| | | | |  | | By Kelly Garrity | | Presented by |  | | | PARTY POLITICS — Democrats are facing an identity crisis after Donald Trump romped to victory last week — and Massachusetts is at the center of the fracas. In case you missed it: In an interview with the New York Times late last week, Rep. Seth Moulton in part attributed Democrats’ defeats to spending “too much time trying not to offend anyone rather than being brutally honest about the challenges many Americans face.” “I have two little girls, I don’t want them getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete, but as a Democrat I’m supposed to be afraid to say that,” Moulton told the Times. He doubled down on Friday, telling GBH’s “Morning Edition” that he thinks “requiring people” to use pronouns in email signatures is “kind of weird” and caters to “one very small minority group.” The comments sparked serious backlash from fellow Democrats and LGBTQ advocates, who slammed Moulton for describing transgender girls as “formerly male” athletes and accused the congressman of scapegoating an already vulnerable group. Some called on social media for a primary challenge against Moulton, who went uncontested in his bid for a sixth term this cycle, and Salem City Councilor Kyle Davis publicly urged Moulton to resign. And Moulton’s campaign manager Matt Chilliak resigned late last week, the Boston Globe reported, though it’s unclear if his departure was related. But Moulton defended his message Sunday – and argued the backlash has helped prove his point. “I was speaking authentically as a dad on many issues where I think we are out of touch with voters. I stand by my position. Maybe I didn’t get all of the words right,” the Salem Democrat said during an interview on MSNBC Sunday afternoon. “But the point is, that the backlash I’ve received proves my point that we can’t even have these discussions as a party. I mean, the chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party wouldn’t even return my phone call.” And “we cannot protect trans rights and so many other things if we don’t start winning elections,” he noted in a statement on social media. Moulton and MassDems Chair Steve Kerrigan had connected, Kerrigan told Playbook later Sunday, who said there’ll be many conversations about the party’s direction in the coming days. “What we shouldn't do in the immediate aftermath of any election is finger point, as if we have a sense of exactly how something happened,” Kerrigan said. “I look forward to the conversations because I think it's critical for the future of not just our party, but our country. But my hope is that we do it in a thoughtful manner that doesn't demonize or villainize anybody.” The firestorm doesn’t look like it’ll subside in the immediate future. A letter signed by 10 former staffers and interns shared with Playbook that’s going out this morning calls on Moulton to “reconsider [his] approach to discussing these issues” and to “offer an apology to the LGBTQ+ community.” And Davis, the Salem City Councilor who pressed Moulton to step down, plans to bring a resolution before the council Thursday condemning Moulton’s comments and affirming support of the LGBQ+ community, he told Playbook. “In my mind, the entire purpose of the Democratic Party is to protect the trans community, is to protect and expand the rights of people of color and women,” Davis said. “If his theory of change here is that we need to abandon every marginalized community in order to win, I don't know what we're winning at that point.” GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Happy Veterans Day. Thank you to all who have served. TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey, First Lady Joanna Lydgate, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and state officials attend a Veterans Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. at the State House. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joins local veterans at the Fitzgerald VFW Post ahead of their annual Veterans Day Memorial Service at 9 a.m. in South Boston, speaks at a plaque dedication for late Boston firefighter Mathew Troy at 11 a.m. downton and delivers remarks at the annual Puerto Rican Veterans Day Celebration at 1 p.m. in the South End. Rep. Jim McGovern attends a breakfast honoring veterans at 8:30 a.m. in Worcester and joins a Veterans Day ceremony at 10:15 a.m. in Westborough. Rep. Seth Moulton hosts his 10th annual Vets Town Hall at 1 p.m. in Marblehead. State Auditor Diana DiZoglio marches in the Methuen Veterans Day Parade at 9:30 a.m. in Methuen. Tips? Scoops? Birthdays? Drop me a line: kgarrity@politico.com
| | | | A message from Johnson & Johnson: We’re restoring the true meaning of healthcare—Innovating more precise, less invasive surgery and improving recovery. See how we’re connecting the best of Health&Care for every patient and provider. Learn more. | | | |  | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | — “Auditor accuses legislative leaders of 'looking for a way out' after Massachusetts voters approve Question 1,” by Sharman Sacchetti and Ed Harding, WCVB: “After her ballot measure passed with overwhelming support from Massachusetts voters, Auditor Diana DiZoglio says her office is ‘ready to get to work’ reviewing the state legislature but bracing for an ongoing fight. ‘The people have spoken out at this point. This is no longer a disagreement between two entities of government. This is something that the voters of the Commonwealth clearly want. And I hope that legislative leaders will see the light and shed that sunlight,’ DiZoglio said during an interview for Sunday's episode of ‘On The Record.’” — “Massachusetts State Police says that helping Trump’s deportation push is not its mission,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald: “The Massachusetts State Police says its mission is not ‘investigating and enforcing violations of federal immigration law,’ leaving deportation responsibilities solely to U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement."
