 | By Kelly Garrity | HOT AIR — Sniping in New Hampshire’s Democratic primaries may come back to bite the party in the general election, but the increasingly bitter battles in the races to replace Republican Gov. Chris Sununu and Democratic Rep. Annie Kuster have been a boon for Boston’s media market. Former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig and New Hampshire Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington have gone back and forth on the airwaves in the run-up to next week’s election – and the Republican Governors Association seized the chance to slam both Democrats with its own ad , titled “Their Words.” All the air time has added up. Craig’s campaign has spent more than $1.6 million and Warmington has shelled out more than $1.2 million to run spots in the Boston/Manchester market (which covers the eastern part of Massachusetts and a slice of Vermont, in addition to southern New Hampshire), according to the media tracking firm AdImpact. While the candidates duke it out, the Democratic Governors Association-backed PAC Put New Hampshire First has poured more than $7.3 million to blanket the space with multiple ads attacking the race’s Republican front-runner, former Sen. Kelly Ayotte – whose own campaign has spent more than $5.5 million to get on the air here. Spending hasn’t quite reached the same level in NH-02, where Kuster-backed former Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern and former White House official Maggie Goodlander are locked in a heated matchup that will likely decide who serves as the district’s next member of Congress – but the race has featured its own advertising kerfuffle. VoteVets, a PAC backing Goodlander that supports Democratic veterans running for office, branded Van Ostern, who previously ran unsuccessfully for governor and secretary of state, a “perennial candidate” and criticized his business record. That prompted Kuster to film an attack ad on his behalf, going after Goodlander over questions about her residency. In addition to the more than $900,000 VoteVets has spent to boost her, Goodlander, who’s married to U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, has so far outspent Van Ostern on ads in the area, with $1.2 million to his roughly $750,000. The ads of course aren’t targeting the Bay State audience (even if it sometimes sounds like Ayotte is ); candidates are trying to get in front of the New Hampshire voters living in the southern part of their home state. But with less than a week until Granite Staters make their decision, get ready to start seeing more ads pop up on your screens here – and more Massachusetts politicians pop up across the border. GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . TODAY — Sen. Elizabeth Warren hosts a Senate forum on the threat of blast exposure to American servicemembers at 10 a.m. in Boston. Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll make an announcement on offshore wind at 11:45 a.m. at the State House. Healey is on GBH News’ “Boston Public Radio” at 1 p.m. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Superintendent Mary Skipper attend the BPS kindergarten celebration at 4:45 p.m. in Fort Point. THIS WEEKEND — Attorney General Andrea Campbell attends the 2024 Pride Worcester Festival at 3:45 p.m. in Worcester Saturday. SUNDAY SHOWS — Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Chrissy Lynch is on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Rep. Jake Auchincloss is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is on NBC10 Boston’s “At Issue” at 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: kgarrity@politico.com .
|  | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| *****STEWARD***** — “What's Mass. spending to keep Steward's hospitals afloat? At least $489 million,” by Elisabeth Harrison, WBUR: “State officials in Massachusetts confirmed Thursday they expect to provide more than $489 million over three years to help hospitals owned by the bankrupt, for-profit company Steward Health Care transition to new owners and keep serving patients. Some of that money has already flowed to the hospitals to help pay salaries and other expenses while Steward finalized sales agreements. A bankruptcy court judge in Houston approved the deals Wednesday, and they are scheduled to close by the end of this month.” — “Healey invests in early education through C3 funding,” by Melanie Gilbert, The Lowell Sun.
| | FROM THE HUB |
| — “50 years ago, Chinese students were an underserved afterthought in Boston's busing crisis,” by Phillip Martin, GBH News. — “Potential upside of more Boston liquor licenses? More local dining in underserved neighborhoods,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “Massachusetts lawmakers sent a bill to Gov. Maura Healey Thursday that would expand the number of liquor licenses in Boston, largely in diverse neighborhoods where most restaurants are not allowed to serve alcohol. The proposal, hammered out by negotiators from the House and Senate earlier this week, would add 225 new licenses. Of these, 195 would be neighborhood restricted. Restaurant industry leaders praised the bill as one that would solve a longstanding business equity problem.”
| | ON CAMPUS |
| — “UMass Amherst task force to present protest policies, guidelines to Faculty Senate,” by Liesel Nygard, MassLive: “A study group created by the University of Massachusetts Amherst chancellor will present policies, procedures and guidelines regarding campus demonstrations to the institution’s Faculty Senate next week. The Campus Demonstration Policy Taskforce began its work in June, following the arrest of over 130 people during pro-Palestinian protests last spring. Chancellor Javier Reyes made the decision to call in police from a number of agencies to end an unsanctioned protest over the war in Gaza.” — “Emerson restricts protest on campus as students return,” by Katie Cole, WBUR: “Emerson College issued new policies that restrict student protest on campus as the new school year begins. The last academic year ended with the arrest of 118 people at a pro-Palestinian protest encampment outside Emerson. … The policy, announced ahead of the start of classes this week, bans demonstrating on Boylston Place Alley, the site of the protests and encampment last spring. The alley is partially city property, Boston officials said in April.”
