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The three GOP candidates running to dislodge Maura Healey are caught in a crossfire inside a phone booth. The hostilities aren’t going well. One campaign issued a memo claiming the other two are “buying votes to rig” polls on Twitter.
massterlist.beehiiv.com/p/gop-candid...
massterlist.beehiiv.com/p/gop-candid...
GOP candidates for governor take aim at each other in a race awash in social media polls and financial chest-beating
massterlist.beehiiv.com
January 9, 2026 at 2:04 AM
The three GOP candidates running to dislodge Maura Healey are caught in a crossfire inside a phone booth. The hostilities aren’t going well. One campaign issued a memo claiming the other two are “buying votes to rig” polls on Twitter.
massterlist.beehiiv.com/p/gop-candid...
massterlist.beehiiv.com/p/gop-candid...
The case of Karen Read has stayed alive on social media thanks to upcoming “based on a true story” movies and a conspiracy-driven coterie of online cranks and kooks obsessed with her. The 2026 campaign trail appears primed to play its part, too.
Read and her defense team help DA candidate’s fundraising haul
Plus: Mayor Wu raises more than $1.1 million for inauguration fund
massterlist.beehiiv.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:26 PM
The case of Karen Read has stayed alive on social media thanks to upcoming “based on a true story” movies and a conspiracy-driven coterie of online cranks and kooks obsessed with her. The 2026 campaign trail appears primed to play its part, too.
Welcome back to MASSterList. We have a roundup of headlines you may have missed while on break. But first, a brief look at what’s on Beacon Hill’s mind as the new year gets underway. #MAPoli
Power brokers on Beacon Hill and beyond offer resolutions for a busy new year
massterlist.beehiiv.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Welcome back to MASSterList. We have a roundup of headlines you may have missed while on break. But first, a brief look at what’s on Beacon Hill’s mind as the new year gets underway. #MAPoli
Reposted by MASSterList
Thanks to @gintautasd.bsky.social for including me in the @massterlist.com set of New Year’s resolutions.
Though apparently I made a mistake by giving an actual resolution when it looks like the thing to do is recite a policy agenda?
Though apparently I made a mistake by giving an actual resolution when it looks like the thing to do is recite a policy agenda?
January 2, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Thanks to @gintautasd.bsky.social for including me in the @massterlist.com set of New Year’s resolutions.
Though apparently I made a mistake by giving an actual resolution when it looks like the thing to do is recite a policy agenda?
Though apparently I made a mistake by giving an actual resolution when it looks like the thing to do is recite a policy agenda?
Transportation chairs Sen. Brendan Crighton and Rep. Jim Arciero are leaning on a 20-year friendship to navigate "complicated" policy waters. Unlike the legendary "battle of the Toms" in 1999, this duo claims to prioritize shared history over political maneuvering. #MAPoli
Transportation chairs merge on same road to regulation
massterlist.beehiiv.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Transportation chairs Sen. Brendan Crighton and Rep. Jim Arciero are leaning on a 20-year friendship to navigate "complicated" policy waters. Unlike the legendary "battle of the Toms" in 1999, this duo claims to prioritize shared history over political maneuvering. #MAPoli
The "liberalism that builds" blueprint from @ezrakleinbot.bsky.social and Derek Thompson is the talk of Beacon Hill—from Gov. Healey’s cabinet to local councils. We asked MA leaders for their 2025 reads (and their "Abundance" runners-up). 📚 #MAPoli
The books the political and policy class are reading on and off Beacon Hill
Plus: A highly anticipated MBTA shortlist and more in Political Intel
massterlist.beehiiv.com
December 21, 2025 at 10:02 PM
The "liberalism that builds" blueprint from @ezrakleinbot.bsky.social and Derek Thompson is the talk of Beacon Hill—from Gov. Healey’s cabinet to local councils. We asked MA leaders for their 2025 reads (and their "Abundance" runners-up). 📚 #MAPoli
The MBTA's pre-pandemic business model has vanished because fewer people make enough round-trip journeys each week to regularly buy passes, argues former Federal Highway Deputy Administrator and MassDOT Secretary Stephanie Pollack. #MAPoli
Pollack urges reflection on post-pandemic transit model
Sustaining the MBTA's progress, according to a former top federal and state transportation official, is a central challenge after the 2020 pandemic disrupted travel and work patterns.
