This week on The Horse Race, we’ve got a stalemate at the State House and chaos in the council chambers with The Dorchester Reporter's Gin Dumcius.  Then we pull back the sequined curtain on drag queen story hours.

Episode 266:  Drag Us

This week on The Horse Race, we've got a fire at the State House, floods in New England, and pandemic era policies to discuss.  Commonwealth Magazine's Jennifer Smith breaks it all down with special guest host Katie Lannan.  MassINC Polling Group's Rich Parr joins as well.

Episode 265:  Smoke Signals

This week on The Horse Race, we’re not on shrooms, but you could be soon.  Seven years after the legalization of marijuana in Massachusetts, is there a new path to decriminalize psychedelics in the bay state?  Then we'll take a ride through some of the other potential ballot measures for 2024 with State House News Service reporter Chris Lisinski.

Episode 264:  Ballots Fired!!!

This week on The Horse Race, two new polls show Donald Trump still dominating his Republican competitors in a potential primary.  Then, how can the MBTA staff up when the workers they already have are leaving?  And finally, we’ll look at the connection lawmakers are making between cell phone data privacy and the abortion fight.

Episode 263:  Quittin' Time

This week on The Horse Race, Governor Maura Healey is launching the nation’s first green bank dedicated to affordable housing.  Boston Globe climate reporter Sabrina Shankman stops by to give us all the details.  Then we’ll take a look at how Donald Trump’s latest indictment is affecting, or not affecting, his bid to retake the White House in 2024.

Episode 262:  It Ain't Easy Bankin' Green

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 Massachusetts Lottery’s new “Billiion Dollar Extravaganza” with Commonwealth Magazine’s Michael Jonas.

Episode 261:  The State House Always Wins

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 Environmental Protection Agency.

Episode 260:  Shots Shots Shots

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 Manager Zayna Basma tells us about a new statewide parent poll that highlights ongoing concerns for students' mental health and academic development.  Then, MPG Research Director Olivia Wine dives into a new survey on parents' questions about the Covid vaccine.

Episode 259:  Meet the Parents

This week on The Horse Race, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael Rollins calls it quits amid federal investigations into her conduct.  We’re looking at it from every angle: the report, the background and what happens next.

Episode 258:  The Rollins Reports

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 we’ll mark the end of the Covid public health emergency in Massachusetts with GBH News reporter Katie Lannan.

Episode 257:  Masks Off?

A weekly podcast on Massachusetts politics, policy and elections. Hosted by Steve Koczela, Jennifer Smith, and Lisa Kashinsky.

The Horse Race is a must for mapoli addicts. The presentation style is refreshingly free of rancor and bias and offers true expert analysis.

Essential mapoli podcast

Great show!

The Horse Race

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 MassINC Polling Group (and, more importantly, vice president of the political sports polling analysis department at Horse Race Global Media Headquarters) Maeve Duggan. She analyzes results of polling that asked people whether they felt Patriots players should attend the White House after their Super Bowl victory. Next, Boston Globe reporter Vicki McGrane joins the hosts remotely to shed some light on a potential Ed Markey primary challenger, and Sarah Betancourt of Commonwealth Magazine talks with Steve and Jenn about a legislative effort announced by House Democrats to protect young immigrants and those with vulnerable residency statuses

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 MassINC Polling Group (and, more importantly, vice president of the political sports polling analysis department at Horse Race Global Media Headquarters) Maeve Duggan. She analyzes results of polling that asked people whether they felt Patriots players should attend the White House after their Super Bowl victory. Next, Boston Globe reporter Vicki McGrane joins the hosts remotely to shed some light on a potential Ed Markey primary challenger, and Sarah Betancourt of Commonwealth Magazine talks with Steve and Jenn about a legislative effort announced by House Democrats to protect young immigrants and those with vulnerable residency statuses

Episode 74: On Your Markey

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 Congressman Jim McGovern from the state’s 2nd congressional district who is also the incoming chair for the House Rules Committee. With a new incoming class, whispers of presidential impeachment, and another election on the horizon, Congressman McGovern gives us an inside look at what we can expect from of D.C. in 2019. Save the date! Our next Live event is Wednesday, January 9th from 6-8pm at WeWork at One Beacon St.

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 Congressman Jim McGovern from the state’s 2nd congressional district who is also the incoming chair for the House Rules Committee. With a new incoming class, whispers of presidential impeachment, and another election on the horizon, Congressman McGovern gives us an inside look at what we can expect from of D.C. in 2019. Save the date! Our next Live event is Wednesday, January 9th from 6-8pm at WeWork at One Beacon St.

