Middleboro Review 2: CHINESE BALLOON

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Monday, February 6, 2023

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Healey strikes a blow to teachers

PROPAGANDA!
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LO AND NOT BEHOLDEN — One of the benefits of running virtually unopposed for governor: the list of people you owe is pretty short.

Endorsements hardly mattered for Maura Healey in her campaign for the corner office. The Democrats’ heir apparent coasted through the last few months of her primary with no competition and encountered only weak opposition ahead of November. Those who did endorse Healey mostly played it safe by lining up behind her after she cleared the primary field, at which point their support barely registered.

That lack of IOUs is quickly coming into play on education policy.

Take the Massachusetts Teachers Association. Back in 2014, the state's largest teachers union endorsed against Healey in the Democratic primary for attorney general. The MTA endorsed Healey for governor last year, but not until after her last remaining Democratic competition dropped out. Healey, in turn, put MTA President Max Page on her transition team.

But now Healey is openly bucking one of the union’s biggest policy priorities — giving teachers the right to strike. Healey had initially hedged on that proposal in a Tuesday interview with GBH News . But by the weekend, Healey had declined to meet with striking Woburn teachers and told WBZ's Jon Keller that she's "not a fan" of legislation that would legalize the practice.

Healey said there’s a “reason” why teachers and other public employees are prohibited from striking under state law. “While I have a lot of sympathy and want to make sure that workers, and in this case educators, are getting paid what they should for the important work that they do, it’s still paramount that our kids be in school," the governor said. Woburn educators reached a deal with the city on Sunday and students are expected back in class today.

Healey also seems to be diverging with the union on MCAS. The MTA wants to do away with MCAS as a graduation requirement and as a precursor to putting districts in receivership. Healey wants to take a “hard look” at the standardized tests that double as a graduation requirement. But the question for the governor isn’t getting rid of the tests, it’s “what else should MCAS be assessing?”

GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Don’t say goodbye to New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation Democratic primary just yet.

The DNC bumped New Hampshire down in its lineup when members voted on a 2024 calendar that puts South Carolina first.

But there’s still plenty left unsettled. Playbook’s already explained how New Hampshire law requires the state to hold the first primary — and how neither Democrats nor the Republicans who control the governor’s office and Legislature there are willing to change it. The DNC gave New Hampshire until June to get in line, an extension that also gives the committee time to come up with sanctions should state Democrats move ahead with their plan to hold the first primary anyway.

Top New Hampshire Democrats have vowed that the DNC's vote "is not the last word" on the 2024 calendar. "While President Biden and the DNC continue to push a plan of political convenience, they will not be successful in the end," they said.

And remember, Democrats plan to do this all again ahead of 2028, the next time there’s likely to be an open primary on their side. So nothing’s set in ~~granite~~ stone.

TODAY — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is on Spark FM at 9:30 a.m., marks the arrival of 20 electric school buses at 10:15 a.m. at the Readville bus yard and joins the groundbreaking ceremony for Boston Fire Engine 17 at 2:30 p.m. in Dorchester.

All thawed out? Send me your tips and scoops: lkashinsky@politico.com .

PROPAGANDA!
NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY SOURCE!

A message from NextEra Energy:

NextEra Energy is the first company in history committed to moving past net zero all the way to Real Zero™, leveraging low-cost renewables to drive energy affordability for customers.

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— “Healey spent her career working in law. But questions remain as to how she’ll navigate criminal justice issues on Beacon Hill,” by Samantha J. Gross and Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “Maura Healey was the state’s chief law enforcement officer for eight years. She was a civil rights attorney and led groundbreaking court challenges. No one in seven decades has been elected governor with her résumé. Yet, despite that background, advocates and lawmakers say they have surprisingly little grasp of how exactly the state’s new leader will govern on issues of criminal justice and police reform. She did not highlight any criminal justice proposals in her inaugural address last month. And she reappointed Terrence Reidy, the public safety secretary under then-Governor Charlie Baker, a leader whom advocates criticized for not embracing the full spirit of a 2018 bill meant to overhaul the criminal legal system.”

— “Democrat Kristin Kassner sworn in after 1-vote victory,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “‘It’s been quite a journey,’ the newest state representative, Kristin Kassner, said hours after finally being sworn into office.”

DAY IN COURT

— “Top state court to hear cases challenging life without parole,” by Christian M. Wade, Gloucester Daily Times: “The state’s highest court could decide whether first-degree murder suspects ages 18 to 20 can be sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole. On Monday, Feb. 6, the Supreme Judicial Court will hear arguments in two cases involving young adults facing that sentence, each for first degree murder. Their attorneys argue they should be given a second chance to seek release from prison.”

