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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.
NEW: MARKEY'S MONEY-MAKING TWEET — Sen. Ed Markey raised more than $57,000 off a viral tweet over the weekend, netting what his campaign says was his best small-dollar fundraising day to date.
Emma Friend, a former staffer on Elizabeth Warren's presidential campaign, tweeted her support for Markey on Saturday, a few days after Warren left the presidential race. Markey is facing a tough primary challenge from Rep. Joe Kennedy III, and Kennedy outraised Markey by close to $1 million last quarter.
"Here is my #1 hot take as a newly-free Warren staffer: THE F------ CO-AUTHOR OF THE GODDAMN GREEN NEW DEAL MIGHT LOSE HIS SEAT IN THE SENATE TO A MODERATE AND YOU'RE ALL JUST SLEEPING ON IT," Friend wrote online. Her tweet garnered more than 55,000 likes and almost 10,000 retweets in two days.
The post quickly blew up on Twitter, and it also blew up Markey's ActBlue page. From when the tweet was posted around noon on Saturday to Monday morning at 10 a.m., Markey had raised $57,635 on the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue, according to campaign manager John Walsh. The total came from 1,953 contributors and the average contribution was $29.51, Walsh said.
From there, comedian Rob Delaney — who is based in the United Kingdom but was born in Boston — gave Markey another online boost. Delaney posted a video of Markey's 1976 congressional campaign ad on Twitter with a caption that's not appropriate for a morning newsletter. Delaney, an ardent Bernie Sanders supporter who has donated to Markey in the past, directed his followers to make a joint donation to Sanders and Markey on ActBlue.
Kennedy's campaign took Markey's weekend windfall as a chance to throw some shade at the incumbent senator, who has not taken Kennedy's challenge to sign a pledge to limit outside spending in the race.
"Hopefully these small dollar donations will help Senator Markey realize he doesn't need a Super PAC to prop up his campaign," Kennedy spokesperson Mike Cummings said. "We have the People's Pledge ready and waiting for his signature."
The Kennedy campaign has a couple of top former Warren advisers on its side — Lynda Tocci and Tracey Lewis are working with the Kennedy campaign.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.
TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito hold a coronavirus press conference at the State House. Rep. Seth Moulton is a guest on WGBH's "Morning Edition." Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins is a guest on "Radio Boston."
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 | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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- "As other states declare emergencies over coronavirus, Baker was on vacation," by Andrew Ryan and Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker cut short his family's Utah ski vacation and flew home Monday night as the fallout from coronavirus deepened, raising questions about Baker's handling of what has become a global crisis. Since Baker left Massachusetts Friday, the total confirmed coronavirus cases in Massachusetts quintupled to 41, and a growing number of states have declared public health emergencies, including Rhode Island, New Jersey, and New York.."
- "Boston cancels St. Patrick's Day parade in South Boston amid coronavirus fears," by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "The St. Patrick's Day Parade in South Boston scheduled for Sunday has been canceled amid rising numbers of coronavirus infections in Boston, Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced Monday. "This decision is being made out of an abundance of caution to ensure that we are doing what is needed to keep the residents of Boston safe and healthy," Walsh said in a news release that described the decision as a collaboration with state and city representatives and David Falvey of the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council. The spread of coronavirus has prompted the cancellation of mass gatherings like sporting events throughout the world in recent weeks."
- "Advocates push for boost in welfare payments," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "FOR EIGHT YEARS, April Jennison was on and off welfare benefits, receiving a $491 grant each month to sustain herself and her daughter while living in Wareham, a small town at the northern tip of Buzzards Bay. She washed clothing in the bathtub because she couldn't afford to go to a laundromat. She sometimes ate one meal a day so her daughter would have food. She debated whether it was better to keep her daughter in a wet diaper or let her run around at home without one because they were so costly."
- "Rodrigues: Market Slump Could Weigh on State Revenues," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "With the stock market plummeting Monday on fear of the spreading coronavirus, Senate budget chief Michael Rodrigues said he had already had two meetings about the outbreak to start his week, and expected the conversation to continue. Rodrigues, who is in the process of assembling a state budget for fiscal 2021 that will be released in May, said the Senate is exploring ways to ensure the state is as prepared for the spread of the virus as it can be. He said there's also a risk that if the situation does not stabilize, it could impact state revenues."
