>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," AT CONGRESS'S FIRST HEARING ON THE CAPITOL ATTACK, AT LEAST ONE REPUBLICAN ADVANCED A CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT, SHOCKINGLY, ABSOLVES TRUMP OF ANY RESPONSIBILITY.

NOBEL PRIZE WINNING ECONOMIST AND "NEW YORK TIMES" COLUMNIST PAUL KRUGMAN JOINS ME ON THE HOLD THE FORMER PRESIDENT STILL HAS OVER THE GOP AND WHY HE SAYS JOE BIDEN IS RIGHT TO TWO BIG AND ALONE ON COVID RELIEF.

>> PLUS STATE REP AND EMERGENCY ROOM DR. JON SANTIAGO ON HIS JUST ANNOUNCED RUN FOR MAYOR OF BOSTON.

THEN LATER, A LOOK AT SOME HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS GIVING SOON TO BE GRADS AN EDGE IN A DISMAL JOB MARKET.

AND FINALLY, TALES OF DOGS IN POLITICS, INCLUDING SNOWFLAKE, OF COURSE, ANOTHER TEXAN LEFT OUT IN THE COLD BY TED CRUZ.

AFTER NEARLY A FULL YEAR OF A WHOLE LOT OF ZOOM SCHOOL FOR KIDS ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS, GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER ANNOUNCED TODAY STATE IS MOVING TO PHASEOUT REMOTE ONLY LEARNING AND GET MOST KIDS FULLY BACK INTO CLASSROOMS, STARTING WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BY APRIL.

MANY DISTRICT HAVE WORKED HARD TO CREATE STRONG LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR THEIR STUDENTS, BUT I THINK WE ALL AGREE THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING, ESPECIALLY KIDS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

>> OUR ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN CLEAR FOR MONTH THAT THE BEST PLACE FOR KIDS IS IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> Braude: ALTHOUGH THE STATE IS PUSHING TO GET AS MANY KIDS BACK TO IN-PERSON LEARNING AS POSSIBLE, EDUCATION COMMISSIONER JEFF REILLY DID SAY THAT PARENTS WILL STILL HAVE THE OPTION TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN REMOTE THROUGH END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN APPLY FOR WAIVERS TO TAKE A MORE INCREMENTAL APPROACH STATE OF FRICIALS IT IS HOPING TO START THE NEXT PHASE OF THE VACCINE ROLLOUT BY APRIL MAKING A WIDER SWATH OF THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS ELIGIBLE, INCLUDING TEACHERS AND OTHER EDUCATION WORKERS.

BUT EVEN IF THEY DO MANAGE TO GET A FIRST SHOT BEFORE THEN, IT WILL STILL TAKE WEEKS FOR A SECOND DOSE AND FULL IMMUNE I DO DEVELOP.

WE WILL TALK MUCH MORE ABOUT THIS IN TOMORROW'S SHOW, WHEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION JOINS ME.

WE WILL ALSO LIKELY HEAR MUCH MORE ABOUT THIS IN AND OTHER CONCERNS ABOUT THE STATE'S BUMPY ROLLOUT THURSDAY, WHEN GOVERNOR BAKER TESTIFIES IN THE FIRST OF SEVERAL OVERSIGHT HEARINGS BEFORE THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

AND SPEAKING OF BIG HEARINGS, WASHINGTON LAWMAKERS HELD THEIR FIRST TODAY ON THE DEADLY ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL, WITH SOME DRAMATIC TESTIMONY.

>> BASED ON THE INTELLIGENCE, WE ALL BELIEVED THAT THE PLAN MET THE THREAT, AND THAT WE WERE PREPARED.

WE NOW KNOW THAT WE HAD THE WRONG PLAN.

>> THE EVENTS I WITNESSED ON JANUARY 6TH USE THE WORST ATTACK ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OUR DEMOCRACY THAT I HAVE SEEN IN MY ENTIRE CAREER.

THESE CRIMINALS CAME PREPARED FOR WAR, A CLEAR LACK OF ACCURATE AND COMPLETE INTELLIGENCE ACROSS SEVERAL FEDERAL AGENCIES CONTRIBUTED TO THIS EVENT.

>> CHIEF SUND WAS PLEADING FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND IN RESPONSE TO THAT THERE WAS NOT AN IMMEDIATE YES.

I WAS JUST STUNNED.

>> Braude: MOST SENATORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE SPENT THE HEARING TRYING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT WENT WRONG, AND WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO PREVENT FUTURE ATTACKS, ALTHOUGH TED CRUZ TOOK SOME HEAT FOR SCROLLING THROUGH HIS PHONE DURING FORMER CAPITOL POLICE CHIEF SUND'S TESTIMONY.

