11:00am House Session, Informal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

2:00pm Greater Boston Chamber Government Affairs Forum: Chairman Richard Neal, Via webcast

Marty Walsh is weighing a run for Massachusetts governor » Politico

Deadline Whittles Ballot Question Field to Three Campaigns » State House News Service

Republican Shaunna O’Connell ‘seriously considering’ a run for Massachusetts governor: sources » Boston Herald

Charlie Baker dismisses notion that he was ‘shaken’ by Trump-endorsed primary challenger » Boston.com

MetroWest Medical Center inks contract with union as St. Vincent strike continues » Worcester Telegram

Ed Flynn claims votes for Boston City Council presidency » WGBH

Karyn Polito: From Shrewsbury town meeting member to lieutenant governor » Worcester Telegram

Middlesex DA’s office reports 39% spike in hate-related incidents in one month » WGBH

Maura Healey? Marty Walsh? With Baker out, who might run for governor of Massachusetts? » Boston Globe

From essential worker bonuses to $25 million for trees, state spending plan spreads COVID money far and wide » Boston Globe

With New Advocacy Strategy, CCC Urging Lawmakers to Create Equity Fund » State House News Service

Charlie Baker leaves on his terms. Where does that leave Massachusetts? » Boston Globe

Editorial: Covid tests are made here. Why aren't people using them? » Boston Business Journal

“Will This Institution Survive the Stench?”: Gutting Abortion Rights Could Damage the Supreme Court’s Own Legitimacy » Vanity Fair

Biden Has Slipped With Independents, Can He Win Them Back? » The Cook Political Report

Four Times Opinion Writers Debate Abortion at the Supreme Court: ‘My Guess Is They Overturn’ » New York Times

Pfizer Is Lobbying to Thwart Whistleblowers From Exposing Corporate Fraud » The Intercept

NY: Hundreds of correction officers barred from work over vaccine mandate » Politico New York

NY: Why It Might Be Difficult to Convict Andrew Cuomo of Forcible Touching » New York Times

GA: Democrat Stacey Abrams, who narrowly lost to Gov. Brian Kemp, announces bid for Georgia governor in a potential rematch » Washington Post

FL: COVID in Florida: Decoding the data behind state surgeon general's policies » Tallahassee Democrat

Trump and Republicans are claiming credit for Baker’s decision not to run. It’s more complicated than that » Boston Globe

Government nears weekend shutdown as Republicans take aim at vaccine and testing mandates » Boston Globe

Egg supply in peril if voter law kicks in on Jan. 1 » WGBH

$5 A Dozen? Egg Prices In Massachusetts Could ‘Skyrocket’ If Beacon Hill Can’t Update Animal Welfare Law » CBS Boston

Supreme Court justices sound ready to restrict the right to abortion » Boston Herald

Editorial: Massachusetts lawmakers must protect the rights of LGBTQ and other parents » Boston Globe

Supreme Court seems poised to uphold Mississippi abortion law » Boston Globe

Easthampton High School talk to address teen marijuana use » Gazette Net

Fired Massachusetts teacher sues district after she was axed over TikTok videos » Boston Herald

Cassellius approves adding sixth grade to three elementaries after closure of BPS middle schools left some students in lurch » Boston Globe

In our throwaway, single-use culture Massachusetts needs an updated bottle bill (Guest viewpoint) » MassLive

Madaro, House Pass Legislation to Balance Health Care Market and Protect Community Hospitals Like EBNHC » East Boston Times-Free Press

Facing Scrutiny Over Expansion, Mass General Brigham Takes to Airwaves » State House News Service

Vertex to advance kidney disease drug after positive early data » Boston Globe

Michelle Wu revives Mass and Cass Roundhouse homeless hotel plans, frustrated advocates say » Boston Herald

Changes to Section 35 are being reviewed by lawmakers. Here’s what you should know. » Boston.com

Immigration Enforcement Bill Backers Hope This Year’s Tweaks Generate Momentum » State House News Service

Finalized Mass. ballot questions set up gig worker classification showdown in 2022 » WGBH

Votes to Finalize ARPA and Surplus Spending Planned This Week » State House News Service

COVID-19 Remembrance Day effort picking up steam on Beacon Hill » WGBH

State Rep Alan Silvia among those in Fall River Diocese receiving Marian Medals » Fall River Reporter

Ed Flynn to be Boston city council president, he says » Boston Herald

Our Opinion: Keep temperature down in Mohawk development debate » Berkshire Eagle

Residents, City Council question developer behind proposed Mohawk Theater sale » Berkshire Eagle

