The Horse Race

This week on The Horse Race, a routine audit uncovers an accounting error that could cost the state billions. And we’ll take a closer look at the …

This week on The Horse Race, the push to bring back happy hour gets another shot on Beacon Hill and plans for the machine gun range on Cape Cod draw fire from residents and the …

This week on The Horse Race, we've got two new MPG polls to discuss and two new MPG polling experts to introduce to our listening audience! Research …

This week on The Horse Race, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael Rollins calls it quits amid federal investigations into her conduct. We’re …

This week on The Horse Race, we’ve got chaos in the council chambers and a new 56 billion dollar spending plan at the State House. All that, plus …

This week on The Horse Race, we’re looking at elections. They weren’t races so much, but they were elections as strictly defined. We'll also sift through a new survey of Boston Public …

This week on The Horse Race, it’s buses and trains the whole way through! We’ve got transit on the brain and political shenanigans in New Hampshire …

This week on The Horse Race, it’s money money money season on Beacon Hill. We’ll look at the House’s new tax cut proposal and their fiscal year 2024 budget with State House News Service …

This week on The Horse Race, the federal court case challenging the legality of Boston’s new voting map is underway, we’ll look at what both sides want with reporter Sean Phillip Cotter. …

This week on The Horse Race, Elizabeth Warren makes it official; she’s running for a third term. Lisa Kashinsky and Steve Koczela look at what that means for the state’s restless bench of …

This week on The Horse Race, what happened to #mapoli Twitter? Also, we dive into the state of polling, nationwide and here in Massachusetts. Then, …

This week on The Horse Race, what's the local impact of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in California and Signature Bank in New York? Then, …

This week on The Horse Race, three major announcements from the state auditor’s office all within the past few days. The Supreme Judicial Court …

This week on The Horse Race, it’s special election season. We’ll tell you who’s running, and who’s thinking about it. Governor Healey released her tax relief package this week, Lisa …

This week on The Horse Race, people are leaving Massachusetts in droves since the start of the pandemic. Why are they leaving? Where are they going? Also, Lisa Kashinsky gives us an …

This week on The Horse Race, the chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party steps down, who’ll step up to take his place? Then, GBH's Saraya Wintersmith and The Boston Herald's Sean …

This week on The Horse Race, Marty Walsh is shipping back to Boston to run the NHLPA. A new poll of Massachusetts voters from MassINC Polling Group …

This week on The Horse Race, sports betting is now live in Massachusetts! Then, Lisa Kashinsky joins us to talk about the change in leadership at the top of the MassGOP. Finally, we’ll …

This week on The Horse Race, municipal elections are coming and that means an interesting choice on mail-in ballots. Also, we have a new poll from …

01/19/23-- This week on The Horse Race, we’ve got trains and transitions. We’re diving into a dysfunctional MBTA car factory in Springfield with …

This week on The Horse Race, we have a new state-wide poll about the challenges facing parents and students as they try to recover academically after …

12/22/22-- This week on The Horse Race we're recapping the year in Massachusetts politics, policy and elections. Steve and Jenn run through the highs …

12/15/22-- This week on The Horse Race, our hearts are warmed by the opening of the Green Line extension! Folks came out early to take a ride on the …

12/8/22-- This week on The Horse Race we're talking crypto and BPS parents. The team does a rapid fire news update in the intro, following up on the …

12/1/22-- This week on The Horse Race the royals are in town! Lisa delivers a special report after seeing the Prince and Princess of Wales at an event Wednesday. Then Jenn and Steve dive …

11/24/22-- Happy Thanksgiving to our loyal fans and listeners! To express our gratitude, The Horse Race team is offering a behind the scenes look at our production. Please enjoy these …

11/17/2022-- This week on The Horse Race, we start off the show with a rundown of the latest Thanksgiving trends before diving into your weekly dose …

11/10/2022-- This week on The Horse Race, we have election results! After debriefing Lisa's late night pizza endeavors, the team walks through …

11/3/22-- This week on The Horse Race, Lisa and Jenn are easing out of spooky season and into more T drama. Steve Poftak, current general manager of the MBTA, will be stepping down on …

10/27/2022-- This week The Horse Race goes spooky right in time for Halloween. The thick fog we've experienced in Boston this week has helped to set the tone. The team dives into a few down …

10/20/22-- This week on The Horse Race the team finishes up the ballot question round-up! Before that, Steve and Jenn run through a new MassINC …

10/13/2022-- Today on The Horse Race, the team starts out with a quick Covid-19 update. Have you gotten your booster yet? Then Lisa runs through the latest with the migrant story we've been …

10/6/22-- This week Jenn and Lisa kick off the show with an update on last week's Martha's Vineyard story. Then we dive into ballot questions 1 and 3 as election day approaches.