www.statehousenews.com
December 9, 2025 at 11:02 PM
The MBTA's pre-pandemic business model has vanished because fewer people make enough round-trip journeys each week to regularly buy passes, argues former Federal Highway Deputy Administrator and MassDOT Secretary Stephanie Pollack. #MAPoli
ALL ABOARD! Only a few tickets remain for tomorrow's @statehousenews.com / @massterlist.com TransitNEXT policy forum. Hear from Phil Eng, Stephanie Pollack, JCT chairs Sen. Crighton and Rep. Arciero, and others at the MCLE in Boston. #MAPoli
events.humanitix.com/transitnext
events.humanitix.com/transitnext
December 8, 2025 at 5:43 PM
ALL ABOARD! Only a few tickets remain for tomorrow's @statehousenews.com / @massterlist.com TransitNEXT policy forum. Hear from Phil Eng, Stephanie Pollack, JCT chairs Sen. Crighton and Rep. Arciero, and others at the MCLE in Boston. #MAPoli
events.humanitix.com/transitnext
events.humanitix.com/transitnext
KELLER: There's an understanding that dealing with Michelle Wu offers two options – her way or the highway. Her push to seize control of tax rates is a power grab. In a constitutional democracy, power is shared and limited. Boffo numbers on election night don’t change that. #MAPoli #BOSPoli
Mayor Wu’s Prop. 2 ½ follies - MASSterList
For an incumbent politician, there are multiple ways to interpret a decisive re-election win.
massterlist.com
December 8, 2025 at 4:48 PM
PHANTOM OF THE CHAMBER; A review of House video from Nov. 18 appears to show someone else pressing the voting button at Rep. Vanna Howard’s desk while she was allegedly away ahead of her Senate campaign kickoff in a race that includes another House member.
#MAPoli
#MAPoli
An allegation of a return to ‘phantom voting’ on the House floor
Plus: Mayor Wu's tax shift meeting, Phil Eng's new title and more in Political Intel
massterlist.beehiiv.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:41 PM
PHANTOM OF THE CHAMBER; A review of House video from Nov. 18 appears to show someone else pressing the voting button at Rep. Vanna Howard’s desk while she was allegedly away ahead of her Senate campaign kickoff in a race that includes another House member.
#MAPoli
#MAPoli
As the holiday shopping season starts up, here’s a list of several books on Massachusetts politics or Mass.-adjacent ones, for yourself or the political junkie in your life.
#MAPoli
#MAPoli
For your shopping list, Mass. politics books
massterlist.beehiiv.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:16 PM
As the holiday shopping season starts up, here’s a list of several books on Massachusetts politics or Mass.-adjacent ones, for yourself or the political junkie in your life.
#MAPoli
#MAPoli
FIRST IN MASSterList: The MassGOP is looking to recruit Belmont select board member Elizabeth Dionne to run against Treasurer Deb Goldberg, a Democrat. Dionne didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Out with MASSterList: Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro
Plus: Possible GOP treasurer candidate, new ballot committee and more in Political Intel
massterlist.beehiiv.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:05 PM
FIRST IN MASSterList: The MassGOP is looking to recruit Belmont select board member Elizabeth Dionne to run against Treasurer Deb Goldberg, a Democrat. Dionne didn’t respond to a request for comment.
The final week of formal sessions before the Legislature’s 6-week recess offered a revealing snapshot of what's coming—one defined increasingly by a push-pull between what the elected officials on Beacon Hill are trying (or not) to accomplish and what outside forces are readying for the 2026 ballot.
As the Legislature closes formal sessions with a spending bill, ballot initiatives begin to pile up
massterlist.beehiiv.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:47 AM
The final week of formal sessions before the Legislature’s 6-week recess offered a revealing snapshot of what's coming—one defined increasingly by a push-pull between what the elected officials on Beacon Hill are trying (or not) to accomplish and what outside forces are readying for the 2026 ballot.
Growing up in Needham, Jeffrey Shapiro remembers his father bringing home the afternoon newspaper with headlines about the UMass Boston corruption scandal that led to the conviction of two state senators and the creation of a state inspector general.
Out with MASSterList: Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro
Plus: Possible GOP treasurer candidate, new ballot committee and more in Political Intel
massterlist.beehiiv.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Growing up in Needham, Jeffrey Shapiro remembers his father bringing home the afternoon newspaper with headlines about the UMass Boston corruption scandal that led to the conviction of two state senators and the creation of a state inspector general.
KELLER: Harvard says its A’s are basically participation trophies. Students cry over “soul-crushing” workloads of… an hour a day. And the fix? A+. Better idea: F-minus for wasting a world-class education chasing clout and cash.