Haverhill Council Largely Backs Lupoli’s Downtown Plan; Talks on to Buy City and Private Land » WHAV

A former and current department head will oversee Pittsfield's nearly $41 million in ARPA money » Berkshire Eagle

Democratic consultant says Marty Walsh is telling people he wants to run for Massachusetts governor » Boston.com

Baker, Polito say they won’t seek re-election » Commonwealth Magazine

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey says decision on run for governor will come soon, focuses on Baker’s accomplishments » MassLive

With Baker's exit, the spotlight is on AG Maura Healey » WGBH

Edwards Endorsed by State Senators and Representatives » Revere Journal

Charlie Baker makes ‘extremely difficult decision’ not to run for re-election as Massachusetts governor » Boston Herald

Battenfeld: Former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh would face no easy path in run for Massachusetts governor » Boston Herald

Who’s in, who’s out in race for governor of Massachusetts » Boston Herald

Activist Stacey Abrams launches 2nd campaign for Georgia governor » Boston Herald

Most Attleboro area lawmakers praise Baker as he announces he won't run for third term » The Sun Chronicle

Baker, Polito say 8 years is enough » Commonwealth Magazine

Trump: ‘Selfish’ Gov. Baker ‘Bad News’ For Republican Party » CBS Boston

Healey calls Baker ‘valued partner’ » Commonwealth Magazine

Markey endorses Edwards for Senate » The Bay State Banner

With Charlie Baker out, the three most immediate questions about the governor’s race now » Boston Globe

‘We really ought to just focus on the work’: Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito explain forgoing third term for COVID recovery » MassLive

With Baker out, 2022 Massachusetts election enters a new phase » WAMC

Galvin on Reelection: "Draw Your Own Conclusions" » State House News Service

Political analyst: With Gov. Baker out of the race, expect AG Maura Healey to run for governor » WCVB

Mass. AG Healey says she's saving 2022 campaign announcement 'for another day' » Patriot Ledger

Opinion: Baker’s exit creates a huge vacuum » Boston Globe

Looking Ahead to a Gubernatorial Race Without Gov. Charlie Baker » NECN

Healey would be ‘prohibitive favorite’ heading into 2022 election if she runs for Mass. governor, pollster says » WHDH

Harvard poll: 52% of young Americans think democracy is ‘in trouble’ or ‘failing’ » Boston Herald

Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito will not run for governor in 2022, adviser says » Boston Globe

Former President Donald Trump calls Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, who’s not seeking a third term, ‘very selfish’ » MassLive

Reverberations From Charlie Baker’s Exit » The American Prospect

Biden faces new pressure on vaccine equity as Omicron variant reveals perils of global gap » Boston Globe

Biden launching winter COVID-19 booster, testing campaign » Boston Globe

Harvard’s public health school forms partnership with Chinese university to tackle global threats » Boston Globe

COVID infections in Mass. reach highest level in months, while first Omicron case in US is identified » Boston Globe

DA rules use of force in Braintree fatal shooting was justified; K9 Kitt killed proved heroic » Boston Herald

Fare-free Worcester buses called bright spot in transit recovery » Commonwealth Magazine

Boston City Council approves $8 million to make three MBTA bus lines fare-free starting next year » Boston Globe

Social Media Spotlight

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GBH News Gov. Baker is out for 2022. What does it mean for Massachusetts? CBS Boston Keller @ Large: Key Reasons Baker Is Not Seeking Third Term

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Podcast Spotlight

NPR The NPR Politics Podcast: The Big Consequences Of Small Changes To Congressional Maps CommonWealth Magazine The Codcast: The bullseye on Mass General Brigham's back WBUR Radio Boston: With Baker not running again, what's the state of the race for governor? The MassINC Polling Group The Horse Race: Episode 192: Baker's out, on to 2022

Audit Identifies Barriers to Access in Operational Services Division » MA Office of the State Auditor

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden Pays $5,000 Civil Penalty for Violating Conflict of Interest Law » MA State Ethics Commission

A Call for Climate Justice at the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights » Union of Concerned Scientists

Congresswoman Trahan Announces $3 Million In Head Start Funding For Making Opportunity Count In Fitchburg » Office of Congresswoman Lori Trahan

Whip Clark Statement on the Passing of Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. » Office of Congresswoman Katherine Clark

Administration opens Destination Development grant program » Mass. Municipal Association

Release: Airlines to disclose fees up front, give automatic refunds for cancellations, delays » MassPIRG

Ending the Tax Penalty Against Working Immigrants » Mass. Budget & Policy Center