Incorruptible Mass

Please donate to the show! Today we talk about the Department of Public Utilities decision that happened in December, where they made some decisions about the future of gas in the state of Massachusetts. We also discuss a little bit of environmental history in Massachusetts, the reality of distributed environmental justice, and how Massachusetts compares to other states.Jordan Berg Powers, Jonathan Cohn, and Anna Callahan are joined in this episode by Jess Nahigan from the Sierra Club of Massachusetts. This is the audio version of the Incorruptible Mass podcast, season 5 episode 40. You can watch the video version on our YouTube channel. You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved. Two action items from this week's episode: 1) Call for just siting policy!https://actionnetwork.org/letters/holistic-smart-and-just-siting-for-transforming-our-grid-siting-reform-now-with-environmental-justice?Source=Sierra2) Email your reps to stop expanding gas!https://www.sierraclub.org/massachusetts/take-action-for-environmentTo stay informed:* Subscribe to our YouTube channel* Subscribe to the podcast (https://incorruptible-mass.buzzsprout.com)* Sign up to get updates at https://www.incorruptiblemass.org/podcast* Donate to the show at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/impodcast

Please donate to the show!Today we talk about Joint Rule 10 Day, which is a deadline for getting bills passed through certain hoops before they can pass through other hoops. This includes bills like the Transfer Fee, Debt Free College, Rent Control, PILOT Reform, Public Banking, Medicare for All, Prison Moratorium, Safe Communities Act, Vote 16, and more. Jordan Berg Powers, Jonathan Cohn, and Anna Callahan  chat about Massachusetts politics. This is the audio version of the Incorruptible Mass podcast, season 5 episode 38. You can watch the video version on our YouTube channel. You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved. To stay informed:* Subscribe to our YouTube channel* Subscribe to the podcast (https://incorruptible-mass.buzzsprout.com)* Sign up to get updates at https://www.incorruptiblemass.org/podcast* Donate to the show at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/impodcast

Please donate to the show!Today we talk about cities versus the state, and how the Massachusetts state constitution prevents cities' duly-elected city councilors from passing a whole swath of policy locally that  residents need. We discuss home rule, how we compare to other states, and how inefficient the state's oversight is.Jordan Berg Powers, Jonathan Cohn, and Anna Callahan  chat about Massachusetts politics. This is the audio version of the Incorruptible Mass podcast, season 5 episode 38. You can watch the video version on our YouTube channel. You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved. To stay informed:* Subscribe to our YouTube channel* Subscribe to the podcast (https://incorruptible-mass.buzzsprout.com)* Sign up to get updates at https://www.incorruptiblemass.org/podcast* Donate to the show at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/impodcast

Please donate to the show!Today we are talking about the governor's proposed budget. We're talking about where that money comes from, how things are getting paid for as well now.  We also cover some questions, like: Can things be changed in the middle of the year like what happens next? How do we compare with other states?Phineas Baxandall from the  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center joins Jordan Berg Powers, Jonathan Cohn, and Anna Callahan to chat about Massachusetts politics. This is the audio version of the Incorruptible Mass podcast, season 5 episode 37. You can watch the video version on our YouTube channel. You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved. To stay informed:* Subscribe to our YouTube channel* Subscribe to the podcast (https://incorruptible-mass.buzzsprout.com)* Sign up to get updates at https://www.incorruptiblemass.org/podcast* Donate to the show at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/impodcast

Please donate to the show!Today we talk about why so-called "state wins" are actually small potatoes. We dive into how we hear from state reps or state senators "Hey, look at these amazing things that we did," and how looking into their boasts reveals that not a lot of actual change was made compared to what else could they be doing with their time and with their supermajority. This is the audio version of the Incorruptible Mass podcast, season 5 episode 36. You can watch the video version on our YouTube channel.You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved. To stay informed:* Subscribe to our YouTube channel* Subscribe to the podcast (https://incorruptible-mass.buzzsprout.com)* Sign up to get updates at https://www.incorruptiblemass.org/podcast* Donate to the show at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/impodcast

