The Scrum

"Never imagined that I'd see a Black mayor": Yawu Miller on Kim Janey's ascension — and what comes next Mar 29, 2021

The intense national interest in Kim Janey’s ascension that her stewardship of Boston could change, or begin to change, perception of the city. It could also change the way the Boston sees itself. But there are some important caveats attached to the Janey era — starting with the fact that it could end in November, when Boston holds the final election to replace former mayor Marty Walsh.

Yawu Miller, the senior editor of the Bay State Banner, talks about what it’s been like as a Black Bostonian to watch the transfer of power from Walsh to Janey, and how the candidates who’ve already said they’re running can respond to the undeniable advantage Janey now enjoys. First, though, Janey gets some friendly advice from Jane Swift, who ran Massachusetts after Paul Cellucci became ambassador to Canada — and might have been elected in 2002, if Mitt Romney had turned his focus to Utah a bit earlier than he did.

Whatever Happened To Dennis White? Plus, Previewing The Somerville Mayor's Race Mar 12, 2021

The push for a more transparent Boston Police Department was one of the hallmarks of Marty Walsh’s second term. But now, as Walsh gets ready to head to Washington, his pick to run the BPD — Commissioner Dennis White — is on leave as the city investigates domestic-violence allegations that surfaced after his appointment.

In this episode of the Scrum, Saraya Wintersmith updates Adam Reilly on the status of that investigation and how the various candidates hoping to replace Walsh are addressing (or avoiding) the White controversy. Plus, Zoe Mathews talks with Somerville Journal reporter Julia Taliesin about Joe Curtatone’s impending mayoral exit and the electoral landscape his would-be successors will navigate.

The Revere-Winthrop Primary And What It Means For The Boston Mayor's Race Mar 05, 2021

Jeffrey Turco, a moderate Democrat who voted for former President Donald Trump in 2016, defeated a number of more progressive candidates in the 19th District special election primary to succeed former House Speaker Robert Deleo.
In this episode of the Scrum, Peter Kadzis talks with NBC10's Sue O'Connell and Liam Kerr of Priorities for Progress about the race itself, the role social media plays in elections and whether nationalizing local races is effective.
Are there lessons to be learned for the Boston Mayoral Race, and even the 2022 Gubernatorial race to come? Listen to find out.

Annissa Essaibi George: The Scrum Interview Feb 26, 2021

The first two candidates in Boston’s 2021 mayoral race, Michelle Wu and Andrea Campbell, committed to running before labor-secretary-in-waiting Marty Walsh’s plans were clear. But Annissa Essaibi George took a different tack. In this episode of the Scrum, AEG talks with Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly about why she wouldn’t have run against Walsh; how she’d change Boston’s school system, including its school committee; how growing up in Boston with an Arab father shaped her worldview; and what she’d do to prevent any conflicts of interest between her career and her husband’s if she’s elected. As an added plus, she and Kadzis compare and contrast Dorchester accents.

If Denver Can Elect Black Mayors, Why Can't Boston? Feb 19, 2021

It’s looking increasingly likely that the next mayor of Boston will be a female person of color — but for years, the city’s inability or unwillingness to elect anyone other than white men has been a defining trait. In Denver, meanwhile, which resembles Boston in several respects, three of the last four mayors have been people of color.

So what gives? Nearly a decade ago, GBH News senior editor Ken Cooper — who grew up in Denver, but has called Boston home for years — offered some answers in an article published by UMass Boston’s Trotter Review. He joined Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly to recap and update his findings — and to offer some thoughts on why, finally, Boston seems poised to change its electoral habits.

What Baker's Vaccine Woes Tell Us About The Governor Feb 12, 2021

In the eyes of the electorate, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has been able to do no wrong for the vast majority of his time in office. The state’s troubled COVID-vaccine rollout is a notable, potentially damaging exception to that rule. Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly size up the situation, and its deeper lessons, with Joan Vennochi of the Boston Globe, who also has some pointed thoughts on the state of Boston as Mayor Marty Walsh prepares to head to Washington, D.C.

American Democracy: Buy Or Sell? Jan 22, 2021

After the 2020 presidential election and the harrowing events that followed it—which are still playing out—the question of whether the United States can survive as a functioning polity is real and pressing. In this episode of the Scrum, Bay State Banner senior editor Yawu Miller joins Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly to size up where we’ve been and where we’re heading.

Andrea Campbell: The Scrum Interview Jan 14, 2021

Now that Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is headed to Washington, you can’t swing a stick without hitting a potential mayoral candidate. But when Walsh’s plans were unclear, just two people had the guts to commit to running against him if he sought a third term — and Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell was one of them. In this episode of the Scrum, she talks with Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly about Boston’s progress in the Walsh years and what she would do differently as mayor. Campbell also speaks in depth about her twin brother, Andre, whose death in pretrial detention had a massive impact on the way she thinks about Boston politics.

What Makes Michelle Wu Run? Dec 17, 2020

If you pay attention to Boston politics, four-term city councilor Michelle Wu is a familiar figure, known for her electoral prowess and her determinedly progressive politics. But there are some aspects of Wu’s political identity that even her fans might not be familiar with — including her conception of how Boston politics intersect (or *could* intersect) with Massachusetts politics, and the impact her mother’s struggle with mental illness had on her approach to governance. In this episode of the Scrum, Wu, Peter Kadzis, and Adam Reilly discuss these topics — as well as Wu’s tough assessment of Governor Charlie Baker and Mayor Marty Walsh’s response to COVID.

The Case For A Massachusetts COVID Clampdown — Now, Not Later Dec 08, 2020

Critics have argued for a while now that Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker isn’t doing enough to stem the spread of COVID-19 — relying instead on restrictions that were established weeks or months ago, and aren’t sufficient for the moment we find ourselves in. But over the past few days, as Massachusetts sets new records for reported daily cases and other key metrics head in the wrong direction, that frustration has reached a fever pitch. In this episode of the Scrum, two Boston epidemiologists — Sam Scarpino of Northeastern University and Cassandra Pierre of Boston Medical Center — make the case for the governor to do more, stat. Afterward, Peter Kadzis offers his take on that Baker’s getting right and what he should do differently.

Joe Biden's Boston Roots Nov 16, 2020

Quick: if you hear the name “Joe Biden,” what places spring to mind? Delaware, for obvious reasons. Scranton, probably, along with the requisite dose of earthy Irish-American wisdom. But Boston should, too. The president elect didn’t grow up in this area, but some of Boston’s top political power brokers helped shape and guide his career — which was also defined, for years, by an embarrassing presidential setback inflicted by the campaign of one Mike Dukakis back in 1987.

In this episode of the Scrum, Adam Reilly talks through Biden’s #bospoli and #mapoli connections with Boston Globe op-ed columnist Scot Lehigh. First, though, Peter Kadzis sizes up Biden’s performance during one of the most bizarre political transitions in American history — and what the coming months have in store for a deeply conflicted Democratic Party.

Election 2020: The Night(s) Before And The Morning After Oct 31, 2020

If you’ve been around long enough, you still think of presidential elections as efficient events that provide clear answers in a finite period of time, exceptions to the rule notwithstanding ([cough] 2000 [cough]). But the 2020 election may shatter that romantic ideal once and for all — and when the dust settles and the results are in, whenever that is and whatever they are, we’ll still be facing huge questions about the future of American democracy. Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly talk about what we’ll be grappling with after the presidency is decided, and how to get from here to there without losing our minds, with help from four Scrum favorites: Sue O’Connell, Joan Vennochi, Wilnelia Rivera, and Yawu Miller.

The Electoral College: What Is It Good For? Oct 22, 2020

You already know that the Electoral College lets candidates win the presidency while losing the popular vote (Donald Trump in 2016 springs to mind). But you might *not* know about the long history of failed attempts to reform or eliminate the institution — or how little guidance the Electoral College actually would actually provide in a close, hotly contested election like the one we’re currently having.

Spend a half hour with this Scrum, though — in which Peter Kadzis chats with Harvard’s Alex Keyssar, author of the new book “Why Do We Still Have The Electoral College?” — and you’ll gain that knowledge and more. (Warning: you may also be significantly more anxious about what the coming weeks may bring.)

Kevin O'Connor's Pitch To Non-Republicans Oct 14, 2020

If you haven’t paid close attention to the US Senate race between Ed Markey, the Democratic incumbent, and Kevin O’Connor, the Republican challenger, you might assume O’Connor is coming from the same place as the Massachusetts GOP: staunchly pro-Trump, and steadfastly opposed to all things Democratic. And if you have assumed that, O’Connor’s own messaging could be one reason why.

As it turns out, though, O’Connor’s political identity and philosophy are more nuanced than you might expect. In this episode of the Scrum, O’Connor makes his case to the unenrolled and Democratic voters whose support he’ll need to beat Markey in November — offering, in the process, some unexpected biographical details and assessments of Elizabeth Warren and Donald Trump. After Adam and O’Connor talk, Peter Kadzis weighs in with his assessment of O’Connor’s pitch.

Lessons From Lincoln For The Age Of Trump — Plus, What The Mass. Senate Debate Says About The Mass. GOP Oct 07, 2020

In the wake of the first and only debate between Democratic US Senator Ed Markey and Republican challenger Kevin O’Connor, Peter Kadzis flashes back to the Kennedy-Romney race and sizes up the trajectory of the Mass. Republican Party in the quarter century hence. (He and Adam Reilly also take stock of O’Connor’s candidacy and political future.) Then it’s on to a Kadzis convo with presidential historian Ted Widmer, whose new book — Lincoln On The Verge: Thirteen Days To Washington — offers an instructive portrait of the nation in another moment of crisis.

Storm Clouds: Aleksandar Hemon On Yugoslavia Then And The US Now Sep 29, 2020

When war broke out in his hometown of Sarajevo, Aleksandar Hemon turned what was supposed to be a brief stay in Chicago into an entirely new life — and went on to become a National Book Award finalist, a regular contributor to the New Yorker, and a professor at Princeton University. Now, though, Hemon has also become a political Cassandra, warning in stark terms that he sees the US sliding toward an outbreak of political violence akin to the eruptions that destroyed Yugoslavia.

In this episode, Adam Reilly talks with Hemon about the parallels he sees between Yugoslavia then and the US today. First, though, Peter Kadzis ponders Andrea Campbell’s newly announced candidacy for mayor of Boston, and how the politics of racial and ethnic identity will play out as Campell and Michelle Wu vie to become Boston’s first mayor of color.

Wu For 2021: A GBH-MassINC Poll Sets The Stage For The Mayoral Race Sep 21, 2020

Right now, the 2021 Boston mayor’s race has one (1) official candidate: at-large city councilor Michelle Wu, who made things official last week after months of speculation — and after the incumbent, Marty Walsh, gave her campaign an unconventional “soft launch” of his own. So how does Wu stack up against Walsh (if he runs) — and her fellow city councilor Andrea Campbell (ditto)? And what are the big takeaways from a new GBH News / MassINC poll on the state of the race and the issues on Boston voters’ minds? Peter Kadzis, Adam Reilly, and Saraya Wintersmith talk it through.

#MAPrimary 2020: The Exit Interview Sep 04, 2020

What to make of this week’s primary election? On the one hand, a slew of incumbent Democrats had credible challengers — which suggests an era of intra-party stasis and timidity has finally come to a close. Then again…those challengers all lost. So maybe incumbency still has some advantages? In this, the first Scrum of the GBH era, Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly kick it around with Boston Globe columnist Joan Vennochi — along with Joe Kennedy’s future and whether the drama in #mapoli is done for the year (spoiler: it isn’t).

