POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Not THAT Geoffrey Epstein

 

Not THAT Geoffrey Epstein

By KELLY GARRITY 

 

07/29/2025 07:25 AM EDT

WHAT’S IN A NAME — Sometimes name recognition isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Just ask Geoffrey Epstein.

Epstein, who’s running for mayor in Framingham, is (obviously) a different one from the disgraced New York financier Jeffrey Epstein, who is back in the headlines as Republicans wrestle with each other over the release of documents some believe would detail who participated in the New York Epstein’s trafficking of underage girls.

But the shared name does draw some comments from people online pleading with him to “show us the list,” Epstein told Playbook. Take one Redditor, who recently posted a photo of an Epstein for Mayor mailer under the header, “Is this guy for real?” (Other commenters, familiar with the former Framingham School Committee member, offered support: “He’s got good ideas about the city’s finances,” wrote one.)

The Framingham mayoral hopeful — who goes by Geoff — says it’s not much of an issue among locals, who know him from his time on the Framingham School Committee.

“No one locally cares about that at all,” said Epstein, a former theoretical physics professor who moved to the U.S. from Australia decades ago. Among the abundance of differences between the two: “He's a dead American, and I'm an alive Australian,” Epstein told Playbook.

Epstein, who served on the school committees in both Newton and Framingham, got in the race to tackle problems he sees the city facing. His campaign, he told Playbook, is focused on education, infrastructure and environmental action, and he has no shortage of solutions he’s pitching — from expanding solar installations on school roofs and in school parking lots, to shifting more of the city’s budget toward education. He’ll face a demanding fight against incumbent Mayor Charlie Sisitsky, who had more than $61,000 in his campaign coffers as of last month, compared to Epstein’s roughly $5,000.

Luckily for Epstein, a tough name doesn’t necessarily tank a campaign. Look at Harvey Epstein, the New York state assemblymember, whose name unfortunately evokes two of New York’s “most notorious sex perverts,” as comedian John Mulaney put it in a spoof campaign ad on “Saturday Night Live.”

That Epstein recently won the Democratic primary for a New York City Council seat, spoiling the attempted political comeback of former Rep. Anthony Weiner— yet another notorious sexual miscreant — in the process.

Harvey’s tip: “My advice to Geoffrey would be to lead with your values and who you are as a candidate,” the New York Epstein told Playbook over the phone. “People will support you if you do the work and follow through.”

GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Tips, scoops, mayoral races to watch? Drop me a line: kgarrity@politico.com. 

TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey has no public events. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll speaks at an event recognizing the raising of the first Carlisle town flag 11 a.m. at the State House. Sen. Ed Markey holds a press conference to condemn an expected announcement that the White House will strike down a landmark 2009 court decision that led to regulation of greenhouse gases at 12:15 p.m. in D.C. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is endorsed by Boston faith leaders at 10:30 a.m. in Roxbury and speaks at Shakespeare in the Common at 7:40 p.m. on Boston Common.

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

CASH DASH — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll are hosting a “summertime reception” at 5:30 p.m. in Boston tonight. Tickets to the fundraiser range from $250 for a “friend” to $2,000 for “73 Circle Sponsors,” a level includes access to a pre-reception, per the invite.

— Democratic pol facing fraud charges restricted from gambling, large credit card purchases by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “A federal judge agreed last week to bar Rep. Chris Flanagan, a Dennis Port Democrat facing fraud charges, from gambling, incurring credit card charges that would bring his balance over $5,000, or opening any additional lines of credit over the same amount without prior approval. Authorities arrested Flanagan in April on accusations that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from a former employer, covered up the thefts, and then used the money to pay personal bills. He pleaded not guilty and was released on the condition that he stay employed or seek a new job.”

BOSTON HERALD PROPAGANDA RAG PAY WALL

FROM THE HUB

****WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS? THIS IS A STATE-WIDE PROBLEM!***

— South End residents’ frustration mounts over public drug use, dealing around Mass. and Cass by Niki Griswold, The Boston Globe: “For residents in the area, frustration is once again hitting a breaking point over public drug use and dealing on their streets, four years after Mayor Michelle Wu entered office vowing to address the humanitarian crisis that has long gripped this section of the city.”