MUST HAVE BEEN CHECKING ON SNOWFLAKE.

AND RON JOHNSTON OPTED TO USE THE OCCASION TO READ EXCERPTS FROM AN ESSAY PUBLISHED LAST MONTH IN THE FEDERALIST OF A SUPPOSED EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT THAT CLAIMED ANTIFA OR OTHER LEFTIST AGITATORS WERE INVOLVED IN THE ATTACK AND THAT IS THERE WAS A PREARRANGED PLAN TO STORM THE CAPITOL BUILDING TO MANIPULATE THE UNSUSPECTING CROWD AS COVER AND A FOLLOW I DON'T KNOW FORCE WHILE THE LAST PART MAY BE TRUE THE CLAIMS OF ANTIFA AND LEFTIST AGITATORS HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED BY THE FBI AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE ANY SUCH PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED, IT IS A CONSPIRACY THEORY PUSHED ON THE FLOOR OF THE CONGRESS AGAIN, THAT GOT MY GUEST TO ARGUE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS STRUCK PROBABLY IRRELEVANT IRREVERSIBLY LOOP OF BIZARRO, NEW YORK TIMES COLUMNIST PAUL KRUGMAN HIS LATEST BOMB "ARGUING WITH ZOMBIES: ECONOMICS, POLITICS AND THE FIGHT FOR A BETTER FUTURE".

IS OUT IN PAPERBACK ON THURSDAY, PAUL, IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> IT IS GOOD TO BE ME.

>> WHAT IS A DOOMED LOOP OF BIZARRE SEW, SEW A EXACTLY PAUL KRUGMAN.

>> WELL, THERE ARE A LOT OF DOOM LOOPS LATELY BUT DOOMED LOOP OF BIZARRO IS WHERE THINGS THAT ARE A DEMONSTRABLY FALSE BECOME IDENTITY, YOU CAN'T AT THIS PRETTY MUCH YOU CAN'T BE A REPUBLICAN IN GOOD STANDING UNLESS YOU CLAIM TO BELIEVE IN CRAZY THINGS, AND THAT FURTHER NARROWS THE FOCUS OF THE PARTY SO WE HAVE A PARTY THAT IS COMPLETELY NOW DETACHED FROM REALITY, DETACHED FROM ANY NOTION AMONG OTHER THINGS A PARTY WHICH SIMPLY DOES NOT ACCEPT THE LEGITIMACY OF ANY POLITICAL OPPOSITION.

IF A REPUBLICAN DOESN'T WIN THEN IT HAS TO HAVE BEEN FRAUD AND SO AND OF COURSE THIS ALSO EXTENDS TO POLICY STUNTS LIKE A DEEP-FREEZE IN TEXAS WHICH IS CLEARLY THE HEART OF IT WAS ACTUALLY NATURAL GAS SUPPLY BUT SOMEHOW OR OTHER IT WAS THE GREEN NEW DEAL THAT DID IT.

SO WE ARE REALLY OFF THE DEEPENED.

>> Braude: SO SPEAKING OF BEING OFF THE DEEPENED AND THE BIG LIE ABOUT THE ELECTION AND BIG LIE ABOUT GREEN NEW DEAL OUT OF TEXAS, UNTIL A CRITICAL MASS OF REPUBLICANS RETURN TO PLANET EARTH WHAT EXACTLY IS THEIR END GAME?

I AM MISSING IT.

>> WELL THEIR END GAME IS WELL, I MEAN, YOU REALLY SHOULD BE TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE EXPERT IN THE POLITICAL SCIENCE BUT FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT IS ESSENTIALLY IMPOSSIBLE THAT A CRITICAL MASS OF THE EXISTING PARTY IS GOING TO RETURN TO PLANET EARTH.

THERE MIGHT BE DEFECTIONS, THERE ABE EFFECTIVELY A BREAK AWAY PARTY BUT I DON'T THINK THE PARTY IS NOW CAPABLE OF REFORMING ITSELF AND THE END GAME IS REALLY ONE OF TRYING TO PRESENT, PREVENT VOTING WHERE WE HAVE SEEN A HUGE WAVE OF VOTER SUPPRESSION MEASURES AT THE STATE LEVEL GOING ON NOW AND PERHAPS EVENTUALLY THERE IS WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6TH, IT WASN'T A VERY COMPETENT ARMED INSURRECTION BUT IT WAS AN ARMED INSURRECTION AGAINST THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, AN ATTEMPT TO OVER THROW THE RESULTS OF AN ELECTION.

SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, THE QUESTION IS NOT WHAT IS THE END GAME FOR REPUBLICANS, THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE END GAME FOR AMERICA?

WELL, LET'S TALK IN THE INTERIM ABOUT THE END GAME FOR DEMOCRATS.

LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE, YOU SAID TO ME BIPARTISANSHIP IS NOT THE GOAL, GETTING STUFF DONE IS THE GOAL.

SO IF YOU ENDORSE THE GO BIG, GO IT ALONE ROUTE WHICH JOE BIDEN APPEARS TO HAVE EMBRACED AS WELL, WHY NOT CHANGE SENATE RULES AND EMBRACE GO BIG, GO IT ALONE ON EVERYTHING VOTING RIGHTS -- CLIMATE, IMMIGRATION, WHY NOT EVERYTHING?

>> I -- THAT REQUIRES, DEMOCRATS NEED TO DO THAT THEY NEED TO ACTUALLY SAY, OKAY, A FILIBUSTER HAS BECOME AN IMPEDIMENT TO -- CANNOT WORK THEN AND THERE ARE APPARENTLY STILL SOME DEMOCRATS, SOME DEMOCRATIC SENATORS WHO ARE NOT WILLING TO GO THERE AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT WILL CHANGE IN THE WEEKS AHEAD, SO FOR NOW THE GO BIG STRATEGY IS LIMITED TO THIS SPECIFIC ON FISCAL -- ANYTHING THAT CAN BE CONSTRUED BASICALLY AS FISCAL POLICY BECOMES, WE HAVE THIS ARCANE PROCEDURE, RECONCILIATION, BUT BASICALLY AS LONG AS THERE IS MONEY INVOLVED THEN YOU CAN BYPASS THAT AND THAT'S WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO AND I HAVE TO SAY IN TERMS OF THE IMMEDIATE POLITICS APARTMENT AND OF COURSE IN TERMS OF THE COVERING FROM THIS PANDEMIC, RECOVERING FROM THIS PANDEMIC IS THE CRUCIAL THING NOW IS TO GET A BIG PACKAGE OF ECONOMIC RELIEF THROUGH AND THAT APPEARS TO BE ON TRACK.

>> Braude:, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF THERE ARE 50 VOTES FOR SOME THINGS, THERE PROBABLY ARE AT LEAST IT SEEMS TO ME NOT 50 VOTES FOR TAXES.

I THINK YOU CALL THIS THE TWINKY MANIFESTO.

I THINK YOU SORT OF PINING AWAY.

>> YES.

>> -- FOR MARGINAL TAX RATES WHICH WERE THE EIGHTIES AND THE NINETIES AND IN THE -- >> 93 PERCENT UNDER DWIGHT EISENHOWER.

>> Braude: WELL, I THINK YOU WROTE IN THAT CHAPTER THAT IN THAT COLUMN TOO THAT IT WAS A TIME WHEN ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH LIVED HAPPILY TOGETHER BUT ASSUMING THAT THEY ARE NOT ABOUT THE COHABITATE AGAIN ANY TIME SOON, ARE YOU OKAY WITH HIM DOING $2 TRILLION OF COVID RELIEF, 2 TRAVELED OF INFRASTRUCTURE ON AND ON WITHOUT PAYING FOR IT AND IF YOU ARE AND I KNOW YOU ARE, WHY?

>> AS IT HAPPENS ONE OF THE FEW SILVER LININGS OF THIS CRAZY IMPASSE WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE WORLD APPEARS TO BE JUST AWASH IN SAVINGS, WITH NO PLACE TO GO.

PRIVATE SECTOR JUST DOESN'T WANT TO INVEST ALL OF THE MONEY THAT OTHER PEOPLE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WANT TO SAVE WHICH MEANS WE HAVE EXTREMELY LOW INTEREST RATES.

THAT MONEY IS BASICALLY LOOKING FOR A HOME, IN EFFECT THE MARKET IS BEGGING THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO DO A LOT OF SPENDING ON NECESSARY STUFF TO DO A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING AND TO BORROW THE MONEY, INTEREST RATES ARE SO LOW IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEBT NUMBER IT LOOKS ENORMOUS IF YOU LOOK AT THE INTEREST PAYMENTS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOW IS SPENDING ONLY HALF AS MUCH OF ITS BUDGET ON INTEREST PAYMENTS AS IT DID WHEN RONALD REAGAN WAS PRESIDENT SO WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE YES THE POLITICAL WILL TO RAISE TAXES IS PROBABLY NOT THERE, NOT FOR SOME TIME YET, BUT WE DON'T FEED IT.

