POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Wu's fall fundraising

By Kelly Garrity Presented by Mass General Brigham HERE, THERE, EVERYWHERE — Michelle Wu's reelection bid is still in the planning stages. But she's hitting the fundraising circuit like her campaign is already up and running. Wu has hosted a handful of fundraisers throughout the city in recent weeks. Last month, she held events in Brighton, Roslindale and Charlestown, per invitations. After her South Boston fête Wednesday, she held another in East Boston last night. Asked about the flurry of fundraisers, Wu’s campaign noted that she’s regularly held similar events across the city since she first won a seat on the City Council in 2013. The $66,923 September campaign haul she posted yesterday was more than she raised in August, but not on par with her biggest months this year (she raised more than $100,000 in January and February). But the fall fundraising blitz does serve to reinforce the depth of Wu’s connections across the city as potential challengers size up the competition. Also listed on all of the invites were local electeds representing each of the neighborhoods: State Sen. William Brownsberger and state Reps. Mike Moran and Kevin Honan on the invite for the Brighton event, and state Sen. Michael Rush and state Reps. Rob Consalvo and Bill MacGregor in Roslindale, to name a few. It’s a sizable roster that includes some key players, and Wu’s potential rivals are likely taking note of who’s on the list. GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Wu’s not the only one making money moves. Top surrogates from both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump’s campaigns will be in the Bay State this weekend to raise money, almost a month out from Election Day. With Ohio Sen. JD Vance on tap to headline a Gloucester luncheon Saturday, Democrats are offering a less than warm welcome to the GOP VP hopeful. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark is preempting Vance’s swing with a well-worn attack line about Project 2025 (the Heritage Foundation planner for the next Republican administration that Trump has distanced himself from) while also slamming Vance for his voting record on expanding a tax credit for families with children. “Don’t be fooled by J.D. Vance’s lies. Every single Congressional Republican voted against the expanded Child Tax Credit — including J.D. Vance,” Clark, long an advocate for child care relief, said in a statement shared by the Harris campaign. “Donald Trump’s Project 2025 would cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans while leaving children and everyday Americans to pick up the tab,” she said. “Vice President Harris and Governor Walz are the only candidates who have a plan to expand the CTC and cut costs for working families. The stakes of this election couldn’t be higher – and the contrast couldn’t be clearer.” Vance actually didn't vote against the most recent House-approved legislation that would have expanded the child tax credit — he wasn’t present for the vote when Senate Republicans blocked the bill from passing. The Ohio Republican in August said he “would love to see” the child tax credit raised to $5,000 per child, up from the $2,000 per child, and defended his decision to skip the vote by pointing out that there was already enough Republican opposition to quash the effort anyway. Harris has pitched a $6,000 tax credit for parents of newborns , and says she wants to bump up the child tax credit to the $3,600 per child parents earned during the pandemic. When Vance and Walz went back and forth on the topic during Tuesday’s debate, the Minnesota governor said he didn’t think he and Vance were “that far apart” on the issue that both campaigns have tried to embrace. But Democrats clearly want to emphasize the distance. FWIW, some parents and providers in Massachusetts and beyond want to see more from both sides of the aisle when it comes to child care, two recent Globe reports found. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey swears Geoffrey Noble in as Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police at 10:15 a.m. and meets with British Consul General to New England David Clay at 1:30 p.m. and former president of the Dominican Republic Leonel Antonio Fernández Reyna at 3:30 p.m. at the State House. She also attends the Topsfield fair at 6 p.m. Driscoll attends Korea Day at 12:40 p.m. at the State House and the Massachusetts Design Art & Technology Institute’s fall ball at 7 p.m. in New Bedford. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and federal, state and other local officials celebrate the completion of soil clean-up at the Lewis Chemical site and progress at nearby sites at 10 a.m. in Hyde Park. THIS WEEKEND — Education Sec. Patrick Tutwiler is on WBZ/s “Keller @ Large” at 8 a.m. Sunday. Secretary of State Bill Galvin is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday, talking the state’s election prep one month out. Republican National Committeewoman Janet Fogarty, former MassGOP Chair Jennifer Nassour and Democratic activist Jacquetta van Zandt give an election update on NBC10 Boston’s “@ Issue” at 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Tips? Scoops? Birthdays? Email me:  kgarrity@politico.com   A message from Mass General Brigham: At Mass General Brigham, we harness the collective strength of our healthcare system to provide research-driven cancer care for the patients and communities we serve. Mass General Brigham is number one in hospital medical research. We perform the most cancer surgeries and have the most cancer specialists in New England. We have the region’s only proton therapy center and provide access to more than 1,000 clinical trials annually. We’re one against cancer. Learn more.   