>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," WITH JUST DAYS TO GO UNTIL THE MONTH-LONG ORANGE LINE SHUTDOWN AND A PARTIAL GREEN LINE SHUTDOWN CLOSE BEHIND, THE MAYOR OF MEDFORD JOINS ME ON HOW SHE'S TRYING TO GET HER CITY READY, ALONG WITH THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE NON-PROFIT A BETTER CITY, ON WHAT'S IN STORE FOR COMMUTERS, AND WILL THE PRODUCT JUSTIFY THE PAIN?

PLUS, ASSISTANT HOUSE SPEAKER CONGRESSWOMAN KATHERINE CLARK JOINS ME ON CLIMATE, MEDICARE AND TAX FAIRNESS, THE VIOLENCE INCITING BEHAVIOR OF HER COLLAGES AND MORE.

WILL SNAN HE NANCY PELOSI RUN FOR JUST ONE MORE.

>> Braude: IN T-MINUS FOUR DAYS AND TWO HOURS, THE ORANGE LINE WILL SHUT DOWN FOR 30 DAYS, UPROOTING THE COMMUTES AND LIVES OF ROUGHLY 100,000 PEOPLE, AND ADDING A LOT MORE TRAFFIC INTO THE LIVES OF PLENTY MORE, WHILE MASSIVE CONSTRUCTION EFFORT GOES ON THROUGH SEPTEMBER 19th.

AND THAT'S ON TOP OF A GREEN LINE STATION IN MEDFORD CLOSED RIGHT AFTER IT OPENED, AND ANOTHER SET TO OPEN IN SOMERVILLE THAT'S NOW ON HOLD.

THIS COMES JUST A FEW WEEKS AFTER AN ORANGE LINE TRAIN CAUGHT FIRE ON A BRIDGE OVER THE MYSTIC RIVER IN SOMERVILLE, FORCING RIDERS TO ESCAPE OUT OF WINDOWS, ONE JUMPING INTO THE RIVER, AND TODAY, OFFICIALS WERE BLUNT ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WILL HOLD: >> TRAFFIC CONGESTION IS EXPECTED TO BE SEVERE.

WE ARE URGING TRAVELERS TO EVALUATE THEIR COMMUTE AND, IF POSSIBLE, ADJUST.

LOOK FOR A ROUTE THAT AVOIDS THE SHUTTLE DIVERSION.

IF YOU MUST DRIVE IN, SHIFT YUR TRAVEL TIME TO OFF PEAK HOURS.

IF POSSIBLE, AVOID THE REGION ALTOGETHER UNTIL THE DIVERSION PERIOD HAS CONCLUDED.

AVOID THE REGION ALL TOGETHER.

>> Braude: I'M JOINED BY THE MAYOR OF MEDFORD BREANNA LUNGO-KOEHN, WHO'S BEEN TRYING TO GET HER CITY READY FOR FRIDAY; AND RICHARD DIMINO, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF A BETTER CITY.

RICK AND MAYOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> MAYOR, I KNOW IT IS A MOOT POINT, FRIDAY IS GOES TO HAPPEN BUT IS SHUTTING DOWN THE ORANGE LINE THE RIGHT DECISION TO BE MADE?

>> I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING THAT THE M.B.T.A.

AND MASS DOT ARE WORKING TO MAKE THE T SERVICE SAFER AND REPLACE THE TRACKS THAT ARE 40 YEARS OLD.

BUT I DO FEEL THAT MORE TIME, THOUGHT SHOULD HAVE WENT INTO THE PLANS.

MORE COMMUNICATION TO MAYORS, TOWN MANAGERS, WHERE CITIES ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED SO GREATLY.

>> Braude: BY THE WAY FOR THOSE THAT AREN'T CLEAR, ARE YOU GETTING A DOUBLE WHAMMY, NO ORANGE LINE AND NO EXTENSION OF THE GREEN LINE FROM MEDFORD, POSTPONE, POSTPONED, NOW POSTPONED TO NOVEMBER, I DON'T KNOW YOU, ARE YOU A BETTING WOMAN, WOULD YOU BET NOVEMBER IS ACTUALLY GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> I SURE HOPE SO.

BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN WITH DELAYS, TO OPEN, IT IS TOUGH FOR LOCATION, POSSIBILITY THAT COULD EXTEND FURTHER.

I'M REALLY HOPING WE CAN GET THE GREEN LINE OPEN.

