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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TGIF!
MOULTON WEIGHS IN ON IRAN — It has been a tumultuous week for the United States. Iranian commander Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani was killed by an American drone strike last Friday, and Iran retaliated this week with a missile strike on U.S. forces in Iraq. By Thursday night, the House had voted to halt military action against Iran, a nonbinding resolution aimed at curbing President Donald Trump's military powers.
I caught up with Rep. Seth Moulton, a Marine veteran who served four tours in Iraq, to talk about Iran after he delivered a speech at the Atlantic Council on Thursday. This interview was edited for length and clarity.
Q: What is the next step in this ongoing saga between Iran and the US? You said in your speech today that Iran is a sophisticated adversary. What should we expect them to do next?
A: They could do absolutely anything . And they're going to choose the time and place of their further attacks, further retaliation on the United States and our allies. About the only thing I trust that Iran says is that there will be retaliation And I think anyone who believes that these failed ballistic missile attacks are the end of it doesn't understand Iran.
Q: What was your takeaway from the briefing on Iran from Trump administration officials earlier this week?
A: I was incredibly dissatisfied with their justifications. And the briefing confirmed all my fears that the administration does not have a strategy to deal with Iran. That its maximum pressure campaign is a maximum failure and that by their actions they have weakened our national security and put America at greater risk.
Q: I was interested in the line from your speech where you said that memes and tweets about World War III won't work here. Do you feel like we've been desensitized to the news by social media and the fast pace of the new cycle?
A: I do, but I also just think it's time for this rising generation of leaders to recognize that simply tweeting about problems and even exaggerating them is not going to provide the leadership for the country that we so desperately need. That's why I've worked hard to bring more veterans into Congress on the Democratic side of the aisle, because they're providing real leadership, not leadership by tweet, but leadership by action.
Q: Many have drawn parallels between what's happening now with Iran and the build up to the war in Iraq in 2003. There are several members of the Massachusetts delegation who voted for the war in Iraq. Should those members be addressing that right now or talking about it?
A: We should always learn from our mistakes as individuals, as a Congress, as American people, and the mistakes that led us into Iraq, including false and trumped up intelligence are at the forefront of my mind. That episode should be on the minds of all Americans. That's why I've called for declassifying the president's report to Congress so that every American can understand exactly what the threat was, and what it was not.
Q: Do you think Nancy Pelosi is waiting too long to hand over the articles of impeachment to the Senate?
A: No. It's critical that we have a fair trial, And I don't see any other option to get it, given where we are today.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.
TODAY — Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito speaks at the Merrimack Valley Mayors and Managers breakfast forum in Andover. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh speaks at Liberty Mutual Insurance's "Conversations with Liberty" event. Walsh is a guest on WGBH's "Boston Public Radio." Sen. Ed Markey holds a press conference in Boston to call on President Donald Trump to prevent war with Iran.
The Supreme Judicial Court hears arguments in Boston. Rep. Ayanna Pressley holds a press conference ahead of the Congressional Black Caucus' first-ever visit to Boston. Visitors this weekend will include Reps. Karen Bass, Ilhan Omar, Barbara Lee, Jahana Hayes, Bonnie Watson Coleman and Gwen Moore.
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 | DATELINE BEACON HILL |
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- "TCI club appears to be shrinking," by Matt Murphy, State House News Service: "IN A PROTEST-INTERRUPTED State of the State address Thursday, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott cast a shadow on the prospects of him signing his state up for a multi-state compact to reduce vehicle emissions. Scott, who along with Gov. Charlie Baker is one of two Republican governors in New England, did not address the Transportation Climate Initiative by name, but discussed at length ways Vermont has been working to incentivize the purchase of electric vehicles. "It's incentives, not penalties, which will help us transition more quickly," Scott said in his speech."
