>> TONIGHT ON "TALKING POLITICS" DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE HOUSE AND SENATE SAID THEY'VE COMPROMISE ON A NEW SPENDING BILL THAT WILL GIVE MUCH NEEDED FUNDING TO THE STATE'S SHELTER SYSTEM.

BUT REPUBLICANS ARE PROMISING TO BLOCK IT.

STATE HOUSE REPORTER KATY JOINS ME WITH WHAT SHE'S HEARING ON THE HILL.

AND WE'LL TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF FORMER MASSACHUSETTS DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER JOHN WALSH WHO LAUNCHED THE CAREERS OF DON PATRICK, ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDREA CAMPBELL AND MORE.

FIRST, THESE MOCK-UPS FROM CLIMATE CENTRAL, CLIMATE CHANGE IS COMING FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS COASTLINE.

ETCH IF WE CUT BACK ON GREENHOUSE, FLOODING WILL WORSEN.

THAT'S WHY GOVERNOR HEALEY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITIES LAID OUT HER COAST PLAN THIS WEEK FOCUSES ON EVALUATING BEST PRACTICE FINDING NEW FUNDING AND FINDING NEW LAWS TO MITIGATE FURTHER DAMAGE.

SO WHAT WILL ALL OF THAT LOOK LIKE?

WHAT KIND OF IMPACT IS IT GOING TO HAVE?

I'M JOINED NOW BE LISA BARRIE ENGLISH.

>> HE.

SHE'S DIRECTOR OF THE COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT WHICH IS LEADING THE RESILIENT COAST INITIATIVE.

LISA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

APPRECIATE THE TIME.

I KNOW THAT THE OFFICE OF COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN WORK ON RESILIENCY ISSUES FOR A WHILE ALREADY.

IF I'M CORRECT, YOU JUST GAVE OUT ABOUT $8 MILLION IN GRANTS TO COASTAL COMMUNITIES THAT ARE WORKING ON RESILIENCY STRATEGIES.

SO I'M WONDERING WHAT THIS NEW FRAMEWORK THAT THE GOVERNOR ROLLED OUT AND THE NEW ROLE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE HIRING FOR.

WHAT WILL THEY ALLOW YOU TO DO THAT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO ALREADY?

LISA: THANKS FOR THAT.

HELLO, THANKS FOR HAVING ME TODAY TOO.

I -- SO THE RESILIENT COAST INITIATIVE IS A NEW WAY OF THINKING ABOUT OUR CLIMATE VULNERABILITIES ALONG THE COAST.

IT WILL ALLOW US TO THINK PROACTIVELY AND STRATEGICALLY ABOUT WHAT OUR VULNERABILITIES ARE COASTWIDE AND THINK STRATEGICALLY ABOUT HOW WE CAN SHARE INFORMATION, POLICY, REGULATORY MEGGISM INS ACROSS THE COAST SO THAT WE CAN MORE -- MECHANISM ACROSS THE COAST SO THAT QUESTION STRATEGICALLY THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN ADAPT WHOLE COAST AND REALLY GET THE STRENGTH OF THE STATE BEHIND THE EFFORT THAT ISES THE 78 COASTAL COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN DOING, MORE ON A TOWN BY TOWN BASIS UP UNTIL THIS POINT.

ANCHOR: ALONG THE LINES, I KNOW ONE OF THE BIG TASKS AWAITING WHOEVER IS THE HEAD OF THIS EFFORT IS THE CREATION OF COASTAL RESILIENCE DISTRICTS CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THOSE ARE BECAUSE WHEN I WAS READING THROUGH THE PRESS RELEASE FROM THE HEALEY ADMINISTRATION, I COULDN'T TELL IF IT MEANT AREA THAT IS ARE CONTIGUOUS GEOGRAPHICALLY OR AREA THAT IS ARE FAR APART BUT HAVE SIMILAR YES GRAPHICAL FEATURES OR PERHAPS NATURAL FEATURES IN TERMS OF BIOLOGICAL LIFE THAT GIVES THEM SOME SORT OF AFFINITY?

WHAT WILL CONSTITUTE A COASTAL DISTRICT?

>> FIRST FIRST I WANT TO SAY THAT MANY OF US ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE COAST OF MASSACHUSETTS.

WE KNOW THAT THE COAST IS VERY DIVERSE AND IT'S ALSO DYNAMIC.

