| | | | |  | | By Lisa Kashinsky and Kelly Garrity | | Presented by |  | | | FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: DNC VS. KENNEDY — Massachusetts may be Kennedy country, but that doesn’t mean Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will get a warm welcome when he returns to Boston today to try to woo deep-pocketed donors. The Democratic National Committee is having a mobile billboard displaying ads linking Kennedy to former President Donald Trump stationed outside the Park Plaza Hotel where the independent presidential candidate is holding a 6:30 p.m. reception. The ads go after Kennedy and his elusive running mate, Nicole Shanahan, for being boosted by Tim Mellon, a long-time GOP megadonor who is a top contributor to super PACs backing both Kennedy and Trump. Mellon has given $20 million to Kennedy’s American Values PAC this cycle, and $15 million to the Trump-boosting super PAC MAGA Inc., according to federal campaign finance reports.
|  Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is returning to the Park Plaza for a campaign event just over a year after launching his then-Democratic presidential bid there. | Scott Eisen/Getty Images | “RFK Jr. has the same biggest donor as Donald Trump,” reads one of the ads. “RFK Jr. is raking in millions of dollars from MAGA/Trump donors,” reads another. A third depicts Kennedy and Shanahan wearing Trump’s signature red “Make America Great Again” baseball caps. And for the local angle: The images will play to Aerosmith’s “Dream On.” (When the DNC ran these ads in Florida, Democrats used the “Golden Girls” theme song.) Billboards are one of the DNC’s most prominent plays against Kennedy — besides, of course, standing up a rapid-response team dedicated to combating third-party candidates that’s being led by Mary Beth Cahill, former chief of staff to the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. The Democrats’ national campaign arm has paid for mobile billboards to circle Kennedy’s events in other cities and has taken out highway billboards in states including Michigan and Arizona that also attempt to tie Kennedy to Trump. The DNC declined to share the cost of the Boston billboard. “RFK Jr. was recruited to run by Trump allies like Steve Bannon, his candidacy is being propped up by Trump’s largest donor, and his own campaign staffer said the campaign's top goal is stopping President Biden,” DNC spokesperson Matt Corridoni, an alum of Reps. Seth Moulton and Jake Auchincloss, said in a statement. “Massachusetts voters deserve to know who RFK Jr. really is, a spoiler for Donald Trump.” Kennedy’s return to his family’s turf — and to the hotel where he launched what was then a Democratic primary challenge to President Joe Biden just over a year ago — comes as many of his relatives who had already publicly opposed his campaign are ramping up their efforts to reelect the president. Fifteen of them publicly endorsed Biden earlier this month — former Rep. Joe Kennedy III, who’s Biden’s special envoy to Northern Ireland, his father, former Rep. Joe Kennedy II, and RFK Jr. siblings Kerry and Rory Kennedy among them — after dozens of them joined the president at the White House for St. Patrick’s Day. But while Kennedy may be forsaken by many of his family members — and by the Democratic establishment in this deep-blue state — he’ll still have some big names helping him haul in campaign cash tonight. Donnie Wahlberg and his wife, actress Jenny McCarthy, are moderating what’s being billed as a fireside chat with Kennedy. His wife, actress Cheryl Hines, will also be at the event that will feature a private reception followed by hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and the headlining conversation. GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Going to Kennedy’s fundraiser tonight? Let us know how it goes: lkashinsky@politico.com and kgarrity@politico.com. TODAY — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu holds a Roxbury coffee hour at 9:30 a.m., speaks at an affordable housing development ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. in Roxbury and hosts a celebration for the Boston Marathon’s three fastest Bostonians at 2:15 p.m. at City Hall. Rep. Richard Neal announces federal funding for American International College at 1 p.m.
| | | | THE GOLD STANDARD OF POLICY REPORTING & INTELLIGENCE: POLITICO has more than 500 journalists delivering unrivaled reporting and illuminating the policy and regulatory landscape for those who need to know what’s next. Throughout the election and the legislative and regulatory pushes that will follow, POLITICO Pro is indispensable to those who need to make informed decisions fast. The Pro platform dives deeper into critical and quickly evolving sectors and industries—finance, defense, technology, healthcare, energy—equipping policymakers and those who shape legislation and regulation with essential news and intelligence from the world’s best politics and policy journalists.
