POLITICO Nightly: What the campaign feels like in Pennsylvania

 

By Charlie Mahtesian Supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris gather outside a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump near the Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania today. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images AD DELUGE — In the 2024 presidential race, there are swing states and then there is Pennsylvania. This year it looms as the essential battleground — it’s the single biggest trove of electoral votes (19) that is in play — and the state stands to blow up the electoral strategy of the campaign that loses it in November. It’s why the Trump and Harris campaigns have carpet-bombed Pennsylvania with ads, why the candidates have spent so much time stumping there — and why Donald Trump had rallies scheduled in Scranton and Reading today, his second visit to the state in five days . Political strategist James Carville once famously described Pennsylvania as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between, but that’s a bad mischaracterization. While it nods to some of the state’s rural and small-town character outside its two most populous cities, the description fails to account for the state’s diversity or its political complexity. At the moment, the race for Pennsylvania is exceptionally tight. Kamala Harris leads Donald Trump by a single percentage point, according to polling averages. To provide better insight into the seven battleground states, over the campaign’s final 26 days Nightly will run a series of interviews with POLITICO reporters who have recently been on the ground reporting in those states. Tonight, we’ll hear from Holly Otterbein, a national political reporter for POLITICO with impeccable Pennsylvania credentials. She grew up in York County, went to college in Philadelphia, covered politics at the Philadelphia Inquirer and currently lives in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania seems to be the center of the political universe this year. What makes it so important? It’s math, pure and simple. There are seven battleground states in the presidential race, and Pennsylvania has more electoral votes than any of them — 19 sweet, sweet electoral votes, to be exact. Which is why, between now and Election Day, your readers will be forced to hear more about my beloved commonwealth and its inscrutable voters than they could possibly ever want. We know Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, along with their allies, see Pennsylvania as the linchpin because they’re spending more on advertising here than any other swing state. As a Philadelphian who watches Jeopardy , the deluge of ads is like nothing I’ve ever seen. Is this how Iowa feels during the primary season? What issues are dominating the political debate in Pennsylvania this year? Are they different from in any of the other battleground states? The economy is always the biggest issue for voters here and everywhere. High prices have hit people in Pennsylvania hard. On top of that, one unique issue for us is always fracking because of the state’s natural gas industry. So it’s no surprise Trump’s campaign has tried to point to Harris’ 2019 proposal to ban fracking, and it’s no surprise that Harris long ago reversed herself on that position. Philadelphia and its suburbs delivered big margins for Joe Biden in 2020, enough to overcome Trump’s advantage in the rest of the state. Is that the Harris recipe also?  Absolutely. That’s been the recipe for every winning Democrat in Pennsylvania recently — with one extra ingredient added in. Harris needs to drive up turnout in Philadelphia, decisively carry the surrounding suburbs, do well in the swing counties like Erie — and cut Trump’s margins in MAGA country. What does Trump’s path to victory in Pennsylvania look like? Run up the score in MAGA country. Don’t get killed in the Philly suburbs. Do a little better with Black and Latino men in the city of Philadelphia. Democratic presidential vote margins in Philadelphia, the state’s most populous city, have been in decline since 2012. Are Democrats worried about this?  Democrats never stop worrying about this. There’s hope among some in the party that Harris will do better than Biden did in the city, in part because she would make history as the first Black and Asian American woman president. But at the same time, there’s a lot of anxiety that Trump could overperform among Black and Latino men in Philly. Will we know who won Pennsylvania on Election Night? If not, how soon do you expect we might get a call? Americans may remember — even have PTSD from — Pennsylvania taking a few days to count its ballots in 2020. That’s because of a state law that doesn’t let election administrators process mail ballots until Election Day. That law is still on the books. The good thing, though, is that election officials say their equipment and procedures for counting ballots are better now — and there will be less mail voting this presidential race than in 2020, when there was a pandemic and many people didn’t want to leave their homes. So things should move faster. But when we know the winner will also depend on how close the race is and pending litigation that could affect whether certain ballots are counted. Lightning round question: Name one place, issue or thing we should be watching in Pennsylvania in the campaign homestretch.  