LUCKILY, THE MONEY IS AVAILABLE TO DO A LOT OF GOOD STUFF, EVEN WITHOUT RAISING TAXES AND MAYBE HOPEFULLY SOME YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WE WILL BE POLITICALLY VERY DIFFERENT NATURE AND BE, NATION AND BE ABLE TO DO A MORE COMPREHENSIVE REFORM.

>> UNTIL WE GET TO THAT PLACE IS THERE A LIMIT AS TO HOW MUCH THE DEMOCRATS CAN SPEND IF THEY CAN GET 50 VOTES PLUS ONE IN A SENATE?

>> WELL IT IS NOT COMPLETELY CRAZY TO WORRY ABOUT THE CAPACITY OF THE ECONOMY.

YOU CAN BORROW ENOUGH AND SPEND ENOUGH, THEN YOU DO START TO PUT SOME INFLATIONARY PRESSURE ON.

WE ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE -- WE ARE CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO BE IN A DANGER ZONE ON THAT WITH THE PROPOSAL.

AND I AM NOT REALLY WORRIED.% THE THING -- I LOOK AT THIS AND SAY WELL CAN WE HAVE A BIG COVID RELIEF BILL?

WHICH IS A LOT OF MONEY, BUT PROBABLY NOT INFLATIONARY, AND THEN THERE IS A BUNCH OF OTHER STUFF I WANT TO DO WHICH IS INFRASTRUCTURE PENDING AND SOMETHING, WHATEVER WE ARE CALLING THE GREEN NEW DEAL NOW, BUILD BACK BETTER, WHICH IS GOING TO BE A BIG -- BUT IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE -- THE BIG PENDING ON PANDEMIC RELIEF WILL BE ALREADY IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR BY THE TIME ANY OF THAT START TO HAPPEN SO I THINK WE HAVE PLENTY OF RUNNING ROOM TO DO ALL OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

>> Braude: I FEAR IN THIS NEXT QUESTION YOU WILL TELL ME TO SPEAK TO A POLITICAL SCIENTIST AGAIN BUT SINCE I HAVE YOU I WILL ASK YOU ANYWAY.

IF THE DEMOCRATS ARE ABLE TO DO THIS ALMOST $2 TRILLION RELIEF BILL WHICH LAST TIME I LOOKED HAS CLOSE TO 80 PERCENT SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>> YES.

>> THE MAJORITY SUPPORT, THE REPUBLICANS, WHEN YOU SEE POLLS LIKE WE SAW IN USA TODAY FROM SUFFOLK WHICH SAY DO YOU BELIEVE BIDEN WAS LEGITIMATELY ELECTED AND A STUNNING 73 PERCENT STILL SAY NO, DOES GETTING WHAT THEY WANT A BEGIN TO CHANGE MINDS, PAUL KRUGMAN?

>> NOBODY HAS ANY IDEA, I MEAN, I JUST -- IT IS A VERY WEIRD TIME NOW WHERE BIDEN ACTUAL POLICY PROPOSALS ARE AWESOMELY POPULAR.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MUCH PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR ANYTHING, ANY PRESIDENT HAS -- I CAN'T REMEMBER, MY SORT OF MEMORIES GO BACK I DON'T THINK EVEN REAGAN WAS THIS POPULAR YET AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE A LARGE MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS WHO THINK THAT HE IS NOT A LEGITIMATE PRESIDENT.

DO PEOPLE'S MINDS CHANGE?

ACTUALLY IT DOESN'T EVEN MATTER.

HOW WILL PEOPLE'S VOTES BE AFFECTED AND THERE IS I GUESS THE HOPE IS THAT A PRESIDENT, EVEN IF THEY THINK THAT SOMEHOW OR OTHER THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN THROUGH I DON'T KNOW HOW, THAT THEY SAY, OH, YEAH BUT I HAVE GOT A JOB, I HAVE GOT HEALTHCARE, I KIND OF LIKE THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING AND IT WORKS, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS?

THIS WHOLE POLITICAL SITUATION WE ARE IN IS JUST COMPLETELY INSANE.

