Boston To The Beltway

wbur.org versions of our weekly political newsletter

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., second from left, joined by Sen. Gary Peters., D-Mich., left, Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., second from right, and Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., right, on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 4.
(Susan Walsh/AP)

Warren Pressures Prison Accreditor Over COVID-19 Response

Plus, Sen. Ed Markey is calling on the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to stop natural gas emissions at the Weymouth compressor station construction site. And, an important update about...

WBUR News

Jul 9, 2020

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaks with U.S. Sen. Ed Markey. (Winslow Townson/AP)

Mass. Lawmakers Call For Changes At Assisted Living Facilities

Plus, the House passes sweeping climate-friendly infrastructure bill, with no chance in the Senate.

WBUR News

Jul 2, 2020

House Democrats at a news conference on the House East Front Steps on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 25, 2020, ahead of the House vote on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Neal And Democrats Want To Expand ACA Coverage, But No Traction In Senate

Plus: McGovern mask clash

WBUR News

Jun 25, 2020

Demonstrators at an immigration rally in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in Washington on Dec. 6, 2017. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

Mass. Politicos: It's Time To Codify DACA Into Law

Plus, Trahan "alarmed" by racial disparities in the Air Force.

WBUR News

Jun 18, 2020

Hundreds of staff at the Massachusetts General Hospital participated in a kneel-in acknowledging the injustice of systemic and individual racism in America at the Bulfinch Lawn outside of the Wang Entrance of the hospital, June 5, 2020. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

Mass. Delegation Pushes For Sweeping Law Enforcement Reforms

Plus, Elizabeth Warren calls foul on new federal regulations that she says will make it easier for banks to discriminate against minority and low-income communities.

WBUR News

Jun 11, 2020

Protesters coming down Beacon Street find the road blocked by bicycle police. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

Pressley, Markey Push To End 'Qualified Immunity' For Police

Also, McGovern seeks to stop sending surplus military weapons to local police.

WBUR News

Jun 4, 2020

Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., left, bumps elbows with Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, prior to testimony from Fauci before a House Oversight Committee hearing on preparedness for and response to the coronavirus outbreak on Capitol Hil, March 11, 2020. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

Warren: 'Our Child Care System Is In Danger Of Collapsing'

Plus, Rep. Lynch wants to protect Dr. Fauci from politically motivated ouster.

WBUR News

May 28, 2020

In this image from video, Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., speaks on the floor of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on April 23. (House Television via AP)

Congressional Gridlock & Another Coronavirus Relief Package

Plus, remote work for House lawmakers could become a reality.

WBUR News

May 14, 2020

In this image from video, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., speaks on the floor of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on April 23. (House Television via AP)

From Barbershops To Bodegas, Pressley Wants Relief For 'Underrepresented' Businesses

Plus, Mass. lawmakers call for federal probe into Bristol County jail incident.

WBUR News

May 7, 2020

The Supreme Court in Washington. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

SCOTUS Could Take Up 2 Mass. Gun Laws

Also: Rep. Neal says he'll "insist" on federal aid for states and New England lawmakers push hazard pay for front-line workers.

WBUR News

Apr 30, 2020

Pelosi Tables McGovern's Plan To Make Working Remotely Work For Congress

Plus, the House is set to pass its fourth coronavirus relief bill today.

WBUR News

Apr 23, 2020

Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaks with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow. (Screenshot via Twitter)

Veepstakes Is On — And Warren Wants To Be A Contender

Plus, Rep. Richard Neal says, "there’s going to have to be more money for the unemployment insurance system" in the next coronavirus relief package.

WBUR News

Apr 16, 2020

Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and other House Democrats arrive to meet with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 11. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Pressley: 'Vulnerable Workers' Deserve Paid Sick Leave In Next Coronavirus Relief Deal

Plus, Markey raises privacy concerns over reports of Trump efforts for coronavirus surveillance system.

WBUR News

Apr 9, 2020

A sign about COVID-19 safety is posted at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

What's On Mass. Lawmakers' Wish List For The Next Coronavirus Recovery Bill?

There was no joking this week as the COVID-19 crisis moves toward what will likely be an unimaginable apex -- and lawmakers are already looking ahead to the next emergency...

WBUR News

Apr 2, 2020

U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III questions Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar during a House Commerce subcommittee hearing on the budget and coronavirus. (Susan Walsh/AP)

'We Are Out Of Time': JK3 Calls For Nationwide Shelter-In-Place Order

Legislating in a time of coronavirus: House leaders hope to approve the Senate-passed $2 trillion emergency relief package by voice vote. That’s so lawmakers don’t have to come back to...

WBUR News

Mar 26, 2020

What Mass. Lawmakers Want (And Don't Want) In Coronavirus Response

The coronavirus is gripping Capitol Hill, where the first two members of Congress have tested positive for COVID-19 and lawmakers are struggling to inoculate American families, industries and the markets...