The Horse Race

Latest Episodes:

Episode 85: Impromptu Pressley Conference Jun 06, 2019

Show notes

6/5/2019--Come one, come all to our live show at Suffolk Downs! Eat, drink, gamble and be merry amongst fellow #MAPoli-interested folks. Register here! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-horse-race-live-at-the-races-tickets-60936755476?aff=ebdssbdestsearch This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn are joined by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley to discuss her new Power of Us PAC. Then, Rich Parr drops in to chat about our country's feelings toward impeaching the 45th President of the United States. Last but not least, Andy Metzger of Commonwealth Magazine explains a new organization called Take Back Our Republic, centered on diminishing the role of money in politics and on pushing back against partisan gerrymandering of districts.

Episode 84: Everybody Runs May 29, 2019

Show notes

5/29/2019-- While drama abounds in our nation's capital, Steve and Jenn are squarely focused on state-level issues. But first, they discuss exit polls with MassINC Polling Group Research Director Maeve Duggan. Exit polls have traditionally been the basis for understanding what happens on election night. Now, exit polls are evolving in a big way. Jenn and Steve are then joined by Commonwealth Magazine Associate Editor Michael Jonas, who breaks down legislation centered on education funding, as well as the current charter school debacle happening in New Bedford and its statewide implications. Finally, Yawu Miller of the Bay State Banner joins Jenn to discuss the numerous contenders for this year's Boston City Council seats, and whether the activity surrounding the race will lead to an uptick in municipal election turnout.

Episode 83: Merrily We Poll Along May 22, 2019

Show notes

5/22/2019--Fresh off a weekend nerding out on polling at the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) Conference, Steve is joined by a good friend of the pod to recount the insights they gained there. Steve and Maeve Duggan, Research Director for the MassINC Polling Group, discuss how 2019 and 2020 elections polls will be conducted. Later, Matt Murphy of the State House News Service drops by to discuss the ROE Act, introduced by Senate President Emerita Harriette Chandler and House Speaker Pro Tempore Patricia Haddad, which would guarantee a right to abortion in state law, with some specific language around allowing abortions later in pregnancy in cases when the fetus is unlikely to survive after birth. To close things out, Boston Globe reporter Vicki McGrane makes an appearance to discuss the recently announced challenge to Ed Markey's senate seat. Shannon Liss-Riordan, a high-profile labor rights attorney, announced in a campaign video on Monday that she is running against the 72-year-old Markey, who has served in office since 1976. #MAPoli friends, don't forget to register for our live event: The Horse Race Goes to the Races! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-horse-race-live-at-the-races-tickets-60936755476 And, as always, we want to hear from YOU! Send us your #MAPoli questions, frustrations and ruminations to thehorseracepodcast@gmail.com or on Twitter @The_HorseRace.

BONUS Episode: Exploring Suffolk Downs May 18, 2019

Show notes

On this special bonus episode of The Horse Race, we explore the history of Suffolk Downs, what its final racing season means for its dedicated patrons, and what's in store for the 161-acre parcel once the racetrack shuts down. Join us for a LIVE recording of The Horse Race podcast at the races! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-horse-race-live-at-the-races-tickets-60936755476

Episode 82: BRT If You Agree May 16, 2019

Show notes

5/15/19--Steve and Jenn are back with a vengeance to discuss...you guessed it: transportation. US News Rankings published Massachusetts as the 44th worst state in the union in the category of overall infrastructure and 46th in commute time. This should come as no surprise to anyone who lives in Massachusetts and has commuted even once in the past 5 years. They're joined by State Sen. Becca Rausch to discuss a bill that would allow childcare expenses to be included in campaign expenses. Right now, doing so is unlawful because of its consideration as a personal expense. Rausch says this precludes people from running who would be representative of larger communities. Later, WBUR reporter Zeninjor Enwemeka stops by to discuss BRT, or bus rapid transit. She reported on the BRT system in Mexico City, which has improved congestion in the city and even led many residents to ditch their cars altogether. Boston business leaders are interested in the idea. If the city is to pursue an option like this, the biggest question becomes, how do we pay for it? Last but certainly not least, Jenn and Steve voice the question that's been on all Bostonians' minds today: is the accent sexy? Give us your take on this question, and tell us about YOUR regional accent. Or, send us your #mapoli questions, frustrations and ruminations to thehorseracepodcast@gmail.com.

Episode 81: The Ways of Ways and Means May 09, 2019

Show notes

5/8/2019--Derby Day has come and gone, but Steve and Jenn are back in the saddle. They're joined first by The Horse Race's one and only sports correspondent Maeve Duggan to discuss Red Sox manager Alex Cora's decision not to accept an invitation to visit the White House after last season's World Series win. She also shares some little-known facts about the connection between thoroughbred horse racing and one Bill Belichick. Later, the hosts visit the State House to chat with Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues on all things Senate Budget. Finally Steve and Jenn close out the show with an in-depth discussion of official state stuff with a true expert: Katie Holahan, who will no doubt be invited back to dispense more of her unending wisdom about every official state item, from dessert (Boston cream pie) to reptile (garter snake).

