Jennifer Smith

Thank you for reading; did my best to get as much as possible in one place!

(Also we’re going to dig in a bit more and run through the polling/politics on @thehorserace.bsky.social tomorrow)

Filling the health care funding gaps - CommonWealth Beacon This week on The Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jennifer Smith unravels the latests state health coverage moves with Audrey Morse Gasteier, executive director of the Massachusetts Health Connector,...

New on the Codcast: Filling the health care funding gaps

commonwealthbeacon.org/the-codcast/...

I feel so vindicated that I never forgot that turkey’s name

Episode 372: The Center Folds

New pod: @skoczela.bsky.social returns from Kenya to... an alligator in the Charles? He and @jenndotsmith.bsky.social discuss the shutdown fallout and Trump's abysmal approval numbers. Then, Jenn does not NOT talk about judicial forum shopping. open.spotify.com/episode/7csG...

The Trump administration is expected to link autism to Tylenol use during pregnancy President Trump and HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are expected to tie autism to acetaminophen use during pregnancy, and present a cancer drug as a possible treatment. There is little credible scientific evidence for either claim.

President Trump and HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are expected to tie autism to acetaminophen use during pregnancy, and present a cancer drug as a possible treatment. There is little credible scientific evidence for either claim.

I for one was delighted to learn that someone named "Mayor Keith" wants traffic calming measures in Revere. 🫠

Lotta charts in here. Whole lotta charts.

New poll shows high satisfaction with health insurance in Mass., even as residents delay or skip care for cost reasons  - CommonWealth Beacon New polling for CommonWealth Beacon conducted by the MassINC Polling Group paints a picture of Massachusetts residents mostly happy with their health care coverage, especially when compared with other...

More new polling for @cwbeacon.bsky.social: Mass. residents are largely satisfied with their health care, despite some sizable minorities reporting trouble with coverage and access. @jenndotsmith.bsky.social writes up the numbers.
commonwealthbeacon.org/health-care/...

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NEWSCENTER 5 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Philanthropist Josh Kraft, son of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, is ending his campaign for mayor after a blistering defeat in Boston's preliminary election. http://www.wcvb.com/article/josh-kraft-boston-mayor-campaign-end/66056688 #Boston #Politics

Ari I’m not sure the govt has the resources to come after you for trivia point transfer fraud, but we’ll find a way to haul you before our court of horses, cods, chickadees, and polka songs.

Turnout already exceeding 2017, which saw 56K

(last time we had incumbent mayor versus challenger)

9AM turnout figures in Boston used to predict turnout. But since EV / AV / central tabulation practices changed, they don't anymore given large swings in the % of ballots that have been counted as of the 9 update. 36k ballots at 9 AM would be a blockbuster if the relationship still held. Alas.

MBTA will again experiment with late-night service As part of a new schedule that takes effect Aug. 24, the T plans to extend evening service by almost an hour on all four subway lines on Friday and Saturday nights and on a handful of bus routes, incl...

As part of a new schedule that takes effect Aug. 24, the T plans to extend evening service by almost an hour on all four subway lines on Friday and Saturday nights and on a handful of bus routes, including some on the Silver Line.

Episode 356: The Ghost of Budgets Passed Podcast Episode · The Horse Race · 07/10/2025 · 27m

While you are (hopefully) hunkered down safely during the rainstorm, we have a new The Horse Race looking at the modern history of the MA budget process and how we got so close to an on-time budget for the first time in 15 years. #mapoli

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Flash flood warning in effect for Boston and South Shore The agency predicted rain would fall at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour, potentially overwhelming small creeks and streams, streets, highways and underpasses, as well as other poor drainage and low-l...

The National Weather Service predicted rain would fall at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour, potentially overwhelming small creeks and streams, streets, highways and underpasses, as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

Supreme Court limits nationwide injunctions in birthright citizenship order At issue was how the lower courts should handle President Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship, which limited citizenship only to children born of parents with permanent status to be in the U.S.

BREAKING: Supreme Court limits universal injunctions issued by federal courts in birthright citizenship case decision

I will say, Judge Gildea was much more brisk in dismissing the Milton MBTA Communities lawsuit than the pile of towns he dealt with earlier this month. Nine pages, no standing, no issue with rapid transit. #mapoli

Episode 355: Trump Attacks Iran. What do Polls Show? What do Massachusetts Politicians Think? This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve discuss the flurry of news from the Middle East this weekend. Then they discuss various polls which reveal how Americans are feeling about Trump's unannounc

This week @skoczela.bsky.social and @jenndotsmith.bsky.social discuss reactions to Iran news .... Local kids push for an official state salamander

MBTA sues union in effort to fire supervisor in misconduct case - CommonWealth Beacon The MBTA has sued a union representing inspectors who work for the public transit agency, arguing it should be able to fire a supervisor who it says engaged in sexual and racial harassment.

commonwealthbeacon.org/transportati...

MBTA commuter rail operator's CEO heads back to France  - CommonWealth Beacon The change at the top of Keolis Commuter Services comes as the contract, held by the company since July 2014, is set to expire June 2027.

commonwealthbeacon.org/transportati...

Two excellent stories from one @gintautasd.bsky.social on MBTA court battles and personnel changes this week! #mapoli ⬇️

Text reads: "Trump Administration Will End LGBTQ Suicide Prevention Service" over a photo of someone wearing a headset. Photo by Brandon Thibodeaux for The New York Times

Breaking News: The national suicide prevention hotline will no longer work with the Trevor Project or provide specialized support to LGBTQ callers under a new Trump administration directive effective July 17. nyti.ms/444VrdN

Milton Town Meeting decides to comply with MBTA Communities law  - CommonWealth Beacon By 69 percent to 31 percent, the 239 representative voters at Milton's special Town Meeting passed zoning language that would lay the groundwork for potentially 2,461 new units in the town, complying ...

After seven hours across two nights, members at Milton's special Town Meeting voted to pass zoning that would comply with the MBTA Communities law.

(There are still ongoing lawsuits that could be resolved soon, so more to come from a good handful of munis aside from Milton.) #mapoli

Supreme Court Lets DOGE View Social Security Data In a second order, the court ruled that, for now, DOGE does not have to hand over internal records to a government watchdog group as part of a lawsuit.

Breaking News: The Supreme Court allowed members of the Department of Government Efficiency to have access to Social Security data. https://trib.al/bk6M2LG

Also yes the decision is linked in the story because I am a good person

MBTA Communities law is not an unfunded mandate, judge rules  - CommonWealth Beacon The decision dismisses suit brought by town who argued the state should not be allowed to force compliance with the MBTA Communities multifamily zoning law.

Well, Friday news on MBTA Communities! #mapoli

Ah that's right. So many county courts!

Milton complies with the MBTA Communities law, with an asterisk - CommonWealth Beacon More intra-government disagreement and possible litigation over the MBTA Communities housing law are again on the table in Milton as a special Town Meeting creeps closer.

Milton's journey with the MBTA Communities law sure is a #mapoli adventure.

The town is now interim compliant as a special Town Meeting approaches, but the story is MUCH more complicated. (Yes, courts are involved again.)

How many people have left government jobs under Trump? Here's why it's hard to know The Trump administration has tried firing people, dismantling agencies and inviting people to quit. But how many people have actually left the government so far is unclear.

The Trump administration has tried firing people, dismantling agencies and inviting people to quit. But how many people have actually left the government so far is unclear.

New in this week's Reporter: Two op-eds (point-counterpoint) on the proposal to bring Ranked Choice Voting to #Boston elections