The Horse Race

8/25/22--- This week on The Horse Race Jenn and Steve are thrilled that it's cooled down. We then dive into Orange Line updates with Rowan Walrath of the Boston Business Journal. It's been nearly a week since the shutdown, but the full impact has not been quite felt as students have yet to return to school.

Later, we talk to Bera Dunau of the Daily Hampshire Gazette about the race to fill Lieutenant Governor hopeful Eric Lesser's seat. There's also a three-way run for sheriff in Hampden County.

Our BFF Katie Lannan of GBH News drops by the pod to run us through a recent story she wrote surrounding the history and current status of the Cambodian political community in Lowell.

8/18/2022 -- On this week's episode, the team breaks down a new MassINC Polling Group poll. The poll looks at upcoming policy questions like the Fair Share Amendment, as well as what the numbers look like for the upcoming democratic primary.

Then Jenn talks to Yawu Miller of the Bay State Banner, and Marco Cartolano of the Worcester Telegram and Gazette about the domino effect of elected officials running for new seats.

8/11/2022 -- On this episode of The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn start the show off with updates of the ongoing MBTA woes. Then Lisa tunes in from the beach to give us a rundown of the latest election season updates.

Later, Evan Allen of the Boston Globe, joins the pod to walk us through her recent investigative reporting surrounding controversy at the Suffolk County DA's office. With an election coming up on Sept. 6, we discuss what this could mean for the race.

8/4/2022 -- This week on The Horse Race Steve and Lisa start the show off with a rundown of the recent democratic primary debates. Then we dive into the Wednesday announcement from the MBTA: The orange line will be down for 30 days! Lisa gives us the rundown on what this means for riders.

On Monday morning the legislative session ended after 23 long hours. During the marathon, lawmakers passed bills that legalized sports betting, expanded mental health support, reformed cannabis laws, and much more. Our own Lisa Kashinsky was there and we also have Katie Lannan of GBH News on to talk about the great all-nighter and clarify the opening time of Capitol Coffee House.

7/28/2022-- This week, a surprise amendment to the State Senate’s version of the economic development bill would give cities and towns the option of ending a decades-long ban on happy hour for their own municipalities. To talk about it more, Jenn and Steve are joined by the amendment's sponsor, Senator Julian Cyr.

Later, Jenn takes a closer look at the history behind the ban and the other attempts to revive happy hour in Massachusetts.

7/21/2022-- This week is a scorcher! Jenn and Steve start the show off chatting about this extreme heat. There's talk of water restrictions in the Commonwealth within the next few weeks. Ironically enough, President Biden is in Mass this week talking about climate change. It also doesn't look like T service will be improving anytime soon. A shortage of dispatchers will continue to be a hurdle.

State legislators passed a $52 billion budget to Governor Baker's desk on Sunday night. Once again Massachusetts is the only state left with a fiscal year that starts on July 1 where a budget has yet to be finalized. Mike Deehan, co-author at Axios Boston, joins the pod to break down the state budget. He also helps break down Taco Bell's brief roll-out of the Cheez-It Tostada.

Later, Boston Globe reporter, Catherine Carlock joins us to discuss what the Supreme Judicial Court concluded last week about Boston’s municipal harbor plan and what it could mean for the rest of the state.

7/14/22-- This week we divert from our regularly scheduled programming for the first ever musical episode of The Horse Race!

Jenn and Steve walk us through the seven official state songs one by one. Lenny Gomulka, writer and performer of "Say Hello to Someone From Massachusetts" joins the podcast to talk about the inspiration for the tune and how it came to be the official state polka.

Later Joyce Linehan, local punk rock enthusiast and former chief of policy and planning for Marty Walsh, stops by the pod. She helps unravel the saga of the unofficial state rock song, "Roadrunner" by the Modern Lovers. Will MA ever have an official state rock song?

Stay tuned until the end for a never before heard recording of the official state glee club song, "The Great State of Massachusetts" arranged and produced by Charlie Koczela and performed by Robert Goderich.

6/30/2022--This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve unpacking the whirlwind of a news week that just was. Before diving into national news, a statewide race changed drastically this week when state senator and gubernatorial candidate Sonia Chang-Diaz dropped out of the race. She told reporters there was no reasonable path to victory, and she'll instead turn her focus to supporting down-ballot candidates with similar progressive views. Chang-Diaz's withdrawal makes Maura Healey the sole standing Democratic candidate for Governor.

The Supreme Court on Friday overturned Roe v. Wade, prompting Governor Baker to immediately sign an executive order protecting access to reproductive health care services in the state. The order would protect providers who perform these services for out-of-state patients seeking the procedures in Massachusetts. Planned Parenthood has already reported an uptick in demand for services here in Massachusetts from people coming out of state.

Finally, reporter Sam Gross of The Boston Globe stops by to talk to Steve about a law that will allow undocumented immigrants to apply for drivers licenses in Massachusetts. The legislature passed it into law earlier this month, and then voted to override Gov. Baker’s veto. Now, opponents of the new law have formed a ballot question committee and are collecting signatures to try to put the issue before voters in the fall.

6/23/2022--This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Lisa share their opinions on a *critical* Massachusetts food service matchup -- Dunkin' Donuts and Market Basket. If the two were on the ballot, which is securing your vote?

Later, Rich Parr, Research Director at The MassINC Polling Group shares details on the newest MPG transportation poll. The statewide survey asked residents whether they support policies like free and discounted bus fares, and their feelings on the safety of transportation modes like highways and the T. The poll also asked about e-bike rebates, and to talk more about proposed legislation surrounding e-bikes, Galen Mook of the Massachusetts Bicycle Coaltion stops by. An Act relative to electric bicycle rebates would provide $500 rebates for general consumers and up to $750 for low to moderate income consumers.

6/16/2022--This week, Jenn and Lisa unpack a major development on the ballot question front -- the Supreme Judicial Court this week threw out a ballot question that would classify ride-share drivers as independent contractors. Jenn explains the court's reasoning behind the decision, and Lisa shares what it all means for the future of rides-hare drivers' fight to unionize.

Tori Bedford, reporter at GBH, stops by The Horse Race to discuss her recent coverage on America's Test Kitchen employees' moves to unionize. Willow Montana works as a shift manager at a Cleveland Circle Starbucks location that has recently moved to unionize -- they share what the process of forming a union has looked like so far, Starbucks' response to the unionization effort, and the benefits unionizing Starbucks workers are seeking.