Episode 62: The House Rules

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 cinnamon, one chocolate, in reference to that infamous bakery scene-- for our judges to taste and rate.The fine culinary judges joining Steve and Jenn in the bunker also happen to be reporters well-versed in Massachusetts politics, policy and elections-- topics that conveniently happen to have their place in this podcast as well.State House News Service reporter and longtime friend of the pod Katie Lannan stops by to lament the state legislature's painstaking progress on producing a budget. 10 days late and a dollar short, Massachusetts is still without a finalized budget for the fiscal year, making this the TENTH consecutive year of the state missing the deadline. Steve and Jenn want to know, what are the consequences of legislators taking their sweet-as-babka time in producing a final product?Politico reporter and prime minister of primaries Stephanie Murray chats with Steve and Jenn about the newly announced challengers making a run at Congressman Seth Moulton's seat. In addition to these official challengers, Jamie Zahlaway Belsito and Salem City Councilor Lisa Peterson, there are several Massachusetts figures who have stated publicly that they'd consider running for that seat, begging the question: if Moulton's run for president is unsuccessful, should he be worried about his place in Congress?

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 cinnamon, one chocolate, in reference to that infamous bakery scene-- for our judges to taste and rate. The fine culinary judges joining Steve and Jenn in the bunker also happen to be reporters well-versed in Massachusetts politics, policy and elections-- topics that conveniently happen to have their place in this podcast as well. State House News Service reporter and longtime friend of the pod Katie Lannan stops by to lament the state legislature's painstaking progress on producing a budget. 10 days late and a dollar short, Massachusetts is still without a finalized budget for the fiscal year, making this the TENTH consecutive year of the state missing the deadline. Steve and Jenn want to know, what are the consequences of legislators taking their sweet-as-babka time in producing a final product? Politico reporter and prime minister of primaries Stephanie Murray chats with Steve and Jenn about the newly announced challengers making a run at Congressman Seth Moulton's seat. In addition to these official challengers, Jamie Zahlaway Belsito and Salem City Councilor Lisa Peterson, there are several Massachusetts figures who have stated publicly that they'd consider running for that seat, begging the question: if Moulton's run for president is unsuccessful, should he be worried about his place in Congress?

Episode 89: What About Babka?

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

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

Episode 81: The Ways of Ways and Means

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. With hope for a speedy resolution, they look ahead to bills coming up before the Massachusetts legislature. One such bill has to do with sports betting. State Sen. Brendan Crighton drops by The Horse Race to discuss his proposed bill that would allow for Massachusetts casinos and online platforms to apply for licenses to operate sports books. But he's not the only one. Both State Rep. Dan Cullinane and Gov. Charlie Baker have proposed similar legislation, so Crighton explains what makes his different. State Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa joins the hosts to discuss the intrinsic problem of sexual harassment on Beacon Hill. In an effort to combat it, she and State Sen. Becca Rausch filed a bill that would require an independent committee to investigate instances of sexual harassment. Last but by no means least, a Horse Race regular Adam Friedman makes the case for why ranked choice voting is the right choice for Massachusetts.

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. With hope for a speedy resolution, they look ahead to bills coming up before the Massachusetts legislature. One such bill has to do with sports betting. State Sen. Brendan Crighton drops by The Horse Race to discuss his proposed bill that would allow for Massachusetts casinos and online platforms to apply for licenses to operate sports books. But he's not the only one. Both State Rep. Dan Cullinane and Gov. Charlie Baker have proposed similar legislation, so Crighton explains what makes his different. State Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa joins the hosts to discuss the intrinsic problem of sexual harassment on Beacon Hill. In an effort to combat it, she and State Sen. Becca Rausch filed a bill that would require an independent committee to investigate instances of sexual harassment. Last but by no means least, a Horse Race regular Adam Friedman makes the case for why ranked choice voting is the right choice for Massachusetts.

Episode 66: Bet the House

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

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

Episode 79: Polls, Trains and Automobiles

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 primary contenders. It finds Pete Buttigieg in the lead among registered voters in the state with 18% support. Meanwhile, Joe Biden sits at a close second place with 17%. As Steve points out, it's important to note how close this race remains. The top 4 contenders rank within 6 percentage points of each other in this early primary contest. Plus, there's still much to be determined as about 1 in 5 likely voters haven't yet made up their mind.Turning now--as we are wont to do--to transportation, Boston Globe reporter Adam Vaccaro stops by to run through the safety report on the MBTA conducted by an independent panel of experts. Here's the major takeaway: things are bad. In the agency's efforts to expedite long-term capital improvements, a focus on keeping up with daily operations is falling by the wayside. And safety, as a result, is being sacrificed. The MassINC Polling Group Research Director Rich Parr rounds out the show with a look at a regional poll focused on the Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI). TCI is a collaborative effort between 12 states and the District of Columbia currently developing a policy to cap carbon pollution from transportation and invest in transportation improvements. The poll finds that the initiative enjoys broad support among registered voters in the seven largest states at the TCI table: Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

