CHRIS: TONIGHT ON "TALKING POLITICS," THE HEAD OF THE MASSINC POLLING GROUP DRIVES ME TO TALK ABOUT THE RESULTS OF HIS NEW POLL.

BUT FIRST I ENJOYED ABOUT MESSAGES IS ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDREA CAMPBELL TO TALK ABOUT A BEVY OF ISSUES INCLUDING HER LAWSUIT AGAINST THE TOWN OF MILTON, AND ANY EFFORT TO CRACK DOWN ON YOUTH SPORTS BETTING.

ATTORNEY GENERAL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AG CAMPBELL: IT GOES BACK AND FORTH.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

[LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] ADAM: I REMEMBER WATCHING YOU CAMPAIGNING WITH THEM-ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY IN THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE AND YOU HAD HER VERY ENERGETIC ENCOURAGEMENT.

BUT YOU MADE IT CLEAR ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND SINCE TAKING OFFICE THAT YOU WANT TO BRING YOUR OWN DISTINCT APPROACH TO THE JOB.

WHAT DIFFERENTIATES YOUR APPROACH TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL FROM YOUR PREDECESSOR’S?

AG CAMPBELL: I THINK YOU MAKE THIS CLEAR ALL OF US, THAT WHEN AN AG COMES IN, YOU BUILD UPON THE LEGACY OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE.

I AM DOING JUST THAT.

OUR GOAL IS TO CONTINUE TO MODERNIZE THE OFFICE.

FRANK REALLY STARTED THAT AND OF COURSE HE TURNS 101 THIS YEAR AND HAS CONTINUED TO BE A GREAT MENTOR AND ADVISOR AND COUNSELOR TO ME.

ADAM: ADAM: YOU ARE STILL GETTING ADVICE FROM HIM?

AG CAMPBELL: ABSOLUTELY, I JUST SAW HIM AT AN EVENT HE COHOSTED WITH A FEW FOLKS FOR ME.

ADAM: THAT IS REMARKABLE, HIM GETTING ADVICE MONEY HE IS ABOUT TO HIT 101.

AG CAMPBELL: HE LOOKS FABULOUS, BETTER THAN A LOT OF ELDERS I AM IN CONVERSATION WITH THESE DAYS.

HE, ALONG WITH OTHERS CONTINUED TO OFFER ADVICE AND COUNCIL AND WILL CONTINUE TO MODERNIZE THE OFFICE.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WE HAVE OVER 600 EMPLOYEES ACROSS FOUR DIFFERENT OFFICES AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE OFFICE ACCESSIBLE.

WE HAVE AN OFFICE IN SPRINGFIELD, WORCESTER AND NEW BEDFORD AND HIRING INTO THOSE OFFICES HAVE BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT, NOT JUST BOSTON.

WE ARE ALSO ESTABLISHING NEW UNITS.

WE GOT THE POLICE ACCOUNTABLE OF THE UNIT OFF THE GROUND.

THE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION UNIT.

THE REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE UNIT AND SOON, A HOUSING UNIT.

THERE NOT ONLY MODERNIZE THE OFFICE APP MAKE SURE THE WORK YOU’RE DOING IS INTERSECTIONAL ACROSS ALL THE BUREAUS.

ADAM: THE UNITS ARE NOT ENORMOUS WHEN IT COMES TO STAFF THAT THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO SERVE AS POINT PERSON FOR THESE EFFORTS AND TIE EVERYTHING TOGETHER, IS THAT A FAIR CHARACTERIZATION?

AG CAMPBELL: FOR TRADE, THEY HAVE A DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY.

THE GOAL IS TO CONTINUE TO RESOURCE THESE UNITS AND THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN THAT REGARD.

THAT RECOGNIZES THE OFFICE IN MANY WAYS BECAUSE IT BEGINS TO MAKE THESE UNITS NOT ONLY RELEVANT TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT, BUT ALSO INTERSECTIONAL.

FOCUS ON THESE ISSUES LOCALLY BUT ARE LEADING NATIONALLY.

I WOULD ADD, THE SETS OF ISSUES WE WILL FOCUS ON MAY DIFFER, WHETHER IT IS GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND POLICE MISCONDUCT WERE WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BRING ABOUT GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

GOING ENFORCEMENT AND GANG VIOLENCE PREVENTION IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

EVERYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH HOUSING IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST AS WE ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY.

AND LASTLY STOCK ECONOMICS, IT WILL FOCUS ON ISSUES OF ECONOMICS.

I DON’T KNOW WHETHER THAT HAS BEEN WHAT PEOPLE TYPICALLY EXTRACT FROM THE AG’S OFFICE.