Question …

9/29/2022-- The Horse Race is back after a two-week break! Steve, Lisa and Jenn have lots to catch up on. The seasons have changed, the Orange Line is back, but where are the debates? The …

9/8/2022--- On this week's episode the team breaks down the results of the primaries in Massachusetts and who will be going head to head on the …

9/1/22-- This week on The Horse Race there is just too much news! A report released this week by the Federal Transit Administration highlighted the failures of the MBTA when it comes to …

8/25/22--- This week on The Horse Race Jenn and Steve are thrilled that it's cooled down. We then dive into Orange Line updates with Rowan Walrath of …

8/18/2022 -- On this week's episode, the team breaks down a new MassINC Polling Group poll. The poll looks at upcoming policy questions like the Fair …

8/11/2022 -- On this episode of The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn start the show off with updates of the ongoing MBTA woes. Then Lisa tunes in from the beach to give us a rundown of the latest …

8/4/2022 -- This week on The Horse Race Steve and Lisa start the show off with a rundown of the recent democratic primary debates. Then we dive into the Wednesday announcement from the …

7/28/2022-- This week, a surprise amendment to the State Senate’s version of the economic development bill would give cities and towns the option of …

7/21/2022-- This week is a scorcher! Jenn and Steve start the show off chatting about this extreme heat. There's talk of water restrictions in the Commonwealth within the next few weeks. …

7/14/22-- This week we divert from our regularly scheduled programming for the first ever musical episode of The Horse Race!

Jenn and Steve walk us …

6/30/2022--This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve unpacking the whirlwind of a news week that just was. Before diving into national news, a statewide race changed drastically this week …

6/23/2022--This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Lisa share their opinions on a *critical* Massachusetts food service matchup -- Dunkin' Donuts and Market Basket. If the two were on the …

6/16/2022--This week, Jenn and Lisa unpack a major development on the ballot question front -- the Supreme Judicial Court this week threw out a …

6/9/22- This week, Jenn fills us in on this weekend’s Dot Day and Dorchfest festivities while eating leftover cake. Steve counters an argument made in a recent episode of The New York …

6/2/2022--This week, Jenn is gearing up for an exciting weekend Dorchester Day activities, and wants to see you all there. Meanwhile Lisa is keeping an eye on all the intraparty drama …

5/25/22-- This week on The Horse Race, Steve, Jennifer, and Lisa begin on the somber note brought about by yet another shooting tragedy, this time in Uvalde Texas, where 19 children and 2 …

5/19/2022-- This week, Jenn and Lisa begin discuss what’s happening in the race for State Auditor – current Auditor Suzanne Bump endorsed candidate Chris Dempsey as her successor, calling …

5/5/2022-- Today on The Horse Race, Steve and Lisa begin the episode by running through the newest fundraising numbers of the candidates running for statewide office. Plus, Lisa breaks down …

4/28/22--This week, Steve and Lisa discuss the state of COVID rates in Massachusetts, and what we might be missing when we talk about numbers of positive cases.

New data from The MassINC …

4/21/22-- Today, The Horse Race is breaking down two state-focused polls out this week. The first is a poll conducted by the UMass Lowell Center for …

4/14/2022-- The Masachusetts House of Representatives released their FY 2023 budget proposal this week, and friends of the pod as well as State House News Service reporters Katie Lannan and …

4/7/2022--This week on The Horse Race, we bring you another of the Internet's Finest: a list from anytimeestimate.com ranking Boston as the fourth-best "pizza city" in the U.S. In case you …

3/24/2022--This week on The Horse Race, a new development in the Republican primary race for governor. Candidate Geoff Diehl announced his running …

3/17/2022-- Happy St. Patrick's Day from all of us at The Horse Race! Steve and Jennifer discuss the return of the in-person St. Patrick's Day breakfast, happening this Sunday. It's an …

3/10/11-- This week, while certain industries are seeing patrons come back in droves amid the bottoming out of COVID cases -- arts and culture …

3/3/2022--This week on The Horse Race, Jennifer, Steve, and Lisa discuss the growing field of candidates in two major statewide races: attorney general and lieutenant governor. Republican …

2/24/2022--This week, the hosts are off for February school vacation. Please enjoy the 2022 edition of Horse Race outtakes, and we'll be back to our …

2/17/2022--Today on The Horse Race, we look ahead to next week’s reopening of the State House. After more than 700 days of closure due to COVID, doors open on Tuesday, and legislators will …

2/10/2022-- This week on The Horse Race, Lisa and Jenn discuss this week’s announcement out of the Governor’s office that the mask mandate for …

2/3/2022--- This week on the horse race, Jenn, Steve, and Lisa discuss their brushes with the 24- hour record-breaking blizzard that hit the northeast this past weekend.

Shifting to the many …

1/27/2022--This week brings a handful of new campaign announcements. Among them, Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin who confirmed he is …

1/20/2022--This week on The Horse Race, two big campaign announcements hit the news. First, it's the one we've been waiting on for months. Attorney General Maura Healey is running for …

1/13/22--Today on The Horse Race, Jenn and Lisa discuss the biggest headlines of the week so far -- the continued issues around in-person schooling …

1/6/2022-- After ringing in the first Horse Race episode 2022, Steve, Jenn, and Lisa discuss poll results just out from The MassINC Polling Group. …

12/23/21--On the last episode of 2021, Steve and Lisa discuss their holiday plans that have largely been rearranged thanks to the brutal arrival of …

12/16/21--Newsrooms across the country are pushing to unionize. And those in Massachusetts are no exception. Today on The Horse Race, Jenn sits down with three guests who can speak to …

12/9/21--Today on The Horse Race, a roundup on what's happening on Beacon Hill. Reporters Katie Lannan of State House News Service and Shira Schoenberg of CommonWealth stop by to break down …

