 | BY KELLY GARRITY , MIA MCCARTHY AND LISA KASHINSKY | | GRANITE STATE OF MIND — When former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld ran for president against Donald Trump in 2020, his goal was to take the then-incumbent out in New Hampshire, a state where multiple incumbent presidents have suffered serious political blows from which they never recovered. “The plan was to get 30 percent in the primary in New Hampshire and cause Trump to stumble the same way Pat Buchanan did with the first President Bush in 1992,” Weld told Playbook during a recent interview. “I was right there for that, and I saw the impact even 30 percent in the primary could have.” Four years later, another Republican is looking to do the same. Nikki Haley, who’s earned a well-timed bump in the polls, boosted by the endorsement of the state’s popular GOP Gov. Chris Sununu, has some extra wind at her back that Weld never did. Though Trump is essentially running as an incumbent again, he doesn’t currently wield the power or the megaphone of the White House. And Haley’s running against a version of Trump that is facing down dozens of criminal charges. Trump’s baggage, Weld said, could be his undoing. “I'm not sure Mr. Trump lasts in this election at all. I used to run the criminal side of the Justice Department in Washington, so I probably have a better insight into the enormity of the problems he's gonna face on account of the two federal indictments,” Weld said. “The two federal indictments, which are filled with 20-year felonies, exposing Mr. Trump to hundreds of years in prison. That's not a bagatelle.” Weld, a two-term Republican governor who won in deep blue Massachusetts, is a relic of a Republican Party that has evolved around Trump and his MAGA movement — which is probably why the former governor is now working with No Labels, the centrist group eyeing a late-entry bipartisan ticket in 2024, he told Playbook. Playbook caught up with Weld in New Hampshire recently, where he joined Saint Anselm’s “Politics and Eggs” breakfast featuring Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). Here’s what he had to say: The conversation has been edited for length and clarity. What do you think of the current Republican primary candidates? Well, I like Governor Haley. I like Governor Christie. His decision to drop out was probably a realistic move. But I think he made a real contribution. So, he’s going to be heard from going forward. He spoke truth to power, as far as Trump is concerned. Are you planning to back Haley, now that Christie is out of the race? Well, I'm working with No Labels. We'll see if that 60 percent of the electorate who say they want a third party, see whether that translates to votes, as opposed to being “open to” a third party. If it translates to votes, I think No Labels will make a move. Massachusetts is one of the states challenging Trump’s ballot eligibility. Do you think Trump should be removed from the ballot? I’m not there with bells on for removing people from ballots just in general. But I'm talking with some people in Washington who filed friend of the court briefs on all these 14th Amendment cases, and I'm still discussing it with them. I guess you can put me down as undecided. As somebody who ran against Trump, any advice for the candidates currently facing him? I don't think I would draw on my own experience to look for advice. I would say let's think about what's best for the country. And if you think putting somebody in who says he's going to punish his enemies and no one can stop him would be best for the country, then by all means vote for him. I don't happen to agree with that. GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . Happy New Hampshire primary-eve! TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll announce affordable housing grants at 10 a.m. in Jamaica Plain. Healey and Driscoll swear in Ben Adeyinka as an associate justice on the Housing Court at 1 p.m. at the State House. Healey, Driscoll, Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano hold a leadership meeting at 2 p.m. at the State House. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu testifies on behalf of a home rule petition that would restructure the BPDA at 11 a.m. at the State House. Tips? Scoops? Birthdays? Email us: lkashinsky@politico.com , kgarrity@politico.com and mmcarthy@politico.com.