Dr. Robbie Goldstein Makes His Case For MA8, Plus - Kadzis On The Surreal, Socially Distant DNC Aug 21, 2020

After a brief hiatus, the Scrum returns with a pre-election conversation with Dr. Robbie Goldstein, the MGH physician who's challenging Congressman Stephen Lynch in the Eighth District Democratic primary.
First, though, Peter Kadzis offers some instant reaction to the strange, socially distant event that was the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
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Things Are Getting Competitive In Western Massachusetts -- Plus, Kadzis On The State Legislature's Looming Extension Jul 31, 2020

What’s going on in Western Mass? In the past few weeks, the Massachusetts 1st Congressional District race between longtime incumbent Rep. Richard Neal and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse has started to get competitive. Carrie Saldo, recent host of Connecting Points on WGBY in Springfield, and Matt Szafranski of Western Mass Politics and Insight, talk Adam Reilly through just how interesting the race has become, despite -- or maybe because of -- the challenges presented by campaigning in the middle of a pandemic.
But first, Peter Kadzis and Reilly give a status update on the state legislature, where it's looking like lawmakers may not get that summer off during an election year after all.

Why The 2020 Presidential Polls Aren't Like Their Ugly 2016 Cousins — Plus, Walsh Vs. Wu, Round 1 Jul 17, 2020

How does President Trump explain away his bad poll numbers? Pretty much the same way he deals with anything else negative: he insists they’re not real. What happened in 2016 makes it harder to push back at this than it might be; after all, nearly everyone thought Hillary Clinton was a lock, but it turned out she wasn’t. Still, according to #mapoli pollster extraordinaire Steve Koczela, this year’s presidential-polling model is a significant upgrade from its recent predecessor. He gives Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly a layperson’s guide, and also offers some thoughts on what it’s like to be a military veteran watching the nation struggle to meet the challenge of COVID.

First, though, Kadzis and Reilly size up a broadcast dust-up featuring Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and At-Large City Councilor Michelle Wu, who’s widely considered a likely mayoral challenger.

The Scrum Sizes Up The 2020 New England Muzzles Jul 02, 2020

For more than two decades — first at the Boston Phoenix, and now at WGBH News — Dan Kennedy’s New England Muzzle Awards have chronicled threats to the First Amendment and freedom of expression in our fair region. But reading the 2020 Muzzles (as you should!) is one thing; hearing Dan talk about the worst of the worst with Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly is something else entirely. In this episode of the Scrum, the trio talks through the past year’s lowlights, which involve the Milton Public Schools, the Baker Administration, and Harvard University.

“Systemic Cures For Systemic Problems”: Ricardo Arroyo's M.O. For Fighting Racism In Boston Jun 23, 2020

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s designation of racism as a Boston public-heath crisis this month garnered plenty of headlines. But three months ago, Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo offered a similar assessment — and proposed the creation of an independent racial-equity office he said could start working to alleviate the problem.

On the heels of Walsh’s announcement, Arroyo offers his take on what the mayor is getting right when it comes to race (and COVID) and what he’s getting wrong. Arroyo also weighs in on Boston Police Commissioner William Gross’s surprise visit with US Attorney General Bill Barr. First, though, Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly talk about Gross’s confab, the Boston Police Department’s troubling penchant for stopping drivers of color, and Governor Charlie Baker’s push for a system that can license — and de-license — police officers across the state, which might include some new earning opportunities that strike critics as ill conceived.

Can Marty Walsh's Boston Lead The Fight Against Racism? Jun 12, 2020

Like Governor Charlie Baker, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has been consistently supportive of the recent protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd last month. While he’s condemned violence and destructive behavior, Walsh has also backed the protesters’ right to make their voices heard, even during the COVID pandemic, and he’s made it very clear he’s sympathetic to their cause. But recently he went further, pledging to make Boston a national leader when it comes to racial reconciliation and justice.

It is — to put it mildly — an ambitious goal. But what would pursuing and attaining it actually mean? And what are the political risks if Boston voters decide Walsh can’t deliver on his promise? Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis talk it over with Yawu Miller, the senior editor of the Bay State Banner.

As Protests Spread, Pondering The Politics Of Policing Jun 05, 2020

It’s an incredibly daunting moment: we’ve got an international pandemic, anti-police brutality protests sweeping the nation, and a president eager to use the US military against US citizens. Against that backdrop, Peter Kadzis has some thoughts about the problems plaguing law enforcement and how they could be addressed moving forward.

Jim Aloisi Talks Transit And Heirloom Italian Cuisine May 26, 2020

Getting people to ride the T as the COVID crisis fades won’t be easy. A Suffolk U. / WGBH News / Boston Globe poll showed that 25 percent of Massachusetts residents won’t be comfortable taking public transit even if there’s an effective vaccine, and right now that’s a distant possibility at best.

So how can the T get back on track as we head back toward some semblance of ordinary life? And how could cities and towns tweak their streetscapes to respond to the virus? Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly talk it over with Jim Aloisi, the former secretary of transportation and current board member of Transit Matters. First, though, Aloisi talks about how a treasure trove of his mother’s Italian recipes has sustained him through the pandemic — and at the end, he gives listeners one to try at home.

Did The South Win The Civil War? Plus, Sizing Up Charlie Baker's Reopening Plan May 19, 2020

What if the central event of U.S. history has been fundamentally misunderstood? What if the ethos of the Confederacy didn’t just survive the Civil War, but actually came to dominate American politics and culture, right up to the present day? That’s the radical thesis proposed by Boston College historian Heather Cox Richardson in her new book, How The South Won The Civil War: Oligarchy, Democracy, And The Continuing Fight For The Soul Of America. She joins Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly to talk it over — but first, Kadzis and Reilly respond to Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s plan to reopen the state in the coming weeks, as this round of the COVID crisis begins to ebb.

Brouhaha In Bristol County — Plus, #MAPoli Gets A Coronavirus Scorecard May 08, 2020

In a time of general instability, it’s the most chaotic subplot in local politics. Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson claims he was attacked by immigrants who are in the US illegally on May 1, after they refused to get tested for COVID-19. The detainees and their advocates say Hodgson and his deputies were the aggressors. Meanwhile, state Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz was barred from entering the jail the day after the riot; multiple investigations are now underway; and a class-action lawsuit alleging dangerous conditions at the facility is working its way through court.

Adam Reilly talks with Chang-Diaz and Sarah Betancourt, who’s been covering the story for Commonwealth magazine, about the incident and its aftermath. But first, Peter Kadzis weighs in on a new Suffolk University / WGBH News / Boston Globe poll that shows Massachusetts residents committed to the ongoing fight against the coronavirus, even as economic pain mounts.

Why Well-Educated White People Are Getting Politics Wrong Apr 24, 2020

The thesis of Tufts political scientist Eitan Hersh’s new book is provocative, to say the least. In Politics Is For Power: How To Move Beyond Political Hobbyism, Take Action, And Make Real Change, Hersh argues that a big chunk of society — looking at you, well-educated white people! — have come to treat politics as a sort of spectator sport. They spend time on it, and plenty of energy, but it’s a fundamentally passive sort of engagement — and it doesn’t really get things done. Hersh talks Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly through his diagnosis; discusses some #mapoli figures who are actually doing politics *right*; and offers a suggestion or two for anyone who’d like to follow their lead.

COVID Campaigning, Signature Stubbornness, Eviction Obstruction Apr 17, 2020

How do you campaign effectively — and tastefully — in the middle of a pandemic? Why are candidates still risking their health, and ours, to get signatures to make the ballot? And why in God’s name did State Rep. Shawn Dooley (R-Norfolk) grind a carefully crafted moratorium on coronavirus-era evictions and foreclosures to a halt? Adam Reilly, Peter Kadzis, and newspaper publisher / political commentator-about-town Sue O’Connell kick it around, virtually.

COVID-19 And The Way We Live Now Apr 10, 2020

A few weeks ago, he was suffering from what was probably COVID-19 himself. But now Steve Koczela, the president of the MassINC Polling Group, is (mostly) recovered — and he’s been diving into the way the Massachusetts coronavirus epidemic has changed the way Massachusetts thinks and acts. Adam Reilly talks with Steve about his own experience with the disease and his takeaways when it comes to attitudes and behaviors across the state. First, though, Adam and Peter Kadzis size up the end of Bernie Sanders’ 2020 Democratic presidential bid and what (if anything) Joe Biden can do to woo the Sanders faithful.

Urban Renewal In Boston And Beyond: Maybe Not So Bad? Mar 31, 2020

Like its predecessor, this episode of the Scrum is a largely coronavirus-free zone. Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly wrap up their conversation with Lizabeth Cohen, whose Bancroft-winning new biography of Ed Logue argues that the former Boston planning head and the concepts he championed have been unfairly maligned of late. (This part of the convo runs from Kevin White to the present; you’ll get a lot more out of it if you’ve already heard the first installment, which starts *way* back with James Michael Curley.)

But first…times being being what they are, it’s impossible to avoid the convergence of COVID-19 and politics. For a few minutes at the outset, Kadzis and Reilly ponder whether — as a listener or two has suggested — their assessment of Governor Charlie Baker’s leadership in the previous episode may have been overly generous.

The First Scrum Of The Rest Of Our Lives Mar 20, 2020

A few minutes in, this Scrum becomes a coronavirus-free zone: Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly take a deep dive into Boston redevelopment with Lizabeth Cohen, the author of “Saving America’s Cities: Ed Logue and the Struggle to Renew Urban America in the Suburban Age,” which just won the coveted Bancroft Prize for excellence in American history. It’s the first half of their convo with Cohen; you’ll hear the second next week.

First, though, Kadzis and Reilly size up the recent performance, in these frightening, unprecedented times, of Governor Charlie Baker and Mayor Marty Walsh. (Spoiler: both get high marks, as does New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. President Donald Trump still has, uh, plenty of room for growth.)

One more thing: while we’re always happy to hear from you with suggestions and criticisms, we’d especially like to get your feedback *now. *So we’re urging listeners to use their phones to record and send us voice memos — about what you want from the Scrum moving forward, what you make of #mapoli’s response to the pandemic, and how you and your loved ones are holding up. If you do record, and even if you don’t, email us at scrum@wgbh.org. Or, as always, find us on Twitter: Peter’s @kadzis, Adam is @reillyadam, and our producer Zoe Mathews is @zoesmathews. Thanks for listening, and be careful out there.

What Does Warren Do Now? Mar 09, 2020

Warren 2020 is no more, but the senator from Cambridge is still very much in the public eye, locally and nationally. Will she endorse? If so, who? And after a disappointing primary showing here in Massachusetts, what does she need to do to shore up her own position here at home? Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly kick it around.

Can Warren Come Back On Super Tuesday? Feb 27, 2020

Say this for Elizabeth Warren and her stalwart supporters: despite a rough start that includes disappointing results in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada, they’re keeping the faith — insisting that the race for the Democratic nomination will be a long one, and that the Massachusetts senator is *still *the candidate best situated to unite the party and take on Donald Trump in November, early outcomes be damned. So…does it pass the smell test? And just how high should expectations for Warren be in her own backyard? Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis talk it through with two high-profile Warren surrogates, Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu and Massachusetts State Senator Eric Lesser.

The Massachusetts Case For Sanders Feb 20, 2020

Elizabeth Warren is getting plenty of local love as she seeks the Democratic presidential nomination, with big names like Ayanna Pressley, Maura Healey, and Michelle Wu endorsing and advocating for her campaign. (Also in Warren’s camp: colleagues-turned-rivals Ed Markey and Joe Kennedy III, who probably won’t be canvassing together any time soon.)