— Boston Mayor Wu directs $5M to 3 poorest neighborhoods to close 20-year life expectancy gap by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “The Wu administration is directing $5 million in grant funding toward community organizations with the aim of narrowing a life expectancy gap in three low-income neighborhoods where residents die about 20 years sooner than wealthier parts of Boston. The grant funding was doled out to four community-led coalitions “to build wealth and economic security” in Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan, as part of a partnership between Mayor Michelle Wu, the Boston Public Health Commission, and the Atrius Health Equity Foundation, the mayor’s office said Monday.”

BOSTON HERALD PROPAGANDA RAG PAYWALL

— With more home games approaching, Fenway workers weigh their options in labor battle by Esteban Bustillos, GBH News: “The air was hot and sticky as fans flowed into Fenway Park for Friday’s game between the Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers. But hospitality workers with UNITE HERE Local 26 remained outside, hoisting signs and banging on drums. Along with workers at MGM Music Hall, they were on strike, pushing for a new contract after going without one since the end of last year. The strike would also impact two other games over the weekend. Even though it ended Sunday at 11 p.m., the issue remains unresolved — meaning the workers could strike again.”

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

***DARN THAT MAYOR WU! SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUT THERE PICKING UP TRASH...CARPETBAGGING NEWTOWN NEBBISH HAS NO SOLUTIONS...BUT ALWAYS READY FOR CRITICISM! THAT'S NOT LEADERSHIP!****

— Kraft criticizes Wu for reported needle injury to 4-year-old at South Boston park by Tonya Alanez, The Boston Globe: “After a 4-year-old boy reportedly got stuck in the foot by a discarded hypodermic needle while playing at a South Boston park, mayoral challenger Josh Kraft wasted little time criticizing Mayor Michelle Wu. The incident is part of a ‘growing public safety crisis tied to Mass and Cass spillover,’ Kraft said in a statement Monday. Mass and Cass is shorthand for the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard and surrounding homeless encampments where open-air drug use is an around-the-clock occurrence. The Boston Herald reported the story on Monday. Kraft’s statement was issued in response to the article and was distributed widely to media.”

DAY IN COURT

OUT OF OFFICE — Are legislators and bar advocates any closer to a solution to the work stoppage that’s roiled Massachusetts courts? Depends on who you ask.

Legislative leaders told reporters Monday they are working on a solution, as bar advocates (the lawyers who defend many of those in Massachusetts who can’t afford their own) continue not to take new cases in their push for higher pay.

"We hope to get it resolved soon, but in the meantime, they should be working," Senate President Karen Spilka said. But some of those involved in organizing on the attorneys’ side told the State House News Service Monday that it’s not clear that any solution is imminent.

— Judge denies cities' injunction in Republic strike by Caroline Enos, The Salem News: “A Salem Superior Court judge denied six communities’ joint request for relief against Republic Services Inc. over the company’s ongoing delays in collecting waste during the Teamsters strike. The preliminary injunction was filed by Beverly, Danvers, Peabody, Gloucester, Malden and Canton on July 17, and requested that a judge order Republic to immediately collect all trash and recycling within the municipalities and provide all contracted services, putting a stop to stinking, piled-up trash on sidewalks and in dumpsters.”

PAY WALL

— Abortion group asks judge to reject lawsuit over crisis centers by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: “An abortion rights group is asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit against them and Gov. Maura Healey by anti-abortion groups in response to a state-funded campaign targeting pregnancy ‘crisis’ center operators.”

