Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Top Dems divided on Israel

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Top Dems divided on Israel

CONFLICT BREWING — Sen. Ed Markey stood atop the Boston Common bandstand yesterday and denounced Hamas' “heinous attacks” on Israel to cheers from the crowd that had assembled on the grassy expanse below. Then he called for a “de-escalation of the current violence” from both sides of the burgeoning conflict.

A chorus of boos rang out, continuing for nearly half a minute and twice interrupting Markey’s attempts to finish his speech at the rally in solidarity with Israel.

Yet for some on the far left — like the pro-Palestine Democratic Socialists of America chapters in Boston and Worcester that are calling for an end to U.S. military support for Israel — Markey’s calls for a diplomatic solution don’t go far enough.

Sen. Ed Markey speaks at a rally in solidarity with Israel on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023 on the Boston Common. | Isabel Leon/Boston Mayor's Office

Monday’s rally, organized by Jewish groups and attended by several prominent politicians, put on full display the divides among top Massachusetts Democrats — and the party writ large — about how to approach the escalating crisis in the Middle East that’s taken the lives of at least 11 U.S. citizens and hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians.

On one end of the spectrum are Markey and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, two of the most progressive members of the state’s all-Democratic congressional delegation. Both have called for de-escalation, and Pressley for an “immediate ceasefire.”

On the other end is Rep. Jake Auchincloss, a Jewish military veteran who called on President Joe Biden to send Israel “all military and diplomatic support necessary" in its fight against the Palestinian militant group. He whipped the Boston Common crowd into frenzied cheers as he declared that “de-escalation is not possible when [Hamas is] taking hostages” — a direct and unmistakable rebuke of what Markey had said minutes before.

Then there was Gov. Maura Healey, who said that “Massachusetts stands with Israel now and always.” There was Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who described the U.S. as a “strong and faithful ally" to Israel and said she's "committed to Israel’s safety and security.” There was Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who said “Boston stands with Israel." And there was Treasurer Deb Goldberg, who called for a "two-state solution."

Massachusetts Democrats’ disparate views serve as a microcosm of sentiments within the party that are poised to intensify should the fighting between Israel and Hamas drag on. And their divisions could become a headache for Biden, who is already facing widespread Republican criticism of his administration’s policies in the Middle East as he navigates another test of his leadership abroad and at home.

GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. A Department of Homeland Security team will be in the state today and tomorrow assessing the migrant crisis and ways to provide more federal support, DHS officials confirmed to Playbook.

Ahead of the visit — which the Healey administration has been working to secure since mid-September — Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said his department is “considering [Healey's] recommendations” for regulatory changes to the work authorization process for migrants.

“We look forward to having the DHS team visit Boston this week to better understand the challenges the city and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are facing, and to make responsive recommendations as to how we continue to work together,” Mayorkas wrote in a Monday letter to Healey that was shared with Playbook. He also said, as the governor has, that “Congressional action is desperately needed” on immigration. Read the letter.

TODAY — Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll continue their tax-relief tour at 10:30 a.m. at the Northborough Senior Center and attend the annual Trooper George L. Hanna Awards at noon at Worcester’s Mechanics Hall. Driscoll speaks at 2023 Statewide Municipal Partnerships Conference at 9 a.m. at Holy Cross.

Auchincloss addresses The New England Council at 9 a.m. at the Hampshire House in Boston. Markey kicks off the Climate Beacon Conference at 9:30 a.m. at the New England Aquarium. Wu is on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” at 11 a.m. Rep. Seth Moulton is on WBUR’s “Radio Boston” at 11 a.m.

Tips? Scoops? Meeting with DHS this week? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com .

GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR

— “Harvard students blaming Israel for Hamas attacks draws political backlash,” by Andrew Zhang, POLITICO: “Some of Harvard University’s most prominent political alumni are criticizing the school for not condemning a student-led statement that blamed Israel for the surprise Hamas attack over the weekend.”

That includes Rep. Seth Moulton , who said in a statement that he “cannot recall a moment when I’ve been more embarrassed by my alma mater.”

— “‘Tragedy and trauma’ Brandeis professor’s daughter, son-in-law killed in Israel,” by Talia Lissauer and Nick Stoico, Boston Globe.

— "Supporters of Palestine met by pro-Israel counterprotesters in Cambridge, Massachusetts," by Shaun Chaiyabhat, WCVB.

— “What war? Trump is busy talking about whales, weightlifting and the Patriots,” by Lisa Kashinsky and Sally Goldenberg, POLITICO: “The attack on Israel may have been consuming much of official Washington. But in the small auditorium in a performing arts center in Wolfeboro, N.H., where Trump rallied his base of voters on Monday, it was not topic one, two or even 13.”

DATELINE BEACON HILL

ICYMI — Lawmakers restored funding in the state budget for a youth mental health text line, nonprofit security grants and prostate cancer research as part of their overrides of Gov. Maura Healey ’s vetoes.

YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS

POLLS ARE OPEN — Preliminary municipal election season comes to a close today with mayoral contests in Agawam, Gardner and Marlborough.

Voters are also heading to the polls in the special primary election for the central and western Massachusetts state Senate seat formerly held by Anne Gobi , who's now the state's rural affairs director. State Rep. Peter Durant faces Bruce Chester in the GOP primary. State Rep. Jon Zlotnik is unopposed on the Democratic side.

FROM THE HUB

2025 WATCH — The odds are “very, very high” that Michelle Wu will run for a second term leading Boston, the mayor told WBZ’s Jon Keller . “It's something that we as a family have yet to officially discuss in terms of an official reelection,” Wu said. “But I am working on many, many long-term projects in the city and hope to be around to have lasting impact.”

KENNEDY COMPOUND

INDEPENDENT STREAK — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is abandoning his bid for the Democratic nomination for president to run as an independent . The move, like Kennedy’s initial run against President Joe Biden , was quickly denounced by several of his family members including former Rep. Joe Kennedy II, Rory Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy and former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend , POLITICO’s Brittany Gibson and Andrew Zhang report.

Enter the “room where it happens”, where global power players shape policy and politics, with Power Play. POLITICO’s brand-new podcast will host conversations with the leaders and power players shaping the biggest ideas and driving the global conversations, moderated by award-winning journalist Anne McElvoy. Sign up today to be notified of new episodes – click here .

MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS

— “New head of Massachusetts Municipal Association views shelter crisis as top priority,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “A month into the role, Massachusetts Municipal Association Executive Director Adam Chapdelaine said creating a conduit between the Healey administration and local officials to find locations to prop up the state’s emergency shelter system is one his top priorities."

— “Shelter system also key for survivors of domestic violence,” by Jennifer Smith, CommonWealth Magazine: “The sudden spotlight on Massachusetts’ painfully strained shelter system — creaking under growing demand driven by new migrant arrivals — has mostly glanced past a group that was already struggling to find safe haven before the crunch hit ‘unsustainable’ levels. Survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse sit at the uneasy intersection of the system’s housing and welfare purposes.”

FROM THE 413

— “In Holyoke, frustration and resolve in the face of violence,” by Sean Cotter, Boston Globe: “The speakers at Sunday’s peace march did not personally know the pregnant woman who was struck by a stray bullet Wednesday as she rode a public transit bus. But one by one, through anger and tears, they shared the same message as she remained in the hospital where she lost the child she was carrying: The violence needs to stop, and the guns have to go. ... [Joshua] Garcia, the mayor, told the Globe he is planning to ask the City Council for $1 million to fund a plan that’s ‘heavy on enforcement.’"

— “Selena Santana, pregnant mother shot in Holyoke, describes bus ride during shooting,” by Dave Eisenstadter, MassLive.

— “Springfield’s high homicide number an outlier among large Mass. cities,” by Dave Eisenstadter, MassLive.

— “Following cyberattack, MGM admits $100M loss, offers credit monitoring to customers,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican.

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “Police watchdog decertifies 5 Mass. cops for misconduct and criminal convictions,” by Will Katcher, MassLive: “Four of the five officers were convicted on felony charges, making their decertification by the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission a formality. State law requires the board to decertify any officer who commits a felony.”

— "Harvard professor Claudia Goldin awarded Nobel economics prize for pioneering research on the workplace gender gap," by Shirley Leung and Macie Parker, Boston Globe.

IN MEMORIAM — “Jordan Levy, former Worcester mayor and radio show host, dies at 79,” by Mike Elfland and Craig S. Semon, Telegram & Gazette.

MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

LIVE FREE AND HOLD THE FITN PRIMARY — New Hampshire Democrats aren’t following Iowa’s lead in surrendering their first-in-the-nation nominating contest next year.

Democratic National Committee members on Friday declared New Hampshire “non-compliant” with its preferred primary calendar that would see the Granite State vote second on a shared date with Nevada. New Hampshire Democrats have less than 30 days to come up with a Plan B, POLITICO’s Elena Schneider and I report.

But, bound by existing state law, the Republicans who control state government and the secretary of state who sets the primary date, New Hampshire is far more likely to go rogue and hold an unofficial first primary on the Democratic side. President Joe Biden is unlikely to put his name on the ballot for that, and Democratic activists in the state told POLITICO they’ll decide in the next couple of weeks whether they’ll pursue a write-in campaign on his behalf.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

TRANSITIONS — Former Acting Gov. Jane Swift has been appointed to the National Assessment Governing Board , which oversees the Nation’s Report Card.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Harvard’s Laurence Tribe , former state Rep. Jen Benson , principal at TSK Associates; Brilee Weaver, Algirde Pipikaite, Tanveer Kathawalla, Conor Glasheen and Megan McCafferty . Happy belated to Monica Hinojos-Capes , who celebrated Monday.

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 .

Follow us on Twitter