But not every Massachusetts progressive thinks Warren is the way to go. In this episode of the Scrum, Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis talk with two of Bernie Sanders’ Massachusetts co-chairs, state reps Nika Elugardo and Mike Connolly, about why they’re backing Sanders and his movement over Warren and hers; the state of the Sanders campaign here in Massachusetts; and how Sanders’ 2020 candidacy compares with 2016.

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What Happened In New Hampshire Feb 15, 2020

Elizabeth Warren finished fourth, and then cast herself as a savior in waiting for a fractured Democratic Party. Deval Patrick accused the media of destroying his campaign. And Bernie Sanders won — unless you think Pete Buttigieg won by making Sanders sweat, and/or you think Amy Klobuchar won by beating everyone’s expectations. Oh yeah, and what if Mike Bloomberg is actually the favorite?

Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly hash it out.

In First 2020 Test, Iowa Flunks Out. Will Progressives Ace #FITN? Feb 06, 2020

For the first test of the 2020 election, the Iowa caucus flunked out of school, after massive reporting delays led to a vacuum in results. The party has yet to declare a winner, and with New Hampshire looming, those in the lead lost any real media and fundraising boost they would have gotten from a clear victory.
In this episode, Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis pick through the failures of the Iowa caucus and reset the equilibrium ahead of New Hampshire, with Boston Globe columnist Joan Vennochi.
Can't get enough of local and national politics? Subscribe to *The Scrum, WGBH News' politics podcast, with Adam Reilly, Peter Kadzis, and an ever-expanding roster of guests.*

Heather Cox Richardson's Impeachment Marathon Jan 29, 2020

Be honest: how closely are you following President Trump’s Senate impeachment trial?

Maybe you’ve tuned out altogether, since the outcome seems like a foregone conclusion. Maybe you’re checking the news sites or social media for the occasional update, or even tuning in to live coverage on cable or NPR on occasion.

Whatever your approach, though, you’re probably not following it anywhere *near* as closely as Heather Cox Richardson. For months, Richardson, a professor of history at Boston College, has been writing a daily digest of all things impeachment, titled Letters From An American — and to her surprise, it’s attracted a something of a cult following.

Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis sat down with Richardson and talked about why she started her project; what it’s been like to be continually immersed in a story many people actively avoid; what she’s learned that she didn’t know before; and what the stakes are for American democracy as the Senate weighs its options.

Rantgate Reconsidered — Plus, The #FITN Ghosts Of Governors Past Jan 23, 2020

That thing Governor Charlie Baker said at the MLK Breakfast, right after Congressswoman Ayanna Pressley spoke…. Oof. Seriously, what was he thinking? Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis kick it around with their WGBH News colleague Phillip Martin, who was in the room when the governor opened his mouth and inserted his foot. Then, Kadzis chats with Reilly and another WGBH News colleague, Saraya Wintersmith, about their takeaways from #FITN campaign-trail quality time with former governors Deval Patrick and Bill Weld.

The Sanders-Warren Peace Pact Crumbles — Plus, Pushback For Marty Walsh's BPS Plan Jan 16, 2020

For months, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders were amiable rivals, vying for left-leaning voters and the Democratic presidential nomination without directly attacking each other. So much for that! After Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly size up the end of the Sanders-Warren detente, Peter chats with Kristin Johnson, a/k/a @krissycabbage, about why she and other Boston education activists are skeptical of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s big new push for public-school equity.

Every #FITN Democrat Wants The Union Leader's Endorsement. So Who'll Get It? Jan 10, 2020

In 2016, then-publisher Joe McQuaid and the New Hampshire Union Leader aggressively called out then-candidate Donald Trump, accusing him of insulting the intelligence of Granite State voters and then opting not to endorse a Republican for the first time in a century. So what will they do for an encore? For starters, in just a few weeks, they’ll try to play kingmaker (or queenmaker) in the Democratic race.

McQuaid — who’s now editor at large, but will decide the paper’s endorsement along with his son, publisher Brendan McQuaid — sat down with Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the Democratic candidates, Trump’s takeover of the GOP, and the issues that matter most to New Hampshire voters. Listen closely, and you’ll hear some tantalizing clues about who might get the Union Leader’s coveted nod before New Hampshire votes.

A Veteran Sizes Up The Afghanistan Papers — Plus, Where Impeachment Goes Next Dec 20, 2019

The Washington Post’s Afghanistan Papers report was a deeply depressing read, establishing beyond a shadow of a doubt that the war was mismanaged from the outset and misrepresented by military and political leaders. So how did that expose read to the men and women who actually served there? Adam Reilly talks it over with Erik Edstrom, an Army vet and Bronze Star winner and author of the upcoming Un-American: A Soldier’s Reckoning Of Our Longest War. Plus, after watching nearly every minute of the House’s impeachment proceedings, Peter Kadzis offers his thoughts on where the process goes next — and what the political fallout will be.

Can Elizabeth Warren Bounce Back? Dec 08, 2019

For the better part of 2019, Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign seemed to be doing everything right. But then, about two months ago, her poll numbers started dropping instead of climbing — and the decline was precipitous.

So what went wrong, exactly? And what will it take for Warren to rebound? This episode of the Scrum starts with insights from the Washington Post’s Annie Linskey, who may know Warren better than any other journalist and says healthcare policy played a key role in Warren’s decline. Next, Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis talk with UMass Boston political scientist Erin O’Brien about whether other factors might be at play (gender, maybe?) and what it would take for Warren to regroup.

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Spilka Speaks! Plus, Kadzis On Impeachment Nov 26, 2019

It was a very Beacon Hill way to end 2019 — a flurry of legislating on various important topics that left observers saying 1) “Good job!” and 2) “What in God’s name took so long?”

In a conversation with WGBH News State House correspondent Mike Deehan, Senate President Karen Spilka talks about the Legislature’s big achievements; how she’d answer critics who question its pace; the state of Governor Charlie Baker’s agenda and the Senate GOP; and Deval Patrick’s presidential campaign (spoiler: she’s not overly enthused). First, though, Peter Kadzis shares some deep thoughts on possible presidential impeachment after watching a whopping 35 hours of testimony last week.

Can't get enough of local and national politics? Subscribe to The Scrum, WGBH News' politics podcast, with Adam Reilly, Peter Kadzis, and an ever-expanding roster of guests.

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Has Charlie Baker Launched His Own Political Party? Plus, Deep Thoughts On Deval 2020 Nov 19, 2019

If you follow Massachusetts politics, you know that moderate Republican activist and commentator Ed Lyons is a Charlie Baker superfan who really, *really *doesn’t like President Trump. In this episode of the Scrum, Lyons talks with Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis about a provocative thesis he floated recently in Commonwealth magazine — namely, that Baker is in the process of creating a de facto third party here in Massachusetts. First, though, Kadzis and Reilly size up Deval Patrick’s presidential launch — which (among other things) kept this episode from coming out last week, as originally scheduled.

About Last Night: What The 2019 Boston Elections Actually Mean Nov 06, 2019

Does Michelle Wu’s ticket-topping win mean she’ll run for mayor? Is a city council comprised mostly of women and people of color a purely symbolic development, or something more? And what’s next for Dudley (a/k/a Nubian) Square? Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly size up these storylines, and a few others, with Sue O’Connell of NECN and Yawu Miller of the Bay State Banner. It’s both the #bospoli fix you want *and* the #bospoli fix you need.

What's At Stake In The Allston-Brighton Boston City Council Race? Oct 24, 2019

There are plenty of interesting subplots when it comes to this year’s Boston City Council elections. Will Michelle Wu top the at-large ticket, paving the way for a mayoral run? Will the council end up majority woman, and/or majority person of color? And what’s going to happen in District 9, a/k/a Allston-Brighton — a neighborhood where the pace of change has been dauntingly fast of late?

In this episode, Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly tackle the latter topic in a conversation with the two candidates vying to represent District 9, which just happens to be where the WGBH mother ship is located: legislative aide Craig Cashman and neighborhood activist Liz Breadon, who finished first and second in an extremely close preliminary race back in September. Take a listen.

"The Urgency Has Just Grown So Much": Michelle Wu Talks Development And Representation Oct 16, 2019

Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu has been everywhere over the past few months — campaigning against fare hikes at the “T,” calling out the Boston Herald for some questionable cover art, and now calling for the abolition of the very powerful, deeply entrenched Boston Planning and Development Agency.

Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly talk about why she thinks the BPDA needs to go, what it would take to actually make it happen, and whether Mayor Marty Walsh’s defense of the agency passes muster. Also discussed: how the role of a Boston City Councilor has changed during Wu’s six years in office, and what the implications of an majority-female Boston City Council would be.

Marty Walsh: "I Still Have A Lot Of Governing Left In Me" Oct 09, 2019

The last time Marty Walsh sat down with the Scrum, he was wrapping up his first year as mayor. Now, as he approaches the six-year mark, Walsh finds himself in an unusual position: after winning a second term in a landside in 2017, he’s mentioned as a possible candidate for governor and US Senate — but he’s been forced to play defense after scandals at City Hall, and some political observers speculate that he’s just not enjoying his job as much as he used to.

In a wide-ranging interview at City Hall, Walsh spoke with Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly about (among other things) his political future, Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu’s push to abolish the Boston Planning and Development Agency, and how his own battle with alcoholism informs the way he thinks about opioid addiction.

Three Quick #Mapoli Hits: Warren Takes Iowa, The ZBA Scandal Spreads, Hands-Free Holdup On The Hill Oct 03, 2019

Instead of their usual deep dive into one subject, Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis take a different tack in this episode of the Scrum — chatting with their WGBH News colleagues Saraya Wintersmith, Isaiah Thompson, and Mike Deehan about, respectively, how Elizabeth Warren’s playing in Iowa, the still-unfolding scandal inside Boston’s Zoning Board of Appeal, and why a long-awaited hands-free cell phone bill is in limbo at the State House.

How The Jasiel Correia Scandal Feels In Fall River Sep 26, 2019

If you don’t live in Fall River, the mess that city’s currently grappling with — namely, a mayor who’s been indicted not once but twice by the Feds, yet is still in office and could, theoretically, be reelected this fall — is simultaneously diverting and comforting. Come for the over-the-top scandal; stay for the reassuring fact that, however bad things may seem in *your* city or town, at least they’re not Fall River bad.

If you’re a Fall River resident, though, or if you’ve got deep ties the community, the picture looks very different. In this episode, Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly head south and talk about the mood on the ground with Bob Kerr, a legendary journalist and longtime Fall River resident, and Lynne Sullivan, who edited the Fall River Herald News when Correia was elected, indicted, beat a recall election, and then was indicted again. Also discussed: what Correia’s second indictment says about the state of the burgeoning marijuana industry in Massachusetts and elsewhere, and why Correia’s superfans are staying loyal as his prospects grow increasingly dim.

What The ZBA Scandal Says About Boston Development Sep 16, 2019

It’s the biggest story in Boston politics — a scandal that’s been brewing in City Hall ever since John Lynch, a former employee at the Boston Planning and Development Agency, admitted that he took a $50,000 bribe from a developer and, in return, convinced a member of Boston's Zoning Board of Appeal to allow a project in South Boston to move forward, thereby netting the developer in question an extra $500,000.

The scandal is still unfolding. Depending on where it goes next, it could spell trouble for Boston Mayor Marty Walsh if and when he seeks a third term. But one thing is already clear: Lynch’s guilty plea, and the surrounding circumstances detailed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, raise troubling questions about the way development has worked in the city for decades.

Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly talk it over with Yawu Miller, the senior editor of the Bay State Banner, who’s reported extensively on how Boston development seems to favor the well connected and leave ordinary residents feeling powerless and frustrated.