12/1/21 --After two terms, Governor Charlie Baker has announced he will not be running for re-election in 2022. The statement led to a frenzy of …

11/18/21--This week, a solo Jenn speaks with MassINC Polling Group Research Director Maeve Duggan about the latest survey on Massachusetts parents of …

11/11/21-- This week, Steve and Lisa are back in the virtual bunker to celebrate a birthday, rejoice in vaccinations for children, and discuss the …

11/4/21-- This week on The Horse Race, Steve, Jenn, and Lisa review the elections that took place all over the state. They break down all the highlights of the mayoral election, plus …

10/28/21--Happy Halloween from The (Headless) Horse Race! This week, Jenn, Steve, and Lisa discuss the final Boston mayoral debate before the election, the makeup of the House of …

10/21/21--This week, a poll from Public Policy Polling finds Governor Baker's approval ratings have dipped quite a bit among likely 2022 Republican …

10/13/21--This week, Steve shares findings from the latest poll on the Boston mayoral race. He spells out just how strong Michelle Wu's lead is so …

10/7/21--The MBTA is prone to some bad press, but things have been especially bleak in the past couple of weeks. Candidates in the gubernatorial and Boston mayoral races alike have pointed …

9/30/21--This week on the podcast, Jenn and Lisa are joined by two longtime friends of the pod, Katie Lannan and Chris Lisinski of State House News Service. They explain all the headline …

9/23/21--Eleven cities across Massachusetts held preliminary mayoral elections this week. On The Horse Race this week, we're joined by three guests, each of whom have in-depth knowledge on …

9/16/21--The Horse Race rides again! We are back in the saddle after being put out to pasture for a summer, producing Mass Reboot (listen right here in this feed if you haven't yet!). In …

8/19/21--On the finale episode of Mass Reboot, we examine the early days of the pandemic when elected officials' jobs quickly got even more complicated and important. State Senator Adam …

8/12/21--When the pandemic hit, just about every aspect of our lives changed. And that includes our relationships-- with family, friends, and partners. Whether you were single, dating, …

8/5/21-- School administrators, teachers, parents, and students were all thrown for a loop when COVID shut down school buildings and demanded …

7/28/21--Each episode of Mass Reboot thus far has touched on one thing over and over again-- a particular, consuming aspect of our lives: work. …

This week on Mass Reboot, the pandemic’s impacts fell heavily on restaurants. What did industry professionals do to survive the pandemic, and how are they bouncing back as eager diners …

7/8/21--Welcome to the third episode of Mass Reboot, a summer podcast series about restarting Massachusetts after COVID-19 and what we lost along the way. Each week, we’ll dive into a …

6/30/21--Welcome to the second episode of Mass Reboot, a summer podcast series about restarting Massachusetts after COVID-19 and what we lost along the way. Each week, we’ll dive into a …

6/23/21--Welcome to the first episode of Mass Reboot, a summer podcast series about restarting Massachusetts after COVID-19 and what we lost along the way. Each week, we’ll dive into a …

What happens when you reboot a whole state? Yesterday, after one year, three months, and five days, the COVID-19 state of emergency ended in …

5/12/21--Listeners, The Horse Race is taking a step back for a few weeks as we prepare to bring you a brand-new series this summer! So be sure to stay on the lookout for that, and in the …

5/5/21-- It's a bittersweet day here in the virtual bunker because it is Stephanie Murray's last appearance as co-host of The Horse Race! She is …

4/28/21--This week on The Horse Race, we bring you some bittersweet news. Our very own, extremely talented, reporter and co-host extraordinaire, Stephanie Murray, will be joining us for …

4/21/21--This week, there's good news surrounding the vaccine in Massachusetts. Saturday marked a happy milestone in that the state surpassed 2 …

4/14/21-- This week, there is a lot of #bospoli news to discuss, and it begins with the Boston Police Department. Acting Mayor Kim Janey on Tuesday …

4/7/21-- This week, Steve, Jennifer, and Stephanie discuss the #bospoli news that Acting Mayor of Boston Kim Janey is in fact running for full-term …

3/31/21--After weeks of COVID cases on the decline in Massachusetts, data show that they are on the uptick. Not just here in the Bay State, but in states across the nation. This week CDC …

3/24/21-- It's a momentous day in Boston as the city swore in its first non-white non-male mayor in Kim Janey. Stephanie Murray says it's "hard to overstate" just how historic the moment …

3/10/21--This week, Jenn and Stephanie discuss the Baker administration's announcement of a new vaccine preregistration system. The centralized tool …

3/3/21--Stephanie and Jenn regroup in the virtual pod bunker, starting the episode with a quick recap of a special election. Jeff Turco pulled off a …

2/24/21-- A year ago this week marks one of the last weeks before a state of emergency was declared in Massachusetts and self-isolation began. In …

2/17/21-- The vaccine rollout continues here in Massachusetts, and while this week bring some good news -- the state now ranks 10th in the country in …

2/10/20-- This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Stephanie bring you something a little different than the usual programming.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh sat through a Senate confirmation …

2/3/21-- Steve, Jennifer, and Stephanie are back in the virtual bunker, each with a different opinion on this week's snowfall.

Vaccine rollout rolls …

1/27/21-- It's a new week back in The Horse Race virtual bunker, but Jenn's laser focus on Boston matters has not wavered one bit. Be sure to tune in a couple weeks from now for a special …

1/21/2021-- This week, we bring you an all-transit episode of The Horse Race.