ADAM: THAT PERFECTLY ANTICIPATED MY NEXT QUESTION FOR YOU.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE STRUCK BY AS YOU START SAYING THAT THE AG’S OFFICE COULD ACT AS A FACILITATOR OF ECONOMIC MOBILITY.

HOW CAN YOUR OFFICE DO THAT?

AG CAMPBELL: IN SIGNIFICANT WAYS.

I HIRED SOMEONE IN THE EXECUTIVE THIS IS MY SENIOR ADVISOR TO ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR A JOB IS TO LOOK ACROSS THE OFFICE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ADVANCING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

THAT MEANS TAKING ON STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

WE ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAT WORK, EVERYTHING HAVING TO CLOSE THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP, FOCUSING ON HOUSING AS A TOOL TO DO THAT.

I AM ALSO FOCUSING ON LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO DO THIS.

THERE IS A LOT WE CAN DO ALONG WITH OUR CONSUMER PROTECTION ISSUES.

WE HAVE PROPOSED IN NOW AND JUNKIES FEES, OR THOSE HIDDEN FEES.

WE ARE WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO FINALIZE THOSE.

SO ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF SCAMS, CONSUMER PROTECTION, POLICY ISSUES IN TERMS OF ECONOMICS AND AFFORDABILITY, WE ARE PUTTING AT THE FOREFRONT BECAUSE WE KNOW THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOLKS ARE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW IN MASSACHUSETTS IS THAT IT IS TOO EXPENSIVE TO LIVE HERE AND WORK HERE.

WE HAVE A DIRECT ROLE TO PLAY IN CHANGING THAT.

ADAM: I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE FROM YOU ABOUT THE YOUTH SPORTS BETTING COALITION HE RECENTLY ROLLED OUT WITH FORMER GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER AND OTHERS.

LET’S PREFER YOU EXPLAIN -- BEFORE YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING, LET’S HEAR FROM FORMER GOVERNOR BAKER, NOW NCAA PRESIDENT BAKER, TALKING ABOUT THREATS RECEIVED BY ONE TEAM IN THE LEAD UP TO A CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT, I BELIEVE, LAST YEAR.

>> WE HAD A CHAMPIONSHIP AT ONE POINT LAST YEAR AROUND WITHOUT THE THREAT THAT HAD BEEN DELIVERED TO A PARTICULAR TEAM WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT WE GIVE THEM -- GAVE THEM 24/7 POLICE PROTECTION.

AS YOU KNOW ABOUT YOU, KNOWING THAT I HAVE POLICE PROTECTION MIGHT MAKE ME FEEL BETTER IN ONE WAY, BUT IT HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF THEIR PLAY.

ADAM: WHAT IS THIS NEW COALITION GOING TO DO, AND WHY IS IT NECESSARY?

AG CAMPBELL: IT IS CRITICAL.

I PUT MY HEAD IN YEAR ONE TO DELIVER OUR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE OFFICE FOCUSED ON FIVE PILLARS, GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY BEING ONE, ECONOMICS BEING ANOTHER.

I AM A MOTHER OF TWO YOUNG BOYS AND THE WELL-BEING OF OUR YOUTH REALLY RISES TO THE TOP.

ONE AREA OF FOCUS IS NOT JUST ON THEIR MENTAL HEALTH WHICH WE ARE FOCUSED ON, BUT ALSO THEIR ECONOMICS.

AND YOUTH BETTING, I THINK, COMBINES BOTH.

ON THE ONE HAND WE DON’T WANT PEOPLE WHO ARE OF AGE TO BE PACING -- PLACING BETS AND DEVELOPING AN ADDICTION.

SO WE ARE FOCUSING EFFORTS ON THAT AUDIENCE.

ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, THOSE WHO ARE LEGALLY NOT SUPPOSED TO BE BETTING WHO MIGHT BE, BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 21, FOCUSING OUR EFFORTS THERE.

THIS TARGET AUDIENCE, THIS COALITION HAS COME TOGETHER TO SAY TO HER WE DEVELOP A CURRICULUM SO THEY KNOW THE PROS AND THE RISKS WHEN GETTING INVOLVED?

OR DO WE EDUCATE THEM BUT IT IS ILLEGAL TO PLAY SPORTS BUT WHEN YOU ARE BETWEEN 18-21?

WE HAVE ONLINE SPORTS BETTING IN MASSACHUSETTS FOR THE, FIRST TIME SOMETHING THAT CAN BECOME ADDICTIVE, AT THE SAME TIME, READILY AVAILABLE FROM A VERY ADDICTIVE DEVICE.