In The 2020 Democratic Senate Race, They're Not JK Sep 06, 2019

It’s easy to forget, given the media’s obsession with a hypothetical Ed Markey-Joe Kennedy III Senate primary contest, but the Democratic 2020 Senate race is already a three-person contest. As Kennedy continues his political Hamlet act, labor lawyer Shannon Liss-Riordan and foster-kid-turned-corporate-executive Steve Pemberton have committed to challenging the incumbent — and they say they’re in for the long haul, regardless of what Kennedy ultimately decides. Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly speak with Liss-Riordan and Pemberton about their campaigns and then size up their prospects (spoiler: they’re impressed).

Beyond 'Zombie Reaganism': Conservatives Seek Focus Amidst Trump's Chaos Aug 26, 2019

Since Ronald Reagan's 1980 election, two general rules governed Washington: at home, markets know best; abroad, when in doubt, intervene.

Donald Trump's election scotched all that. Attempting to fashion an ideologically lucid agenda for the right, several hundred conservative intellectuals and activists gathered in Washington for a conference called "National Conservatism". Peter Kadzis was there, and spoke with (among others) writer and editor Daniel McCarthy, a mover and shaker in this ongoing project. After that convo, Adam Reilly gets Kadzis‘s take on what it all means.

Baker: No To A T Ride, Yes To Nantucket. Plus, Walsh's Woes Aug 15, 2019

For a traditionally slow time of year, it’s been a remarkably busy stretch in local politics. Marty Walsh is experiencing one of the roughest stretches in his mayoralty; Elizabeth Warren’s presidential stock is at an all-time high; and Charlie Baker is (once again) touting improvements to the MBTA but refusing to actually ride it. Reilly and Kadzis size it all up, starting with the recent crackdown by Boston police on denizens of what’s known, for better or worse, as Methadone Mile.

The Dems Take Detroit — But Were They Really In The Midwest? Aug 02, 2019

The second round of Democratic debates has come and gone, but did the state of play actually change? Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly kick it around with their colleague Phillip Martin, WGBH News’s senior investigative reporter. Also discussed in this episode: Politico’s take on how African-American journalists feel about media coverage of the presidential race to date, and the very important question (for Phillip and Adam, at least) of who qualifies as “Midwestern.”

Marty Walsh And The Boston Calling Extortion Trial Jul 25, 2019

Two members of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s administration are currently on trial in federal court, accused of illegally forcing the Boston Calling music festival to use union labor back in 2014.

Isaiah Thompson, who’s covering their trial for WGBH News, breaks down the case against Kenneth Brissette, Boston’s head of tourism and entertainment, and Timothy Sullivan, the city’s intergovernmental affairs chief, which he calls rife with ambiguity. Then Thompson, Peter Kadzis, and Adam Reilly size up the political implications of the proceedings.

First, though, Peter offers his take on what Robert Mueller’s congressional testimony tells about culture and politics in the 21st century. Spoiler alert: it’s not uplifting.

The Squad Versus Pelosi Versus Trump Jul 18, 2019

It was a chilling moment: an eager crowd calling for an American citizen and United States congresswoman to be sent back to her native Somalia, as the president of the United States — whose protracted denunciation sparked their chant — silently let it run its course. But what’s become a story about malignant American nativism started out, not too long ago, as a story about a tactical, ideological, and generational split inside the Democratic Party. After a quick back-and-forth with Peter Kadzis, Adam Reilly sizes up the Squad versus Nancy Pelosi versus Donald Trump with Jen Deaderick, the author of She the People, and Tina Opie, a management professor and organizational-behavior specialist at Babson College.

Just In Time For The Fourth, It's The 2019 Muzzles Jul 03, 2019

It is, at this point, a storied July 4 tradition: WGBH news contributor and media critic extraordinaire Dan Kennedy looks back at the past 12 months and details a set of egregious, embarrassing cases in which the First Amendment was brazenly flouted.

In this episode of the Scrum, Kennedy discusses his personal (un)favorites with Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis — who has some interesting things to say about violations that involve #mapoli.

After you’ve listened, be sure to check out the full 2019 New England Muzzle Awards here — and make sure to catch the 2019 Campus Muzzle Awards, too.

INSTASCRUM: Unpacking The Democratic Debates Jun 28, 2019

They were messy, stressful, and boring, depending on the moment—and they’re going to have a major impact on the Democratic landscape as the party seeks its next nominee. Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly size up two nights of debates with Paul Singer, their WGBH News colleague and ex-USA Today politics editor. Don’t miss the debut of Kadzis and Singer’s 2020 Democratic Power Rankings (TM) at the very end.

Two From Kadzis: Baker And Walsh's T Tiff / Warren Gets The Kiddie Table Jun 20, 2019

We’re doing something different in this episode. Instead of bringing his wisdom incrementally, over the course of a Q and A with a guest or two, Peter Kadzis steps into the spotlight — weighing in on the politics of MBTA dysfunction and CNN’s decision to stick Elizabeth Warren in the JV Democratic debate, even though her campaign seems to be surging.

The #Mapoli Push To Expand Abortion Rights Jun 12, 2019

Now that Brett Kavanaugh is on the U.S. Supreme Court, filling a seat that could have been occupied by Merrick Garland, there’s a real chance that Roe v. Wade — the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion — will be overturned. As red states try to force the issue by passing a bevy of restrictive new laws, blue states are moving in the opposite direction, passing legislation aimed at consolidating and expanding abortion rights.

Case in point: Massachusetts, where a bill dubbed the ROE Act gets a State House hearing on Monday, June 17. Still, despite the Commonwealth’s progressive reputation, the bill’s passage hardly a sure thing. Among other things, it’s received a cool reception from Governor Charlie Baker, who says he doesn’t support late-term abortions (which would be easier to obtain if the ROE Act becomes law) and that Massachusetts women are already protected in the event of a Roe v. Wade reversal.

Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis dig into the ROE Act’s details — and its political prospects — with two key supporters: State Senate President Emerita Harriette Chandler, who filed the bill, and Rebecca Hart Holder, the executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts.

Did Barack Obama's Earliest Policy Decisions Give Us Donald Trump? Jun 05, 2019

The election of Donald Trump can seem overdetermined, to use academic parlance: from Russian skulduggery to Hillary Clinton ignoring Wisconsin to racism stoked by the election of first black president, a million different factors explain Trump’s win and Clinton’s loss.

But what if Obama himself deserves a significant measure of blame? That’s the provocative contention of Reed Hundt, a card-carrying member of the Democratic establishment who served on Obama’s transition team. Hundt was, and is, a huge fan of the 44th president — but in his book “A Crisis Wasted: Barack Obama’s Defining Decisions,” he argues that by not responding to the economic meltdown of 2008 with sufficient ambition and alacrity, Obama inadvertently gave us the political reality we’re living in today.

In this episode of “The Scrum,” Peter Kadzis speaks with Hundt about what he thinks Obama got wrong, and why — then sizes up Hundt's thesis with Adam Reilly.

McGovern Responds To Muller: "We Have To Do What's Right" May 29, 2019

Just a few hours after special counsel Robert Mueller broke his silence — pushing back at AG Bill Barr’s characterization of the Mueller Report, and pointedly reminding Congress that it does, in fact, have the authority to impeach President Trump — Congressman Jim McGovern joined Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly.

His takeaway on Mueller’s comments? It’s time to stop worrying about how impeachment might play at the polls, and for the House Judiciary Committee to open a formal inquiry into whether impeachment is warranted. Or, as McGovern put it: “We’re beyond talking about this in terms of political implications. We have to do what’s right.”

Casino Kabuki; Rivera Versus Moulton May 23, 2019

After Peter Kadzis sizes up the recent dalliance between Wynn Resorts and MGM over the controversial Everett casino, Adam Reilly talks with Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera — who recently raised eyebrows by rage-tweeting about the massive Democratic presidential field and calling Congressman Seth Moulton a non-essential candidates. Then, it’s back to Kadzis — who says Rivera’s concerns are legit.

Is The Mass. GOP Charlie Baker's Party — Or Donald Trump's? May 16, 2019

Governor Charlie Baker, the state’s most powerful Republican, has offered Massachusetts as a model for the way politics *should* be, saying our civility and pragmatism set us apart. But under new chair Jim Lyons, the Massachusetts GOP has moved in a very un-Baker-like direction, accusing Democrats of hating America and seeking to perpetrate infanticide. So what’s driving the party’s shift? And is it a smart way to grow Republicans’ paltry presence (Baker notwithstanding) in Massachusetts politics? Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis talk it through with Stephanie Murray of Politico, WGBH News’s own Mike Deehan, and Boston Broadside editor Lonnie Brennan, who’s bullish on Lyons’ approach.

The Politics Of Mayor Pete's Sexuality May 07, 2019

If Pete Buttigieg wins the Democratic presidential nomination, he’ll make history as the first openly gay nominee from either party. Politically speaking, Buttigieg’s orientation offers some advantages: it sets him apart from the other white men in the race; gives him access to a national donor base; and could attract voters eager to participate in a “first,” a la Barack Obama’s election in 2008.

Still, Buttigieg’s sexuality also carries some political risks — and the reaction *inside* the LGBTQ community might not be as uniformly positive as you’d think. Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis talk it through with Sue O’Connell, host of NECN’s The Take and co-publisher of Bay Windows, the LGBTQ Boston paper, and Susan Ryan-Vollmar, the former Bay Windows editor and Boston Phoenix news editor.

Boston Politics: Pitching Wu, Council Upheaval, And A BPS Reckoning Apr 30, 2019

Is Michelle Wu Boston’s mayor in waiting? That’s the contention of the Atlantic, which recently published a glowing profile of the at-large city councilor. But would Wu actually challenge incumbent Marty Walsh — especially since sitting mayors are notoriously tough to beat?

Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis talk it through with Yawu Miller of the Bay State Banner and Joan Vennochi of the Boston Globe (spoiler alert: signs point to yes). Then the foursome tackles two other #bospoli topics of note: the 2019 city-council elections, which could end with that body controlled by women and people of color, and the soon-to-be-completed search for Boston’s new school superintendent, which has elicited some frustration among BPS parents.

Power Of The Purse: Budget Czar Aaron Michlewitz Tells All Apr 17, 2019

The 2018 midterms yielded plenty of political continuity in Massachusetts, but there were also some big changes — including Ayanna Pressley’s win over Mike Capuano and, on Beacon Hill, the exit of House Ways and Means chair Jeffrey Sanchez, who was ousted in the Democratic primary by Nika Elugardo. That development, in turn, yielded a promotion for Representative Aaron Michlewitz of the North End, who’s stepped into Sanchez’s old role as maestro (on the House side, at least) of the Massachusetts budget process. WGBH News State House correspondent Mike Deehan talked with Michlewitz about his new gig, how he put his first-ever House budget together, and whether he’d be interested in another promotion down the road. Peter Kadzis hosts.

DA Rachael Rollins Versus Governor Charlie Baker: Why It Matters Apr 09, 2019

Race, gender, class, crime: a host of hot-button issues are at play in the simmering dispute between Rachael Rollins, the new, reform-minded Suffolk County District Attorney, and Republican Governor Charlie Baker. Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis unpack the subtexts with Yawu Miller, senior editor of the Bay State Banner, and some extra help from activist Monica Cannon-Grant.

With Friends Like These: Biden And The DCCC Force A Democratic Reckoning Apr 03, 2019

Joe Biden has struck a penitent note ever since a New York magazine piece described a very uncomfortable interaction between him and a Nevada politician a few years back. But how far does forced contrition go in the #MeToo era — especially when your reputation precedes you? Adam Reilly talks it over with Wilnelia Rivera, the president of Rivera Consulting and senior advisor to Ayanna Pressley’s groundbreaking 2018 congressional run. Also discussed: the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s eyebrow-raising move to crack down on campaigns just like Pressley’s, which have energized the party but also raised fears among the Democratic old guard. After Reilly and Rivera chat, Peter Kadzis offers his own take on this awkward Democratic moment.