Your readers should be watching (and rooting for) the Phils! In all seriousness, it sounds crazy, but some Democrats have argued to me that the Phillies doing well makes voters feel better about the city — and that’s good for them. Hey, I’ve heard stranger election theories. Welcome to POLITICO Nightly. Reach out with news, tips and ideas at nightly@politico.com . Or contact tonight’s author at cmahtesian@politico.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @PoliticoCharlie . What'd I Miss? There were programs several years ago that purchased homes in low-lying, flood prone areas.  In the case of FLORIDA, there seems to have been little effort to mitigate flooding in less severe storms.  In the case of 2 catastrophic hurricanes, it is doubtful that any 'mitigation' is possible or practical.  — Milton threatens to trigger flood insurance reckoning for Congress: Hurricane Milton, a monstrous storm set to hit western Florida tonight , is poised to deplete the finances of the government’s chronically indebted flood insurance program. Congress is already bracing for a fight over what to do about it. Key lawmakers and aides are beginning to game out the likely impact on the National Flood Insurance Program, which is the primary option for millions of American homeowners to protect their finances from catastrophic flooding. “We're going to do everything we can to make sure that there is not a delay in the ability of FEMA to respond to their needs,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican who sits on Senate Banking. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP  By Eleanor Mueller 10/09/2024 09:43 AM EDT Hurricane Milton, a monstrous storm set to hit western Florida Wednesday night, is poised to deplete the finances of the government’s chronically indebted flood insurance program. Congress is already bracing for a fight over what to do about it. Key lawmakers and aides are beginning to game out the likely impact on the National Flood Insurance Program, which is the primary option for millions of American homeowners to protect their finances from catastrophic flooding. The emerging view from several lawmakers and staffers is that NFIP claims spurred by Milton and last month’s Hurricane Helene will likely exhaust the program’s nearly $5 billion in funds and force it to tap $9.9 billion in Treasury borrowing authority. While the NFIP collects premiums and pays out claims similar to a typical insurer, it’s been upside down financially because of weaknesses in how it assessed flood risks for decades and giant losses brought by devastating storms including Hurricane Katrina. Some on Capitol Hill expect Milton could push the NFIP to the edge of what it can borrow from Treasury, potentially forcing Congress to raise its borrowing cap or to pursue some kind of alternative funding to ensure that claims are paid. Nearly 2 million NFIP policies are in areas hit by last month’s Helene or threatened by Milton, which has shifted between a Category 4 and 5 storm this week. Milton is expected to cause much bigger losses than Helene, which hit hardest in areas with relatively low levels of flood insurance coverage. Florida has more than 1.7 million NFIP policies. “The fundamental question here is, will $15 billion be enough to cover Helene and a Category 5 that hits Tampa?” said one House Financial Services Committee GOP staffer granted anonymity because the person wasn’t authorized to speak publicly. “No, $15 billion probably would not ultimately be enough money.” The looming disaster is set to rekindle long-running political conflicts about how to shore up the program. Congress has struggled for years with how to revamp the NFIP, amid clashes over whether changes would drive up the cost of coverage and housing. The prospects for an emergency intervention to ensure claims are paid if such a move is necessary post-Milton are likewise looking fraught as opposing ideas emerge over how to bridge the gap. Among them: Whether to simply raise the NFIP’s borrowing authority, appropriate money to pay policyholders or cancel more of the NFIP’s debt, as Congress did with $16 billion in debt forgiveness to pay claims after 2017’s string of hurricanes. “It’s been nearly impossible to try to get any type of consensus on this,” said Rep. Garret Graves, a Louisiana Republican. “The way that we prepare for disasters and the way we recover from them just needs to be fundamentally changed because at the end of the day, disaster victims are re-victimized by the stupidity and inefficiency of our federal government.” ANY TIME A REPUBLICAN IS QUOTED, LOOK THEM UP! BLAME THE GOVERNMENT when you're incapable of working for BIPARTISAN SOLUTIONS!  