Your weekly look at politics, policy and elections in Massachusetts
Watch the video version here! https://youtu.be/tWItbjbzu-Y
4/1/20-- It’s been 11 days since Governor Charlie Baker issued a stay-at-home advisory to the people of Massachusetts, and today, he extended it from April 7th to May 4th. Since then he’s also asked that out-of-state visitors self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival to Massachusetts, or just don’t come here at all.
Within the stay-at-home advisory is the mandate that schools and non-essential businesses remain closed until May 4th. These orders have brought up the question of, what defines an essential business? The state deemed recreational marijuana shops non-essential, but liquor stores essential, for example.
The coronavirus pandemic’s impacts on our democracy keep coming, and the most recent example of that for Massachusetts elections was the cancellation of the Democratic National Convention. The convention, scheduled for May 30th in Lowell, was cancelled by party chairman Gus Bickford, and the convention endorsement effectively handed to incumbent Senator Ed Markey, facing challenger Joe Kennedy. Stephanie Murray clears up some of the confusion surrounding this news.
The anxiety surrounding the future of our economy feels inescapable. And according to polling from The MassINC Polling Group and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the impacts are taking a different toll on the various groups that make up the workforce here in Massachusetts. Younger workers tend to bear more of the brunt of the economic toll, resident pollster Steve Koczela explains.
Thank you very much to our listeners for their creative responses to the question, what is one thing you don't have in your quarantine bunker that you wish you did? Now, for this week's question: what's a new hobby you've picked up or an old one you've returned to as result of the long, quiet days?
This week on The Horse Race, Lisa and Jenn break down the Beacon Hill tax reform package, Todd Wallack of WBUR explains why there are so many vacant subsidized housing units, and Steve …
This week on The Horse Race, Lisa and Jenn talk through elections and endorsements around the Commonwealth, and Jenn explains the current challenge to a foreclosure practice known as home …
This week on The Horse Race, the MassINC Polling Group's Rich Parr breaks down a new survey on MBTA-area transit habits and opinions, Jenn and Lisa …
This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn are joined by Matt Szafranski to discuss the Springfield mayoral election, and Jenn and Lisa react to learning which ballot measures have been …
This week on The Horse Race, Lisa tells us why the 2024 New Hampshire primaries might not have either Joe Biden or Donald Trump on the ballot, and Jenn explains why Massachusetts may need a …
This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn talk with the Boston Globe's Tal Kopan about the ethics of Rep. Stephen Lynch's earmarks requests. Plus, Steve breaks down Biden and Healey …
You can listen to episodes right here on the website, or if you prefer, in a podcast app. Listening in an app makes it easier to keep track of what you’ve already heard, listen without using your data plan and many other conveniences.