SO WE HAVE A DIRECT ROLE TO PLAY IN WORKING WITH OUR GAMING COMMISSION TO MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE AWARE OF THE RISKS, TO OFFER THEM PROTECTION WHERE WE CAN, AND TO MAKE SURE IT IS SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE.

IN EVERY SPORTS TEAM IN MASSACHUSETTS, THEY HAVE JOINED THESE EFFORTS.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION.

ADAM: WHEN I HAVE HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT GAMBLING WHETHER IN THIS PARTICULAR CONTEXT, OR BEFORE WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, TIGHTENING UP WHEN IT CAME TO REGULATIONS AROUND SPORTS BETTING I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE IMPRESSION, THAT PERSONALLY, YOU SORT OF WISH WE HADN’T LEGALIZED SPORTS BETTING, BUT THAT IT IS HERE NOW AND YOU WERE TRYING TO MAKE IT WORK AS WELL AS IT POSSIBLY CAN.

AM I RIGHT ABOUT THAT?

AG CAMPBELL: I DON’T HAVE ANY POSITION ON IT.

I PERSONALLY DON’T GET, I MEAN, IF I GO TO A CASINO WITH MY GIRLFRIENDS, I GO WITH $50 AND IF THEY LOSE THAT 50, I LEAVE AND GO ABOUT MY BUSINESS.

I TAKE NO POSITION THERE.

IF ANYTHING, IT IS HERE.

IT IS THE LAW OF MASSACHUSETTS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE AS WE WORK WITH OPERATORS, THE GAMING COMMISSION, AND OUR CONSTITUENTS, YOUNG PEOPLE AND PARENTS, THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR RATES ARE, THE LEGAL LANDSCAPE, AND THAT WE DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO PROTECT YOUNG PEOPLE FROM POTENTIAL ADDICTION AND ALL THE OTHER ADDICTIONS THAT COME WITH IT WHETHER IT IS SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, ALCOHOLISM, GOING INTO DEBT.

IF WE DO IT WITH EVERY SPORTS TEAM, YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY MAY BE THE BEST MESSENGER VERSUS THEIR AG.

THERE IS A WAY TO BE IMPACTFUL SO THAT IT IS SAFE.

ALSO, KUDOS TO OPERATORS WHO WANT TO STEP UP AND DO THEIR PART.

THEY HAVE SEPARATELY STARTED A COALITION AROUND THE SAME MESSAGING.

WE WANT TO SEE IF WE CAN BRING TOGETHER SOME OF THESE EFFORTS TOO.

ADAM: YOUR OFFICE RELEASED A REPORT, TRACKING THESE SO-CALLED COMPETITIVE ELECTRIC SUPPLIERS.

I BELIEVE THE MOST RECENT REPORT YOU PUT OUT SAID THEY HAVE COST MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS CLUSTER SIX HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE SPAN OF ABOUT EIGHT YEARS.

YOU ARE PUSHING THE LEGISLATURE TO BAN THEM.

IT IS A LEGISLATURE GOING TO DO THAT?

AG CAMPBELL: I HOPE SO.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS AGGRESSIVELY BECAUSE NOT JUST THIS RECENT REPORT, BUT REPORTS BEFORE HAVE MADE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT CONSUMERS AREN’T WINNING HERE, ONLY THE COMPETITIVE ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANIES.

THEY ARE MAKING A PROFIT BY TARGETING, LARGELY POOR NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, WITH AGGRESSIVE SCARE TACTICS, SOME OF WHICH ARE ILLEGAL, TO GET THEM TO BUY A PRODUCT THEY KNOW WILL NOT BRING THEM SAVINGS, BUT LOSSES.

SOMETIMES SIGNIFICANT LOSSES.

SO THE OFFICE CONTINUES TO FIELD HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS.

WE ARE RESPONDING TO THEM TO EITHER GET THEIR MONEY BACK, CANCEL THESE CONTRACTS, EVEN TAKING ON SOME OF THESE PROVIDERS TO SAY, DON’T DO THIS BUSINESS HERE.

BUT THE THING IS, THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH WE CAN DO.

SOMETIMES WHEN WE WIN A CASE AGAINST ONE OF THESE COMPETITIVE ELECTRIC SUPPLIERS, THEY FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY.

SO WE CAN’T GET THE RESTITUTION.

IT REALLY IS UP TO THE LEGISLATURE NOT TO BAN THEIR BOOK OF BUSINESS -- ON THE COMMERCIAL SIZE, THEY ARE DOING WELL, BRINGING ABOUT SAVINGS.

BUT ON THE RESIDENTIAL MARKET SIDE, THEY ARE NOT.

SO WE ARE PUSHING FOR A BAN ON THAT.

