The Horse Race

This week on The Horse Race is the last week on The Horse Race. That's right folks, its the final episode! We've crunched the numbers: 400 episodes published, 3 million trivia points doled, 75 titles and accolades awarded, and one "giddyup" from Jenn. Jenn and Steve leave you all this week with a look forward, a discussion about the democratic wave sweeping the country and what&#...

Do we need humans to gather public opinion anymore? This week, Steve and Jenn are joined by Rich Parr, VP of the MassINC Polling Group, to stare into the abyss of "silicon sampling" and what it means for polling. How is it done? How accurate is it? Should you have to disclose the fact that your public opinion research did not include... the public? https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/06/opin...

For the first time in history, a sitting president attended a supreme court hearing. Trump refused to pick up a 48-ounce bucket of iced coffee for Justice Kavanaugh, even though Dunkin' was "on the way." Steve and Jenn discuss the historic hearing and surprising polling trends on birthright citizenship. Then, Jenn debriefs from a joint committee hearing on the racial equity, civil ri...

Last week, a hangry joint committee heard from proponents of two proposed ballot measures aimed at lowering housing costs. This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve chat about a pattern of flabbergastedness from some legislators at the hearings as they try to reconcile the various approaches to reigning in housing costs. Somebody Uber Eats a Dunkin' "I Dough" box to Beacon Hill, qu...

This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve discuss polling on the war in Iran, gas prices, and Trump's economy. Then, a twist in the ballot question saga: the Mass. Senate evokes their constitutional right to "Phone a Friend" at the SJC. And finally, the final boss of beverages, the Ranch Dressing Milkshake.

What happens when a proposed ballot measure receives legal challenges? This week on The Horse Race, Chris Lisinski puts down his Espresso Protein-i to join Jenn and Steve for an update on the ballot measure parade and the legal challenges they are facing.

In this archive episode, Jenn and Steve are joined by Paul Watanabe, professor of political science and director of the Institute for Asian American Studies at the UMass-Boston, to discuss a groundbreaking poll from Mass Inc. Polling Group entitled "No Longer Invisible." This poll focussed on issues facing Asian & Pacific Islander American residents of Massachusetts, the fastest grow...

The annual State of the Union speech gives pollsters a chance to see how the president is doing. Lots of data comes out around this time telling us how Americans are feeling about the President, the country, and one another. This week on The Horse Race, Steve is joined by Rich Parr, VP of the MassINC Polling Group to nerd out about all the stats and trends that this remarkable State of the Union r...

Can congress to do... anything? This week on The Horse Race, Steve Koczela is joined by Congressman Jim McGovern to discuss whats fundamentally wrong with congress and what can be done to fix it. Hosts: Steve Koczela, President of the MassINC Polling Group Guests: Congressman Jim McGovern Rich Parr, Vice President of the MassINC Polling Group Further Reading: House Rejects McGovern’s Bipartisan Wa...

Over a year ago, 72% of Massachusetts voters affirmed the Mass. state Auditor’s authority to audit the legislature. This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve are joined by Mass. Auditor DiZoglio to talk about her ongoing efforts, including a lawsuit and a ballot measure, to force compliance from the legislature. Next, Steve discusses a new poll conducted by the MassINC Polling Group and The Bost...

This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve are joined by Sarah Betancourt, immigration reporter for GBH news. She sheds light on recent moves by the Trump administration to end "Temporary Protected Status" for Haitians in the United States. Massachusetts has one of the largest Haitian immigrant populations in the country, so what options are Beacon Hill considering? How are federal judg...

This week on the Horse Race, Jenn and Steve discuss what states like Massachusetts can do and are doing to push back against federal ICE actions. Then, a new poll! How do parents of K-12 children feel about AI. And if you are sick of shoveling, try riding a unicycle... Hosts: Steve Koczela, President of the MassINC Polling Group Jennifer Smith, reporter for CommonWealth Beacon Further Reading: Wha...