Keller: Harvard flunks out
massterlist.beehiiv.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:31 PM
KELLER: Harvard says its A’s are basically participation trophies. Students cry over “soul-crushing” workloads of… an hour a day. And the fix? A+. Better idea: F-minus for wasting a world-class education chasing clout and cash.
. @gintautasd.bsky.social scours the headlines so you don’t have to.
As I went through news sites this morning, I spotted this photo and headline
Presented without comment
Presented without comment
November 6, 2025 at 2:11 AM
. @gintautasd.bsky.social scours the headlines so you don’t have to.
Reposted by MASSterList
As Wu speaks, these hats are getting handed out
November 5, 2025 at 2:52 AM
As Wu speaks, these hats are getting handed out
Reposted by MASSterList
Henry Santana won releection to at-large seat, holding back fmr Cllr Frank Baker, per sources
November 5, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Henry Santana won releection to at-large seat, holding back fmr Cllr Frank Baker, per sources
Mass. Republicans, typically the ones warning against new spending and calling for tax relief, called for the state to fund SNAP, while Democrats demurred. The same party that has championed assistance programs found itself defending fiscal restraint, while Republicans argued for state intervention.
Courts rule and Beacon Hill scrambles as SNAP cutoff date arrives
massterlist.beehiiv.com
November 1, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Mass. Republicans, typically the ones warning against new spending and calling for tax relief, called for the state to fund SNAP, while Democrats demurred. The same party that has championed assistance programs found itself defending fiscal restraint, while Republicans argued for state intervention.
The SNAP blame game has come to Beacon Hill #MAPoli
With political messaging escalating on government websites, SNAP blame game comes to Beacon Hill
Plus: Pro-Wu super PAC switches support
massterlist.beehiiv.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
The SNAP blame game has come to Beacon Hill #MAPoli
About 1.1 million Bay Staters could lose food benefits at the end of next week, and Gov. Maura Healey capped the week by ringing the alarm bell in the midst of a federal government shutdown that's boiling over in D.C. and reverberating across the country. #MAPoli
Over 1 million Mass. could lose SNAP benefits as shutdown drags on
massterlist.beehiiv.com
October 25, 2025 at 8:49 PM
About 1.1 million Bay Staters could lose food benefits at the end of next week, and Gov. Maura Healey capped the week by ringing the alarm bell in the midst of a federal government shutdown that's boiling over in D.C. and reverberating across the country. #MAPoli
For Wu, despite speculation, being mayor is what’s next
Plus: Marty Walsh's former chief of staff has a super PAC, Political Intel and more...
#MAPoli
Plus: Marty Walsh's former chief of staff has a super PAC, Political Intel and more...
#MAPoli
For Wu, despite speculation, being mayor is what’s next
Plus: Marty Walsh's former chief of staff has a super PAC, Political Intel and more
massterlist.beehiiv.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:16 PM
For Wu, despite speculation, being mayor is what’s next
Plus: Marty Walsh's former chief of staff has a super PAC, Political Intel and more...
#MAPoli
Plus: Marty Walsh's former chief of staff has a super PAC, Political Intel and more...
#MAPoli
Reposted by MASSterList
End of an Era
via @massterlist.com morning email
via @massterlist.com morning email
October 24, 2025 at 12:46 PM
End of an Era
via @massterlist.com morning email
via @massterlist.com morning email
After several forays into Massachusetts politics, the Working Families Party (WFP) is seeking to set up a larger shop in the Bay State, with the goal of becoming a force to be reckoned with in local elections. #MAPoli
Working Families Party looks to establish a bigger Mass. beachhead
Plus: Another entrant in the race for Seth Moulton's Congressional seat
massterlist.beehiiv.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:58 AM
After several forays into Massachusetts politics, the Working Families Party (WFP) is seeking to set up a larger shop in the Bay State, with the goal of becoming a force to be reckoned with in local elections. #MAPoli
BULLY POTPIT: Factional tensions linger at the Cannabis Control Commission. During a recent meeting led by fired-and-rehired chair Shannon O’Brien, one commissioner accused another of bullying, saying, “Don’t try to bully me into a vote.” #MAPoli
With O’Brien’s return, the Cannabis Control Commission goes back to sparring
massterlist.beehiiv.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:06 PM
BULLY POTPIT: Factional tensions linger at the Cannabis Control Commission. During a recent meeting led by fired-and-rehired chair Shannon O’Brien, one commissioner accused another of bullying, saying, “Don’t try to bully me into a vote.” #MAPoli