Why Won't Massachusetts Elect More Women? And Is Muellergate The Dems' Benghazi? Mar 26, 2019

Yes, Ayanna Pressley unseated Mike Capuano — and yes, four women currently hold statewide elected office. Still, after nearly a year of reporting and analysis, WGBH News digital editor Laura Colarusso says it’s way too hard for women to break into Massachusetts politics. Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis talk with Laura about the status quo and how it might change — and Peter gives the Democrats some free advice on how *not* to handle the still-unreleased Mueller report.

Mind Melding With Moulton, And A St. Paddy's Breakfast Wrap Mar 19, 2019

The timing is unusual, to say the least: fresh off a failed (and widely panned) push to unseat Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker, Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton now says he’s seriously considering running for president. Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis unpack what Moulton might be thinking with Scott Ferson, who helped Moulton become a congressman back in 2014 and is now advising him as he ponders a White House bid. Plus, Kadzis sizes up how the latest iteration of the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast — which featured a new host, State Senator Nick Collins — stacked up to breakfasts past.

Can Elizabeth Warren Take Down Big Tech? Mar 12, 2019

Another week, another substantive policy proposal from Elizabeth Warren, who says it’s long past time to knock Amazon, Facebook and Google down to size. So could it actually happen? Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis talk with Dan Primack, the business editor at Axios, who says the titans of tech aren’t trembling just yet — but that a trust-busting wave might be in Silicon Valley’s future.

Warren, Moulton, Klobuchar: Buy Or Sell? Feb 15, 2019

In the month and a half between Elizabeth Warren’s unofficial and official presidential launches, did she gain momentum or lose it? Is Seth Moulton serious about seeking the White House? And how does the Democratic equation shift with the entry of Amy Klobuchar, who jumped in the race the same weekend as Warren? The Boston Globe’s Joan Vennochi joins Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly for some mid-winter kibitzing.

Don't Confuse Legislating With Democracy Jan 04, 2019

Last month, a blog post by a retired Beacon Hill lobbyist made waves in local
political circles because it details one of state government's most verboten
subjects: how legislation and the wheels of power really work in the State
House. In a conversation with WGBH's Mike Deehan, Phil Sego details his
experience working with lawmakers and why he tells voters not to "confuse
what goes on in this building with democracy."

What Ails Walsh And Warren? The Globe's Joan Vennochi Breaks It Down Dec 12, 2018

Has Marty Walsh lost his mojo? And what's with the press (e.g., the Boston Globe editorial board) trying to pressure Elizabeth Warren out of the 2020 presidential race?

Both of these questions were recently posed by Globe columnist Joan Vennochi, who's got a well-honed knack for provocation but has been on a particular tear of late when it comes to local politics. She joins Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly to discuss she thinks Walsh is struggling; what the mayor thought of her column (spoiler: he didn't love it); and whether Warren is being held to an unrealistic standard as she inches closer to a presidential bid.

Beacon Hill Blitz Nov 15, 2018

Yes, Governor Charlie Baker won re-election by a big margin. And yes, two members of House Speaker Bob DeLeo’s leadership team lost their jobs after challenges from the left. But what’s that actually going to mean for Massachusetts policymaking and politics over the next couple of years?

While skulking around the margins of a MassINC chess tournament downtown, Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly put that question to Mike Deehan of WGBH News and Katie Lannan of State House News Service, whose answers contain plenty of deep #mapoli insight. Also weighing in: WGBH News contributor and scribe-for-hire Andy Metzger and Gintautas Dumcius of MassLive and the Springfield Republican.

Election Day And Beyond: 8 Perspectives On The Big Vote Nov 02, 2018

Get your thoughts in order. Sue O’Connell of NECN, Stephanie Murray of Politico, Dan Kennedy of Northeastern University, Marcela Garcia of the Boston Globe, and Callie Crossley and David S. Bernstein of WGBH News join Scrum hosts Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis to make sense of the political season that closes on November 6. Since past is prologue, this episode should help you keep your head screwed on properly.

Warren Gets Candid / Tedeschi Makes His Pitch Oct 05, 2018

The core of this week’s Scrum is a convo with Peter Tedeschi, who’s taking on incumbent Democratic Congressman Bill Delahunt in the MA9 race. Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly had two goals: kick the tires on a candidate who’s impressed the GOP establishment and has a decent shot at victory; and figure out how moderate Massachusetts Republicans not named Baker are pitching themselves in the Trump Era. First, though, Peter K. tries to explain Senator Elizabeth Warren’s unexpected pre-election admission that she is, in fact, interested in a presidential run — just like her Republican opponent Geoff Diehl’s been saying all along.

Three Paths For Gonzalez Sep 20, 2018

It’s been a rough few days for Jay Gonzalez. A new Suffolk University poll shows him trailing Governor Charlie Baker by 27 percent in the governor’s race, and his plan to tax the endowments of deep-pocketed colleges and universities hasn’t gone over too well. But all is not necessarily lost! In this episode of the Scrum, the Boston Globe’s Joan Vennochi joins Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly to discuss three things Gonzalez *might* be able to use to his advantage between now and November: the terrifying gas blasts in the Merrimack Valley; Baker’s endorsement of State Rep Geoff Diehl in the US Senate race; and the enthusiastic support of Senator Elizabeth Warren, Diehl’s opponent.

New Kids On The Block: Nika Elugardo and Jon Santiago On Their Wins And What Comes Next Sep 12, 2018

Ayanna Pressley’s win over Mike Capuano was the big national story coming out of Massachusetts’ September 4 primary, but there were some other dramatic developments, too — including Rachael Rollins’ win in the Suffolk DA race and the ouster of two members of House leadership, Ways and Means chair Jeffrey Sanchez and majority whip Byron Rushing. Lawyer and activist Nika Elugardo and physician Jon Santiago, Sanchez and Rushing’s victorious challengers, join Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly to discuss their wins, the change they hope to bring to the House, and who they’ll back in the next election for House Speaker.

Pre-Primary Palaver Aug 30, 2018

With the drama-packed Massachusetts primary just a few days away, Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis size up recent developments and home-stretch storylines to watch with their colleague Mike Deehan, Mass Live’s Gin Dumcius, and Twitter’s own @ScamwellTarley, Topics covered include Mike Capuano going 0 for 2 with the Boston Globe and Herald; whether Charlie Baker should be praised or blamed for not debating Scott Lively; and what’s at stake for Boston Mayor Marty Walsh on September 4.

Who's Got The Edge In The Capuano-Pressley Contest? Aug 09, 2018

Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley and Congressman Mike Capuano clashed recently in a debate sponsored by UMass Boston, the Boston Globe, and WBUR; in a few days, they’ll meet for another tete-a-tete hosted by WGBH News’s Jim Braude. Which parts of the incumbent’s and challenger’s pitches are working, and which are falling flat? And what — if anything—should Capuano and Pressley do differently in the race’s final weeks? Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis talk it over with the Globe’s Joan Vennochi and Yawu Miller of the Bay State Banner — and delve into some state-level primary fights that also pit progressive incumbents against progressive challengers.

Republican Beth Lindstrom On Donald Trump And The Race Against Elizabeth Warren Jul 26, 2018

33 minutes of pure politics. Former Mass. state official and political operative Beth Lindstrom is one of three Republicans seeking the GOP’s blessing to challenge Democratic incumbent Elizabeth Warren for a seat in the U.S. Senate. State Senator Geoff Diehl and businessman John Kingston are her competitors. This episode of the Scrum opens with a consideration of Republican front-runner Diehl (00:00 – 05:12); moves on to an extended interview with Lindstrom, including a discussion of President Donald Trump and the Helsinki summit with Russian President Putin (05:13-28:32); and closes with speculation on how a race against Warren might play out (28:33-32:34).

The Muzzle Awards, Or, The Year In Free-Speech Failures Jul 03, 2018

Peter Kadzis flies solo in this episode, talking with WGBH News contributors Dan Kennedy and Harvey Silverglate about their annual compendium of threats to or diminishments of free speech. Some big names in this year’s edition: Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, Boston Police Commissioner Bill Evans, former President Barack Obama, and President Donald Trump — plus UMass Boston, Tufts, and Northeastern.

SJC Dynamites #mapoli, Plus Dorchester's House from Hell Jun 19, 2018

Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis examine the two biggest political stories of the moment: the demise of the “Millionaires’ Tax” ballot question, and Governor Charlie Baker’s break with the Trump Administration over forced parent-child separations at the US-Mexico Border. Then Jennifer Smith of the Dorchester Reporter and Molly Boigon of WGBH News explain how — in the midst of a punishingly hot real estate market -- an uninhabitable, decrepit wreck of a house on a classic Savin Hill street has been able to resist the efforts of Boston City Hall to turn it into something, well, middle class. It’s a bizarre case study in zombie real estate.

In Worcester, Mass. Dems Rebuke Bill Galvin and Wax Ambivalent on Charlie Baker Jun 03, 2018

There were two big developments at the 2018 Massachusetts Democratic Party
convention: challenger Josh Zakim getting an endorsement in the secretary
of state's race over six-term incumbent Bill Galvin, and Jay Gonzalez winning
the endorsement for governor in resounding fashion over Bob Massie. But the
convention also highlighted the awkward fact that, with the general election
just five months away, Democrats aren't sure whether to attack Republican
Governor Charlie Baker or ignore him. WGBH News's Adam
Reilly, Peter Kadzis, and Mike Deehan size up what happened in Worcester
with Zakim, Mass Dems chair Gus Bickford, and Quentin Palfrey, who won the
convention's endorsement for lieutenant governor — and get some instant analysis and insight from
Gintautas Dumcius of Mass Live and the Springfield Republican and Lauren
Dezenski of Politico.

Housing: Boston City Hall Versus the Market May 17, 2018

Boston’s overheated real-estate market is already changing the its fundamental character, and there’s grave concern that, in the future, lower- and middle-class people simply won’t be able to call the city home. Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis speak with Boston City Councilors Lydia Edwards and Michelle Wu, who say there’s still time to craft policies to keep that from happening — and describe in detail what they think needs to be done. (Listen for a cameo from Cass, Councilor Wu’s charming younger son.)

GOP Rumbles In Worcester Apr 29, 2018

Scott Lively's 27 percent showing at the Massachusetts
Republican state convention demonstrates that the hard right is a force to be
reckoned with. That it took two ballots for Trump-supporting U.S. Senate candidate
Geoff Diehl to clinch the GOP endorsement shows that the Trumpians are not
muscle bound, well, at least not ripped. An exhausted but ebullient Diehl
joined the Scrum minutes after the convention was gaveled to its close. Other
guests include: Michael Jonas of Commonwealth Magazine, Republican delegates Ed
Lyons and Amy Carnevale. And from the WGBH political team: Antonio Caban, Mike
Deehan, Adam Reilly, and Peter Kadzis.

The Scrum Takes the State House Apr 12, 2018

It’s been a tempting narrative every since Stan Roseberg’s hold on his former post began to slip away: compared to the tightly controlled, almost mechanical Massachusetts House, the Mass. Senate is a body in disarray. But does the storyline hold up? Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly kick it around with Mike Deehan, WGBH News’s State House correspondent, and State House News Service reporter Katie Lannan.