Episode 80: The Room 348 Where It Happens May 01, 2019

Show notes

In this special Kentucky Derby edition of The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn have lots of things to discuss. Chief among them, the event of the century: The Horse Race Goes to the Races. Join us June 9 at Suffolk Downs to enjoy an afternoon of food, drink, horse racing and political analysis. Meanwhile, Steve and Jenn brace themselves for what has now officially been thrust upon us all: presidential polling season. As the hosts note, there are a lot of things that polling can tell us about how people feel about their politics and their politicians. Steve and Jenn promise to, when addressing presidential polls, move beyond merely who's winning and who's losing and talk about what voters think about candidates' policies, and what drives a candidate's favorability among certain demographics of voters. After unpacking a recent Quinnipiac poll that published Joe Biden's standing after he (finally) announced his candidacy as well as voters' responses to policies laid out by Democratic candidates, Steve and Jenn are joined by two very good friends of the pod. First, Katie Lannan of the State House News Service drops in to walk the hosts through state budget proceedings, some of which occur in Room 348 of the State House (cue Hamilton track: The Room Where It Happens), and much of which are out of public view. Next, Commonwealth Magazine's Sarah Betancourt explains the recent lawsuit that hit the US District Court on Monday. Middlesex and Suffolk County district attorneys Marian Ryan and Rachel Rollins are seeking to block ICE agents from Massachusetts courthouse properties, claiming that the threat of their presence makes noncitizen witnesses unwilling to appear in court for fear of arrest or deportation. Finally, Steve and Jenn open up the mailbag via the Pony Express. Send your #mapoli comments and questions to us using the Pony Express (aka tweet @The_HorseRace or email us at thehorseracepodcast@gmail.com).

Episode 79: Polls, Trains and Automobiles Apr 24, 2019

Show notes

4/24/2019-- Steve and Jenn are talking all things transportation on this week's edition of The Horse Race, but before they do, they've got to plug the upcoming live show at an ACTUAL horse race, AKA June 9 at Suffolk Downs. Come for the race, stay for the puns. In other news, the partially redacted Mueller Report was released on Thursday, begging the question, to impeach or not impeach? Jenn and Steve touch on Elizabeth Warren's response to this. Plus, they talk about the newest slate of 2020 hopefuls including the recently announced Seth Moulton as well as the Trump administration’s attempts to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census. The MassINC Polling Group released a poll last week on transportation for the Barr Foundation. It found that a majority of Massachusetts voters are feeling stressed or frustrated by their commutes. Two-thirds adjusted their schedules to leave earlier or later to avoid the worst travel times. Steve and Jenn are joined by Jim Rooney, president and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Kathryn Carlson of A Better City to discuss the results of the poll as well as how the business community is tackling transit. A Tribute to Lenny Gomulka: https://chicagopush.com/tribute-to-lenny-gomulka

Episode 78: How Wasted Are We? Apr 17, 2019

Show notes

4/17/2019-- Listeners, it's happening. The Horse Race is, in fact, going to the races. Mark your calendars for June 9 and join us for a live recording of The Horse Race at Suffolk Downs. Come eat, drink, gamble, watch some races and listen to some political conversation. Really, what more could you possibly want? Keep your eyes and ears open for details to come. Meanwhile in the bunker, Steve and Jenn have much to discuss. About one week into the Stop & Shop strike that's been visited by Elizabeth Warren and will be soon by Joe Biden and Marty Walsh, Jenn and Steve turn to the polls to see how unions are perceived nationwide. Then, they touch on a subject they may have discussed once or twice before: Bill Weld. He's officially announced his bid for the presidency and subsequently participated in the obligatory diner-hopping extravaganza. Later, Jenn and Steve celebrate Earth Day with a discussion of our our country's deeply problematic waste stream and environmentally focused state legislation with Janet Domenitz of the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group. Plus, Tufts University professor Eitan Hersh stops by to offer some critiques of ranked choice voting. To wrap up this week's episode, the hosts unpack responses to the Twitter poll question: What's the cardinal sin of MA place nicknames? If you want to be on The Horse Race, send us your questions, comments, frustrations, hopes, dreams, ANYTHING #mapoli related to thehorseracepodcast@gmail.com

Episode 77: Fevered Pitches Apr 10, 2019

Show notes

4/10/2019--Movie madness abounds this week on The Horse Race as Steve and Jenn collect responses from their Twitter question: "What's one essential Massachusetts movie?" This naturally spurred (pun intended) a conversation about the infamous 2004 romantic comedy Fever Pitch starring Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon. Sides were taken. Impassioned arguments were put forth. Eye rolls and groans were emitted (mainly by Steve). MassINC Polling Group Research Director (and baseball-romantic-comedy-niche expert)Maeve Duggan makes her case for the film. With all that aside, this episode of The Horse Race did in fact include conversation around Massachusetts politics and policy. POLITICO reporter Stephanie Murray took time out of her busy schedule covering all eight thousand presidential candidates to talk about them and their interactions with voters. Boston Globe reporter Maddie Kilgannon updated Jenn and Steve to the most recent installments of the saga unfolding between District Attorney Rachael Rollins, Governor Charlie Baker, and Public Safety and Security Secretary Thomas Turco. And Boston Magazine writer Spencer Buell stops in to explain what's going on with Boston beer gardens, why they receive so much backlash, and whether they're under threat of virtually disappearing.

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