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Presented by Tobacco Free Kids
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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Happy Monday!
WHAT YOU MISSED AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION — Democrats versus Democrats, Warren for president, and of course, shots at Donald Trump. Here are my takeaways from the Massachusetts Democratic Convention held in Springfield on Saturday:
— Still no answers on Kennedy's Senate run. Rep. Joe Kennedy III has not decided whether he'll challenge Sen. Ed Markey, but he did not shy away from talking about it in Springfield. After the convention wrapped, Kennedy held a meet-and-greet to gather input on whether he should jump in the race. "This is not an easy thing," Kennedy told a packed room. "And yes, it could put some folks in an awkward spot. And I'm not gonna do that if I don't think the urgency of the moment demands it."
— Markey's show of force. The incumbent's challenge was to flex some muscle on Saturday, and Markey delivered. Supporters rushed the stage for his speech, and nearly every person was holding a Markey sign. The 73-year-old senator came armed with an endorsement from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and his usual one-liners ("We have to make sure 'NRA' stands for 'Not Relevant Anymore'"), but he also shared a heartfelt story about his parents growing old together in Malden. That's a side of Markey we don't always see.
— Warren brought the house down. When Sen. Elizabeth Warren addressed Massachusetts Democrats, it was no surprise she brought the crowd to its feet. But many in the audience stayed standing — and applauding — for her entire speech. Hometown support is important for a presidential candidate from New England. Warren will want to convert those excited Democrats into volunteers to head up to New Hampshire as we inch closer to the primary in February, especially with so many other candidates in the race.
— Neal turns up the heat. Rep. Richard Neal is facing a primary from Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, who is challenging Neal on everything from Trump's tax returns to Medicare for All. But criticism of his campaign fundraising seemed to be top of mind when Neal addressed Democrats in his hometown. Neal took credit for helping flip the House in 2018, and added a dig. "Let me say something to some satisfaction: I helped recruit those candidates, I helped train those candidates, and yes, I helped to fund those candidates," Neal said. He is among the top 10 donors to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
— Dems nudge Beacon Hill on transparency. The state party approved a nonbinding resolution calling for more transparency under the golden dome on Saturday. Resolutions become the position of the state party when they are given the thumbs-up at the convention. The move can be seen as a challenge to State House lawmakers — Democrats hold a super majority — who have rejected attempts to open up the legislative process.
— Democrats try to tie Baker to Trump . The party came out of 2018 badly bruised when Gov. Charlie Baker won reelection with two-thirds of the vote. But even though Massachusetts won't choose a governor for another three years, Democrats are still trying to tie the popular Republican governor to Trump, who is largely disliked by voters here. The party showed a black-and-white video criticizing Baker for his reluctance to weigh in on Trump's re-election. "This guy is a racist, he's sexist, okay? He lies every day and for Charlie Baker to say 'not my issue,' that's just not right," party chair Gus Bickford told me on Saturday. Baker did not vote for a presidential candidate in 2016.
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A message from Tobacco Free Kids:
E-cigarettes are hooking a new generation, thanks to massive doses of nicotine and thousands of kid-friendly flavors. This public health emergency threatens decades of progress in lowering youth tobacco use. We must take flavored e-cigarettes off the market, stand up to companies like JUUL, and protect our kids. Learn More. |
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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, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Karen Spilka huddle for a leadership meeting. Baker holds a ceremonial signing for some parts of the fiscal 2020 budget with Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders. Baker speaks at a Pioneer Institute awards gala.
Former Gov. Bill Weld is interviewed by WGBH. Presidential candidate Andrew Yang holds a rally in Cambridge. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh attends a fire station groundbreaking and the opening of the Walker Park Apartments and Delphine's Courtyard Pocket Park in Roxbury. Rep. Seth Moulton holds a press call to highlight work to protect right whales. Attorney General Maura Healey attends the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery and Friends Recovery Celebration Day.
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NEW—POLITICO's UNITED NATIONS PLAYBOOK: The 74 th Session of the United Nations General Assembly will jam some of the world's most influential leaders into four blocks in Gotham. POLITICO's man-about-town Ryan Heath will take you inside UNGA—revealing juicy details from the lighter-side of the gathering and insights into the most pressing global issues facing decision-makers today. Sign up for U.N. Playbook.