WE HAVE AREAS OF THE COAST LIKE IN GLOVESSER AND ROCK MINORITY HAVE MORE HARDENED SHORE LINES AND WE HAVE AREAS OF THE COAST LIKE ON THE CAPE AND PARTS OF NANTUCKET THAT ARE MORE SANDY AND BARRIER BEACHES AND DUNE SYSTEMS.

AND THEN WE VALUES THE AREA OF THE COAST THAT ARE FAIRLY WELL DEVELOPED LIKE THE CITY OF BOSTON AND THE METRO BOSTON AREA AND WE HAVE AREA THAT IS ARE PRETTY RURAL.

THE IDEAS BEHIND THIS IS THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO THINK AS I SAID LOOKING COAST WIDE AT -- AT WHAT THE AREAS OF THE COAST, WHERE THE AREAS OF THE COAST THAT HAVE SIMILARITIES IN TERMS OF PHYSICAL CHARACTER RESTRICTIONS AS WELL AS INFRASTRUCTURE AND TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT AND IN TERMS OF VULNERABILITY TO SEA LEVEL RISE COASTAL FLOODING, EROSION AND EVEN PRECIPITATION.

WHERE CAN WE THINK ABOUT CREATING RESILIENCE DISTRICTS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY CONTIGUOUS AS YOU WERE SAYING BUT SHARE THESE CHARACTERISTICS SO WE CAN PLAN FOR HOW TO ADAPT WITHIN THESE SPACES TOGETHER AND USE THE -- AGAIN THIS COASTWIDE VISION INSTEAD OF THE MORE SPECIFIC TOWN BY TOWN FOCUS.

ANCHOR: OK. ONE FEATURE OF THE NEW PROGRAM IS IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY THAT THE MASS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY IS GOING TO BE LEADING THE EVALUATION OF A STATEWIDE BUYOUT PROGRAM.

I THINK -- TELL ME IF I'VE GOT THAT RIGHT, I THINK THAT WOULD INVOLVE MANAGE RETREAT, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT I'M FASCINATED BY THE IDEA THAT IN SOME PLACES IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO MAKE STONES PULL BACK FROM THE COASTLINE TO TAKE EXISTING STRUCTURES, MOVE THEM AWAY, TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING NEAR THE COAST MOVE AWAY.

HOW IS THAT EVALUATION PROGRAM GOING TO WORK, AND HOW TOUGH OF A SELL SO FAR HAS THE IDEA OF MANAGED RETREAT BEEN?

LISA: YEAH, THE -- RESILIENT COAST STRATEGY IS GOING TO THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE FOOLS THE TOOLBOX, SO TO SPEAK WE'RE GOING TO BE THINKING ABOUT DIFFERENT TYPES OF FINANCING, REGULATORY STANDARDS, BUILDING CODE STANDARDS, REALLY LOOKING ACROSS THE BOARD WHAT DO WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR COAST MORE RESILIENT AND INSURE THAT IT CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE MORE BENEFITS THAT IT CURRENTLY PROVIDES TODAY AS A COMMONWEALTH.

IN KEEPING WITH THAT, COASTAL BUYBACKS WILL BE SNAG WILL BE EVALUATED AND CERTAINLY A STRATEGY THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING TO THINK ABOUT IN PARTICIPATION AND COLLABORATION WITH THE COASTAL COMMUNITIES.

THE WORK THAT MEMA IS DOING IN THE EVALUATION OF A STATEWIDE BUYOUT PROGRAM WILL HELP INFORM THOSE CONVERSATION THAT IS WE HAVE WITH OUR COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND THE STAKEHOLDERS.

WE WANT TO KNOW HOW THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM IS WORKING IN OTHER STATES.

AND WE WANT TO KNOW HOW IT COULD WORK HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

AND WE WANT TO HAVE THOSE ANSWERS SO THAT WHEN WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONSWITH OUR COASTAL COMMUNITIES THAT WE CAN ANSWER QUESTION THAT IS THEY MIGHT HAVE ABOUT HOW SUCH A PROGRAM COULD WORK IN MASSACHUSETTS.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE ANY SORT OF CONVERSATION THAT IS YOU MUST DO THIS OR YOU SHALL DO THIS.

THIS IS PROVIDING TOOLS SO THAT COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND STAKEHOLDERS TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT HOW TO THINK ABOUT THEIR VULNERABILITIES ON THE COAST.

AND THEN I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THIS IS NOT A NEW TOPIC FOR MANY COASTAL COMMUNITIES.

