Massachusetts Politics

Years in, panel tasked with offering new Mass. flag says it needs another extension amid ‘public misunderstanding’ - The Boston Globe The effort to change the state symbols, which Native Americans have long called offensive, has been hobbled for nearly a half-decade by disagreements and delays.

It took barely a year for the legislature to pass an awful billion dollar tax-cut-for-the-rich package after the Fair Share Amendment was approved by voters in 2022. Redesigning a racist flag should not be taking 5 freaking years. The dysfunction is embarrassing. #mapoli

15 million Americans are going to lose their health care.

Over 1 million Mass. could lose SNAP benefits as shutdown drags on

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

'No rhyme or reason': AI grading issue affects hundreds of MCAS essays The use of AI to score Massachusetts’ standardized MCAS tests resulted in errors that affected hundreds of exams, the NBC10 Investigators learned.

Oh my God. A contractor for the state of #Massachusetts used AI to score MCAS standardized tests. It resulted in incorrect scores on about 1,400 tests, which had to be rescored.

#mapoli

Congrats to Michelle Wu for beating Josh Kraft 72 to 23 and winning every ward and neighborhood!

Glad to see her absolutely crush him in every South End precinct despite his gross attempt to capitalize on Mass & Cass, for which he offered nothing.

Damn right it has

People on Bikes Vote For Mayor Michelle Wu.
@mayorwu.boston.gov @wutrain.bsky.social @wutrainstation.bsky.social #Bospoli #Mapoli

“but all the rich people will leave with all their rich money, making us less rich!!” lol looks just fine so far. We want more money for education and transit and we’re getting it.

Gov. Maura Healey’s pick of hospital lobbyist Steve Walsh for the Health Policy Commission — tasked with controlling healthcare costs — has sparked backlash from business leaders citing conflict of interest. #mapoli

“Business leaders decry hospital lobbyist on healthcare cost board”

This looks like the worst cover art ever for a disgusting box of cereal, Autocrac-Os. Is he supposed to look heroic? I feel more constipated than inspired looking at it.

It’s been five months since Kraft has been asked to share his records – a delay which is intentional. All we’re asking for is a fundamental, basic act of transparency.

#mapoli #bospoli

4/4

The only way out of the housing crunch is to build more housing.

Link in reply for full text

The tragic AA Flight 5342 crash made it clear: the FAA must be fully staffed to prevent catastrophe. I led a letter with 11 off my colleagues demanding answers about safety, staffing, mass firings, and forced resignations. We need transparency—and accountability.

Rep. Lori Trahan sitting with two girls.

This is my friend Layla. She and her family depend on her Medicaid coverage.

But that coverage is at risk because Republicans in Congress voted to kick 15 million people in our country off their health care.

Mr PAC & Sleaze can get lost.

#bospoli #mapoli

Every Massachusetts resident, no matter their citizenship status, deserves access to quality health care, education, and community support.

I’m proud to join a coalition of 21 state AGs fighting back against Trump’s harmful attack on the public benefit programs that help our communities thrive.

Inside the Burlington office ICE has used to detain immigrants As immigration arrests surged this summer, ICE held detainees for extended periods of time in its field office in Burlington, Mass. Two women who spent more than a week inside discuss the "horrible" c...

As immigration arrests surged this summer, ICE held detainees for extended periods of time in its field office in Burlington, Mass. Two women who spent more than a week inside discuss the "horrible" conditions they endured.

Hell yes

"I don't expect the policies to resonate as viscerally as the populist pitches of the left or right. I do expect them to work." Having your policies resonate with people is Politics 101. No wonder Dem ratings are in the toilet. Auchincloss needs to chill and be less angry. #mapoli

Retrospective review of deaths in the Massachusetts department of corrections after passage of medical parole - BMC Public Health There are roughly 6,000 individuals incarcerated in the Massachusetts Department of Corrections (MADOC), and in 2025, 32% of these individuals were age 50 and older. Older incarcerated individuals hav...

New study of deaths in Massachusetts prisons from 2021-2023 finds:

"In our study, nearly half of the population died in custody from a chronic condition or complications related to a chronic condition and could have been identified for medical parole eligibility." #mapoli

Mass. Democrats reach rules deal they say will make lawmaking more transparent - The Boston Globe The Legislature has long been criticized for operating with a level of opacity that keeps residents from knowing what's really going on at the State House.

Committee votes in the MA Legislature will now **be public**. They probably wouldn’t have bent to public will like this if it wasn’t for @ddizoglio.bsky.social 💞

Progressives need to loudly shout this victory from the rooftops. People are distracted and don’t realize this change happened.

#mapoli

Lowell City Council runs afoul of Open Meeting Law LOWELL — The Attorney General’s Office recently released its findings relating to complaints filed earlier this year against the City Council alleging that the body violated several provisions of t…

The Attorney General’s Office recently released its findings relating to complaints filed earlier this year against the City Council alleging that the body violated several provisions of the Open Meeting Law. #mapoli

Amid Trump cuts, Senators Warren, Markey call on Congress to fully fund special education - The Boston Globe The Democrats said it was beyond time for Congress to make good on its 1975 funding pledge.

The Trump administration is dismantling our public education system and defunding programs that support students with special needs.

@edmarkey.bsky.social and I are fighting back.

How Trump’s big law impacts Massachusetts From health insurance to immigration enforcement and higher ed taxes, the WBUR newsroom took a look at how some key provisions may have an impact on residents and programs in Massachusetts.

From clean energy to healthcare to immigration to higher ed., here's how the Big Beautiful Bill Act could impact Massachusetts #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2025/07...

Mass. Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh steps down. Undersecretary in the office will take over. - The Boston Globe Dr. Kiame Mahaniah will take over on Monday. The change comes a period of unprecedented change in how medical and social services are delivered and funded.

Given @MassHHS Secretary Walsh’s underwhelming responses to the closure of the Nashoba Valley Medical Center, including calling it an empty community hospital, I welcome her decision to step down. Hoping new Sec. Mahaniah will focus on Central Mass more. #mapoli

www.bostonglobe.com/2025/07/11/m...

Right now, Veteran Crisis Hotline calls are going unanswered and clinics are operating dangerously understaffed.

Even cancer patients are struggling to access treatment.

And what's the GOP's plan for vets? Fire 30,000 VA employees and slash critical VA funding in their Big, Ugly Bill.

Mass. Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh steps down. An undersecretary in the office will take over. - The Boston Globe Dr. Kiame Mahaniah will take over on Monday. The change comes a period of unprecedented change in how medical and social services are delivered and funded.

Massachusetts Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh is stepping down. Dr. Kiame Mahaniah, an undersecretary in the office, will replace her.

ICE report revealed in court shows the agency used Canary Mission information to target Rümeysa Öztürk - The Boston Globe The information was revealed for the first time during a trial in federal court in Boston on Thursday.

An immigration official in federal court on Thursday said the information used to target PhD student Rümeysa Öztürk came from Canary Mission, a pro-Israel website that blacklists pro-Palestinian academics, which only listed an op-ed calling for Tufts to divest from companies with Israel ties
#mapoli

You're the best

Governor Healey wants to build a $360M prison for women. We say NO. Call and email her now. bit.ly/FreeHerMA

Let Governor Healey know that you DON'T want MA to spend $360 million on a new prison.

We should be spending money on housing, health care, re-entry services, programming, economic stability, and much more. NOT on expanding incarceration.

#mapoli

tinyurl.com/freehertoolkit