>> Braude: SO DO WE ALL.

YOU WANT TO SPLIT THE BABY, I THINK YOUR RECOMMENDATION WAS IF YOU ARE GOING TO SHUT DOWN JUST DO IT THROUGH LABOR DAY, BUT WITH PEOPLE BACK TO WORK AND SCHOOLS AND STUFF, REOPEN AFTER THAT AND DO IT WHAT, WEEKENDS OR WHATEVER.

DID YOU GET A HEARING ON THAT PROPOSAL OR WASES THAT JUST IGNORED?

>> NO, THANKFULLY I DID GET A HEARING, JIM.

AND OBVIOUSLY AT THE END OF THE DAY JUST LAST WEEK I WAS CALLED BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THEY SAID THEY WOULD BE MOVING FORWARD THE FOUR WEEK FULL SHUT DOWN.

NOW I REALLY THINK AND I'M VERY EMPATHETIC AND SIM PATHETIC TO THE MAYOR'S CONCERNS, THAT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BETTER.

IT SEEMS REALLY ABRUPT TO BE ANNOUNCING A FOUR WEEK SHUTDOWN OF A MAJOR RAPID TRANSIT LINE.

ESPECIALLY, AND JIM YOU KNOW THIS, IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF SEPTEMBER WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING COMMUTING TIMES IN THE REGION AND IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.

>> YOU KNOW, RICK, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS AMAZING TO ME, ONE OF THE COHOSTS OF OUR MORNING SHOW ROAD THE ORANGE LINE AND SAID SAW NO SIGNS, MOST OF THE COMMUTERS DIDN'T EVEN KNOW, AT LEAST A RANDOM SAMPLE, THAT THERE WAS ABOUT TO BE A SHUT DOWN IN FOUR DAYS, THOSE THAT DID DIDN'T HAVE ALTERNATIVE PLANS.

FOUR DAYS OUT, DO WE HAVE A CLEAR SENSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THESE SHUTTLE BUSES, WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH RECONFIGURATION OF STREETS, ALL THAT SORT OF THING, RICK?

>> I THINK THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS STILL GETTING THEIR ARMS AROUND THIS WHOLE IDEA.

AND TO BE HONEST, I THINK THERE IS STILL A MAJOR GAP, JIM N WHAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS ABOUT THIS.

AND THE CONFUSION AROUND THIS.

I THINK THEY'RE WORKING VERY AGGRESSIVELY TO TRY TO GET THE WORD OUT.

BUT YOU KNOW, I'M FORTUNATE AND I KNOW THE MAYOR, WE GET BRIEFED, WE UNDERSTAND THE DETAILS OF THIS.

BUT I THINK THERE IS A BIG GAP IN TERMS OF THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE OF ALL THIS.

>> Braude: BUT MAYOR, WHEN RICK SAID THE MAYOR GETS BRIEFED, MY UNDERSTANDING WAS LATE LAST WEEK YOU WERE COMPLAINING THAT YOU HAD SEVERAL CALLS SET UP WITH THE T, EACH OF WHICH WAS CANCELED.

IS THAT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

WHEN I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT THE SHUTDOWN IN GENERAL, I CALL SCHEDULED FOR 10 A.M., PRIOR TO.

AND THAT GOT CANCELLED DUE TO IT ISSUES AND ONE CANCELLED THE FOLLOWING MONDAY.

NOW IT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

WE HAVE AN 8:30 A.M.

CALL.

AN 11 A.M., SOMETIMES.

2 P.M., 3 P.M ALL ON DIFFERENT SUBJECTS.

SO YOU ARE TRYING TO KIND OF HOP ON ONES THAT FIT IN YOUR SCHEDULE.

YOU HAVE YOUR TEAM MEMBERS HOPPING ON CERTAIN ONES, YOU ARE ALL TRYING TO COLLABORATE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT DID YOU LEARN, K8 30, OKAY, LEARNED THIS AT 11.

WILL YOU HOP ON THE 2, I AM ON A MEETING WITH THE MAYOR AT 3:30, TRY TO GET THE GM TO TALK TO US.

WHICH WOULD HAPPEN TODAY.

SO WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO PIECE MEAL SOME OF THESE MEETINGS AND SOME OF THE FRUSTRATION COMES WHEN ARE YOU IN THE MEETING AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT YOU MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEGMENT, PLEASE AVOID THE AREA.

PLEASE USE ALL TER NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION, PLEASE WORK FROM HOME.