Our newsroom is deeper, more experienced, and better sourced than any other—with teams embedded in the world’s most active legislative and regulatory power centers. From Brussels to Washington, New York to London, Sacramento to Paris, we bring subscribers inside the conversations that determine policy outcomes and the future of industries, providing insight that cannot be found anywhere else. Get the premier news and policy intelligence service, SUBSCRIBE TO POLITICO PRO TODAY. | | | | | |  | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | ONTO THE SENATE — The House passed a $58 billion budget on Friday after tacking on roughly $100 million in amendments. But, in a sign of the fiscal strain stressing Beacon Hill, the spending plan still remains about $62 million lower than the proposal Gov. Maura Healey put forward in January. Representatives also shot down Republican-led amendments that would have imposed a three-month residency requirement for people accessing the emergency shelter system and prioritized veterans for placements. (Democrats said they’re readying a veterans bill for May.) More from the Boston Herald and MassLive. MEANWHILE — Senate President Karen Spilka doesn’t want the Legislature to take its “foot off the pedal” when it comes to funding things like housing and education, she told WBZ’s Jon Keller in an interview that aired Sunday. Does that mean higher taxes are on the horizon? “I don’t know,” Spilka said. “I'm not looking at that right now. It's not on my radar right now.” — “Get ready for Beacon Hill’s crazy sprint to the end of July,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Bills covering revenge porn, federal matching funds, gun laws, and wage transparency are all in active negotiations. … Speaking to reporters after shuttling the House’s fiscal year 2025 budget to the Senate, Mariano said that ‘by the calendar’ he has to release a healthcare bill this coming week.” EARLY EXIT — Former Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera resigned as president and CEO of MassDevelopment on Friday, more than two years before his contract was up, to pursue other opportunities, Contrarian Boston and the State House News Service report.
| | FROM THE HUB | | 2025 WATCH — Add former Boston police Commissioner William Gross to the list of people with a bone to pick over the lack of outdoor dining in the North End. Wait… what? Gross hasn’t held the public spotlight in the years since he stepped down as commissioner and briefly considered a mayoral bid. So when he emerged Friday to hold a press conference under the shadow of the North End’s Paul Revere statue, it raised eyebrows. Standing shoulder to shoulder with those waging the legal battle against Mayor Michelle Wu over her administration’s move to leave the neighborhood out of the city’s outdoor dining program, Gross said he was “perturbed” by the situation. “Are we going back to segregation? To me looking in on the North End right now, it looks like two big S’s are overshadowing: segregation and separation.” The reemergence of a well-known former city official who once harbored ambitions for City Hall’s highest office would seem like the first hint of an electoral challenge to Wu. But Gross didn’t mention the mayor during his remarks. And, he insisted he’s not running. “I'm not running for mayor, don't want to run for mayor,” he told Playbook. And the event was “not a shot” at Wu, he said, though he later added “I will call you out if you're being exclusionary and you're separating and segregating a neighborhood.” How did the whole event come about anyhow? It was none other than Boston PR guru George Regan who connected Gross with Carla Gomes, who is leading North End restaurateurs’ efforts against City Hall, she told Playbook.
| | | ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR | | CAMPUS CHAOS — The pro-Palestinian protests that first popped up at Boston-area colleges last week continued through the weekend, reaching a fever pitch on some campuses as police were called in. Northeastern University is facing backlash from student organizers after the college relied on help from state police to clear about 100 students from campus, citing antisemitic threats made by groups occupying the space. Wu is also dealing with the political fallout of her decision to remove the tents set up near Emerson College, after videos of the encounter posted on social media raised questions about the tactics employed by the city’s officers. She’s since canceled an event at Harvard that had been slated for Tuesday after student organizations withdrew from co-sponsoring it because of her hand in the response, the Harvard Crimson reported. Rep. Seth Moulton, meanwhile, didn’t equivocate when he was asked about the protests during an interview on NBC10 Boston’s “At Issue.” "They've completely disrupted the operation of universities, preventing all the other kids from being able to go to school," Moulton said. "The universities have a right and, I would argue in this case, even a responsibility to shut them down.” At MIT and Harvard, however, things remained mostly quiet over the weekend. Dive deeper with the Berkeley Beacon and the Huntington News.
