POLITICO NIGHTLY: How Biden and Bernie switched roles on health care

 

BY JOANNE KENEN Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden smiles as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) (L) looks on during the Democratic presidential primary debate at the Charleston Gaillard Center in February 2020 in Charleston, S.C. | Win McNamee/Getty Images FACE/OFF — During the 2020 presidential campaign, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders argued — and argued — over universal health care. Sanders wanted Medicare for All, a government-financed plan that would cover everyone. Biden campaigned on making the Affordable Care Act passed by President Barack Obama more robust, with the goal of putting health care within everyone’s reach. One surprising development in the seemingly endless negotiations over President Biden’s Build Back Better Act is that Biden and Sanders have sort of swapped goals, at least for this particular debate over health policy. They are each still on the side of Medicare and Obamacare, respectively. But Biden now is trying harder to expand the number of people who get health care. And Sanders is trying harder to improve coverage for people who already have it. A debate over what Congress can get done is more constrained than the idealistic rhetoric of a Democratic presidential primary. In 2021 — under the reality of a 50-50 Senate — single-payer or Medicare for All are not on the table. Nor is the Biden-favored public option. The Democrats instead have been horse trading over whether dental, hearing and vision coverage should be added to Medicare; how long to extend expanded Obamacare subsidies; and how to close the Medicaid gap that leaves very poor people in a dozen anti-Obamacare states without any insurance coverage at all. In the framework Biden released this morning, ACA subsidies are in, there’s a Medicaid workaround, and Medicare would add benefits for hearing — but not for dental and vision. Some of this is to be expected: After Biden won the 2020 primary, Democrats papered over their differences on health care and accepted that change would be incremental with the Affordable Care Act as the foundation, at least for now. But as the endless dealmaking around the reconciliation bill shows, Democrats don’t agree on what “incremental” means, what’s the best next step toward universal coverage. Is it shoring up the Affordable Care Act by expanding subsidies for millions and covering the poor whose states left them out of Medicaid, as Biden (and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi) seem to believe? Or is it making Medicare — America’s socialized medicine for seniors — even stronger (and then, presumably, eventually expanding it to everyone)? For Sanders, who can legitimately boast of pulling the Democrats to the left and expanding the realm of the possible, it’s still all about Medicare. If he can’t get Medicare for All, or even Medicare for More, he can at least get more Medicare for the people who already have it. As Senate Budget chair, Sanders has a big voice in these negotiations, and today, after Biden released his framework for the Build Back Better Act, Sanders said he would keep pushing for dental and vision coverage. Biden and Pelosi, without whom Barack Obama would never have been able to pull Obamacare over the finish line back in 2009-10, are more focused on the ACA. Back in March, Congress in the sweeping American Recovery Plan increased and restructured the ACA subsidies, giving middle-class people more affordable insurance, and increasing Obamacare enrollment. Biden’s framework would extend those changes through 2025. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn has been the urgent voice for closing the Medicaid gap in the 12 states, largely in the South, that have rejected the Obamacare Medicaid expansion. It’s been harder to get Democratic consensus around that than one might expect, partly because it’s difficult to devise an approach that won’t end up rewarding the hold-outs or giving states that did expand a financial incentive to roll back. Today’s framework created another way to cover around 4 million low-income people who had been left out, using zero-premium plans in the Obamacare markets. A commitment to attaining universal coverage — sooner or later, via one system or another — has become a core element of what it means to be a Democrat. To understand why Biden and Sanders, and their respective allies in Congress, ended up taking these very different approaches from their 2020 campaign proposals, Nightly called three people — two former Democratic HHS secretaries and the author of your host’s favorite book on health care and the presidency — this week to ask them to help us make sense of it. Welcome to POLITICO Nightly. Keep reading for the highlights of our conversations, which we had right before Biden unveiled his framework, with Kathleen Sebelius, Donna Shalala and David