I JUST WANT ADAM: TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND BETWEEN THE COMMERCIAL SIDE OF THE COMMERCIAL SIDE?

AG CAMPBELL: IF THE COMPETITIVE ELECTRIC SUPPLIERS ARE SELLING THEIR PRODUCTS TO A BUSINESS, OR BUSINESSES ARE REALIZING SAVINGS, WE HAVE NOT SEEN COMPLAINTS THERE.

THE COMPLAINTS ARE IN THE RESIDENTIAL MARKET.

THEY HAVE BEEN SMART ABOUT THIS.

IT IS NOT TARGETING EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT IS FOCUSING ON THE MOST VULNERABLE, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.

WHERE FOLKS ARE GOING TO SOME OF OUR SENIORS AND OTHERS PROMISING THEM THAT THEY WILL MAKE SAVINGS IF THEY LEAVE THEIR UTILITY COMPANY.

AND WE ARE FINDING THAT THEY ARE NOT.

AND THERE IS NO WAY TO REVERSE COURSE NO WAY FOR THEM TO SUDDENLY BRING ABOUT SAVINGS.

AND WHILE THERE MAY BE SOME ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS IN TERMS OF MORE REGULATION, WE SAY, THE LAWS ARE ENOUGH.

WE DON’T NEED MORE REGULATIONS OR LAWS.

WE NEED THE LEGISLATURE TO WIPE OUT THIS BAND OF BUSINESS SO THESE FOLKS STOP OFFERING PREDATORY PRODUCTS TO RESIDENTIAL FOLKS.

ADAM: IS THERE A PROCOMPETITIVE ELECTRIC SUPPLIER CONSISTENCY AT THE STATEHOUSE THAT WOULD BLOCK THIS?

AG CAMPBELL: THERE ARE LOBBYISTS.

THERE ARE LOBBYISTS REPRESENTING THESE SUPPLIERS WHO ARE SHOWING UP AT THE STATEHOUSE AND LOBBYING FOR THIS NOT TO HAPPEN.

AND WE ARE SAYING, WE DON’T REPRESENT THE LOBBYISTS, WE REPRESENT THE PEOPLE.

AND IF WE GO OUT INTO CONSTITUENCIES AND INTO COMMUNITIES, FOLKS ARE SHARING STORIES, THERE WERE RECENT REPORTS ON THIS, WHERE THEY DIDN’T REALIZE THE SAVINGS.

MAYBE THEY DID ON THE FIRST MONTH, BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN, THAT WAS WIPED OUT QUICKLY.

IS REAL STORIES.

TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE NOT TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

AND THEN ON THE FLIP SIDE, OUR OFFICE IS ABOUT EQUITY AND ECONOMIC DIGNITY FOR FOLKS AND WHEN YOU ARE TARGETING OUR MOST VULNERABLE WITH THE PRODUCT THAT YOU KNOW WILL BRING ABOUT LOSSES, WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT AS OUR JOB IS TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER AND WE WILL DO THE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

ADAM: I WANT TO GET AN UPDATE ON YOUR LAWSUIT AGAINST THE TOWN OF MILTON FOR NOT COMPLYING WITH THE MBTA COMMUNITIES ACT WHICH, PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER THIS, REQUIRES COMMUNITIES ON OR NEAR THE T TO CREATE A NEW ZONING TO ALLOW MULTI FAMILY HASN’T TO BE BUILT.

A BROADBRUSH CHARACTERIZATION THERE.

WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE LAWSUIT?

AG CAMPBELL: WE FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST MILTON.

I WANT TO TAKE A STEP BACK BECAUSE THE MEDIA COVERAGE OF THIS ISSUE ISN’T COMPLETE.

WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS, THERE ARE -- MOST TOWNS ARE ACTUALLY COMING INTO COMPLIANCE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE RAPID TRANSIT COMMUNITIES, 11 OUT OF THE 12 HAVE COME INTO COMPLIANCE.

THE ONLY OUTLIER IS MULTI.

ALL OF THESE OTHER COMMUNITIES REALIZED SOMETHING THAT WE DO, TOO, THERE IS A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN MASSACHUSETTS AND IT IS AN EMERGENCY.

WE NEED MORE HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE.

THE MBTA COMMUNITIES ACT DOES JUST THAT, OBVIOUSLY SIGNED BY GOVERNOR BAKER, A REPUBLICAN WORKING WITH THE DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE.

ADAM:.

ADAM: NOT NECESSARILY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, RIGHT, IT JUST RAMPS UP PRODUCTION.

AG CAMPBELL: WITH A GOAL OF CREATING HOUSING AND MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO RESIDENTS.