>> SO MAYOR, WE'LL GET TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN A SECOND.

DO YOU FEEL TO USE RICK'S EXPRESSION, ARE YOU ABLE TO WRAP YOUR ARMS AROUND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN MEDFORD?

ARE YOU THERE YET OR NO?

>> NO, A LOT OF THESE CALLS WE DON'T HAVE CLEAR ANSWERS.

I HAVE ASKED REPEATEDLY WITH TWO OTHER MAYORS, ESPECIALLY, PLEASE ALLOW SOME OF THOSE 160 SHUTTLE BUSES TO BE EXPRESS BUSS FROM OUR INDIVIDUAL-- BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE CROWDING ON THE BUSES, THEY WILL GO TO THE NEXT STOP, COMPLETELY CLOSED, MAYBE ONE OR TWO PEOPLE GET OFF, IF THAT.

BUT WE NEED EXPRESS SHUTTLE FROM, I WILL SPEAK FROM MYSELF, FROM MEDFORD DIRECTLY INTO BOSTON IN ORDER TO NOT CREATE THE DELAYS FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND T RIDERS THAT NEED TO GET EITHER TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS.

SCHOOL, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE OPENING, OR GET INTO WORK, ESSENTIAL JOBS.

NOT EVERYBODY CAN STAY HOME.

>> Braude: I ASSUME YOU HAVEN'T GOT A COMMITMENT ON THOSE EXPRESS BUSES YET, HAVE YOU OR HAVE YOU.

>> NO, WE HAVE NOT.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, RICK, I WILL READ TO YOU A STATEMENT, I'M SURE YOU MEMORIZED THIS ALREADY FROM THE CHIEF OF STREETS IN BOSTON TODAY.

OVER THE COMING DAYS WE WILL UNDERTAKE AN UNPRECEDENTED EFFORT TO RECONFIGURE STREETS IN WAYS BIG AND SMALL TO ENSURE THAT THE SHUTTLE BUSS BUSS CAN OPERATE SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY ON BOSTON STREETS.

I DON'T MEAN TO LAUGH, I LIVE IN-- SCARE IN CAMBRIDGE, THEY HAVE BEEN RECONFIGURING INMAN SQUARE FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS AND THEY FINALLY DID SOMETHING THIS SATURDAY WHICH SEEMED TO HAVE PROMISE IS THIS DOABLE?

CAN STREETS BE RECONFIGURED IN PREDICTABLE, EFFICIENT WAYS IN A HANDFUL OF DAYS.

>> THAT'S THE POINT.

YEAH, IF YOU HAVE GOT THE RIGHT PLANNING TIME, AND THE RIGHT COMMUTING PROCESS AND THE RIGHT ANALYSIS, THAT SUGGESTS WHERE YOU CAN DO THESE STRATEGIC, YOU KNOW, INTERVENTIONS ON STREETS TO MAKE THEM OPERATE BETTER FOR BUSES, YEAH, BUT THE CITY SIDE IS REALLY LEANING IN ON THIS ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO.

SO THAT IS NO WAY TO RUN A STREELT SYSTEM.

AND IT'S GOES TO BE, UNFORTUNATELY IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY CHAOTIC.

THE MAYOR USED THAT WORD AND THEN KIND OF PULLED BACK.

THERE IS GOING TO BE-- PLUS WE DON'T HAVE A BUS SYSTEM IN THE DOWNTOWN.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE GOING BACK BAY AND GOING TO NORTH STATION AND THEN WE HAVE THIS KIND OF BIG HOLE OF THE DONUT WHERE LOTS OF PATIENTS WON'T BE SERVED.

I THINK THE POINT ABOUT THE EXPRESS BUS SERVICE IS A GOOD ONE BUT WE HAVEN'T GOT-- YET.

>> Braude: SO WE ARE THE MOST CONGESTED CITY IF I REMEMBER PREPANDEMIC, TRAFFIC IS UP TO PREPANDEMIC LEVELS.

GIE ME A DESCRIPTION, RICK, OF WHAT YOU THINK THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS IS GOING TO BE LIKE IN BOSTON AND "GREATER BOSTON."

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE LAST WEEKS OF AUGUST.

WE KIND OF HOPEFULLY WILL SEE NOT AS MUCH OF A CHALLENGE.

ALTHOUGH IT WILL BE THE JONATHAN GULL I VER, GOT IT RIGHT, JIM, 20% SLOWDOWN IN THE REGION.