PAY WALL

FROM THE DELEGATION

***CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS IS NOT A SOLUTION! ***

— Housing affordability is a major problem. Elizabeth Warren is helping lead a sweeping bipartisan effort to address it. by Jim Puzzanghera, The Boston Globe: “Housing affordability was a key issue in the 2024 elections and continues to be a major problem in Massachusetts and across the country. Now a Senate committee is preparing to take the first step to address it by passing sweeping bipartisan legislation. The bill, shepherded by Senate Banking Committee chairman Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican, and Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, is expected to easily be approved by the panel on Tuesday in a rare instance of political cooperation in sharply divided Washington.”

FROM THE 413

***CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS IS NOT A SOLUTION! ***

— Pittsfield's public camping ban has been softened, but advocates are still concerned by Maryjane Williams, The Berkshire Eagle: “After months of public debate, a proposed ordinance banning people from sleeping and creating temporary shelters on all public property in the city will move forward. … The version passed Monday no longer includes a previously proposed three-day camping limit on private property and provides violators with the option to complete community service — at $25 per hour — in lieu of paying a fine. It also removes language that directly criminalized unhoused individuals, eliminates a clause that would have penalized those who provided supplies to people camping, and shifts enforcement authority to the Board of Health.”

PAY WALL

— Historic election on tap in Northampton as 45 candidates make ballot by Alexander MacDougall, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Regardless of the eventual outcome, the 2025 Municipal Election already appears to be a historic one for Northampton. More than 45 candidates successfully submitted nomination papers to run for various offices, including an extraordinary 23 candidates for City Council. City Clerk Pamela Powers told the Gazette that even more people had pulled nomination papers, but had not submitted the required signatures before the deadline, meaning they will not be on the ballot.”

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THE LOCAL ANGLE

— Ballot initiative would retract Quincy mayor's 79 percent raise. City solicitor says not so fast by Peter Blandino, The Patriot Ledger: “Activists working under the name ‘Quincy Citizens for a Fair Raise’ are seeking to put the roughly $126,000 raise Mayor Thomas Koch proposed for himself in 2024 on the ballot in this November's municipal election. To do so, they will need to collect about 5,400 signatures of registered Quincy voters by September, group organizers say.”

***WORCESTER VIDEO INCLUDED! ICE GESTAPO ABUSE! MASKED AGENTS!  NO WARRANT!****

— Additional police body camera footage of ICE operation on Eureka Street released by Toni Caushi, Telegram & Gazette: “The city has rolled out additional police body camera footage of officers responding to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation May 8 on Eureka Street. The additional footage shows body camera footage from 11 additional officers who responded to calls. The footage was released in batches on June 4, June 26 and July 17. It follows an initial release of footage May 16 from three police officers' body cameras.”

— Changes shake up Lowell City Council, School Committee races by Melanie Gilbert, The Lowell Sun: “Vandalism, health issues and retirements are dramatically shaping the 2025 race for City Council and School Committee seats. On Saturday, School Committee at-large candidate Bob Hoey suffered a serious heart attack. John McDonough, the head of the family-owned McDonough Funeral Home on Highland Street, and a friend of both Bob and the Hoey family, said Hoey was flown by medical helicopter from Lowell General Hospital to Tufts Medical Center.”

***THE NEW BEDFORD LIGHT DOES A THOROUGH & DETAILED REPORT OF ISSUES! ****

— New Bedford Public Schools recover from federal funding chaos by Colin Hogan, The New Bedford Light.

excerpt: 

The Trump administration on Friday said that it would release $6 billion of congressionally-approved education funds that it was previously withholding. Around $2.6 million is headed to New Bedford to support after-school and summertime programs. And in June, the Trump administration stood down from a threat to claw back COVID-relief funds, including around $15 million that New Bedford was using to upgrade its facilities.

The confusion of rescinded funds and the success of ongoing projects shared the stage at the long-awaited opening of a new kitchen facility for the New Bedford schools earlier this month.

The ribbon-cutting for the kitchen — a project four decades overdue, some staff and administrators said — took place on July 1, only hours after federal Education Secretary Linda McMahon blasted out an email that said the Trump administration was withholding grant funding from all 50 states. 