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 primary contenders. It finds Pete Buttigieg in the lead among registered voters in the state with 18% support. Meanwhile, Joe Biden sits at a close second place with 17%. As Steve points out, it's important to note how close this race remains. The top 4 contenders rank within 6 percentage points of each other in this early primary contest. Plus, there's still much to be determined as about 1 in 5 likely voters haven't yet made up their mind. Turning now--as we are wont to do--to transportation, Boston Globe reporter Adam Vaccaro stops by to run through the safety report on the MBTA conducted by an independent panel of experts. Here's the major takeaway: things are bad. In the agency's efforts to expedite long-term capital improvements, a focus on keeping up with daily operations is falling by the wayside. And safety, as a result, is being sacrificed. The MassINC Polling Group Research Director Rich Parr rounds out the show with a look at a regional poll focused on the Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI). TCI is a collaborative effort between 12 states and the District of Columbia currently developing a policy to cap carbon pollution from transportation and invest in transportation improvements. The poll finds that the initiative enjoys broad support among registered voters in the seven largest states at the TCI table: Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Episode 111: The Poll-ar Express

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 bright, shiny bow, and presenting it to you. Thanks for listening in 2019!We begin with the news of the day, and that of course, is the House vote on articles of impeachment. And, further from the limelight but relevant both to U.S. Congress and to us Bay Staters is news that the House Ethics Committee is conducting a further probe of Congresswoman Lori Trahan, whose compliance with campaign finance law came into question earlier this year upon discovery that her husband donated $300,000 to her 2018 campaign. Looking to the Massachusetts 4th Congressional District, yet another candidate in the crowded field vying for this spot joins us on The Horse Race. Alan Khazei is an entrepreneur who co-founded the education non-profit City Year and ran for U.S. Senate twice (in 2010 and 2012). Now, he's in the midst of a campaign focused on issues of climate change, gun control, and national service.Finally, Steve and Stephanie look ahead to 2020, predicting what may come to pass on both the national and state stages. From impeachment to transportation funding to housing choice legislation, there's a lot to watch unfold (or fall flat) next year. We hope you'll join us as we break it all down.

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 bright, shiny bow, and presenting it to you. Thanks for listening in 2019! We begin with the news of the day, and that of course, is the House vote on articles of impeachment. And, further from the limelight but relevant both to U.S. Congress and to us Bay Staters is news that the House Ethics Committee is conducting a further probe of Congresswoman Lori Trahan, whose compliance with campaign finance law came into question earlier this year upon discovery that her husband donated $300,000 to her 2018 campaign. Looking to the Massachusetts 4th Congressional District, yet another candidate in the crowded field vying for this spot joins us on The Horse Race. Alan Khazei is an entrepreneur who co-founded the education non-profit City Year and ran for U.S. Senate twice (in 2010 and 2012). Now, he's in the midst of a campaign focused on issues of climate change, gun control, and national service. Finally, Steve and Stephanie look ahead to 2020, predicting what may come to pass on both the national and state stages. From impeachment to transportation funding to housing choice legislation, there's a lot to watch unfold (or fall flat) next year. We hope you'll join us as we break it all down.

Episode 112: Foresight is 2020

11/13/19-- Massachusetts elected officials -- both current and former -- just can't seem to resist the pull of the Presidency. Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is running for the Democratic nomination for president, sources tell CNN. He's scheduled to officially announce on Friday. That will bring the tally to 3 Bay Staters who've competed in the 2020 race.Perhaps these candidates feel emboldened by their history governing in in what's perceived a progressive state, but when it comes to fair and accurate representation, Massachusetts is in desperate need of some progress. According to a new MassINC study, the demographic and partisan makeup of the Massachusetts state legislature vastly underrepresents its electorate. In order to achieve balance, the legislature would need an additional 31 members of color, 47 female members, and 16 Republican members. Ben Forman, co-author of the report and research director at MassINC, stopped by the podcast to provide an in-depth look at what the report covers. One of the stumbling blocks preventing equal representation is Massachusetts' lack of electoral competition. In fact, it ranks as the least competitive of all fifty states. One solution the report proposes is public financing, which requires candidates or parties to accept public funding in exchange for a promise to limit how much they spend and receive in donations. This is a measure, Forman says, Massachusetts voters "like." "They passed it by a very large majority, and the legislature didn't want to do it. Well, 20 years later, I think there's more awareness that that has had a cost in terms of female representation and people of color."Low voter turnout is another symptom of Massachusetts' current system, and the report calls for synchronizing state and local elections to reduce election overload. The current system that requires voters to hit the polls frequently was designed to suppress voices of color, says Forman. "We moved municipal elections to off years, I think, intentionally, to lower turnout because people were concerned about too many people of color coming out to vote and changing communities. That's the history that we should acknowledge and call out."