YOU KNOW, AVOID THE REGION, THAT WAS IT FOR THE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATOR.

EVEN IN THE LOST FEW-- IT WILL BE CHALLENGING, BUT MAYBE A SLIGHT BENEFIT TO THE VACATIONERS BUT JIM, COME THE DAY AFTER LABOR DAY, THERE IS NO TIME IN MY HISTORY OF THE TRANSPORTATION OFFICIAL OR AS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL WHERE I WOULD HAVE TAKEN AN ACTION LIKE THIS RELATIVE TO THOSE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF SEPTEMBER.

YOU HAVE YOUNG SCHOOL CHILDREN LOOKING TO GET TO SCHOOL.

YOU HAVE STUDENTS GETTING IN TO UNIVERSITIES WITH STREETS BEING CLOSED.

YOU HAVE A REGION NEEDING ACCESS TO COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

YOU HAVE JOBS AND WORKERS WORKERS FROM MEDFORD INBOUND, ON THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR AS WELL AS TRANSIT-DEPENDENT RIDERS ON THE OR RAN LINE AS WELL AS THE MEDFORD, IT IS THEIR ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.

AND ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE THIS ON THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF SEPTEMBER.

YOU KNOW, I-- THAT IS WHY WE CAME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN.

ONE LAST POINT, IT WOULD HAVE ONLY ADDED FIVE WEEKS TO THE SCHEDULE, FIVE WEEKENDS.

>> BUT THEY'RE NOT DOING IT.

>> THEY ARE NOT DOING IT.

SO WE ARE STEPPING INTO LET'S DO OUR BEST TO HELP.

WE ALWAYS ARE DOING THAT.

BUT I DID WANT TO OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN, THAT IS WHERE THE BUSINESS OF OFFERING THOSE KIND OF KUTIONS, BUT I WISH THEY CHOSE TO DO IT BUT WE'RE NOW TRYING TO.

>> RICK, VERY QUICKLY, I KNOW YOU SAY THE SECOND TWO WEEKS, ARE YOU CONVINCED THAT THIS WILL BE OVER IN 30 DAYS OR ARE YOU NOT, QUICKLY IF YOU CAN.

>> NO.

>> I FIGURED.

MAYOR, BACK TO YOU, SO A CONSTITUENT CALLS YOU TOMORROW MORNING AND SAYS I HAVE TO GET TO MY KID'S DOCTOR, I HAVE TO GET TO SCHOOL, I HAVE TO GET TO WORK, ADD TO THE LIST WHATEVER YOU WANT, PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO DO.

WHAT DO YOU TELL HIM OR HER?

>> WE-- IF IT IS NECESSARY, WE MENTION THE COMMUTER RAIL OPTIONS.

WE DIRECT THEM TO THE M.B.T.A.

'S WEBSITE WHICH HAS A RIDER GUIDE, WHICH IS LENGTHY BUT KIND OF ALL WE HAVE TO GO OFF OF.

AND YOU KNOW, THEN WE ALSO SAY DEPENDING ON THE CALL, WE LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR.

AND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO GET THE T AND MASS DOT TO DO TO HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE TRAFFIC OVERCROWDING.

>> Braude: BUT THEY ALSO WILL HOPEFULLY BE WATCHING YOU TONIGHT, AND BE CANDID ENOUGH TO SAY THAT EVEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS WITH FOUR DAYS TO GO, YET THEY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF GUIDANCE FROM YOU, HOPEFULLY SOME FROM THE T, HOW TO SURVIVE THE NEXT 30 DAYS PLUS, THAT IS THE BOTTOMLINE.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> OKAY.

HEY RICK, ONE LAST THING WITH YOU.

IN LIGHT OF FACT THAT WE ONLY HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT, THEY REJECTED YOUR NOTION TO DO THE FIVE WEEKEND DEAL RATHER THAN THE COUPLE OF WEEKS TO COME, DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR THEM HOW TO MIT GATE THE PAIN OF THOSE TWO WEEKS OR IT JUST IS WHAT IT IS.

QUICKLY IF YOU CAN.

>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY THEY REALLY NEED TO RAMP UP THE COMMUTER RAIL LINE AS MAYOR WAS SUGGESTING, THEY CAN RUN MUCH FAFSER SERVICE AND MUCH BETTER HEADWAY THAN THEY ARE CURRENTLY PLANNING.