Today we talk about Governor Healy's 9C budget cuts. We'll dive into how it affects our funding of programs that we need, tying it to the Fair Share amendment and tax cuts that they passed. We will be talking about how you know the downturn is affecting all of us, government programs in need of investment, and explore the state budget. This is the audio version of the Incorruptible Mass podcast, season 5 episode 34. You can watch the video version on our YouTube channel.You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved.To stay informed:* Subscribe to our YouTube channel* Subscribe to the podcast (https://incorruptible-mass.buzzsprout.com)* Sign up to get updates at https://www.incorruptiblemass.org/podcast* Donate to the show at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/impodcast

Please donate to the show!Today we talk about the new regulations around shelters. We go into how Covid has affected homelessness as well as legislation to make things easier for a lot of the people who are homeless today. And of course, we will be exploring some of the deeper values that we share here among the listeners of our podcast and the underlying fundamental problems of why we even have homelessness. Kelly Turley joins Jordan Berg Powers, Jonathan Cohn, and Anna Callahan to chat about Massachusetts politics. This is the audio version of the Incorruptible Mass podcast, season 5 episode 33. You can watch the video version on our YouTube channel. You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved. To stay informed:* Subscribe to our YouTube channel* Subscribe to the podcast (https://incorruptible-mass.buzzsprout.com)* Sign up to get updates at https://www.incorruptiblemass.org/podcast* Donate to the show at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/impodcast

Please donate to the show!Today we talk to two wonderful experts about parole and what needs to change about it. We talk about how long people can be on parole, how many people return to jail because they break some small technical aspect of parole, and what we need to do here in Massachusetts to make parole more humane and better for our society.Laura and Lisa Berland join Jordan Berg Powers, Jonathan Cohn, and Anna Callahan to chat about Massachusetts politics. This is the audio version of the Incorruptible Mass podcast, season 5 episode 32. You can watch the video version on our YouTube channel. You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved. To stay informed:* Subscribe to our YouTube channel* Subscribe to the podcast (https://incorruptible-mass.buzzsprout.com)* Sign up to get updates at https://www.incorruptiblemass.org/podcast* Donate to the show at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/impodcast

Please donate to the show!Today we talk about the results of the local elections from Nov 7. We'll go over Boston, Worcester, and Medford in some detail, as well as quick updates for Malden, Somerville, Everett, Revere, Springfield, Newton, Marlborough, & Waltham. We also talk about how the electorate for local and state elections has changed since mail-in voting started during COVID and what that means for progressives.Jordan Berg Powers, Jonathan Cohn, and Anna Callahan chat about Massachusetts politics. This is the audio version of the Incorruptible Mass podcast, season 5 episode 31. You can watch the video version on our YouTube channel. You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved. To stay informed:* Subscribe to our YouTube channel* Subscribe to the podcast (https://incorruptible-mass.buzzsprout.com)* Sign up to get updates at https://www.incorruptiblemass.org/podcast* Donate to the show at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/impodcast

Please donate to the show!Today we talk about city elections in Massachusetts. We'll cover why local elections matter, how to vote, and what to look for in local elected officials. Jordan Berg Powers, Jonathan Cohn, and Anna Callahan to chat about Massachusetts politics. This is the audio version of the Incorruptible Mass podcast, season 5 episode 30. You can watch the video version on our YouTube channel. You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved. To stay informed:* Subscribe to our YouTube channel* Subscribe to the podcast (https://incorruptible-mass.buzzsprout.com)* Sign up to get updates at https://www.incorruptiblemass.org/podcast* Donate to the show at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/impodcasthttps://youtu.be/bh9yJlu62bs