DATELINE BEACON HILL GNAW-T TODAY — Nibi, the viral , diva beaver, won’t be forced out into the wild, thanks to a special permit Gov. Maura Healey granted the animal yesterday. The two-year-old beaver who’s made (so many) headlines, will stay at Newhouse Wildlife Rescue in Chelmsford as an “educational animal,” Healey’s office announced Thursday. Nibi’s case was set to be heard in Middlesex Superior Court today, after state wildlife officials ordered her release — sparking a firestorm of protest and a petition from her fans. “Nibi has captured the hearts of many of our residents, mine included,” Healey said in a statement. “We’re excited to share that we have issued a permit for Nibi to remain in Newhouse’s care, continuing to educate the public about this important species. — “Tax Revenues Up 5.8 Percent In First Quarter Of FY 2025,” by Colin A. Young, State House News Service (paywall): “The Department of Revenue said Thursday that it collected $4.518 billion in September -- $331 million or 7.9 percent more than what was collected during September 2023, but $29 million or 0.6 percent below the monthly benchmark." — “State's civil legal aid costs skyrocketing,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune. — “Long-stalled gambling data project moves forward,” by Jennifer Smith, CommonWealtth Beacon. FROM THE HUB — “Boston awards $ $2.2M to aid community economic development efforts,” by John L. Micek, MassLive. —  “Fed-up Flynn wants his photo taken down, Boston City Council prez says not on her watch,”  by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald. WHAT'S ON CAMPBELL'S DOCKET — “Massachusetts education board violated Open Meeting Law, attorney general says,” by Deanna Pan, The Boston Globe: “The Office of Attorney General Andrea Campbell concluded this week the state’s top education governing body failed to give sufficient notice that a group of five speakers planned to address board members about antisemitic bullying at their Jan. 23 meeting." — “Slaying ‘zombie’ mortgages: AG touts $10M relief in second mortgage settlement,”   by Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald: “On Thursday, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced her office had reached a ‘precedent-setting settlement’ with Franklin Credit Management Corporation over their alleged practice of reanimating long dead second mortgages — typically originating from before the Bush-era housing crisis — and using them to eat away at residents’ finances in violation of state regulation.” PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — “Green Line service resumes between North Station and Medford/Tufts following derailment, safety investigation,” by Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald. — “Is a train from Boston to North Adams worth the expense? Proponents say yes, the state isn't so sure,” by Sten Spinella, The Berkshire Eagle.   A message from Mass General Brigham:     YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll have endorsed Mark Sylvia in his bid to fill the 10th Bristol House seat that state Rep. William Straus is vacating at the end of his term, per his campaign. — Sen. Ed Markey has endorsed Josh Tarsky in the race for the open 13th Norfolk District state House seat. TRAIL MARKERS — Gov. Maura Healey and Rep. Jim McGovern meet in Manchester to kick off a canvass for New Hampshire Democrats at 10 a.m. Saturday. — Attorney General Andrea Campbell is in Michigan for the Harris-Walz campaign Saturday. She’s on a panel discussion on the care economy at 9:30 a.m. in Grand Rapids, joins a “Black Voters For Harris” phonebank session at 12:50 p.m. and kicks off a canvass at 1 p.m. in Kalamazoo. — State Auditor Diana DiZoglio embarks on her 141-mile trek across the state to campaign for the ballot question that would let her office audit the Legislature today. She’ll host “Sips and Sunshine” rally mixers at 6 p.m. in Barrington today, in Westfield Saturday and in West Springfield Sunday. — “Threats, requests, and expanded voting: Mass. clerks are gearing up for a daunting election,” by  Samantha J. Gross, The Boston Globe: “Burnout and frustration after the 2020 election and the subsequent storm of misinformation sparked massive turnover within the ranks of local elections officials. Those who stayed faced cybersecurity threats and emails sent by bad actors. The threats come on top of new state laws that boosted access to mail ballots and expanded early voting. Taken together, the job has grown even more demanding on clerks, many of whom are just part-time employees.” KELLY AYOTTE - SCRUTINIZE HER RECORD! HuffPost: Kelly Ayotte’s Deep Ties To Scandal-Plagued ‘Green’ Energy Firm NHDP excerpt: At different points in 2023, Ayotte owned over 16,000 shares of Blackstone stock and over 7,000 shares of stock in Boston Properties, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings. In January 2024, she also reported owning over 50,000 shares of News Corp. stock. Ayotte also served in advisory roles for several other companies, like Chubb Insurance, Microsoft and Revision Military. KELLY AYOTTE GRANITE STATE OF PLAY — Former GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte holds a slight lead over former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig in the race to replace outgoing Gov. Chris Sununu, per the latest Saint Anselm College poll. The poll shows Ayotte leading Craig, a Democrat, 47-44 percent. Dive in with WMUR  .  