TOWNS HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUSH A DEVELOPER BUILDING HOUSING TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO THEIR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, THEIR ELDERS WHO CAN’T AFFORD TO LIVE IN THEIR TOWN OR THEIR COMMUNITY.

MOST COMMUNITIES GET THIS AND THEY ARE ACTIVELY WORKING TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE.

MILTON IS THE OUTLIER, THE EXCEPTION TO THE NORM.

ADAM: WE DO TEND TO TAKE AN INTEREST IN OUTLIERS.

AG CAMPBELL: EXACTLY.

I RECENTLY MET WITH SOMEONE ON THEIR PLANNING BOARD AND SAYS, WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE.

IT IS NOT THAT HARD.

AND WE WILL WORK WITH COMMUNITIES TO OFFER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AS IS OUR HOUSING AGENCY.

WE ARE OFFERING FLEXIBILITY IN OUR REGULATIONS.

YOU CAN’T BUILD, FOR EXAMPLE, AS MILTON SAID NEAR IT RAPID TRANSIT BECAUSE THERE ISN’T ENOUGH LAND?

GREAT, WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE REGULATIONS TO ALLOW YOU TO BUILD IT SOMEWHERE ELSE IN MILTON, WHICH IS A GREAT POINT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT’S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US TO ADDRESS THIS CRISIS.

I DON’T AS COMMUNITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES, I DON’T SUE THEM LIGHTLY.

WE PUT OUT AN ADVISORY EARLY ON TO SAY IT IS MANDATORY.

MILTON SAID WE ARE NOT A RAPID TRANSIT COMMUNITY.

THE STATE SAYS, YOU ARE.

NOW WE ARE IN A POSITION WHERE HE HOPED TO RESOLVE IT WITH THE COURT PLAYING A ROLE.

ADAM: WE HAVE A MINUTE AND A HALF.

FROM A LAYPERSON’S POINT OF VIEW THE FACT THAT THE LAW CONTAINS SANCTIONS FOR COMMUNITIES WE DON’T COMPLY HAS MADE ME THINK HOW CAN WE SAY NONCOMPLIANCE IS NOT AN OPTION WHEN THE CONSEQUENCES ARE LAID OUT IN THE LAW?

WHAT AM I MISSING?

AG CAMPBELL: SO OUR FOCUS IS, IT IS A MANDATORY LOVE.

MUNICIPALITIES HAVE TO COMPLY.

IT IS NOT VOLUNTARY.

EVEN IF YOU GIVE UP STATE FUNDING, IT IS MANDATORY WE MADE THAT CRYSTAL CLEAR LAST YEAR.

WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN WITH MUNICIPALITIES TO BRING THEM INTO COMPLIANCE, OFFERING FLEXIBILITY, RESOURCES AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

MILTON RECEIVED TWO GRANTS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

WE WANT TO DO THIS TOGETHER.

WE DON’T WANTED TO BE ADVERSARY.

IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE AT ALL.

ADAM: IF YOU CAN DO IT IN 45 SECONDS, HOW CLEARLY SHOULD THE PEOPLE OF MASSACHUSETTS BE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SAID HE DOESN’T SUPPORT A NATIONAL ABORTION BAN?

AG CAMPBELL: THEY SHOULDN’T BE RELIEVED.

I DON’T BELIEVE ANYTHING THAT COMES OUT OF HIS MOUTH.

HE HAS PROVEN TO BE SOMEONE WITH A FLAT CHARACTER AND TO LACK INTEGRITY.

FOR ME, IF YOU CARE ABOUT WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS ON ECONOMICS, UNDERPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE, GIVING PEOPLE ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, YOU NEED A PARTNER AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND THE BEST PARTNER RIGHT NOW IT’S PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, NOT DRUNK.

NOBODY IS PERFECT, BUT IF WE WANT TO GET THINGS DONE, FOR MASSACHUSETTS WILL NEED TO GET STEPPED UP, GET INVOLVED AND GET ENGAGED.

REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE ISSUES ARE MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE ISSUES WHERE PEOPLE SHOULD TURN OUT, AND THEY SHOULD.

ADAM: ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDREA CAMPBELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

ADAM: MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS ARE LEANING HEAVILY TOWARDS JOE BIDEN AS PRESIDENT, 18 POINTS AHEAD OF DONALD TRUMP ACCORDING TO THE NEW GBH NEWS/COMMONWEALTH BEACON POLL.

BUT THERE IS A NEW TREND PLAYING OUT IN MASSACHUSETTS THAT COULD END UP HURTING TRUMP NATIONWIDE AND IT IS ALL ABOUT TURNOUT.