- "Unions Protest Job Cuts Outside MBTA Board Meeting," by Sam Doran, State House News Service: "A new campaign pushing back against cuts to the MBTA maintenance workforce launched Monday with a protest outside the Transportation Building ahead of a T board meeting. "Hundreds of workers" must be hired in order to "put the MBTA back on the tracks," MetroBTC secretary-treasurer Brian Doherty said. Through public records requests, the Safe Transit Now campaign identified a 17.5 percent reduction in a basket of employee groups - electricians, sheet metal workers, painters, pipefitters and carpenters, among them - from 407 workers in 2014 to 336 last year."
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| FROM THE HUB |
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- "Pelosi talks Dow, coronavirus at Northeastern event Monday," by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: "US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared at a "Women Who Empower" talk at Northeastern University on Monday, criticizing the White House administration's response to the coronavirus outbreak as the Dow plummeted. "What we know about the Dow is they want certainty. They want to have confidence that there is a plan and I think that what is happening there is a reflection of the lack of confidence," Pelosi said. "We would hope that what is coming out of the White House would be more consistent with what the health advisors are putting forth. And we're very proud that we were able to pass last week in a strong bipartisan way an $8.3 billion legislation to help address this challenge."
- "Cancel or Carry On? Coronavirus Concerns Are Cutting Into Boston's Convention Crowds," by Adrian Ma, WBUR: "Worries over the coronavirus have begun to cut into Boston's convention and conference crowds. In the past week, organizers postponed a seafood exhibition, an oncology symposium and a journalism conference — all slated to be held this month — citing concerns over the the coronavirus. "It was a really difficult decision," said Sarah Kess, associate director of the Power of Narrative Conference, which is sponsored in part by WBUR. On Friday, organizers made the decision to cancel the annual event."
- "Campbell subpoenas Police Department for stop-and-frisk data," by Gal Tziperman Lotan, Boston Globe: "Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell filed a subpoena with the city Monday morning demanding data the Boston Police Department had not made available to the public since 2017 about how and where officers stop, search, and record observations of city residents. The subpoena came a few days after a Suffolk Superior Court judge declined to dismiss a lawsuit claiming the department regularly uses delays to skirt the state's public records law. The Police Department had in the past released 10 years of data about the encounters, which officers refer to as field interrogations and observations."
- "Boston tops INRIX study of nation's most congested cities for second year in row," by Sean Philip Cotter and Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "We're still number one! Boston continues to hold the dubious distinction of having the worst traffic in the United States, fending off the likes of Los Angeles, New York and Chicago to top traffic data analyst INRIX's list of congested cities for the second year in a row. The average driving commuter in Boston spends 149 hours a year — more than six days — in traffic, according to the INRIX 2019 Global traffic Scorecard, a mark that's worst in the worst in the country."
- "Progressives sweep Wards 1, 18," by Kenneal Patterson, Bay State Banner: "While much of Boston remained fixated on the political fates of presidential front runners Joseph Biden, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren on Super Tuesday, local political activists took note of sweeping changes on the local level. Boston and Massachusetts may have leaned centrist, but three of Boston's ward committees veered left, with activists running under a "fresh slate" banner sweeping Wards 1 and 18, and gaining seats on Ward 9. The new committee members have vowed to bring greater accessibility and accountability to their organizations, which serve as the grassroots level of the state's Democratic Party."
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| PRIMARY SOURCES |
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- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: "Newton Firefighters Association Local 863 Endorses Becky Grossman for Congress," from the Grossman campaign: "Today, Becky Grossman's campaign announced that, in a unanimous vote, the Newton Firefighters Association Local 863 has endorsed her candidacy to represent Massachusetts' 4th Congressional District. "Becky has a deep appreciation for and understanding of the sacrifices we make every day,"said Marc Rizza, Newton Firefighters Association President."As a Newton City Councilor, she has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the local firefighters, and I know she'll demonstrate that same level of commitment to firefighters everywhere as a member of Congress."
