The Scrum

The Democratic primary contest to succeed outgoing Attorney General Maura Healey has become one of the most interesting races in Massachusetts this election cycle. In this episode of the Scrum, labor lawyer Shannon Liss-Riordan discusses what she believe sets her apart from rivals Andrea Campbell and Quentin Palfrey. Plus, Politico's Lisa Kashinsky and Yawu Miller of the Bay State Banner size up the Mass. GOP convention in Springfield and the Second Suffolk State Senate race, in which former Senator Dianne Wilkerson is trying to make an electoral comeback

The Federal Transit Administration announced this week that it's taking on an "increased safety oversight role" of MBTA after a series of troubling breakdowns, including the horrific death of Robinson Lalin, who was killed after after his arm got caught in the door of a Red Line train. Jim Aloisi of Transit Matters and Stacy Thompson of LivableStreets joined Adam Reilly to discuss what that could mean for agency's future and what the move says about state leaders' recent stewardship of the system. Plus, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's endorsement in the Suffolk County district attorney race created some serious tension this week between interim DA Kevin Hayden and his rival, Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo. GBH News' Saraya Wintersmith and State House News Service's Chris Lisinski joined Adam to analyze that, the latest twist in some North End restaurant owners' battle with the Wu Administration over outdoor dining fees, and the imminent passage of state legislation to give unauthorized immigrants access to drivers' licenses.

The idea that Massachusetts politics are exceptional dates back at least to John Winthrop's description of the young Massachusetts Bay colony as a "city on a hill." But while things are certainly different here, that doesn't necessarily mean they're better. Erin O'Brian and Jerold Duquette, the editors of "The Politics of Massachusetts Exceptionalism: Reputation Meets Reality," join Adam Reilly to deconstruct our lofty sense of self. Also, Democratic AG candidate Quentin Palfrey discusses his campaign and push to keep outside money out of that race. We'd like your feedback! Email us at talkingpolitics@wgbh.org--and while you're at it, subscribe to the GBH Politics newsletter at gbhnews.org/politicsnewsletter.

Massachusetts took a big step towards expending the gambling industry recently when the Senate passed a bill that would legalize sports betting---but there are some huge and potentially irreconcilable differences between the Senate plan and the one the House passed last year. Adam Reilly spoke with Shira Schoenberg, a reporter at Commonwealth magazine, and Father Richard McGowan, S.J., an associate professor of finance at Boston College's Carroll School of Management, about those discrepancies and whether a compromise is likely. Also: campaign finance is taking center stage in two Democratic primaries, as AG candidate Quentin Palfrey calls on his opponents to reject Super PAC spending and Sonia Chang-Díaz urges Maura Healey to return donations from individuals linked to the fossil-fuel industry in the governor's race. The Boston Herald's Sean Phillip Cotter and GBH News's Saraya Wintersmith joined Adam to discuss those calls, former state Senator Dianne Wilkerson readying a run for her old seat, and more.

Senator Elizabeth Warren is sounding the alarm ahead of the midterm elections, calling on her fellow Democrats to focus squarely on Americans' economic concerns to avoid a blowout in November. But does she have the influence to inspire President Biden and the rest of her party to act? Talking Politics Host Adam Reilly speaks with Robert Kuttner, the co-founder and co-editor of the American Prospect and a professor at Brandeis University's Heller School for Social Policy and Management, about whether Warren's political Rx would work — and whether another Warren presidential bid might be in the offing. First, though, a new poll shows that Attorney General Maura Healey's lead in the Democratic Massachusetts governor's primary is pushing fifty percent. So how much time does Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz still have tos save her candidacy? Boston Globe Columnist Adrian Walker and Jenn Smith, a correspondent for the Dorchester Reporter and co-host of the Horse Race political podcast, sized up the state of the Democratic contest, as well as Republican candidate Chris Doughty's still-evolving description of his own political philosophy. We'd like your comments, criticism, and suggestions! If you've got feedback of any sort, please email us at TalkingPolitics@wgbh.org or find us online at https://www.wgbh.org/news/talkingpolitics. And while you're at it, why not subscribe to the GBH Politics Newsletter? To sign up, visit https://gbhnews.org/politicsnewsletter.