>> Braude: A DOOMED LOOP OF BIZARRE SEW, PAUL KRUGMAN IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> Braude: BOSTON CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT KIM JANEY IS READY AND WAITING TO STEP IN AS ACTING MAYOR WHEN MARTY WALSH IS CONFIRMED AS SECRETARY OF LABOR THE FIRST PERSON OF COLOR TO EVER HOLD THE JOB BUT HASN'T SAID IF SHE PLANS TO RUN FOR THE FULL TERM IN THE MAYORAL ELECTION IN THE FALL IF SHE DOES SHE WILL HAVE PLENTY OF COMPANY, MICHELLE WU, ANNISSA ESSAIBI GEORGE AND ANDREA CAMPBELL HAVE ALL ANNOUNCED THEIR CAMPAIGN AS THND MORNING STATE SENATOR JON SANTIAGO OFFICIALLY ADDED HIS NAME TO THE LIST, THE SOUTH END DEMOCRAT REPRESENTED THE STATEHOUSE IN 2018 AND WORKING ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IN HIS ROLE AS ER PHYSICIAN AT BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER.

REPRESENTATIVE JON SANTIAGO JOINS ME NOW, REPRESENTATIVE, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR CANDIDACY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, JIM, HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU.

>> Braude: SO THREE CITY COUNCILORS AS I SAID THE RACE SO FAR, WHAT WOULD YOU BRING TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE THAT NONE OF THEM WOULD?

>> LOOK, I THINK THIS WILL BE THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL MAYOR'S RACE IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY.

WE HAVE A PANDEMIC THAT IS COMPLETELY UPENDED SOCIETY AS WE KNOW IT.

HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, SCHOOLS, SMALL BUSINESSES, RUNNING FOR MAYOR TO BRING BOSTON BACK STRONGER THAN EVER, TO REALLY LEAD US THROUGH THIS CRISIS UNTIL A RECOVERY ROOTED IN EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY, I SAY THAT BECAUSE THIS 0 MOMENT TRANSCENDS POLITICS, THE CITY OF BOSTON IS THE LEADER, THE SERVANT LEADERS AND DEDICATED MY WHOLE LIFE TO PURSUING THAT, THE ARMY, PEACE CORPS AND ON THE FRONT LINES OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING THAT MENTAL OUT TO THE CAMPAIGN AND GETTING FOLKS INVOLVED AND EXCITED ABOUT THOSE CAMPAIGN AND ON BOARD.

>> Braude: WU AND CAMPBELL AS YOU KNOW ANNOUNCED THEIR CANDIDATE CITY EVEN WHEN MOST ASSUMED MARTY WALSH WAS RUNNING FOR ANOTHER TERM, WOULD YOU HAVE RUN IF WALSH WAS RUNNING FOR REELECTION, REPRESENTATIVE?

>> I HAVE ALWAYS STEPPED UP IN TIMES OF CRISIS, DURING THE FIRST SURGE, I IN FACT DOUBLED MY HOURS THIS EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, SERVED MY PATIENTS IN MY COMMUNITY AND TO GIVE MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES AT THE HOSPITAL A BREAK I DOUBLED DOWN ON MY CHIP TO THE COVID-19 RESPONSE ON BEACON HILL AND IN A SIMILAR LIGHT I THINK CITY NEEDS A LEADER AND SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS CRISIS HGHT, SOMEONE WHO ASK READY TO DELIVER WITH URGENCY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE BRING TO THE TABLE, THIS IS A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CURRENT CANDIDATES WHO HAVE ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTION TO BE THE NEXT MAYOR OF BOSTON, THEY ARE FRIENDS OF MINE, THEY ARE COLLEAGUES WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER AND I HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR THEM BUT I BRING A WHOLE DIFFERENT SET OF EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES TO THIS, AND I AM EXCITED TO TAKE THIS ON THE ROAD AND GET FOLKS INVOLVED ALL ACROSS THE CITY.

>> LET ME TRY IT ANOTHER WAY, THEN.

IF YOU WON'T TELL ME IF YOU WOULD HAVE RUN AGAINST WALSH, DO YOU THINK MARTY WALSH SERVED THE CITY WELL?

>> I HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR MARTY WALSH, AT LEAST WHEN I TALK TO, BEFORE I DECIDED TO RUN FOR OFFICE, I HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM SINCE THEN AND I THINK SHE DONE A FORMIDABLE JOB DURING THE COVID RESPONSE BUT I REALLY THINK THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON ARE NOT INTERESTED IN RELITIGATING THE MARTY WALSH SEVEN YEARS IN CITY HALL, I MEAN I THINK YOU ARE INTERESTED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF BOSTON, WHERE IT IS GOING, WHO IS GOING TO GET US OUT OF THIS CRISIS AND I THINK I AM THAT CANDIDATE.

