The Codcast

Commonwealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith chats with Greg Reibman, president of the Charles River Regional Chamber, and Luc Schuster, executive director of Boston Indicators at the Boston Foundation. They discuss how the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's ruling on the MBTA Communities Act impacts the state's power to mandate zoning reform in cities and towns.

Listen to past Codcasts on this topic: 'Milton's dilemma in the face of housing reform' (10/13/24) , 'AG Andrea Campbell talks local power and gambling boom' (4/14/24) , 'MBTA Communities panel splits over state vs. local control' (4/7/24)

Commonwealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith sits down with Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo, Brad Campbell, president of the Conservation Law Foundation, and Jessica Collins, executive director of the Public Health Institute of Western MA to discuss key statehouse priorities. They reflect on past achievements and look ahead to future efforts in education, climate, transportation, and housing.

John McDonough of the T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute sit down with Amy Rosenthal, executive director of Health Care for All, to discuss the potential impacts of a second Trump term on Medicaid and Medicare in Massachusetts.

CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith interviews Rep. Bill Straus of the 10th Bristol district on past, present, and future transportation issues in Massachusetts.

This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith chats with Somerville City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen on Somerville’s zoning amendment to eliminate parking minimums for new development. 

This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith is joined by Bruce Schneier, fellow and lecturer in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and Nathan Sanders, fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. They discuss how AI has the power to strengthen civic engagement in elections and policymaking, the importance of transparency it its use, and how it can be developed to prioritize democratic values.

This week on The Codcast, John McDonough of the T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute chat with Christina Severin, president of Community Care Cooperative (C3). They discuss the role of accountable care organizations in coordinating high quality care for MassHealth patients, the transformation of Neighborhood Health Plan, and looking ahead at healthcare challenges under a second Trump term.

This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith sits down with Rebecca Hart Holder, president of Reproductive Equity Now, to discuss how abortion advocates are gearing up for a second Trump term. They dig into Project 2025 plans to dismantle reproductive rights, the need for state action, and strategic messaging for the next four years.

This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith introduces CWB's new editor, Laura Colarusso. They discuss her background in journalism, motivation for public service, and the challenges and opportunities in the ever-changing field.

This week on the Codcast, Commonwealth Beacon's Jennifer Smith sits down with attorney general of Massachusetts Andrea Campbell to discuss the hurdles and opportunities that lay ahead under a second Trump term.