11/13/19-- Massachusetts elected officials -- both current and former -- just can't seem to resist the pull of the Presidency. Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is running for the Democratic nomination for president, sources tell CNN. He's scheduled to officially announce on Friday. That will bring the tally to 3 Bay Staters who've competed in the 2020 race. Perhaps these candidates feel emboldened by their history governing in in what's perceived a progressive state, but when it comes to fair and accurate representation, Massachusetts is in desperate need of some progress. According to a new MassINC study, the demographic and partisan makeup of the Massachusetts state legislature vastly underrepresents its electorate. In order to achieve balance, the legislature would need an additional 31 members of color, 47 female members, and 16 Republican members. Ben Forman, co-author of the report and research director at MassINC, stopped by the podcast to provide an in-depth look at what the report covers. One of the stumbling blocks preventing equal representation is Massachusetts' lack of electoral competition. In fact, it ranks as the least competitive of all fifty states. One solution the report proposes is public financing, which requires candidates or parties to accept public funding in exchange for a promise to limit how much they spend and receive in donations. This is a measure, Forman says, Massachusetts voters "like." "They passed it by a very large majority, and the legislature didn't want to do it. Well, 20 years later, I think there's more awareness that that has had a cost in terms of female representation and people of color." Low voter turnout is another symptom of Massachusetts' current system, and the report calls for synchronizing state and local elections to reduce election overload. The current system that requires voters to hit the polls frequently was designed to suppress voices of color, says Forman. "We moved municipal elections to off years, I think, intentionally, to lower turnout because people were concerned about too many people of color coming out to vote and changing communities. That's the history that we should acknowledge and call out."

Episode 107: The Times They Aren't A Changin

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

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

Episode 85: Impromptu Pressley Conference

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

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

BONUS Episode: Exploring Suffolk Downs

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 presidential candidate Deval Patrick.Patrick announced his candidacy this November, long after his fellow contenders, throwing his hat into the already crowded ring in a self-described 'long shot' of a campaign. He explained on the show he was ready to make this very announcement more than a year ago. Shortly before he intended to break the news, however, his wife Diane was diagnosed with cancer. Today, she is cancer-free, and Patrick spots a void among Democratic contenders that he thinks he can fill. He describes President Trump as divisive and says, "I am concerned that some of the Democratic candidates are offering a Democratic version of the same thing rather than seeing this as an opportunity to unite us around solutions to common challenges."Turning to transportation in Massachusetts, Patrick's calls for new revenue echo those he made back during his own 2007-2015 administration. "The T has needed significant investment to be a 21st century T for a long time, and we've been making that point and have made it twice." He cites his attempts to generate new revenue, beginning with his 2009 proposal to raise the gas tax that was swiftly shot down by the legislature. Patrick then pushed for new revenue through means other than a gas tax, and finally in 2013, vetoed a transportation funding package because he thought the gas tax increase included in it was too low. This veto was overruled by a House vote, and the gas tax went into effect, but the law mandating automatic adjustments according to inflation was repealed by voters via a 2014 ballot measure. Had the law remained in place, this would have allowed for annual increases to the gas tax. Instead, it's remained at 24 cents per gallon since 2013. "No amount of reorganization is going to deliver a 21st century T," Patrick said. "It is going to require significant new investment."

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 presidential candidate Deval Patrick. Patrick announced his candidacy this November, long after his fellow contenders, throwing his hat into the already crowded ring in a self-described 'long shot' of a campaign. He explained on the show he was ready to make this very announcement more than a year ago. Shortly before he intended to break the news, however, his wife Diane was diagnosed with cancer. Today, she is cancer-free, and Patrick spots a void among Democratic contenders that he thinks he can fill. He describes President Trump as divisive and says, "I am concerned that some of the Democratic candidates are offering a Democratic version of the same thing rather than seeing this as an opportunity to unite us around solutions to common challenges." Turning to transportation in Massachusetts, Patrick's calls for new revenue echo those he made back during his own 2007-2015 administration. "The T has needed significant investment to be a 21st century T for a long time, and we've been making that point and have made it twice." He cites his attempts to generate new revenue, beginning with his 2009 proposal to raise the gas tax that was swiftly shot down by the legislature. Patrick then pushed for new revenue through means other than a gas tax, and finally in 2013, vetoed a transportation funding package because he thought the gas tax increase included in it was too low. This veto was overruled by a House vote, and the gas tax went into effect, but the law mandating automatic adjustments according to inflation was repealed by voters via a 2014 ballot measure. Had the law remained in place, this would have allowed for annual increases to the gas tax. Instead, it's remained at 24 cents per gallon since 2013. "No amount of reorganization is going to deliver a 21st century T," Patrick said. "It is going to require significant new investment."