I REALLY HOPE THEY WILL LEAN IN AND DO THAT.

>> Braude: I THANK YOU BOTH.

I'M GLAD I'M NOT YOU BUT IT IS GOOD TO MEET YOU NEXT UP, IT WAS LONG OVERDUE.

AND NO, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE MAR-A-LAGO SEARCH, ALTHOUGH WE WILL GET TO THAT IN A FEW MINUTES.

I'M TALKING ABOUT THE "INFLATION REDUCTION ACT," WHICH IS FINALLY GETTING SIGNED INTO LAW A YEAR AFTER ITS ORIGINAL REINCARNATION, "THE BUILD BACK BETTER" PLAN WAS FIRST INTRODUCED.

ALONG THE WAY, SOME KEY PRIORITIES LIKE CUTTING CHILDCARE COSTS, AND INCREASING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FELL AWAY, BUT THE FINAL BILL ON ITS WAY TO THE PRESIDENT MADE HISTORIC STRIDES IN COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE, CONTROLLING DRUG PRICES FOR PEOPLE ON MEDICARE, AND MAKING CORPORATIONS PAY A FAIRER SHARE IN TAXES.

AMONG THOSE CELEBRATING ON THE HOUSE FLOOR WHEN THE BILL FINALLY PASSED ON FRIDAY WAS ASSISTANT SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND CONGRESSWOMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS KATHERINE CLARK, WHO JOINS ME NOW.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> NICE TO BE WITH YOU, JIM.

>> Braude: SO THAT IS ON ITS WAY TO THE PRESIDENT'S DESK.

LAST WEEK HE SIGNED THE BILL ABOUT VETERAN'S HEALTH CARE.

GAS PRICES ARE COMING DOWN.

INFLATION IS STABILIZING.

ARE DEMOCRATS IN PRIVATE MEETINGS NOW TALKING ABOUT RETAINING CONTROL OF THE HOUSE OR JUST DAMAGE MITIGATION FOR THE MID-TERMS.

>> WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THESE VICTORIES FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

AND EVERY SINGLE CAMPAIGN COMES DOWN TO WHO IS GOING TO FIGHT FOR ME.

AND IT COULDN'T BE CLEARER TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT IT IS THE DEMOCRATS, WHETHER WE ARE FIGHTING TO REDUCE THEIR HEALTH-CARE COSTS, FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM, INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE, IN MICROCOMPUTER CHIPS SO THAT WE CAN BUILD THINGS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND WHAT WE SEE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE IS AN ABSOLUTE COMMITMENT TO OBSTRUCTION AND TO FIGHT FOR ONE PERSON, AND THAT'S DONALD TRUMP.

>> Braude: WE'LL GETS TO TRUMP IN JUST A COUPLE OF SECONDS.

I FORGOT THE CHIPS AND SCIENCE BILL, BY THE WAY, THAT IS ALSO A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE, GLAD YOU MENTIONED IT.

ONE BILL THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT, THOUGH, BECAUSE OF THE SENATE, WAS THE WOMEN'S HEALTH PROTECTION ACT WHICH WOULD GUARANTEE A RIGHT TO ABORTION ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

YOU AND CONGRESSWOMAN PRESSLEY WERE AMONG DEMONSTRATORS AT THE SUPREME COURT THE OTHER DAY, THE TWO OF YOU WERE ARRESTED.

WHAT IS THE GAME PLAN HERE.

I UNDERSTAND THE MOT GAITION-- MOTIVATION, WHAT IS THE GAME PLAN TO UNDO THE DAMAGE THAT THE SUPREME COURT DID?

>> OUR GAME PLAN IS STO USE EVERY LEVER, EVERY BULLY PULPIT THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT IS AT STAKE.

WE ARE SEEING THE CRIMINALIZATION OF WOMEN WHO ARE SEEKING HEALTH CARE.

THAT IS HOW EXTREME THE GOP'S POSITION IS.

THAT IS THE EXTREME AFFECT OF THE ROE DECISION IN THE CASE SO WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUT PRESSURE TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO PASS PROTECTIVE HEALTH CARE, TO USE EXECUTIVE ORDERS IN OUR AGENCIES, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SPELLING IT OUT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT THEIR FREEDOM IS ON THE BALLOT IN THE MID-TERM AND IT IS ONLY THE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT THOSE FUNDAMENTAL CHOICES THAT WE MAKE ABOUT WHEN AND IF TO HAVE CHILDREN REMAINS WITH OUR FAMILIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR FAITH AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT OUR DOCTOR SAYS IS NECESSARY FOR US.