Public meetings have been more transparent than ever thanks to remote access and participation adopted during the pandemic. But now, as safety protocols are lifted, there are signs the political establishment wants to go back to the way things used to be. Advocates say it's the wrong move — including Kade Crockford, the director of the Technology for Liberty Program at the ACLU of Massachusetts, and Dianna Hu, the chairwoman of the Boston Center for Independent Living. They join Adam Reilly to make the case for keeping politics accessible and transparent moving forward. Plus, GBH News City Hall Reporter Saraya Wintersmith and State House News Service Reporter Katie Lannan unpack new budgets from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and the Massachusetts House, as well as Boston's Pride-parade hiatus and the Massachusetts Senate's climate bill and its discontents. We'd like your comments, criticism, and suggestions! If you've got feedback of any sort, please email us at TalkingPolitics@wgbh.org or find us online at https://www.wgbh.org/news/talkingpoli.... While you're at it, why not subscribe to the GBH Politics Newsletter? Visit https://gbhnews.org/politicsnewsletter.

As Massachusetts drivers head back to the roadways, there's been a troubling uptick in speeding and fatalities—prompting renewed interest in automated traffic cameras in Somerville and at the State House. Stacey Beuttell, the executive director of WalkBoston, and Mary Maguire, the director of public and government affairs for AAA Northeast, joined Adam Reilly to discuss the advantages and possible downsides of that technology. But first: a years-long push to let unauthorized immigrants get drivers' licenses is on the verge of succeeding at the State House. GBH News Politics Editor Peter Kadzis and Boston Business Journal Digital Editor Steph Solis joined Adam to examine the prospects for that proposal, as well as a push by State House staffers to unionize and a new Boston ad campaign that seeks to rebrand the city by rebranding the Boston accent. We'd like your comments, criticism, and suggestions! If you've got feedback of any sort, please email us at TalkingPolitics@wgbh.org or find us online at https://www.wgbh.org/news/talkingpolitics. And while you're at it, why not subscribe to the GBH Politics Newsletter? If you're interested, head to https://gbhnews.org/politicsnewsletter.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is taking some heat over the city's outdoor dining policy for the North End, which includes fees absent in other neighborhoods and a shorter window. The Boston Globe's Joan Vennochi and Boston Post-Gazette's Pam Donnaruma join Talking Politics Host Adam Reilly to discuss Wu's recent attempt for a compromise and how, exactly, the desires of Boston business owners should be balanced against the needs of residents. Also: Massachusetts is one of the least affordable states when it comes to buying or renting a home. So why aren't some possible solutions getting traction at the State House? Massachusetts State Representative Mike Connolly and Symone Crawford, the executive director of the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance.

In their first joint media appearance, Republican governor and LG candidates Chris Doughty and Kate Campanale join Adam Reilly to discuss their political identities, their take on outgoing Governor Charlie Baker's anti-COVID efforts, and their priorities if they win. First, though, Yawu Miller of the Bay State Banner and Mike Deehan of GBH News recap the week in city and state politics, including Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's push to limit residential protests and raise new money for affordable housing.

One hundred days isn't enough time to say whether Mayor Michelle Wu will be able to realize her biggest political goals, like creating a Boston Green New Deal or implementing some form of rent stabilization. But it's an appropriate point for sizing up Wu's early victories and setbacks — and asking whether she's made good, so far, on her pledge to govern differently than her predecessors. Adam Reilly sizes up Wu's tenure to date with his GBH News colleague Saraya Wintersmith, Abdallah Fayyad of the Boston Globe, and Gintautas Dumcius of the Dorchester Reporter.

Governor Charlie Baker's second and final term is nearing its end, but the governor has a developing plan to shape Massachusetts politics for years to come. The Boston Globe's Emma Platoff and Politico's Lisa Kashinsky join Adam Reilly to discuss that topic. Also on the conversational agenda: Danielle Allen's gubernatorial exit and critique of the #mapoli status quo, the pending reopening of the Massachusetts State House, Mayor Michelle Wu's potentially problematic inaugural fundraising, and Wu's determination to continue engaging with her sharpest critics. Plus, GBH News's new Morning Edition hosts, Paris Alston and Jeremy Siegel, talk with Adam about what they think makes Massachusetts politics different—and how they plan to cover it differently.

