The Horse Race

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Episode 103: Wu Train Plan Oct 16, 2019

Show notes

10/16/19--Steve and Stephanie have returned to the bunker after last week's live show at WeWork in Back Bay. Our guests, Attorney General Maura Healey and Rep. Joe Kennedy III had a lot to talk about, and today the hosts go over what stuck out to them. Then, Boston City Councillor At-Large Michelle Wu stops by to talk about her big ideas, the most recent being her call to abolish the BPDA. Is this the answer to Boston's housing crisis, climate battle, and transportation tension? Finally, we hear from Allyson Perron from the American Heart Association. She explains that while the AHA applauds Governor Baker's 4-month ban on vaping products after a rash of related illnesses and even deaths countrywide, there needs to be a more comprehensive, more permanent solution.

Episode 102: The Horse Race LIVE - And They're Off! Oct 11, 2019

Show notes

10/11/2019 -- We're doing it live! Thanks to our lovely hosts, WeWork on 31 St. James Ave. in Back Bay, Steve, Jenn, and Stephanie got to run through the state (and national) headlines in person with the fine company of Horse Race listeners. But it wouldn't be a Horse Race without a lineup of special guests. First up was state Attorney General Maura Healey. She spoke about her activist approach to litigation, her partnership with other state AGs, and of course, the ongoing drama between her cohort of attorneys general and the Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma who make OxyContin. Then, it's time for the three hosts to turn to the most pressing issue on our nation's collective mind: impeachment. Jennifer, our legal analyst, leads the discussion. Stephanie shares the local angle, pointing out the members of the Massachusetts delegation who were the first to call for impeachment, and who were the last. And Steve runs the polling numbers on voters' positions on impeachment. We know they've changed, but how and why? Finally, U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III joins the hosts to shed some light on his decision to run for Senate. He responds to the criticism some have made that his running diverts precious resources from other critical races across the country, and emphasizes a need for structural changes to filibuster and gerrymandering.

Episode 101: Planet of the Vapes Oct 02, 2019

Show notes

10/2/19-- With so much happening on the state and national level, Stephanie and Jenn tackle a little bit of everything on this week's show. An impeachment inquiry into President Trump has officially begun, and as Stephanie points out, there's a local angle there. Rep. Richard Neal from Massachusetts' 1st District came out in favor of impeachment , becoming one of the last members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation to do so. After last week's results of the Boston City Council preliminary election were revealed, MassINC Polling Group Research Director took a look at the elections data and produced comprehensive maps showing the geographic strengths and weaknesses of the candidates. He breaks it all down and predicts how the candidates moving forward will fare in the general come November. Next, the hosts are joined by Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commissioner Shaleen Title who, to put it mildly, has been having a busy month. Governor Baker put forth a four-month statewide ban on all vaping products after a concerning number of vaping-related illnesses and deaths broke out. Baker said the ban will provide time to investigate the root of these effects, which is currently unknown. While the ban was placed in the name of safety, Title argues that a hasty move like this is in itself harmful, as consumers are likely to seek out the products they want on the illicit market. Finally, Boston Globe reporter Milton Valencia visits the bunker once again to lay out what exactly is going on at the Boston Zoning Board. With bribery scandals abound, Milton puts into perspective how serious this particular controversy is, in light of those that have hit the city of Boston in recent months.

Episode 100: The 100th Lap Sep 25, 2019

Show notes

9/25/19--Welcome, one and all, to the 100th Episode Jubilee! This week features old friends of the pod as well as a brand-new visitor to the bunker. First, Jamie Belsito is a first-time visitor to The Horse Race, making her case for why she's right for the 6th District House seat. She argues Seth Moulton has been too busy running for president and gunning for Nancy Pelosi to show up for his district. Then, BFF of the pod and State House News reporter Katie Lannan drops by to break down the contents of the recently unveiled education funding bill and contextualize its importance. After all, the state legislature has tried and failed for many years to put together a comprehensive overhaul of the education funding formula. Last but most certainly not least, we hear from co-founder and former host of The Horse Race, Lauren Dezenski. She gives Steve the 4-11 on what she's up to now and what she misses most about the old days.