Dan Kennedy on the Future of Newspapers Mar 28, 2018

Dan Kennedy’s new book, “The Return of the Moguls: How Jeff Bezos and John Henry Are Remaking Newspapers for the Twenty-First Century,” is more than just a look at how two highly regarded newspapers are adapting to the way we live now. It’s also a clear-eyed, often bracing inquiry into whether modern business realities and habits of mind can coexist with the high-quality journalism that’s driven American civic life for decades. Kennedy, who’s a WGBH News contributor, discusses his conclusions with WGBH News reporter Adam Reilly and senior editor Peter Kadzis, both of whom he previously worked with at the late, lamented Boston Phoenix.

Patrick 2020: Time to Take It Seriously Mar 15, 2018

Move over, Elizabeth Warren—there’s another #mapoli luminary stirring speculation of a 2020 presidential run. Former Governor Deval Patrick’s recent comments to an NPR affiliate in Kansas City, Missouri have stoked talk that he might be eyeing the White House, and there’s other circumstantial evidence that suggests it’s not just idle chatter. But how likely is it that Warren and Patrick would both get in the race?

In this episode of the Scrum, WGBH senior editor Ken Cooper offers some inside intel which indicates Patrick may have been contemplating a run for a while; Peter Kadzis argues that signs point to Patrick being very serious about a bid; and Adam Reilly waxes nostalgic about Patrick’s ability to make everyone he talks to feel like they’re being listened to with the utmost attentiveness. Taking a different tack: former Patrick campaign manager / current Setti Warren senior advisor John Walsh, who urges Cooper, Kadzis, and Reilly not to treat Patrick for President as a done deal...yet.

How Setti Warren Would Run Massachusetts Feb 28, 2018

The Scrum rounds out its conversations with the Democratic candidates for governor with Setti Warren, the former mayor of Newton. Yawu Miller, senior editor at the Bay State Banner, joins WGBH News’s Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly for the conversation.

Jay Gonzalez Wants To Be Mass. Governor Jan 31, 2018

This is first of three Scrum conversations with candidates for Mass. Governor.

Jay Gonzalez is one of the three hopefuls vying for the Democratic
nomination for governor of Massachusetts. The winner will face off against
incumbent Republican Charlie Baker this November.

Gonzalez sat down recently with WGBH News Scrum podcast hosts Adam

Reilly and Peter Kadzis. Shira Schoenberg, who covers the State House for The
Springfield Republican and masslive.com, joined the conversation.

Single
payer health care, the millionaires tax, and the proper role of state
government were among the topics discussed.

Thus Spake Charlie Baker (Or, What Do The 3 Democratic Amigos Do Now?) Jan 25, 2018

Republican Governor Charlie
Baker's 2018 State of the Commonwealth speech doubled as the unofficial start
of his re-election bid, and highlighted some of the major hurdles his
would-be challengers face (e.g., Democratic goodwill and Baker's artfully
crafted post-partisan persona). Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis were on scene
to offer instant analysis, and also got some keen insights from their WGBH
colleague Mike Deehan, Mass Live reporter Gin Dumcius, Politico's Lauren
Dezenski, and State Senator Karen Spilka--who didn't respond quite as
enthusiastically to Baker's speech as many of her Democratic colleagues.

Linda Dorcena Forry Talks TPS and Trump Nov 30, 2017

Right before Thanksgiving, the Trump Administration said it would end Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for about 60,000 Haitians who’ve lived and worked legally in the US since Haiti was hit by a devastating 2010 earthquake. The expectation now is that they’ll return to Haiti by July 2019 — and face deportation if they don’t. The Scrum sat down with State Senator Linda Dorcena Forry, who’s a Haitian American and that community’s local standard-bearer, to discuss how she learned about the Trump Administration’s decision; what she hopes will happen next; and whether she thinks Boston Mayor Marty Walsh might have to make good on his dramatic vow to shelter possible deportees inside Boston City Hall.

Making Sense of Boston's Predictable, Surprising 2017 Elections Nov 20, 2017

We know Boston Mayor Marty Walsh
was just re-elected by a big margin. Look closer at the results of Boston's
municipal election, though, and some provocative themes and questions start to
emerge. The Scrum dove into the results at the Banshee Pub in Dorchester with a
panel of media experts **— **Meghan Irons of the Boston Globe, Yawu Miller
of the Bay State Banner, and Jennifer Smith of the Dorchester Reporter **— **and
then took some sharp questions from the audience.

Tito Jackson's Closing Argument Nov 01, 2017

In less than one week, Boston voters will either give Mayor Marty Walsh a second term or hand the reins of the city government to his challenger, City Councilor Tito Jackson. The Scrum invited Walsh and Jackson to answer a few lingering questions and then make their final pitch to the electorate. Walsh wasn't able to participate, but Jackson was. Take a listen as he makes his case.

5 Burning Questions For Tito Jackson And Marty Walsh Oct 18, 2017

We've reached the stretch drive in Boston's mayoral race, with one Marty Walsh-Tito Jackson debate already on the books and one more slated for October 24. Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis talk to Boston political scribe extraordinaire David Bernstein about the questions he thinks Jackson and Walsh still need to answer before voters head to the polls on November 7.

Postgame On The Mayoral Pregame Oct 04, 2017

Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis hash out the result of Boston's mayoral primary with Joan Vennochi of the Boston Globe and Yawu Miller of the Bay State Banner.

And The Nominee For Mass. US Attorney Is.... Sep 23, 2017

In this post-summer hiatus Scrum, Adam Reilly talks to Boston Globe legal affairs reporter Maria Kramer and WGBH reporter Phillip Martin about the recent nominee for Mass. US Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, what the scope of the US Attorney's powers are, and what a Trump nominated US Attorney may do.

The 2017 Muzzle Awards Jul 05, 2017

Attorney Harvey Silverglate and Dan Kennedy, an associate professor of journalism at Northeastern University, joined Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis to talk about this year’s annual Muzzle Awards.

Should Mass Democrats Be Focusing On Party Purity? Jun 22, 2017

WGBH's Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis talk to Senator Jamie Eldridge and political scientist Peter Ubertaccio about the intra-party challenges of Massachusetts' Democratic party.

Boston's Lesser Known Mayoral Candidates Jun 08, 2017

WGBH'S Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis talk to mayoral candidates Robert Cappucci and Joseph Wiley.

The Scrum Gets Caught Up In Southie May 18, 2017

WGBH’s Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis were joined by Maureen Dahilland Heather Foley from Caught Up, the podcast from Caught in Southie, to talk about the political highs and lows of South Boston.

A Massachusetts Political Report Card May 11, 2017

WGBH’s Peter Kadzis was joined by MassLive’s Gin Dumcius, Politico’s Lauren Dezenski, and WGBH’s Mike Deehan to grade the performances of Massachusetts’ political leaders.

Shadowgate: The Fate Of The Winthrop Square Tower May 01, 2017

Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis talked to WGBH Reporter Isaiah Thompson about the Winthrop Square Tower and the shadow it could cast over Boston Common and the Boston Planning and Development Authority.

A Podcast Crossover Of Epic Proportions: The Lincoln Review Joins The Scrum Apr 13, 2017

For this special crossover episode of The Scrum, Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis were joined by the two hosts of The Lincoln Review Podcast, Republican interpreters Jeff Semon and Ed Lyons.

Tito Jackson Speaks: What he regrets and what he doesn't Apr 06, 2017

Unseating an incumbent Boston mayor is never easy: it hasn’t happened since 1949, when John Hynes beat James Michael Curley. But that doesn’t fully capture the magnitude of the challenge facing City Councilor Tito Jackson. Jackson’s opponent, Mayor Marty Walsh, has been generating favorable media coverage all year as he pushes back hard against the Trump Administration. What’s more, Jackson is trying to recover from a rough week that included a Boston Globe story about his years as a pharmaceutical rep who marketed opioids — and an incident with a WGBH News reporter that led Jackson to issue an apology. Jackson sat down with Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis to discuss those developments, the state of his campaign, race in the city, and the challenge of running for mayor in the age of Trump.

Brianna Wu Wants To Tax Your Robots (And Do Some Other Things Too) Apr 03, 2017

Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis sat down with Brianna Wu recently to talk about her Congressional campaign against entrenched incumbent Rep. Steven Lynch and why she deserves your vote.

Cleaning The Plate On The St. Patrick's Day Breakfast Mar 20, 2017

Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis dive deep into the 2017 St. Patrick's Day Breakfast and what it tells us about the state of Mass. Politics with Gintautus Dumcius of Mass Live and the Springfield Republic and Lauren Dezenski, author of Politico's Massachusetts Playbook.

Can Anyone Beat Charlie Baker After Mass. Was Ranked Best State In The Nation? Mar 09, 2017

A recent report from US News & World Report ranked Massachusetts as the best state in the country. Gov. Charlie Baker made the media rounds after the report was released, including an interview on CBS This Morning, touting the greatness of the state. With everything in the Massachusetts apparently going so well, how is any candidate challenging the Governor going to have a chance in the upcoming gubernatorial race? To help answer this question, WGBH's Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly were joined by the former chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party John Walsh.

One Week Down, Four Years To Go: Mass. Politics In Trump's America Feb 01, 2017

The country feels like it is already in disarray after only one week of Trump's Presidency. Trump's onslaught of executive orders, specifically his Immigration ban, have caused a swell of activist and civil rights advocates to protest against the President and the legality of the ban. WGBH's Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis were joined by Politico's Lauren Dezenski and MassLive's Gintautas Dumcius to discuss how Trump's immigration ban will impact the people of the commonwealth and its politics.

Trump And The Press: Reality Bites Trump, Trump Bites Back Jan 24, 2017

How, exactly, should the press engage the Trump Administration? Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly kicked the question around with media critic Dan Kennedy, WGBH News contributor and author of the blog Media Nation. Take a listen.

The State Of The State Of The City Jan 19, 2017

WGBH's Adam Reilly, Mike Deehan, and Peter Kadzis discuss Mayor Walsh's State of the City address.

Andrew Bacevich: Deconstructing Trump's Military 'Bromance' Dec 21, 2016

Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis spoke with American foreign policy and military expert Andrew Bacevich about the strikingly militaristic nature of President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.

Breaking Down Baker's Budget Cuts Dec 15, 2016

Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis were joined by Shira Schoenberg, who covers the State house for the Springfield Republican and Mass Live.com, and Charlie Chieppo, a former denizen of the State House under ex-Governor Mitt Romney and now the head of Chieppo Strategies LLC, to discuss Charlie Baker's $98 million dollar budget cuts.

Illuminating The Boston Police Department's Push To Monitor Social Media Dec 08, 2016

Adam Reilly talks to Kade Crockford, director of the technology for liberty program at the ACLU, about the Boston Police Department’s push to monitor social media

Will Setti Warren Run For Governor? Speculations On The 2018 Gubernatorial Race Dec 01, 2016

Adam Reilly was joined by Andy Metzger from the State House News Service, Mike Deehan from WGBH, and Lauren Dezenski from Politico speculated on possible Democratic candidates for governor in 2018 and if Newton Mayor Setti Warren will run.

What now? A Live Conversation On Life After The Election Nov 17, 2016

Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis joined a panel of guests including former national poet laureate Robert Pinsky and the editor of The Editorial Heidi Legg for a conversation at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge about what happens now after Trump's election.

Will Brass Knuckles Ever Return To Beacon Hill? Nov 01, 2016

How long can the era of good feelings last on Beacon Hill? As the 2018 statewide races for governor and other constitutional offices approach, signs are beginning to appear that the we're-all-in-this-together jamboree atmosphere may be ending. To assess the situation, the Scrum polled three State House working scribes: Gintautas Dumcius of MassLive, Lauren Dezenski of Politico, and Mike Deehan of WGBH News.

