Incorruptible Mass

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In this bonus deep dive episode, podcast regulars Jonathan and Jordan are joined by guests Elaine Almquist and Cara Berg Powers, each decades of experience in progressive politics and campaigns to the fight against a growing threat to democracy: Ballot Question 3. Together, we take a closer look at how top-two primaries would decrease principles of fair representation in our state government, weaken government accountability, and contribute to a multitude of other ills for Bay State residents. With lessons from California, Washington, Colorado, and Arizona, the panel makes the case that this isn't democratic reform — it's a threat to grassroots power. Don't let private equity buy our democracy: Vote No on 3!

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At the Incorruptibles, we know that state and local governments are critical to democracy. But Massachusetts has been struggling to keep elections competitive at the state level, something that threatens representation in our State House and undermines democracy. Anna, Jonathan, and Jordan are joined by campaign consultant Elaine Almquist to unpack the problems with the top-two primary system proposed in the upcoming Ballot Question 3, including how it could undermine political parties, weaken coalition-building, make elections more expensive, and give wealthy candidates an even greater advantage.

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Massachusetts has been fighting for Election Day registration for 18 years, and now voters have a chance to make it happen at the ballot box. Anna, Jonathan, and Jordan are joined by Celia Canavan of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts to break down Question 4, debunk claims about voter fraud and increased costs, and explain why Election Day registration can make voting easier while actually reducing the burden on local election officials. Expanding access to the ballot is a matter of making sure every voter has a voice in our democracy: Vote Yes on Question 4!

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Nine questions, one November ballot. Anna, Jordan, and Jonathan give you a quick overview of every ballot question you'll see and what progressive organizations recommend on each one. We cover public records for the governor and legislature (Question 1), unionizing public defenders (Question 2), the top-two primary (Question 3), Election Day registration (Question 4), the cap on state revenue (Question 5), the Nature for All fund (Question 6), minimum lot sizes (Question 7), marijuana (Question 8), and the gun safety law (Question 9). Along the way, we explain why a "yes" and a "no" don't always mean what you'd expect, and why the legislature's failure to act is the reason so many of these are on the ballot at all. Deep dives on Questions 3 and 4 are coming soon, and you can find our earlier deep dive on Question 9 in the feed.

You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved.

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The legislative session is over, and as usual, most of the big things didn't get done. The legislature did pass the Protect Act responding to ICE, stronger abortion access, and limits on book bans. But data privacy, energy affordability, the economic development bill, and more are stuck in limbo, and the legislature just changed its own rules to make that limbo easier. On our latest episode, the Incorruptible Mass team breaks down what passed, what didn't, why, and what to watch for next, including the legislature's latest shenanigans around public records.

You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved.

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It's the most important elected office almost nobody has heard of. The Governor's Council confirms every judge, clerk magistrate, and parole board member in Massachusetts, and signs off on pardons and commutations. Jordan and Jonathan sit down with Governor's Councilors Tara Jacobs and Paul DiPaolo to explain what the council does, how they vet nominees for lifetime appointments, and why they say "rubber stamp" doesn't fit. We'll also get into the recent parole board rejection, what parole is actually for, and why you should never skip voting for Governor's Councilor on your ballot.

You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved.

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Our government has a choice to make. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act created a federal school voucher program, and states have until New Year's to decide whether to opt in or out. We'll speak with MassBudget education policy analyst Anthony Clough to address what school vouchers are, what their effects on our educational system would be, and why our state should reject this path for our kids.

You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved.

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Big tech companies are hoovering up more and more of our own personal data than ever, whether to sell us products or to sell our data to others. At what point does our government step in and protect our right to privacy? Our state legislature is currently considering two versions of a Massachusetts Consumer Data Privacy Act to do just that. We're joined by Kade Crockford, the Director for Technology and Justice Programs at the ACLU of Massachusetts, to discuss what legislators have been working on, the differences between the two versions of the bills, and how it could help protect all of us in this digital age.

You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved.

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The Celtics are the greatest NBA franchise in history and won another championship in 2024. Last year, a private equity billionaire bought the team. This year, the Celtics claim they don't have enough money to pay for a competitive team and are sending some of their best players away. It's easy to dismiss it as just the realm of billionaires and millionaires, or pretend it's not somehow connected in any way to the "real" things that matter: but could the current state of American sports teach us something about wealth, worker wages, and regulation in the rest of our society?

You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved.

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More than 2.3 million voters in Massachusetts voted overwhelmingly to approve an audit into our state legislature — but now the legislature says, actually, it doesn't want to comply with what over 70% of us voted for directly. We'll chat about what exactly this audit is, what the legislature is trying to change it to be, and why it's so important for all of us to see it through.

You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved.

To stay informed:

• Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@theincorruptibles6939
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