When BPS superintendent Brenda Cassellius exits this spring after a three-year tenure, she'll be the latest in a series of short-term leaders for the state's biggest public-school system. So what will it take for her successor to turn things around? GBH News politics editor and Latyoa Gale — director of advocacy at Neighborhood Villages Action Fund and, like Peter, a BPS parent—join Adam Reilly with their thoughts. But first: as COVID numbers drop, just how quickly should schools, businesses, and society at large get back to normal? As state and local officials plan some big changes, they're getting pushback from critics who think they're either moving too fast or not moving not fast enough. GBH News's Saraya Wintersmith and Mike Deehan join Adam to talk about what's happening in Boston and beyond.

In this week's Talking Politics debrief, Saraya Wintersmith, Peter Kadzis, and Adam Reilly size up Andrea Campbell and Rahsaan Hall's bids for attorney general and Plymouth County district attorney; a new push for reparations in Boston; Republican gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl's hiring of Trump confidante Corey Lewandowski; and secretary of state Bill Galvin's push for more transparency in the governor's office. In the second segment, Adam is joined by Left of Center cofounder Mara Dolan and Jetpac head Mohammed Missouri to analyze Maura Healey's moderate pitch as she starts running for governor; how it could impact the other Democratic candidates' campaigns; and what, exactly, it means to be a “progressive” in Massachusetts politics in 2022.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu was dealt a blow to her employee-vaccine mandate this week, when a court temporarily halted it from going into effect. But some argue she's still winning the bigger battle. Adam Reilly is joined by the Bay State Banner's Yawu Miller and UMass Dartmouth's Shannon Jenkins on that, their disappointment with the latest voting-rights legislation in the State House, Governor Charlie Baker's final state-of-the-state speech, and another new candidate in the race to replace Baker: Republican businessman and self-described moderate Chris Doughty, who may face an uphill battle in the age of Trump. Also, nearly two years into the pandemic, many parents and caregivers of kids under five are feeling left behind and, in some cases forgotten. What more could policymakers be doing to help them stay afloat, economically and psychologically? Adam is joined by GBH News' Craig LeMoult and Gladys Vega, of La Colaborativa, to discuss.

Ever since the Capitol insurrection, the fight over the future of voting rights has emerged as an issue of paramount importance, with Republican-controlled states taking steps to make voting more difficult and pave the way for the overturning of future elections and congressional Democrats trying, and failing, to advance legislation to create new national standards. So why are voting rights an afterthought at the Massachusetts State House? Adam Reilly talks it through with state Representative Erika Uyterhoeven and Cheryl Crawford, who heads the advocacy group MassVOTE. In the second segment, Adam discusses the increasingly fraught politics of protest with former Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson and former Mass. GOP chair Jennifer Nassour.

For years, the encampments at Mass and Cass embodied some of society's most intractable problems — addiction, mental health, and homelessness — and constituted a crisis in their own right. Now they're gone thanks to a new initiative by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. But will her solution hold? And what will the people who called Mass and Cass home do now? Adam Reilly talks it through with Tori Bedford, who's been regularly reporting on Mass and Cass for GBH News. Next, GBH News senior editor Peter Kadzis and Boston Globe opinion columnist Marcela Garcia tackle those same questions, as well as Governor Charlie Baker's appearance before the Legislature's COVID-oversight committee and the possible return of rent control in Boston and beyond. The episode closes with two more GBH News reporters, Saraya Wintersmith and Craig LeMoult, discussing the protests outside Mayor Wu's home and the impact COVID is having on psychiatric care in Massachusetts.

COVID has been political ever since the pandemic started. But as the omicron variant surges, disputes over authority, policy, and the tension public health and personal autonomy have become especially sharp. Adam Reilly sizes up these fault lines and how they could shift in the future with GBH News political editor PEter Kadzis, state Senator Becca Rausch, and “Java With Jimmy” host James Hills.

