At the top of the list for this week's Scrum podcast: Why the heck did Boston Mayor Marty Walsh go on a live radio show and defend John O’Brien?

O'Brien, the former head of the Probation Department was found guilty of mail fraud, racketeering, and conspiracy last week.

Boston Globe political editor Cynthia Needham joined Scrum regulars Peter Kadzis and David Bernstein to discuss this, plus the “secret communist at the Globe," Ted Landsmark and the BRA, and let the gubernatorial mudslinging begin: Steve Grossman's growing super PAC presence.

Subscribe to The Scrum in iTunes/ Stitcher/ TuneIn.