JOIN POLITICO ON 2/9 TO HEAR FROM AMERICA’S GOVERNORS: In a divided Congress, more legislative and policy enforcement will shift to the states, meaning governors will take a leading role in setting the agenda for the nation. Join POLITICO on Thursday, Feb. 9 at World Wide Technology's D.C. Innovation Center for The Fifty: America's Governors, where we will examine where innovations are taking shape and new regulatory red lines, the future of reproductive health, and how climate change is being addressed across a series of one-on-one interviews. REGISTER HERE .

FROM THE DELEGATION

— “Trahan cleared by FEC regarding campaign finance complaints,” by Cameron Morsberger, Lowell Sun: “The Federal Election Commission has dismissed complaints against U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan’s use of campaign funds. In a letter addressed to Trahan’s attorneys Jan. 26, the commission announced it had ‘no reason to believe’ the Lori Trahan for Congress Committee violated campaign finance law when accepting loans from the representative’s husband David Trahan, nor when they failed to record when the loans were received, the source of those loans and the committee’s cash on hand in two quarterly reports.”

— DEFENDER IN CHIEF: Balloon-gate gave Democrats and Republicans a chance to one-up each other on being tough on China , my POLITICO colleagues report. Cue Rep. Jake Auchincloss, a member of the new congressional panel on China, who hit the airwaves to commend President Joe Biden ’s handling of the international spectacle and call China “weak and incompetent.”

— More: “F-15s from Massachusetts base supported jet that shot down Chinese balloon, DOD says,” by WCVB.

— STATE OF IMMIGRATION: As Biden gears up for his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, Rep. Jim McGovern told WCVB’s “On the Record” that he’s looking to see what the president has to say on immigration. “He has handled it the best he can given that he is getting no help from Congress. But the bottom line is more needs to be done,” McGovern said. “Ease up on sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela — I think that in and of itself would help quell the number of people coming to our border.”

— "A Taunton mother is a guest for Biden's State of the Union. Here's why," by Daniel Schemer, Taunton Daily Gazette.

DATELINE D.C.

— “Oversight chair requests details on Kerry’s international climate negotiations,” by Zack Budryk, The Hill: “House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) on Thursday requested information from U.S. climate envoy John Kerry on the details of Kerry’s international negotiations for the Biden administration, particularly with Chinese officials.”

PROPAGANDA!
NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY SOURCE!

A message from NextEra Energy:

FROM THE 413

— “Massachusetts economic secretary and Williams grad Yvonne Hao talks about issues facing the Berkshires,” by Sten Spinella, Berkshire Eagle: “The state’s new economic secretary, a Williams College graduate who owns a home in Williamstown, says that though the Massachusetts economy compares favorably to other states, ‘Now is not the time to be a caretaker.’”

— “Northampton lays reparations groundwork,” by Alexander MacDougall, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “The text of the Northampton resolution, which was read in its entirety during the council’s meeting on Thursday, cited the nearly centurylong history of slavery in the city, followed by a diminishing of the city’s African American population, past discriminatory zoning policies and a present-day lack of diversity as the reasons to pursue reparations. … Though the city is currently a stronghold for social progressivism, and was a center for the abolitionist movement before the Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery in the country, the resolution notes that Northampton has never had a Black mayor, and that only one Black person, Anthony Patillo, has served as head of a municipal department. It also notes that only three Black people have served on the City Council.”

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— “How the missing become the uncounted: Inside the government’s flawed approach to finding missing persons,” by Hanna Krueger and Tiana Woodard, Boston Globe: “It isn’t that cases fall through cracks in the system; it’s that there’s no system at all. The pursuit of these cases hinges almost entirely on the discretion — and commitment level — of local police departments. Such efforts vary wildly.”

— “Domestic violence murders spike in 2022,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: “[There were] 26 domestic violence-related homicides in Massachusetts last year, a more than 40% increase over the previous year, according to data compiled by Jane Doe Inc., a Boston-based nonprofit that works with victims. In 2021, there were 15 homicides, according to the group.”

— “Worcester Diocese lists 173 credible allegations of cleric abuse; critics slam report,” by Marco Cartolano, Telegram & Gazette.

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MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

— “Is Governor Sununu off piste enough to take on Trump?” by Jess Bidgood, Boston Globe: “There is doubt on both sides of the aisle in New Hampshire that [Gov. Chris] Sununu will actually run. He has three children; he will also have to contend with the effect his candidacy would have on other candidates’ willingness to campaign in a state that is desperately trying to hold on to its First in the Nation primary status. If he doesn’t, he said, he wants to help whittle a likely crowded field to lessen the chance that an unpopular candidate wins with only a sliver of support.”

TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL: “‘[Florida Gov. Ron] DeSantis and, and Nikki Haley, and Mike Pompeo and Mike Pence, these are all very good friends of mine. I respect them all. But maybe with the exception of DeSantis, none of them are going anywhere. Because they keep talking to the same voters expecting some sort of different result,’ [Sununu] said. ‘They’re not going after the independent voter.’”

MEDIA MATTERS

— “Executive editor Cynthia Simison to retire; Larry Parnass named leader of The Republican’s news team,” by the Springfield Republican.

PROPAGANDA!
NUCLEAR IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ENERGY SOURCE!

A message from NextEra Energy:

NextEra Energy is the first company committed to reaching Real Zero™, as in 100% clean energy. We’re not just offsetting carbon emissions — we’re eliminating them.

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

TRANSITIONS — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Sean Fitzgerald returns to the State House from the campaign trail as communications director for state Sen. Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport). Fitzgerald previously was chief of staff/comms director for former state Rep. Jay Kaufman, served in a similar role for the late state Sen. Charles Shannon and was also comms director for former Somerville Mayor Dorothy Kelly Gay.

— The MassGOP’s executive committee has approved John Milligan as the party’s executive director.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Webster state Rep. Joseph McKenna, Neri Oxman and Pamela Esler.

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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Sunday, February 5, 2023

Judge opens floodgates on Trump with "abuse" ruling

OD Action is now atAdvocacy!

Daily Dose of Democracy:

Trump forced to void hundreds of NDAs as part of $450,000 campaign settlement
The disgraced ex-president was forced to void hundreds of non-disclosure agreements as part of a damning settlement with former campaign aide Jessica Denson, who alleged Trump's team tried to shut her up when she went public with allegations of abusive treatment by another 2016 campaign member. The $450,000 settlement also conveniently frees hundreds of other former workers and volunteers from the NDAs they signed, paving the way for them to speak about their time working for the very stable genius and his tremendously perfect campaign.

Take Action: Tell the Justice Department: Charge Trump for the dozens of crimes he's committed!

VIDEO OF THE DAY: George Santos finally called out on air for mounting legal issues
Santos, New York’s current 3rd district congressman and noted Scooby Doo villain who would’ve gotten away with it if it weren’t for those meddling kids, struggled to muster a single coherent sentence in what should have been the softest of softball interviews on the far-right propaganda channel, One America News Network. This very unserious man is in very serious trouble, and New York Democrats should be deeply shamed and ashamed for losing a crucial House seat to such a charlatan.

Take Action: Expel George Santos!

Radical Republicans won't stop at banning abortion
Americans for Contraception: It's painfully clear that the extremist GOP's ultimate goal is to take away every tool a woman has to exercise agency over her own body — even contraception. Justice Clarence Thomas immediately set his sights on contraception as soon as Roe v. Wade was overturned, and anti-abortion zealots are already filing a slew of lawsuits attacking contraception as a form of abortion. We need to start fighting back NOW. Can you chip in to help protect our reproductive rights?

Supreme Court justices routinely used personal email for “sensitive transmissions”
This week's episode of "But her emails!" turns the spotlight on the fabled Supreme Court of the United States. CNN just released a damning report painting a “detailed picture of yearslong lax internal procedures that could have endangered security” including the use of “personal email accounts for sensitive transmissions” instead of secure servers. Justices, who were “not masters of information security protocol" to begin with, were reportedly "slow to adopt to the technology" and were enabled by subordinate employees too nervous to challenge them.

Take Action: Tell the DOJ to challenge EVERY abortion ban in the country!

Democrats make South Carolina first presidential primary voting state
In a long-overdue move, the Democratic National Committee officially dethroned lilly white Iowa and New Hampshire from the status they have enjoyed for decades leading off the presidential primary, ratifying President Biden’s recommendation for the 2024 calendar. The shake up, vehemently opposed by party officials in Iowa and New Hampshire and welcomed basically everywhere else, finally gives a more diverse coalition of voters an earlier say in the byzantine primary process in a refreshing win for progress.

Take Action: Tell Congress to stop scam PACs!