STEVE KOCZELA JAMES ME NOW MORE.

YOU FOUND THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN LEADS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AMONG PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY LIKELY TO VOTE.

HIS MARGIN IS, HE HAS 91 PERCENT OF BIOTIN SUPPORT IS VERY LIKELY TO VOTE.

80 PERCENT OF TRUMP SUPPORTERS.

WHY IS THIS SIGNIFICANT?

STEVE: YES, IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE WHEN YOU COMPARE THAT TO ALL REGISTERED SUPPORTERS, OR MERGING ITS MOTHER.

IT MEANS THAT THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN IF THEY WANT TO DO BETTER HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, AND THE TREND EXTENDS ACROSS OTHER STATES, NOT JUST DETERMINING HIS MARGIN IN MASSACHUSETTS, WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IS GET THE LESS LIKELY VOTERS OUT.

THERE IS A PRETTY UNFAMILIAR CHALLENGE FOR REPUBLICANS.

IN OTHER RECENT COMPETITIVE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, IT HAS USUALLY BEEN THE DEMOCRATS HOPING THAT THE LESS LIKELY VOTERS WILL TURN OUT.

THAT IS WHERE IT IS SIGNIFICANT, BECAUSE IT ILLUSTRATES WHAT IS GOING ON ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ADAM: IT SEEMS TO ME THERE IS A TENSION BETWEEN IT ON THE ONE HAND, AND, ON THE OTHER HAND,, WHAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FOR MONTHS WHICH IS THAT BIDEN SUPPORTERS ARE MORE ANIMATED BY A NEED TO VOTE AGAINST TRUMP THAN PASSIONATE SUPPORT FOR JOE BIDEN.

WHILE TRAVELERS SEEM GENERALLY EXCITED ABOUT THEIR CANDIDATE.

IS THERE A TENSION BETWEEN THE TWO THINGS?

STEVE: THEIR AIDES, AND HOW THAT PLAYS OUT WILL BE A BIG FACTOR IN HOW THE ELECTION ENDS UP.

YOU LOOK AT WORDS VOTERS OVER ALL USE, TRUMP ORDERS ARE LESS LIKELY TO USE WORDS LIKE "DISAPPOINTED," "ANNOYED."

ADAM: YES, LET’S PUT UP THOSE NUMBERS.

OVERALL, 48% OF PEOPLE SAID THEY WERE DISAPPOINTED BY A BIOTIN-TRUMP REMATCH.

37% SAID THEY WERE ANNOYED.

22% SAID THEY WERE ANGRY, THAT IT IS BETTER FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP, HIS VOTERS ARE LESS LIKELY TO USE THOSE NEGATIVE TERMS.

STEVE: THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO USE THOSE TERMS AND MORE LIKELY TO SAY THEY ARE INTERESTED AND MOTIVATED AND SO FORTH.

TRUMP SORT OF HAS HIS BASE, BUT IT IS THE NEXT SLICE OF THE LETTERS THOSE WHO TYPICALLY ON EITHER SIDE WILL SHOW UP AND NOT NECESSARILY BE THRILLED ABOUT THE CANDIDATE, BUT WILL TURN OUT ANYWAY.

THAT IS THAT GROUP THAT IS LESS LIKELY TO TURNOUT AT ALL.

IN THIS CASE, IT IS THE SLICE THAT TRUMP REALLY NEEDS TO SHOW UP IN THE PRIMARIES.

WE HAVE SEEN IT SHOW UP IN OTHER VENUES.

HE NEEDS THEM TO COME OUT AND TO VOTE FOR HIM.

ADAM: HE ALSO ASKED PEOPLE HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT POLITICAL TENSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF VIOLENCE IN CONNECTION WITH THE ELECTION.

72% OF PEOPLE OVER ALL SAID THAT POLITICAL TENSIONS IN AMERICA TODAY ARE EITHER VERY BAD, OR THEY CONSTITUTE A CRISIS.

64%, I BELIEVE, SAID THEY THOUGHT IT WAS EITHER A SOMEWHAT LIKELY OR VERY LIKELY THAT WE WILL SEE MAJOR VIOLENCE IN CONNECTION WITH THE ELECTION.

THOSE ARE PRETTY WEAK NUMBERS.

STEVE: VERY SOBERING NUMBERS.

AND THE EXPECTATION OR THE ANTICIPATION OF THE POTENTIAL OF VIOLENCE IS NOT JUST CONFINED TO ONE GROUP, IT EXTENDS ACROSS DEMOGRAPHICS, PARTIES, GEOGRAPHIES, NOT JUST BIOTIN SUPPORTERS OR TRUMP SUPPORTERS.