Episode 99: Welcome to the Jungle Primary Sep 18, 2019

Show notes

9/18/19-- Fresh off the Massachusetts Democratic Convention, Steve and Stephanie have much to discuss. Stephanie covered the convention in Springfield for Politico, and there were a few things in particular that stood out to her. Namely, as pundits in Massachusetts and nationwide speculate on the implications of the potential Markey-Kennedy Senate matchup, there's someone already calling out the sitting Senator. Shannon Liss-Riordan, a Brookline labor attorney and official candidate running for Markey's seat is "doing the work for" Kennedy, Stephanie says. On stage at the convention, she called to get corporate money out of Washington, a not-so-subtle jab at Markey. Back on Beacon Hill, there's news coming from the Secretary of State's office, after Bill Galvin came out in support of an initiative petition that would effectively overhaul our primary elections system. Chris Lisinski of the State House News Service drops by to explain the situation, pointing out that while the proposed ballot question fell short of the Attorney General's constitutional review, that doesn't necessarily signal the end. If the lead sponsor successfully challenges the AG's decision, Massachusetts voters will be choosing whether to get rid of partisan primaries as we know them and instead install a system wherein the top two candidates in a race advance regardless of party. Finally, reporting from The Horse Race Western Mass bureau is Rich Parr, who's witnessed concerted effort from disparate communities throughout the region who've joined forces to advocate for better, more expansive transit. Sen. Eric Lesser spoke at a forum last week where he emphasized the connection between a lack of transportation and a lack of economic opportunity. Meanwhile, pilot programs spell potential for Western Mass's transit future. This is all while Boston-area transit has remained relatively untouched by state lawmakers after a summer of chaos.

Episode 98: Is Fare Fair? Sep 11, 2019

Show notes

9/11/19-- A new week brings new polls to discuss. Last week, Steve and Stephanie spoke to the Chief Growth Officer at Change Research, which had published a poll finding Joe Kennedy III with a 17-point lead ahead of Ed Markey in the Senate race. Since then a Boston Globe/Suffolk University poll found Kennedy up by 14 points, confirming the substance of a poll that many considered to be an outlier. Steve explains why Kennedy is showing strength early on. Plus, WBUR released a poll this morning, this one on what their audience would like to hear candidates discuss. Jenn and Steve are then joined by Ben Forman, MassINC Research Director who co-authored a study on fare equity in Massachusetts. As Ben explains, the wealthiest people in Massachusetts end up paying the least amount of money in transit fares, thus exacerbating the income inequality problem that is so pervasive in Massachusetts. Later, good friend of the pod State Sen. Becca Rausch sits down to explain her recently filed bill that would standardize immunizations requirements in Massachusetts.

Episode 97: #MApoli Breakfast Club Sep 04, 2019

Show notes

9/4/19-- It's post-Labor Day in The Horse Race bunker, which means post-Labor Day Breakfast, which means the hosts have much to discuss. Namely, Stephanie pointed out, the breakfast featured 'Kennedy for Senate' banners posted directly across from 'Markey for Senate' banners, illustrating a race that's sure to be tight IF Congressman Joe Kennedy decides to officially throw his hat in the ring. Meanwhile in legislation news, a hearing was held in the Statehouse today on a proposed bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers licenses. State Sen. Brendan Crighton and Rep. Christine Barber drop by to explain what the bill entails, and what stood out to them during testimony. A poll published by a newer polling company called Change Research came out this week. It showed Congressman Joe Kennedy III with a 17-point lead against Senator Ed Markey and drew skepticism from other pollsters. Chief Growth Officer of Change Research Pat Reilly joined via telephone to shed some light on Change's methods.