| | DAY IN COURT | | TRIAL STARTS TODAY — “A key piece of the Karen Read case remains a mystery due to Mass. law: the autopsy report,” by Sean Cotter, The Boston Globe. — “SJC rejects bid to restrict records about police misconduct,” by Todd Wallack, WBUR.
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | STRANGE BEDFELLOWS — House Democrats haven’t yet settled exactly what their plan is should Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) follow through on her threat to try and oust House Speaker Mike Johnson. But Johnson may have an ally in at least one member of the Massachusetts delegation. “Johnson did the right thing in the face of that partisan hostility,” Democratic Rep. Stephen Lynch said of the Louisiana Republican after he pushed forward the aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. “I’m thankful for Mike Johnson — this week,” Lynch added during the interview on WCVB’s “On the Record.”
| | FROM THE 413 | | — “Amaad Rivera Returns to the Ballot…as a Cheesehead,” by Matt Szafranski, Western Mass. Politics & Insight: “Another name familiar to the Valley has also filed for a race this month—but not in Massachusetts. Former Springfield City Councilor Amaad Rivera has entered the race for an open State Assembly seat in Wisconsin.” — “Sunderland TM approves battery storage bylaw, agrees to ask Legislature to lower municipal voting age,” by Chris Larabee, Greenfield Recorder.
| | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S ENERGY SUMMIT: The future of energy faces a crossroads in 2024 as policymakers and industry leaders shape new rules, investments and technologies. Join POLITICO’s Energy Summit on June 5 as we convene top voices to examine the shifting global policy environment in a year of major elections in the U.S. and around the world. POLITICO will examine how governments are writing and rewriting new rules for the energy future and America’s own role as a major exporter. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | — “Southborough resident who won before SJC is still fighting former selectman in court,” by Marco Cartolano, Telegram & Gazette: “More than a year after the Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the Southborough Board of Selectmen unconstitutionally silenced a resident during a 2018 meeting, the resident is continuing to seek monetary damages from a former selectman.” — “A program known as humanitarian parole offers hope to Haitians seeking refuge in the U.S.,” by Simón Rios, WBUR. — “COVID relief funds to bridge Dracut school budget gap,” by Prudence Brighton, The Lowell Sun. — “Families plead with Brockton not to close virtual school — only school some have known,” by Christopher Butler, The Brockton Enterprise.
| | MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE | | — “New Hampshire Dems poised to regain delegates to national convention,” by Elena Schneider, POLITICO: “Democratic National Committee officials are expected to vote this week to restore New Hampshire’s delegates to the party’s national convention, after state Democrats over the weekend held a small, party-run primary to comply with national Democrats’ rules.”
| | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | SPOTTED — during White House Correspondents Dinner weekend: New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and former Rhode Island governor and current Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo working the ballroom at the main event. Former Rep. Joe Kennedy III handing out business cards. Rep. Seth Moulton speaking with Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the NBC afterparty at the French Embassy (h/t our colleagues at D.C. Playbook). Holy Cross alum Dr. Anthony Fauci posing for photos at the POLITICO/Allbritton Journalism Institute Sunday brunch. SPOTTED — at the Teamsters Local 25 Gala for Autism: State Treasurer Deb Goldberg, state Sen. Lydia Edwards, state Reps. David Burke and Dan Ryan, Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune and Councilor Ed Flynn and Somerville City Councilor Kristen Strezo. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Quentin Palfrey, director of federal funds and infrastructure for Gov. Maura Healey; Karen Dynan, Peter Diamond, Cara Morris Stern and Lauren Janes. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS — Friday's Playbook included a link to a story from the Eagle-Tribune that incorrectly stated how many terms Rep. Seth Moulton has served. The Eagle-Tribune has since corrected the story to reflect that he is running for his sixth. Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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