Showing posts with label Cape Cod Times. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cape Cod Times. Show all posts

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Inside Massachusetts Politics: World Cup in MA almost didn't happen

                  

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Inside Massachusetts Politics

Our expert roundup of the Massachusetts politics that matters.

Thu Jun 11 2026

 

Happy Thursday politicos... and soccer fans?

The 2026 World Cup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET today in Mexico City. And the first of  seven matches to be held in Massachusetts is this Saturday, June 13, featuring Haiti vs. Scotland.

It’s been a long road to get here – and one more political than you might think.

The months-long Department of Homeland Security shutdown earlier this year (remember that?) held up millions of dollars in security-related funding, causing the Town of Foxborough  to hold off on issuing a license for the event for weeks. Ultimately, it took promises from Boston Soccer 2026, FIFA World Cup 2026 and Kraft Sports and Entertainment to back the town up financially for the Foxborough Select Board to approve the license.

Soccer World Cup Boston

The Gillette Stadium, officially known as Boston Stadium during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Foxborough, Massachusetts, U.S., June 3, 2026. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Brian Snyder, REUTERS

There have been other political dramas too, like the $80 train tickets to Gillette Stadium (rebranded Boston Stadium for the tournament) and back and forth over whether  tailgating would be allowed.

For this newsletter, I’ve compiled some of our reporting on what it took to get to the first match in Foxborough. Maybe you can use it to impress your friends with fun facts while watching the game.

See you next Thursday,

Margie

Jan 4, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; A New England Patriots fan poses for a photo with the bronze statue of former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (not pictured) outside Gillette Stadium before the game against the Miami Dolphins. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

The Foxborough Select Board voted on March 17 to approve a license for the World Cup after weeks of tension that had put the event in jeopardy.

King's in Boston, Burlington, Dedham and Lynnfield are locations for World Cup viewing parties.
 

Healey signs bill to allow bars to stay open until 3 am for World Cup

The bill allows bars to sell alcohol until 3 a.m. and allows the public consumption of alcohol in locally designated areas.

State and city officials joined Boston 2026 in a FIFA Fan Festival Press Conference in Boston on April 21, 2026.
 

Why is it so expensive to get to the World Cup at Gillette?

Taking the train to Gillette Stadium for the FIFA men’s World Cup matches this summer will cost $80. Does it have to be that way?

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey discusses safety preparations for the 2026 World Cup on March 25.
 

Healey gives update on World Cup safety in Mass: What to know

After funding for security concerns nearly shut down the World Cup matches held in Foxborough, Healey detailed the state's safety preparations.

An aerial view of a statue unveiling of retired Hall of Fame New England Patriot player Tom Brady before a game against the Washington Commanders at Gillette Stadium on Aug. 8, 2025.
 

DHS shutdown leading to World Cup funding fight in Foxborough

Foxborough is one of 11 US cities tapped to host matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup – but the DHS shutdown is putting the event in jeopardy.

 

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Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Ron DeSantis called out Martha's Vineyard in RNC speech. Here's the history behind the jab

 

 A BIPARTISAN BORDER BILL WAS PROPOSED AND AT THE REQUEST OF THE ORANGE TURD, MAGA GOP GENUFLECTED AND DEFEATED IT! 

IF REPUBLICANS WANT SOLUTIONS, WHY WOULD THEY DEFEAT THE SOLUTIONS? 

FLORIDA OUTLAWED 'IMMIGRANTS,' THAT ALSO FORCED THOSE MARRIED TO 'UNDOCUMENTED' PEOPLE TO FLEE FLORIDA. THE CONSEQUENCES HAVE BEEN A SHORTAGE OF PEOPLE AVAILABLE TO PICK CROPS - CROPS ROTTING IN THE FIELDS, AMERICANS ARE NOT RUSHING TO FILL THOSE JOBS! THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS...... 

FLORIDA CAN PROCLAIM ITS FALSE SOLUTIONS, BUT DON'T IGNORE FLORIDA'S FAILURES LIKE THE RECENT FLOODING CAUSED BY SLASHING FUNDING, INSURANCE COSTS AND MUCH ELSE.....

DESANTIS SENT A PLANELOAD OF PEOPLE FROM TEXAS TO MARTHA'S VINEYARD OFF SEASON WHEN FACILITIES WERE CLOSED,  DUMPED THEM AT AN AIRPORT FAR FROM TOWN....RESIDENTS RUSHED TO PROVIDE FOOD AND SUPPLIES --- CAUSING TRAFFIC JAMS....THEY WERE WELCOMED! 

THE ISLAND IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE BY PLANE OR BOAT -  INADEQUATE MEDICAL FACILITIES. 