Episode 96: The Morse Race Aug 28, 2019

Show notes

8/28/19-- New polls out this week rank Democratic presidential hopefuls, but one in particular stood out. Monmouth University published a poll showing a three-way tie for first place between former Vice President Joe Biden, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Results from other major polling outfits, meanwhile, showed Biden in first place, as has been the case since the former vice president announced his candidacy. This set off a conversation among pollsters as to when you publish outliers versus when you suppress publication. Host and pollster Steve Koczela sounds off on his own experience as well as best practices. 2020 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive Democratic primaries in U.S. Congressional races in Massachusetts history, as numerous primary challenges have been made upon incumbents. One such challenger, facing off against Rep. Richard Neal in District 1 is Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse. He joins our hosts on The Horse Race to talk about why now is the right moment for him to run and potentially unseat a powerful longtime incumbent. Immigrants living in the United States seeking medical care were delivered a devastating blow by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. In a letter, immigrants taking part in medical deferred action were informed they had just over 30 days to leave the country or else face deportation. For some families, the care they receive in the U.S. is not available to them in their home countries, and deportation could result in worsening sickness, or even death. Steph Solis of MassLive joins to discuss the situation and its potential outcomes.

Episode 95: Half in the Bag Ban Aug 21, 2019

Show notes

8/21/19--A new co-hosting combo hits the bunker this week -- it's Steve and Stephanie breaking down the latest in Massachusetts. First up is a rundown of the very busy Massachusetts primaries. With all the announced challengers to Congressional incumbents (and undoubtedly more to come), Steve and Stephanie address the question: is the era of "wait your turn" in politics over? The hosts are next joined by Janelle Nanos, a Boston Globe reporter who recently covered the plastic bag ban breakdown on Beacon Hill. A draft of legislation instituting a statewide ban on plastic bags got derailed when a second draft emerged, effectively weakening existing legislation in Massachusetts cities and towns that ban plastic bags and charge fees on paper bags. Last but not least, friend of the pod Ben Downing stops by to talk about his most recent op-ed for Commonwealth Magazine, wherein he urges Democrats not to criticize Baker as a Trump/Pence-clone (a characterization Downing says is untrue and unfair), but to look at Baker's past five years as governor and demand more drastic action on the most dramatic issues in the state.

Episode 94: To the Window, to the Walsh Aug 14, 2019

Show notes

8/14/19--A new co-host joins us in the bunker this week. That's right, folks, Steve's on vacation and the Politico Massachusetts Playbook composer Stephanie Murray is busting up the joint. She broke the story on the puzzling, anonymous live caller poll circling around the commonwealth a few weeks ago, pitting Senator Ed Markey and Rep. Joe Kennedy III in a hypothetical Senate race that Kennedy never announced he would entertain. There's news on that front as a group has emerged pushing for Kennedy to do just that. They did not say that they conducted the poll, only that they were "inspired" by it. Then, it's time to talk about the ever-tenuous relationship between Governor Baker and the MassGOP. Tensions reached a high point when a disagreement broke out over who gets access to donor data. This all culminated in a postponement of a fundraiser, wherein MassGOP chair Jim Lyons and Baker were set to raise funds side by side. Today's first guest is Boston Globe reporter Milton Valencia, who breaks down the recent events that haven't been kind to Boston Mayor Martin Walsh's administration -- namely, the verdict convicting two of his aides for extorting a concert promoter into hiring union labor, and the backlash surrounding Operation Clean Sweep. Next, joining the hosts remotely is Jeff Gross, formerly of the MIRA Coalition, to discuss a budget provision aimed at increasing the number of physicians able to provide care for underserved communities. To do this, the commission will look at the extremely difficult process that foreign-trained medical professionals must undergo to obtain a license to practice in the United States. The goal is to make that process less obstructive so that more doctors can be licensed to work here in the commonwealth, and serve those communities needing physicians.

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