THIS OVERREACH IN TO WOMEN'S LIVES IS SUCH A-- OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, TO MAKE THOSE CRITICAL DECISIONS ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT HAVING POLITICIANS IN THAT DOCTOR'S OFFICE WITH YOU.

AND WE ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP DRAWING ATTENTION TO THIS, AND USING EVERY WAY POSSIBLE TO PROTECT WOMEN'S ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

>> KATHERINE CLARK, WE JUST MADE A LIST OF THE THINGS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, ALL OF WHICH ARE FACTUALLY ACCURATE, FORGET THE OPINION T IS FACTUALLY ACCURATE, WHERE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS ON ABORTION WHICH IS WHERE TWO THIRDS OF AMERICA IS.

CLIMATE CHANGE, REDUCING THE COST OF DRUGSES FOR OLDER PEOPLE ON MEDICARE, I CAN GO DOWN THE LIST.

IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT POLLS STILL SUGGESTION DESPITE ALL OF THIS THAT THE REPUBLICANS WILL CONTROL THE HOUSE COME JANUARY, THE CONCLUSION ONE HAS TO REACH UNLESS YOU JUST SAY HISTORY IS HISTORY IS THE DEMOCRATS ARE ROTTEN AT MESSAGING, GETTING BETTER IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS AT PASSING LAS, ROTTEN AT MESSAGING.

THAT IS A PRETTY ACCURATE STATEMENT, IS IT NOT?

>> NO.

I DON'T THINK IT IS.

LISTEN, ONE OF THE POWERS THE GOP HAS IS THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY SHAMELESS.

SO THEY WILL SAY WHATEVER WITH NO REGARDS TO CONSEQUENCE OR TO TETHERING TO FACTS OR SCIENCE AND THEY REPEAT IT AND IT IS EASY TO RECEIVE SHORT TALKING POINTS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REALITY THAT FAMILIES ARE FACING.

WHAT THEY'RE TERRIBLE AT AND WHAT DEMOCRATS EXCEL AT IS ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING TO HELP FIX SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS.

UNDERSTANDING THIS, IS LOOKING AT WHAT JUST HAPPENED.

PUTTING ON, TRYING TO PUT ON, ON A PRIMARY BALLOT WHERE THERE WERE ONLY REPUBLICANS IN CONTESTED VOTES, IN CONTESTED RACES, A THEY CHANGED THEIR CONSTITUTION SO THAT THEY TOO COULD RESTRICT ABORTION CARE IN THEIR STATE, WAS SOUNDLY DEFEATED.

AND NOT JUST ONE WON BIG IN MORE DEMOCRATIC AREAS BUT THE VOTE TOTALS WERE REALLY NOT WHAT PEOPLE EXPECTED IN RURAL AND SUBURBAN PARTS OF KANSAS AS WELL.

I THINK THAT WE UNDERSTATEMENT THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE WATCHING.

THEY WATCHED WHAT HAPPENED.

AND ON JANUARY 6th, THEY WATCHED THOSE JANUARY 6th COMMITTEE HEARINGS.

THEY ARE WATCHING THAT REPUBLICANS ARE VOTED, TO CRIMINALIZE HEALTH CARE.

THEY ARE VOTING AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENT SO THAT WE CAN HELP PEOPLE ADDRESS THESE LETHAL EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND THEY'RE DOING NOTHING TO CREATE GREAT PAYING JOBS FOR PEOPLE.

AND ON THE GUN VIOLENCE, THEY WON'T EVEN VOTE FOR AN AMBER ALERT THAT WOULD ALERT YOU OF AN ACTIVE SHOOTER IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

THAT IS HOW EXTREME THEY ARE.

AND I THINK THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE REALIZING THAT THIS IS REALLY WHAT IS ON THE BALLOT.

ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A DEMOCRACY, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A CONGRESS THAT FIGHTS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, OR ARE WE NOT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING OF SHAISMLESS, EVERYBODY WATCHING KNOWS ABOUT THE SEARCH OF MAR-A-LAGO.

AND I ASSUME MOST KNOW WHAT THE PRIMARY REPUBLICAN RESPONSE HAS BEEN.

I WANT TO PLAY SOME SOUND FROM THREE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES, MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE, LAUREN BOEBERT AND STEPHANO.