IT’S A UNIVERSAL CONCERN AT THIS POINT THAT 2024 COULD POTENTIALLY END ENVIRONMENTS.

ADAM: LET’S TALK ABOUT SOME STATE-FOCUSED ISSUES.

THE PUBLIC SEEMS TO BE CONFLICTED WHEN IT COMES TO THE MBTA COMMUNITIES ACT WHICH REQUIRES COMMUNITIES NEAR THE T TO BE ZONED FOR EXPANDED MULTIFAMILY HOUSING.

BROUGHT -- A BROAD-BASED DESCRIPTION.

THEY CAN’T FIGURE OUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT IT.

STEVE: FIRST OF ALL, THERE ARE SOME WHO SAY THEY DON’T KNOW.

THOSE WHO EXPRESSED AN OPINION, MORE PEOPLE THINK THE LAW IS GOOD POLICY, BUT THEN THINK THAT TERMS SHOULD BE ABLE TO OPT OUT, BUT THEN ALSO THINK THAT THE STATE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET A HEAVY FINANCIAL PENALTIES AGAINST THEM.

THERE ARE SOME INTERESTING DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWNS CERTAINLY BY PARTY, YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS ARE MORE SUPPORTIVE OF THE ACT ACROSS THREE QUESTIONS.

RENTERS, OBVIOUSLY A KEY GROUP WHEN THINKING ABOUT THIS POLICY, ALSO MORE LIKELY TO SUPPORT IT.

ADAM: MAKES SENSE INTUITIVELY.

WHAT ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO GIVE DIANA DIZOGLIO AND ALL OPERATORS THE ABILITY TO AUDIT THE STATE LEGISLATURE?

SHE HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR THIS, AND SHE IS PUSHING A BALLOT QUESTION THAT WILL LET HER DO IT GOING FORWARD.

HOW DO PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THAT?

STEVE: PEOPLE WHO DO HAVE AN OPINION ARE IN FAVOR OF IT, OVER HALF OF LETTERS SAY THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL TO LET THE LATTER PART LEGISLATURE.

RELATIVELY FEW SAY THEY ARE OPPOSED TO IT.

THERE WHO SAY THEY DON’T KNOW.

WHY THAT IS KEEPING A BALLOT QUESTION IS, IF YOU ARE PUSHING A BALLOT QUESTION, YOU WANT TO BE IN THE 60’S AND 70’S AS FAR AS YOUR SUPPORT.

WHAT YOU ARE EXPECTING IS PEOPLE WILL SAY I DON’T KNOW AND A LOT OF THEM, CLOSE TO ALL OF THEM ARE EXPECTED TO SAY YOU KNOW WHAT, I DON’T CARE WHAT THIS IS ABOUT LET’S KEEP THINGS THE WAY THEY ARE.

THAT IS A NO VOTE.

THE "NO" CAMPAIGN, IF THERE IS ONE, WE’LL TRY TO GRAB THOSE PEOPLE AND DRAG THEM ACROSS THE LINE TO PULL UNDER THAT 50%.

ADAM: REALLY INTERESTING AND A BIT OF POLITICAL KNOWLEDGE YOU JUST SHARED WITH ME.

WHEN I SAW THESE NUMBERS, 53 PERCENT SAYING THAT THEY WOULD VOTE IN FAVOR, 12% SAYING NO, THE REST I’M SURE.

I JUST ASSUMED DIANA DIZOGLIO WAS GOING TO BE -- WITH THIS.

STEVE: THE TASK SHE AND HER SUPPORTERS WILL HAVE IS TO ENSURE THE UNDECIDEDS DON’T HAVE ENOUGH DOUBT INTRODUCED IN THEIR MINDS TO PUSH THEM TO A NO.

THEY HAVE TO KEEP ENOUGH OF THAT 53%.

BUT THE NO CAMPAIGNING BY DEFAULT STARTS SECOND IN A BALLOT QUESTION BECAUSE YOU GET SOME SUPPORTERS TOGETHER, TO PUT FORTH THIS QUESTION AND IT IS NOT UNTIL THE QUESTION THAT THE NO SIDE COULD EVEN POTENTIALLY FORM.

THEIR CAMPAIGNS WILL BE STARTING LATER AND THAT IS WHY YOU WANT TO BE STARTING HIGHER BECAUSE YOU ARE EXPECTING TO BLEED SUPPORT TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.

ADAM: THAT IS FASCINATING.

YOU LOOKED AT SPORTS BETTING AND THE PREVALENCE OF SPORTS BETTING.

I WANTED TO PULL UP THE TOP LINE NUMBER.