The Battle For Suffolk County Register of Deeds Oct 21, 2016

Adam Reilly and Mike Deehan are joined by all four candidates running for Suffolk County Register of Deeds: Democrat Steve Murphy and independents Joe Donnelly, John Keith, and Margherita Ciampa-Coyne

A Debate On Ballot 4 At The Boston Public Library Oct 16, 2016

Adam and Peter are joined by Rasaahn Hall, who directs the racial justice program at the ACLU of Massachusetts and State Senator Jason lewis, who co-chairs the Legislature’s public health committee and chairs the Senate’s special committee on marijuana, for a conversation on ballot 4, which would legalize marijuana.

A Debate On Charter Schools Live From The BPL Oct 08, 2016

Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis were joined by Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson and The Massachusetts State Director of Families for Excellent Schools Keri Rodriguez Lorenzo for a debate on ballot question two which would lift the cap on charter schools in Massachusetts

The Great Debate: a conflicted conservative agonizes over Trump Sep 29, 2016

Adam and Peter are joined by Ira Stoll--the author of "JFK, Conservative" and a contributor to the New York Sun and Las Vegas Review-Journal to talk about Trump and his performance at Monday's debate.

Occupy Mass Dems Sep 22, 2016

Adam and Peter talk to Occupy Alums State Rep. elect for Sommerville and Cambridge Mike Connolly and Cambridge City Councilor Nadeem Mazen about the influence of Occupy's ideals on local politics.

Is The Media Driving Donald Trump's Surge? Sep 17, 2016

Adam and Peter are joined by Dan Kennedy to discuss his article, "Five Reasons Why The Media Is Piling On Clinton And Giving Trump A Pass," and if the media is to blame for Trump's meteoric rise.

Searching For A Democratic Candidate For Governor Sep 08, 2016

Democratic strategist John Walsh and UMass Boston political science chair Erin O'Brien join Adam and Peter to talk about if a strong Democratic candidate could push Charlie Baker out of office.

Trump's Crisis With Syria Aug 24, 2016

Adam Reilly interviews Nadia Alawa from NuDay Syria about Syrian refugees, Trump's plans for extreme vetting, and how she thinks the President should intervene. Then Adam is joined by Peter Kadzis and David Bernstein for a Scrum roundtable.

Mini Scrum: Sean Wilentz On Bostonians In The Oval Office Aug 07, 2016

Sean Wilentz, a professor of American history at Princeton, talks to Peter Kadzis about the legacy of three Boston politicians who made it to the Oval Office: John Quincy Adams, Calvin Coolidge, and John F. Kennedy.

The status of the GLX live in Somerville Jul 17, 2016

Adam Reilly hosted a live Scrum on the state of the MBTA and the green line extension at the Brass Union in Somerville

A Deeper Look At Boston Latin And Mayor Walsh Jun 30, 2016

Adam Reilly, Peter Kadzis, and The Boston Globe's Joan Vennochi discuss the growing problems at the Boston Latin School and how Mayor Walsh has been handling the situation.

How The Nominees Responded To Orlando Jun 15, 2016

In this episode, Adam Reilly, Peter Kadzis, and David Bernstein break down how Trump and Clinton responded to the shooting in Orlando.

The Party Never Stops: Sean Wilentz on 'The Politicians & The Egalitarians' Jun 02, 2016

Princeton historian Sean Wilentz and writer of "The Politicians & The Egalitarians: The Hidden History of American Politics," discusses the inevitability and history of party politics.

Union Leaders Breakdown The Verizon Strike May 20, 2016

The Vice President of IBEW local 2222 Kevin Holland and CWA Local 1400 executive board member and Vice President for Southeastern Mass. Greg Irving joined Adam to talk about the Verizon strike.

Marty Walsh and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week and a Half May 04, 2016

It's been a pretty rough stretch for Marty Walsh. In recent days, the Boston mayor has seen his name linked to a federal labor probe in the pages of the Boston Globe; watched the Grand Prix of Boston, an event he staunchly supported, go up in smoke; and--last but definitely not least--battled the incredible painful scourge of kidney stones. What does Walsh's bad week and a half tell us about his mayoralty? And might it be enough to get some intrepid would-be challenger to challenge Walsh in the next mayoral election? Scrum regulars Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis kicked those (and other!) questions around with Meghan Irons, who covers Boston City Hall for the Globe, and Lauren Dezenski, who writes Politico's Massachusetts Playbook. Take a listen--and when you're done, leave a comment letting us know whether you think Walsh's bad stretch matters or not.

The Highly Debatable Issue Of Legalized Marijuana Apr 21, 2016

It's one of the defining political debates of 2016 here in Massachusetts—but so far, we haven't seen or heard supporters and opponents of legalizing recreational marijuana sitting down face-to-face to hash things out. (Get it???) Enter the Scrum!

Speed Dating The #MAPoli Way Apr 07, 2016

There's a big Massachusetts Senate election coming up in less than a week, #mapoli fans. The Scrum asked all seven candidates to come in for a sort of political speed-dating session.

City Councilor Tito Jackson: BPS, BRA, And The Mayoralty Mar 28, 2016

Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson joined reporter Adam Reilly and WGBHNews.org Senior Editor Peter Kadzis to discuss proposed cuts to the school budget, the extension of the BRA’s redevelopment powers, and whether or not he’d ever consider challenging Mayor Marty Walsh for his seat.

Dispatches From The St. Patrick's Day Breakfast Mar 21, 2016

Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly of WGBH News took in this year's breakfast at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center--then sized up the proceedings as they were winding down, along with Lauren Dezenski of Politico Massachusetts and Gintautaus Dumcius of MassLive.com and the Springfield Republican.

Donald Trump: The Next Berlusconi? Mar 09, 2016

Donald Trump is a larger-than-life personality and, barring any major development, looks poised to win the Republican nomination. Our two guests this week look abroad at two international figures—Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Haitian President Michel Martelly—and ask: what can happen when big personalities take the reins?

The Brothers Bernstein Look Ahead to South Carolina and Nevada Feb 19, 2016

The Brothers Bernstein—Scrum co-founder David and his brother, Bloomberg View pundit and political scientist Jonathan—joined WGBH News regulars Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis to consider the state of the 2016 Election.

The New Hampshire Chainsaw Massacre: Trump, Republicans, and the Presidential Primary Feb 06, 2016

McKay Coppins, senior political writer at Buzzfeed News, weighs in on the Republican race for the presidential nomination (and explains what it's like to get in a flame war with Donald Trump.)

A Vermin Supreme Feb 01, 2016

He wears a boot on his head, once dumped glitter on an opponent during a debate, and wants to fund time travel research so he can go back and kill Baby Hitler. His name is Vermin Supreme, and he wants your vote in 2016.

Young Voters and the Presidential Election, GE, and Ben Downing Jan 27, 2016

Our crack roundtable (or scrumtable, if you will) tackles some of the biggest headlines in #mapoli and beyond.

INSTASCRUM: Sizing up this year's #MartyParty Jan 19, 2016

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh gave his second State of the City address Tuesday night at Symphony Hall. Afterward, the Scrum caught up with a bevy of political observers to get their take on what the mayor had to say--and what he decided to omit or gloss over.

All Aboard The Wu Train Jan 18, 2016

Reporter Adam Reilly and WGBHNews.org Senior Editor Peter Kadzis sat down with Michelle Wu, the first Asian-American Boston City Council President.

Charlie Baker's Mean Green Energy Machine Jan 01, 2016

It's not easy being green—just as Governor Charlie Baker. This week, The Scrum takes a look at his renewable energy plans.

The #MAPoli Holiday Wish List Dec 23, 2015

Our usual order of business around here at The Scrum is to ask #mapoli a lot of questions. But this week, we kept is simple: what's on your holiday wish list this year?

College, Inc.: The Scrum Goes Back To School Dec 15, 2015

The move by the Tufts Medical School faculty—full-time, tenured doctors and researchers, not part-time adjuncts—to unionize and affiliate with the S.E.I.U. could open a new chapter in the history of organized labor. And it's happening in our own backyard.

Another Day, Another Mass Shooting In America? Dec 04, 2015

Here we are again: wrestling with the aftermath of a mass shooting in the United States. Adam Reilly, Peter Kadzis, and David Bernstein look at how policymakers struggle to respond, time and time again.

Beyond Paris Nov 20, 2015

The Scrum sits down with Juliette Kayyem, host of the Security Mom podcast, and veteran foreign correspondent Charlie Sennott, head of The GroundTruth Project, to go beyond the headlines of the Paris attacks. Plus, Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly analyze Governor Charlie Baker's stance on Syrian refugees.

Grand Prix of Boston CEO Mark Perrone On Boston's "Olympic Hangover" Nov 12, 2015

Reporter Adam Reilly sits down with Mark Perrone, the CEO of Grand Prix of Boston, about bringing a largescale sporting event to Boston in the wake of Boston 2024’s failed Olympic bid.

Stan Rosenberg Goes West Nov 03, 2015

The world of Massachusetts politics can be a little Boston-centric. Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis sat down with Senate President Stan Rosenberb—who represents a few of the state's western districts—to talk about what folks around here get wrong about the Wild West.

On The Road Again Oct 28, 2015

The Scrum goes on a road trip to visit Joe McQuaid, the legendary editor of the New Hampshire Union Leader—a newspaper that has a particularly strong influence over the presidential primary season.

What's Next For Evan Falchuk? Oct 16, 2015

To many, Evan Falchuk was the posterchild of the anti-Olympics movement in Massachusetts. Now that the bid is dead, what's next for Falchuk and his political party, the United Independent Party?

Seth Moulton: Idealist Turned Cynic? Oct 08, 2015

Has the gun control debate in Washington turned Congressman Seth Moulton from idealist to cynic? David Bernstein, Peter Kadzis, and Adam Reilly of WGBH News caught up and took stock of the Bay State's movers and shakers in D.C.

Is Marty Walsh Already Boston's Mayor For Life? Oct 01, 2015

With high approval ratings, a formidable war chest, and a close working relationship with the state's Republican governor, is Mayor Marty Walsh already on track to be Boston's "mayor for life?" Adam met up with Gintautas Dumcius of Mass Live and Shirley Leung of the Boston Globe on the windswept steps of City Hall Plaza.

An Upset In District 4 Sep 10, 2015

Boston's preliminary city council elections were pretty quiet...except in District 4. Callie Crossley, host of Under the Radar, and Valerie Linson, executive producer of Basic Black and Open Studio, explain political newcomer Andrea Joy Campbell's surprise defeat of incumbent Charles Yancey.

The Summer of Disruption Aug 28, 2015

Trump’s still in full swing, Clinton’s under fire, and Biden might jump in. Let Peter Kadzis be your guide through the presidential race’s summer of disruption. Featuring pollster David Paleologos of Suffolk University, Joan Vennochi of The Boston Globe, and Politico’s Ben Schreckinger.

The Scrum Goes For A Ride Aug 11, 2015

Reporter Adam Reilly sat down with Pete Stidman, the outgoing leader of the Boston Cyclists Union, to talk about the politics of getting around on two wheels in the city.

Scrumming The GOP Debate Aug 07, 2015

Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly sit down over doughnuts to debrief last night's GOP debate. Which candidate should get to graduate from the children's table? Which one revealed himself to have the intellectual heft of an empty pair of underpants?

#NachoScrum: The Olympics Postmortem Aug 04, 2015

Boston's bid for Olympic glory is officially dead (R.I.P.) So WGBH State House News reporter Mike Deehan gathered a mountain of nachos and a crack panel at the Banshee Pub in Dorchester to ask: where did it all go wrong? Kelley Gossett of No Boston Olympics, Shirley Leung of the Boston Globe, and Lauren Dezenski of the Dorchester Reporter break it down, with The Scrum's own Adam Reilly moderating.