Blumenthal. Reach out with news, tips and ideas at nightly@politico.com. Or contact tonight’s author on Twitter at @JoanneKenen. Former Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius speaks about the Affordable Care Act during her visit to Community Health and Social Services Center in November 2013 in Detroit. | Joshua Lott/Getty Images Kathleen Sebelius, who was Obama’s HHS secretary during the fight over the ACA, shifted the focus from squabbling Democrats to don’t-lift-a-finger Republicans. “Democrats are where they have been ever since the days of Franklin Roosevelt: Everyone deserves health care,” she said. “The Republicans — we leave them out of these discussions because they are clearly not interested in participating.” The GOP opposes pretty much everything on the Democratic health agenda. She also shifted the focus beyond Biden and Sanders. There’s a “pent-up desire to put a lot of things in any health care bill,” Sebelius added. “There’s no question Democrats would like to do All of the Above. At the end of the day, how much of what stays in is not because of the battles among the people who are promoting the ideas but because of a couple of senators who have decided to trim the size of the bill and the topics. … It’s really, how much can you do to advance All of the Above in a reasonable way and get 50 votes.” Speaking of those two unspoken senators (their names rhyme with Schmanchin and Minema), David Blumenthal, a former Obama-era health official, the president of the Commonwealth Fund and the co-author of “The Heart of the Power,” questioned whether the Democratic commitment to universal coverage really extends to every member of the party. Democrats, he said, are “always in favor of something more but never universally in favor of universal coverage.” “It’s about money,” Blumenthal said. “Historically, Democrats have always divided on that question. … As you look back, when they’ve made major strides they’ve done it over the opposition of the economists in their administration and usually over groups of moderate Democrats. In that historic sense, there’s nothing different about this debate.” But as a student of presidential struggles on health care, Blumenthal does think that history will look kindly on even a scaled back legislative package, particularly when paired with the infrastructure bill and the earlier American Recovery Plan legislation. But we’re not in “history” yet. “I think it will historically be seen as a major set of accomplishments,” he said. “What the short-term spinning is, though, is to be determined.” Donna Shalala, who lived through the collapse of Bill Clinton’s health reform as his HHS secretary, thinks her fellow Democrats have “more of a strategy than the disarray would suggest,” particularly with a 50-50 Senate and a tiny margin in the House. Keeping the ACA enhanced subsidies is “absolutely critical,” she said, as is the “strategy to get the people left out (of Medicaid expansion) in places like Florida onto the ACA.” The package would do precisely that. “I don’t see that as incremental,” she said. “It helps the working poor who are left out — people who are actually working. … Everybody who wants to get health care will get it.” Which is one way of describing universal coverage, even if it’s not free universal coverage, as some progressives want. “No president and no Congress has ever taken a giant step in social policy with so few votes to spare,” Shalala said. “You’ve got to put it in historical contest.” She also put the Biden agenda into its political context. Because many of the Build Back Better programs can go into effect quickly, she said, “It can be implemented by the midterms so people will feel the difference.” Disclosure: Joanne Kenen is the Commonwealth Fund Journalist-in-Residence at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Blumenthal’s organization helps pay for that position.   JOIN TUESDAY FOR A TALK ON THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE AIR TRAVEL: As delegates descend on Glasgow for the COP26 global climate summit, reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector will play a critical role in the progress of fighting climate change. Join POLITICO for a deep-dive conversation that will explore the increased use of sustainable aviation fuel, better performance aircraft, and other breakthroughs in to cut greenhouse gas emissions and meet broader sustainability goals. REGISTER HERE.     