>> WE NOW KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN F.B.I.

INFORMANT AT MAR A LAGO.

WHO IS THAT?

AND HOW MANY OTHER FBI INFORMANTS ARE AROUND PRESIDENT TRUMP ON A DAILY BASIS?

THESE ARE THE REAL ENEMIES.

>> YOU GUYS, I'M PISSED.

WE ARE A NATION OF LAW AND ORDER.

AND THIS RAID BY THE F.B.I.

ON PRESIDENT TRUMP'S HOME IS TOTALLY UN-AMERICAN.

THIS IS GESTAPO CRAP, AND IT WILL NOT STAND.

>> PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS JOE BIDEN'S MOST LIKELIEST POLITICAL THE F.B.I.

RAID OF PRESIDENT TRUMP IS A COMPLETE ABUSE AND OVERREACH OF ITS AUTHORITY.

>> Braude: MOST LIKELIEST.

WELL, OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT FLAUNTING VIOLENCE, WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN CINCINNATI WHEN THE GUY TRIED TO GO AFTER THE F.B.I., WAS ULTIMATELY KILLED.

WE KNOW WHAT HIS TRUE SOCIAL POSTINGS WERE ABOUT KILLING THE F.B.I., IF HE WERE TO GO TO FLORIDA TO FOLLOW UP ON MAR-A-LAGO.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THIS GROTESQUELY IRRESPONSIBLE RHETORIC FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME JOB YOU DO?

>> IT IS GROTESQUELY IRRESPONSIBLE.

TAND IS SO DANGER ROUSE.

TO HEAR LAUREN BOEBERT IN THAT QUOTE TALKING ABOUT LAW AND ORDER.

THIS WAS A LEGAL SEARCH WARRANT, SIGNED OFF BY A FEDERAL JUDGE.

AND THEY ARE JUST TOTALLY MAKING UP A PACK OF LIES ABOUT WHAT THIS IS.

INSTEAD OF SAYING LET'S WAIT AND SEE.

LET'S SEE WHAT THIS INVESTIGATION TURNS INTO.

AND IT IS PLANTING VERY REAL SEEDS OF VIOLENCE THAT WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN PLAY OUT, ONE LIFE HAS ALREADY BEEN LOST.

WE'V HAD OTHER ARMED PEOPLE SHOWING UP AT F.B.I.

HEADQUARTERS.

AND I CAN TELL YOU, THAT THE THREAT LEVEL AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT, AGAINST THE FEDERAL JUDGE WHO SIGNED THAT SEARCH WARRANT, AGAINST POLITICIANS, IS ALL ON THE RISE.

THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS GAME THEY ARE PLAYING.

AND IT IS THE ONLY THING THEY HAVE TO SELL AT THE MID TERM BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN STEADFAST IN OBSTRUCTING ANY SORT OF LEGISLATION THAT CAN ACTUALLY HELP THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AS THEY CONTINUE TO FACE RISING COSTS IN A PANDEMIC-RIDDEN ECONOMY THAT HAS BEEN A TOUGH ONE.

BUT SINCE THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING ON THAT SIDE, THEY ARE GOING BACK TO THEIR OLD PLAY BOOK OF ACTUALLY INSTIGATING CIVIL WAR, OF ACTUALLY TRYING TO CALL PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THIS IS MADE UP AND RIGGED.

JUST THE SAME PLAY BOOK FROM THE 2020 ELECTION.

AND IT IS A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS GAME THAT THEY ARE PLAYING.

>> Braude: SPEAKING OF INSTIGATING CIVIL WAR, SOMETHING LIKE IT, YOU ARE A LAWYER, YOU THINK BASED ON THE JANUARY 6th HEARINGS YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE HELD IN THE HOUSE THAT WILL RESUME IN SEPTEMBER, THAT THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS COMMITTED CRIMES?

>> I THINK THAT THEY PUT FORWARD A LOT OF EVIDENCE THAT DONALD TRUMP KNEW HE WAS TOLD REPEATEDLY THAT THIS ELECTION WAS SOUND AND THAT HE HAD LOST FAIR AND SQUARE.

AND HE CONTINUED TO NOT ONLY TRY AND INFLUENCE THOSE SECRETARIES OF STATE THAT HE CALLED TO JUST FINED HIM 11-- JUST FIND HIM 11,000 VOTES, BUT HE ALSO KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING WHEN HE BROUGHT A MOB TO THE CAPITOL AND THEN TURNED THEM ON MIKE PENCE, HIS OWN VICE PRESIDENT.