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 | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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- "RMV employee warned of computer problems a year before NH crash," by Mary Markos, Boston Herald: "About a year before the tragic crash in New Hampshire killed seven motorcyclists and revealed stunning deficiencies within the Registry of Motor Vehicles, an RMV hearings officer sounded the alarm on out-of-state license infractions, with an apparent reference to the tragic case of Lacey Packer. In a chilling 2018 email obtained by the Joint Committee on Transportation, an RMV hearings officer said the agency had "serious problems" with its computer system, referring to the Lacey Packer law that passed in 1990 after a 10-year-old girl, riding on the back of her father's motorcycle in New Hampshire, was killed in a crash with a driver whose license should've been revoked."
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| WHAT CITY HALL IS READING |
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- "'This Is Not Who I Am': Walsh Defends Culture At City Hall After Two Corruption Scandals," by Arjun Singh, WGBH News: "Mayor Marty Walsh attempted to distance himself from John Lynch, a former official at the Boston Development and Planning Agency who plead guilty Thursday to accepting a $50,000 bribe. Lynch's guilty plea came on the heels of the convictions of two officials in the Walsh administration who were charged with conspiring to extort the organizers of the Boston Calling music festival. "I'm shocked. I'm disappointed. I'm angry," Walsh said Friday in an interview with Boston Public Radio."
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| FROM THE HUB |
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- "The inmate population in Mass. keeps falling, but the number of people put in solitary stays high," by Maria Cramer, Boston Globe: "About one in five inmates was placed in solitary confinement during 2018, alarming prisoner rights advocates and legislators who have criticized the practice as Draconian and called on corrections officials to reduce its prevalence. Last year, at least 2,100 male and female prisoners were placed in isolation at least once, according to biannual reports provided by the Massachusetts Department of Correction. Most inmates remained there for 30 days or fewer, although about one-third were placed in isolation multiple times."
- "State investigation of Hinton drug lab didn't include work of chemist later convicted of stealing evidence at another lab," by Maggie Mulvihill and Beverly Ford, Boston Globe: "In a revelation raising new questions about the scope and thoroughness of the state's response to the Hinton drug lab scandal, the inspector general's office has acknowledged it never investigated the work of a drug-abusing chemist who processed even more lab tests than her prolific disgraced co-worker, Annie Dookhan."
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| PRIMARY SOURCES |
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- "Dems sweat fallout from Massachusetts Senate clash," by Stephanie Murray, POLITICO: "An impending primary election clash between Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Joe Kennedy III has the party holding its collective breath, awaiting a potentially epic and expensive race that stands to divide the state's political class and reverberate across the ballot next year. Already, incumbents up and down the ballot are wondering about the implications for voter turnout and media coverage of their own races. Some are wondering about the potential effect on Democratic fundraising both at home and nationally, since Boston is a key East Coast fundraising hub."
- "He Became Mayor At Just 22. Now He's Running To Take Down A 70-Year-Old House Democrat." by Addy Baird, Buzzfeed News: "Rep. Richard Neal, the Massachusetts Democrat in charge of a powerful House committee, has been in Congress for, quite literally, Alex Morse's entire life. Just two months ago, Morse, the 30-year-old mayor of Holyoke, Massachusetts, announced his plans to challenge Neal from the left in 2020, running on a platform similar to the one that rocketed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to success, focused on Medicare for All and the Green New Deal. The race encapsulates a national tension, placing Morse squarely among a rising tide of young, lefty Democrats who are beginning to fill the halls of power, pushing progressive policies, and casting off traditional ideas."
- "Ocasio-Cortez endorses Markey as Joe Kennedy eyes his Senate seat," by Caitlin Oprysko, POLITICO: "Sen. Ed Markey on Friday got a major boost in the not-so-invisible primary between himself and Rep. Joe Kennedy, nabbing an endorsement from liberal firebrand Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Ocasio-Cortez, who shot to fame after mounting an insurgent primary run against the then-No. 4 Democrat in the House last year, endorsed Markey in a video posted to his campaign account."
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| ALL ABOARD |
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- "Fearing 'Spy Trains,' Congress May Ban a Chinese Maker of Subway Cars," by Ana Swanson, The New York Times: "America's next fight with China is unfolding at a glistening new factory in Chicago, which stands empty except for the shells of two subway cars and space for future business that is unlikely to come. A Chinese state-owned company called CRRC Corporation, the world's largest train maker, completed the $100 million facility this year in the hopes of winning contracts to build subway cars and other passenger trains for American cities like Chicago and Washington."