This is also the first episode under the new Biden administration, and we plan to publish an episode exploring …

1/13/21--The U.S. House Representatives moves to impeach President Donald Trump today. This comes after last week’s insurrection on the Capitol by …

1/7/21-- Steve, Jenn, and Stephanie are back in The Horse Race bunker, this time to rehash the unsettling events that took place Wednesday in D.C. when pro-Trump insurrectionists stormed …

12/30/20-- Farewell, 2020! Can't say we'll miss you, but as you can tell from this week's episode, there were some fun moments after all. Please enjoy this end-of-year blooper reel, and …

12/23/20-- Happy Holidays, Horse Racers! We are guilty of claiming last week was our last episode of 2020, but as soon as we hit 'publish,' there was …

12/16/20-- This week, we are both celebrating a new development that is the first COVID-19 vaccinations making their way to U.S. citizens, as well as passing a grim milestone that is …

12/9/20-- In keeping with baseless election fraud lawsuits happening around the country, Massachusetts political hopefuls have decided to join in …

12/3/20-- Steve and Jenn are back in the bunker after an atypical (but very 2020) Thanksgiving celebration. After a quick excoriation of the cast of characters on The Bachelorette, the …

11/25/20-- Happy Thanksgiving Horse Race listeners! Get ready to talk turkey (and Jell-O?), but first, some #mapoli news.

Former Secretary of State …

11/19/20-- With just a couple months until President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, several #MApoli members are being eyed as potential cabinet …

11/11/20--The hosts are off this week so please enjoy a BONUS episode of The Horse Race. It is an exploration of the rise in young adults battling …

11/4/20-- What was meant to be a post-election podcast this week is in fact not. As we release this on Wednesday evening, there are still ballots left to count and states that are too early …

10/28/20-- In the run-up to the 2020 election, the drama of U.S. congressional races pretty much ended with the primaries. But, there's still news to be made this week, and Gov. Charlie …

10/22/20--With the 2020 election just days away, Jenn, Steve, and Stephanie have a lot to discuss. And that starts with a much needed recap of this week's cringe-inducing episode of The …

10/14/20-- While Stephanie Murray could not make it on The Horse Race this week, she did not fail to bring us the content that really matters. By …

10/8/20--Only a week has passed since Steve, Jenn, and Stephanie gathered in the virtual pod studio, but so much has changed.

Of course, President Trump's positive COVID-19 test rocked the …

10/1/20-- After the most chaotic and uncomfortable presidential debate the country has ever seen, Jennifer, Steve, and Stephanie gather in the virtual bunker to share their thoughts and …

9/24/20-- This month has proven to be a sad one for the courts both here in Massachusetts and nationally, with the passing of Justice Ralph Gants, and more recently, Supreme Court Justice …

9/17/20-- This week brought news that Ralph Gants, the Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court died suddenly at the age of 65. Gants was an advocate for racial justice, …

9/9/20--The primary election is over in Massachusetts, and that usually means most of the drama has come to a close, as the most competitive races are done. But on Monday, an announcement …

9/3/20-- Tuesday was primary election day in Massachusetts, and history was made as more than 1.5 million ballots were cast, making this the busiest state primary election in 30 years, in …

8/27/20--It's the final episode before the Sept. 1 primary election here in Massachusetts, and Steve, Stephanie, Jenn, and a special guest have a lot to talk about.

They begin with the …

8/20/20--It's the final day of the all-virtual Democratic National Convention. Joe Biden is officially the Democratic nominee for President, and guests this week join us to discuss the …

8/13/20-- After much anticipation, Democratic candidate for president Joe Biden has officially announced his 2020 running mate: California Senator Kamala Harris. This is a historic …

8/6/20-- It’s another week back in the virtual bunker for Jennifer, Stephanie, and Steve, and unfortunately this week Massachusetts reported an uptick in positive COVID-19 cases. On …

7/30/20--As election season bears down upon us all, applications for mail-in ballots should now have officially arrived at the residences of all …

7/23/20--While co-host Stephanie Murray is off for a much-deserved vacation this week, Steve Koczela and Jennifer Smith have plenty to talk about …

7/16/20-- This week in #mapoli coverage begins with a national news item with a Massachusetts connection. The Trump administration on Tuesday …

7/8/20-- This week brings more news out of the Supreme Court where two decisions were made in favor of religious interests. Our in-house legal analyst Jennifer Smith breaks them both down.

…

7/2/20--It’s almost the 4th of July, though if we’re going by the amount of fireworks set off, it’s been 4th of July for several weeks now.

There’s …

6/24/20--A state report was released today on the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home that was the site of a deadly coronavirus outbreak. 76 people, more than a …

6/19/20--As we near the official start of summer, Massachusetts continues with Phase 2 of its reopening plan, with malls and hotels open for business, as well as restaurants for outdoor …

6/10/20-- New data from The MassINC Polling Group show that many Massachusetts renters and homeowners are struggling to make housing payments due to …

6/3/20--This week we're bringing you a slightly different version of The Horse Race, a one-on-one conversation between our host and former Dorchester Reporter news editor Jennifer Smith, …

5/28/20--As Massachusetts businesses begin to reopen, how are residents thinking about their transportation options? New data from The MassINC …

5/21/20-- The coronavirus is leaving nothing untouched these days, and that includes our beloved horse racing. We mean that literally, as it was …

5/7/20--On today's episode we're joined by special guest Irene Li, co-founder and owner of Mei Mei in Boston. She talks about the response to the coronavirus pandemic in the restaurant …

4/29/20-- When Governor Charlie Baker announced the statewide stay-at-home advisory and non-essential business closure, the expiration date was set for May 4 - this Friday. But on Tuesday, …

4/22/2020-- In case you missed our Facebook Live Happy Hour show, you can watch the full thing here!