UNION TOWN SHOT — “Firefighters union declines to issue presidential endorsement,” by Nick Niedzwiadek, POLITICO: “Vice President Kamala Harris suffered a blow Thursday as the union representing more than 300,000 career firefighters and emergency responders declined to make a presidential endorsement, two weeks after the International Brotherhood of Teamsters made a similar decision.” CHASER — “Port strike deal ends no-win dilemma for Democrats,” by Ry Rivard, Nick Niedzwiadek and Lauren Egan, POLITICO: “A dockworkers strike that threatened the U.S. supply chain weeks before an election is over just days after it began — a resolution that White House officials credited to weeks of quiet engagement with both sides, punctuated by President Joe Biden’s public efforts to heighten the pressure on shipping companies to reach a deal.” FROM THE DELEGATION — “Sen. Markey tours Berkshire County, meets with local leaders in North Adams, Pittsfield, Great Barrington,” by Josh Landes, WAMC Northeast Public Radio. IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN — “ Boston needs billions to protect itself from sea level rise. Can the city find the money? ,” by Erin Douglas, The Boston Globe. FROM THE 413 — “Springfield receives 14 fake threats in 1st 28 days of school, teen arrested in most recent,” by Jeanette DeForge, The Springfield Republican. SPRINGFIELD — A bomb threat flagged on social media early Thursday morning prompted an emergency search of Chestnut Middle School and resulted in the arrest of a 14-year-old student who “didn’t want to go to school.” — “Holyoke School Committee Back to Full Strength with Fresh Appointments, ” by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass Politics & Insight. THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Schools meet $74 million deadline,” by Colin Hogan, The New Bedford Light: “Public bids were received and selected last month for two major construction projects, a school-based health center and HVAC improvements at Gomes Elementary. Any remaining funds were used to defray salary expenses across the district, according to [public schools administrator Jen] Ferland.” — “Gloucester teachers vote to 'work to rule' starting Friday,” by Gloucester Daily Times staff: “Teachers in Gloucester have announced that they will work only contractually obligated hours starting Friday to protest stalled contract negotiations. Under the ‘work to rule’ conditions, teachers will withhold or refuse to perform voluntary activities that are not set forth in their collective bargaining agreement.” — “Teachers and parents say mold continues to spread at Barnstable United, despite cleanup,” by Rachael Devaney, Cape Cod Times.  — “City councilor moves to block mayor's plan for senior housing in Highland Park,” by George W. Rhodes, The Sun Chronicle. HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Special Envoy for Northern Ireland and former Rep. Joe Kennedy III; Boston Mayor Michelle Wu communications chief Jessicah Pierre, Max German, Miles Halpine, Eliza Adelson, Alexis Cantor, Will von Meister, Steve Picheny, Jon Tapper, Justin Dynia and DFER’s Mary Tamer. Happy belated to Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance’s Paul Craney, who celebrated Thursday. HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to Teresa Heinz Kerry, who celebrates Saturday; and to Sunday birthday-ers Tara DiJulio, Jonny Levenfeld and Gian DeFilippis.   A message from Mass General Brigham: At Mass General Brigham, we harness the collective strength of our healthcare system to provide research-driven cancer care for the patients and communities we serve. Mass General Brigham is number one in hospital medical research. We perform the most cancer surgeries and have the most cancer specialists in New England. We have the region’s only proton therapy center and provide access to more than 1,000 clinical trials annually. The vision for Mass General Brigham is to build a world-class center of cancer care, with the patients at the center of everything we do. New collaborations, new treatments, and innovative approaches. Leading to new hope and possibilities. At Mass General Brigham, we’re one against cancer. Learn more.   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 .   Follow us on Twitter Kelly Garrity @KellyGarrity3   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters Follow us

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POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Shelter aid sticking points