- "Youth arrests plummet in wake of reforms," by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: "Arrests and jail sentences for young offenders have plummeted since an overhaul of the state's juvenile justice laws two years ago, but advocates say minority youth are still more likely to be caught in the system. A new report by a state commission looking at the impact of the reforms found that arrests of suspects age 18 and under dropped 43% between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019, while delinquency filings for offenses such as school disturbances and underage drinking dropped 33%."
- "Boston And Nantucket Join In Call For Real Estate Taxes To Boost Affordable Housing," by Simón Rios, WBUR: "Massachusetts communities including Boston, Somerville and Nantucket are joining forces to push the Legislature to allow them to tax some real estate deals and use the money to bolster affordable housing. The cities and towns each have different home rule petitions before lawmakers. At the same time, a proposal would allow communities to assess a tax of up to 2% without needing approval from lawmakers."
- "Department of Correction not providing inmates with timely health care, audit finds," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "The Department of Correction is not providing inmates with health care in a timely manner, according to an audit released Thursday by state Auditor Suzanne Bump. The audit found that the lapse in health care services creates a risk that inmates' health care conditions will worsen, and puts the department at risk of legal liability."
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| FROM THE HUB |
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- "Andrea Campbell broke her family's cycle of troubles, but now comes another challenge," by Adrian Walker, Boston Globe: "City Councilor Andrea Campbell sat among the dignitaries at Roxbury Community College Thursday morning, celebrating the life of Chuck Turner, the former councilor and community activist. Across town, at Boston Municipal Court, her older brother Alvin R. Campbell Jr. was living a very different experience. For the city councilor, the contrast between her life and that of those close to her is nothing new."
- "With Mass. Flu Season In Full Swing, Emergency Department Reports Crowding," by Carey Goldberg, WBUR: "High flu season has most definitely hit here in Massachusetts and nationally. The lines on the graphs showing flu-related doctor's visits are rising steeply, and the states on the national map are heating up to orange and red, meaning flu activity is high. Every flu season is bad. In the 2017-18 flu season, a particularly bad one, more than 45 million Americans got sick and more than 60,000 died, the CDC reports. There are signs this winter could be similar."
- "Babson College staff member who posted about Iran says he was terminated," by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: "The Babson College staff member suspended after posting on Facebook that Iran should list 52 American cultural sites it would attack says he has now been terminated from the school. "I am disappointed and saddened that Babson has decided to abruptly terminate my 15-year relationship with the college just because people willfully misinterpreted a joke I made to my friends on Facebook," former Babson College Director of Sustainability Asheen Phansey said via a spokeswoman Thursday. Babson had placed Phansey on paid leave while conducting an investigation."
- "Nearly 2,900 Massachusetts State Police cruisers can now be tracked: Here's why," by Scott J. Croteau, MassLive.com: "Inside the Massachusetts State Police Watch Center in Framingham a large screen displayed a map around the barracks. A purple star glowed in the middle of the screen showing the location of cruiser #0001, the vehicle assigned to the head of the state police, Col. Christopher Mason. The cruiser was exactly where it was supposed to be, at the headquarters. Mason, who took over as the head of the state police in November, announced that roughly 2,900 cruisers used by troopers across the state are now fully equipped with an Automated Vehicle Location system."
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| PRIMARY SOURCES |
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- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: "More Local Leaders Endorse Becky Grossman's Campaign for Congress," from the Grossman campaign: "Today, Becky Grossman's campaign announced four more endorsements in her campaign for Congress." The new endorsements are from Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan, state Rep. Lou Kafka, and Needham Select Board members Mo Handel and John Bulian.
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| DAY IN COURT |
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- "Cabral: BU Failed To Provide Safety For Student Who Was Assaulted," by Arjun Singh, WGBH News: "A former Boston University student sued the school for failing to protect her from a sexual assault she experienced while living on campus in 2015. The student alleged that an MIT student entered her dorm building and opened her unlocked bedroom door before he assaulted her in 2015. The school claimed that the student failed to protect herself by keeping her door unlocked and that it is not at fault for what happened."