- "Record turnout for state's Democratic presidential primary," The Associated Press: "A record number of Massachusetts voters showed up to participate in last week's Democratic presidential primary, the secretary of state's office said Monday. A total of 1,417,498 ballots were cast in the contest. The previous record number of votes cast in a Democratic presidential primary in Massachusetts was in 2008 when 1,352,157. Hillary Clinton defeated Barack Obama in that primary."
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| ALL ABOARD |
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- "What about riding the T?" by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: "Commuters on the T, especially at rush hour, are often packed into crowded subway cars, where one uncovered cough could reach a lot of people. The CDC recommendation would appear to mean older people and those with serious underlying medical conditions like heart and lung disease — the groups it says are higher risk — avoid settings like the T, if at all possible. At this point, no explicit recommendations have been issued by the T or state public health authorities on the issue. The T says it has increased its sanitation schedule in response to the coronavirus outbreak, with all buses, trolleys, subway cars, commuter rail coaches, ferries, and RIDE vehicles disinfected on a daily basis."
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| HEALTH CHECK |
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- "Dunkin' joins Starbucks in refusing to refill reusable cups, citing coronavirus concerns," by Matt Berg, Boston Globe: "Do you look forward to your morning coffee routine? The new coronavirus may even affect that, too. Dunkin' will temporarily refuse to refill customers' reusable cups at all shops nationwide, citing "public health concerns related to the coronavirus," the company said in a statement. "Dunkin' takes its job of keeping people running very seriously. While we offer a refillable cup program as an option at participating restaurants nationwide, we believe it is right to take safety precautions," the statement said."
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| DAY IN COURT |
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- "Federal judge grants April showdown between embattled judge, prosecutors," by Andrew Martinez, Boston Herald: "Attorneys for embattled judge Shelley Joseph will get the chance to push to dismiss charges in the obstruction of justice case against her after a federal judge scheduled a hearing next month over objections by prosecutors. The hearing, scheduled for April 2, is the latest in a lengthy battle with prosecutors over Joseph's motion to dismiss, to access grand jury instructions and grand jury minutes. Feds accuse Joseph, an Newton District Court judge, and retired court officer Wesley MacGregor of helping an illegal immigrant escape a courthouse to avoid an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in 2018."
- "Columbia Gas pleads guilty to violating safety rules," by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: The head of Columbia Gas of Massachusetts pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to causing a series of natural gas fires and explosions that ripped through the Merrimack Valley more than a year ago. The guilty plea, entered in U.S. District Court by Columbia Gas President Marc Kempic on behalf of the utility, follows a settlement between Columbia Gas and it's parent company, NiSource, with U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling. The deal allows the company and its executives to avoid criminal prosecution for violating the federal Pipeline Safety Act in exchange for paying a $53 million fine and selling Columbia Gas of Massachusetts to a third-party."
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| WARREN REPORT |
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- "Progressive group that endorsed Warren switches to Sanders," by Holly Otterbein, POLITICO: "The Working Families Party, a major left-wing group that supported Sen. Elizabeth Warren for president, is throwing its weight behind Sen. Bernie Sanders. Progressives hope the eleventh-hour endorsement, which comes days after Warren dropped out of the race, will help unite the left wing of the Democratic Party. But Sanders faces serious headwinds as former Vice President Joe Biden surges in the polls and racks up endorsements from former presidential candidates and other top elected Democrats. Warren herself has yet to issue an endorsement amid tensions between her, Sanders and their supporters that have escalated for months."
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| MOULTON MATTERS |
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- "Gun violence prevention advocate announces run for Congress," Gloucester Daily Times: "The co-founder of the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, Angus McQuilken, kicked off his campaign for the 6th Congressional District seat over the weekend at his campaign headquarters in Beverly. McQuilken, a Democrat who lives in Topsfield, announced his intention to run for the seat this past November, to unseat incumbent Congressman Seth Moulton, a Salem Democrat. Moulton, a veteran who was elected to Congress in 2014, ran for the Democratic nomination for president last year until dropping out of the race."