Fortunately GARRET GRAVES is not running for re-election. Maybe LOUISIANA can make a better choice. Garret Graves served as a Republican congressman from Louisiana's 6th district from 2015 to 2023, when he declined to run for re-election due to redistricting. He was involved in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the 2020 election dispute, and the 2023 debt-ceiling crisis. Garret Graves - Wikipedia Graves said in an interview that he raised the issue with House Financial Services Chair Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) on Monday. House Financial Services and Senate Banking have jurisdiction over the NFIP and its borrowing authority. “My takeaway was that [McHenry’s] frustrated by all the landmines out there in the flood insurance space,” Graves said. Patrick McHenry: Nothing of SUBSTANCE! Just BLAME! This is ALL REPUBLICANS do! Patrick McHenry Notice that Patrick McHenry called ELIZABETH WARREN a LIAR! Just another Republican Clown making wild accusations! According to House aides granted anonymity, McHenry and the lead Democratic member of his committee, Rep. Maxine Waters of California, have clashing views on how to free up cash for claims if such a move is warranted, despite coming together in the past on long-term reform plans. McHenry would favor raising the NFIP’s borrowing cap or appropriating funds, while Waters has long advocated for debt forgiveness. Congress has imposed a $30.4 billion limit on the NFIP’s ability to borrow from Treasury. McHenry and Waters spokespeople declined to comment. Lisa Peto, who worked on NFIP issues as a former Financial Services Committee chief counsel to Waters, said she expects the borrowing authority to be raised as it has in the past but that it’s less clear whether there is political will to forgive the debt. “There may be some backlash from lawmakers representing less ‘risky’ areas that have raised concerns in the past about cross-subsidization,” said Peto, who is now a partner at the government affairs firm Mindset. Lawmakers are beginning to stress that Congress will ensure NFIP policyholders receive the funds they’re owed. FEMA, which operates the NFIP, is facing mounting pressure across its operations thanks to Helene and now Milton. “We’re going to do everything we can to make sure that there is not a delay in the ability of FEMA to respond to their needs,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican who sits on Senate Banking. “It should always be a concern that you’re going deeper in debt with a program that has to be reformed, but it is not inconsistent with the way the program has been run in the past.” The NFIP did not respond to a request for comment. The MAGA MORONS in the House failed to adequately fund FEMA in their STOP GAP CHARADE & refuse to re-convene to take action. Congress, which won’t return to Washington until after the November elections, likely has ample runway to address any kind of NFIP claims crunch that arises. “It is definitely a possibility that you could have, with combined Helene plus Milton, claims that would be more than the NFIP borrowing authority,” said former NFIP chief actuary Andy Neal, who is now a managing director at Aon. “The good news is, with a $9.9 billion cushion provided by the borrowing authority, there would be time for action to be taken.” PHONE CONVERSATIONS BY TRUMP & PUTIN WERE ALLUDED TO ELSEWHERE....JUST MORE KNEE-JERK TRUMP LIES! AS AMERICANS WERE STRUGGLING WITH COVID & TRUMP WAS SPEWING LIES THAT COST AMERICAN LIVES, TRUMP FAILED THE NATION!  DON'T RE-WRITE HISTORY! COVID DEATHS WERE HIGHER IN REPUBLICAN VOTING AREAS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED THE LIES! TRUMP KILLED HIS BASE! STOP THE LIES! — Kremlin confirms Trump secretly sent Covid tests to Putin at peak of pandemic: The Kremlin confirmed today that former United States President Donald Trump sent Russian President Vladimir Putin Covid-19 testing kits during the height of the pandemic, as reported by American journalist Bob Woodward in a new book. That the U.S. and Russia exchanged medical equipment during the pandemic was already known. But Woodward writes in his book that when Trump was still president in 2020, he “secretly sent Putin a bunch of Abbott Point of Care Covid test machines for his personal use” during a time period when Covid tests were scarce. Trump denied to ABC News that he sent such Covid test kits to Putin. excerpts:  The Kremlin confirmed on Wednesday that former United States President Donald Trump sent Russian President Vladimir Putin Covid-19 testing kits during the height of the pandemic, as reported by American journalist Bob Woodward in a new book. “We also sent equipment at the beginning of the pandemic,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a written response on Wednesday, Bloomberg reported. That the U.S. and Russia exchanged medical equipment during the pandemic was already known. But Woodward writes in his book that when Trump was still president in 2020, he “secretly sent Putin a bunch of Abbott Point of Care Covid test machines for his personal use” during a time period when Covid tests were scarce. Trump denied to ABC news that he sent such Covid test kits to Putin. In his book, Woodward also claims that the two leaders had spoken by phone several times since Trump left office in 2021 — the Kremlin denied these claims. “No, [it's] not true,” Peskov told Russian daily newspaper RBK on Wednesday, referring to the phone calls. Trump campaign aide Jason Miller on Tuesday also denied these claims, saying that he had never heard of such calls; while Trump's campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said that none of the stories in the book are true, and called Woodward  an “angry, little man.” — Biden decries Trump’s ‘onslaught of lies’ as Milton nears landfall: In his