The Scrum Goes Into Labor Jul 16, 2015

The Scrum sits down with Massachusetts AFL-CIO president Steve Tolman to talk about the Pacheco Law and the MBTA, the Olympics, and how to meet the love of your life on the commuter rail.

Welcome To The Olympics-Free Zone Jul 02, 2015

This week, The Scrum has Olympics fatigue. So host Peter Kadzis turns his eye to the national scene, and asks David Bernstein and WGBH contributor Mara Dolan: how on Earth are Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump doing so well in the polls in New Hampshire right now?

Scrum, Interrupted Jun 18, 2015

The Scrum gets booted from the Boston Public Library when Adam Reilly, Peter Kadzis, and The Boston Globe's Joan Vennochi try to discuss the dysfunction plaguing the institution in the Central Branch's courtyard.

#Mapoli Plays Nice, For Once Jun 03, 2015

The Scrum marvels at the remarkable civility in the State House over the proposed MBTA fiscal control board, and chats with Congressman Seth Moulton about his first few months on the job.

PEOPLE v. TSARNAEV: The Exit Interview May 21, 2015

How does a kid from Cambridge who went to good schools and had friends and teachers who loved him go on to commit the Boston Marathon bombings? Now that the trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is over, reporter Adam Reilly sat down once again with WBZ's Jim Armstrong and Boston.com's Hilary Sargent to talk about their reflections on the case and the questions that remain unanswered.

(Still) Ready for Warren? Apr 22, 2015

Right now, the parameters of the 2016 presidential race seem pretty clear. Hillary Clinton will run the safest possible campaign en route to the Democratic nomination. Meanwhile, every Republican hopeful will argue that only he--or she--has what it takes to stop her. But not everyone sees 2016 in such stark, Hillary-centric terms. Erica Sagrans and her compatriots at Ready for Warren still think there's a chance they'll convince Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren to challenge Clinton--and that, whether she runs or not, Warren's ideas and beliefs are already shaping the race as a whole.

Covering The Tsarnaev Trial Apr 10, 2015

Three questions this week: How does a reporter's personal life shape his or her coverage? What's the best way to engage Tsarnaev conspiracy theorists? Was this trial necessary for bombing survivors-- and Boston as a whole? WBZ-TV reporter Jim Armstrong and Boston.com senior columnist Hilary Sargent joined The Scrum's Adam Reilly at the Lincoln Pub this week.

The Dulcet Tones Of Ted Cruz Apr 01, 2015

Are the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries too rural, too white, too unrepresentative? The Scrum's Peter Kadzis checked in with two reporters with boots on the ground in the primary states- Des Moines Register politics reporter Jennifer Jacobs and the Boston Globe's James Pindell.

Bostonians In Exile Mar 25, 2015

This week we finally took our tag- "from Beacon Hill to the Beltway"- literally. David S. Bernstein gathered up a few of our favorite "Bostonians in exile"-- Boston Globe Washington correspondent Matt Viser; and USA Today reporter Donovan Slack-- and talked Elizabeth Warren, Ted Cruz's campaign roll out got right; and which "bozos" are messing up John Kerry's legacy. Plus, what it's like to be a Bostonian in Washington, and Matt and Donovan's time in a "small concrete box inside a large concrete box", aka Boston City Hall.

"Sing And Shut Up" Mar 23, 2015

"Sing And Shut Up"

The Boston Nolympics Mar 11, 2015

How do you fight a fight that seems... unwinnable? The Scrum headed to City Hall this week to talk with two fighting the Boston 2024 power: Chris Dempsey and Kelley Gossett of No Boston Olympics.

Charlie Baker's Brain: A User's Guide Mar 04, 2015

You could argue that Charlie Baker is Governor of Massachusetts today is because many people thought he would be a better manager for the state than Martha Coakley. Management skills have long been Baker's calling card and it's one of his percieved strengths, but what specifically does it mean to manage the way Charlie Baker does? Now that he's got a few months under his belt, The Scrum sat down with Gov. Baker at his new digs in the State House to find out.

The Politics of Snowstorms Feb 04, 2015

This week, The Scrum podcast took a closer look at Governor Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh's governing during one of the biggest snow weeks in Massachusetts history. Plus, how long will "Dear Leader" (aka House Speaker Robert DeLeo) stay on as Speaker? And are DeLeo and Baker simpatico when it comes to end goals?

Mrs. & Mr. 'New Boston' Jan 14, 2015

Media, politics & the ties that bind Bill and Linda Dorcena Forry. Each week on The Scrum we talk about media and politics, and this week we're talking with a Boston couple who have their feet in both worlds.

Dasvidaniya, Deval Jan 07, 2015

On the day Deval Patrick takes the "lone walk" out of the State House, The Scrum podcast gives Patrick his final report card and reflects on new Governor Charlie Baker's taste in music.

This Is The Remix Dec 23, 2014

We turned The Scrum over to the musically-inclined reporter/producer/composer Edgar B Herwick III this week for a Scrum remix we call 'Scrum-Pa-Pum-Pum'. Happy holidays!

Every Party Has A Pooper Dec 17, 2014

Will the Mass. Democrats who backed Republican Charlie Baker in the recent governor's race pay a price? Also in this episode: Charlie Baker's resolutions for 2015; David Bernstein surfaces; Democratic analyst Mara Dolan joins us.

A Mayor In Full Dec 10, 2014

As he wraps up his first year in office, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh sat down with The Scrum to size up his first year in office. From race, to recovery, to the possibility of a Boston Olympics, to pressure from the press.

A Winning Strategist On Losing Dec 03, 2014

For a while it seemed like Democratic political strategist Doug Rubin had the political Midas touch. The Scrum spoke with the Mass. Democrats' go-to guy about reversals of political fortune.

Know Thy Gatekeepers Nov 19, 2014

Boston Globe reporters Jim O'Sullivan and Frank Phillips on how gatekeepers decide who and what to keep behind the gates, how they manage spin from the campaigns, and what the media hit and missed during the hotly contested 2014 campaigns.

Prince And Politics With Mo Nov 12, 2014

Former Mass. Senator Mo Cowan dishes on Mitch McConnell's M.O., what Charlie Baker learned from Deval Patrick, and why he's not ruling out a return to public life.

Good Luck, Charlie Nov 05, 2014

People said the 2014 Massachusetts governor's race was boring, but man, what a finish! The Scrum takes a closer look at what the heck happened. WBZ reporter Jon Keller, and Mike Deehan of Massterlist drop in. Recorded live at the Banshee in Dorchester.

Who Approved This Message? Oct 29, 2014

If you turn on the TV between now and November 4th, be prepared to see lots of political ads. This week, The Scrum podcast bring you the good, the bad, and the unfair in the world of Massachusetts and Boston campaign ads.

"I Get No Respect" Oct 22, 2014

Why do some candidates for higher office get a certain amount of respect and attention and some don't? The Scrum took a closer look at the struggle that some candidates face trying to get media coverage and the public to see them as contenders. Featuring interviews with gubernatorial candidates Evan Falchuk and Jeff McCormick.

Jane Swift on Romney, the Tea Party & the 3 H's Oct 15, 2014

The Scrum spoke with former Massachusetts Governor Jane Swift about a possible Romney run for president in 2016, why ladies seem to love (or at least like) Charlie Baker; whether the national GOP has drifted too far to the right; inoculating against the three H's (hair, hemlines and husbands); and the legacy of the late Governor Paul Cellucci.

How To Become Governor, From Someone Who Didn't Oct 08, 2014

Former Mass. gubernatorial candidate Shannon O'Brien dishes to the Scrum about just how taxing running for governor is; what Baker has that Romney lacked; and what Coakley has to do (and shouldn't do) to become the first female governor of Massachusetts.

Scrum For A New America Oct 01, 2014

Boston Mayor Tom Meninio's casts himself as quite the prophet for American politics in his new book, Mayor for a New America.

From Faneuil Hall, Sweetheart Sep 24, 2014

The Scrum team heads to historic Faneuil Hall for a gubernatorial forum featuring all the candidate and finds itself impressed by the performance of Evan Falchuck, who's running as an independent. Also discussed: Will "Sweetheartgate" complicate Charlie Baker's courtship of women voters?

Ms. PAC-man: Stephanie Schriock from EMILY's List Sep 17, 2014

A closer look at the strategy to get more pro-choice Democratic women in office with Emily's List executive director Stephanie Schriock and we meet Scrum Primary Challenge top-prognosticator Heather Foley.

Inside the Mass. Democrats' 'Unity Breakfast' Sep 10, 2014

The Scrum goes to the Democrats' post-primary "unity breakfast". Our first impromptu political guest Juliette Kayyem stops by and drops some "goddamn" knowledge.

The Crystal Ball Sep 03, 2014

The Scrum gazed into the crystal ball this week with blogger Rob Eno, publisher of Red Mass Group.

Barney Frank Joins The Scrum Podcast Aug 27, 2014

Frank sized up Boston's political and racial evolution since the 1970s, offered his predictions for what'll happen in D.C. if the Republicans retake the U.S. Senate, and defended Obama's foreign policy.

Foley, Ferguson, And The Media Aug 20, 2014

Is banning the video of James Foley's execution on Twitter a mistake? Has President Obama's response to unrest in Ferguson been effective?

Attorney General Candidate Warren Tolman Aug 13, 2014

The Scrum raps with Democratic attorney general Warren Tolman about his bid to become the state's top law-enforcement officer.

Field Trip: Market Basket Aug 06, 2014

Why aren't more politicians aren't embracing Market Basket employees' push to reinstate Arthur T. Demoulas as CEO? Boston Mayor Marty Walsh's dismissal of corruption in the Probation Department draws a rebuke from two Boston City Councilors. Also, does anyone really care who the Kennedys want to see get the Democratic nomination for president in 2016? The Scrum kicks it all around from the parking lot of the Somerville Market Basket.

Mudslinging And Mass. Politics Jul 30, 2014

Why did Boston Mayor Marty Walsh go on a live radio show and defend former probation department chief John O’Brien? Plus Ted Landsmark and the BRA, and let the gubernatorial mudslinging begin: Steve Grossman's growing super PAC presence.

Mass. Attorney General Candidate Maura Healey Jul 23, 2014

Healey discussed a host of topics, from how she'd target State House corruption if elected to whether current AG Martha Coakley is being aggressive enough in negotiations with Partners Healthcare. Also, casinos, gun control, and Market Basket.

Party Line: Mass GOP's Kirsten Hughes Jul 16, 2014

Massachusetts GOP chair Kirsten Hughes on why she thinks the Probation dept. trial will help Republicans--and why the furor over the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision won't hurt GOP frontrunner Charlie Baker.

A Patronage Denial & A Casino Deal Jul 09, 2014

The O'Brien probation trial finally gets interesting, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh cuts a casino deal, and the Supreme Rally for Women's Equality. In this episode: David Bernstein, Peter Kadzis, Adam Reilly, Joanna Weiss.

The Muzzle Awards Jul 02, 2014

The 4th of July, freedom of speech, and personal liberties. The Scrum talks over the 2014 Muzzle Awards with media critic Dan Kennedy.

Casino Ballot Question Insta-Scrum Jun 24, 2014

The state's highest court ruled that Massachusetts voters will be able to vote on whether the state's casino gambling law should be repealed. What does the ruling mean for Massachusetts politics?

The Mass. 'Demvention' Jun 17, 2014

Martha Coakley's Scott Brown apology tour continues--and while Coakley and her rivals Steve Grossman and Don Berwick all identify with the term "progressive," its meaning is nebulous at best.

Introducing The Scrum Podcast Jun 11, 2014

Adam Reilly, Peter Kadzis and David Bernstein look at Martha Coakley's AG problem, Cantor's big win in Virginia, and why the media is so obsessed with Hillary Clinton.

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