This week brought forward a handful of notable …

3/25/20--It's another week of podcasting from our respective bunkers, and another week of coronavirus developments coming at us at breakneck speed. The impacts of the outbreak are even …

3/18/20-- The spread of coronavirus has continued to ramp up across the state and the nation at large, and lots of people are switching to remote work. That includes us over at Horse Race …

3/11/20-- This week on The Horse Race, we're celebrating International Women's Day with an all-female cast. We begin with the scary news of the ever-growing novel coronavirus that has now …

3/5/20-- Super Tuesday has come and gone, and The Horse Race team is breaking down how it all unfolded. This week on our very special live edition, …

2/26/20-- Super Tuesday is now less than a week away, and once those results are in (which we will be breaking down at our live podcast the following …

2/19/20--We're coming at you today sandwiched between two debate nights. The first was yesterday's face-off between U.S. Senate candidates Congressman Joe Kennedy III and incumbent Ed …

2/12/20-- The day we've been talking about for months has come and gone: The New Hampshire Primary. It presented few surprises if you've been paying attention for the past couple of weeks. …

2/3/20-- Earth Day is not for another two months, but there's a lot of talk circling climate change in Massachusetts these days. Steve and Jenn break it down today with special guests, but …

1/29/20--Believe it or not, we are less than a week away from the Iowa caucuses, and the podcast bunker is filled with anticipation. Especially because after Iowa comes New Hampshire, and …

1/23/20--On Tuesday night, Governor Charlie Baker delivered his annual State of the Commmonwealth address, promising aggressive action to address climate change, a partnership with …

1/15/20--Tuesday's Democratic debate left Steve and Stephanie with little to discuss save a symbolic handshake snub that points to a breakdown of the …

1/8/2020-- After a long winter's nap, The Horse Race is back up and running, starting the new year with a bang. The first guest of 2020 is former Massachusetts governor and Democratic …

12/18/19-- The holidays are upon us here at The Horse Race (The Reindeer Race?), and we're wrapping up our last episode of the year, sticking on a …

12/11/19--It's a big day for polls here at The Horse Race, and we begin the discussion with one that surveyed New Hampshire voters on the Democratic …

12/4/2019--The first snowfall has officially landed in Boston, which means cozy sweaters, romantic tree lightings, and of course, more MBTA dysfunction.

In other news, the People's Pledge …

11/27/19--Happy Thanksgiving, #mapoli! In today's holiday bonus episode, Stephanie Murray calls in from Manchester, New Hampshire with a quick recap …

11/20/19-- If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times. Traffic in Boston is bad. As we've mentioned on the show before, it's so bad, it makes commuters consider quitting …

11/13/19-- Massachusetts elected officials -- both current and former -- just can't seem to resist the pull of the Presidency. Former Massachusetts …

11/6/19-- Communities scattered throughout Massachusetts held elections on Tuesday. One of those communities was Boston, whose newly elected City Council makes history as its most diverse …

10/30/19-- Happy Halloween, #mapoli, and welcome to the Headless Horse Race. Steve and Stephanie are donning their witch hats and digging into the …

10/23/19-- On today's episode of The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve tackle news on the local, state, and national stage. Beginning with local, Jenn provides updates on the Boston City Council …

10/16/19--Steve and Stephanie have returned to the bunker after last week's live show at WeWork in Back Bay. Our guests, Attorney General Maura Healey and Rep. Joe Kennedy III had a lot to …

10/11/2019 -- We're doing it live! Thanks to our lovely hosts, WeWork on 31 St. James Ave. in Back Bay, Steve, Jenn, and Stephanie got to run through the state (and national) headlines in …

10/2/19-- With so much happening on the state and national level, Stephanie and Jenn tackle a little bit of everything on this week's show. An impeachment inquiry into President Trump has …

9/25/19--Welcome, one and all, to the 100th Episode Jubilee! This week features old friends of the pod as well as a brand-new visitor to the bunker.

