If the Legislature had run the Boston Marathon this week, it would probably still be stuck in Hopkinton — with school vacation week grinding legislative activity nearly to a halt. #MAPoli

On Tuesday, April 22, 2008, @statehousenews.com debuted a new feature offering subscribers a compendium of headlines from across Massachusetts in their inboxes. A newsletter before newsletters were cool. Then, now, always — the original #MAPoli newsletter: @massterlist.com 🐐

18 🎉 #MAPoli

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is coming back to Boston to help Ayanna Pressley. Pressley’s reelection campaign is fundraising off a “fireside chat” with AOC, set for Friday. Access to the evening event costs $60 for general admission and $250 for a “meet and greet.” #MAPoli

NEW: Just before the Celtics' tip-off, Gov. Healey’s office announced she signed a cannabis reform bill shrinking the CCC from 5 to 3 members. The law gives the governor sole appointment power, stripping the treasurer and AG of the authority they’ve held since 2017. #MAPoli

For one day at least, the whole world really was beneath the golden dome of the State House.

NEW: Jonathan Zlotnik, a Worcester County state rep, decided against running for another two-year term in the House, opening up a seat that represents the city of Gardner and surrounding towns. He declined to discuss what his next job is, but said he was staying in the area. #MAPoli

When asked about Rachael Rollins, some Boston insiders wonder if this is all about promoting her new podcast with former Celtics captain Dana Barros. Called “Ball and Order,” just one episode exists and its discussion of topics was already out-of-date when it was posted on April 8.

As Massachusetts residents face a deadline to file their IRS returns, the campaign pushing a state income tax cut is launching a digital ad campaign and three websites to promote its proposed ballot question. #MAPoli

Will Nexstar, owner of Springfield’s WWLP-TV, “22 News,” fill an opening for their State House reporter? The station group is engaged in a regulatory and judicial battle to acquire rival Tegna. Restructuring efforts from the deal would be expected, leading to layoffs and cost cutting.

Time stops for no man, and the 16 years elapsed since Scott Brown’s big upset may have eroded some of his strengths. He was a fresh face in 2010 with a triumphant life story and an array of timely props. But recent polling has him lagging behind John Sununu with a favorability rating underwater.

Chris Oates has spent several years analyzing some of the information that flows out of Beacon Hill. Now he wants to take a look under the hood from inside. #MAPoli

Nice lead by @gintautasd.bsky.social: "Town officials in Foxborough have local World Cup organizers by the soccer balls." #mapoli massterlist.beehiiv.com/p/wu-weighs-...

It's a curious moment for Maura Healey. As the state is simultaneously scaling back state employee health coverage for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs amid skyrocketing costs, she is publicly defending the freedom to sip a large sugary iced coffee. #MAPoli massterlist.beehiiv.com/p/controvers...

Totally true tales of the Governor’s Council. We like and respect one another. It’s a pleasure to work with all my colleagues. Thanks, @massterlist.com! #mapoli

From the audit to immigration to ballot questions and more: Jon Keller’s @massterlist.com interview with House Speaker Mariano and Sen. Pres. Spilka has been posted... www.youtube.com/watch?v=uceO... Today‘s Morning Email today explains why it’s a MUST-WATCH… massterlist.com/2026/03/02/t...

“The Auditor has made false claims in the press while not doing the work of answering the questions posed to her. This inflammatory language is a prime example of why the Senate believes she is incapable of an independent audit, even if such an audit was possible under our Constitution.” #MAPoli

I talked with @gintautasd.bsky.social of @massterlist.com about @massago.bsky.social's decision to leave Xitter: "“The days when everybody could gather around the social media campfire are pretty much over." #mapoli massterlist.beehiiv.com/p/ag-campbel...

Democrat Auditor Diana DiZoglio has not committed to supporting Democrat Governor Maura Healey’s reelection campaign, despite the absence of any bona fide Democrat primary challengers. According to DiZoglio, Healey has not returned her phone calls in over a year. #MAPoli

Join us for Keller @ Large LIVE in conversation with House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka on Wednesday (Feb 25) at the MCLE in Boston. More info/sign-up: events.humanitix.com/kellerlive #MAPoli

Donnelly: The challenges facing the Mass. economy are mounting, but please stay. If you like a challenge, Massachusetts is the place to be. #MAPoli

The MassGOP is holding a private screening of Amazon's Melania Trump film in Marlborough tonight. Although the party suggested tickets would 'sell out quickly,' a spokesperson has not confirmed how many were actually sold.

“The governor offered nothing.” There are available bills that could end the state’s formal and informal collaboration with ICE agents, said Jonathan Cohn of Progressive Massachusetts.

The three GOP candidates running to dislodge Maura Healey are caught in a crossfire inside a phone booth. The hostilities aren’t going well. One campaign issued a memo claiming the other two are “buying votes to rig” polls on Twitter. massterlist.beehiiv.com/p/gop-candid...

