maandag 16 juni 2025

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Canada comes to town

 


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Canada comes to town

NORTHERN ATTITUDE — Governors from New England and New York will head to the State House today to meet with top officials from six of Canada’s provinces to talk about how they can maintain their relationships as federal leaders fight over tariffs.

Gov. Maura Healey invited governors from New England plus New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and premiers from Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island to the Bay State last month. The meeting is part of an effort to “keep open lines of communication and cooperation and identify avenues to overcome the hardship of these uninvited tariffs and help our economies endure,” she wrote in the invitation.

Everyone on the invite list is participating, but Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte won’t be there themselves. Lamont, is sending Connecticut’s energy commissioner, Katie Dykes, in his place, and New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs Commissioner Taylor Caswell will be there on behalf of Ayotte, according to Healey’s office.

If you’ve been struggling to follow exactly where things stand with tariffs, you’re not alone. The on-again-off-again nature of them has been derided by Wall Street and memed by Democrats. 

The uncertainty on its own is “very harmful,” Peter Howe, a member of the New England-Canada Business Council’s board of directors, told Playbook.

“Your ability as a state or province to take action when there's a giant wave of tariffs — threatened, or in the works — that really is going to circumscribe how much you can actually do to affect trade,” he said.

Adding more question marks: Eleven states — including Connecticut, Maine and New York — sued the White House in April, claiming the tariffs essentially amount to hefty illegal taxes on Americans that were never approved by Congress. A ruling from the U.S. Court of International Trade striking down Trump’s tariffs was followed by a similar federal court ruling. But the Trump administration notched a win last week after a federal appeals court said that the tariffs could remain in place while the court determines their legality.

In the meantime, what can states and provincial leaders do to prepare?

“New England states can make a pitch that they remain very open and very eager to welcome Canadians,” Howe said. “That's an incredibly important message to get out because we're seeing the numbers drop across every mode — fewer Canadians, driving, flying, coming by other means into the United States.”

GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Tips, scoops, meeting with any Canadian officials? Hit me up: kgarrity@politico.com

TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey meets with other New England governors and Canadian premiers at noon at the State House. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll announces grant funding for affordable housing projects at 9:30 a.m. in Brockton. Sen. Ed Markey speaks at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce forum at 9:45 a.m. in Boston. Rep. Seth Moulton hosts a town hall at 6 p.m. in Tewksbury. Rep. Katherine Clark holds a forum on closing the gender wage gap and supporting the economic success of women at 6:30 p.m. in Boston. Rep. Ayanna Pressley hosts a town hall at 7 p.m. in Chelsea. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speaks at the city’s Youth Championship Sports Celebration at 5:15 p.m. downtown and hosts a celebration for 2025 Boston Marathon athletes who live in Boston at 6 p.m. downtown.

Did you know Playbook goes beyond the newsletter—with powerhouse new co-hosts at the mic? Tune in to The Playbook Podcast every weekday for exclusive intel and sharp analysis on Trump’s Washington, straight from Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns. Start listening now.


DATELINE BEACON HILL

‘HORRIFIED’ — The man suspected of killing Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and shooting Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman over the weekend was caught Sunday after authorities spent almost two days searching for him.

The man, Vance Boelter, was charged with two counts of murder and two of attempted murder, according to The Associated Pres s, after he allegedly impersonated a police officer and shot the lawmakers and their spouses in their homes.

Massachusetts lawmakers expressed shock and outrage over the shootings on Saturday:

— Gov. Maura Healey said she was “horrified” by the news. “Lawmakers and their loved ones getting shot for their beliefs is yet another sickening act of political violence in a country where it’s become all too common,” she said in a statement. “This is not normal. It is not who we are as Americans, and we must all condemn political violence in the strongest possible terms.”

— Senate President Karen Spilka called the shootings “political violence, pure and simple.”

“America’s founders envisioned a country where we address our differences through debate, not violence,” she said. “We must continue to use our voices to keep advocating for the country we dream to be, even as acts of political violence seem more common.”

— “I know that I speak for the entire Massachusetts House of Representatives when I say that I am appalled and heartbroken by the political violence that took the lives of Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark,” House Speaker Ron Mariano said.

