Why is Mass. so meh about top Dems?

Also: The alleged role of postpartum medication in Duxbury killings; Sununu's step toward a presidential run [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  February 9, 2023 ⛅ Partly cloudy, with a high near 47 and a chance of rain at night. Good Morning Boston, It turns out that Massachusetts residents' opinions of President Joe Biden and other top Democrats in the traditionally deep-blue state is a little bit like the weather this week: surprisingly lukewarm. - A [new poll today from MassINC Polling]( found that Bay Staters' views of Biden are about split down the middle (43% favorable to 42% unfavorable) and that less than a quarter (22%) want Biden to run for reelection, including 35% of self-described Democrats. Those numbers are mostly in line with [recent national polls]( but MassINC President Steve Koczela says they should be particularly "troubling" for Biden, given that “Massachusetts was one of his best states" in 2020. The poll also shows a slight drop in Biden's in-state approval rating since MassINC's [most recent poll last fall]( before the midterms. - The 986-person survey was conducted last week — before Biden's [rousing State of the Union address](. But then again, State of the Unions [don't often have much of an effect]( on public opinion. - The numbers also aren't great for the state's senior U.S. senator, Elizabeth Warren, who received a 41%-36% favorability rating. [Her 2024 reelection bid]( got about the same margin of support. - Meanwhile, the poll found that less than half the state (45%) had heard of Rep. Katherine Clark, despite [her ascent to the second-highest ranking Democrat in the House](. That's less than disgraced New York Rep. George Santos (who was known among 75% of respondents) not to mention celebrities like Tom Brady (97%). - One glimmer: Gov. Maura Healey was viewed favorably by 42% of respondents, which was double her unfavorable numbers — with room to grow. More than a third of residents haven't made up their mind. MassINC research director Rich Parr said people are still getting introduced to Healey, who he said didn't have to run a very "vigorous" campaign to beat a "weak" Republican opponent. - The big picture: Parr noted that "we’re in a period of really extreme polarization nationally," meaning that Biden (and basically any president) is "stuck in a very narrow band of approval or disapproval." Still, he noted that the lack of enthusiasm for other local Dems was a bit eyebrow-raising — perhaps reflective of the current political moment. "Remember how Tip O’Neil used to say, 'all politics is local'? Well, now I think it’s that all politics is national, and folks are viewing even local issues through national lenses," Parr said. - Another possibility: People are exhausted by politics in the post-Trump era, "and Democrats, in particular, are off living their lives and not particularly tuned in right now," Parr suggested. - The federal government plans to stop funding local COVID responses this May. However, the City of Boston will keep offering free COVID vaccines through "at least" this December. Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, the city's public health commissioner, said the city's commitment to free vaccinations "will become even more important as the national public health emergency ends." - Even after the federal declaration expires on May 11, most people won't be charged for COVID vaccines. But the exception is those with limited health insurance or no plan at all. (ICYMI: NPR has [a good explainer of what does — and doesn't change — here]( - The good news: COVID levels in Boston's wastewater are down nearly 50% in the last two weeks. - Visitors at the Encore casino in Everett may soon be able to walk across the street and place bets there, too. Despite [some initial ambiguity]( about what a local casino law allows, regulators decided Wednesday to let Encore move forward with plans for a massive gaming and entertainment complex on the other side of Broadway. - What it includes: A poker room, sportsbook, nightclub, roof deck "day club," theater, comedy club and 2,100-space parking garage — all connected to the main casino via a pedestrian bridge. And that's just the first phase, [according to The Boston Globe](. P.S.— Today is the last day to [save on roses for Valentine's Day.]( Order by midnight to save 10% on all four choices. Winston Flowers will deliver your gift nearly anywhere in New England — and you will strengthen our journalism. As Michael Scott [would say]( it's a "win-win-win." [Place your order here!]( Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Family expressed concern about mother’s medication before prosecutor says she killed three children]( Arguments at this week's arraignment made it clear that Lindsay Clancy's treatment for postpartum depression will play a role as she stands accused of killing her three children. [Read more.]( [Family expressed concern about mother’s medication before prosecutor says she killed three children]( Arguments at this week's arraignment made it clear that Lindsay Clancy's treatment for postpartum depression will play a role as she stands accused of killing her three children. [Read more.]( [If you got inflation relief from your state, the IRS wants you to wait to file taxes]( We're two weeks into tax season, but the IRS is urging people in at least 19 states to hold off on filing their tax returns. The reason? The agency is still figuring out how to handle special tax refunds and other payments states issued in 2022. [Read more.]