WHAT'D I MISS? Facebook debuts its new company brand, Meta, at their headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. | Kelly Sullivan/Getty Images for Facebook — Facebook changes its name: Facebook announced today that it is changing its name to Meta , while unveiling a new logo resembling an infinity sign. Its flagship social media platform will still be called Facebook, however. And whatever its name, the world’s largest social media company faces growing trouble in Washington and other world capitals following the disclosure of a trove of internal documents by whistleblower Frances Haugen. — Criminal complaint filed against Cuomo over forcible touching: Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo faces criminal charges in Albany County over accusations that he groped a staffer at the Executive Mansion last year. The complaint involves allegations made by former Cuomo staffer Brittany Commisso, who filed a complaint with the Albany County Sheriff’s office in August, shortly after state Attorney General Letitia James released a report verifying accounts from 11 women who described patterns of inappropriate behavior and sexual harassment from Cuomo. — Justice Department announces tougher enforcement for white-collar crime: The Justice Department announced a series of policy changes today aimed at toughening the federal response to white-collar crime, particularly offenses involving corporate misconduct. Speaking to lawyers who often defend individuals and companies against such charges, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said the new approach would do more to deter crime in the nation's boardrooms and executive suites. — U.S. jobless claims drop to pandemic low of 281,000: The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell to a pandemic low last week as the job market continues to recover from last year’s coronavirus recession. Jobless claims dropped by 10,000 to 281,000, lowest since mid-March 2020, the Labor Department said today. Since topping 900,000 in early January, weekly applications have steadily dropped, moving ever closer to pre-pandemic levels just above 200,000. — Cawthorne joins House Freedom Caucus: While it is less common to see the House Freedom Caucus add new members in the middle of a congressional term, members of the ultra-conservative group tell POLITICO that they decided to admit North Carolina Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn after closely watching his voting record and evaluating how he leaned on certain “tough” votes.   BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we’ve got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don’t miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now.     AROUND THE WORLD EUROPE STEELS ITSELF — Europe is edging toward a deal in the coming days to end the transatlantic trade war , but that truce now looks likely to mean Brussels must accept quotas on how much steel can be shipped to the United States without paying higher level tariffs, Barbara Moens writes. Former U.S. President Donald Trump triggered a trade war with Europe in 2018 by slapping tariffs on steel and aluminum imports that he classed as a threat to national security. European diplomats had originally hoped that Washington would remove these duties under Biden but he has been unwilling to do so without winning concessions for key steelmaking constituencies in America. The contours of a deal now appear to be forming around Europe accepting tariff rate quotas. This would secure an immediate removal of the Trump-era tariffs but would mean that high duties on European metal would kick in again if EU exports surpassed a certain level. EU officials had regarded these kinds of measures as blackmail under Trump, but are now accepting there may be no other way out of the standoff. NIGHTLY NUMBER 2 percent The rate of growth of the U.S. economy in the July-September period, the weakest quarterly growth since the recovery from the pandemic recession began last year . Today’s report from the Commerce Department estimated that the nation’s gross domestic product — its total output of goods and services — declined sharply from the 6 percent-plus annual growth rates of each of the previous two quarters. PARTING WORDS Chief Judge Beryl Howell had harsh words for federal prosecutors cutting plea deals for light sentences with Jan. 6 insurrection defendants. | Alex Wong/Getty Images | Alex Wong/Getty Images JUDGE RIPS JAN. 6 PLEA DEALS — A federal judge thrashed the Justice Department today for offering “petty offense” plea deals to Jan. 6 defendants who she said tarnished America’s reputation in the world and enabled violent rioters to threaten the peaceful transfer of power — even if they committed no violence themselves, Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein write. Beryl Howell, the chief judge of the federal District Court in Washington, D.C., said prosecutors appeared “almost schizophrenic” in describing the insurrection in extreme terms but then settling for second-tier misdemeanor plea agreements with dozens of defendants. “This is a muddled approach by the government,” said Howell, an Obama appointee. “I’m trying to make sense of the government’s position here.” Howell then made clear that she considered all participants in the Jan. 6 Capitol breach — which the Justice Department now estimates at 2,000 to 2,500 people — enablers of an assault against the republic. “The damage to the reputation of our democracy, which is usually held up around the world … that reputation suffered because of Jan. 6,” Howell said, noting that the mob chased lawmakers and Vice President Mike Pence into hiding, and sent staffers ducking under their desks for cover. “The rioters attacking the Capitol on Jan. 6 were not mere trespassers engaging in protected First Amendment conduct or protests,” Howell added. “They were not merely disorderly, as countless videos show the mob that attacked the Capitol was violent. Everyone participating in the mob contributed to that violence.”   Follow us on Twitter Chris Suellentrop @suellentrop Tyler Weyant @tweyant Renuka Rayasam @renurayasam Myah Ward @myahward   FOLLOW US

POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Polls: WU leads BOSTON MAYOR’S RACE, tight race for second

 

BY LISA KASHINSKY NEW: WARREN TO STUMP FOR WU, LOUIJEUNE — Sen. Elizabeth Warren will campaign for Boston mayoral hopeful Michelle Wu and at-large council candidate Ruthzee Louijeune this weekend as candidates up and down the ballot pull out all the stops ahead of next Tuesday's preliminary election. Warren endorsed Wu, her former Harvard Law School student and Senate campaign aide, in January, shortly after former mayor Marty Walsh was tapped for Labor secretary. Louijeune, who served as senior counsel on Warren’s presidential campaign, got the senator’s endorsement in the 17-person at-large council race. Warren will host a canvass launch and rally with Louijeune at noon on Saturday at the Jamaica Pond Boathouse. She'll then join Wu for a rally at 5:30 p.m. at the Chinatown Gate, where Steve Ekerberg of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA will also hold a moment of silence to commemorate those lost on 9/11. Warren's efforts are notable both for a city council race and given that the rest of the federal delegation has stayed out of the high-stakes mayoral race. WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING — Wu topped her third public poll in as many weeks, this one from Suffolk University and the Boston Globe. The at-large city councilor increasingly looks like a lock for one of the two top spots on Sept. 14, while all three recent surveys have shown the other three women in the race locked in a tight battle for second place. Wu garnered 31% support in the Suffolk/Globe poll of 500 likely voters, followed by Acting Mayor Kim Janey with 20%, City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George with 19%, City Councilor Andrea Campbell with 18% and former city economic development chief John Barros with 3%. The margin of error was +/- 4.4%. Wu, Campbell and Essaibi George all gained support between the last Suffolk/Globe poll in late June and this one, while Janey's standing slipped by two percentage points despite her 61% job-approval rating. The jockeying for second place has already led to some spats on the trail — Campbell has routinely criticized Janey over various aspects of the city's coronavirus response; and Janey and Essaibi George are now sparring over the acting mayor's eviction moratorium. It could lead to even more tense moments during Wednesday and Thursday night's debates, as time runs short for the candidates to appeal to the dwindling percentage of undecided voters. Money can also help with those final pitches, and the candidates have been spending big. The four women all spent more than $500,000 in August as the candidates went up on the airwaves and invested in other voter-outreach efforts, according to their campaigns and finance records. And all four women entered September with hundreds of thousands of dollars left to spend down the homestretch, from Janey’s $258,170 to Campbell’s $654,213. But Barros has blown through almost all his money. The only major candidate who hasn’t raised over $1 million, Barros spent $220,169 in August and ended the month with just $28,101 in his bank account, leaving him at a significant financial disadvantage on top of his poor showing in the polls. It's not just the candidates who are making money moves. Independent expenditure PACs supporting Janey, Wu and Campbell have all been bumping up their spending. But most notable is the Hospitality Workers IEPAC, which not only spent $65,789 on radio ads in support of Janey, but also spent $34,195 on radio ads in opposition to Campbell — a rarity in this campaign. GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. It's good to be back. PROGRAMMING NOTE: Massachusetts Playbook is going to look a bit different through the Boston preliminary. Think of it as a peek into my reporter's notebook. TODAY — Sen. Ed Markey and interim Transportation for Massachusetts director Josh Ostroff talk infrastructure investments and climate action at the Ruggles MBTA station at 11 a.m. Governor hopeful Ben Downing holds press avails on his new transportation policy proposal at 8 a.m. at the Orient Heights MBTA stop and 10:30 a.m. at Dudley Station. Governor hopeful Danielle Allen visits Cambridge Community Center at 11 a.m. Campbell hosts a state-of-the-race press conference at 11 a.m. at the the Grove Hall Clock Tower and later greets early voters at the polls. Janey joins the Boston Housing Authority for a groundbreaking of the Orient Heights state public housing property at 11:15 a.m. Gov. Charlie Baker joins UMass President Marty Meehan and UMass Medical School Chancellor Michael Collins for a 10 a.m. announcement at the UMass Club. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: lkashinsky@politico.com. THE RACE FOR CITY HALL – “A Quiet Start To Early Voting In Boston, Voters And Candidates Say It's Lack Of Publicity,” by Quincy Walters, WBUR. – “Candidates for Boston's next mayor weigh in on zoning, contracts, the T and more,” by Greg Ryan, Steph Solis and Catherine Carlock, Boston Business Journal. – "OTR: Kim Janey responds to criticism of Boston’s new eviction moratorium from mayoral opponents," by Ed Harding and Janet Wu, WCVB. – “The Politics of Evictions in Boston,” by Dan Atkinson, DIG BOSTON: “The five Boston mayoral candidates have all promised to work for residents who are in danger of losing their homes as they vie to run the city, saying they will prioritize housing stability. But all together they have taken more than $100,000 in donations from landlords—including one candidate’s spouse—who have filed more than 200 evictions for non-payment of rent since Gov. Charlie Baker lifted the state’s eviction moratorium last October.” – “Boston Mayoral Candidates Back Boycott Of Marriott Copley For Firing Employees,” by Paul Singer, GBH News: “One after the other, the five major candidates for Boston mayor took the stage at a labor protest Monday to support the 230 workers fired by the Marriott Copley last fall and endorse the call for a boycott of the hotel.” More from the Boston Globe’s Diti Kohli. – “Hyde Park businessman, Wellesley financial analyst donate to Essaibi George super PAC,” by Gintautas Dumcius, Dorchester Reporter: “Sixteen companies tied to Elias Akiki, who owns a towing and auto repair business in Hyde Park, each donated roughly $1,000 to ‘Bostonians for Real Progress.’ The super PAC surfaced in July and said it was backing Essaibi George, an at-large city councillor from Dorchester and one of five major mayoral candidates.” – "Some Hope Voting By Mail Could Boost Dismal Turnout In Local Mass. Elections," by Simón Rios, WBUR: "...some believe the new vote-by-mail rules could even reshape local politics in cities like Lynn, where most of the city councilors are white, but most of the residents are not." – “The other historic election race you may not know about: A wave of Black immigrant candidates running for Boston City Council,” by Tiana Woodard, Boston Globe: “Immigrants of color are increasingly joining the political fray in Boston, mirroring the growing diversity of the city’s political landscape. At least nine of the four dozen candidates for district and at-large seats on the City Council identify as Black immigrants, hailing from Haiti, Somalia, Cape Verde, the Dominican Republic, and Nigeria, among other nations.” – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Boston City Council at-large candidate James “Reggie” Colimon has been endorsed by the Boston Plasters & Cement Masons Local 534, per his campaign. – Some ICYMI endorsements: The Boston Globe Editorial Board endorsed Andrea Campbell, saying the city councilor’s “urgency and drive, paired with her nuanced thinking about what can make the city more vibrant and equitable, distinguish her in this historic race.” – Allston-Brighton state Rep. Kevin Honan endorsed Essaibi George , saying in a statement that she "has the necessary experience, bold vision and urgent leadership it takes to deliver results for every single neighborhood in Boston." – Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins endorsed Wu. “At the end of the day, it was that family pull,” Tompkins, who’s worked with Wu since Elizabeth Warren’s 2012 Senate run, told me. FEELING '22 – Public relations guru George Regan pulled out all the stops when he hosted Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito for a fundraiser at his Mashpee home Thursday. But two pairs of horses — one miniature, another covered in glitter — and plenty of cheese and charcuterie weren’t enough to sway Baker to say if he’s actually running for a third term in 2022. Baker did, however, dash some hopes he’d run for president. And he and Polito ribbed the legislature for continuing to tie up the bulk of the state government’s American Rescue Plan Act funding. The next hearing on that is Thursday morning. The $500-to-$1,000-per-head fundraiser drew big names from both sides of the political aisle — Democratic former ambassador and Boston mayor Ray Flynn; former Boston Police commissioner William Gross; and GOP MA-09 congressional candidate Jesse Brown among them — prompting jokes