“Political violence of any kind has no place in Americanor does the kind of inflammatory rhetoric that can often incite that violence,” he said.

— Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr described the shootings as “a direct affront to the principles of democracy and civil society.”

When violence enters our public life — whether in the streets, online or behind closed doors — it undermines the very fabric of our shared civic trust,” he said in a statement condemning the shootings.

RELATED — After one of the darkest days in state history, Minnesotans wonder: Is this who we are now? by Reid Forgrave, Sarah Ritter and Bob Timmons, The Minnesota Star Tribune.

ALSO RELATED — ‘Her mirthful eyes, her sharp humor’: Colleagues remember Melissa Hortman, assassinated at age 55 by Matthew Blake, MinnPost. 

MORE — Fact check: Did suspect in Minnesota shootings have close ties to Gov. Tim Walz? by Walker Orenstein, The Minnesota Star Tribune: “It’s true that Walz reappointed Boelter in 2019 to a workforce development advisory board, one that Hoffman also served on at the time. But the governor did not know Boelter, a source in his office said, and emphasized these are not appointments to a position in the governor’s office or Cabinet. Boelter was first appointed to the board in 2016 by then-Gov. Mark Dayton. Boelter’s friend and roommate David Carlson told reporters on Saturday that Boelter voted for President Donald Trump and was a ‘strong supporter’ of the president but was ‘hardly ever talking about politics lately.’”

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE — Republican House Minority Leader Brad Jones got a nod from MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale after he faced some criticism from his own party during the state budget debate.

“We fully support Leader Jones,” Carnevale said during an interview on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” that aired Sunday. “He was elected by his caucus and we think that he’s representing the caucus well in serving [the] Republican constituency.”

— Senate President Karen Spilka wants a school cellphone ban in place before new academic year by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Senate President Karen Spilka said she wants her chamber to approve a statewide ban on cellphones in public schools in the coming months in an attempt to put a proposal before Gov. Maura Healey before the start of the school year this fall.”

BOSTON HERALD PROPAGANDA RAG PAY WALL

— Head of ICE says Gov. Healey and Mayor Wu have ‘touted lawlessness’ by Matthew Medsgar, Boston Herald: “Federal immigration officials blasted Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu for touting ‘lawlessness’ in the aftermath of a wave of immigration enforcement in the state. The statement from ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons made direct criticism of Healey and Wu following the release of a Milford teen arrested on his way to volleyball practice by immigration officers looking for his dad."

BOSTON HERALD PROPAGANDA RAG PAY WALL

ICE GESTAPO TACTICS & LIES & LAWLESSNESS WERE REVEALED! 

POLITICAL HACK TODD LYONS WANTS TO PRETEND THE 'FALSE CLAIMS' MADE ABOUT THE FATHER DRIVING AT 100MPH WERE VALID EVEN THOUGH NO COURT RECORDS EXIST! 

ICE GESTAPO ZEALOTS LIKE TODD LYONS LIE! BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU BELIEVE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BELIEVE THE LAWLESS ZEALOTS! 


— Spilka compares ICE arrests to Adolf Hitler’s rise to power by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald.

BOSTON HERALD PROPAGANDA RAG PAY WALL

— Healey meets with recently detained Milford teen, gives him beaded rosary blessed by Pope Francis by Marcela Rodrigues, The Boston Globe. 


FROM THE HUB

— Boston City Council OKs commission to study office vacancies by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “The Boston City Council passed a resolution calling for the Wu administration to establish a Blue Ribbon Commission to address downtown office vacancies that have one watchdog warning of a nearly $2 billion budget shortfall in five years. The Council this week passed the non-binding resolution by a 12-0 vote, with one councilor, Sharon Durkan, voting present. The approval marks the second time the Council has indicated its support for such a commission.”

BOSTON HERALD PROPAGANDA RAG PAY WALL


AROUND THE STATE


NO KINGS! LOTS OF GREAT SHOTS! LOTS OF GREAT SIGNS!

— 
Dozens rally in 'No Kings' protest on Taunton Green by Daniel Schemer, The Taunton Daily Gazette.

excerpt: 

TAUNTON — "I'm terrified we're sliding into a dictatorship," said Beth Lortie, from Taunton, attendee of the "No Kings" protest, held on the Taunton Green on Saturday June 14. She also said prior to this year she never attended a protest in her life, but has attended five so far this year, with one of them being last month, also on the Green.

