CommonWealth Beacon staff
Posted inThe Codcast

How ‘universal’ is universal pre-K?

by CommonWealth Beacon staff

This week on The Codcast, we dive into Gov. Maura Healey’s “Gateway to Pre-K” agenda. By the end of 2026, her administration declared that every family of a 4-year-old in the state’s 26 Gateway Cities would have the opportunity – at low or no cost – to enroll their child in a preschool program that prepares them for kindergarten. But local providers say they won’t get there.

Posted inThe Codcast

‘Administrative fat’ or ‘amnesia’: How much should we spend on the MBTA?

by CommonWealth Beacon staff

This week on The Codcast, we dive into a long-running debate: is the significant growth in state funding for the T an acknowledgment that good public transit requires big public investment, or is it a reflection of out-of-control spending? CommonWealth Beacon senior reporter Chris Lisinski moderates a discussion with former Transportation Secretary Jim Aloisi and Pioneer Institute senior fellow Charlie Chieppo.

Posted inThe Codcast

Big tech is watching

by CommonWealth Beacon staff

This week on the Codcast – what does online surveillance look like in 2026? CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jennifer Smith talks with Kade Crockford, director of technology and justice programs at the ACLU of Massachusetts. They discuss the biggest misconceptions about data privacy online, why your information is valuable and vulnerable, and legislation proposed at the state level to limit who can see and sell user data.

Posted inThe Codcast

Regulating insurance as health care costs surge

by CommonWealth Beacon staff

On the monthly Health or Consequences episode of The Codcast, John McDonough of the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute talk with Michael Caljouw, the state commissioner of insurance. They discuss new regulations for insurers, concerns about the stability and solvency of the Massachusetts health insurance system, and insurer consolidation.

Posted inThe Saturday Send

Mass. vs. ICE

by CommonWealth Beacon staff

reporter Jennifer Smith explains the state’s legal limitations in addressing ICE actions and Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s lawsuit against nine towns for not adhering to the MBTA Communities law. Meanwhile, the Sierra Club calls for the removal of the House energy chair and cold weather throws cold water on Governor Maura Healey’s energy savings efforts.

Plus: the state’s budget significantly increases MassHealth spending, declining immigration threatens the Massachusetts economy, and Everett’s new mayor inherits a slate of major development projects.

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