Please donate to the show!Cue the spooky music! Today we chat with Erin from Act on Mass about all the bills should have passed but died in the state legislature. Many of these bills have been around for years, and often they die not because they are voted down, but because leadership never allows them to come up for a vote! Erin Leahy joins Jordan Berg Powers, Jonathan Cohn, and Anna Callahan to chat about Massachusetts politics. This is the audio version of the Incorruptible Mass podcast, season 5 episode 29. You can watch the video version on our YouTube channel. You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved. To stay informed:* Subscribe to our YouTube channel* Subscribe to the podcast (https://incorruptible-mass.buzzsprout.com)* Sign up to get updates at https://www.incorruptiblemass.org/podcast* Donate to the show at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/impodcast

Please donate to the show!Today we talk about the $4B housing bond bill. You may think it allocates $4B to affordable housing, but in fact, our state has cut funding for affordable housing, rental assistance, and the unhoused. This bill simply allows the state to go into up to $4B of debt that will potentially be used for affordable housing. Listen in to hear more about the policies in this bill and why they are not enough.Jordan Berg Powers, Jonathan Cohn, and Anna Callahan chat about Massachusetts politics. This is the audio version of the Incorruptible Mass podcast, season 5 episode 24. You can watch the video version on our YouTube channel. You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved. To stay informed:* Subscribe to our YouTube channel* Subscribe to the podcast (https://incorruptible-mass.buzzsprout.com)* Sign up to get updates at https://www.incorruptiblemass.org/podcast* Donate to the show at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/impodcast

Please donate to the show!Today we talk about the MBTA, and how it has been under-funded for decades. Public transit can be such a benefit to society and to our future sustainability. We talk about what recent developments are influencing transportation as well as some of the fare-free options in Massachusetts.Jim Aloisi joins Jordan Berg Powers, Jonathan Cohn, and Anna Callahan to chat about Massachusetts politics. This is the audio version of the Incorruptible Mass podcast, season 5 episode 26. You can watch the video version on our YouTube channel. You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved. To stay informed:* Subscribe to our YouTube channel* Subscribe to the podcast (https://incorruptible-mass.buzzsprout.com)* Sign up to get updates at https://www.incorruptiblemass.org/podcast* Donate to the show at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/impodcast

Please donate to the show!Today we talk about how we can provide higher education in a way that does not leave people struggling with debt for decades. We talk to three experts about both the Cherish Act and the Debt Free Future Act. You'll hear how our current higher ed system impacts people, not only students but also our educators. Max Page, Ella Prabhakar and Vatsady Sivongxay join Jordan Berg Powers, Jonathan Cohn, and Anna Callahan to chat about Massachusetts politics. This is the audio version of the Incorruptible Mass podcast, season 5 episode 25. You can watch the video version on our YouTube channel. You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved. To stay informed:* Subscribe to our YouTube channel* Subscribe to the podcast (https://incorruptible-mass.buzzsprout.com)* Sign up to get updates at https://www.incorruptiblemass.org/podcast* Donate to the show at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/impodcast

Please donate to the show!Today we talk about transparency. Massachusetts is the only state where all three branches of government are exempt from public records law. Andrew Quemere, host of The Mass Dump and Lights Out Mass, joins us to talk specifically about the governor's track record on this issue, as well as ongoing law suits in MA about transparency.Jordan Berg Powers, Jonathan Cohn, and Anna Callahan chat about Massachusetts politics. This is the audio version of the Incorruptible Mass podcast, season 5 episode 24. You can watch the video version on our YouTube channel. You’re listening to Incorruptible Mass. Our goal is to help people transform state politics: we investigate why it’s so broken, imagine what we could have here in MA if we fixed it, and report on how you can get involved. The Mass Dump newsletterLights Out Mass podcastTo stay informed:* Subscribe to our YouTube channel* Subscribe to the podcast (https://incorruptible-mass.buzzsprout.com)* Sign up to get updates at https://www.incorruptiblemass.org/podcast* Donate to the show at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/impodcast