>> Braude: SO I AM SURE YOU SAW SHIRLEY YOUNG'S PIECE IN THE GLOBE THE HEADLINE IS IT A FOREGONE CONCLUSION BOSTON'S NEXT MAYOR WON'T BE A WHITE MALE?

LET ME REFRAME THE QUESTION, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT RUNNING, IF YOU ARE NOT RUNNING, SHOULD THE NEXT MAYOR OF BOSTON BE A PERSON OF COLOR?

AS YOU KNOW WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW MAJOR CITIES IN THIS COUNTRY THAT HAS ONLY HAD WHITE MEN AS MAYORS.

>> I MEAN, I THINK, I MEAN IT SPEAKS ABOUT A LOT WHERE WE HAVE COME AS A CITY, AS A STATE, AS A COUNTRY IN POLITICS, HERE WE ARE LIVING IN A MAJORITY MINORITY CITY AND WHERE FOLKS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY REPRESENTED IN POLITICS FOR A LONG TIME ARE BEING REPRESENTED NOW, I MEAN, WHAT AN AMAZING POINT IN BOSTON BUT WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT, A PERSON OF, IF A PERSON OF COLOR CAN LEAD THE CITY AND WHICH ONE AND I AM EXCITED TO JOIN THAT STELLAR CAST OF CANDIDATES AND MAKE MY CASES FOR THE NEXT MAYOR OF BOSTON.

>> Braude: SO YOU ARE THE HOUSE VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE THAT IS BEGINNING OVERSIGHT HEARINGS OF THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION ON THURSDAY, I AM SURE YOU SAW THE MASS POLL THIS MORNING WHERE 71 PERCENT OF PEOPLE POLLED IN MASSACHUSETTS APPROVED OF THE WAY THE GOVERNOR WAS HANDLING THE PANDEMIC.

HAD YOU BEEN POLLED, WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN AMONG THE 71 PERCENT?

>> LISTEN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ALL LIVING UNDER THIS PANDEMIC.

THE GOVERNOR'S POSITION ON, THIS HE HAS A VERY CHALLENGING JOB I THINK I WOULD HAVE HANDLED CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF THE VACCINATION ROLLOUT DIFFERENTLY LIKE -- >> Braude: LIKE WHAT?

>> I PUT FORTH A BILL EARLY IN THE PAM RIGHT WHEN HE CAME WITHOUT THE WEB BASED APPROACH, LISTEN NOT ONLY DO WE NEED A WEB BASED APPROACH THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO BE TECHNOLOGICALLY SAVVY TO USE BUT A TELEPHONIC RESPONSE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT IS CULTURALLY COMPETENT AND THAT IS APPROPRIATE AND EQUITY IS THE FOUNDATION OF VACCINATION ROLLOUT, THIS IS NOT A GAME OF JUST HOW MANY VACCINATIONS WE CAN GET ADMINISTERED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND WHAT IS THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY THIS IS ABOUT REACHING TO THOSE, REACHING OUT TO THOSE COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN HARDEST HIT BY THE VIRUS AND I KNOW THOSE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE I SERVE AND I LIVE AMONGST THEM, THESE ARE MY PATIENTS, I SEE, I HEAR THEM, WHEN I AM WORKING WITH THEM IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND THESE ARE THE STORIES I AM TABLING WITH ME ON BEACON HILL AND THURSDAY WHEN I SERVE AS VIE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE I WILL BE SPEAKING WITH THEIR VOICES.

>> Braude:, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTATIVE WHEN I SAY YOU HAVE A BILL WHICH WAS A BETTER IDEA AT LEAST IN ONE AREA, AND I HAVE READ VIRTUALLY EVERY CRITICISM COME FROM A DEMOCRAT PARTICULARLY IN THE LEGISLATURE TO WHICH I POND, THEN WHY DON'T YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

I MEAN, DEMOCRATS GENERALLY IT SEEMS TO ME UNTIL THIS HEARING DEMOCRATS ON BEACON HILL HAVE BEEN PRETTY PASSIVE AND STOOD BACK CRITICIZED THE GOVERNOR BUT NOT DONE MUCH TO ADVANCE ALTERNATIVES.

IS THAT NOT A FAIR CRITICISM?

>> OH I MEAN I WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT ASSESSMENT, JIM.

I THINK LISTEN WE PUT FORTH A BILL, WE USED TO STEP UP OUR PRESSURE AND OUR ADVOCACY WITHIN BEACON HILL AND OUTSIDE BEACON HILL AND AS A RESULT I THINK WE HAVE MOVED THE GOVERNOR IN A BETTER DIRECTION.