Episode 113: Deval In Good Time

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 is making a reappearance after its first installation during the 2012 Elizabeth Warren/Scott Brown Senate race. The pact aims to limit outside spending. While Senate candidates Joe Kennedy and Shannon Liss-Riordan signed the pledge on Monday, incumbent Ed Markey proposed a pledge of his own that stipulates outside spending dedicated to "positive messages" should not be limited. He pointed to groups like climate activists and reproductive rights organizations who he thinks should be allowed to spend for a campaign. Controversy is bubbling up in the wake of a scheduling decision regarding special elections. The date set for the special elections of four legislators (whose seats were vacated by now mayors) has been set for the same day as the presidential primary. Because the primary will inherently draw out droves of Democrats, the move to also schedule special elections on that date elicits the question of fairness.Two candidates running for the Massachusetts 4th Congressional seat joined as guests on The Horse Race today. First is Jesse Mermell. She's the former president of Alliance for Business Leadership, worked as communications director during Deval Patrick's governorship and served as Vice President of the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. She says she's running for Congress because, "The people and places that we love and the progress that's so vital to the future of this country are under attack, and I think that the people of the 4th Congressional district deserve a Congresswoman --a Congresswoman-- who won't just fight back against the hate and the backwards thinking that's coming out of the White House but will also fight for the future that we all deserve." When asked what makes her stand out in this crowded field of six candidates, Mermell says, "These aren't just policies that I hold as a Progressive, these aren't just values that I espouse to, it's work that I've done over 20 years." Ihssane Leckey was the first to announce her candidacy for the MA4 seat, doing so even before Kennedy resigned, as a challenge to him. She's confident she brings a unique perspective to the field of candidates as a sex abuse survivor, immigrant, and former Wall Street regulator, and was motivated to run after Trump's election. She told The Horse Race, "Once Trump was elected, my identities have been attacked on so many different levels." She's also troubled by what she sees as irresponsibility by the Trump administration in an economic context. "So, when recessions happen what is going to happen now if these big banks were affected? Are they going to be able to bail themselves out? The answer right now, is probably not, because I saw how the Trump administration had started to take away any protection that I worked on putting in place for our people," Leckey says.

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 is making a reappearance after its first installation during the 2012 Elizabeth Warren/Scott Brown Senate race. The pact aims to limit outside spending. While Senate candidates Joe Kennedy and Shannon Liss-Riordan signed the pledge on Monday, incumbent Ed Markey proposed a pledge of his own that stipulates outside spending dedicated to "positive messages" should not be limited. He pointed to groups like climate activists and reproductive rights organizations who he thinks should be allowed to spend for a campaign. Controversy is bubbling up in the wake of a scheduling decision regarding special elections. The date set for the special elections of four legislators (whose seats were vacated by now mayors) has been set for the same day as the presidential primary. Because the primary will inherently draw out droves of Democrats, the move to also schedule special elections on that date elicits the question of fairness. Two candidates running for the Massachusetts 4th Congressional seat joined as guests on The Horse Race today. First is Jesse Mermell. She's the former president of Alliance for Business Leadership, worked as communications director during Deval Patrick's governorship and served as Vice President of the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. She says she's running for Congress because, "The people and places that we love and the progress that's so vital to the future of this country are under attack, and I think that the people of the 4th Congressional district deserve a Congresswoman --a Congresswoman-- who won't just fight back against the hate and the backwards thinking that's coming out of the White House but will also fight for the future that we all deserve." When asked what makes her stand out in this crowded field of six candidates, Mermell says, "These aren't just policies that I hold as a Progressive, these aren't just values that I espouse to, it's work that I've done over 20 years." Ihssane Leckey was the first to announce her candidacy for the MA4 seat, doing so even before Kennedy resigned, as a challenge to him. She's confident she brings a unique perspective to the field of candidates as a sex abuse survivor, immigrant, and former Wall Street regulator, and was motivated to run after Trump's election. She told The Horse Race, "Once Trump was elected, my identities have been attacked on so many different levels." She's also troubled by what she sees as irresponsibility by the Trump administration in an economic context. "So, when recessions happen what is going to happen now if these big banks were affected? Are they going to be able to bail themselves out? The answer right now, is probably not, because I saw how the Trump administration had started to take away any protection that I worked on putting in place for our people," Leckey says.

Episode 110: The Fourth Awakens

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 their jobs or moving elsewhere. This week, the Boston Globe's Spotlight team published the first two installments of its three-part series on traffic in Massachusetts. Regular host and this-time guest Steve Koczela joins Stephanie and Jennifer to talk about the Globe's findings. Notably, the team of writers and researchers surveyed all 206 state elected officials. A little over half responded, and only 5 reported having transit passes. Presumably, the rest of them are driving. Steve pointed out that in the MassINC Polling Group's years asking folks about transportation, the Globe series reflects what his team's been hearing from surveys and focus groups - sense of alarm and frustration. In MPG's most recent poll, participants were asked whether they believed improvements should be made to the agencies that manage transportation before money is spent, or money should be spent immediately to improve transportation. By a 25-point margin, people prioritize the latter - in Steve's words, "People are done waiting."Boston City Council President Andrea Campbell's two-year term is coming to an end, and she makes an appearance on The Horse Race to reflect on how the Council has changed under her tenure, and what work still lies ahead. Campbell says the most exciting thing she's been able to do as City Council President was to bring the council as an institution through racial equity training. In recent years, she says, the body has proven it can get stuff done and should be taken seriously. "I think people are seeing that this body has incredible power, even if it doesn't formally on paper have a lot of defined power." City Council members have exhibited their powers through the use of ordinances, and currently, Campbell is working on creating an office of Inspector General for the City of Boston through an ordinance. As we mentioned in last week's show, former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick is running for President. The former executive director of Governor Patrick’s political committee, Alex Goldstein, says it'll be an uphill battle for the candidate, given the pre-existing narratives built by the rest of the field. But, Goldstein says, given the current tumultuous political landscape, "I think people are ready to feel good for like ten minutes and to feel like there’s a reason to be empathetic and care about your neighbors again. And I don’t think there’s anybody who I’ve seen in politics who does a better job of capturing that than Deval Patrick.”