On this episode of Talking Politics, Sue O'Connell fills in for Adam Reilly (health and safety protocols). She and the rest of the GBH News political team—Saraya Wintersmith, Mike Deehan, and Peter Kadzis—size up the biggest end-of-the-year happenings, including Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's plan to address the longstanding crisis at Mass and Cass and Governor Charlie Baker's refusal (so far) to implement a statewide mask mandate. In the second half of the show, Deehan, Kadzis, and Wintersmith identify the stories they'll be watching most closely as 2022 begins.

Most of President Biden's nominees had a much easier path to confirmation than Rachael Rollins, the Suffolk DA-turned-US Attorney for Massachusetts. So what is it about Rollins and her approach that gets Republicans so riled up? How will Rollins' MO shift in her new role? And as Governor Baker gets ready to pick her replacement, what considerations are top of mind? Adam Reilly unpacks it all with GBH News's Callie Crossley and Phillip Martin, who also size up the possibility of former state Senator Dianne Wilkerson running for her old seat. Afterward, Elijah Zeh of the Massachusetts Association of College Republicans and Ted Park of the College Democrats of Massachusetts weigh in on a new poll from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government that shows deep despair among members of Gen Z about the future of American democracy.

This week's announcement by Governor Charlie Baker (R-MA) that he won't see a third term threw Massachusetts politics into a state of upheaval. On the Democratic side, current candidates Ben Downing, Danielle Allen, and Sonia Chang-Diaz now face a bevy of prospective new rivals, including former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and former Boston mayoral candidate Annissa Essaibi George — which creates new pressure on another potential Democratic candidate, Attorney General Maura Healey, to finally make up her mind. On the Republican side, former state Rep Geoff Diehl could get company soon too, though the Mass GOP's allegiance to former President Trump and Trumpism seems deeper than ever. In the first episode of GBH News' Talking Politics, Political Reporter Adam Reilly unpacks it all with GBH State House Reporter Mike Deehan, Bay State Banner Senior Editor Yawu Miller, and Boston Globe Columnist Joan Vennochi.

Yes, Michelle Wu won big in this month's mayoral election — but the idea of Boston returning to an elected school committee won even bigger, albeit in a nonbinding ballot question. In this episode of Boston's Race Into History, City Councilors Ricardo Arroyo and Julia Mejia, who are driving the push for local legislation that would end the current mayorally appointed body, talk about what comes next. First, though, Peter Kadzis and Saraya Wintersmith join Adam Reilly to recap Wu's last full week as mayor-elect.

Some Boston neighborhoods are filled with attractive homes, thriving businesses, and plenty of new construction. Others are visibly struggling — and more often than not, they're areas where Bostonians of color outnumber their white counterparts. So how would Annissa Essabi George and Michelle Wu push to get the benefits of Boston's booming economy to more people in more places? Adam Reilly discusses with former mayoral candidate John Barros, who also served as Mayor Marty Walsh's chief of economic development, and Segun Idowu, President and CEO of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts. First, though, make sure to catch a campaign update with Saraya Wintersmith and Peter Kadzis, who discuss (among other things) Boston voters' seeming reversal on whether it's important that the next mayor be someone who grew up in the city.

Once again, Boston's Race Into History slides into the space usually occupied by The Scrum. In this episode, we size up Annissa Essabi George and Michelle Wu's contrasting visions of policing and police reform — and get some sharp insights from Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell and Tanisha Sullivan, president of the Boston Branch of the NAACP. First, though, Saraya Wintersmith and Adam Reilly unpack recent developments on the campaign trail.

Boston's mayoral candidates have been vowing to improve the city's public schools for decades—but somehow, the system never quite manages to get where everyone says the want it to go. So what's the hold-up? And what can the next mayor do—whoever she is—to make BPS work better? In this episode of Boston's Race Into History, Adam Reilly talks it over with former mayoral candidate John Connolly, Ruby Reyes of the Boston Education Justice Alliance, and Xyra Mercer, a current BPS student and member of Boston's school committee. First, though, Saraya Wintersmith joins Reilly to discuss recent developments on the mayoral campaign trail, including Annissa Essabi George's new equity agenda and Senator Ed Markey's endorsement of Michelle Wu.

