A major transition: Jeffrey Sanchez has been picked by Speaker DeLeo as the next House Ways and Means chair. Ways and Means could be a stepping stone to the Speakership; that's where DeLeo was 2005-2009. DeLeo has given no … [Read more...]

Speaking of a statement of values -- it looks like the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Independent lawyers who represent the indigent -- like AmberPaw -- had been getting stiffed by the state, waiting to be paid for months. She posted here … [Read more...]

We now have a smoking gun on the Trump campaign's collusion with Russia. Don Jr. admitted to being interested in oppo research from a Russian lawyer. A person with an ounce of integrity or smarts would have never agreed to any such meeting. … [Read more...]

In case you missed it: A recent poll shows that Massachusetts voters are increasingly alarmed about climate change: "The pace of the change in Massachusetts was quite surprising to me," Koczela says. "I was actually quite taken aback at … [Read more...]

At the national level, we have the hideous spectacle of the GOP trying to kick people off of health care. Everyone hates it. And in Massachusetts, we have our bulletproof-popular GOP governor ... doing the same thing.  Under Baker’s … [Read more...]

Today's the day. Get a rundown of the candidates from the Globe, a debate rundown at the Lowell Sun, or check out the discussions on BMG here, here, and here. Again, in a very progressive district, there's not much ideological daylight … [Read more...]

We really appreciate everyone's patience and persistence as we're all getting used to the new site. Please keep in mind that this here banana stand is run by volunteers, with a volunteer budget, and volunteer tech skills. We have … [Read more...]

By drikeo: Try the basic business argument for it. Health coverage has become a massive cost center inside American business. Not only are the benefits expensive, but you have to hire armies of benefits admins just to sort through the … [Read more...]

Post hoc ergo propter hoc (after this, therefore because of this) is a logical error: That because y happened after x, that doesn't mean that x caused y. It is the plague of political punditry. The plague of political strategists, … [Read more...]

UPDATE -- Your calls are working. Politico reports: Democrats will grind Senate business to a halt in a protest against Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare. Beginning Monday night, Democrats will start objecting to all unanimous … [Read more...]