( [If you got inflation relief from your state, the IRS wants you to wait to file taxes]( We're two weeks into tax season, but the IRS is urging people in at least 19 states to hold off on filing their tax returns. The reason? The agency is still figuring out how to handle special tax refunds and other payments states issued in 2022. [Read more.]( [Sununu moves closer to presidential run with creation of new fundraising committee]( Sununu said he had formed the "Live Free or Die" committee, a 501(c)(4) organization that permits politicians to raise unlimited money without disclosing the donations. It is the strongest signal yet he’s serious about a possible presidential run. [Read more.]( [Sununu moves closer to presidential run with creation of new fundraising committee]( Sununu said he had formed the "Live Free or Die" committee, a 501(c)(4) organization that permits politicians to raise unlimited money without disclosing the donations. It is the strongest signal yet he’s serious about a possible presidential run. [Read more.]( [Warren pitches a plan for $10-a-day child care]( A Massachusetts family with an infant and a two-year-old making $130,125 per year would pay no more than $10 per day for child care under a plan proposed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren. [Read more.]( [Warren pitches a plan for $10-a-day child care]( A Massachusetts family with an infant and a two-year-old making $130,125 per year would pay no more than $10 per day for child care under a plan proposed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren. [Read more.]( [As more patients travel to New England for abortions, Connecticut looks to expand access]( Over the last year, since the Supreme Court ruling, there's been an increase in patients coming to New England for an abortion. In Connecticut, more providers who are not OB-GYNs are trained to perform early-term abortions to help meet the demand. State leaders are also proposing expanding access to contraceptive pills and funding for those traveling to get an abortion. [Read more.]( [As more patients travel to New England for abortions, Connecticut looks to expand access]( Over the last year, since the Supreme Court ruling, there's been an increase in patients coming to New England for an abortion. In Connecticut, more providers who are not OB-GYNs are trained to perform early-term abortions to help meet the demand. State leaders are also proposing expanding access to contraceptive pills and funding for those traveling to get an abortion. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - We're well into Black History Month, and WBUR arts fellow Lauren Williams writes that Boston is "a great place to be if you are looking for ways to engage with Black culture this weekend." Several of those ways are in [her rundown of five things to do this weekend](. - In honor of legendary composer John Williams' 91st birthday, the Boston Symphony Orchestra [is (almost done) digitizing more than 200 of his Boston Pops radio broadcasts](. The streams should be accessible starting June 15. (Hey, a late gift is better than no gift.) - Planning your Valentine's Day next week? What about a movie night? From "The Princess Bride" to "Before Sunrise," film critic Sean Burns has [a guide to both new and classic films screening at local theaters on the most romantic — and dreadful — day of the year](. - Lisa Gordon didn’t notice the plaque on her South End apartment building at first. But upon further inspection, she [writes in this commentary that she discovered the small building was home to Boston's first Black hospital]( and a fascinating legacy.  What We're Reading 📚 - Inside the Implosion of Justin Roiland’s Animation Empire ([The Hollywood Reporter]( - What I Think About LeBron Breaking My NBA Scoring Record ([Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]( - Why There Was No Racial Reckoning ([The Atlantic](  Tell Me Something Good [A Connecticut town's local paper folded, so Ralph Nader started a new one]( At a time when community newspapers across the U.S. are dying at alarming rates, consumer activist and four-time presidential candidate Ralph Nader is starting one. He's bankrolling the start of the Winsted Citizen, covering the New England mill town where he grew up and still lives in northwestern Connecticut. [Read more.]( [A Connecticut town's local paper folded, so Ralph Nader started a new one]( At a time when community newspapers across the U.S. are dying at alarming rates, consumer activist and four-time presidential candidate Ralph Nader is starting one. He's bankrolling the start of the Winsted Citizen, covering the New England mill town where he grew up and still lives in northwestern Connecticut. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common dives into [the systemic challenges of accessing affordable higher education in Massachusetts](. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: It's too early in the year this]( to [happen]( [three times]( this week. 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📧 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( Support the news   Want to change how you receive these emails? 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