THE PERCENT OF MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS WHO HAVE PLACED A BET ON SPORTS IN THE LAST YEAR, ACCORDING TO YOUR POLL, 30% FOR PEOPLE’S AGES 18 TO, 2935% FOR 30 TO 44, 23% FOR OLDER.

LOWER FOR PEOPLE OVER 60.

WHY ARE THOSE FINDINGS SIGNIFICANT?

STEVE: IT CERTAINLY DOES GO DOWN IN THE UPPER AGE GROUPS, THE GROUPS THAT TEND TO DO WITH THE MOST, MEN.

RELATIVELY YOUNGER PEOPLE.

IT’S NOT THE YOUNGEST AGE GROUP, OF COURSE, IF YOU ARE UNDER 21, OF COURSE, C CAN’T DO IT IN MASSACHUSETTS YET AT THIS POINT.

ALSO CLOSER TO BOSTON, WE FOUND A PREVALENCE A BIT HIGHER.

ADAM: THAT IS KIND OF WHAT WE WOULD HAVE ANTICIPATED?

STEVE: IT HAS TO DO WITH DEMOGRAPHICS.

THE AGE OF THE POPULATION IN BOSTON.

YOUNG PEOPLE ARE DOING IT MORE, IT WILL BE MORE CONCENTRATED IN BOSTON.

ALSO, SPORTING EVENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN AROUND HERE, IF YOU ARE VIEWING OR ATTENDING SOMETHING AND PLACING BETS AT THE VENUE, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER REASON.

ADAM: I KNOW WE ARE RELEASING RESULTS NEXT WEEK INVOLVING THE MIGRANT CRISIS AND HOW PEOPLE IN THE STATE FEEL ABOUT THE WAY IT IS BEING HANDLED.

YOU CAN SHARE THE RESULTS OF THE POLLING YET ON THE TOPIC, BUT CAN YOU OFFER ANY SORT OF PREVIEW AT TWO -- AS TO THE APPETITES?

DEFINITELY CHECK OUT THE STORIES NEXT WEEK ON THAT.

STEVE: THE QUESTION WE ASKED IS, WHAT IS THE TOP ISSUE ON YOUR MIND THAT YOU THINK STATE LEADERS SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON?

AND FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS, IT WAS RELIABLY, EDUCATION, THE ECONOMY, AND HEALTH CARE.

HOUSING IN RECENT YEARS HAS STARTED TO GROW.

COVID TOOK OVER EVERYTHING FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE SEEN THE MIGRANT ISSUE AS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE PEOPLE MENTION UNPROMPTED.

ADAM: THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE.

YES, THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE.

HOW THAT TRANSLATES TO WHAT THEY FEEL POLICY WISE WILL BE REALLY SIGNIFICANT.

ADAM: THAT IS A HUGE FINDING.

STEVE KOCZELA, THANK YOU FOR TALKING TO US, WE APPRECIATE IT.

STEVE: MY PLEASURE.

ADAM: THAT IS IT TONIGHT, COME BACK NEXT WEEK.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

THE WEBSITE IS GBHNEWS.ORG/TALKINGPOLITICS BASED POLITICS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪ THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE YOU CANNOT SEE WHAT IS INSIDE OF THOSE ITEMS.

TODAY, PILLOWS, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE USUALLY STUFFED WITH FEATHERS OR COTTON OR SOME KIND OF SYNTHETIC MATERIAL.

BUT ACCORDING TO THEM, BACK IN THE DAY, THEY PUT SOME PRETTY GNARLY STUFF.

>> USED TB YEARS AGO THEY WOULD THROW ANYTHING THEY WANTED TO ENTER THE BETTING, NEWSPAPERS, DIRTY RAGS -- >> HORSE CARE, USED HOSPITAL OR HOTEL MATTRESSES, CORN HUSKS.

>> DROPPINGS, ANYTHING.

FOR STARTERS, THAT IS DISGUSTING.

FURTHERMORE, IT IS DANGEROUS AND UNHEALTHY, SO TODAY A LOT OF STATES REQUIRE LABELS THAT TELL YOU WHAT IS INSIDE OF THE ITEM.

AND IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO REMOVE THEM.

SORT OF.

RETAILERS AND MANUFACTURERS CAN BE FINED IF THEY REMOVE THE LABELS.

BUT ONCE YOU BUY IT, IF YOU READ CLOSELY, MOST OF THESE END WITH THE LINE "EXCEPT BY THE CONSUMER."

DON’T FORGET TO FOLLOW AND TELL US WHAT YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT, BECAUSE, HEY, MHS LOOK INTO IT FOR YOU.

STAY CURIOUS OUT THERE.

♪