| | ON THE STUMP |
| CRYPTO SCAMMER CARPETBAGGING JOHN DEATON has LIED about SENATOR WARREN'S record, some of which may be blamed on that he is UNINFORMED & some may be blamed on his laziness, but the recent ad is beyond deliberately misleading..... CRYPTO IS BANNED IN CHINA & OTHER NATIONS! PRIVATE INSURANCE? JUST AS THE COMMONWEALTH IS ADDRESSING THE FOR PROFIT STEWARD DISASTER? THAT HAS TO BE THE DUMBEST CAMPAIGN ISSUE THESE CLOWNS CAN RAISE!
#1 MEDICARE ADVANTAGE was promoted as a solution, but has become a SCAM, denying claims, overcharging, and bilking the system.
ANTI-SEMITISM BILL - TRY FACTS! Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) called it a "ridiculous hate speech bill" that could inadvertently lead the religious speech of Christians to be censored.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia said she opposed it because it “could convict Christians of antisemitism for believing the Gospel that says Jesus was handed over to Herod to be crucified by the Jews.” Notably, the proposed legislation is civil, so a criminal conviction is not possible.
However, the idea quickly spread in the far-right community, with Charlie Kirk, a Republican activist, asking rhetorically on social media, “Did the House of Representatives just make parts of the Bible illegal?” Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson responded, saying “yes” and “The New Testament.”Other hard-right opponents of the bill included Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona and Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona. The bill text also drew sharp criticism from some Democrats, who argued it is too broad and infringes on free speech rights. Seventy Democrats voted against the bill in the House along with 21 Republicans. Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, a Jewish lawmaker who described himself as a “deeply committed Zionist,” urged his colleagues to vote against the “misguided” bill because it “threatens to chill constitutionally protected speech.” “Speech that is critical of Israel – alone – does not constitute unlawful discrimination. By encompassing purely political speech about Israel into Title VI’s ambit, the bill sweeps too broadly.” He opted to vote against it. He was joined by Democratic Rep. Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts, who said in a statement that he didn’t support it because he believed it to be unconstitutional.
THE LEGISLATION IS POORLY CRAFTED & IT MISREPRESENTS THAT THIS IS SYNONYMOUS WITH SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL. IT IS INTENDED TO SILENCE PROTESTS AGAINST THE GAZA GENOCIDE & COULD BE EMPLOYED TO TARGET CHRISTIANS. READ THE OPPOSITION IN THE HOUSE. WILL SUSSMAN IS A NAIVE TURD FABRICATING CONTROVERSY WHERE NONE EXISTS.
TRAIL MARKERS — The PAC backing GOP Senate candidate John Deaton went up with a TV ad Wednesday morning, hours after Deaton secured the nomination. The 30-second spot , titled “Differences,” actually opens highlighting two similarities between Deaton and Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren: “Both oppose [former President Donald] Trump. Both are pro-choice on abortion,” the ad’s narrator says. But it’s clear Warren plans to make her stance on abortion and access to reproductive care like IVF a point of contrast with her opponent as she seeks another term. “American women have had just about enough of men who come in and talk out of both sides of their mouths about, oh yeah, they're big-deal Republicans, and they want that extremist base to support them. Oh, but if they're saying something that's unpopular on reproductive care, they'll just kind of meander on," Warren told Playbook when asked about the comparison. “We're not doing that." — “‘The incumbency advantage is real’: In Mass. primary, fraction of challengers succeed,” by Samantha J. Gross, The Boston Globe: “Once again, Massachusetts held a primary election where, as in many past years, the action was hard to find. Just three candidates seeking to unseat incumbent officeholders prevailed on Tuesday: a Concord Democrat toppled a 25-year veteran of the Governor’s Council, a 24-year-old activist unseated an incumbent state representative in Lowell, and a Republican ousted an 11-term incumbent by running to the right. One high-ranking Democrat, Marjorie Decker, faces a potential recount after democratic socialist Evan MacKay fell just 41 votes short. But those races were the exceptions that proved the rule, so to speak, in a state where cycle after cycle, most incumbents go unchallenged.” — “Springfield voting system given ‘clean bill of health’ despite inactive voting list disparities,” by Jeanette DeForge, The Springfield Republican. — “Batch of 705 Lowell mail-in, early votes went uncounted in primary, will be counted publicly Friday morning,” by Peter Currier, The Lowell Sun. — “Between Incumbents’ Primary Wins, Williams Squeaks Relative to Gomez’s Roar,” by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass Politics & Insight: “After a race that veered into mendacity and nastiness at its climax, Democratic State Senator Adam Gomez bulldozed primary challenger Ward 4 Councilor Malo Brown to again secure his party’s nomination for the Hampden Senate District. While the outcome is not a surprise, the numbers cement Gomez as a political force in the region. Brown’s boss, State Representative Bud Williams, fared better. However, his seven-point victory over Springfield educator Johnnie McKnight was a poor showing for a four-term incumbent who has held elective office in Springfield for 28 of the last 30 years.”