THERE WAS A CALL CENTER NOW, WHO IS OPERATING, YOU KNOW, IN THE EVENINGS AND ON THE WEEKENDS, THERE IS AN EFFORT TO REACH OUT TO THOSE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR RIGHT NOW AND I THINK YOU WILL SEE MORE OF THAT MOVING TARRED BECAUSE WE ARE DEMANDING IT GOT JUST THOSE OF US ON BEACON HILL THE FIGHTING FOR MORE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO CARE BUT THOSE ON THE GROUND IN THE HOPS SERVING THOSE COMMUNITIES HARDEST HIT BE AT THIS VIRUS SO THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

>> Braude: I AM SORRY.

GO AHEAD.

>> NO.

THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS WILL BE ROCKY AND WILL BE BUMPY, YOU KNOW, MY PARTICULAR CONCERN FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE IS THE RACE AGAINST THESE VARIANTS, AND AS YOU KNOW WE HAVE MULTIPLE VARIANTS THAT ARE HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, MANY OF WHICH ARE MORE FRANCE MISSABLE AND MY CONCERN IS IF WE DON'T GET FOLKS VACCINATED SOON ENOUGH THE VIRUS WILL CONTINUE TO PROPAGATE, REPLICATE, MUTATE AND RESULT IN MORE VARIANTS THAT MIGHT HAVE, YOU KNOW, AN EASIER TIME OF ESCAPING SOME OF THESE VACCINES.

>> Braude: VERY QUICKLY BEFORE YOU GO, THERE IS A MORE TYING REPORT RELEASED THE OTHER DAY ABOUT CITY CONTRACTS WITH WOMEN AND ..

CONTRACTORS OF COLOR AS YOU KNOW, LESS THAN HALF A PERCENT BLACK CONTRACTORS, LESS THAN ONE PERCENT LATINO CONTRACTORS, BARELY ONE PERCENT ASIAN AMERICAN CONTRACTORS.

THE MAYOR PONDED WITH AN EXECUTIVE ORDER MANDATING TEN PERCENT OF CITY CONTRACTS GO TO FIRMS OWNED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR, 15 PERCENT WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES, DID HE DO ENOUGH?

>> WELL I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THAT RESPECT WITH AREA -- YOU KNOW, LISTEN, THE FACT IS THAT IN BOSTON IS A MAJORITY MINORITY CITY, YOU KNOW, I AM A LATINO PERSON AND LIVE IN A PART OF TOWN WHERE A WHOLE BUNCH OF BUSINESSES THAT WANT TO HAVE ACCESS TO THESE CONTRACTS EXIST AND EXPRESSED THEIR FRUSTRATION TO ME WE WILL DO MORE IN MY ADMINISTRATION AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE CITY TO COME UP WITH THOSE POLICY PLATFORMS IN THE COMING MONTHS, I MEAN I THINK THE DAY, WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT ANNOUNCING OUR CANDIDACY, BUT I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, COUPLE 0 MONTHS IN ENGAGING NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ALL ACROSS THE CITY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE IDEAS THAT REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS AND THEIR NEEDS AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE IN CITY HALL IN NINE MONTHS.

>> Braude: JON SANTIAGO, GOOD LUCK IN THE CAMPAIGN AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS, JIM.

>> Braude: MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE OUT OF WORK NOW, BUT SOME SOON TO BE HIGH SCHOOL GRADS MAY HAVE AN EDGE IN THE JOB MARKET.

CRISTINA QUINN HAS MORE ON WHY THEY ARE FEELING OPTIMISTIC DESPITE BOTH THE PANDEMIC JOB MARKET AND THEIR UNUSUAL SENIOR YEAR.

>> LIKE MANY VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS, SOUTH SHORE TECH HAS BEEN ABLE TO STAY OPEN DURING THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE IT HAS LARGE SHOP SPACES AND FEWER STUDENTS THAN TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S BUSINESS AS USUAL.

>> IN A NONPANDEMIC YEAR WE ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND SO MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY WE TAKE CLIENTS SO ALL OF OUR UPPER CLASS MEN OUR JUNIORS AND SENIORS GET TO SERVICE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES, SO HAIRCUTS AND HAIR COLORS.

>> THIS YEAR STUDENTS HAVE BEEN PRACTICING THEIR TRADE ON MANNEQUINS AND EACH OTHER.

>> I MISS TALKING TO CLIENTS AND MEETING NEW PEOPLE AND LIKE HEARING WHAT THEY DID OVER THE WEEKEND.