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| | A message from Equinor: The energy transition is the defining opportunity of our time and Massachusetts is helping lead the way. At Equinor, we are determined to use our competence, skills, and innovative spirit to continually search for solutions that will advance the energy transition. Our ambition is to break new ground, create lasting value, and supply energy to a thriving world while achieving net zero by 2050. Discover more about Equinor at www.equinor.com/USA. | | | |  | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
| HOUSE WAYS IN — Massachusetts House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz has joined the chorus of legislative leaders who are saying tax hikes are off the table to fund Gov. Maura Healey ’s ambitious agenda amid fiscal headwinds. “I think the speaker said it best — we'd be schizophrenic by saying we would be lowering taxes one day and then raising taxes the next,” the North End Democrat said during a Sunday interview on WCVB’s “On the Record,” borrowing a colorful line House Speaker Ron Mariano first used when asked about the possibility of raising taxes following Healey’s State of the Commonwealth speech. Healey has until Wednesday to file her budget, which she has promised will be fiscally responsible. But “the devils will be in the details, and we’ll have to see how it plays out when they file their budget and what we can and can’t afford,” Michlewitz said. MEANWHILE: “Healey moves to allow cities and towns to raise taxes on hotels, meals, cars,” by Matt Stout, The Boston Globe: “Governor Maura Healey, who this week swore off raising state taxes, unveiled sweeping legislation Friday that would allow towns and cities to raise their taxes on hotel stays, cars, and meals by as much as 33 percent to help bolster their local coffers. … The proposals are notable, not only because it would mean Massachusetts residents could pay more for a night out or a hotel stay, but because Healey said a day prior that she would not pursue any tax or fee increases this year to help balance the state budget.” — “37 Massachusetts communities to get disaster aid for last year’s flooding,” by The Associated Press: “Thirty-seven Massachusetts communities damaged by flooding last year will be getting a share of $10 million in disaster relief funding, the governor’s administration said Saturday.” — “Healey backs Everett soccer stadium,” by Gintautus Dumcius and Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Beacon: “The team looking to bring a soccer stadium to Everett’s waterfront appears to have a new center forward who could help them score a win: Gov. Maura Healey. The proposal for the 25,000-seat stadium ran into trouble at the State House last year. Language meant to speed the project along was added into the Senate version of a closeout budget bill, but it was dropped from the final version of the bill, as the House’s lead negotiator, Boston Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, said there were ‘unanswered questions’ about the environmental impact, and acknowledged concerns from the owners of nearby TD Garden about potential competition from the stadium.” — “MassDOT’s $310K Office of Possibility now ‘The Lab,’ still tasked with exploring new ideas,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald
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| WRITE-IN BIDEN GETS BOSTON BUMP — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu became the latest high-profile Bay Stater to head north to help President Joe Biden avoid an embarrassing finish in New Hampshire’s looming presidential primary. Wu and an entourage from Massachusetts joined Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.) and Granite Staters in trying to convince voters to write in the president’s name on Tuesday, after he passed on putting his name on the primary ballot amid an intraparty spat over the order of this year’s nominating calendar. In Nashua, Wu warned (without naming the former president) of what a second Donald Trump term would mean for Boston — and for democracy. “We barely survived that period of time as a country, as a democracy,” Wu told the group who had gathered at a local restaurant to pick up signs with sample ballots for volunteers to hold outside polling places on Election Day. — Also spotted in New Hampshire: state Sen. Sal DiDomenico , Boston City Councilors Sharon Durkan and Ben Weber and Boston Housing Authority Administrator Kenzie Bok . The SPOILERS step forward!
NO LABELS IS A SCAM!
DESANTIS BACKS DOWN — A day after canceling morning cable news hits in favor of a planned “meet and greet” in Manchester, New Hampshire, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he was ending his presidential campaign . The news, which DeSantis delivered in a pre-taped spot recorded in his home state (released just before his favored NFL team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, took the field) came as a shock to few in the political world who had watched the wheels come off the Florida governor’s campaign even before he lost in all of Iowa’s 99 counties in last week’s caucuses. On his way out, DeSantis announced he was endorsing Trump — despite Trump’s regular mockery of him on the campaign trail. Trump played nice, congratulating DeSantis for running “a really good campaign” during a rally in Rochester Sunday night and saying he “appreciate[s]” the governor’s support. — Kimberly Leonard , Gary Fineout and Sally Goldenberg on the long, slow collapse of the DeSantis campaign . WITH RON GONE — With DeSantis out, Nikki Haley gets the two-person race she wanted in New Hampshire. But his exit, and his endorsement of Trump, likely make it harder for her to topple — or at the very least, injure — him here, Lisa and Natalie Allison report . Chris Sununu has destroyed his credibility! "R" voters are conspicuously uninformed, refuse to research, refuse to ask questions. NOT A SINGLE PERSON is asking about NIKKI HALEY's history! Refuses to release her TAX RETURNS. What's she hiding? What's the source of her WEALTH? As Governor, NIKKI HALEY raised taxes. NIKKI HALEY is a DIRTY ENERGY KOCH SOCK PUPPET: Bought & Paid For! How about the $9 BILLION Hole in the Ground that ratepayers are funding? SOUTH CAROLINA SPENT $9 BILLION TO DIG A HOLE IN THE GROUND AND THEN FILL IT BACK IN
POLL — "With DeSantis out, Suffolk/Globe tracking poll shows Trump continues to lead Nikki Haley in N.H. primary," Suffolk University/The Boston Globe/NBC10
Here’s where the (remaining) candidates are today: DONALD TRUMP — holds a rally at the Margate Resort in Laconia at 9 p.m. NIKKI HALEY — hosts a meet and greet with Commissioner Ken Merrifield at the VFW in Franklin at 10 a.m. and a rally at Tuscan Village North in Salem at 6 p.m. DEAN PHILLIPS — holds a town hall in Manchester at 6 p.m. MARIANNE WILLIAMSON — holds a town hall at Heartsong in Hooksett at 7 p.m.