about the GOP governor’s enduring appeal among some Democrats. Read more about the fundraiser from the Boston Herald’s Erin Tiernan. Baker raised $46,775 in August — not exactly gearing-up-to-run money, but more than Polito's $28,822 haul, which marked the second month her fundraising has declined. Baker told WBZ’s Jon Keller that 2022 is "not even on my radar at this point," though he did outline some potential third-term priorities in an interview that aired Sunday. He also played up Polito’s bona fides should she make a run for governor someday. Republican Geoff Diehl raised $15,749 in August. Harvard professor Danielle Allen led the Democrats with more than $100,000 raised, according to her campaign. Her finance report was not yet available online. State Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz raised $35,850 in August, according to her finance filing, and former state Sen. Ben Downing raised $23,600, his campaign told State House News Service. Chang-Díaz is rolling out her education policy proposal today, a plan that calls for universal early education and child care and fully implementing the Student Opportunity Act among a host of other ideas for closing opportunity and achievement gaps. Downing is kicking off a two-week transportation tour of Massachusetts to promote his new “Transit for All” plan today as well. DATELINE BEACON HILL – State Sen. Joe Boncore is expected to submit his resignation this week to take over as CEO of MassBio. “Obviously having gone through what I went through with my children being born at less than a pound, so premature , I really had a firsthand experience with the life science industry, the impact it can really have on patients and families,” Boncore told me. “I’m really happy to take the skills I learned in the Senate for advocacy … and transition that into advocating for patients across the commonwealth.” Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards and Revere School Committee member Anthony D’Ambrosio are already running in what will be a special election for Boncore’s seat. State Rep. Adrian Madaro is expected to jump in, and there could be more. The special election likely won’t be until early 2022, Boston.com’s Nik DeCosta-Klipa reports. – “From child labor violations to not paying overtime, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey’s office reports it fined employers $8.1 million for labor penalties in last fiscal year,” by Will Katcher, MassLive.com: “The attorney general’s sixth annual Labor Day Report says that between July 2020 and June 2021, the Fair Labor Division ordered businesses to pay $5 million in restitution and $3.1 million in penalties to more than 10,000 employees.” – “Demand for climate change grants exceeds funding,” by Christian M. Wade, CHNI/Eagle-Tribune: “More than 60 cities and towns have received a slice of $21 million from the state to harden their infrastructure to the impacts of climate change, but like other rounds of grant funding, demand far outstripped available funds.” VAX-ACHUSETTS – “At-home COVID tests surging in popularity,” by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: “As COVID-19 rates are rising again amid a surge in Delta variant cases, people are flocking to buy a relatively new product: at-home, rapid COVID tests. The high demand nationwide is creating a shortage of the products. And their availability also poses new questions about the accuracy of state-related COVID case counts, since if someone tests positive at home, their illness may never be reported to public health officials.” – “'Private pay' doesn't apply: Loophole in COVID-19 vaccine mandate for home care workers,” by Henry Schwan, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: “[Gov. Charlie] Baker announced home care workers must be vaccinated against COVID-19. But the order excludes those who work for some ‘private pay’ agencies.” – “COVID and who is testing positive at the highest rates in Massachusetts? A look at race, gender and age,” by Cassie McGrath, MassLive.com: “The 20-29 and 30-39 age group is the largest age group testing positive and the ‘Hispanic’ group makes up the most cases based on race.” DAY IN COURT – “Lawsuit seeks to keep Springfield courthouse closed until mold issues resolved,” by Patrick Johnson, Springfield Republican: “A lawsuit filed by Hampden County Register of Deeds Cheryl Coakley-Rivera charges that the Roderick L. Ireland Courthouse is a health hazard and seeks to have the building remain closed until it can be made safe.” – More from the Springfield Republican’s Stephanie Barry: "Springfield ‘sick courthouse’ lawsuit transferred from Hampden to Worcester County"; and the Springfield Republican’s Peter Goonan: “Western Mass. legislators call on Gov. Charlie Baker to issue emergency order to repair or replace Roderick Ireland Courthouse.” IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN – “Boston startup wants to combat the climate crisis by