The kitchen, which will feed thousands of students in New Bedford’s public, charter, and private schools every day, was made possible with the support of federal funding. Yet almost none of the clapping attendees, gathered administrators, or local politicians at the ceremony realized that the federal partnership that made the kitchen possible was eroding beneath their feet.

— Lawrence city councilors back embattled Arthur T. Demoulas in Market Basket fight by Terry Date, The Eagle-Tribune. 

PAY WALL

— Randolph resumes paying bills after tense standoff between town and schools by Paul Singer, GBH News.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to former state Rep. Byron Rushing, Shelby Ashline, Hayley Fleming, Hirak Shah and Paul Bernon.

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Epstein is our national horror story

By POLITICO MAGAZINE 

 

07/26/2025 04:31 PM EDT

Illustration by Jade Cuevas/POLITICO (source images via AP and Getty Images)

The Epstein story has consumed Trump’s Washington for weeks, dividing the MAGA movement and handing Democrats a rhetorical foothold they’ve been searching for ever since Trump retook office.

Why, of all things, is this the story that connects with people? According to writer Dan Brooks, it touches on a kind of fundamental metaphor in our culture — one that speaks to how we understand power, predation and corruption today.

“As a vehicle for our worst fears about the 21st-century United States,” he writes, “Epstein is our Dracula.”

Read the story.

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“Did anyone really think the sexual predator president who used to party with Jeffrey Epstein was going to release the Epstein files?”

Can you guess who said this about Trump? Scroll to the bottom for the answer.**

A fresh chapter for Playbook—powered by bold reporting and unrivaled access. Jack Blanchard leads with clear-eyed analysis on Trump’s second term. Dasha Burns brings exclusive White House scoops as one of the most sourced Trump reporters in D.C. Adam Wren writes the must-read political storytelling every weekend. Sign up now to read what Washington’s power players use to drive their day.

President Donald Trump speaks to the media, July 13, 2025, on arrival to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, after attending the Club World Cup final soccer match in New Jersey. | Jacquelyn Martin/AP

An Epstein Scandal Timeline ... As scrutiny on the administration and its allies in Congress mounts over the Epstein saga, the rhetoric of senior officials has begun to shift. So legal columnist Ankush Khardori put together a timeline of the statements and stories we’ve heard from figures like FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Trump himself. “Taken together,” he writes, “Trump’s comments suggest the possibility that he suspected that there may be politically damaging information about him in the files and wanted to preemptively discredit revelations about him.”

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Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House on July 15, 2025, in Washington. | Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

South Park Slaps Trump ... South Park returned to the airwaves with a comedic blitzkrieg on Trump, whom it depicts as Satan’s lover — a role in which he has replaced Saddam Hussein. Perhaps most notably, the show leans hard into Trump’s past connections with Epstein. “It’s the latest sign that Trump has lost control of the Epstein narrative, and that the saga has broken Washington containment and permeated deep into popular culture,” writes Calder McHugh. “That makes it the worst kind of White House mess.”

A condemnation of the Fugitive Slave Act from 1850 showing a group of four Black men — possibly freedmen — ambushed by a posse of six armed white men in a cornfield. | Library of Congress

History’s Warning for ICE ... ICE raids are already leading to dramatic sights in communities across the United States, with un-uniformed, masked agents arresting not the kids of hardened criminals you find in Trump’s rhetoric, but everyday people who are beloved members of their towns, workplaces and churches. As ICE grows into the largest law enforcement agency in history, those sights will only increase the spectacle — and according to historian Joshua Zeitz, we’ve seen something similar play out before. “In the 1850s, the federal government enforced a brutal dragnet aimed at hunting down and returning ‘fugitive slaves’ — formerly enslaved persons who had escaped captivity and fled north,” he writes. “The political response proved explosive. Seemingly overnight, white people who previously cared little for the plight of Black Americans, free or enslaved, became committed antislavery voters.”

From the drafting table of editorial cartoonist Matt Wuerker.

**Who Dissed? answer: That would be Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is running for reelection in Georgia.

politicoweekend@politico.com

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