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| | A message from Equinor:  
| | | | | FROM THE HUB |
| — “Wu plans to extend fare free bus pilot,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Beacon: “At a Boston Civic Summit on January 13, [Boston Mayor Michelle] Wu said the free fare pilot on three MBTA bus routes has worked well over the last two years, with the routes attracting more riders than any other lines in the city. The pilot, with the city reimbursing the T for lost fare revenue, is currently scheduled to end on February 29.”
WALGREENS used bogus excuses to close other stores across the nation ! — “Residents and officials ‘not finished fighting’ Walgreens closures in Boston’s communities of color,” by Tori Bedford, GBH News.
| | 2024 WATCH |
| — “Peake announces retirement from long-held legislative seat,” by Tim Wood, The Cape Cod Chronicle: “State Representative Sarah Peake announced Friday that she will not seek re-election when her current term ends Dec. 31. The Provincetown Democrat is in her ninth term representing the Fourth Barnstable District, which stretches from Harwich to the Cape’s tip. She said she is announcing her retirement now to give potential candidates for the seat ample notice that it will be open.” — “Carey exits for county bid, prompting the 413’s first legislative race of 2024,” by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass Politics & Insight: “Easthampton State Rep Daniel Carey’s announced he would not seek a fourth term. A lifelong native of the city, Carey will instead seek the open Clerk of Courts position for Hampshire County. … [One] candidate, Easthampton Town Council President Homar Gomez, has confirmed a bid for [the seat].”
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| | YOUR GUIDE TO EMPIRE STATE POLITICS : From the newsroom that doesn’t sleep, POLITICO's New York Playbook is the ultimate guide for power players navigating the intricate landscape of Empire State politics. Stay ahead of the curve with the latest and most important stories from Albany, New York City and around the state, with in-depth, original reporting to stay ahead of policy trends and political developments. Subscribe now to keep up with the daily hustle and bustle of NY politics. | | | | | | | THE LOWELL CONNECTOR |
| — “$100K investigation: No unlawful hiring practices by Lowell Public Schools,” by Melanie Gilbert, The Lowell Sun: “ The investigative report by the Boston-based law firm of Brody, Hardoon, Perkins & Kesten, which cost more than $100,000, suggested that the district move forward to address deficient, inconsistent and unclear guidance in district personnel policy to strengthen the overall employment directives and climate.” — “UMass Lowell student advocates for bill to establish financial literacy requirements in Mass. schools,” by Peter Currier, The Lowell Sun.
| | THE LOCAL ANGLE |
| STEWARD invested heavily in EMERGENCY ROOMS! If you have an auto accident, they don't require pre-approval to run expensive tests and exhaust your PIP Coverage and they do! The better doctors have mostly left and gone elsewhere. STEWARD laid off older, highly qualified workers and hired newer, inexperienced, lower paid employees. STEWARD made MORTON the COVID hospital for the $$$ and ignored appropriate COVID protocols. It's time for a serious evaluation of the POOR CARE from these FOR PROFIT HOSPITALS!
— “Steward Health Care says financial difficulties jeopardize care at Mass. facilities,” by Deborah Becker, WBUR: “The operator of 9 Massachusetts hospitals says financial challenges are jeopardizing its ability to keep them running, which could leave patients struggling to access care and result in thousands of layoffs for health care workers. Steward Health Care System, a for-profit company that serves thousands of patients in Massachusetts, is in talks with the state to try and stay afloat.”
— “Classes canceled in Newton Monday as union, School Committee fail to reach accord,” by John Hilliard, The Boston Globe: “Classes in the city’s public schools will be canceled Monday, after striking educators and the School Committee failed to broker a deal for a new contract over the weekend, the city’s schools superintendent said in an email to parents Sunday night.” — “Is tutoring the answer to pandemic learning loss?,” by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Beacon: “As schools across the country face the daunting challenge of making up ground lost due to the Covid disruptions, one of the most promising strategies is an approach launched in Boston 20 years ago — on the top floor of a former auto parts store.”
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| | A message from Equinor: The energy transition is the defining opportunity of our time and Massachusetts is helping lead the way. Our world needs energy to keep moving forward — but it must be affordable reliable, and sustainable. We all have a role to play. At Equinor, we’re using our competence, skills, and innovative spirit to continually search for solutions that will advance the energy transition. Our ambition is to break new ground, create lasting value, and supply energy to a thriving world while achieving net zero by 2050. We're delivering safe, secure, and reliable energy while creating jobs and investing in a more sustainable US energy system. But this is only the beginning. Discover more about Equinor at www.equinor.com/USA. | | | | | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH |
| HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Lauren DeFilippo, state Rep. Josh Cutler, Massachusetts Gaming Commissioner and former state Rep. Brad Hill, Sarah Mattero, Carson McGrath, Stephen Glick and Gail Shalan. 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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