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 their jobs or moving elsewhere. This week, the Boston Globe's Spotlight team published the first two installments of its three-part series on traffic in Massachusetts. Regular host and this-time guest Steve Koczela joins Stephanie and Jennifer to talk about the Globe's findings. Notably, the team of writers and researchers surveyed all 206 state elected officials. A little over half responded, and only 5 reported having transit passes. Presumably, the rest of them are driving. Steve pointed out that in the MassINC Polling Group's years asking folks about transportation, the Globe series reflects what his team's been hearing from surveys and focus groups - sense of alarm and frustration. In MPG's most recent poll, participants were asked whether they believed improvements should be made to the agencies that manage transportation before money is spent, or money should be spent immediately to improve transportation. By a 25-point margin, people prioritize the latter - in Steve's words, "People are done waiting." Boston City Council President Andrea Campbell's two-year term is coming to an end, and she makes an appearance on The Horse Race to reflect on how the Council has changed under her tenure, and what work still lies ahead. Campbell says the most exciting thing she's been able to do as City Council President was to bring the council as an institution through racial equity training. In recent years, she says, the body has proven it can get stuff done and should be taken seriously. "I think people are seeing that this body has incredible power, even if it doesn't formally on paper have a lot of defined power." City Council members have exhibited their powers through the use of ordinances, and currently, Campbell is working on creating an office of Inspector General for the City of Boston through an ordinance. As we mentioned in last week's show, former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick is running for President. The former executive director of Governor Patrick’s political committee, Alex Goldstein, says it'll be an uphill battle for the candidate, given the pre-existing narratives built by the rest of the field. But, Goldstein says, given the current tumultuous political landscape, "I think people are ready to feel good for like ten minutes and to feel like there’s a reason to be empathetic and care about your neighbors again. And I don’t think there’s anybody who I’ve seen in politics who does a better job of capturing that than Deval Patrick.”

Episode 108: Deval's Well That Ends Well

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 send in your #mapoli questions to us via the Pony Express, a.k.a. The Horse Race's version of a mailbag. Hit us up on Twitter @The_HorseRace, or email us at thehorseracepodcast@gmail.com.In other news, Jenn and Steve sit down with Luc Schuster of the Boston Foundation to discuss the current state of the 2020 Census, how it works, and what's at stake for Massachusetts.Michael Levenson of The Boston Globe has been covering Bill Weld before and since his recent presidential campaign announcement. Steve and Jenn have a multitude of questions for him about the Republican-turned Libertarian-turned back to Republican candidate.The thought of sitting outside enjoying a cold beer is a distant one for most Bostonians today as the temperature hovers around 30 degrees. But Jenn and Steve demand to know why anyone might pose a threat to their beloved beer gardens. Senator Nick Collins explains why his recently filed legislation regarding licensing is not a direct attack on beer gardens.

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 send in your #mapoli questions to us via the Pony Express, a.k.a. The Horse Race's version of a mailbag. Hit us up on Twitter @The_HorseRace, or email us at thehorseracepodcast@gmail.com. In other news, Jenn and Steve sit down with Luc Schuster of the Boston Foundation to discuss the current state of the 2020 Census, how it works, and what's at stake for Massachusetts. Michael Levenson of The Boston Globe has been covering Bill Weld before and since his recent presidential campaign announcement. Steve and Jenn have a multitude of questions for him about the Republican-turned Libertarian-turned back to Republican candidate. The thought of sitting outside enjoying a cold beer is a distant one for most Bostonians today as the temperature hovers around 30 degrees. But Jenn and Steve demand to know why anyone might pose a threat to their beloved beer gardens. Senator Nick Collins explains why his recently filed legislation regarding licensing is not a direct attack on beer gardens.

Episode 70: Census & Sensibility

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 responses by public officials about whether the slated July 1st MBTA rate hike should happen before the Red Line service improves. Mayor Marty Walsh says no. Steve, who's been keeping an eye on the citizenship question for the 2020 Census, provides some updates, and Jenn sits down with Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz to discuss education funding and the status of the PROMISE Act. Finally, MassINC Polling Group and Western Mass Bureau Chief Rich Parr chats with Senator Jo Comerford about representation diversity, transportation that extends beyond the Hub, and the ROE Act.Think you know the answer to this week's trivia question? Tweet us your answer @The_HorseRace or send an email to thehorseracepodcast@gmail.com.