On the latest episode of Boston's Race Into History—which is borrowing the Scrum's space from now through early November—we size up Annissa Essabi George and MIchelle Wu's similarities and differences when it comes to the crisis at Mass and Cass and the bigger problems the situation there embodies. Our guests are former Boston City Council candidate Domingos DaRosa, Marla Smith of the South End-Roxbury Community Partnership, and Catherine D'Amato of the Greater Boston Food Bank. First, though, Saraya Wintersmith and Adam Reilly recap recent developments on the campaign trail, including Ayanna Pressley's endorsement of Wu, Andrea Campbell's push to play queenmaker, and Essaibi George's sharpening attacks.

The Scrum is on hiatus through Boston's final mayoral election, in part because we're doing a limited-run show on Boston's mayoral race, “Boston's Race Into History.” You can watch it Fridays at 7 pm on GBH Channel 2, or find it at GBHNews.org or on YouTube — but we're also going to post the audio of episodes here. Video doesn't work for everyone, and we want as many people as possible to hear what Saraya Wintersmith, Adam Reilly, Peter Kadzis, and other contributors have to say on politics and policy as Election Day approaches. In this episode, we're sizing up Annissa Essaibi George and Michelle Wu's contrasting approach to the affordable-housing crisis in the city. Next time, we'll look at how the two finalists stack up on Mass & Cass, addiction, and homelessness.

GBH News reporter Adam Reilly welcomes local political experts who are closely watching Boston's mayoral race to see which of the five candidates will face each other in the race to the November elections, in a live event taped on the eve of the election. GBH News City Hall reporter Saraya Wintersmith and WBZ political commentator Jon Keller lead the way with their reporting and historical context. Pollster Steve Koczela points out interesting data points in the race, and finally UMass political scientist Erin O'Brien meets up with Jax Van Zandt, host of the show Politics and Prosecco, to talk about the significance of the race to women and particularly women of color.

It's an historic field of candidates. And five of them are battling for the voters' attention. They may be swimming in the same pool, but they are trying to find the lane that will bring them to victory and the mayor's office. You'll hear a lot of aquatic metaphors in this installment of The Scrum. So, brace yourselves. Our political analysts, Professor Erin O'Brien from UMass Boston and Lisa Kashinsky of POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook, get into it with hosts Adam Reilly and Saraya Wintersmith. “If you ask the candidates, of course they're going to say they're very different,” O'Brien said. “Most voters aren't policy nerds like us, and so it's more personality. And that's why people are having a hard time choosing.” GBH politics editor Peter Kadzis offers some context on recent developments -- the harbor development plan (scuttled) and the eviction moratorium (launched) -- with which you may or may not agree, but which will grab your attention. As with last week's episode, you can watch the discussion on video, here.

We're closing in on Boston's preliminary mayoral election, so this week, The Scrum asks: How did the city get here? A field with five major candidates who are all people of color, four of them women, in a city that has exclusively elected white men to the mayor's post. GBH News' political editor Peter Kadzis gives a brief history lesson on local Boston politics. A lot of credit, Kadzis says, goes to Ayanna Pressley's 2009 election to City Council. Then Reilly and Wintersmith get into what this election is all about with Yawu Miller, the senior editor of the Bay State Banner, and Gin Dumcius, the managing editor of the Dorchester Reporter. Until Sept. 14, The Scrum will be focusing its episodes on Boston's preliminary mayoral election. Tune in next week to hear about the candidates “chasing the Walsh vote” and those who are aiming for a different part of the electorate. Ever wish you could be in Peter's kitchen while these episodes are taped? Well, now you can. The first video podcast version of The Scrum is available here: https://www.wgbh.org/news/politics/2021/08/26/bostons-changing-political-dna-how-did-we-get-to-this-historic-group-of-mayoral-candidates

Excavating previously unknown details about a major media event is no easy task — but Edward-Isaac Dovere pulls it off admirably in his new book, “Battle For The Soul: Inside The Democrats' Campaigns To Defeat Trump.” The book is packed with juicy background about weird personal proclivities (Bernie Sanders likes his hotel rooms ***cold***) and awkward dynamics between candidates. And it pulls the curtain back on bigger, more important topics — like the internecine feud between Democratic progressives and moderates, and the party's abiding uncertainty about how to respond to Trump and Trumpism. Listen to Dovere talk it through with Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly, and then go grab a copy of the book.