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY AND KELLY GARRITY Presented by TICK TOCK ON THE CLOCK — House and Senate lawmakers have less than 17 hours to reach an agreement on how Gov. Maura Healey can spend the $250 million in migrant and shelter aid they’re poised to send her way. Negotiations got underway shortly after senators passed their version of a $2.8 billion spending bill on a party-line vote around 8 p.m. Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues told Playbook on his way out of the chamber that he was “going to send over some proposals” to his House counterpart, state Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, in short order. The bill, which is primarily meant to close the books on the last fiscal year, could still end up in a traditional six-member conference committee, Rodrigues said. But either way, he said, “Our goal is to get it done [today].” It helps that the chambers already agree on the overall amount of emergency shelter money: $250 million, matching what Healey requested in September. But they disagree on how she should spend it. The House linked specific dollar amounts to specific areas, like $75 million for school districts dealing with rising enrollments and $50 million for the state to set up overflow shelter (with the condition that if the state doesn’t open a site within 30 days, Healey’s 7,500-family capacity limit would be revoked). Some housing and homelessness-prevention advocates have embraced the House’s approach as a way of forcing the Healey administration’s hand amid growing fears of waitlisted families sleeping in hospital emergency rooms or on the streets. Senators pointedly declined to follow the lower chamber’s lead, saying the governor and her team need “flexibility” in the face of an ever-changing crisis. Both versions require more reporting from the Healey administration on the state of the shelter system. But the House wants monthly reports, while the Senate wants them every two weeks. Senators also unanimously approved an amendment from state Sen. John Velis that would create a commission to study the financial impact and sustainability of the emergency shelter program — including whether the state’s “right-to-shelter” law needs to be modified. Velis, a National Guard member who recently served at hotels sheltering migrant and homeless families , told Playbook that “if the federal government is truly not going to do anything," state lawmakers need to figure out "how long can we do this before we absolutely have to change course.” There are other points of disagreement between the chambers’ spending bills that are unrelated to the overloaded shelter system. The Senate, for instance, included language that would enable the Kraft Group to build a professional soccer stadium in Everett. The House did not. But representatives have supported clearing the way for the stadium in the past. Now, back to that asterisk. If lawmakers fail to broker a deal before they gavel out, they can still take up an agreement in informal sessions. But that’s a risky move: A bill could be derailed by a single lawmaker’s objection. Also on the docket today: House Democrats are teeing up a vote on sweeping changes to long-term care industry regulations, a priority of Speaker Ron Mariano. Senators are planning a vote on the latest version of their prescription drug-pricing bill. GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . We’re finally getting the date of New Hampshire’s presidential primary today. TODAY — Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll announce expanded financial aid for public higher-education students at 10 a.m. at Salem State. Driscoll chairs a Governor’s Council meeting at noon. Healey is an honorary host for Big Sister Boston’s fall gala at 7:30 p.m. in Fenway. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu attends an Age Strong Commission event at 12:30 p.m. in Brighton. A message from Conservation Law Foundation: Conservation Law Foundation is separating fact from fiction when it comes to the role of bioenergy in cutting climate-damaging pollution and transforming our economy to one built on clean energy. The economic, environmental, and public health of our communities and businesses demand that we invest in energy efficiency and clean energy sources – while moving with caution and care on bioenergy resources. Get the full story.   DATELINE BEACON HILL — “Fiscal ‘storm clouds’ growing over Massachusetts after lower than expected tax collections,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Massachusetts has experienced four consecutive months of below benchmark revenue collections during the start of fiscal year 2024, said Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues.” — “After ballot question exposed a divided front, rent control gets renewed push on Beacon Hill,” by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: “After the collapse of a divisive ballot question campaign, proponents of reviving rent control in Massachusetts returned Tuesday to making their case to the state Legislature, where supporters acknowledge that Democratic leaders remain deeply skeptical of erasing the state’s three-decade ban.” — “Commission to rethink state seal and motto concludes with no specific proposal for either,” by Adam Reilly, GBH News: “The special commission tasked by the Mass. Legislature