THE EARLIER PERFORMANCES ON THIS TOUR, YOU CLOSED THE SHOW -- I HOPE I'M NOT GIVING ANYTHING AWAY -- BY SINGING THE SONG THAT ROLLING STONE SAID WAS THE GREATEST SONG IN THE HISTORY OF SONGS, "RESPECT."

HOW IS COVERING A SONG LIKE THAT -- WHAT IS THAT LIKE?

WHAT IS THAT LIKE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO SET IT UP.

I SET THE SONG UP BECAUSE SHE WAS LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE WHEN SHE RELIEVED WHAT WOMEN NEEDED THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE.

AND WE DIDN'T KNOW WE DIDN'T HAVE IT.

AND SHE GAVE US A PLATFORM TO STAND AND DEMAND IT BECAUSE OTIS REDDING HAD MADE IT A HIT BEFORE HER.

HE WROTE IT.

BUT SHE PUT THE THING ON IT THAT ALLOWED US TO GO FORWARD.

AND SO I SING IT PROUDLY.

AND NOW IT IS A SONG JUST FOR EVERYBODY, BECAUSE WE ALL NEED THAT.

>> Braude: YOU DON'T SEEM LIKE THE TYPE WHOEVER GETS INTIMIDATED BY ANYTHING.

IS THAT INTIMIDATING, OR IS IT NOT?

>> NO.

IT IS COMFORTING (laughing).

>> Braude: DAMIEN, TELL US ABOUT THE SHOW.

WE KNOW YOU TWO ARE A PART OF IT.

TELL US ABOUT WHAT THE REST OF THE PEOPLE WILL GET ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

>> THERE IS A PHENOMINALLY GROUP OF SINGERS AND MUSICIANS WHO HELP US COVER EVERY POSSIBLE STYLE AND GENRE THAT ARETHA FRANKLIN FINDS HERSELF SINGING, FROM BLUES TO JAZZ TO GOSPEL TO R & B.

IT IS A GREAT TEAM.

I THINK THERE IS MUSIC IN THE REPERTOIRE THAT EVERYONE WILL ENJOY.

>> Braude: AND I ASSUME SOME THINGS, AS HARD AS IT IS TO BELIEVE, THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT BE THAT FAMILIAR WITH, PART OF HER CATALOG, NO?

>> YES.

BECAUSE HER CATALOG IS TO MASSIVE, SO VAST.

I'M STILL LEARNING THINGS MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY.

>> Braude: I'M HOPING TO BE THERE.

VALTHERE.VALERIE SIMPSON AND DAMIEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

I HOPE EVERYBODY SHOWS UP.

>> BYE-BYE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: "A TRIBUTE TO ARETHA FRANKLIN: THE QUEEN OF SOUL" WILL BE AT THE BERKLEE PERFORMANCE CENTER ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25th.

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT DamienSneed.com.

>>> BEFORE WE GO, WE WANT TO SHARE AN UPDATE ON A CASE THAT WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING HERE ON "GREATER BOSTON," THAT OF CHARLES BOGUES, WHO PLED GUILTY TO THE 1993 MURDER OF 15-YEAR-OLD LOUIS D. BROWN, CAUGHT IN THE CROSS-FIRE OF A GANG SHOOTOUT, BUT FOR YEARS BOGUES HAS BEEN TRYING TO REVERSE THAT GUILTY PLEA, ACCUSING BOSTON PROSECUTORS, AND EVEN HIS OWN LAWYER, OF TALKING HIM INTO TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SHOOTING, AS HE TOLD US A FEW WEEKS AGO.

>> THEY KNEW, WHEN I PLED GUILTY, THAT I WASN'T THE PERSON WHO KILLED LOUIS BROWN.

THERE WAS ACTUALLY THREE DIFFERENT .45s THAT WAS FIRED THAT DAY FROM DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS.

AND THE SHELL CASING THAT THEY ATTRIBUTED TO MY THEY ATTRIBUTED TO MY GUN, THEY DIDN'T MATCH THE BUT TO THE ONE THEY RETRIEVED FROM LOUIS BROWN.

THAT WAS THE FIRST THING.