- "Former Sen. Brian Joyce's accountant sentenced to 18 months in jail," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "John Nardozzi, an accountant for the late former State Sen. Brian Joyce was sentenced Thursday to 18 months in jail and three years of supervised release for conspiring with Joyce to defraud the IRS. According to prosecutors, Nardozzi, 68, of Waltham, manipulated income that should have been reported on Joyce's corporate tax return and instead applied it to his personal tax return, defrauding the IRS of $600,000. He also fraudulently created a type of pension plan for Joyce and his wife to which they were not entitled, enabling them to improperly defer taxes on over $400,000."
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| WARREN REPORT |
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- "Elizabeth Warren's surprising closing argument," by Alex Thompson, POLITICO: "Elizabeth Warren is often portrayed in media as a figure of the left-wing, locked in a battle with Bernie Sanders for the progressive base of the party. In fact, polling frequently shows she's the second choice not just of Sanders voters, but of Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg supporters, too. Seeking a spark heading into the Iowa caucuses, Warren and her allies are making a surprising closing argument: That she's best positioned to unite and excite the party — and is therefore the most electable. It's the first time Warren's orbit has made the electability pitch so overtly."
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| PATRICK PRIMARY |
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- "Super PAC makes $2 million ad buy supporting Deval Patrick," by Maya King, POLITICO: "A new PAC created to support Deval Patrick's presidential run announced a $2 million ad buy in early primary states, beginning with New Hampshire. The PAC, called Reason to Believe, was formed long before the former Massachusetts governor announced a last-minute presidential campaign at the end of 2019. The group was initially a vehicle for former Patrick aides supporting progressive candidates in the 2018 midterm elections. But the PAC reopened in December to support Patrick's campaign. The new ad buy is the group's first big campaign on Patrick's behalf."
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| MARKEYCHUSETTS |
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- "Markey: Congress Is Being Kept In The Shadows On Why Trump Needed To Kill Iranian General," by Arjun Singh, WGBH News: "Sen. Ed Markey told Boston Public Radio Thursday that he has no idea why slain Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani posed an imminent threat to the United States despite receiving a 75 minute briefing on the killing on Wednesday. "It didn't give us the information which we were looking for," Markey said. "We needed to know what were the specific imminent threats that were being posed to the security of the United States, and while the briefing lasted for 75 minutes we never heard those specific threats."
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| THE CLARK CAUCUS |
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- "Rep. Clark Says War Powers Vote Is Meant To Check Presidential Power And Prevent Conflict," by Bob Oakes, WBUR: "The U.S. House is scheduled to vote on requiring President Trump to seek Congressional approval before pursuing any military action in Iran. The vote comes a day after President Trump said it appears the situation in the Middle East is deescalating, one week after a U.S. attack that killed Iran Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Massachusetts Congresswoman Katherine Clark joined WBUR's Morning Edition host Bob Oakes to discuss the vote."
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| MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS |
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- "'This is insanity': Local marijuana applicants return to cannabis meeting to voice concerns over licensing," by Felicia Gans, Boston Globe: "Marijuana entrepreneurs and advocates returned Thursday to Worcester, where they hoped — for the second time — to keep cannabis regulators from approving licenses before addressing their concerns about the state's licensing process. But the group of about 20 people were just a few minutes too late. The commissioners approved all 31 applicants for provisional licenses in one fell swoop — an unusual step for the state agency that usually discusses applicants for initial licenses one by one before voting."
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| TRUMPACHUSETTS |
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- "At Harvard Law, reluctance to apply for clerkships with Trump-appointed judges," by Deirdre Fernandes, Boston Globe: "Used to be that the promise of earning a sterling line on a resume and connections to stars of the legal profession was enough to lure Harvard law students to federal clerkships. But recently, when Harvard Law School was urging its students to apply to work for one of President Trump's newly appointed judges, it felt the need to offer further incentives: "Next to Lake Tahoe and great skiing!," the job alert read. But that apparently wasn't enough."