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 responses by public officials about whether the slated July 1st MBTA rate hike should happen before the Red Line service improves. Mayor Marty Walsh says no. Steve, who's been keeping an eye on the citizenship question for the 2020 Census, provides some updates, and Jenn sits down with Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz to discuss education funding and the status of the PROMISE Act. Finally, MassINC Polling Group and Western Mass Bureau Chief Rich Parr chats with Senator Jo Comerford about representation diversity, transportation that extends beyond the Hub, and the ROE Act. Think you know the answer to this week's trivia question? Tweet us your answer @The_HorseRace or send an email to thehorseracepodcast@gmail.com.

Episode 87: Promises, Promises, Act?

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, however, the Horse Racers were not the sole hosts! Gina Christo and Wilnelia Rivera of the Deep Democracy podcast served as special guest co-hosts, bringing insight and no shortage of hot takes to the conversation. Later, Will Rasky of Rasky Partners joins the discussion. He serves as an advisor to Unite The Country, an independent expenditure group supporting Joe Biden, and had a few things to say about the wild ride that has been Biden's ranking in the Democratic primary.

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, however, the Horse Racers were not the sole hosts! Gina Christo and Wilnelia Rivera of the Deep Democracy podcast served as special guest co-hosts, bringing insight and no shortage of hot takes to the conversation. Later, Will Rasky of Rasky Partners joins the discussion. He serves as an advisor to Unite The Country, an independent expenditure group supporting Joe Biden, and had a few things to say about the wild ride that has been Biden's ranking in the Democratic primary.

Episode 121: The Horse Race LIVE: Super Tuesday Recap Barn Burner

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 latest news in the Commonwealth. We begin with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley's endorsement of the former head of the Massachusetts Alliance for Business Leadership Jesse Mermell in the District 4 House race. Pressley’s endorsements have been the subject of national headlines, Stephanie points out. It wasn’t so long ago that Pressley was the recipient of a mere fraction of the high-profile endorsements that went to her competitor Mike Capuano, whom she beat handily. Does Pressley herself, then, illustrate that endorsements aren’t all that powerful? Legislators today heard from the business community on how they think transportation should be funded. CommonWealth reports, before a legislative debate on transportation commences tomorrow, Jim Rooney, president and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, presented support for additional revenues. That included increasing ride-share fees, launching a transportation climate initiative, and even raising the gas tax. Couple that with Transportation for Massachusetts’ discussion today on what they believe are the right funding methods, and it’s clear that movement on transportation funding is coming. We’ll be talking about it as it takes shape, so stay tuned.And in local news, Stephanie’s been following an attempted progressive takeover of Boston’s Ward 18. The Progressive West Roxbury/Roslindale group is recruiting progressive candidates to run together as a slate, with the goal of making Ward members more representative demographically. Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu is voicing support for this, and if progressives were to take over Ward 18, it’d be a significant boon for a potential Wu mayoral campaign.The first guest on the pod today is Newton City Councilor and District 4 congressional candidate Jake Auchincloss. His platform includes a focus on transportation, insisting that, "the next Congressman from the Massachusetts 4th needs to bring back federal funding for Massachusetts transportation," and build more collaboration between state and local agencies with the help of those dollars.Friend of the pod and CommonWealth Magazine reporter Andy Metzger drops by the bunker next to dispel wisdom alongside horse puns. House Speaker Robert DeLeo is seeking another term, he announced this week. In the past, he led the way to end term limits, but later pushed to get them abolished so that he could continue his position. He's already the longest continually serving Speaker, but according to Andy, not all House members take issue with his long-held leadership. "I think that members who are kind of backbenchers have been tired of Speaker DeLeo's style of leadership for quite some time, but members who chair committees or hold leadership posts, at least, they say they're not."

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 latest news in the Commonwealth. We begin with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley's endorsement of the former head of the Massachusetts Alliance for Business Leadership Jesse Mermell in the District 4 House race. Pressley’s endorsements have been the subject of national headlines, Stephanie points out. It wasn’t so long ago that Pressley was the recipient of a mere fraction of the high-profile endorsements that went to her competitor Mike Capuano, whom she beat handily. Does Pressley herself, then, illustrate that endorsements aren’t all that powerful? Legislators today heard from the business community on how they think transportation should be funded. CommonWealth reports, before a legislative debate on transportation commences tomorrow, Jim Rooney, president and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, presented support for additional revenues. That included increasing ride-share fees, launching a transportation climate initiative, and even raising the gas tax. Couple that with Transportation for Massachusetts’ discussion today on what they believe are the right funding methods, and it’s clear that movement on transportation funding is coming. We’ll be talking about it as it takes shape, so stay tuned. And in local news, Stephanie’s been following an attempted progressive takeover of Boston’s Ward 18. The Progressive West Roxbury/Roslindale group is recruiting progressive candidates to run together as a slate, with the goal of making Ward members more representative demographically. Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu is voicing support for this, and if progressives were to take over Ward 18, it’d be a significant boon for a potential Wu mayoral campaign. The first guest on the pod today is Newton City Councilor and District 4 congressional candidate Jake Auchincloss. His platform includes a focus on transportation, insisting that, "the next Congressman from the Massachusetts 4th needs to bring back federal funding for Massachusetts transportation," and build more collaboration between state and local agencies with the help of those dollars. Friend of the pod and CommonWealth Magazine reporter Andy Metzger drops by the bunker next to dispel wisdom alongside horse puns. House Speaker Robert DeLeo is seeking another term, he announced this week. In the past, he led the way to end term limits, but later pushed to get them abolished so that he could continue his position. He's already the longest continually serving Speaker, but according to Andy, not all House members take issue with his long-held leadership. "I think that members who are kind of backbenchers have been tired of Speaker DeLeo's style of leadership for quite some time, but members who chair committees or hold leadership posts, at least, they say they're not."