strongest terms yet, President Joe Biden today condemned what he called “a reckless, irresponsible, relentless promotion of disinformation and outright lies ” about the federal response to Hurricane Helene and now Milton, the storm charging toward Florida’s Gulf Coast. He named names, saying former President Donald Trump “has led the onslaught of lies.” In recent days, Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has helped spread false information about the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response, including suggesting that victims will only receive $750 payments and wrongly stating that disaster dollars have been diverted to house undocumented immigrants. Nightly Road to 2024 STOP TRUMP'S LUNACY! Former President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign rally today. | Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP REVISIONIST HISTORY — Lawmakers from both parties are vowing to fight back if former President Donald Trump makes good on his pledge to put a Confederate general’s name back on an Army base if he’s reelected. Trump’s Friday endorsement of changing the name of the Army’s Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg — undoing the work of a congressional renaming commission — and the bipartisan backlash signal a fresh culture-war fight between him and Congress if he’s victorious in November. Lawmakers in 2021 approved a process to remove the names of Confederate leaders from nine bases over Trump’s objections in the final days of his presidency. If Trump tries to reverse it, lawmakers could use legislation to attempt to stop him. CROWD SIZE? SEE THOSE PEOPLE WALKING OUT & WAITING TO BE PAID?  WILL DEAD BEAT DON PAY FOR SECURITY? TRUMP AT THE GARDEN — Former President Donald Trump plans to hold a rally at Madison Square Garden arena in New York City and will hold a rally near Coachella, California on Saturday as he heads to two blue states in the final stretch of the presidential election. The plans for the rally at an iconic Manhattan venue, home of the NBA’s New York Knicks and the NHL’s New York Rangers, were confirmed by two Trump campaign officials. While the Trump campaign is focused on the seven battleground states that will decide the election, the stops in states a Republican presidential candidate has not won in recent elections is unusual given the compressed time frame of the campaign and the incredibly tight race. An official said the large venues were chosen because of crowd size growth. While Trump has continued to hold messaging events at smaller venues, the campaign claims they have seen an uptick in public interest. THE BRO VOTE — Donald Trump, confronting a yawning gender gap that has him lagging badly with women, is betting that support from young men will help propel him to the White House. And he’s getting an assist from a crew of pro-Trump millennial pranksters who are capitalizing on college football tailgates, Tinder and even the “Hawk Tuah Girl” podcast. The Nelk Boys, digital content creators and hosts of the popular “Full Send” podcast, are mounting a multi-million-dollar voter registration push aimed at turning out young men. They plan to sign up voters at a “Send the Vote” music festival later this month that will feature a performance by pro-Trump rapper Waka Flocka Flame, and at a pair of Penn State football games. DESPERATION TO AVOID PRISON! It’s the latest effort in an all-out campaign by the former president to turn out young men, a demographic his campaign views as critical to his election given the overwhelming support Kamala Harris is expected to receive from young women. The question the Trump operation faces, however, is whether it can turn out a subset of voters his allies concede are uncertain to cast ballots. AROUND THE WORLD SUMMIT POSTPONED — A summit of allied countries aimed at coordinating more military support for Ukraine set for Saturday Oct. 12 has been postponed following the cancellation of U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit to Germany . At the end of a three-day trip to Germany, Biden was due to chair a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a loose alliance of more than 50 countries known as the Ramstein Format, named for the air base in which it is usually held. The grouping coordinates military support for Kyiv, and is a critical platform for discussing the ramp up in supplies of air defense systems and ammunition to the war-ravaged country. However, as Hurricane Milton bears down on the Florida coast this week the White House announced early Tuesday that Biden’s trip to Germany wouldn’t happen. Ahead of the Ramstein meeting, Biden was set to hold talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Berlin on the Saturday morning, while Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also set to present his so-called Victory Plan at Ramstein later in the day with the hope of securing further military support. CPAC & REPUBLICANS & DAFFY DON PRAISE VIKTOR ORBAN & IGNORE THAT HE'S ANTI-DEMOCRACY!  