…

9/18/19-- Fresh off the Massachusetts Democratic Convention, Steve and Stephanie have much to discuss. Stephanie covered the convention in …

9/11/19-- A new week brings new polls to discuss. Last week, Steve and Stephanie spoke to the Chief Growth Officer at Change Research, which had …

9/4/19-- It's post-Labor Day in The Horse Race bunker, which means post-Labor Day Breakfast, which means the hosts have much to discuss. Namely, Stephanie pointed out, the breakfast …

8/28/19-- New polls out this week rank Democratic presidential hopefuls, but one in particular stood out. Monmouth University published a poll …

8/21/19--A new co-hosting combo hits the bunker this week -- it's Steve and Stephanie breaking down the latest in Massachusetts. First up is a rundown of the very busy Massachusetts …

8/14/19--A new co-host joins us in the bunker this week. That's right, folks, Steve's on vacation and the Politico Massachusetts Playbook composer …

8/7/19--Gather round, folks, for a very special announcement. As co-host and Empress of Equine Exuberance Jennifer Smith trains her sights on a law …

7/31/19-- Today on the podcast, Jenn and Steve unpack a mysterious phone survey facing off Rep. Joe Kennedy III and Sen. Ed Markey. It's unclear who sponsored it, but it does raise …

7/24/19--It's Mueller Day! Does that phrase sound familiar? Probably because it's been thrown around once or twice in The Horse Race bunker already. Steve and Jenn pontificate on today's …

7/17/2019--On this episode of The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve grapple with the unavoidable subject of the president’s racist comments aimed at freshmen members of congress Ilhan Omar, …

7/10/19--This week's episode of The Horse Race takes a Seinfeldian twist in celebration of the sitcom's 30th birthday. Jenn presents two babkas --one …

7/3/2019-- In celebration of the Fourth of July, Steve and Jenn are celebrating their freedom far, far away from the bunker. They'll be back next …

6/26/2019-- Steve and Jenn are back in The Last Remaining Signal Bungalow in Boston, and first on the discussion topic list: debates. This week, 2 groups of Democratic presidential …

6/19/2019--Another week, another conversation about the Red Line. Jenn has given up any and all expectations of trains showing up on time (or at all). She and Steve discuss the various …

6/14/2019--It's your lucky day, #MAPoli. Steve and Jenn are bringing you an extra episode this week.

Jenn is surprisingly alive to tell the tale of …

6/12/2019--Steve and Jenn are back in the studio, fresh from a weekend at the race track...literally. Sunday, June 9 was full of big hats, exciting …

6/5/2019--Come one, come all to our live show at Suffolk Downs! Eat, drink, gamble and be merry amongst fellow #MAPoli-interested folks. Register …

5/29/2019-- While drama abounds in our nation's capital, Steve and Jenn are squarely focused on state-level issues.

But first, they discuss exit …

5/22/2019--Fresh off a weekend nerding out on polling at the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) Conference, Steve is joined by …

On this special bonus episode of The Horse Race, we explore the history of Suffolk Downs, what its final racing season means for its dedicated …

5/15/19--Steve and Jenn are back with a vengeance to discuss...you guessed it: transportation. US News Rankings published Massachusetts as the 44th worst state in the union in the category …

5/8/2019--Derby Day has come and gone, but Steve and Jenn are back in the saddle. They're joined first by The Horse Race's one and only sports correspondent Maeve Duggan to discuss Red Sox …

In this special Kentucky Derby edition of The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn have lots of things to discuss. Chief among them, the event of the century: The Horse Race Goes to the Races. Join …

4/24/2019-- Steve and Jenn are talking all things transportation on this week's edition of The Horse Race, but before they do, they've got to plug the upcoming live show at an ACTUAL horse …

4/17/2019-- Listeners, it's happening. The Horse Race is, in fact, going to the races. Mark your calendars for June 9 and join us for a live …

4/10/2019--Movie madness abounds this week on The Horse Race as Steve and Jenn collect responses from their Twitter question: "What's one essential …

4/3/2019--This week on the racetrack, Steve and Jenn begin with a familiar topic: the electoral college. Should it stay or should it go? The hosts …

3/27/2019--If you're at all interested in Massachusetts politics, chances are you've seen the hashtag 'mapoli' crop up on Twitter once or twice. Jenn …

3/20/2019--With polls to discuss, candidates to watch, and bills to break down, Steve and Jenn are joined on this episode by research director at The …

3/13/2019-- Steve and Jenn are back on the racetrack. Right out of the gate, they're talking Fall River's shocking election, during which a majority of voters chose to recall Mayor Jasiel …

3/6/2019-- Steve and Jenn are back in the saddle and boy, do they have a lot to discuss. First, who was that guy with local ties who mentioned running against Trump as a Republican? Oh, …

2/27/2019--Jenn and Steve are back in the bunker, and one of them has a spooky secret to share. Plus, they're eager to tear open their first-ever …

2/20/2019-- Steve and Jenn are in the bunker, together again, and back with a special announcement: they want to hear from you, dear listeners. So …

2/13/2019-- As Steve continues sailing the seven seas, Jenn is joined by State House News Service reporter and opposing podcast host Katie Lannan. Jenn and Katie put their bitter rivalry …

2/6/2019-- Jenn returns unhappily to Boston after having spent a blissful week in the Utah mountains basking in the sun and snow and artistic films. …

1/30/2019-- With Jenn living it up at Sundance, Steve is joined by guest host, friend of the pod and #mapoli enthusiast Sam Hammar. The two sit down …

1/23/2019-- As the government shutdown rages on, Steve and Jenn lament the issues it's inflicting upon local employees of the federal government. …

1/16/2019 -- Amidst the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, Steve Koczela and Jennifer Smith chat with Congresswoman Katherine Clark of Massachusetts' 5th congressional district, …

January 9, 2019: We're LIVE from WeWork at 1 Beacon! While Massachusetts is sending two new members to the US Congress where Democrats control the …

12/26/2018 -- Happiest of Holidays from The Horse Race! Joining Steve Koczela and Jennifer Smith on this special holiday edition is …