with rethinking Massachusetts' state seal and motto wrapped its work Tuesday without recommending specific replacements for either. … [T]he report is agnostic on one key question — namely, whether a new seal should also feature a visual representation of a Native American.” — “What to do with an extra day off? Progressive Mass. lawmakers pitch 4-day workweek,” by Kinga Borondy, Telegram & Gazette: “Supporters of a bill that would launch a voluntary pilot program for employers interested in establishing a four-day workweek in Massachusetts said it would provide more time: time for employees to be with family, time for hobbies, time to volunteer, time for self-care, time to pursue personal happiness.” — “Blais, Comerford launch bills to establish disaster relief fund,” by Chris Larabee, Daily Hampshire Gazette.   GO INSIDE THE CAPITOL DOME: From the outset, POLITICO has been your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill, providing the most thorough Congress coverage — from political characters and emerging leaders to leadership squabbles and policy nuggets during committee markups and hearings. We're stepping up our game to ensure you’re fully informed on every key detail inside the Capitol Dome, all day, every day. Start your day with Playbook AM, refuel at midday with our Playbook PM halftime report and enrich your evening discussions with Huddle. Plus, stay updated with real-time buzz all day through our brand new Inside Congress Live feature. Learn more and subscribe here.     DATELINE D.C. OKLAHOMA SENATOR MARKWAYNE MULLIN IS THE ONLY SENATOR WITHOUT A COLLEGE DEGREE - THE LEAST EDUCATED.  HAS PREVIOUSLY ATTACKED SEAN O'BRIEN UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT DOES NOT BELONG IN THE SENATE!  FIGHT CLUB — Teamsters President Sean O’Brien almost came to blows with Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) during a U.S. Senate hearing yesterday after the senator, a former MMA fighter, tried to goad the Bay Stater into making good on an online challenge to fight. “Quit the tough guy act in these senate hearings . You know where to find me. Anyplace, Anytime cowboy,” O’Brien wrote in a post on X that Mullin read aloud at the hearing. “Sir, this is a time. This is a place,” Mullin said to O’Brien, adding that the foes could “finish it” right there on the hearing-room floor. The pair looked poised for fisticuffs before another New Englander, HELP Committee Chair Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), stepped in. “You’re a United States senator,” Sanders said to Mullin. “Sit down.” More on O’Brien and Mullin’s bad blood from POLITICO’s Nancy Vu. MAGA GOP CONTINUE TO PROVE THEY ARE INCAPABLE OF GOVERNING!  VOTE THEM OUT! Tensions flared across the Capitol as lawmakers scrambled to avert a government shutdown for the second time this fall. House Speaker Mike Johnson was forced to rely on Democrats to pass the stopgap funding bill amid opposition from members of the House Freedom Caucus. It’s the same tactic that cost Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) his gavel six weeks ago. But our colleagues report that Johnson’s job is safe . The spending plan is now onto the Senate. Rep. Jake Auchincloss was one of only two Democrats to vote against the temporary spending plan that would keep the government funded into the new year, objecting over the lack of additional funding for Ukraine. Thousands of people attend the March for Israel on the National Mall on Tuesday in Washington. The large pro-Israel gathering comes as the Israel-Hamas war enters its sixth week following the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas. | Getty Images MARCHING FOR ISRAEL — Auchincloss joined thousands of demonstrators on the National Mall to denounce Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel and call for the release of remaining hostages in Gaza. Other members of the Massachusetts delegation are urging the White House to call for a cease-fire in Gaza, where the Hamas-controlled health ministry estimates more than 11,000 people have been killed. — “McGovern joins Ocasio-Cortez, Taylor Greene in call to drop charges on Julian Assange,” by the Telegram & Gazette.   A message from Conservation Law Foundation:     WHAT'S ON CAMPBELL'S DOCKET ATTORNEYS GENERAL ASSEMBLE — Attorney General Andrea Campbell is hosting a Democratic Attorneys General Association policy conference today and tomorrow. More than 15 attorneys general are expected to attend the gathering that is set to focus in part on labor issues, according to a person familiar with the itinerary. YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS CASH DASH — Secretary of State Bill Galvin will be the special guest at tonight’s political fundraiser for Middlesex DA Marian Ryan . Tickets range from $100 to $1,000 for the event in Newton. Ryan isn’t up for election again until 2026, but it never hurts to start fundraising early. IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN — “Cape Cod residents say no to offshore wind transmission lines under beaches,” by Sabrina Shankman, Boston Globe: “Some fear the cables could cause health risks from electromagnetic fields, cause fires or ecological disasters, and result in major disturbances to the area as roads are ripped up.” — “8 takeaways for Mass. from the National Climate Assessment,” by Barbara Moran, WBUR.   