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| MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS |
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- "Boston's First Retail Cannabis Shop Opens To The Public," by Steve Brown, WBUR: "The city of Boston's first adult-use retail cannabis store opened for business Monday in the Grove Hall area of Dorchester. About three dozen people were in line when Pure Oasis opened its doors to the public. Cashiers inside the Blue Hill Avenue shop were kept busy ringing up sales for customers. Pure Oasis currently has 34 employees, and they expect to hire 16 more. It's the first black-owned applicant to open in the state, a source of pride for co-owner Kevin Hart."
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "SHAMROCKED," — Globe: "Fear, cancellations spread," "For stocks, worst day since '08 crash," "St. Patrick's parade nixed; virus cases rise." |
| FROM THE 413 |
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- "Smith Bulb Show, other events canceled over coronavirus concerns," by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "With thousands of visitors expected at the Spring Bulb Show at Smith College, the annual event became the latest to be nipped in the bud to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. The college announced on Sunday that, through at least May 1, it will limit large gatherings on campus by requiring that public events with an expected attendance of 50 or more people be canceled or postponed; some programs may be attended online instead. As of Monday, there is one confirmed case of COVID-19 in Massachusetts and 40 identified "presumptive positive" cases, which are still pending confirmation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."
- "State confirms five cases of coronavirus in Berkshire County," by Amanda Drane, The Berkshire Eagle: "There are now five presumptive cases of the new coronavirus in Berkshire County, according to the state Department of Public Health. The DPH released the new figures around 4 p.m. Monday. The patients are in stable condition and some will be discharged soon, Berkshire Medical Center said in a statement. All Berkshire cases appear to stem from community transmission, meaning they are not associated with foreign travel. Statewide, 41 people have been confirmed or presumed positive."
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| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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- "Lowell St. Patrick's Day Dinner postponed due to coronavirus," by Luke O'Roark, The Lowell Sun: "The annual St. Patrick's Day Dinner scheduled for Thursday night has been postponed to a later date due to mounting fears over the coronavirus, The Sun has learned. The St. Patrick's Day annual dinner includes Irish-based entrees and well-known officials from the city meeting at the Grand Ballroom at UMass Lowell Inn and Conference Center. The event was to begin at 5 p.m."
- "Coronavirus anxiety means a business boost for some in MetroWest," by Henry Schwan, MetroWest Daily News: "Carmen Guallpa made sure she was fully protected against coronavirus. She donned a surgical mask and rubber gloves Monday morning while cleaning a Sudbury home for MaidPro, a franchise cleaning company. "I don't want to know too much (about coronavirus)," she said. "I don't want to be scared." MaidPro Metro West where Guallpa works is located in Hopkinton, and owner Judy Briggs wants staff to wear gloves and wash their hands constantly, because "there's a lot of fear out there" about coronavirus."
- "Drivers flouting hands-free law get warnings during grace period," by Brian Lee, Telegram & Gazette: "In the first week the hands-free driving law was in place, Worcester police officers stopped about 300 motorists for using their cellphones while behind the wheel. Luckily for the scofflaws, the officers were opting for verbal warnings and not fines. Separately, state troopers issued 578 warnings to drivers in the first week after the law went into effect on Feb. 23, according to the state police. After signing the law, Gov. Charlie Baker afforded a grace period for enforcement of monetary penalties through March."
- "Coronavirus, oil markets push gas under $2 a gallon in Massachusetts; here's where to fill up cheap," by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: "A gallon of regular gas dropped below $2 at some stations around Greater Springfield Monday and rates elsewhere are expected to follow as global oil prices plummet in response to a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia and the spread of the new coronavirus. According to Monday's report by AAA on its national survey of gas station prices, Springfield and the Pioneer Valley have the lowest gas prices in the state."
TRANSITIONS - Scott Steele, former managing partner of JMH Capital, joins the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology as dean of finance and operations.
FOR YOUR COMMUTE: BARN BURNER - For a special live taping of the Horse Race podcast, hosts Steve Koczela, Jennifer Smith and Stephanie Murray partnered with the hosts of the Deep Democracy podcast, Gina Christo and Wilnelia Rivera for a post-Super Tuesday episode. Will Rasky of Rasky Partners talked about Joe Biden's Super Tuesday success, and where he goes from here. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud.
Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.
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