| | | ELECTION UPDATES | | | — “Recount canceled: Wright concedes to Gallagher in close state rep race,” by Daniel Schemer, Taunton Daily Gazette: “Sandra Wright has canceled her request for a recount in the 8th Plymouth District State Representative Race and has conceded to opponent and winner Dennis Gallagher. In a statement released on her official Facebook candidate page, she explained that new counts had been done in both Bridgewater and Raynham that had ‘reflected more accurate mail-in and provisional ballots.’” SEEING RED — Donald Trump gained support across the country during last week’s election, including in the Bay State. Support for the former president in Massachusetts was enough to help him flip seven cities and towns that went blue in 2016 and 2020, per MassLive’s Tréa Lavery: Florida, Rockland, Seekonk, Somerset, West Springfield, Westport and Fall River. EVERY VOTE COUNTS — Democrat Kostas Loukos is waiting to concede the race to replace outgoing state Rep. F. Jay Barrows in the First Bristol District, his campaign announced Friday. “In the spirit of preserving the integrity of our democratic process and respecting the voters of the 1st Bristol District, we are committed to waiting for all ballots to be counted before making any further statements regarding the outcome of this race,” a press release Loukos posted on social media reads. The Associated Press hadn’t called the race as of Sunday evening, though results showed Republican Michael Chaisson leading Republican 50.2 percent to 49.8 percent.
| | TRUMPACHUSETTS | | — “Immigrants and advocates in Massachusetts prepare for next Trump presidency,” by Simón Rios and Andrea Perdomo-Hernandez, WBUR. — “Trump could cut or weaken incentives for green energy,” by Adam Goldstein, The New Bedford Light. — “Could the federal funds spigot shut off for Massachusetts under Trump?,” by Chris Van Buskirk and Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald: “Massachusetts has seen a windfall of federal money since Gov. Maura Healey took office but the spigot of cash for massive infrastructure projects could be at risk of tightening with President-elect Donald Trump set to take office next year.” — “Trump’s economy was good for New England before. Now there are big concerns,” by Larry Edelman, The Boston Globe: “Trump is dusting off his first-term playbook — tax cuts, deregulation, sharp curbs on immigration, and steep increases to tariffs. It’s a strategy fraught with potential risks for the economy in Massachusetts and throughout New England.” — “Maura Healey sued Trump nearly 100 times as Massachusetts AG; more fights ahead as governor,” by Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald: “President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to carry out mass deportations will likely be subject to litigation and other legal fights, says Gov. Maura Healey, who sued his previous administration nearly 100 times as attorney general.”
| | ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR | | — “Peace activists to protest for Gaza ceasefire at Veterans Town Hall,” by Michael McHugh, The Salem News: “Local peace activists plan to protest outside Seth Moulton’s annual Veterans Town Hall on Monday to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, a negotiation to bring hostages back to Israel, and a cessation of any more U.S. arms to Israel.” — “Northampton council approves resolution calling for arms embargo to Israel,” by Alexander MacDougall, Daily Hampshire Gazette.
| | DAY IN COURT | | — “SJC: $70,000 engagement ring must be returned to giver if wedding called off,” by Jennifer Smith, CommonWealth Beacon: “In a unanimous decision on Friday, the Supreme Judicial Court held that an engagement ring must be returned to the giver if the marriage never takes place, overturning the state’s long-held rule that the ring should go to whomever is not “at fault” for the breakup. The decision puts a button on a buzzy case about the legacy of gendered laws hidden in a suit over a $70,000 engagement ring.”
| | FROM THE DELEGATION | | WATCH — Rep. Jake Auchincloss talks about Fall River’s flip and gives his take on what went wrong for Democrats, the party’s way forward and what step President Joe Biden should take in the war on Ukraine on NBC10 Boston’s “At Issue.”
| | FROM THE 413 | | — “Questions simmer over downtown Amherst project: Some question whether new building is a dorm,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “A downtown mixed-use building under construction, to house Amherst College students starting next fall under an agreement between the college and the developer, is continuing to raise questions from residents and members of the Planning Board about whether it is in compliance with town zoning rules.”
| | | | A message from Johnson & Johnson:   | | | | | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | — “Negotiations grind ahead amid three North Shore teachers strikes,” by Sean Cotter, The Boston Globe: “Marblehead joined neighboring Gloucester and Beverly as three public school districts facing cancellations this week as teachers strike over contract negotiations. Union and administration representatives for all three spent Saturday in bargaining sessions as they sought to hammer out agreements over the long Veterans Day weekend, though there was little talk of progress.” — “'Criminalization of homelessness': Brockton on brink of new laws against camping, loitering,” by Chris Helms, The Brockton Enterprise: “New laws against camping and loitering could pass city council on Tuesday, marking a new chapter in how Brockton deals with homelessness. The new rules would set fines of $200 per day for illegal camping and $50 a day for loitering, among many other provisions. The proposals come as some downtown Brockton residents and business owners say negative effects from unhoused people are worse now than they've ever experienced.”
| | MEANWHILE IN RHODE ISLAND | | — “Governor, Providence mayor: RI will not support federal 'mass deportation' efforts,” by Katherine Gregg, The Providence Journal: “The governor, along with the mayor of Rhode Island's largest city, are making it clear that city and state police will not support the "mass deportation" of undocumented immigrants that President-elect Donald Trump promised during his campaign.
| | MEDIA MATTERS | | — “After pushback, GBH says it’s open to selling CAI’s historic Woods Hole HQ to community group,” by Adam Reilly, GBH News: “CAI, the GBH-owned public radio station that covers Cape Cod and the Islands, may not be relocating from its beloved 19th-century headquarters in Woods Hole after all. Two weeks after announcing it was selling CAI’s building at 3 Water Street, GBH now says it’s prepared to consider a possible contingent offer from the Woods Hole Community Association that would allow the station to remain in place.”
| | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Alec MacGillis, Will Boscow, Jesse Adams, Shelly Tsirulik and The New York Times’ Eric Athas, a UMass Amherst alum.
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