| | FROM THE DELEGATION |
| ****STEWARD***** — “Threat of contempt charges looms as federal lawmakers seek accountability from Steward CEO,” by Katie Lannan, GBH News: “A judge’s stamp of approval this week on the sale of most Steward Health Care hospitals in Massachusetts means the focus can now shift to getting answers for the people affected by the company’s bankruptcy, a union leader said Thursday.”
| | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN |
| — “Headaches ahead for the region’s power grid,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon: “The people who run the New England power grid always want to have enough electricity on hand to cover peak demand periods. Otherwise, something has to give. For years, the peak demand periods have occurred during the summer months and the amount of electricity needed has remained fairly steady and predictable. But a new study indicates all that’s going to change over the next 25 years, creating headaches for the grid operator, ISO New England, and challenges for policymakers seeking to address climate change.”
| | FROM THE 413 |
| — “Dalton Fire Chief Christian Tobin's administrative leave has been extended, allowing time for a third-party investigation,” by Matt Martinez, The Berkshire Eagle: “The Dalton Fire District has extended the administrative leave of Fire Chief Christian Tobin to allow time for a third-party investigation into complaints lodged against him. … Tobin was suspended with pay for four weeks after an Aug. 8 district meeting at which he faced allegations of staff mistreatment, sexual harassment and failure to acquire certifications. Thursday's meeting was meant to be a status update on the commissioners' own investigation and potential decisions on Tobin's long-term status.”
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| — “An overlooked result of the housing crisis? Renters stuck in shoddy apartments,” by Sam Turken, GBH News: “With affordable apartments in high demand across the state, housing experts say many renters have to settle for shoddy living conditions because landlords aren’t maintaining their units — and tenants have nowhere else to go.” ****STEWARD***** — “'Extremely challenging for us': Nashoba Valley hospital closure stresses fire departments,” by Henry Schwan, Telegram & Gazette: “Groton Fire Chief Arthur] Cheeks and other fire chiefs in communities around the shuttered Nashoba hospital lamented that it’s taking more time for their ambulances to take patients to other hospitals versus the quick turnaround when Nashoba was in business. In some cases, the towns are left with little or no coverage to handle other emergency calls while ambulances are out on the road traveling to other hospitals like Emerson Hospital in Concord, UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital in Leominster and St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua, New Hampshire.” — “Lower speed limit around the corner? Worcester City Council committee OKs move to 25,” by Toni Caushi, Telegram & Gazette. — “School Committee members oppose cellphone ban,” by Jim Sullivan, Newburyport Daily News: “A citizen-driven effort to ban cellphones from public schools may have a tough time getting past the School Committee after two of the seven board members came out against the proposal this week. ‘I will die on this hill,’ School Committee member Brian Callahan said. ‘If you don’t want your kid to be able to use a phone, don’t give your kid a phone. It’s 100% in every parent’s hands.’” — “Attleboro mayor's proposal for housing for seniors at Highland draws support from councilor, opposition from Heroux,” by George W. Rhodes, The Sun Chronicle: “Mayor Cathleen DeSimone’s proposal to build housing at Highland Park is getting support from at least one city council member, and even a local environmentalist, but her predecessor, Paul Heroux, says he doesn’t like the idea.”
| | DAY IN COURT |
| — “Mass. court data shows disparities in prostitution charges,” by Todd Wallack, WBUR.
| | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH |
| HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Rep. Bill Keating , Warren alum and MBTA chief communications officer Gabrielle Mondestin , former MA-03 candidate Rick Green, Curt Nickisch, senior editor at Harvard Business Review; Andover Town Manager Andrew Flanagan, Ben Hammer, Dave Vittorini and New Hampshire Senate Democratic Leader Donna Soucy. Happy belated to Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.), who celebrated Thursday. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Rep. Seth Moulton alum Eric Kanter and Maralee Schwartz , who celebrate Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-ers Jillian Fennimore , communications director for Gov. Maura Healey; Jess Tocco of A10 Associates, Lenore Cho and Andrei Berman. 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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