Episode 105: The Headless Horse Race

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 yet, with 7 people of color and 8 women making up the majority of the 13-person council. The fourth-highest vote-getter among the at-large candidates, Julia Mejia, won her seat by a margin of only 10 votes, prompting fifth-place finisher Alejandra St. Guillen to call for a recount. Stephanie Murray noted, “10 votes could be a couple of absentee ballots; it could be a broken voting machine; it could also be one of those ballots where you vote for too many candidates and then your ballot gets thrown out altogether.”Last month, reports revealed a Super PAC with close ties to Governor Charlie Baker raising money for local candidates across the Commonwealth. The Massachusetts Majority Super PAC raised $1 million, and funded candidates like Monica Medeiros for Mayor of Melrose and Jennifer Nassour for Boston City Council, both these and other candidates supported by the PAC were endorsed by Baker. Boston Business Journal digital editor Gintautus Dumcius reported on this PAC, telling The Horse Race that it really got going in May 2019, when the split between then-recently elected MassGOP chairman Jim Lyons and Baker began to widen. Speaking about the MassGOP, Dumcius said, “Now that there is a top Trump person in charge in Jim Lyons, we’ve seen that break grow and grow, and it seems like this super PAC is trying to fill the gaps. The 2012 Right to Repair ballot question passed into law the following year, and now, the coalition that proposed it is returning with a potential ballot question for 2020 that would update the current law. WBUR reports the law would include a provision mandating that, beginning in model year 2022, manufacturers that sell cars in Massachusetts be outfit them with a “standardized and open access platform” that would make data about the car’s performance available to the car owner as well as dealerships and independent repair shops. Conor Yunits is a spokesman for the Coalition for Safe and Secure Data, and he says the proposed bill would make drivers vulnerable to breaches of privacy. Yunits told The Horse Race if the bill were to pass, “That really exposes information to hackers, criminals, bad actors, foreign companies, anyone that’s looking to get real-time location data and other information on people that are driving their vehicles.”

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 yet, with 7 people of color and 8 women making up the majority of the 13-person council. The fourth-highest vote-getter among the at-large candidates, Julia Mejia, won her seat by a margin of only 10 votes, prompting fifth-place finisher Alejandra St. Guillen to call for a recount. Stephanie Murray noted, “10 votes could be a couple of absentee ballots; it could be a broken voting machine; it could also be one of those ballots where you vote for too many candidates and then your ballot gets thrown out altogether.” Last month, reports revealed a Super PAC with close ties to Governor Charlie Baker raising money for local candidates across the Commonwealth. The Massachusetts Majority Super PAC raised $1 million, and funded candidates like Monica Medeiros for Mayor of Melrose and Jennifer Nassour for Boston City Council, both these and other candidates supported by the PAC were endorsed by Baker. Boston Business Journal digital editor Gintautus Dumcius reported on this PAC, telling The Horse Race that it really got going in May 2019, when the split between then-recently elected MassGOP chairman Jim Lyons and Baker began to widen. Speaking about the MassGOP, Dumcius said, “Now that there is a top Trump person in charge in Jim Lyons, we’ve seen that break grow and grow, and it seems like this super PAC is trying to fill the gaps. The 2012 Right to Repair ballot question passed into law the following year, and now, the coalition that proposed it is returning with a potential ballot question for 2020 that would update the current law. WBUR reports the law would include a provision mandating that, beginning in model year 2022, manufacturers that sell cars in Massachusetts be outfit them with a “standardized and open access platform” that would make data about the car’s performance available to the car owner as well as dealerships and independent repair shops. Conor Yunits is a spokesman for the Coalition for Safe and Secure Data, and he says the proposed bill would make drivers vulnerable to breaches of privacy. Yunits told The Horse Race if the bill were to pass, “That really exposes information to hackers, criminals, bad actors, foreign companies, anyone that’s looking to get real-time location data and other information on people that are driving their vehicles.”

Episode 106: PAC It Up, PAC It In

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

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

Episode 83: Merrily We Poll Along

The best podcast episodes on non-current politics. Covering topics such as universal basic income, democracy, poverty & justice and more. For anyone interested in learning more about politics that affect that world, not just now, but in the longer term. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

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