THEY WERE VOLUNTARILY TRANSFERRED TO A MILITARY BASE THAT IS ACCESSIBLE FOR SERVICES, OFFERS DORMITORY FACILITIES AND A CAFETERIA.

THE MILITARY BASE WAS PREVIOUSLY USED TO HOUSE EVACUEES FROM THE LOUISIANA HURRICANE.  

THEY WERE WELCOMED! 




Ron DeSantis called out Martha's Vineyard in RNC speech. Here's the history behind the jab

Rin Velasco
Wicked Local
 

 Published July 16, 2024 


During his speech at the Republican National Convention on Night 2Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made a reference to one of his most famous political stunts.

With a theme of "Make America Safe Again," DeSantis spoke about immigration when he took to the podium, and on stage he made a jab at Massachusetts and other liberal leaning states.

"They support support open borders allowing millions and millions of illegal aliens to pour into our country and to burden our communities, but just don't send any to Martha's Vineyard then they get really upset," he said.

That moment references the 2022 political stunt when he sent two charter planes of about 50 migrants from Venezuela to the state to make a point about sanctuary states. The move to send the migrants unannounced was controversial.

Here's what to know.

Who is Ron DeSantis?

U.S. President Donald Trump listens as Republican Florida governor candidate Ron DeSantis speaks during a Make America Great Again Rally at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida on July 31, 2018.

DeSantis is the current governor of Florida, his term beginning in January of 2019. He has generally leaned politically conservative in his ideological and policy choices.

The "Don't Say Gay" Bill, the near-absence of COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing measures at the peak of the pandemic and his legislation to prevent transgender people to use the government-owned bathrooms that most reflects their gender identities are key moments in his tenure as governor.

In his speech, DeSantis prodded at the Democratic Party for its support of the LGBTQ community, saying that the Democrats can't parse out a clear definition of the word woman, a jab at transgender women, specifically. He also pushed the narrative that "gender ideology" was being impressed upon military members and small children, alike.

DeSantis, a longtime critic of more open immigration policies, signed three bills in March to put pressure on undocumented immigrants living in Florida, increasing the severity of prison sentences for returning deported migrants.

Nearly two years ago, he pulled a political stunt to show his opposition to President Biden's immigration policies.

RNC Convention 2024:J.D. Vance went to Yale Law School. Here's what to know about his time there.

Why did Ron DeSantis send a plane of migrants to Martha's Vineyard?

DeSantis was part of a string of governors sending migrants who crossed the U.S. border illegally to blue states in 2022. Around the same time as the Martha's Vineyard plans, 100 migrants reportedly arrived outside the home of Vice President Kamala Harris. Previously, buses loaded with migrants were sent from Arizona and Texas to Washington D.C., New York and Chicago

Florida's legislature approved $12 million to fund shipping migrants out of Florida.

After news of the planes arriving on Martha's Vineyard broke, DeSantis' communications director said, "States like Massachusetts, New York and California will better facilitate the care of these individuals who they have invited into our country by incentivizing illegal immigration through their designation as ‘sanctuary states...'"

RNC Convention 2024:How a Massachusetts man made history at the RNC on Monday: What he said

At the time, the move was called a “blatant disregard for human life” by a joint delegation of Venezuelan-American groups who also accused DeSantis of lying to Cuban and Venezuelan people when they said he pledged not to send migrants from either country out of state.

After they arrived at Martha's Vineyard, the migrants were voluntarily moved to Joint Base Cape Cod in Bourne, where many remained for a period of time before further arrangements could be made. Officials said some returned to Martha’s Vineyard for work and living arrangements.

Has Ron DeSantis talked about sending more migrants to Martha's Vineyard?

As recently as this March, DeSantis has talked about repeating the political stunt.

On a podcast, DeSantis suggested in March he would send a potential influx of Haitian migrants to Martha’s Vineyard. The comments, made on a podcast hosted by the conservative radio host Dana Loesch, were in regards to a question about an influx of migrants fleeing Haiti.

“We do have our transport program also that is going to be operational,” DeSantis said on the podcast. “So, if Haitians land in the Florida Keys, their next stop may very well be Martha’s Vineyard.”

More:DeSantis said he might send Haitian migrants to Martha's Vineyard. Island leader responds.

What is a sanctuary state?

While having no strict legal definition, a sanctuary state has been defined as a jurisdiction that limit cooperation with federal immigration law enforcement, like failing to provide information about immigration status and curtailing the length of immigration detainers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The following states have been labeled as sanctuary states by immigration hardliners:

  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Illinois
  • Massachusetts
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Oregon
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
  • Washington


 


 


Trump's Friday Meltdown: Begging Iran, Ditching Ukraine, and Blaming Everybody But Himself – 7/31/26

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