MESSAGE TO VIKTOR — Ursula von der Leyen today slammed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán after he spoke to the European Parliament for cozying up to Vladimir Putin , allowing foreign interference by Russia and China, and letting down the Hungarian people. “There are still some who blame this war not on the invader but on the invaded. Not on Putin’s lust for power but on Ukraine’s thirst for freedom,” the European Commission president said. “I want to ask them,” she said while looking directly at Orbán: “Would they ever blame the Hungarians for the Soviet invasion of 1956? Or the Czechs and Slovaks for the Soviet repression of 1968? Or the Lithuanians for the Soviet crackdown of 1991?” The rhetorical questions were met with applause from pro-European political groups. In the past, the Parliament has criticized von der Leyen for being too soft when addressing rule of law and human rights issues in Hungary. Her rebuttal of Orbán’s policies comes weeks before the team of 26 European commissioners will go before Parliament for their sign-off — and she needs MEPs’ support for her second term. In her most recent address, in unusually strong words, von der Leyen called out the Hungarian prime minister for cozying up to Putin. Nightly Number 1.7 million The number of vehicles that Honda is now recalling , due to a steering problem that could lead to crashes. The safety recall order comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. RADAR SWEEP NOBEL NOTES — Two huge Nobel prizes — in chemistry and physics — each just went to researchers who study artificial intelligence . In case it wasn’t clear, the Nobel committee made it obvious — it’s now possible to win science’s biggest prize by studying AI. And while AI already has all sorts of practical implications on our lives, the choices make manifest and further encourage a shift in direction within the scientific community, towards studying what AI means for the future. Chris Stokel-Walker reports in WIRED. Parting Image On this date in 1936: President Franklin D. Roosevelt makes the first appearance in a tour of the Midwest in Dubuque, Iowa. The president can be seen on the rear platform of his train. | AP Did someone forward this email to you?  Sign up here .   Follow us on Twitter Charlie Mahtesian @PoliticoCharlie Calder McHugh @calder_mchugh   Follow us

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POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: FENWAY could soon HOST FANS — Lawmakers ROAST BAKER over VAX program — MORSE tapped for PROVINCETOWN job

BY STEPHANIE MURRAY GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TGIF! VAX HEARING AND REOPENING COLLIDE — It was a tale of two headlines for Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday. At the beginning of the day, Baker was on defense as lawmakers grilled him over the state's Covid-19 vaccine rollout at a much-anticipated oversight hearing. It was an unusual position for the popular Republican governor, who usually does not face sharp criticism from the Democratic-majority legislature. But a few hours later, the governor made a headline-grabbing announcement. Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium and other ballparks and arenas can reopen with 12 percent capacity beginning on March 22, as part of the state's move into phase four of reopening. The announcement was a bit unusual for Baker. Typically, he details changes to the reopening plan a few days before they take place. While Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito did say all cities and towns can move further into the third phase of reopening next week, the big headline from the press conference was that ballparks and stadiums can open late next month. Whether Baker’s move was intentional or not, it successfully shifted some attention away from the much-criticized vaccine rollout and tense-at-times hearing. His administration had referred to phase four as the "new normal" when it unveiled the reopening phases last spring. Baker's been accused of trying to divert attention from the oversight hearing before. On Tuesday, the governor announced his top education officials were putting together a plan to get elementary school kids back in school by April. The move frustrated teachers unions who want staff vaccinated first, and some members suggested Baker was trying to deflect from the coming oversight hearing. The governor soon got the question at a press briefing: Was this an attempt to distract from the vaccine rollout? "We're number one in the country in first doses per capita among our peers, states that have more than 5 million people," Baker said on Tuesday. "I would hate to distract from that information, because that's a really good story." Looming in the background is the 2022 race for governor, which is already well underway. Baker hasn't said whether he'll seek a third term, but a recent poll indicates he's in a strong position to run again. Democrat Ben Downing is already in the race, and Harvard professor Danielle Allen, another Democrat, has been exploring a run for months. Former state Rep. Geoff Diehl, a member of Baker's own party, is also plotting a run. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker tours Nock-Molin Middle School in Newburyport. State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz and Rep. Liz Miranda are guests on GBH’s “Basic Black.” Attorney General Maura Healey is a guest on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio.” Rep. Lori Trahan hosts a Black History Month event on Facebook Live with Thaddeus Miles of MassHousing the BlackJoy Project.   