The Scrum

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

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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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

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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

Show notes

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

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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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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.

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