Not even rain and dreary skies could keep people from coming to the Taunton Green to express their opposition and disappointment with the current presidential administration as part of the nationwide No Kings protests.

In Taunton, around 40 or more protesters were in attendance during the time the Gazette was present early Saturday afternoon.

The “No Kings National Day of Mobilization” comes as protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Los Angeles have escalated after President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to the state.

Thousands of communities across the country scheduled No Kings demonstrations for June 14, which is also the same day as the Trump administration held a military parade in Washington, D.C. and the president's 79th birthday.

Michael Buckley, from Taunton, a veteran who said his three-year service, from 1968-1971, included a year spent in the Vietnam War, told the Gazette at the No Kings protest he considered Trump's military parade to be "a weak attempt by a coward and dictator" to get public praise and thought it was "an insult to service members."

Zachary Robey, from Taunton, attended the No Kings protest, with his bullhorn, on the Taunton Green, held on June 14, 2025.

Zachary Robey, from Taunton, attended the No Kings protest, with his bullhorn, on the Taunton Green, held on June 14, 2025.
Daniel Schemer
Kathryn Cunningham, a Taunton resident and member of the Taunton Democratic City Committee, attended the No Kings protest on the Taunton Green, held on June 14, 2025.
Kathryn Cunningham, a Taunton resident and member of the Taunton Democratic City Committee, attended the No Kings protest on the Taunton Green, held on June 14, 2025.
Daniel Schemer

From left: Bonnie Harmon, Normand Grenier, Dave Kraemer and Sheila Lynds, volunteers and staff from the Matthew Mission Food Pantry in Taunton, attend together the No Kings protest on the Taunton Green, held on June 14, 2025.
From left: Bonnie Harmon, Normand Grenier, Dave Kraemer and Sheila Lynds, volunteers and staff from the Matthew Mission Food Pantry in Taunton, attend together the No Kings protest on the Taunton Green, held on June 14, 2025.
Daniel Schemer

Various residents lined up along the sides of the Taunton Green to reactions of honking from drivers for the No Kings protest, held on June 14, 2025.
Various residents lined up along the sides of the Taunton Green to reactions of honking from drivers for the No Kings protest, held on June 14, 2025.
Daniel Schemer

Vietnam veteran Michael Buckley, from Taunton, attended the No Kings protest on the Taunton Green, held on June 14, 2025.
Vietnam veteran Michael Buckley, from Taunton, attended the No Kings protest on the Taunton Green, held on June 14, 2025.
Daniel Schemer

Some attendees of the No Kings protest on the Taunton Green on June 14, 2025, delined to provide their names.
Some attendees of the No Kings protest on the Taunton Green on June 14, 2025, delined to provide their names.
Daniel Schemer

Beth Lortie from Taunton attended the No Kings protest on the Taunton Green, which took place on June 14, 2025.
Beth Lortie from Taunton attended the No Kings protest on the Taunton Green, which took place on June 14, 2025.
Daniel Schemer

Some attendees of the No Kings protest on the Taunton Green on June 14, 2025, delined to provide their names.
Some attendees of the No Kings protest on the Taunton Green on June 14, 2025, delined to provide their names.
Daniel Schemer

Mija Almeida, from Taunton, attended the No Kings Protest on the Taunton Green, held on June 14, 2025.
Mija Almeida, from Taunton, attended the No Kings Protest on the Taunton Green, held on June 14, 2025.
Daniel Schemer

Christel Gilmore from Dighton attended the No Kings protest on the Taunton Green, which took place on June 14, 2025.
Christel Gilmore from Dighton attended the No Kings protest on the Taunton Green, which took place on June 14, 2025.
Daniel Schemer

— Brockton turns out for 'No Kings' rally by Amelia Stern, The Brockton Enterprise.  

excerpt: 

BROCKTON — “We don’t want no king in America. We want our rights,” Brockton activist Ollie Spears told The Enterprise at the No Kings protest in Brockton Saturday afternoon, June 14. “We see what’s happening to our neighbors. We see the cruelty. Our neighbors are scared. They can’t go to school. They can’t go to work.”