NEW - “THE RECAST” NEWSLETTER: Power dynamics are changing. “Influence” is changing. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that all politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. “The Recast” is our new twice-weekly newsletter that breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics, policy and power in America. And POLITICO is recasting how we report on this crucial intersection, bringing you fresh insights, scoops, dispatches from across the country and new voices that challenge “business as usual.” Don’t miss out on this important new newsletter, SUBSCRIBE NOW. Thank you to our sponsor, Intel.     THE LATEST NUMBERS – “Massachusetts last week saw a 76% drop in new COVID cases since the peak; State reports 1,928 new cases, 33 deaths on Thursday,” by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: “State health officials confirmed another 1,928 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, which is based on 118,144 new molecular tests, according to the Department of Public Health. Officials also announced another 33 COVID-related fatalities, bringing the death toll from the pandemic to 15,657.” – “28 Massachusetts communities at high risk for coronavirus transmission, lowest since mid-November,” by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: “Just 28 cities and towns are at high risk for COVID-19 transmission this week, down a whopping 88% from just six weeks ago when the ‘red’ zone swelled to a high of 229 communities.” DATELINE BEACON HILL – “The ‘new normal’ is coming: Mass. set to enter final phase of reopening in March,” by Andy Rosen, Anissa Gardizy and Diti Kohli, Boston Globe: “Massachusetts sports venues, concert spaces, and theaters will be able to reopen in coming weeks, Governor Charlie Baker announced Thursday, laying out for the first time a concrete timeline to bring back segments of the economy that have remained shuttered since the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic nearly a year ago.” – “Lawmakers grill governor on website problems,” by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: “Gov. Charlie Baker was in the hot seat Thursday morning as the Legislature’s 17-member committee on COVID-19 and Emergency Preparedness and Management grilled him over the state’s rollout of vaccines. Baker followed familiar themes in his remarks, ticking off the state’s fairly strong metrics in administering vaccines and acknowledging a rollout that has been ‘lumpy and bumpy’ at times. But several lawmakers hammered him on the performance of the state website used to find and reserve a booking for a vaccination.” – “No seat for Bristol County on COVID oversight panel that grilled Gov. Baker,” by Ted Nesi, WPRI: “Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker made an unusual appearance Thursday before a special legislative panel, getting grilled over his administration’s glitchy vaccine website. The rare oversight hearing gave 17 senators and representatives the chance to question the governor about their constituents’ concerns — but not one of them was from Bristol County.” – “Baker: Mass. has received $71b in fed aid,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “The federal government has funneled $71 billion to Massachusetts and its residents through four COVID-19 relief programs over the last year, Gov. Charlie Baker said at a legislative oversight hearing on Thursday. The $71 billion is an astonishing number, far higher than the $46 billion the Legislature appropriated for the state budget during the current fiscal year.” – “Hundreds of companies cited for labor violations,” by Christian M. Wade, Newburyport Daily News: “More than 300 companies were cited for violating state labor laws amid the COVID-19 pandemic last year, according to data from the attorney general's office. The office's Fair Labor Division issued more than 700 citations in 2020, totaling more than $12.5 million, to companies across a range of industries, according to a report filed with the state Legislature and a review of the agency's data.” – “Insurers face scrutiny over pandemic coverage,” by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: “Lawmakers are taking aim at insurance companies with a plan that forces them to cover COVID-19-related claims filed by businesses and eliminate ‘virus exclusions’ in many policies. A measure filed by Sen. Diana DiZoglio, D-Methuen, and Rep. Dylan Fernandes, D-Falmouth, would mandate that any policy covering business interruption or the loss of use of property by a business extend to public health emergencies such as those arising from the pandemic.” VAX-ACHUSETTS – “‘Your estimated wait time is 50,475 minutes’: State vaccine appointment site hits more snags,” by Hiawatha Bray and Christina Prignano, Boston Globe: “A mad scramble began at 8 a.m. Thursday when 50,000 new vaccine appointments were made available at the state’s six mass vaccination clinics — Foxborough, Boston, Springfield, Dartmouth, Danvers, and Natick. And while the much-criticized Vaxfinder.mass.gov website performed far better than it did last week, when it crashed altogether for part of the morning, the site still suffered intermittent outages.” – “Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker slammed for COVID vaccine website issues as