Cosplay tough guy GOP rep who handed out assault rifle lapel pins to colleagues roasted as embarrassing Jan. 6 insurrection photo resurfaces
In an infamous and very unflattering photo circulating around the pesky internet, GOP Rep. Andrew Clyde can be seen cowering in abject fear behind an officer at the US Capitol during Trump's deadly insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021. The very brave patriot Clyde found himself in the spotlight once again for passing out stupid assault rifle lapel pins to fellow cosplay tough guys on the House floor this week, and the internet had some things to say about that.

White House warns GOP bill would force "one of the biggest Medicare benefit cuts" in US history
In an utterly unsurprising move, House Republicans unveiled plans to repeal the transformative Inflation Reduction Act with a bill that the White House says would "slash lifelines for middle-class families on behalf of rich special interests." And of course that's exactly the objective for a party that has spent nearly half a century hacking away at poor and working families in order to funnel even more money to the already wealthy, all in the supposed name of the deficits that Republicans are primarily responsible for growing.

Republicans pull DISASTROUS stunt in the House
No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen: Gross.

Experts fear bird flu outbreak could turn into new pandemic
An ongoing outbreak of a deadly H5N1 avian flu strain has already killed millions of birds, and it’s becoming an even greater cause for concern as it spills over into mammalian species. Since 2022, H5N1 has led to the deaths of more than 58 million domestic birds like chickens, ducks, and turkeys in the United States alone. Scientists have now found various wild mammals infected with the virus, including bears, foxes, otters, seals, and — so far — five humans.

China slams Pentagon's downing of balloon as an "excessive reaction"
China claims that the giant balloon was a “civilian aircraft,” which is just objectively hilarious.

Gas stove makers have a pollution solution, they're just not using it
Appliance manufacturers created cleaner and more efficient burners FORTY years ago but conveniently never introduced them into the marketplace because they purportedly cost more to make, were less durable, and harder to clean. Why do the right thing when it's more profitable to poison children and help destroy the planet? It's almost as if the free market could use some protections against corporate greed... Almost.

Anti-abortion group ordered to cough up $960,000 to Planned Parenthood over obnoxious noise violations
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

The USA, today

Tesla hikes price of Model Y after US alters tax credit rule

Arctic chill brings record low temperatures to the Northeast

Number of staff suing Elon Musk's Twitter going up daily

An unusually high number of whales are washing up on US beaches

Miami is celebrating Black History Month...with a new cop car

The daily planet

Ex-Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who aided US war in Afghanistan, has died

Israelis rally for fifth week against Netanyahu’s judicial plans

Guatemala tribunal bars leftist presidential ticket from ballot

Hope...

Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk to donate photo proceeds to Tyre Nichols fund

Connecticut's first LGBTQ-centered school to open later this year

Revolutionary structure for cancer-killing vaccines could make treatments three times more effective

Mark Hamill to sell signed Star Wars posters for Ukraine

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Sunday Funnies

PS — Please don't forget to sign the petition to force Republican politicians, like Marjorie Taylor Greene, to pay back their massive PPP loans, and be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

@advocacy | 1002 Hull St., Louisville, KY 40204

Breaking: Biden bursts Republicans' bubble

OD Action is now atAdvocacy!

BREAKING NEWS

US military shoots down suspected Chinese surveillance balloon
The Republican propaganda machine spent Friday shrieking that President Biden wouldn't take down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon. Today, as soon as it was safe to do so, the U.S. military shot down the massive gas bag — and its talking points — as well as the balloon… [more]

The 2022 midterms showed us how critical state-level organizing really is
Sister District: If just a few races had gone the other way, we could still be in control of Congress. It's imperative that we retake the House in 2024, and to do that we need to contest EVERY race in EVERY state. Will you chip in to help Sister District build the grassroots organization we need to elect progressives who will fight back against GOP extremism?

PS — Please consider a small monthly contribution of as little as $5 to help us elect Democrats and fight back against the Trump-Republican agenda. We can't do it without you. Keep fighting the good fight!

@advocacy | 1002 Hull St., Louisville, KY 40204

Saturday, February 4, 2023

Trump unveils cruel new plan to out-bigot DeSantis

OD Action is now atAdvocacy!

Daily Dose of Democracy:

Trump unveils terrifying anti-trans plan
In a shameful attempt to out-radical his rival Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump released a video message in which he detailed his plan to ban federal promotion of gender transition for people of all ages, and to “establish that the only genders recognized by the United States government are male and female, and they are assigned at birth.” It's a dramatic escalation of the right-wing's current transphobic rhetoric, which is centered on portraying trans children as brainwashed victims of left-wing teachers and doctors, and vindicates trans activists who have been saying for years that the ultimate right-wing goal is for trans people to not exist at all. Gratuitous displays of heart-wrenching cruelty against vulnerable minorities are nothing new for Trump, but it signals a terrifying new front in the right-wing war against trans Americans and a greenlight for all the bigots in GOP legislatures to begin stripping even more freedoms away.