Brockton's "No Kings" protest was part of a No Kings National Day of Mobilization that drew millions of protesters across the nation rallying against many of the Trump administration's recent actions.

Donna Costa, one of the co-leaders of Brockton Indivisible, the organization in charge of the local “No Kings” protest, said more than a hundred people were expected to brave the rain Saturday, June 14, to stand outside the Brockton VA Medical Center to protest Trump administration policies before the protest was over.

A "No Kings" protest outside the Brockton VA Medical Center was part of a No Kings National Day of Mobilization that drew millions of protesters across the nation on Saturday, June 14, 2025, rallying against many of the Trump administration's recent actions.
A "No Kings" protest outside the Brockton VA Medical Center was part of a No Kings National Day of Mobilization that drew millions of protesters across the nation on Saturday, June 14, 2025, rallying against many of the Trump administration's recent actions.
Marc Vasconcellos/The Enterprise 
A "No Kings" protest outside the Brockton VA Medical Center was part of a No Kings National Day of Mobilization that drew millions of protesters across the nation on Saturday, June 14, 2025, rallying against many of the Trump administration's recent actions.
A "No Kings" protest outside the Brockton VA Medical Center was part of a No Kings National Day of Mobilization that drew millions of protesters across the nation on Saturday, June 14, 2025, rallying against many of the Trump administration's recent actions.
Marc Vasconcellos/The Enterprise
A "No Kings" protest outside the Brockton VA Medical Center was part of a No Kings National Day of Mobilization that drew millions of protesters across the nation on Saturday, June 14, 2025, rallying against many of the Trump administration's recent actions.
A "No Kings" protest outside the Brockton VA Medical Center was part of a No Kings National Day of Mobilization that drew millions of protesters across the nation on Saturday, June 14, 2025, rallying against many of the Trump administration's recent actions.
Marc Vasconcellos/The Enterprise
Deb Garland and Ollie J. Spears take part in a "No Kings" protest outside the Brockton VA Medical Center as part of a No Kings National Day of Mobilization that drew millions of protesters across the nation on Saturday, June 14, 2025, rallying against many of the Trump administration's recent actions.
Deb Garland and Ollie J. Spears take part in a "No Kings" protest outside the Brockton VA Medical Center as part of a No Kings National Day of Mobilization that drew millions of protesters across the nation on Saturday, June 14, 2025, rallying against many of the Trump administration's recent actions.
Marc Vasconcellos/The Enterprise
A "No Kings" protest outside the Brockton VA Medical Center was part of a No Kings National Day of Mobilization that drew millions of protesters across the nation on Saturday, June 14, 2025, rallying against many of the Trump administration's recent actions.
A "No Kings" protest outside the Brockton VA Medical Center was part of a No Kings National Day of Mobilization that drew millions of protesters across the nation on Saturday, June 14, 2025, rallying against many of the Trump administration's recent actions.
Marc Vasconcellos/The Enterprise
Sthefano Piassa and son Salandro, 5, take part in a "No Kings" protest outside the Brockton VA Medical Center as part of a No Kings National Day of Mobilization that drew millions of protesters across the nation on Saturday, June 14, 2025, rallying against many of the Trump administration's recent actions.
Sthefano Piassa and son Salandro, 5, take part in a "No Kings" protest outside the Brockton VA Medical Center as part of a No Kings National Day of Mobilization that drew millions of protesters across the nation on Saturday, June 14, 2025, rallying against many of the Trump administration's recent actions.
Marc Vasconcellos/The Enterprise
From left, Jane Benevides and Peggy Curtis take part in a "No Kings" protest outside the Brockton VA Medical Center as part of a No Kings National Day of Mobilization that drew millions of protesters across the nation on Saturday, June 14, 2025, rallying against many of the Trump administration's recent actions.
From left, Jane Benevides and Peggy Curtis take part in a "No Kings" protest outside the Brockton VA Medical Center as part of a No Kings National Day of Mobilization that drew millions of protesters across the nation on Saturday, June 14, 2025, rallying against many of the Trump administration's recent actions.
Marc Vasconcellos/The Enterprise

— 'No Kings,' say over 2,000 at Worcester Common in massive anti-Trump rally by Meg Trogolo, Telegram & Gazette. 