WE'VE SEEN A FEW COMMUNITIES EVEN ON THE CAPE THAT HAVE LOOKED AT OPPORTUNITIES TO PULL BACK DEVELOPMENT FROM THE COAST WHEN THEY'VE DONE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

OUR PROGRAM HAS FUNDED TWO COMMUNITIES THAT I CAN THINK OF RIGHT NOW WHERE THEY DID LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO PULL BACK PARKING LOTS WHEN THEY WERE LOOKING TO REDEVELOP THEM.

AND SO WE FUNDED THESE PROJECTS AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP THEM THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE SPECIFICS OF THAT EVALUATION?

HOW FAR BACK MIGHT YOU MOVE THE PARKING LOT?

WHAT ARE THE THREATS YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT?

WHAT'S THE CURRENT USE AND FUTURE USE OF THAT PARKING LOT IN THESE INSTANCES?

SO THIS IS NOT A NEW TOPIC FOR THESE COMMUNITIES.

THEY HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT.

THROUGH THE MEMA PROJECT AND THROUGH RESILIENT COAST WE'LL BE ABLE TO INFORMED THE CONTINUED CONVERSATION AROUND THINGS LIKE BUYBACKS.

ANCHOR: I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT AN IDEA THEY HEARD FLOATED FROM SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND RESILIENCY ISSUES FACING MASSACHUSETTS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

I'VE HEARD IT SUGGESTED BY THAT'S SOME ADVOCATE THAT IS LAW THAT IS ARE AIMED AT PROTECTING COASTLINE AREAS ACTUALLY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO TAKE STEPS THAT WOULD PROTECT THEM MOVING FORWARD GIVEN THE NEW THREATS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE FACING.

IS THAT A DYNAMIC THAT THE RESILIENT COAST INITIATIVE MIGHT END UP DELVING INTO?

AND COULD IT END UP DRIVING REGULATORY CHANGE IF THAT'S DEEMED APPROPRIATE?

LISA: SO FIRST, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOME OF OUR AGENCY THAT IS MANAGE THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE COAST ARE THINKING ABOUT AND ARE IN FACT CURRENTLY REVIEWING THEIR REGULATORY FRAME WORKS TO SEE HOW THEY SHOULD BE UPDATED.

SOME OF OUR REGULATORY FRAME WORKS DO NOT INCLUDE THE THINKING OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND HOW FUTURE SEA LEVELS MAY CHANGE AND STORM SURGE MAY CHANGE AND EROSION RATES MAY CHANGE.

SO THAT'S A PROCESS THAT'S GOING ON NOW.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN PARALLEL TO THE RESILIENT COAST INITIATIVE.

ALSO, THROUGH THE RESILIENT COAST INITIATIVE AND THROUGH THE CONVERSATIONS AND INPUT THAT WE'LL HEAR FROM OUR COASTAL STAKEHOLDERS, I SUSPECT THAT WE WILL SEE AND HEAR RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE COAST AND SUPPORTING SOME OF THESE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES AND HOW THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK COULD HELP SUPPORT THEM AS WELL.

AND SO I SEE THESE TWO -- THESE TWO TRACKS OR THESE TYPES OF WORK OPERATING IN PARALLEL AND INFORMING EACH OTHER.

ANCHOR: LAST QUESTION FOR YOU CHINO YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER BECAUSE THIS NEW INITIATIVE IS ROLLING DOUBT YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HOW MUCH MONEY IT'S GOING TO COST TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO ALL UP AND DOWN THE MASSACHUSETTS COASTLINE WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE OR ARE WE NOT AT THAT POINT YET?

LISA: SO IF I HAD THE ANSWER TO THAT I WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, I WOULD GO TO VEGAS -- THIS IS MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION OR MAYBE THE BILLION DOLLAR QUESTION, REALLY.

WE KNOW IT WILL BE EXPENSIVE.

THAT'S FOR SURE.

WHAT WE DO KNOW.

WE KNOW THAT WE ARE ESTIMATEING ABOUT A BILLION DOLLAR IN DAMAGES TO COASTAL AREAS BY 2070 UNDER CURRENT CONDITIONS.

SO THAT'S IF NOTHING CHANGES.

THAT SORT OF A RULE OF THUMB.

SO WE KNOW WE NEED BE PROACTIVE AND WE NEED -- WE KNOW WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT ALL SOURCE OF FUNDING TO BRING TO BEAR TO THIS ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, FEDERAL -- THAT MEANS FEDERAL FUNDS, STATE FUNDS AND LOCAL, COMMUNITY FUNDS AS WELL.

WE KNOW ALREADY THAT WE NEED TO BE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS AND BRINGING THEM BACK TO MASSACHUSETTS AS BEST WE CAN.

WE'RE ALREADY TAKING STEPS TO DO THIS.

THE -- LAST YEAR, MY OFFICE SECURED ABOUT $4 MILLION IN TWO PROJECTS TO BRING FEDERAL DOLLARS TO MASSACHUSETTS FOR COASTAL HABITAT RESTORATION.

WE'VE ALSO APPLYIED FOR FUNDING THROUGH THE CLIMATE RESILIENCE REGIONAL CHALLENGE THROUGH KNOW NOAA.

ANCHOR: ALL THAT INFO GIVES A SENSE ABOUT HOW BIG THE THREAT IS FINANCIALLY NOT JUST EXISTENTIALLY AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE MECHANIC MITCHELLS TO GET THE FUNDS NEEDING TO ADDRESS IT LISA, THANK YOU FOR TALK US THROUGH.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> SO HAPPY TO BE HERE THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION.

ANCHOR: GOOD LUCK ROLLING OUT THE INITIATIVE.

LISA: THANKS.

ANCHOR: WEEKS AFTER THE OWNED OF THE LEGISLATIVE YEAR, STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE REACHED A DEAL ON A $3 BILLION SPEND THE SPENDING BILL WILL FUND MASSACHUSETTS SCHELLERS OVERWHELMED BY THE INFLUX OF MIGRANTS.

WHY THE DEMOCRATIC SUPER SUPERMAJORITIES HAVE MANAGEMENTED TO COME TOGETHER, REPUBLICANS ARE NOT ONBOARD.

AND SINCE LAWMAKERS ARE WORKING ON THESE ISSUES OUTSIDE OF FORMAL SESSIONS, THE G.O.P.

LAWMAKER ON BEACON SHRILL THE POWER TO DERAIL THE PROCESS.

STATE HOUSE REPORTER KATIE LENNON JOINS US ON WHAT SHE HAS BEEN HEARING.

KATIE, FIRST OFF, HOW WOULD THIS $250 MILLION SUPPLEMENTING SPENDING BILL, HOW WOULD IT BE USED EXACTLY?

>> THERE ARE SOME BREAKDOWNS.

AND ONE OF THE KEY FEATURES IS IT THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE GOVERNOR HEALEY AND HER TEAM SET UP AN EMERGENCY OVERFLOW SITE BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

THERE'S A PROVISION IN THIS COMPROMISED BILL THAT WOULD MAKE THE REST OF THE MONEY INACCESS TO BE THE ADMINISTRATION IF THEY DON'T GET THAT SIGHT UP AND RUNNING.

IT'S A CONTINGENT ON DOING THAT.

THERE'S ALSO SOME DATA REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO KEEP THE LEGISLATURES ABREAST OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE SHELTER SYSTEM.

ANCHOR: WE SHOULD MENTION, THIS IS NOT THE ONLY ITEM IN THE BILL WHICH COULD FLAY THE POLITIC WITH HOW THIS SHAPES UP.

WHAT ELSE IS IN THERE THAT'S SIGNIFICANT?

>> THERE'S A LOT THAT'S IN THERE.

AS YOU SAID, ADAM, A LOT OF THAT MONEY WOULD GO TO THE MASS H HEALTH PROGRAM.

THERE'S DISASTER RELEASE PROGRAM BY COMMUNITIES HIT BY FLOODING EARLIER THIS YEAR.

ONE BIG PIECE THAT GETS A LOT OF ATTENTION IS OVERDUE RAISES FOR PUBLIC WORKERS WOULD BE FUNDED BY SOME MONEY IN THIS BILL.

THAT'S -- YOU KNOW, DRIVEN A LOT OF FOLKS TO A POINT OF FRUSTRATION WAITING FOR THEIR NEW PAY CHECKS TO COME IN.

ADAM: I THINK THAT'S AN UNDERSTANDABLE DYNAMIC.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN EXPLAIN -- WE'VE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT HOW CLOSE TO IRRELEVANT REPUBLICANS ARE IN BEACON HILL BUT IN THE CASE THEY'RE VERY RELEVANT.

WHAT CAN THEY DO TO MOVE THIS FORWARD AND HOW DO YOU THINK THE DEMOCRATS ARE LIKELY TO RESPOND?

REPORTER: SO AT THIS POINT IN THE LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR, WE ARE -- THE LEGISLATURE IS ONLY HAVING INFORMAL SESSION.

ALL INDUSTRIAL TO PASS UNANIMOUSLY.

ANY DISSENTING VOTE FROM A REPUBLICAN CAN STOP A BILL.

THEY VALUES A PROCEDURAL MOVE THEY CAN USE TO EFFECTIVELY TEND SESSION, TO FORCE THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE TO ADJOURN FOR THE DAY WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE BILL SOME OF THAT'S WHAT WE SAW IMMEDIATELY TAKE PLACE.

THE FIRST DAY, THURSDAY THAT THIS COMPROMISED BILL WAS RELEASED BY DEMOCRATS.

AND YOU KNOW, THE REPUBLICANS SAY THEY'RE READY TO KEEP IT UP.

AND DEMOCRATS SAY THEY'RE READY TO KEEP TRYING.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE WILL BE A BIT OF A STAGGERING CON TOAST SEE WHICH SIDE IS WILLING TO BACK DOWN FIRST.

ADAM: HERE'S SOMETHING I'M CONFUSED BECAUSE YOU KNOW MUCH MORE ABOUT THE STATE HOUSE THAN YOU DO, AND YOU CAN HELP EXPLAIN TO ME.

AND VIEWERS MIGHT BE CONFUSED.

WHY DON'T DEMOCRATIC LEADERS -- WHY DON'T THEY JUST SAY WE'LL GO BACK INTO FORMAL SESSION BECAUSE THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT?

WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS DONE, THE REPUBLICANS BEING A PAIN.

BUT WE'LL DO WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO.

REPORTER: WE ULTIMATELY COULD SEE THAT HAPPEN.

THE REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, IN FACT.

THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO DEBATING THE BILL IN A FORMAL SESSION.

THAT'S A MOVE THAT ONLY HAPPENS VERY RARELY THREE TIMES IN THE LAST FEW DECADES.

SO IT'S A BIG DEAL EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T SEEM AS YOU AND I ARE TALKING.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE AN OBVIOUS SOLUTION.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S DONE LIGHTLY OR FREQUENTLY ON BEACON HILL.

IT REALLY IS CONSIDERED A BIG STEP.

I DON'T THINK THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO GIVE THE REPUBLICANS WHAT THEY WANT HERE.

THEY SEE THAT REPUBLICANS AS OBSTRUCTING THIS PROCESS.

ADAM: CAN YOU EXPLAIN -- AND WE'VE GOT ABOUT 45 SECONDS LEFT.

WHY IS IT SUCH A BIG SCHOOL IN IS IT A BIG DEAL BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE WANTS TO SORT OF KEEP ITS TIME OFF ONCE THEY'VE BROKEN FOR THE YEAR?

IS ATE BIG DEAL BECAUSE PROCEDURALLY IT'S COMPLICATED TO RESUME FORMAL SESSIONS?

REPORTER: YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T BEEN UP AT THE STATE HOUSE WHEN THEY HAVE COME BACK INTO A FORMAL SESSION AND OFF THE PERIOD.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW COMPLICATED IT WOULD BE PERSONALLY.

BUT I THINK IT'S MORE OF A POLITICAL CONCERN.

THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE REPUBLICANS A WIN AND MAYBE SET A PRECEDENT.

ADAM: VERY INTERESTING.

AND ALSO VERY WEIRD.

IT'S ONE OF THESE THINGS THAT FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE HOUSE IT'S KIND OF HARD TO WRAP YOUR BRAIN AROUND THE LOGIC OF ALL OF IT.

KATY LYNN, GOOD SEE YOU AND THANKS FOR THE PRIME ON WHAT'S GOING ON UP THERE.

REPORTER: THANKS, ADAM.

ADAM: IF YOU DON'T KNOW HIM BY NAME YOU SURELY KNOW THE CANDIDATE THAT IS FORMER STATE JOHN WALSH HELPED PROPEL INTO OFFICE.

HE DIED LAST WEEK AT 65.

BEST KNOWN AS A MASTER OF GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGNING WHO TOOK DUVALL PATRICK FROM RELATIVE UNKNOWN TO BECOMING MASSACHUSETTS'S FIRST BLACK GOVERNOR.

HEF WOULD GO ON TO ELECT MANY MORE POLITICIANS INCLUDING NOW ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDREA CAMPBELL CAMPBELL, CONGRESSWOMAN AYANA PRESSLEY AND ED MARKY A LOT OF TRIBUTES HAVE COME IN WITH AS MUCH PRAISE FOR JOHN WALSH, THE MAN AS FOR JOHN WALSH THE POLITICAL OPERATIVE INCLUDING FROM MY NEXT GUESTS SARAH GROVE, CHIEF OF STATE FOR CONGRESSWOMAN PRESSLEY AND ALEX GOLDSTEIN WORKED ON GOVERNOR PATRICK'S CAMPAIGN.

HE'S FOUNDER AND C.E.O.

OF THE COMMUNICATIONS FIRM 90 WEST.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR TAKING TIME TO TALK ABOUT JOHN.

SARAH, WHEN HE PASSED AWAY, YOU SENT OUT A TWEET EXPRESSING YOUR CONDOLENCES TO JOHN'S FAMILY AND ADDING, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR ADVICE AND SUPPORT AND THAT PEP TALK AT MCKENNA'S THAT GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE TO STEP UP AS AYANNA PRESSLEY'S 2018 CAMPAIGN MANAGER.

WHAT IF ANYTHING CAN YOU SHARE ABOUT WHAT JOHN WALSH TOLD YOU WHEN HE GAVE YOU THAT PEP TALK AT MCKENNA'S?

SARAH: THANKS FOR HAVING US, ADAM IT'S AN HONOR TO SHARE MEMORIES OF JOHN.

I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT PEP TALK AT MCKENNA'S.

WHAT WE HEARD A AT THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE THAT SO MANY FOLKS HAVE INCREDIBLE STORIES LIKE THAT WE WERE AT AN INFLECTION POINT.

I WAS A FIRST-TIME CAMPAIGN MANAGER WORKING FOR SOMEONE I RESPECTED SO MUCH AND I FELT TREMENDOUS PRESSURE ON GETTING IT RIGHT.

I BELIEVEED WHAT THE CONGRESSWOMAN WAS CAMPAIGNING FOR AND WHAT WE SAW FOR POSSIBILITIES FOR REPRESENTATION IN THE SEVENTH.

SO I FELT THE PRESSURE.

I CAME WITH A LAUNDRY LIST OF CRITICAL DECISIONS WE NEEDED TO MAKE YESTERDAY.

AND YOU KNOW, WITH HIS SIGNATURE JUST LIKE WARMTH AND AFFABILITY, HE WALKED ME THROUGH EVERY QUESTION.

HE SAID AT THE END OF THE DAY, SARAH, THESE ARE JUST DECISIONS.

YOUR SMART AND CAPABLE TO MAKE THEM.

AND TO ADD A LITTLE LEVITY, HE SAID PLUS, IT'S MASSACHUSETTS, IF YOU WIN WE'LL CALL YOU A POLITICAL GENIUS AND IF YOU LOSE THEY'LL CALL YOU A DIRTY BUM.

LY NEVER FORGET THAT CONVERSATION, SO CONSISTENT WITH JOHN BEING SO GENEROUS OF HIS TIME TO SO MANY UP AND COMING POLITICAL STAFFERS AND TAKING A CHANCE ON US.

ADAM: YOU TALK ABOUT HIM BEING GENEROUS WITH HIS TIME.

HE DID THAT NOT IN A CAPACITY OF WORKING FOR THE CAMPAIGN, RIGHT?

THIS IS A FRIEND TO FRIEND, COLLEGE TO COLLECT COLLEAGUE CHAT?

>> TRULY AN S.O.S.

CALL AS A CAMPAIGN MANAGER WHO YOU SAY I'M IN OVER MY HEAD.

WHO DO YOU TRUST?

HE BOLSTERED HI CONFIDENCE.

HE BELIEVE SOD STRONGLY IN THE CONGRESSWOMAN'S 2018 CAMPAIGN AND IN HER AND THAT CONTINUED IN CONGRESS AS WELL, WHICH WAS SUCH A GIFT.

ADAM: I DIDN'T MEAN THE INTERRUPT.

SARAH: WE HEARD SO MANY STORIES ABOUT THAT.

JUST THE SITDOWNS, THOSE COUGH FEES AND HAVE A -- THEY WERE SO CRITICAL.

THEY'VE DEFINED MASSACHUSETTS POLITICS FOR GOOD IN MY VIEW.

ADAM: SOME OF OUR VIEWERS WILL KNOW THIS.

HE ENDED UP ENDORSING AYANNA PRESSLEY WHEN OTHER MEMBERS OF THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT WERE GETTING BEHIND MAKE CAPUANO AS A ROOM JOHN WALSH WAS PRESENT AT THE CREATION OF YOUR CREATION AS A POLITICAL OPERATIVE.

CAN YOU JUST RECAP A LITTLE BIT THE ROLE HE PLAYED FOR YOU AS YOU WERE GETTING STARTED IN THE BUSINESS YOU'RE IN?

>> YES.

JOHN WAS MY FIRST BOSS IN POLITICS.

GAVE ME MY FIRST JOB AS A GRASSROOTS FIELD ORGANIZEERS ON DUVALL PATRICK'S CAMPAIGN.

AND WENT ON TO GIVE ME MY FIRST EVER JOB SPEAKING TO MEDIA WHICH BECAME MY ENTIRE CAREER WHEN HE INSTALLED ME AS DEMOCRATIC LECQUEOR.

HE TAUGHT ME TO HAVE MORE FAITH IN THEM THEY THAN THEY HAVE IN THEMSELVES.

IT WAS JOHN'S MOTTO.

IT WAS HISETHOS WAS TO HELP US FIGURE OUT OUR PATH.

BUT BELIEVE IN US BEFORE WE COULD AND ALLOW US TO MAKE MISTAKES AND FIGURE IT OUT.

THAT'S WHAT -- THAT'S WHAT JOHN DID FOR ME.

AND DESPITE BEYOND OUR -- YOU KNOW, CAREER CONNECTION, JOHN REALLY WAS ONE OF MY DEAR, DEAR FRIENDS.

AND I MISS HIM TERRIBLY.

I THINK IN SO MANY WAYS, JOHN BROUGHT THIS LEVEL OF OPTIMISM IN THE DARKEST MOMENT THAT IS FEW CAN SUMMON.

AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW, -- I FEEL LIKE WE'RE -- I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF THE PERIODS IN THE LAST DECADE HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT.

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN A TOUGH PERIOD RIGHT NOW.

I'VE BEEN EXCLAIMING TO PEOPLE WE LOST JOHN WALSH IN A TIME WHEN WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE PEOPLE LIKE JOHN.

IT MAKES IT FEEL THAT MUCH MORE HEARTBREAKING THAT HE'S NOT HERE WITH US.

ADAM: ALEX JUST IDENTIFIED A COUPLE OF DISTINGUISHING FEATURES BELIEVING IN PEOPLE WHEN THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES, BRINGING A SENSE OF OPTIMISM IN DARK MOMENTS >> THERE ARE OTHER INSIGHTS HE HAD ABOUT POLITICS OR CONVICTIONS HE HAD ABOUT THE WAY POLITICS OUGHT TO WORK THAT YOU THINK OF DISTINCTIVE OR UNUSUAL?

SARAH: JOHN MEANT WHAT HE SAID.

AND, YOU KNOW, I MISS HIM SO MUCH AS ALEX EXPRESSED.

AND I WAS SCROLLING THROUGH HIS SOCIAL MEDIA LOOKING FOR -- YOU KNOW, TO KIND OF HOLD ON TO THOSE JOHNISMS AND SOME THINGS THAT HE WOULD REMIND US.

HE BELIEVED IN THE GRASSROOTS NOT IN A TRANSACTIONAL WAY.

HE REALLY BELIEVED THAT IF YOU GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET BEHIND A CANDIDATE OR AN ISSUE BASEED CAMPAIGN THAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THEIR COMMUNITY, IF YOU GIVE FOLKS THAT OPPORTUNITY YOU'RE GOING TO GET PHENOMENAL OUTCOMES FOR GOOD.

I JUST HOPE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HOLD ON TO IN JOHN'S MEMORY I THINK HE ALSO WAS JUST SO CLEAR ABOUT THE ROLE OF MENTORSHIP.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REMARKABLE ABOUT ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE SHARED TESTIMONIES FROM JOHN IS THEY TRULY COME FROM EVERY WALK OF LIFE AND SPECIFICALLY THE CONGRESSWOMAN AND I WERE TALK ABOUT HOW MANY FOLKS OF COLOR AND HOW MANY WOMEN WERE MENTORED BY JOHN.

POLITICS HAS A LOT OF BARRIERS FOR FOLKS.

HE DISAGREED THAT THAT SHOULD BE THE CASE.

HE BUILT THE PIPELINE AND SUPPORTED WOMEN, TO BE ADVOCATES.

YOU KNOW, SOMEONE AT THE SERVICE SAID, YOU KNOW, JOHN WALSH'S MANTRA IS HIRE BRILLIANT WOMEN AND GET OUT OF THEIR WAY.