launching network of radar satellites,” by Aaron Pressman, Boston Globe: “Tomorrow.io’s miniature radars in space could lead to more accurate storm tracking and climate models.” FROM THE DELEGATION – “Rep. Lynch on Afghanistan: 'We wanted it more for them than they wanted it for themselves',” by Mary Whitfill, Patriot Ledger: “Days after the United States completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan, local elected officials are reflecting on a chapter of military history likely to be remembered for colossal failures, unfulfilled promises and a frantic final exit.” WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING – “Massachusetts retailers hope to fill jobs as more than 300,000 residents lose federal unemployment benefits,” by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: “As nearly 304,000 Bay Staters lose $300 in weekly federal unemployment benefits — a ‘lifeline’ for many Massachusetts residents — local retailers hope this expiration of benefits will help small businesses fill jobs." – More from Sokolow: “Massachusetts preschools, daycares face ‘frustrating’ staffing shortages.” – "Labor Day promise: St. Vincent Hospital nurses won't return to work unless promised old jobs," by Marco Cartolano, Worcester Telegram & Gazette: "Debbie Hanna, a St. Vincent endoscopy nurse who has worked for the hospital for 40 years, said it is tough not being providing care to patients, but she feels the strike is ultimately for their safety." – More from the Telegram & Gazette's Cyrus Moulton: "Striking St. Vincent nurses will have unemployment benefits suspended pending review." – “Primary Care Field Faces High Burnout And Renewed Financial Struggles, As COVID Relief Dries Up,” by Karen Brown, New England Public Media: “Although in-person visits are up since the early days of COVID, many patients want to stick with telemedicine. But some insurance companies have cut back on reimbursement for telehealth.” – “Harvard owns roughly one-third of Allston. Now it needs to win over the residents,” by Jon Chesto, Boston Globe: “The university faces skepticism on multiple fronts as it launches at last on plans for a Kendall Square of its own off Western Avenue.” – “Pending probe, attorney is Lawrence personnel director,” by Jill Harmacinski, Eagle-Tribune: “A city attorney is taking over as personnel director at City Hall after the entire department was placed on paid leave and escorted out of the Common Street building. The action came after Frank Bonet, outgoing personnel director, reported allegations of ‘corruption’ and ‘retaliation’ to a variety of state agencies, including law enforcement and the state's ethics board.” SPOTTED – at the Greater Boston Labor Council’s Labor Day events in Copley Square: Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey, Boston mayoral candidates Michelle Wu, Annissa Essaibi George, Andrea Campbell and John Barros, Rep. Jake Auchincloss, Boston City Council candidates Ruthzee Louijeune, Alex Gray, Kelly Bates, Carla B. Monteiro, Jon Spillane, Tania Anderson, Mary Tamer and Kendra Hicks, City Councilors Julia Mejia and Kenzie Bok, state auditor candidate Chris Dempsey, governor candidates Ben Downing and Danielle Allen, state Sen. Adam Hinds, Rep. Katherine Clark, state Attorney General Maura Healey, Secretary of State Bill Galvin, Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards and state Rep. Tommy Vitolo. TRANSITIONS – Miles Halpine is now communications and media manager at Teach Plus. He was communications team co-lead and media team contributing writer for Sunrise Movement Boston. Michael K. Leung-Tat is now general counsel and deputy auditor in the state auditor’s office. Deborah Shah, a Healey and Gov. Deval Patrick alum, joins Janey’s mayoral campaign for GOTV efforts. Sydné Marrow is Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan’s new chief of staff. CONGRATS – to Diana Rudd, director of member services and counsel for Rep. Katherine Clark, and Cable Smith, executive chef of The Royal and chef/partner of Lulu’s Wine Garden, who got married in Leesburg, Va., on Aug. 14. Pic … Another pic REWIND – I joined GBH News’ “The Scrum” politics podcast to talk “Continuity vs. Change” in the Boston mayor’s race with UMass Boston’s Erin O’Brien and GBH’s Adam Reilly, Saraya Wintersmith and Peter Kadzis. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Rep. Seth Moulton alum Eric Kanter and Maralee Schwartz. HAPPY BELATED – to John Barros, who celebrated Saturday; Nicole Herendeen of Benchmark Strategies, Michael Ratty, Jen Flanagan and Guillermo Samuel Hamlin, who celebrated Sunday; Rep. Bill Keating, Warren alum Gabrielle Farrell, former MA-03 candidate Rick Green, Curt Nickisch, senior editor at Harvard Business Review; Andover Town Manager Andrew Flanagan and Dave Vittorini, who celebrated Monday. Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.   Follow us on Twitter Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA