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MassInsider

Friday, October 31st, 2025

Today on Beacon Hill

9:30am Senate Committee on the Census, Informational Hearing

10:00am Executive Office of Health & Human Services Public Hearing, Via Zoom

11:30am Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, Committee Hearing

5:00pm Close of Comment Period for Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities Proposed Regulatory Changes, Submission via email

Birthdays: Rep. Ronald Mariano

Must-Reads

MASSACHUSETTS

Healey refuses to tap $8 billion rainy day fund to cover SNAP, but doubles payments to food banks » WBUR

Rep. Howard launching run for open Senate seat » State House News Service

‘Like something out of a movie.’ Healey aide’s cocaine trafficking arrest shocks State House. » Boston Globe

Why are Massachusetts' teachers unions so opposed to the reading bill on Beacon Hill? » WBUR

Trump has teased — and dismissed — the idea of a third term. Mass. Democrats are looking to stop one path he could try. » Boston Globe

Looming federal food aid cuts put state Democrats in the hot seat » Commonwealth Magazine

WBZ’s Jon Keller and other employees let go by Boston TV station » Boston Herald

One of the country's few rare earth processing plants opens in New Hampshire » WBUR

Suffolk Sheriff Steven Tompkins gets hearing to argue extortion charges be dismissed » Boston Herald

More Mass. cannabis shops gave up licenses in the past year than in the previous seven » Boston Business Journal

NATIONAL

Under Eric Adams, the NYPD Sharply Increases Tickets for Low-Level Infractions » Bolts Magazine

Judge says she’ll likely order Trump administration to send SNAP funds to states » Washington Post

Ohio commission and Virginia lawmakers consider moves toward mid-decade congressional redistricting » The Associated Press (AP)

Trump’s Targeting of ‘Narcoterrorists’ Is a Crime in Itself » The Bulwark

Philanthrofascism » The Ink

Citing Trump Order on “Biological Truth,” VA Makes It Harder for Male Veterans With Breast Cancer to Get Coverage » ProPublica

The Law Professors Aiding Trump’s War on Birthright Citizenship » The New Republic

Covid in pregnancy tied to autism, developmental issues, study says » Washington Post

One of the Most Dangerous Interviews Ever in MAGA Media » The Bulwark

Companies race to fill the food gap with SNAP freeze coming » Axios

“The situation went very quickly from these are my friends, these are people who care about me, to this is now just politics,” Khudaynazar told me in an interview. “This isn’t new politics. This is old, guarded spaces doing everything to save themselves. Power protects itself.”
Marwa Khudaynazar, former Boston City Hall staffer under Boston Mayor Michelle Wu
Khudaynazar was fired after an investigation into her relationship with a police officer accused of misconduct. She says colleagues who once supported her quickly distanced themselves to protect their own political standing.