On this special episode of The Horse Race, Steve Koczela and Jennifer Smith continue their quest to speak with every MA member of the House of Representatives. Joining us this week is …

December 12, 2018: Just one more week until our 2018 #mapoli horse racing season comes to a close! Jennifer Smith and Steve Koczela take a look at …

December 5, 2018: Just as one election ends, another one begins! On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the art of political moderation in …

With just a couple of episodes left for the 2018 season, Steve Koczela and Jennifer Smith break down the post-election roll out both locally and …

We've got a special Thanksgiving treat this week! Co-Host, Jennifer Smith, of the Dorchester Reporter, caught up with Congresswoman-Elect, Ayanna Pressley, over the phone for a behind the …

We're back for the post-election run down to get caught up on the races we couldn't cover at last week's live event. Steve Koczela and Jennifer Smith …

We're LIVE from WeWork at 1 Beacon St. bringing you the best of horse racing puns to the Post-Election Winner's Circle. Your hosts, Steve Koczela and Jennifer Smith wrap up what just …

For your spookiest episode of The Horse Race yet, we hit the stretch run just one week before the election. As election day nears, Steve Koczela and Jennifer Smith provide an update on …

Welcome to debate season! On this episode of The Horse Race, Steve Koczela and Jenn Smith check in on the rousing round of debates that swept the state this past week. Next, we call many …

We're gearing up for these final weeks before the general election with our new Horse Race co-host, and many time guest of the pod, Jennifer Smith.

Here to keep us updated with this week's …

It is indeed the most wonderful time of the year... for polling that is! On this week's episode of The Horse Race, our very own Maeve Duggan of the …

October has officially begun and brought us several surprises. Katie Lannan of Statehouse News joins us as our guest host this week to unpack what we like to call "the Massachusetts …

That's right, it is polling season!

We welcome back special guest host Jennifer Smith of the Dorchester Reporter to join Steve Koczela, President of …

We're taking a farewell victory lap this week for Lauren Dezenski's very last episode of The Horse Race before she moves to Washington D.C. to join CNN.

As the third congressional race …

On this episode of The Horse Race, we wrap up our recap of the primary election and make a big announcement.

We welcomed News Editor at the Dorchester Reporter, Jenn Smith and Michael …

The Horse Race goes LIVE in this special post-primary "winner's circle." We recorded in front of a live studio audience at WeWork Boston's One Beacon office. President of the MassInc …

8/29/18 -- With less than a week from the MA primary election, you could say we've hit the stretch run. In a jam packed episode, we cover what we can …

8/22/18 -- Secretary of State Bill Galvin and Josh Zakim are highlighted again this week as they each launch attack ads. Then we focus on one race that has flown under radar -- the …

8/15/18 -- Secretary of State Bill Galvin and his primary challenger Boston City Councilor Josh Zakim met this week for a tense, table-slapping debate. MassLive's Gin Dumcius joins us for a …

8/8/18 -- Democrats are taking on Democrats in this week’s episode of The Horse Race. First, Andy Metzger of State House News Service (and who is soon to be striking out as a freelancer!) …

In part 2 of our special “bootleg” episode, Steve breaks down the results of the recent WBUR poll that highlights the horse race between Michael …

8/1/18 -- In the last minute scramble of legislation, the state appears to have made horse racing illegal, which means Lauren and Steve are off to the glue factory.

But first, they speak …

7/25/2018 -- On the podcast this week, Lauren Dezenski is still on vacation, but calls in to talk with Steve and Doug Rubin, senior strategist for Deval Patrick and Elizabeth Warren, about …

7/18/18 -- The Legislature has reached a budget compromise and our guest host Lizzi Weyant, manager of government affairs at MAPC, explains what’s in it, what’s not and what’s next. Then …

7/11/18 --We’re back post-Fourth of July with a check in on what’s still pending on Beacon Hill. MassLive’s Gin Dumcius walks us through why …

7/4/18 -- Happy Independence Day, Horse Race fans! We're on hiatus this week, so enjoy a reel of some of our favorite outtakes. Tune in next week …

State Senate President Harriette Chandler joins us for a special extended edition of The Horse Race. We ask her about the grand bargain, legislation vs. ballot questions, the fallout from …

6/20/18 -- We have a “Grand Bargain”...kind of. State House News Service reporter Katie Lannan discusses the bill moving through the house that would …

Episode 36: EMERGENCY POD - SJC strikes down Fair Share Ballot Question by Steve Koczela; Jennifer Smith; Lisa Kashinsky; Libby Gormley

6/13/18 -- The statewide candidates are locked -- so who exactly are they? This week we breakdown the bios of the Republican Senate candidates with the Springfield Republican’s Shannon …

6/6/18 -- There were some unexpected twists at the Democratic Convention last weekend. MassLive’s Gintautas Dumcius joins us to discuss the upset in the Secretary of State’s race, and State …

5/30/18 -- Just before the nominating convention, Chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party Gus Bickford joins us for a chat about what to expect from candidates and delegates. Then the …

5/23/18 -- There are two candidates left in the Democratic primary for governor, and both are eyeing the lane to the left. State House News Service’s Matt Murphy has the highlights on Jay …

5/16/18 -- Pastor turned politician Scott Lively surprised some in the GOP establishment when he secured a spot on the ballot for the Republican …