If you're a Scrum listener, you know that Boston has a strong-mayor form of government, with the mayor holding almost all the cards when it comes to actual power and the city council limited structurally in its ability to push back. But now that could be on the verge of changing, thanks to a proposal championed by City Councilor Lydia Edwards that would drastically enhance the council's ability to shape Boston's $3 billion budget. In this episode, Edwards makes the case for the changes she's pitching — which just got the stamp of approval from Acting Mayor Kim Janey — and Peter Kadzis offers some extra thoughts as voters prepare to have their say on the idea this fall.

It's one of the more improbable comeback stories in recent memory: after tumbling from the political heights and doing time in prison, former State Senator Dianne Wilkerson has emphatically re-established herself as a political force in Boston. Adam Reilly talks with Philip Martin about his new story detailing Wilkerson's fall and rise; the record and community loyalties that have made the latter possible; and Wilkerson's ongoing insistence on seeing herself as a victim who was unjustly persecuted. First, though, Peter Kadzis sizes up the bigger meaning of House Speaker Ron Mariano's ill-fated field trip from Beacon Hill to the South End to endorse Boston mayoral candidate Jon Santiago — who probably wishes he'd just issued a press release instead.

Right now, any talk about the 2022 Massachusetts governor's race is likely to be speculative. Maybe Charlie Baker will seek a third term! Maybe Maura Healey will finally challenge him! But there's one notable exception: Ben Downing, the former Democratic state Senator, is in and has already been running for months. In this episode, Adam Reilly and Mike Deehan chat with Downing about his vision for the state and how his biography informs his political worldview — but first, Adam, Peter Kadzis, and Bay State Banner senior editor Yawu Miller size up Downing's potential Democratic rivals.

The death of Mikayla Miller, a 16-year-old from Hopkinton, is a deeply personal and emotional loss for her family. But since Miller's body was found last month, it's become something else: a case study in the distrust an increasingly wide segment of Americans have for law enforcement — and a political crisis for Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan, who's leading the investigation into Miller's death. Zoe Mathews talks through what's known, what remains unknown, and how things might develop, with two GBH reporters who've been following the case closely: Tori Bedford and Phillip Martin. 

It's been a busy — and high-stress — stretch for Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell. A supporter of Acting Mayor Kim Janey emailed Campbell supporters suggesting that she drop out of the race to clear a path for Janey's election citywide, prompting Campbell, who's been running since September 2020, to retort, “Black women candidates for public office are not interchangeable.” And the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association sparred with Campbell on Twitter, implying without evidence that she'd been complicit in the criminal activity of her brother Alvin — who's accused of raping nine women while impersonating a rideshare driver — and/or of her deceased twin brother Andre, who died while being held by the state in pretrial detention. (The BPPA was irate that Campbell is holding up police grant money in the city council, and that she called out the union's advocacy for accused child rapist and former BPPA head Patrick Rose.) In this episode of the Scrum, Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly size up Campbell's week from hell with their GBH News colleagues Saraya Wintersmith and Phillip Martin — and conclude that, unpleasant though it may have been for Campbell to weather, it may actually redound to her benefit when all is said and done.

He hasn't been making headlines over the past few weeks, but Jon Santiago says he's been laying the groundwork to win Boston's 2021 mayoral contest — by landing key endorsements from elected officials, winning the support of unions, and talking with as many voters as possible. Santiago recaps his campaign's progress in a conversation with Saraya Wintersmith and Adam Reilly. He also makes it clear that he has no intention of criticizing former Mayor Marty Walsh's stewardship of the city — and suggests that Acting Mayor Kim Janey's decision to delay Boston's reopening may be a mistake. Plus, Santiago shares some biographical detail that may be unfamiliar even to close observers of Massachusetts politics.

