This week on The Codcast, John McDonough of the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute are joined by Tiffany Joseph, assistant professor of sociology and international affairs at Northeastern University, to discuss her new book, ‘Not All In: Race, Immigration, and Healthcare Exclusion in the Age of Obamacare.’
The Codcast
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No man is an island: The collective climate challenge of coastal Massachusetts
This episode of the Codcast is a recording of a live event that took place April 30 in Provincetown, Mass., co-moderated by CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jennifer Smith and Eve Zuckoff of CAI (the Cape and Islands NPR station). Together with a panel of conservation, planning, and community development experts, they discussed what it means to live and plan responsibly on the Cape and Islands, understanding the realities of climate change and the housing crunch as a collective crisis.
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UMass Pres. Meehan on higher ed crisis response
CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jennifer Smith is joined by Marty Meehan, president of the University of Massachusetts system, to discuss UMass’s work in climate technology and its response to the federal government’s attacks on higher education.
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The stakes of Western Mass. transit gaps
CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jennifer Smith is joined by state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa of the First Hampshire district and Laura Sylvester, public policy manager at the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, to discuss transportation challenges in Western Massachusetts and how they connect with other policy areas.
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Managed retreat: not if, but when?
CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jennifer Smith is joined by Kristin Uiterwyk, director of the Urban Harbors Institute at UMass Boston, and Chris Krahforst, Director of Climate Adaptation and Conservation for the town of Hull, to discuss managed retreat in Massachusetts coastal communities threatened by rising waters and shrinking sands.
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Sec. Santiago on improving veterans services
CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jennifer Smith is joined by Jon Santiago, Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans Services, to discuss how the now two-year-old office is progressing, advances at the Commonwealth’s Veterans Homes, how it is responding to threats from Washington, and what work he’s excited about for the future.
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Primary care physicians organizing union at Mass General Brigham
This week on The Codcast, John McDonough of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute talk to Michael Barnett, who is both a primary care physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a professor of health policy at the T.H. Chan School, about the ongoing effort to unionize PCPs across the Mass General Brigham system.
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Sec. Augustus on housing policy base hits
CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jennifer Smith sits down with Ed Augustus, Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, to discuss how federal policy changes threaten state housing goals, the Commonwealth’s response, the tools it is using to meet those goals, and much more.
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The data purge domino effect
CommonWealth Beacon reporter Jennifer Smith is joined by Ariel Beccia, an instructor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, to discuss the Trump administration’s purges of health-related government data, how these and other data purges ripple through society, and researchers’ efforts to respond.
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Temporary Protected Status marks the latest immigration standoff between Trump and Massachusetts
CommonWealth Beacon’s Jennifer Smith is joined by Sarang Sekhavat, Chief of Staff at the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), to discuss threats to immigration policies such as Temporary Protected Status and sanctuary cities, and how officials in Massachusetts and nationally are responding.
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Sen. Ed Markey and the chainsaw to democracy
CommonWealth Beacon’s Jennifer Smith interviews US Sen. Ed Markey on the fight against Trump’s actions, his stance on running again, and the future of the Democratic party.
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Tackling the primary care crisis in Massachusetts
John McDonough of the T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute sit down with Dr. Wayne Altman, Professor and Chair of Family Medicine at Tufts School of Medicine, to discuss the growing primary care crisis in Massachusetts.
They explore the causes behind the physician shortage, and the ‘Primary Care for You’ bill aimed at reforming payment models and improving access to care.
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The case for banning smart phones in schools
CommonWealth Beacon editor Laura Colarusso sits down with state Senator John Velis to discuss the growing issue of smart phone addiction among youth, its impact on mental health, and a new bill aimed at addressing these concerns.
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Josh Kraft enters Boston mayoral race
CommonWealth Beacon editor Laura Colarusso is joined by fellow reporter Gintautas Dumcius to discuss Josh Kraft’s candidacy, Mayor Wu’s response, and top issues in this race.
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Legislating care and cost: the health insurers’ perspective
John McDonough of the T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute interview Lora Pellegrini, president of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, to discuss healthcare affordability, regulation, and legislative efforts in Massachusetts. They cover prescription drug pricing, hospital accountability, and the future of the Affordable Care Act, highlighting Massachusetts as a leader in healthcare reform.
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Reckoning with Trump’s inauguration on MLK day
CommonWealth Beacon’s Jennifer Smith is joined by Nicole Obi, president and CEO of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, and Imari K. Paris Jeffries, executive director of Embrace Boston. They discuss how organizations dedicated to racial justice and equity are responding to the challenges of this political era.
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SJC lays down the law on MBTA Communities
Commonwealth Beacon’s Jennifer Smith chats with Greg Reibman, president of the Charles River Regional Chamber, and Luc Schuster, executive director of Boston Indicators at the Boston Foundation. They discuss how the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s ruling on the MBTA Communities Act impacts the state’s power to mandate zoning reform in cities and towns.
Listen to past Codcasts on this topic: ‘Milton’s dilemma in the face of housing reform’ (10/13/24) , ‘AG Andrea Campbell talks local power and gambling boom’ (4/14/24) , ‘MBTA Communities panel splits over state vs. local control’ (4/7/24)
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Massachusetts roundtable: a look at 2025 legislative priorities
Commonwealth Beacon’s Jennifer Smith sits down with Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo, Brad Campbell, president of the Conservation Law Foundation, and Jessica Collins, executive director of the Public Health Institute of Western MA to discuss key statehouse priorities. They reflect on past achievements and look ahead to future efforts in education, climate, transportation, and housing.
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Massachusetts health care concerns under Trump 2.0
John McDonough of the T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute sit down with Amy Rosenthal, executive director of Health Care for All, to discuss the potential impacts of a second Trump term on Medicaid and Medicare in Massachusetts.
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Outgoing Rep. Bill Straus considers the fate of Mass. transportation
CommonWealth Beacon’s Jennifer Smith interviews Rep. Bill Straus of the 10th Bristol district on past, present, and future transportation issues in Massachusetts.
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Parking minimums are out in Somerville
This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon’s Jennifer Smith chats with Somerville City Council President Ben Ewen-Campen about Somerville’s zoning amendment to eliminate parking minimums for new development.
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Does AI interfere in our democracy?
This week on the Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon’s Jennifer Smith is joined by Bruce Schneier, fellow and lecturer in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and Nathan Sanders, fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. They discuss how AI has the power to strengthen civic engagement in elections and policymaking, the importance of transparency it its use, and how it can be developed to prioritize democratic values.
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How accountable care organizations serve MassHealth patients
This week on The Codcast, John McDonough of the T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute chat with Christina Severin, president of Community Care Cooperative (C3). They discuss the role of accountable care organizations in coordinating high quality care for MassHealth patients, the transformation of Neighborhood Health Plan, and looking ahead at health care challenges under a second Trump term.
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The next battle over abortion rights
This week on The Codcast, CommonWealth Beacon’s Jennifer Smith sits down with Rebecca Hart Holder, president of Reproductive Equity Now, to discuss how abortion advocates are gearing up for a second Trump term. They dig into Project 2025 plans to dismantle reproductive rights, the need for state action, and strategic messaging for the next four years.