GET A BACKSTAGE PASS TO COP28 WITH GLOBAL PLAYBOOK : Get insider access to the conference that sets the tone of the global climate agenda with POLITICO's Global Playbook newsletter. Authored by Suzanne Lynch, Global Playbook delivers exclusive, daily insights and comprehensive coverage that will keep you informed about the most crucial climate summit of the year. Dive deep into the critical discussions and developments at COP28 from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.. SUBSCRIBE NOW .     THE LOCAL ANGLE — “Newton voters oust backers of ambitious housing plan,” by Gintautas Dumcius, CommonWealth Beacon: “In the face of a dire regional housing shortage, where the constricted supply of homes is driving housing costs out of reach of most families, [City Councilor Deb] Crossley has helped lead a campaign to adopt sweeping new zoning rules that would put Newton on track to allow a significant increase in housing construction in and around neighborhood business districts. … [In last week's election, voters] tossed Crossley, a seven-term incumbent, out of office, along with two other councilors who supported the ‘Newton for Everyone’ housing proposal.” MEANWHILE, IN BROOKLINE — "Brookline overwhelmingly accepts plan to rezone its major commercial corridor to allow multifamily housing," by Stephanie Ebbert and Nick Stoico, Boston Globe. — “Former Gov. Jane Swift, a Williamstown resident, says recovering from grief required grit, hope and faith,” by Clarence Fanto, The Berkshire Eagle. — “Andover teachers, school committee reach agreement to end strike,” by Alysha Palumbo and Mike Pescaro, NBC10 Boston. — “After ‘heated’ meeting, North Andover approves permit to fly Palestinian flag on town common,” by Timothy Nazzaro, Boston 25. ADDED: REPORTING FROM THE MURDOCH TABLOID NY POST: Ex-editor of left-leaning news site The Recount charged with child pornography excerpt: Slade Sohmer, 44, who until last month was editor-in-chief of the video-driven news site The Recount https://nypost.com/2023/11/14/media/ex-editor-in-chief-of-the-recount-charged-with-child-pornography/ — "Former national news editor in Mass. is charged with possessing and sending child pornography," by Sean Cotter, Boston Globe. — "Loose horse aboard plane forces fuel dump along Cape Cod coast," by Patrick Flanary, Cape and Islands. MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE DON'T BELIEVE THE POLLS! RECENTLY, POLLS HAVE BEEN BOGUS! TOTALLY WRONG! PEOPLE ARE POSTING THAT THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN CALLED WITH CALLER ID, WHO ANSWERS THE PHONE? ENDORSEMENT WARS — Donald Trump is leading Ron DeSantis by some three dozen percentage points in New Hampshire, according to polling averages . Yet the former president is still squabbling with the Florida governor over low-level endorsements. DeSantis’ campaign sent out a new list of New Hampshire endorsers yesterday that included Londonderry country store owner Thomas Estey . But the Union Leader’s Kevin Landrigan reported that Estey is backing Trump despite previously committing to DeSantis. Trump’s campaign cast the switch as a “blatant lie” in an email. BTW, a new Emerson College/WHDH poll shows Trump with 49 percent support among registered New Hampshire voters, followed by former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley at 18 percent, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 9 percent and DeSantis at 7 percent. The survey of 917 voters was conducted Nov. 10-13 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points. A message from Conservation Law Foundation: Conservation Law Foundation is working to fight climate change and secure a livable and healthy future for all New Englanders. We know New England needs to end its reliance on fossil fuels, and that presents a pressing question: What role will bioenergy play in the region’s energy system as we move toward 2050? The fossil fuel industry is leaning hard on selling biofuels such as renewable natural gas as viable options to meet state mandates for cutting climate-damaging emissions. But what’s beneath the surface is more of the same climate-damaging fuels. We don’t have time or resources to waste on costly and ineffective solutions. Conservation Law Foundation is sorting fact from fiction. Bioenergy’s role in New England’s clean energy future is a limited and targeted one. Get the full story.   HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — Colonel Robert “Bob” Notch has been appointed as Massachusetts’ first veteran advocate . The post was created under legislation to strengthen oversight of the state’s soldiers’ homes after dozens of veterans died in a Covid-19 outbreak at the Holyoke facility. — Joe Rull joins Shawmut Strategies Group as EVP. He previously was SVP at Benchmark Strategies. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to MassLive alum Melissa Hanson, Gail Gitcho, Alexandra Lippman and Micah Rosen . 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 .   Follow us on Twitter Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky Kelly Garrity @KellyGarrity3   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

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