There are certain stereotypes attached to Massachusetts State Government. The Senate is liberal; the House is (relatively) conservative; and they tend not to get along. When they do join forces, they're often checked by the governor, and sometimes return the favor — though during Charlie Baker's tenure, things have been pretty amicable. Three months into Ron Mariano's tenure as speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, though, the dynamics that have applied for years may be shifting in subtle but significant ways. Adam Reilly talks about Mariano's style and its implications for policymaking with Mike Deehan, GBH News's State House correspondent, and Shira Schoenberg of Commonwealth magazine.

The intense national interest in Kim Janey's ascension that her stewardship of Boston could change, or begin to change, perception of the city. It could also change the way the Boston sees itself. But there are some important caveats attached to the Janey era — starting with the fact that it could end in November, when Boston holds the final election to replace former mayor Marty Walsh. Yawu Miller, the senior editor of the Bay State Banner, talks about what it's been like as a Black Bostonian to watch the transfer of power from Walsh to Janey, and how the candidates who've already said they're running can respond to the undeniable advantage Janey now enjoys. First, though, Janey gets some friendly advice from Jane Swift, who ran Massachusetts after Paul Cellucci became ambassador to Canada — and might have been elected in 2002, if Mitt Romney had turned his focus to Utah a bit earlier than he did.

The push for a more transparent Boston Police Department was one of the hallmarks of Marty Walsh's second term. But now, as Walsh gets ready to head to Washington, his pick to run the BPD — Commissioner Dennis White — is on leave as the city investigates domestic-violence allegations that surfaced after his appointment. In this episode of the Scrum, Saraya Wintersmith updates Adam Reilly on the status of that investigation and how the various candidates hoping to replace Walsh are addressing (or avoiding) the White controversy. Plus, Zoe Mathews talks with Somerville Journal reporter Julia Taliesin about Joe Curtatone's impending mayoral exit and the electoral landscape his would-be successors will navigate.

Jeffrey Turco, a moderate Democrat who voted for former President Donald Trump in 2016, defeated a number of more progressive candidates in the 19th District special election primary to succeed former House Speaker Robert Deleo. In this episode of the Scrum, Peter Kadzis talks with NBC10's Sue O'Connell and Liam Kerr of Priorities for Progress about the race itself, the role social media plays in elections and whether nationalizing local races is effective. Are there lessons to be learned for the Boston Mayoral Race, and even the 2022 Gubernatorial race to come? Listen to find out.

The first two candidates in Boston's 2021 mayoral race, Michelle Wu and Andrea Campbell, committed to running before labor-secretary-in-waiting Marty Walsh's plans were clear. But Annissa Essaibi George took a different tack. In this episode of the Scrum, AEG talks with Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly about why she wouldn't have run against Walsh; how she'd change Boston's school system, including its school committee; how growing up in Boston with an Arab father shaped her worldview; and what she'd do to prevent any conflicts of interest between her career and her husband's if she's elected. As an added plus, she and Kadzis compare and contrast Dorchester accents.

It's looking increasingly likely that the next mayor of Boston will be a female person of color — but for years, the city's inability or unwillingness to elect anyone other than white men has been a defining trait. In Denver, meanwhile, which resembles Boston in several respects, three of the last four mayors have been people of color. So what gives? Nearly a decade ago, GBH News senior editor Ken Cooper — who grew up in Denver, but has called Boston home for years — offered some answers in an article published by UMass Boston's Trotter Review. He joined Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly to recap and update his findings — and to offer some thoughts on why, finally, Boston seems poised to change its electoral habits.

In the eyes of the electorate, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has been able to do no wrong for the vast majority of his time in office. The state's troubled COVID-vaccine rollout is a notable, potentially damaging exception to that rule. Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly size up the situation, and its deeper lessons, with Joan Vennochi of the Boston Globe, who also has some pointed thoughts on the state of Boston as Mayor Marty Walsh prepares to head to Washington, D.C.

After the 2020 presidential election and the harrowing events that followed it—which are still playing out—the question of whether the United States can survive as a functioning polity is real and pressing. In this episode of the Scrum, Bay State Banner senior editor Yawu Miller joins Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly to size up where we've been and where we're heading.