Hundreds of protesters packed the Common behind City Hall Saturday, June 14, for the "No Kings" rally against the Trump administration, among 2,000 planned nationwide.
Hundreds of protesters packed the Common behind City Hall Saturday, June 14, for the "No Kings" rally against the Trump administration, among 2,000 planned nationwide.
Rick Cinclair/Telegram & Gazette

— South Coast residents protest Trump’s policies at ‘No Kings’ rallies by Crystal Yormick and Eleonora Bianchi, The New Bedford Light. 

— Thousands turn out for ‘No Kings’ protests in WMass, say U.S. is no place for an authoritarian by Lily Reavis, Daily Hampshire Gazette. 

— Protesters flood Greater Lowell to denounce Trump’s leadership by Aaron Curtis and Peter Currier, The Lowell Sun. 

Policy moves fast—stay ahead with POLITICO’s Policy Intelligence Assistant. Effortlessly search POLITICO's archive of 1M+ news articles, analysis documents, and legislative text. Track legislation, showcase your impact, and generate custom reports in seconds. Designed for POLITICO Pro subscribers, this tool helps you make faster, smarter decisions. Start exploring now.


FROM THE 413

— Mayor adds $217K to Northampton school budget, 2 high school teaching positions would be restored by Alexander MacDougall, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Less than week before the City Council is expected to vote on the city’s fiscal 2026 budget, Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra has secured an additional $217,000 for the school district, with funds planned to be used to restore two high school teacher positions as well as an elementary school gardening program.”

— Mount Holyoke College pauses plans to build hub for its $180M geothermal heating system by Emilee Klein, Greenfield Recorder: “Mount Holyoke College will indefinitely pause construction of its geothermal pump hub — the heart of its $180 million effort to build a carbon-neutral heating and cooling system — due to uncertainties with potential tariffs and economic downturn.”

— Too many school day absences? Lenox has a plan to help students recover lost class time by Clarence Fanto, The Berkshire Eagle: “A plan by Lenox Memorial Middle and High School Principal Jeremiah Ames aims to reduce double-digit percentage absentee rates to pre-pandemic, single-digit levels.”


THE LOCAL ANGLE

— Taunton reverses itself, releases video from mayor's booking after arrest by Emma Rindlisbacher, Taunton Daily Gazette: “Taunton has released a 15-minute video of Mayor Shaunna O'Connell's booking in the Taunton Police station following her arrest in July 2024 on domestic violence charges. In the video, O'Connell appears to have a calm demeanor and be cooperating with police throughout. … The city released the 15 minute booking room video late Friday afternoon, June 13. When asked for comment on release of the video, Holly Robichaud, a spokesperson for O'Connell, told the Gazette that "this is nothing more than the media exploiting a year old family matter to grab headlines" and that "Mayor O’Connell has done an exceptional job for Taunton.”

— Police investigating after brick marked 'Free Palestine' thrown through window of Jewish grocery store by Sam Mintz, Brookline.News: “Brookline police are investigating after a brick marked ‘Free Palestine’ was thrown through the window of The Butcherie, a Jewish grocery store, early on Sunday morning. Police say that at least two people wearing masks came from the direction of Coolidge Street, threw the brick through the store’s window, and fled back down Coolidge Street. The act is being investigated as a hate crime, according to the press release.”

 Parking changes, entry restrictions planned for Worcester City Hall by Toni Caushi, Telegram & Gazette: “Come June 23, City Hall visitors will be able to enter only through the building's Main Street entrance as the city continues to ramp up safety measures. Visitors will also be required to pass through what the city has called a ‘concealed weapons detector’ and then check in at a visitor kiosk, according to a statement by city spokesperson Thomas Matthews.”


HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

TRANSITIONS — Mark Steffen is joining the MassGOP as political director with a focus on communications, candidate recruitment and data support. He was the campaign manager for John Deaton's 2024 bid for U.S. Senate and Anthony Amore's 2022 run for State Auditor.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to POLITICO’s Madison Fernandez, Tom Fleming, the Boston Herald’s Mac Cerullo, MassINC’s Richard Parr, Nicholas McCool and Bill Shaner.

CORRECTION: Friday’s Massachusetts Playbook misspelled state Sen. Julian Cyr's last name.

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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