MassInsider - Massachusetts Politics & Policy News

Must-Reads

Massachusetts

Can the 'man in the yellow van' knock off the state's longest-serving House member?

Boston Globe

Voters Are Ousting Longtime Incumbents. So Why Is No One Talking About Richard Neal?
NOTUS
‘Future-proof’ or ‘a strategic mistake’? Inside the MBTA’s effort to electrify its commuter rail system
Commonwealth Magazine
The Globe editorial board endorses Seth Moulton for Senate
Boston Globe
Elizabeth Warren visits Massachusetts' Martha's Vineyard, where $2.5 million homes price workers out
The Cool Down
As health care costs rise, Markey and Moulton pitch similar euphemisms with far different implications
Boston Globe

Massachusetts again tops US News national ranking of best public high schools
Boston Globe
Boston retaliated against owners of more than 150 office and commercial buildings after they filed tax appeals in a down market
Contrarian Boston
Alan Dershowitz Won't Forget What Larry David Did to Him
The Atlantic
Poor recordkeeping muddies latest target of MassHealth fraud probe
Commonwealth Magazine
Smola all-in on bid to lead House Republicans
State Affairs

National

‘I’m Not That Informed on National Security,’ Graham Says in South Carolina Debate

New York Times

Opinion: Yes Woke 1.0 was crazy. Now where’s the accountability?
New York Times
Democratic socialist Angie Nixon clinches surprise primary win in Florida US Senate race
The Guardian
Rating changes: 10 of 11 races shift toward Democrats
Roll Call
Why are progressives winning across the United States? It's not complicated
The Guardian
FBI: 2025 had biggest violent-crime drop in 90 years
Axios

Who is Natalie Harp? Trump's closest and most devoted aide is in the spotlight
The Guardian
Pennsylvania will sharply limit data center development, expand review process
Washington Post
Trump’s pick for Wyoming governor is the latest endorsee to lose primary
Politico
A Texas University is using AI to cut left-leaning content
Boston Globe
Fake Polls in Wisconsin and California Were Part of a ‘Social Experiment’
New York Times

Today on Beacon Hill

12:00pm

Hampden Sheriff Nick Cocchi's Annual Golf Tournament & Cookout

Springfield Elks Lodge #61, 440 Tiffany Street, Springfield,

1:00pm

Energy Efficiency Advisory Council (EEAC) Meeting

Via Zoom

New Media

Instagram

Maura Healey hopes we forgot, but we didn't. She tried to raid a hundred million dollars from union pension funds in order to give out more sweetheart deals to her buddies...

Massachusetts Republican Party

Check out this important @bostonglobe OpEd from our partners at the @newenglandaquarium and @abctma , highlighting the Army Corps’ proposed $10 billion framework for a connected, citywide approach to coastal resilience.

Boston Waterfront Coalition

GOOD NEWS from around Massachusetts that you might have missed.

Granite Goodness

What happens when a data center moves in next door? In Lowell, Massachusetts residents have lived beside this data center since construction began in 2015.

CBS News

Podcasts

The A.I.s Are Already Out of Control

The Ezra Klein Show

BPR Full Show 8/18/26: Ukraine Demining Efforts

Boston Public Radio Podcast

Florida Primary Results Us Canada Tariffs Meta Trial

Up First from NPR

Ep. 2488 - The Lindsay Clancy Case: Everyone, Please Stop Saying Stupid S***

The Ben Shapiro Show

Substack

What Doesn't Work About the Chapter 70 Formula

Stoneham Civic Ledger

TODAY AT 10 AM: White Stadium lawsuit decision to be handed down by SJC

Boston Policy Institute

Breaking News: Boston retaliated against owners of more than 150 office and commercial buildings after they filed tax appeals in a down market, contends a local think tank suing the city

Contrarian Boston

Medicare For All In Massachusetts

Erika Uyterhoeven

TikTok

President Trump’s son-in-law and special envoy Jared Kushner has held back-to-back discussions with leaders of Hamas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. NPR's Daniel Estrin has the latest from the Middle East.

NPR

Boston is being nationally recognized as a leader in immigrant inclusion and belonging.

NBC 10 Boston

Todd Blanche just sat for his first interview since Senate confirmation with Meet the Press. TLDR: he’s exactly who we thought he was.

Liz Oyer

Consider this your invitation — straight from the candidates — to the final debate before the Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary. Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Seth Moulton face off Thursday at 8 p.m.

WCVB Channel 5 Boston

YouTube

MassDOT: $17.6M Route 110 project aims to improve safety, reduce speeds

WCVB Channel 5 Boston

Rep. Neal highlights $100 million federal investment in West Springfield

WWLP-22News

The Boston Globe endorses Seth Moulton in U.S. Senate race

WCVB Channel 5 Boston

AG Campbell wins suit over gender-affirming care

WWLP-22News

Quote of the Day

“To all the people whining about any commentary on Natalie Harp: We’re paying her $150,000 salary. Trump isn’t. Perfectly legitimate to ask what job serving the public she’s doing.”

Bill Kristol, longtime conservative political commentator and writer.

Harp is Trump's 35-year-old EA, known as the "human printer" for supplying him with printouts. She's in the news after reports highlighted her close role in Trump's inner circle, including accompanying him on a secret security flight from Turkey.