Now that Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is headed to Washington, you can't swing a stick without hitting a potential mayoral candidate. But when Walsh's plans were unclear, just two people had the guts to commit to running against him if he sought a third term — and Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell was one of them. In this episode of the Scrum, she talks with Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly about Boston's progress in the Walsh years and what she would do differently as mayor. Campbell also speaks in depth about her twin brother, Andre, whose death in pretrial detention had a massive impact on the way she thinks about Boston politics.

If you pay attention to Boston politics, four-term city councilor Michelle Wu is a familiar figure, known for her electoral prowess and her determinedly progressive politics. But there are some aspects of Wu's political identity that even her fans might not be familiar with — including her conception of how Boston politics intersect (or *could* intersect) with Massachusetts politics, and the impact her mother's struggle with mental illness had on her approach to governance. In this episode of the Scrum, Wu, Peter Kadzis, and Adam Reilly discuss these topics — as well as Wu's tough assessment of Governor Charlie Baker and Mayor Marty Walsh's response to COVID.

Critics have argued for a while now that Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker isn't doing enough to stem the spread of COVID-19 — relying instead on restrictions that were established weeks or months ago, and aren't sufficient for the moment we find ourselves in. But over the past few days, as Massachusetts sets new records for reported daily cases and other key metrics head in the wrong direction, that frustration has reached a fever pitch. In this episode of the Scrum, two Boston epidemiologists — Sam Scarpino of Northeastern University and Cassandra Pierre of Boston Medical Center — make the case for the governor to do more, stat. Afterward, Peter Kadzis offers his take on that Baker's getting right and what he should do differently.

Quick: if you hear the name “Joe Biden,” what places spring to mind? Delaware, for obvious reasons. Scranton, probably, along with the requisite dose of earthy Irish-American wisdom. But Boston should, too. The president elect didn't grow up in this area, but some of Boston's top political power brokers helped shape and guide his career — which was also defined, for years, by an embarrassing presidential setback inflicted by the campaign of one Mike Dukakis back in 1987. In this episode of the Scrum, Adam Reilly talks through Biden's #bospoli and #mapoli connections with Boston Globe op-ed columnist Scot Lehigh. First, though, Peter Kadzis sizes up Biden's performance during one of the most bizarre political transitions in American history — and what the coming months have in store for a deeply conflicted Democratic Party.

If you've been around long enough, you still think of presidential elections as efficient events that provide clear answers in a finite period of time, exceptions to the rule notwithstanding ([cough] 2000 [cough]). But the 2020 election may shatter that romantic ideal once and for all — and when the dust settles and the results are in, whenever that is and whatever they are, we'll still be facing huge questions about the future of American democracy. Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly talk about what we'll be grappling with after the presidency is decided, and how to get from here to there without losing our minds, with help from four Scrum favorites: Sue O'Connell, Joan Vennochi, Wilnelia Rivera, and Yawu Miller.

You already know that the Electoral College lets candidates win the presidency while losing the popular vote (Donald Trump in 2016 springs to mind). But you might *not* know about the long history of failed attempts to reform or eliminate the institution — or how little guidance the Electoral College actually would actually provide in a close, hotly contested election like the one we're currently having. Spend a half hour with this Scrum, though — in which Peter Kadzis chats with Harvard's Alex Keyssar, author of the new book “Why Do We Still Have The Electoral College?” — and you'll gain that knowledge and more. (Warning: you may also be significantly more anxious about what the coming weeks may bring.)

If you haven't paid close attention to the US Senate race between Ed Markey, the Democratic incumbent, and Kevin O'Connor, the Republican challenger, you might assume O'Connor is coming from the same place as the Massachusetts GOP: staunchly pro-Trump, and steadfastly opposed to all things Democratic. And if you have assumed that, O'Connor's own messaging could be one reason why. As it turns out, though, O'Connor's political identity and philosophy are more nuanced than you might expect. In this episode of the Scrum, O'Connor makes his case to the unenrolled and Democratic voters whose support he'll need to beat Markey in November — offering, in the process, some unexpected biographical details and assessments of Elizabeth Warren and Donald Trump. After Adam and O'Connor talk, Peter Kadzis weighs in with his assessment of O'Connor's pitch.