he blames limited federal supply,” by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: “Massachusetts lawmakers pressed Gov. Charlie Baker on his response to the online booking options for the state’s vaccine rollout as he placed the blame on a limited federal supply.” – “PrepMod creator calls for ‘all hands on deck’ after Massachusetts vaccine website woes,” by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: “Hours after the state’s largest vaccine appointment-booking vendor was overwhelmed by shot-seekers for another week, PrepMod creator Tiffany Tate said improving the system ‘requires all hands on deck.’” – “Sudders: Mass vaccination sites short-term solution,” by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: “Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders pushed back against the view that the state is going all in on mass vaccination sites on Thursday during testimony before the Legislature’s Committee on COVID-19 and Emergency Preparedness and Management.” FROM THE HUB – “Company and owner in Boston work site fatalities have history of violations,” by Danny McDonald and Laura Crimaldi, Boston Globe: “The company involved in a pair of construction fatalities in downtown Boston Wednesday and its owner have a lengthy history of workplace violations and legal disputes in recent years, court and inspection records show.” – “As Marty Walsh leaves, Boston councilors reintroduce tear gas ordinance he vetoed,” by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: “City Councilors are taking another crack at limiting the Boston Police Department’s usage of tear gas and rubber bullets — a proposal Mayor Martin Walsh vetoed two months ago, but acting-mayor-in-waiting Kim Janey voted for.” – “Walsh: More Boston Public School Students Can Return To School Next Week,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “As many as 7,900 more Boston students will be invited to return to school next week as part of the Boston Public School system’s hybrid school re-opening plan, Mayor Marty Walsh announced Thursday.” – “Catholic Schools Have Stayed (Mostly) Open During The Pandemic,” by Meg Woolhouse, GBH News: “Most public school students in Boston, the state’s largest school district, have not returned to in-person learning for nearly a year due to the pandemic. But greater Boston’s Catholic schools, the state’s second largest school system, stretching from Plymouth to New Hampshire, reopened in the fall. It’s a stark contrast, one that’s made Catholic schools attractive to families fed up with remote learning and willing to pay for in-person instruction.”' – “Mass Audubon Confronts Legacy Of Its Namesake As Nation Reckons With Race,” by Khari Thompson, WBUR: “The Mattapan sanctuary has been around since the late 1990s, but Mass Audubon itself is more than 100 years old and now owns nearly 40,000 acres of land throughout the state. The society gets its name from renowned conservationist and naturalist John James Audubon, who was famous for his vivid paintings of American birds.” THE RACE FOR CITY HALL – “District 6 candidates face off in forum,” by Yawu Miller, Bay State Banner: “Housing affordability, police reform and the racial wealth gap were among the issues on the table Monday during the first candidate forum for the District 6 City Council seat, during which Kendra Hicks and Mary Tamer answered questions from Greater Boston Young Democrats and Young Democrats of Massachusetts.” DAY IN COURT – “Clerk Magistrate Weighing Whether To Charge Former Lynn Police Officer With Assault,” by Ally Jarmanning, WBUR: “A clerk magistrate is considering 90 seconds of silent video from a police holding cell as he decides whether or not a former Lynn police officer should face criminal charges for allegedly beating a man in custody.” ON THE STUMP – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: “Momentum Grows for Juan Jaramillo Following Wave of Progressive Endorsements,” from the Jaramillo campaign: “Juan Jaramillo’s campaign to represent Revere and Winthrop in the State Legislature received another big boost today with the endorsement of several key progressive lawmakers and organizations, including Suffolk County Register of Probate Felix D. Arroyo, Boston City Councilors Ricardo Arroyo, Michelle Wu, Lydia Edwards and Julia Mejia, and state Reps. Liz Miranda, Lindsay Sabadosa, Maria Robinson and Andy Vargas.” – “Newton candidates vie for two City Council seats in March 16 special election,” by John Hilliard, Boston Globe: “Newton voters will be asked to decide two citywide races for City Council in a special election March 16, filling two vacant seats through the end of the year. The 24-member council has had two vacant at-large positions since the death of Ward 1 Councilor-at-large Allan L. ‘Jay’ Ciccone Jr. in November and the departure of Jake Auchincloss, who represented Ward 2 before he was elected as a US representative in November.” MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS – “Pittsfield Bans Future Outdoor Commercial Weed Cultivation,” by Josh Landes, WAMC: “The largest community in Berkshire County has outlawed all future outdoor cannabis cultivation following a city council vote this week. While Pittsfield, Massachusetts has two active commercial grow operations, no more will be allowed after a 10-1 