- "You think *you* hate the T? These people live to bad-mouth it." by Beth Teitell, Boston Globe: ""Mother, It has gone from bad to worse. I believe this is the last time I will write to you," the Aug. 23 tweet from Civil_War_MBTA began. "The track fires on the #orangeline has left all of us trapped in the city." In the real world that Friday afternoon, a track fire was burning between the Wellington and Malden Center stations. A train was evacuated. Power to the third rail was shut off. Shuttle buses were deployed. But in an office building in Chinatown, monitoring the service disruption from the comfort of his desk, Orange Line commuter and history buff Brian Estabrook was, if not enjoying the chaos, at least getting gold for his Twitter feed."
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| WARREN REPORT |
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- "Biden allies attack Warren's electability," by Marc Caputo, POLITICO: "As Elizabeth Warren climbs in the polls, Joe Biden's Massachusetts allies are warning that her election history suggests she runs weakest among the types of voters Democrats need to win over to capture the White House. While Warren won reelection easily in 2018, Biden's backers point to her performance among independent and blue-collar voters as evidence she'll fail to appeal to similar voters in the Rust Belt — just as Hillary Clinton did in 2016."
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| MOULTON MATTERS |
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- "Moulton gives away cash from donor linked to Epstein," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Representative Seth Moulton has donated to charity $5,000 his political action committee received from a billionaire hedge fund manager, Glenn Dubin, after accusations emerged from one of Jeffrey Epstein's alleged victims that Dubin was among the prominent men Epstein directed her to have sex with. Moulton's move to expunge Dubin's cash speaks to the breadth and reach the Epstein saga has had, which has entangled others — to far greater degrees — from Harvard and MIT, to the growing tally of men whose names surfaced recently in unsealed court papers."
- "Looking back: Moulton proud of the race he ran," by Ethan Forman, The Salem News: "Now that he is out of the race, Congressman Seth Moulton, D-Salem, said it's important to understand why he took a shot at being president in the first place — to beat President Donald Trump. "It's incredibly important that we defeat him, and I don't think he's going to be as easy to beat as many Democrats think," said Moulton, who exited the race for the 2020 Democratic nomination on Aug. 23. "And, I still don't think there is a better foil for him than a young combat veteran and I was the only one (combat veteran) in the race." The lane that the Marblehead-raised, Harvard-educated Moulton said he "owned" was as a veteran who served four tours in the Marine Corps as an infantry officer and who saw combat and led a platoon."
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| FROM THE DELEGATION |
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- "McGovern: Congress set to act on marijuana banking bill," by Hillary Chabot, Boston Herald: "A bipartisan bill protecting banks who serve marijuana business could pass in the House this month as key members of Democratic leadership vowed to make the bill a priority despite pressure to act on gun and immigration reforms. "I have no doubt the votes are there to pass this. My expectation is that we will have a vote on this in the House soon," said U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Worcester), who chairs the powerful House Rules Committee. Additional delay on the legislation could trigger political backlash, especially for pols in the 33 states that have legalized medical or recreational marijuana ."
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| TRUMPACHUSETTS |
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- "John Kelly reflects on security concerns at local remembrance for Vietnam vets," by Jeremy C. Fox, Boston Globe: "Americans should "be concerned" by "the chaos that we're seeing" after John Bolton's departure last week as national security adviser, former White House chief of staff John F. Kelly told reporters Sunday after a rededication ceremony for the South Boston Vietnam Memorial. But the nation remains safe, Kelly said, because its service members are "the best this country produces." "I look forward to it settling down — if it settles down," the retired Marine general said of the ongoing West Wing drama, as Bolton became President Trump's third national security adviser to depart, and one of dozens of top aides who have quit or been fired."
- "Mass. GOP stepping up its outreach," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "WITH A TAX DEBATE LOOMING on Beacon Hill, the Massachusetts Republican Party appears to be stepping up its outreach to Bay State voters with a message that GOP candidates and President Trump have an opportunity to make gains in 2020. In a series of emails over the last few weeks, state GOP Chairman Jim Lyons has attacked what he perceives as the growing ranks of progressives on Beacon Hill, US Rep. Ayanna Pressley on Capitol Hill, and the leftward shift of most political leaders in Massachusetts."
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "FISH FRY" — Globe: "These critics exist to tweet-tweak the T," "US, Iran tensions soar over oil attack." |
| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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- "Newton grapples with an identity crisis — and the most hotly contested local elections in a generation," by John Hilliard, Boston Globe: "Pamela Wright knows her city desperately needs more affordable housing — after all, the median house price in Newton is now nearly $1 million, making it increasingly unaffordable for many residents, particularly seniors. But when she learned that proposed zoning rules would allow 10-story buildings that would dwarf the beloved small shops and old-school movie theater of nearby West Newton Square, Wright figured that was the wrong solution. Newton may be a city, she thought, but it has the heart of a town — or rather, 13 villages."
- "Correia's alleged co-conspirators in extortion scheme due in court this week," by Jo C. Goode, Herald News: "All four of Mayor Jasiel Correia II's alleged co-conspirators in a political corruption and extortion scheme are due back in federal court this week. According to court records, Correia's former campaign manager and chief of staff, Gen Andrade, is set to appear on Monday at 2 p.m. for a preliminary examination hearing, likely for a judge to determine probable cause in her four-count case."
REMEMBERING REV. MICHAEL HAYNES ... via CommonWealth Magazine: "Michael Haynes, the son of Barbadian immigrants who served for 40 years as the pastor at Twelfth Baptist, died Thursday at age 92. With his passing, Boston lost one of its last close ties to Martin Luther King Jr. and to the broader civil rights movement he led." Link.
SPOTTED: Rep. Ayanna Pressley dancing to Lizzo during Congressional Black Caucus week in Washington, D.C. Tweet.
TRANSITIONS - Brendan Moss is joining Vineyard Wind as communications director. Moss is leaving his post as press secretary to Gov. Charlie Baker.
- Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is joining CBS News as a political contributor.
- Bernie Sanders aide Joe Caiazzo has been reassigned to run the Massachusetts arm of his presidential campaign. Link.
WEEKEND WEDDINGS - Kasey Suffredini and Kristina Bigdeli were married Saturday in Los Angeles. Suffredini is California organizing director for the Kamala Harris campaign, and has worked on campaigns for Ayanna Pressley, Martha Coakley and Ed Markey. Bigdeli is CEO of Freedom For All Americans, and was campaign co-chair for the Yes on 3 campaign in 2018. State Sen. Julian Cyr, who introduced the couple, officiated.
- Chris Hayden, deputy communications director for Elizabeth Warren's campaign, and Rachel Chaney, a longtime organizer who most recently worked at Democracy Forward, were married in Ocean City, N.J. SPOTTED: Ben Ray, Alex Kellner, Adrianne Marsh and Paul Dunn, Rob Flaherty, Carla Frank, Lily Adams, Corey Ciorciari, James Singer, Rachael Hartford, Caitlin Legacki, Cameron Sullivan, Stewart Boss, Suzy Smith, Morgan Finkelstein, Noah Dion and Joe Philbin. Pic.
FOR YOUR COMMUTE: Is Fare Fair? On this week's Horse Race podcast, Steve Koczela and Jennifer Smith talk about new polling in the potential primary match-up between Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Joe Kennedy III. MassINC Research Director Ben Forman talks about a new fare equity study in Massachusetts, and state Sen. Becca Rausch explains her "Community Immunity Act." Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud.
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY - to Roger Lau, campaign manager for Elizabeth Warren, who celebrated Saturday;
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes and yes! The Patriots beat the Dolphins 43-0. The Red Sox beat the Phillies 6-3.
Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.
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A message from Tobacco Free Kids:
There's a public health crisis spreading across the country - and it's small enough to fit in your kid's pocket. E-cigarettes are hooking a new generation, thanks to Big Tobacco tricks like slick marketing, massive doses of nicotine, and thousands of kid-friendly flavors. Now, 5 million kids - including 1 in 4 high schoolers - use e-cigarettes. This growing public health emergency threatens decades of progress in lowering youth tobacco use. And it's getting worse. We're building a nationwide movement to confront this crisis with the bold action our kids deserve. We must take flavored e-cigarettes off the market, stand up to companies like JUUL, and stop this escalating epidemic before it's too late. Learn More. |
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The politics of climate change are frozen in Washington. But beyond the Beltway, action on climate is heating up faster than ever. How are mayors and executives tackling climate change? Tune into POLITICO's "Global Translations" podcast to hear from Mike Bloomberg, the former Mayor of New York City and Ed Skyler, the Executive Vice President for Global Public Affairs at Citi, in a special branded episode by Citi. Subscribe and listen now: Apple Podcasts - Spotify - Stitcher |
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