The case of Karen Read has stayed alive on social media thanks to upcoming “based on a true story” movies and a conspiracy-driven coterie of online cranks and kooks obsessed with her. The 2026 campaign trail appears primed to play its part, too.

Welcome back to MASSterList. We have a roundup of headlines you may have missed while on break. But first, a brief look at what’s on Beacon Hill’s mind as the new year gets underway. #MAPoli

Thanks to @gintautasd.bsky.social for including me in the @massterlist.com set of New Year’s resolutions. Though apparently I made a mistake by giving an actual resolution when it looks like the thing to do is recite a policy agenda?

Transportation chairs Sen. Brendan Crighton and Rep. Jim Arciero are leaning on a 20-year friendship to navigate "complicated" policy waters. Unlike the legendary "battle of the Toms" in 1999, this duo claims to prioritize shared history over political maneuvering. #MAPoli

The "liberalism that builds" blueprint from @ezrakleinbot.bsky.social and Derek Thompson is the talk of Beacon Hill—from Gov. Healey’s cabinet to local councils. We asked MA leaders for their 2025 reads (and their "Abundance" runners-up). 📚 #MAPoli

The MBTA's pre-pandemic business model has vanished because fewer people make enough round-trip journeys each week to regularly buy passes, argues former Federal Highway Deputy Administrator and MassDOT Secretary Stephanie Pollack. #MAPoli

ALL ABOARD! Only a few tickets remain for tomorrow's @statehousenews.com / @massterlist.com TransitNEXT policy forum. Hear from Phil Eng, Stephanie Pollack, JCT chairs Sen. Crighton and Rep. Arciero, and others at the MCLE in Boston. #MAPoli events.humanitix.com/transitnext

KELLER: There's an understanding that dealing with Michelle Wu offers two options – her way or the highway. Her push to seize control of tax rates is a power grab. In a constitutional democracy, power is shared and limited. Boffo numbers on election night don’t change that. #MAPoli #BOSPoli

PHANTOM OF THE CHAMBER; A review of House video from Nov. 18 appears to show someone else pressing the voting button at Rep. Vanna Howard’s desk while she was allegedly away ahead of her Senate campaign kickoff in a race that includes another House member. #MAPoli

As the holiday shopping season starts up, here’s a list of several books on Massachusetts politics or Mass.-adjacent ones, for yourself or the political junkie in your life. #MAPoli

FIRST IN MASSterList: The MassGOP is looking to recruit Belmont select board member Elizabeth Dionne to run against Treasurer Deb Goldberg, a Democrat. Dionne didn’t respond to a request for comment.

The final week of formal sessions before the Legislature’s 6-week recess offered a revealing snapshot of what's coming—one defined increasingly by a push-pull between what the elected officials on Beacon Hill are trying (or not) to accomplish and what outside forces are readying for the 2026 ballot.

Growing up in Needham, Jeffrey Shapiro remembers his father bringing home the afternoon newspaper with headlines about the UMass Boston corruption scandal that led to the conviction of two state senators and the creation of a state inspector general.

KELLER: Harvard says its A’s are basically participation trophies. Students cry over “soul-crushing” workloads of… an hour a day. And the fix? A+. Better idea: F-minus for wasting a world-class education chasing clout and cash.

. @gintautasd.bsky.social scours the headlines so you don’t have to.

As Wu speaks, these hats are getting handed out

Henry Santana won releection to at-large seat, holding back fmr Cllr Frank Baker, per sources

Mass. Republicans, typically the ones warning against new spending and calling for tax relief, called for the state to fund SNAP, while Democrats demurred. The same party that has championed assistance programs found itself defending fiscal restraint, while Republicans argued for state intervention.

The SNAP blame game has come to Beacon Hill #MAPoli

About 1.1 million Bay Staters could lose food benefits at the end of next week, and Gov. Maura Healey capped the week by ringing the alarm bell in the midst of a federal government shutdown that's boiling over in D.C. and reverberating across the country. #MAPoli

For Wu, despite speculation, being mayor is what’s next Plus: Marty Walsh's former chief of staff has a super PAC, Political Intel and more... #MAPoli

End of an Era via @massterlist.com morning email

After several forays into Massachusetts politics, the Working Families Party (WFP) is seeking to set up a larger shop in the Bay State, with the goal of becoming a force to be reckoned with in local elections. #MAPoli

BULLY POTPIT: Factional tensions linger at the Cannabis Control Commission. During a recent meeting led by fired-and-rehired chair Shannon O’Brien, one commissioner accused another of bullying, saying, “Don’t try to bully me into a vote.” #MAPoli

LAST CALL: Just a few tickets remain for tomorrow’s healthcare workforce development policy event at the UMass Club. Reserve your spot now. Walk-ins will not be permitted. #MAPoli