vote Tuesday night.” ABOVE THE FOLD — Herald: “LIMITED CAPACITY COMING TO HUB SPORTING EVENTS," "NOPE!” — Globe: “Your wait time is… 50475 minutes…” “Sports venues, theaters can open." FROM THE 413 – “Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse chosen as new town manager in Provincetown, pending contract talks,” by Michaela Chesin, Provincetown Banner: “The Select Board unanimously chose Alex Morse, the current mayor of Holyoke, on Thursday to be the next town manager. The board had interviewed three finalists Wednesday evening including Morse.” – “Holyoke City Council President Todd McGee could become acting mayor after Alex Morse named Provincetown town manager,” by Dennis Hohenberger, MassLive.com: “City Council President Todd McGee could become acting mayor after Alex B. Morse was picked Thursday as Provincetown’s next town manager. McGee said he would speak with Morse in the coming days and release a statement before Tuesday’s City Council meeting.” – “Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno seeks neighborhood COVID vaccination sites,” by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: “Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno called Thursday for five neighborhood COVID-19 vaccination sites in the name of bringing racial and economic equity to the fight against the pandemic.” THE LOCAL ANGLE – “Director of Fitchburg Area's Only Shelter Is Accused Of Assaulting Homeless Clients,” by Carrie Saldo, GBH News: “Advocates for the homeless in the Fitchburg area say there is a problem at Our Father’s House, the region's only year-round overnight shelter: The director may be preying on the people who go there for help. At a recent meeting of the Fitchburg Human Rights Commission, several advocates accused Kevin MacLean — the shelter’s director of homelessness — of physically and sexually assaulting clients.” – “Bar-top dining, Polar Park opening signs of 'light at the end of the tunnel,’” by Steven H. Foskett Jr., Telegram & Gazette: “As virus numbers continue to trend downward, more restrictions are being lifted statewide, and City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. Thursday gave no indication that Worcester, as it has during other points in the pandemic, would go its own way and keep a tighter lid on activities in the city.” – “Lowell leaders condemn School Committee member Hoey’s use of anti-Semitic slur,” by Amy Sokolow, The Lowell Sun: “Lowell community and municipal leaders soundly denounced School Committee member Robert Hoey’s use of an anti-Semitic slur during a live taping of the local show ‘City Life’ on Wednesday morning. All members of the City Council, plus the mayor, city manager, superintendent and two School Committee members have publicly condemned the incident, as has the city’s entire statehouse and congressional delegations.” – “Half of Worcester Public Schools students opt-in for hybrid learning starting in March,” by Melissa Hanson, MassLive.com: “Members of the Worcester School Committee on Thursday night listened to a highly detailed plan from Superintendent Maureen Binienda covering health and safety protocols for the district’s hybrid learning plan.” – “Flood insurance changes could hurt low-income, middle-class New Englanders,” by Hadley Barndollar, The Patriot Ledger: “As the Federal Emergency Management Agency works to compensate for more than 50 years of mispriced flood insurance, property owners likely to be hurt most are the ones least equipped to handle unexpected expenses: middle-class and low-income homeowners.” – “Mansfield plans to return to in-person learning for kindergartners on Monday; teachers union not happy,” by Tom Reilly, Sun Chronicle: “Local schools are starting small with bringing students back for in-person learning. Small and cute, that is. Kindergartners will return for full, in-person learning at Robinson Elementary School as of Monday.” HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Harold Hubschman, Cathey Park, Laura Oggeri and Jill Webb. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND – to Saturday birthday-ers to state Sen. Eric Lesser and Susan Zalkind. And to POLITICO's Charlie Mahtesian, Ben Gundersheimer and Li-Dor David, who all celebrate Sunday. NEW EPISODE: SOCIAL DISTANCING STUDIES – On this week’s Horse Race podcast, hosts Jennifer Smith and Stephanie Murray discuss the state’s push for in-person learning, and discuss the House race to fill former Speaker Bob DeLeo’s seat with GBH’s Tori Bedford and the Boston Herald’s Lisa Kashinsky. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud . 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.   TUNE IN TO GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS: Our Global Translations podcast, presented by Citi, examines the long-term costs of the short-term thinking that drives many political and business decisions. The world has long been beset by big problems that defy political boundaries, and these issues have exploded over the past year amid a global pandemic. This podcast helps to identify and understand the impediments to smart policymaking. Subscribe and start listening today.       Follow us on Twitter Stephanie Murray @StephMurr_Jour   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

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