The Horse Race

(3 min) 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 their lack of turnip knowledge... Hosts: Guests: thehorsepodcast@gmail.com https://www.massincpolling.com/horse-race

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 Christmassy state? Jenn's NYT Rec: Cheesy Hassle Back Potato Gratin High school graduation standards evolving at local, state levelsPreply's Christmas Spirit Index

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, Steve and Jenn sit down face-to-face, #reunited. Centrist dems have negotiated a deal to end the government shutdown. Steve discusses Trump's abysmal approval numbers, Jenn does not NOT talk about 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-crosstabs https://www.umass.edu/news/article/kennealy-holds-early-lead-2026-bay-state-gop-gubernatorial-primary-nod-according-new https://commonwealthbeacon.org/newsletter/competitive-mayoral-races-abound-just-not-in-boston/

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 on political violence polling referenced here: https://www.gelliottmorris.com/p/most-polls-overstate-support-for

This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn look at polling on Ed Markey's 2026 reelection prospects. Then Jenn is joined by Rich Parr, VP of the MassINC Polling Group, to discuss recent polling on Massachusetts' competitiveness and Boston housing. And finally, vital polling from non other than Hi-Chew (candy company) on which state is most excited for spooky season.

Today on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve talk AI's new role in local political reporting. Then Chris Lisinski, reporter for Commonwealth Beacon, joins the program to discuss his latest reporting on the effects of budgetary uncertainty on healthcare for residents of Mass. And finally, dial-up internet is now, officially, a thing of the past.

This week on The Horse Race, Jenn is dispatched to New Haven to attend the "Yes, In My Back Yard" or "YIMBYtown" conference where Massachusetts pro-housing folks angst over the MBTA Communities law. Then Steve and Jenn dig into a sweeping new MPG poll on Bay State health care -- is this as good as people expect it to get? And finally, who is not NOT running?

This week on The Horse Race, Steve and Jenn discuss the results of the Boston Mayoral preliminary election -- by all accounts a blowout for Michelle Wu setting up a tough road to November for Josh Kraft. Plus, all politics is national, and we have some national approval polls to pick through. And last but not least, we can FINALLY stop paying taxes on all the money you've given us, dear listeners.

This week on The Horse Race, Jenn and Steve talk with Politico's Kelly Garrity about the Trump administration's recent threats to ramp up ICE presence in Boston. Trump has also threatened to send National Guard agents to support ICE enforcement, echoing similar moves in LA and DC. On a lighter note, we are down to three choices for a new Massachusetts state flag.

This week on The Horse Race Jenn and Steve talk discuss how automatic voter registration is making Democrats’ woes look worse than they are. And, of course, all the new Mass. flag submissions. "The Democratic Party Faces a Voter Registration Crisis" by Shane Goldmacher With Jonah Smith www.nytimes.com/2025/08/20/us/politics/democratic-party-voter-registration-crisis.html "Massachusetts political parties are fading away" by Steve Koczela www.commonwealthbeacon.org/by-the-numbers/massachusetts-political-parties-are-withering-away/

This week on The Horse Race, Steve sits down with Rich Parr VP of the MassINC Polling Group to talk about a new poll they conducted for MassDOT. This highly detailed report, entitled "People and Transportation Project Report," shows how transportation can burden low income residents of Massachusetts. https://www.mass.gov/the-people-and-transportation-project

Last week was the deadline to file ballot questions for November 2026 and over 40 ballot questions made it through. These are questions that ultimately could become law covering a wide range of topics from MBTA zoning to rent control, from marijuana "re-illegalization" to voter ID requirements. This week on The Horse Race, Steve is joined by Mike Deehan, reporter for Axios, to discuss how these ballot questions will effect Mass residents. and why filing ballot questions is becoming an increasingly used tactic of political activists and special interests to force issues in Mass., the lowest ranked state for legislative productivity.

This week on The Horse Race Jenn asks Rich Parr, VP of the MassINC Polling Group, a very simple question: 'are the dems doomed?' With a surprising glint of optimism, Parr breaks down the latest polling on this question to give us a sense of how the democratic party is likely to fair in the upcoming elections.