>> Braude: DID HE COMMIT CRIMES IN THAT BEHAVIOR, WITH THAT BEHAVIOR?

>> I THINK THAT THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR CRIMES.

THERE IS ALSO EVIDENCE THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN, AGE WE ARE GOING TO LET THE TRUTH PLAY OUT, THE COMMITTEE IS NOT DONE WITH ITS INVESTIGATIONS.

THEY ARE PUTTING TOGETHER THEIR FINAL REPORT BUT IT IS CHILLING WHAT THEY HAVE UNCOVERED AND THE PRESENTATION THAT THEY HAVE MADE ABOUT THE ACTIONS OF DONALD TRUMP ON JANUARY 6th IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO IT.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN, ARE YOU VERY CLOSE TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, NANCY PELOSI, FOUR YEARS AGO SHE PLEDGED SHE WOULD NOT RUN FOR ANOTHER TERM AS LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATS.

AFTER THIS YEAR, SHE SAYS SHE IS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION, SAN FRANCISCO, HAS REFUELED TO SAY WHETHER SHE IS RUNNING FOR THE LEADERSHIP POSITION AGAIN.

IS SHE?

>> YOU KNOW, NANCY PELOSI, WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE HER.

AND I KNOW THAT HER FOCUS IS ON THE MID-TERM ELECTION.

SHE IS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.

SHE WILL BE OUR SPEAKER IN TO NOVEMBER.

AND UNTIL SHE SAYS THAT SHE IS NOT RUNNING, YOU KNOW, WE ARE JUST LUCKY TO HAVE HER LEADERSHIP.

>> Braude: WOULD YOU VOTE FOR HER AGAIN IF SHE CHOSE TO BREAK HER PLEDGE AND RUN FOR SPEAKER OR MINORITY LEADER AGAIN, WOULD YOU VOTE FOR HER?

>> I WOULD.

I WOULD.

I THINK SHE HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE LEADER FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

>> Braude: LAST QUESTION, BACK HOME AFTER SPENDING ALL THIS TIME IN WASHINGTON, I JUST SPOKE TO THE MAYOR OF A CITY IN YOUR DISTRICT, THE MAYOR OF MEDFORD TALKING ABOUT, I KNOW YOU CAN GUESS WHAT, THE ORANGE LINE, THE GREEN LINE.

WHAT IS YOUR QUICK TAKE ON WHAT THE PEOPLE OF YOUR DISTRICT AND BEYOND ARE ABOUT TO ENDURE COME FRIDAY?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS SHORE ENDOES.

IT VL BEYOND AN INCONVENIENCE.

AND THE M.B.T.A.

IS BROKEN.

AND I AM GLAD THAT WE ARE HAVING A GOVERNOR'S RACE.

I SUPPORT MAURA HALEY WHO REALLY UNDERSTANDS WHAT IS AT STAKE FOR COMMUNITIES IN MY DISTRICT LIKE MEDFORD.

MANY OF MY COMMUNITIES ARE ON THE ORANGE LINE AND RELY ON IT FOR EMPLOYEES, FOR GETTING TO WORK THEMSELVES.

AND THIS IS A SYSTEM THAT NEEDS A COMPLETE OVERHAUL.

AND I THINK THAT MAURA HALEY IS GOING TO BE THE PERSON TO DO IT.

>> WAS BAKER RIGHT TO SHUT IT DOWN FOR A MONTH?

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE, WHEN WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE THE M.B.T.A.

HAS TO DECIDE BETWEEN FUNDAMENTAL SAFETY AND ACTUALLY RUNNING THEIR CARS.

SO YOU KNOW, THOSE DECISIONS, I TRUST THEY MADE THE ONE THAT WAS THE SAFEST.

BUT HOW DID WE GET HERE.

THIS HAS BEEN NOTHING SUDDEN.

IT HAS BEEN YEARS OF NEGLECT.

AND WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WHO IS GOING TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS AND MAKE REAL PROGRESS.

THIS IS REALLY UNACCEPTABLE THAT A INN MASSACHUSETTS, THIS IS HOW WE SOLVE OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS IS BY SHUTTING LINES DOWN FOR WEEKS AT A TIMIVE.

>> Braude: GOOD TO SIGH, GOOD LUCK, BE WELL.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND PLEASE DON'T FORGET UKRAINE.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org