The Horse Race

This week on The Horse Race, Lisa checks in on the Mass. GOP one year into Amy Carnevale's tenure, Steve walks through Mass. voters' feelings on presidential candidates and immigration, and Jenn explains what's new and different in the latest ballot measure litigation. Plus, a roundup of animal-based climate prediction in the northeast.

This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn talk to the Boston Globe's Diti Kohli about renewed controversy between Boston's North End and Mayor Michelle Wu; and Jenn asks Steve some probing questions about how pollsters rank each other. Plus, the glorious return of #mapoli trivia: name that reporter edition.

This week on The Horse Race, the crew is scattered across the country. Lisa breaks down the New Hampshire primary results, Steve digs into Diana DiZoglio's financial support base with the help of CommonWealth Beacon's Gin Dumcius, and—we swear there's a Massachusetts connection—Jenn and producer John report from the Sundance Film Festival.

This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn ask how pollsters did in the Iowa caucus, and what the results say about the GOP primary. Then, Jenn explains how Massachusetts taxes stack up next to other states for the majority of earners. Plus, the terror of the downtown Boston public art installation…and the terror of the MBTA.

This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn try out a new segment format, announce a Valentine's live pod event, and also manage to discuss the news. Specifically, are people really fleeing Massachusetts? Should they? And why have the state's tax revenues fallen short?

This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn are joined by friends of the pod Katie Lannan of GBH News and Chris Lisinski of the State House News Service to take a look back at some of the biggest news stories of 2023, and share what they're watching in 2024. Plus, some service journalism (and public interest polling) about treats to enjoy this holiday season.

This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn talk to WBUR's Max Larkin about the controversy following university presidents' Congressional testimony about antisemitism on campus. Then, they dive into a poll of former members of Congress and how they feel about the state of democracy. Along the way, they recap the finale of the Granite Bachelor and express bewilderment about the New England Patriot...

This week on The Horse Race, it's a polling extravaganza, as Jenn and Steve talk with the MassINC Polling Group's Rich Parr about controversies in poll-land, the Massachusetts public's transportation opinions and experiences, and a recent national poll of youth.

This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Lisa talk to the Shah Foundation's Ross Wilson about guaranteed income programs, before breaking down the contest for New Hampshire governor Chris Sununu's presidential endorsement with an extended metaphor that longtime listeners may be familiar with.

This week on The Horse Race, Steve, Jenn, and Lisa resume their annual Thanksgiving tradition: bloopers, bleepers, and hot-mic moments.

This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve talk through new polling on how parents think their children are planning for after high school, and the Boston Globe's Catherine Carlock joins to catch us up on rent control proposals. Also, the great Thanksgiving dish debate continues.

This week on The Horse Race, Jenn, Steve, and Lisa break down the big takeaways from this week's elections in Massachusetts, with some help from GBH's Katie Lannan. Of course, there's also polling, and that picture of Ben Affleck that went viral.

This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve mark the launch of Commonwealth Beacon by discussing new polling and bringing on Commonwealth Beacon reporter Gin Dumcius for the latest on the migrant shelter crisis.

This week on The Horse Race, there's a bumper crop of polls for Jenn and Steve to discuss, along with the state's new guidance on diversity in higher education admissions. Plus, Lisa's latest report from the campaign trail in New Hampshire, and an exciting announcement about the launch of CommonWealth Beacon.

This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Lisa talk to GBH's Katie Lannan about what is and isn't in the new housing bond bill, and Lisa explains the governor's latest announcement on the shelter emergency. Plus, what do our hosts think of the new Green Line "super" cars?

This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn recap the gun bill hearing on Beacon Hill, Brent Benson explains why a central Mass. Senate seat may be a toss-up, and Steph Solis of Axios joins to review Massachusetts elected officials' responses to the violence in Israel and Palestine.

This week on The Horse Race, the Boston Globe's Taylor Dolven goes through the MBTA's considerable woes, while Lisa explains those of the Massachusetts GOP. Meanwhile, Steve and Jenn have woes of their own, as they are once again forced to cover politicians releasing recorded music.

This week on The Horse Race, Lisa and Jenn break down the Beacon Hill tax reform package, Todd Wallack of WBUR explains why there are so many vacant subsidized housing units, and Steve tells us when to panic and when to plan in response to bad poll numbers.

This week on The Horse Race, Lisa and Jenn talk through elections and endorsements around the Commonwealth, and Jenn explains the current challenge to a foreclosure practice known as home equity theft. Plus, novelty Dunkin' drinks and political piano ballads.

This week on The Horse Race, the MassINC Polling Group's Rich Parr breaks down a new survey on MBTA-area transit habits and opinions, Jenn and Lisa react to the latest prelim results, and Steve pitches a hot take on firetrucks.

This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn are joined by Matt Szafranski to discuss the Springfield mayoral election, and Jenn and Lisa react to learning which ballot measures have been cleared by the AG's office. Plus, the long-awaited return of art thievery content to the pod, featuring a brand new mailbag question for listeners.

This week on The Horse Race, Lisa tells us why the 2024 New Hampshire primaries might not have either Joe Biden or Donald Trump on the ballot, and Jenn explains why Massachusetts may need a program of managed retreat from threatened coastal areas. Plus, fresh polls on Boston parents' opinions of public schools.

This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn talk with the Boston Globe's Tal Kopan about the ethics of Rep. Stephen Lynch's earmarks requests. Plus, Steve breaks down Biden and Healey polls, Jenn breaks down controversy over public money going to church buildings, and we all break down over this podcast's dubious history of pun-based episode titles.

This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve talk with State Senator Becca Rausch about Governor Healey's budget vetoes, in particular a veto of funding for a youth mental health hotline. They also sort through the various renewed efforts to expand ranked-choice voting in Massachusetts, and consider expanding their global media empire into the online lottery ticket gray market.

This week on the Horse Race, Steve and Jenn explain Governor Healey's emergency declaration regarding migrant shelter capacity, and discuss the implications of Ohio's special election for the role of abortion in national and state politics. Plus, shots fired between New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and sandwiches stolen by sassy seagulls.