5/9/18 -- The home stretch of the ballot question saga comes down to a supreme judicial court decision. State House News reporter Andy Metzger explains why we’re in limbo and what to make …

5/3/2018 -- Yielding to a growing chorus of his colleagues, State Senator Stan Rosenberg announced his resignation today following the release of a …

5/2/18 -- It's GOP week at The Horse Race. First, we recap the Republican state convention with CommonWealth Magazine's Michael Jonas. Then, some zesty candidate insight from two convention …

4/25/18 -- It's a busy week in the bunker with Voter Choice Massachusetts' Adam Friedman on ranked choice voting, and -- in a return to the pod -- our senior campaign finance correspondent …

4/18/18 -- We head north of the wall - a.k.a. New Hampshire - with special guest host and former pod correspondent Ben Downing. First, The Boston Globe's James Pindell describes what he's …

4/11/18 -- Former MassGOP chair Jenn Nassour is sharing her "conventional wisdom" with us this week as we get closer to the MassGOP convention. Then The Dorchester Reporter's Jenn Smith …

4/4/18 -- Former State Senator Ben Downing is back! He reappears this week as the body's mountain of bad press has us testing a State Senate Chaos Theory.

Then we look west with Matt …

We're answering your questions on ballots and questions on ballot questions this week on The Horse Race First Pam Wilmot, head of Common Cause Massachusetts, explains Automatic Voter …

It's all about polls and emerging political power this week. First, Nichole Mossalam, Co-Chair of Our Revolution Massachusetts' Coordinating …

We're looking back on five months of #mapoli coverage this week. Reporter/MA-3 hawk Chris Lisinski of the Lowell Sun recaps the race for the open …

This week we continue our tour of the commonwealth with hot takes from Suffolk County and western Massachusetts. The Dorchester Reporter's Jennifer …

Former State Senator Ben Downing joins us this week to explain the turmoil on Beacon Hill, its impact on senate function and the significance of state and local primary challenges.

Then, …

CommonWealth Magazine's Michael Jonas descends on the bunker to explain the recent surprise in the Suffolk County District Attorney race, while …

This week it’s all about challenges: special guest Lawrence Friedman, professor of law at the New England Law Boston explains the details of the supreme judicial court case regarding the …

Steve Koczela is back in the bunker just in time for caucus season! We’ve got answers to all the caucus questions you’re afraid to ask with special guest Gus Bickford, Chairman of the …

Linda Dorcena Forry is out, Ayanna Pressley is in and Lindstrom, Kingston and Diehl fight for the cash in this week's episode. Plus, Jennifer Smith of the Dorchester Reporter joins us in …

We’ve got veteran State House News Service reporter Matt Murphy in the bunker this week breaking down Governor Charlie Baker’s State of the Commonwealth address (hot take: it’s STRONG). …

This week it's all about the money, and the numbers are eyepopping -- Warren's making bank, candidates in the MA-3 are raking it in and Marty Walsh is growing his war chest fresh off …

We're back in the saddle folks! It's a new year and a new season, and we're straight out the gate with the first WBUR poll of the year. We've got the …

Happy New Year Horse Race Fans!

To thank you for tuning in to our first season, we’re kicking off 2018 with a peek behind the editing curtain – WE'VE GOT BLOOPERS!

Next week we’ll return to …

FIELD TRIP! This week we’re checking in on Maryland, which also has a popular Republican governor in a very blue state. Kudos to the Goucher Poll’s …

Allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct leveled against Bryon Hefner, husband of Senate president Stan Rosenberg, are roiling Beacon Hill. In an emergency podcast to keep you up to …

The Horse Race went Live! We had a great event last week discussing the most exciting elections to watch in 2018 (Bill Galvin getting primaried anyone?) and digging into one of the year's …

It's our season finale #mapoli! But before we go on our holiday hiatus, we've got the lowdown on ballot questions thanks to our expert guest George …

It's an EMERGENCY EPISODE #MAPOLI! Election Day has come and gone and we're here to parse who landed in the winner's circle across the state. Also, a surprise appearance by Sam Hammar, …

We've got a trio of campaign ads, some outside spending (we see you Mercer Money) and a persistent Elizabeth Warren this week. Plus, as we race towards election day we've got our eye on two …

We’ve got two showdowns coming at you this week #mapoli. First, we analyze Marty and Tito after their first (and last) televised mayoral debate. …

It's that time of year #mapoli - flannel, fall activities, and FEC REPORTS! Campaign fundraising guru Sean Curran walks us through what the quarter …

We “reined in” our horse racing puns this week to bring you a closer look at the warm fuzzies Democrats are sending Governor Charlie Baker, the new …

Boston loves Marty Walsh, and very little else, so says the MassINC Polling Group's post-preliminary poll for WBUR. Why is Walsh the front-runner …

It's a post-preliminary world and we have the results of your local mayoral races in Boston, Framingham, and Lawrence with our special guest host Gin …

We're off to the races covering the Boston Mayoral preliminaries, the open MA-3 seat, Elizabeth Warren's competition, and of course Governor Baker and the Graham-Cassidy bill.

Seabiscuit …

A preview of The Horse Race, a new podcast covering Massachusetts campaigns of note with hosts Steve Koczela, president of the MassINC Polling Group, …