YOU KNOW, HE HAS BROUGHT SO MANY PEOPLE INTO THESE SPACE WHO IS I KNOW HAVE MADE MY COMMUNITY AND MY FAMILY BETTER OFF IN POLITICS IN THE TRUEST SENSE.

PAID FAMILY LEAVE AND A GREEN NEW DEAL AND IT'S PHENOMENAL.

THE I PACKET OF JOHN WALSH IS NOT JUST TIME BOUND.

WE'RE GOING TO FEEL IT FOR A WHOLE GENERATION IN MASSACHUSETTS.

>> JUST TO DRIVE HOME YOUR TOPIC ABOUT BRINGING IN NEW VOICES.

I WANT TO ROLL IN WHAT ANDREA CAMPBELL HAD TO SAY AT THE MEMORIAL SERVICE VERY MUCH ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED >> WHAT MAKES JOHN STAND APART IS THAT JOHN NEVER SOUGHT SOUGHT ME OUT FOR BUSINESS.

HE NEVER ASKED ME TO PAY HIM A PENNY.

YES, HE HAD CLIENTS.

BUT HE TOOK PRIDE IN MAKING SURE THAT A DIVERSE GROUP OF LEADERS, A VERY DEMOGRAPHIC ALSO HAD SUPPORT AND COUNCIL ON INN WHAT THEY WOULD NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

THIS COMMONWEALTH AS A RESULT HAS MORE POLITICAL DIVERSITY, AND JOHN HAD AN INTIMATE HAND IN THE FIRST THAT ARE HERE TODAY.

ADAM: ALEX GOLDSTEIN, BACK WHEN DUVALL PATRICK WAS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, SOMEONE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HADN'T HEARD OF, WAS THAT COMMITMENT THAT SARAH AND THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MENTIONED EVIDENT?

>> OH, MY GOD.

WHAT'S SO AMAZING ABOUT JOHN IS THAT JOHN HAD A HEART FOR OUTSIDERS, THE PEOPLE THAT DID NOT HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND PUSHING EVERYBODY ASIDE TO GET THEM THAT SEAT AT THE TABLE.

WHAT'S INCREDIBLE IS THAT ONCE THEY GAINED THAT SEAT HE BECAME THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MASSACHUSETTS DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD USE THAT PERCH AT BEING -- BECOME A PART OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AS A PERPETUATION OF STATUS QUO.

AND JOHN WAS THE OPPOSITE.

I CAME INTO THE PARTY WITH JOHN.

AND JOHN UP ENDED THE PARTY.

HE UP ENDED THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM OF HOW WE DO OUR POLITICS.

HE UP ENDED THE IDEAS OF WHO BELONGS AT THE TABLE.

AS SARAH SAID NOT JUST IN TERMS OF CANDIDATES BUT UNLESS TERMS OF STAFF.

I THINK EITHER CREATING A SPACE WHERE, I'VE BEEN TELLING FOLKS, THEE LAST WEEK OR SO THAT JOHN IS PROBABLY ONLY PERSON OF SERIOUS POWER IN THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE WHO NEVER SYNTONIN VOICE MAIL.

OVER THE COURSE OF 15 YEARS LEADING THE PARTY AND AT THESE HIGHEST LEVELS OF POLITICS, JOHN DIDN'T CARE WHO YOU WERE.

IF YOU HAD A VOICE THAT HE BELIEVED WAS WORTHY OF BEING HEARD AND HE BELIEVED EVERYBODY WAS BEING HEARD, HE WAS GOING FIND A BY TO UPLIFT YOU AND GIVE YOU THAT OPPORTUNITY.

I THINK THAT'S TRANSCENDENT IN THAT IT WILL CONTINUE FOR GENERATION.

THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTED TO LIVEING THE WAY JOHN WORKED.

AND THAT WILL BE A BIG PART OF HIS LEGACY.

ADAM: MY CONDOLENCES TO BOTH OF YOU.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO REFLECT ON HIM.

I DIDN'T KNOW HIM.

BUT IT WAS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO TALK TO HIM.

HE WAS SO WARM AND THOUGHTFUL.

I WISH I HAD TALKED TO HIM MORE.

THANK YOU BOTH.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

BUT DO COME BACK NEXT WEEK.

AND PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK.

THE E-MAILS "TALKING POLITICS"."

-- TALKING POLITICS AT WGBH.ORG AND SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER WHILE YOU'RE AT IT.

FOR NOW, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT.

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