There were four concurring opinions, two dissents, and a majority opinion that had only three votes in parts. Nevertheless, a solid six justices said Trump lacked the power to impose these tariffs. The Bay State’s electeds welcomed the ruling and blasted Trump for instituting them in the first place.
In the days and weeks since agents of the federal government shot Renee Good in the face and Alex Pretti in the back, support for turfing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has spread across the Democratic caucus. Both of the 413’s Congressmen, Richard Neal of Springfield and James McGovern of Worcester, whose Central Massachusetts district reaches into the upper Pioneer Valley, have cosponsored an impeachment resolution against Noem.
Western Mass appears to have its first open legislative contest of the 2026 cycle. Deerfield Rep Natalie Blais announced last week that she would be resigning on January 19 to take a job with UMass-Amherst. It is unclear whether there will actually be a special election for the seat. Either way, a large field could easily bubble up from the 18 communities the sprawling 1st Franklin District.
Local members of Congress are calling out Nexstar Media Group, the owner of WWLP, for its role in the suspension of ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Last week James McGovern, a whose Worcester-based district includes Amherst, Greenfield and Northampton, demanded answers from Nexstar leadership after the company said it would preempt Kimmel.
Senator Ed Markey has already received support for his reelection from the commonwealth’s east and west. That support is now meeting in its (geographic) center. In a video, Worcester Congressman James McGovern, who also represents much of Franklin and Hampshire counties, announced his support for Markey adding “there is no better fighter in the Senate.”
Columbia University protester Mahmoud Khalil came to Capitol Hill to lobby on behalf of Palestinians. Of course, the context of Khalil’s visit was not just the war in Gaza he had opposed as a student. Donald Trump and cronies had imprisoned Khalil, a lawful permanent resident with US citizen family, for his activism at Columbia after the war broke out. Among those Khalil met were members of the 413’s delegation including Senator Ed Markey and 2nd Massachusetts District Rep James McGovern.
Republicans in the United State House of Representatives jammed through their budget and spending bill this week. Given their rank in the Democratic caucus, both reps for Western Massachusetts featured prominently in the debate.
UPDATED 1/8/25 8:14PM: To include confirmation of Boyle’s status on another committee and to note Democratic assignments for subcommittees. As the 119th Congress and its House of Representatives settles in, the latter’s committees are beginning to take shape. Neither party changed leaders on the Committee.
Democratic Party politics and the presidential contest experienced upheaval Sunday when President Joe Biden announced he would decline the nomination for president at the party’s national convention next month in Chicago. Biden immediately turned to his vice-president, Kamala Harris, who has already won the support of delegates who will represent the 413 in the Windy City.
A rare mid-Congress shakeup has changed the committee counterpart of one of the 413’s congressmen. At the tail end of Tuesday’s Rules Committee meeting, Ranking Member James McGovern, a Worcester Democrat who represents Amherst, Greenfield and Northampton, bid farewell to Chairman Tom Cole, an Oklahoma Republican.