Our Delegation Conversations series begins with U.S. Rep Seth Moulton of Massachusetts’s 6th District. Jenn and Steve sit down with him to discuss Venezuela and Greenland, ICE in Minneapolis, Congressional age caps, his challenge to U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, and more. Guests: Congressman Seth Moulton Hosts: Steve Koczela, President of the MassINC Polling Group Jennifer Smith, reporter for CommonWealth...

How do Americans feel ICE is handling the situation in Minneapolis? Should the United States try to take over Greenland? This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn look at the polling on controversies at home and abroad. Then, they discuss a surprising story from CommonWealth Beacon on the legal designation of a "Gateway City" and why some cities who are receiving targeted funds might n...

What plans are in place to tackle the housing crisis, the health care crisis, and a budgetary crisis brought on by Trump's so-called One Big Beautiful Bill? This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve are joined by their friend and colleague, CommonWealth Beacon reporter Chris Lisinski, to review the State Legislature's agenda for the year ahead. Hosts: ⁠Steve Koczela⁠ , President of the M...

(3 mins) From all of us at The Horse Race, Happy New Year!

Well folks, it's the last pod of 2025. What do journalists make of this wild year? From Trump's inauguration to Wu's re-election, from grant funding cuts to transparency rules, its truly Beacon Hill versus everyone and everything. Steve and Jenn are joined by both Sam Dysdale of Statehouse News Service, and Katie Lannan of GBH News, for an end-of-year chat. But you'll be shocked at...

In November, Senator Crighton made headlines for suggesting that 'congestion pricing' could help the MBTA's impending financial troubles. This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve sit down with Crighton, who co-chairs the Legislature’s transportation committee, to discuss the ways out of the "stable crisis" that is Mass. transportation (horse puns always intended).

This week on The Horse Race, Rep. Ayanna Presley is officially not joining the horse race for Senate. Then, Jenn and Steve are joined by ⁠Sam Drysdale⁠, reporter with the State House News Service, to zoom in on Healey's newly announced guidelines for high school graduation - kids may face new tests, new requirements, but "lower stakes." And finally, is Massachusetts the most Christma...

This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve discuss the upcoming ballot questions on rent control. Then they look at new polling which suggests that Trump's grip on congressional republicans may be loosening. And finally, the Michelin Man rolls into Boston's finest eateries. "They're Making a Huge Bet": Rent Control Referendum Splits Progressives CommonWealth Beacon

This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn sit down face-to-face,  #reunited . The centrist dems negotiated a deal to end the government shutdown. Steve discusses Trump's abysmal approval numbers. Jenn does not NOT talk about judicial forum shopping, and there is zero discussion about "Donkey's of Exceptional Cuteness" in this episode...

This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve are joined by Rich Parr, VP of The MassINC Polling Group for an in depth discussion about the elections on Tuesday. Dems had a big night, winning seats across the country. What does this spell for Trump 2.0? What trends do the voting stats reveal? https://boltsmag.org/ https://www.umass.edu/political-science/about/reports/2025-12#toc-toplines-and-crossta...

This week on The (headless) Horse Race, Jenn and Steve talk about a new SSRS exit poll that will be featured in upcoming elections. Then, in this weeks "mayoral roundup," several key races feature uncharacteristically shaky incumbents. And finally, the Halloween candy polling data you've all been craving.

This week on The Horse Race, before Steve zooms into the distance on a Kenyan motorbike with the crown jewels of France, he chats with Rich Parr, VP of the MassINC Polling Group, about approval ratings for governor Maura Healey, polling on the “No Kings” protests, and opinions on the new ballroom construction.

This week on The Horse Race, Jenn is joined by Rich Parr, VP of the MassINC Polling Group. Shortly before taping, Rep. Seth Moulton joined the race for Senate against Ed Markey. Then Jenn and Rich talk about the issues with political violence polling and how those issues can skew the data in favor of violence. And finally, Trump's thoughts on the World Cup in Foxborough. G. Elliott Morris's post o...