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| ABOVE THE FOLD |
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— Herald: "RUNNING ON FUMES," — Globe: "Some at Harvard Law balk on Trump judges," "Iranian missiles blamed in jet crash," "Visions and divisions." |
| FROM THE 413 |
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- "From fight clubs to sexual assault: Complaints against group home provider show problems in industry serving state's most vulnerable residents," by Shira Schoenberg, Springfield Republican: "At a Springfield group home for individuals with developmental disabilities, staff encouraged residents to fight each other and awarded prizes including money, cigarettes, marijuana and alcohol, according to reports made to state officials in 2011. According to one account substantiated by the state's Disabled Persons Protection Commission, a victim was hit so hard by a housemate during an arranged fight that a tooth was knocked out and he got a bloody nose."
EXCERPT:
The records show 279 complaints made against Guidewire between 2013 and early September 2019. Many were unsubstantiated, closed or not investigated because they did not fall under the agency’s jurisdiction — for example, cases in which the alleged abuser was not a caregiver or there was no serious injury. A few were redacted because of ongoing investigations. Some complaints fell under the jurisdiction of other state agencies dealing with children and the elderly, both of which refused to provide information about investigations, saying they were confidential under state law.
Of the 279 complaints, 33 were investigated and substantiated; some incidents resulted in multiple complaints.
- "Super Commuters: From job opportunities to family roots, why Western Mass. residents are driving long distances for work," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "There are ample ways to measure the cost of regularly traveling long distances for work. For a Pittsfield man, it's the direct cost of fuel and tolls: $230 a week. For couple Ariana and Matthew Malutich, who are both 'super commuters,' it's the physical distance between them — 220 miles — when they depart in opposite directions, arriving at their day jobs in different states. In November, MassLive surveyed our readers to learn more about their experiences commuting to work, specifically those who have to travel great distances regularly."
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| THE LOCAL ANGLE |
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- "Hingham teen spearheads bill to lower voting age in Mass." by Anastasia E. Lennon, The Patriot Ledger: "Samantha Bevins walks briskly into the local Starbucks, her hair still wet from showering after hockey practice. She wears Milton Academy sweatpants, a T-shirt and her hair in a messy bun — an unlikely uniform for someone who helped draft state legislation. In addition to playing varsity ice hockey and tennis at Milton Academy, Bevins, 17, has spent the last year lobbying on Beacon Hill. Her goal: To be able to vote in March's presidential primary, even though she won't yet be 18."
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| MEDIA MATTERS |
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- Shira Schoenberg joins the staff at CommonWealth Magazine after seven years at the Springfield Republican and MassLive.com. Link.
REMEMBERING CHUCK TURNER... via WBUR: "White liberals, members of the Nation of Islam, generations of Latino political power, and other allies and loved ones of the late Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner packed into his memorial service Thursday to remember the man who ran on the campaign slogan: "bold, bright, and bald." Turner died on Christmas Day at the age of 79, following a battle with cancer." Link.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY - to Chris Buchanan, director of public affairs and state and local government relations for Walmart, Samantha Hooper, media relations manager at Massport; and Jonathan D. Sarna, who is 65.
HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND - to Senate President Karen Spilka and WBUR digital editor Lisa Creamer, who both celebrate Saturday. And to David O'Brien, president and CEO of Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association, DNC member and a Gov. Deval Patrick alum.
DID THE HOME TEAM WIN? Yes and no! The Bruins beat the Jets 5-4. The 76ers beat the Celtics 109-98.
FOR YOUR COMMUTE: DEVAL IN GOOD TIME - Deval Patrick joins the Horse Race podcast to talk about his 2020 presidential campaign and look back at his two terms as governor of Massachusetts. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud.
Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.
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