Take Action: Stop Oklahoma’s cruel anti-trans “Millstone Act!”

VIDEO OF THE DAY: Biden scores massive unexpected win
The president and the nation were treated to some unexpected huge news...that Republicans refused to acknowledge one bit.

Take Action: Tell Congress to stop scam PACs!

Matt Gaetz wants to make poor Americans work for their health care
The newly empowered Matt Gaetz, grasping firmly on the vice that contains Kevin McCarthy's testicles, is making the rounds in Congress to get his fellow Republicans to sign onto a debt ceiling scheme that would deny healthcare to people who cannot work for it. This morally bankrupt and wildly unpopular policy is trotted out every couple of years despite studies showing it doesn't actually get more people to work, since most people on Medicaid are pregnant women or children. Just another reminder that all the GOP has to offer the American people is needless cruelty and a demonstrated desire for the poor to literally die.

Take Action: Tell Biden to not let the GOP hold our country hostage with the debt ceiling!

Republicans have collective meltdown over Chinese balloon
En masse, the GOP predictably cried, screamed, threw up, then tried to raise money off the Chinese balloon that floated over the United States on Friday, overjoyed to have something new to have a hysterical freakout about to distract the nation from their complete lack of interest in actually governing.

Take Action: Tell Congress to punish Big Oil for price-gouging the public!

Insurrectionist GOP rep hands out AR-15 pins to his fellow Republican gun nuts
The GOP death cultists in Congress are now identifying themselves with AR-15 pins given out by Georgia Rep. Andrew Clyde, replacing the GOP's traditional performative US flag pins with an icon honoring the weapon used to commit the worst massacres in American history. Clyde bragged that he was "triggering the libs," which is all the GOP caucus seems interested in doing these days. No word yet on how he feels about what the grieving families who lost their beloved children to these heinous weapons might think of this disgusting stunt.

US secures deal on Philippines bases to complete arc around China
The US has struck a deal with new Philippines President, and son of the country's murderous former tyrant, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., to build four new military bases in its former colony. The bases will complete a ring of US military bases surrounding the planet's most popular nation, which China — for some reason — views as an act of aggression. If you think being surrounded by state-of-the-art killing machines and the most overfunded military in the history of the world is provocative, have you heard of the balloon?

Republicans pull DISASTROUS stunt in the House
No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen: Gross.

Reporters catch GOP reps saying Ilhan Omar removal was "stupidest vote in world"
Republicans Ken Buck of Colorado and Mike Simpson of Idaho were overheard making the comments, with both doing their best Captain Obvious impersonations and complaining that they were making Omar a "martyr" over what they called a retaliatory vote in response to Democrats removing demonstrably dangerous Republicans from committees in the last Congress. Yet they both voted with the rest of their spiteful party to oust Rep. Omar, essentially admitting that they're spineless hypocritical minions controlled by the extreme fringe of the GOP. As if there was any doubt.

ACLU sues CIA, DOJ, and NSA for records about warrantless spying on Americans
While the media obsesses over the possibility that China might be spying on the United States, the ACLU is demanding answers about the US intelligence community spying on its own citizens. The CIA, NSA, and DOJ have refused to respond to public records requests for information about Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act despite being legally required to hand over the information within 20 days. The ACLU argues that Section 702, supposedly a counterterrorism tool, is so broadly defined that targets of surveillance could include human rights defenders, journalists, whistleblowers, or business owners and is being used as a domestic surveillance tool for the FBI.

"Died suddenly" anti-vax conspiracy spreads on social media
The newest mutation of the COVID-19 vaccine conspiracy theories promoted by right-wing propagandists purports that any sudden or unforeseen celebrity death is somehow a consequence of the vaccine, which is — of course — a grand conspiracy by the global elites to "depopulate the world" and usher in a new order of Marxism. That's right, a bunch of conservatives think Bill Gates engineered a global plot to kill Lisa Marie Presley because "socialism."

North Carolina Supreme Court signals it may roll back voting rights for thousands
A historic ruling that gave the right to vote back to thousands of disenfranchised North Carolinians is set to be overturned by a newly Republican state Supreme Court, which heard arguments in a case deciding whether people should have the right to vote while on probation or parole. It's another grim reminder of how much elections matter — the GOP picked up two more seats in the 2022 midterms, flipping the court and allowing it to assail rights that had only recently been secured.