Episodes
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The First Scrum Of The Rest Of Our Lives
A few minutes in, this Scrum becomes a coronavirus-free zone: Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly take a deep dive into Boston redevelopment with Lizabeth Cohen, the author of “Saving America’s Cities: Ed Logue and the Struggle to Renew Urban America in the Suburban Age,” which just won the coveted Bancroft Prize for excellence in American history. It’s the first half of their convo with Cohen; you’ll hear the second next week. First, though, Kadzis and Reilly size up the recent performance, in these frightening, unprecedented times, of Governor Charlie Baker and Mayor Marty Walsh. (Spoiler: both get high marks, as does New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. President Donald Trump still has, uh, plenty of room for growth.) One more thing: while we’re always happy to hear from you with suggestions and criticisms, we’d especially like to get your feedback *now. *So we’re urging listeners to use their phones to record and send us voice memos — about what you want from the Scrum moving forward, what you make of #mapoli’s response to the pandemic, and how you and your loved ones are holding up. If you do record, and even if you don’t, email us at scrum@wgbh.org. Or, as always, find us on Twitter: Peter’s @kadzis, Adam is @reillyadam, and our producer Zoe Mathews is @zoesmathews. Thanks for listening, and be careful out there. -
What Does Warren Do Now?
Warren 2020 is no more, but the senator from Cambridge is still very much in the public eye, locally and nationally. Will she endorse? If so, who? And after a disappointing primary showing here in Massachusetts, what does she need to do to shore up her own position here at home? Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly kick it around. -
Can Warren Come Back On Super Tuesday?
Say this for Elizabeth Warren and her stalwart supporters: despite a rough start that includes disappointing results in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada, they’re keeping the faith — insisting that the race for the Democratic nomination will be a long one, and that the Massachusetts senator is *still *the candidate best situated to unite the party and take on Donald Trump in November, early outcomes be damned. So…does it pass the smell test? And just how high should expectations for Warren be in her own backyard? Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis talk it through with two high-profile Warren surrogates, Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu and Massachusetts State Senator Eric Lesser. -
The Massachusetts Case For Sanders
Elizabeth Warren is getting plenty of local love as she seeks the Democratic presidential nomination, with big names like Ayanna Pressley, Maura Healey, and Michelle Wu endorsing and advocating for her campaign. (Also in Warren’s camp: colleagues-turned-rivals Ed Markey and Joe Kennedy III, who probably won’t be canvassing together any time soon.) But not every Massachusetts progressive thinks Warren is the way to go. In this episode of the Scrum, Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis talk with two of Bernie Sanders’ Massachusetts co-chairs, state reps Nika Elugardo and Mike Connolly, about why they’re backing Sanders and his movement over Warren and hers; the state of the Sanders campaign here in Massachusetts; and how Sanders’ 2020 candidacy compares with 2016. Can't get enough of local and national politics? Subscribe to The Scrum, WGBH News' politics podcast, with Adam Reilly, Peter Kadzis, and an ever-expanding roster of guests. SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts Stitcher Spotify Castbox Overcast -
What Happened In New Hampshire
Elizabeth Warren finished fourth, and then cast herself as a savior in waiting for a fractured Democratic Party. Deval Patrick accused the media of destroying his campaign. And Bernie Sanders won — unless you think Pete Buttigieg won by making Sanders sweat, and/or you think Amy Klobuchar won by beating everyone’s expectations. Oh yeah, and what if Mike Bloomberg is actually the favorite? Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly hash it out. -
In First 2020 Test, Iowa Flunks Out. Will Progressives Ace #FITN?
For the first test of the 2020 election, the Iowa caucus flunked out of school, after massive reporting delays led to a vacuum in results. The party has yet to declare a winner, and with New Hampshire looming, those in the lead lost any real media and fundraising boost they would have gotten from a clear victory. In this episode, Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis pick through the failures of the Iowa caucus and reset the equilibrium ahead of New Hampshire, with Boston Globe columnist Joan Vennochi. Can't get enough of local and national politics? Subscribe to *The Scrum, WGBH News' politics podcast, with Adam Reilly, Peter Kadzis, and an ever-expanding roster of guests.* -
Heather Cox Richardson's Impeachment Marathon
Be honest: how closely are you following President Trump’s Senate impeachment trial? Maybe you’ve tuned out altogether, since the outcome seems like a foregone conclusion. Maybe you’re checking the news sites or social media for the occasional update, or even tuning in to live coverage on cable or NPR on occasion. Whatever your approach, though, you’re probably not following it anywhere *near* as closely as Heather Cox Richardson. For months, Richardson, a professor of history at Boston College, has been writing a daily digest of all things impeachment, titled Letters From An American — and to her surprise, it’s attracted a something of a cult following. Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis sat down with Richardson and talked about why she started her project; what it’s been like to be continually immersed in a story many people actively avoid; what she’s learned that she didn’t know before; and what the stakes are for American democracy as the Senate weighs its options. -
Rantgate Reconsidered — Plus, The #FITN Ghosts Of Governors Past
That thing Governor Charlie Baker said at the MLK Breakfast, right after Congressswoman Ayanna Pressley spoke…. Oof. Seriously, what was he thinking? Adam Reilly and Peter Kadzis kick it around with their WGBH News colleague Phillip Martin, who was in the room when the governor opened his mouth and inserted his foot. Then, Kadzis chats with Reilly and another WGBH News colleague, Saraya Wintersmith, about their takeaways from #FITN campaign-trail quality time with former governors Deval Patrick and Bill Weld. -
The Sanders-Warren Peace Pact Crumbles — Plus, Pushback For Marty Walsh's BPS Plan
For months, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders were amiable rivals, vying for left-leaning voters and the Democratic presidential nomination without directly attacking each other. So much for that! After Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly size up the end of the Sanders-Warren detente, Peter chats with Kristin Johnson, a/k/a @krissycabbage, about why she and other Boston education activists are skeptical of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s big new push for public-school equity. -
Every #FITN Democrat Wants The Union Leader's Endorsement. So Who'll Get It?
In 2016, then-publisher Joe McQuaid and the New Hampshire Union Leader aggressively called out then-candidate Donald Trump, accusing him of insulting the intelligence of Granite State voters and then opting not to endorse a Republican for the first time in a century. So what will they do for an encore? For starters, in just a few weeks, they’ll try to play kingmaker (or queenmaker) in the Democratic race. McQuaid — who’s now editor at large, but will decide the paper’s endorsement along with his son, publisher Brendan McQuaid — sat down with Peter Kadzis and Adam Reilly to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the Democratic candidates, Trump’s takeover of the GOP, and the issues that matter most to New Hampshire voters. Listen closely, and you’ll hear some tantalizing clues about who might get the Union Leader’s coveted nod before New Hampshire votes.