SECOND THING WAS THEY ACTUALLY HAD EYE WITNESSES THAT ACTUALLY SAW THE PERSON WHO SHOT AND KILLED LOUIS BROWN, AND THAT PERSON DIDN'T LOOK LIKE ME AT ALL.

SO THOSE TWO FACTORS, PLUS LOOK AT THE DOCUMENTS, WHEN THE DOCUMENTS ARE DATED, AS OPPOSED TO WHEN THEY CONVENED THE GRAND JURY.

YOU CAN TELL THAT THEY HAD ALL THE EVIDENCE BEFORE THEY WENT TO THE GRAND JURY, AND THEY LIED ABOUT IT.

>> Braude: CHARLES BOGUES HAS LONG CALLED FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO HIS PROSECUTION, A CALL LOUIS D. BROWN'S MOTHER HAS ALSO ECHOED, SAYING TO US IN A STATEMENT EARLIER THIS MONTH, IN PART, "I AM PRAYING TO MY GOD THAT THERE CAN BE A DEEP INVESTIGATION INTO THIS CASE BASED ON THE VIDEO.

I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS, AND I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE NEW D.A., AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SPEAKING WITH HIM IN HOPES THAT HE WILL MAKE THIS, AND CASES LIKE THIS, A PRIORITY."

AND IT APPEARS HE WILL.

INTERIM SUFFOLK COUNTY D.A.

KEVIN HAYDEN JOINED MARGERY EAGAN AND ME ON BOSTON PUBLIC RADIO ON FRIDAY, AND SAID THIS ABOUT BOGUES' CASE: >> WE DO HAVE INTENTION TO LOOK INTO IT, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT IT.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT CASE ACTIVELY, AND SO I DON'T THINK I COULD SAY MUCH MORE THAN THAT RIGHT NOW.

>> Braude: WE HOPE HE'LL HAVE MORE TO SAY SOON, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO UPDATE THIS STORY IF AND WHEN HE DOES.

>>> THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

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♪♪ >> WAIT, DID I JUST COMMIT A CRIME?

HEY, FOLKS, I'M EDWARD B. HERWICK III FROM GBH'S CURIOSITY DESK, WHERE YOU ASK QUESTIONS AND I FIND ANSWERS.

TODAY AS QUESTION COMES COURTESY OF BETTE DAVIS, WHO WANTS TO KNOW IF IT IS IN FACT A CRIME TO REMOVE THESE LABELS.

YOU FIND THESE GUYS ON PILLOWS, MATTRESSES.

AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE YOU CANNOT SEE WHAT IS INSIDE OF THOSE ITEMS.

NOW TODAY, PILLOWS, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE USUALLY STUFFED WITH FEATHERS OR COTTON OR SOME KIND OF SYNTHETIC MATERIAL.

BUT ACCORDING TO MAGGIE PERRY, BACK IN THE DAY THEY PUT SOME PRETTY GNARLLY STUFF IN THE STUFFING.

>> IT USED TO BE YEARS AGO AGO, THEY WOULD THROW ANYTHING THEY WANTED TO INTO THE BEDDING.

NEWSPAPER, DIRTY RAGS -- >> HORSE HAIR, USED HOSPITAL OR HOTEL TOWELS -- >> PART OF THEIR LUNCH, DROPPINGS, I MEAN ANYTHING.

>> FOR STARTERS, THAT IS DISGUSTING, AND FURTHERMORE, IT IS DANGEROUS AND UNHEALTHY.

SO TODAY A LOT OF STATES REQUIRE THESE LABELS THAT TELL YOU WHAT IS INSIDE OF THE ITEM.

AND IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO REMOVE THEM.

SORT OF.

RETAILERS AND MANUFACTURERS CAN BE FINED IF THEY REMOVE THE LABELS, BUT ONCE YOU BUY IT, OR I BUY IT, IF YOU READ CLOSELY, MOST OF THESE END WITH THE LINE "EXCEPT BY THE CONSUMER."

SO FEEL FREE TO RIP AWAY.

DON'T FIGURE TO FOLLOW AND TELL US WHAT YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT BECAUSE, HEY, I MIGHT JUST LOOK INTO IT.

I'M EDWARD B. HERWICK III.

STAY CURIOUS OUT THERE.

♪♪