>> SENIORS LIKE KAITLYN WHITMAN ARE ALSO MISSING SOMETHING CRUCIAL TO VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE.

>> IN A TYPICAL YEAR, THEY WOULD BE AT A SALON WORKING 32 HOURS A WEEK AS PART OF A PAID COOP PROGRAM.

>> TYPICALLY WE HAVE MORE IS A LODGES THAN WHAT ASSISTANTS WHICH IS A REALLY GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE BUT WITH THE STATE LIMITING HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED INSIDE, A LOT OF SALONS AREN'T ABLE TO TAKE IN STUDENTS.

MEANWHILE SENIORS IN TRADES THAT DON'T REQUIRE CLOSE INTERACTIONS ARE GETTING THE KIND OF COOP EXPERIENCE THAT OFTEN LEADS TO JOBS AFTER GRADUATION.

IN A MANUFACTURING SHOP DOWN THE HALL , COSMETOLOGY SAFE.

>> WE HAVE CURTAINS AND WANTING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SAFE AND UP TO OSHA STANDARDS THAT KEEPS EVERYBODY A LITTLE MORE DISTANT W HAD ZERO IN SCHOOL TRANSMISSION.

TO KEEP NUMBERS DOWN, STUDENTS TAKE SOME OF THEIR ACADEMIC CLASSES AT HOME ABOUT HALF OF THE STUDENTS HERE WILL GO ON TO COLLEGE, INCLUDING KAITLYN WHITMAN.

>> MY PLAN WAS TO GET MY COSMETOLOGY LICENSE AND WORK WHILE IN SCHOOL TO HELP PAY FOR IT BECAUSE AFTER A WHILE IT GETS EXPENSIVE.

>> SHE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE.

THERE IS A WAIT LIST TO GET INTO SOUTH SHORE TECH AND THAT IS SOMETHING THE PANDEMIC HASN' CHANGED.

CRISTINA A QUINN, GBH NEWS.

>> Braude: DESPITE SO MANY STRUGGLING INDUSTRIES IN THE PANDEMIC, SOUTH SHORE TECH EDUCATORS REMAIN OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THEIR GRADS' JOB PROSPECTS, BECAUSE OVERALL DEMAND FOR SKILLED LABOR REMAINS HIGH.

TONIGHT I HAVE SEE A MAN ABOUT A DOG, OR RATHER, TALK TO YOU ABOUT THREE MEN AND THREE DOGS.

THE FIRST?

GREG KELLY, THE NEWSMAX HOST WHO RECENTLY INVITED NOT ONE, BUT TWO PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIANS TO JOIN HIM IN CRITICIZING THE APPEARANCE OF JOE BIDEN'S 12-YEAR-OLD GERMAN SHEPHERD CHAMP, DEDICATING AN ENTIRE SEGMENT TO THE ISSUE.

>> CAN KID YOU SEE DOG?

I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING I NOTICED.

DOESN'T HE LOOK A LITTLE, A LITTLE ROUGH?

>> I LOVE DOGS, BUT THIS DOG NEEDS A BATH AND A COMB AND ALL KINDS OF LOVE AND CARE.

>> THIS DOG LOOKS LIKE FROM I AM SORRY, FROM THE JUNKYARD.

>> HE LOOKS VERY DIRTY AND DISHEVELED AND VERY UNLIKE A PRESIDENTIAL DOG.

>> Braude: THINK THOSE HISTORIANS COULD USE A BATH AND A COMB.

THEY WENT ON TO COMPARE CHAMP TO OTHER, SUPPOSEDLY MORE PRESIDENTIAL LOOKING PUPS LIKE MILLEY AND BUDDY, FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W.

BUSH'S AND BILL CLINTON'S DOGS, RESPECTIVELY.

ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE OBAMA DOGS, BO AND SUNNY, OF COURSE.

AND HE LEFT TRUMP'S PET FREE WHITE HOUSE, THE FIRST IN A CENTURY, OUT OF THE CONVERSATION ENTIRELY.

BUT MOVING ON TO THE SECOND AN, THAT WOULD BE OF COURSE SENATOR TED CRUZ, WHO AS I AM SURE YOU HAVE HEARD, LEFT HIS HOME STATE AFTER AN EXTREME WINTER STORM KNOCKED OUT POWER AND CLEAN WATER TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE FOR DAYS, AND THEN TRIED TO COVER IT UP AT ONE POINT EVEN BLAMING HIS KIDS BEFORE MIGHT MAYBE IT WASN'T A GREAT IDEA.

BASICALLY, AN OVERALL PERFORMANCE RIVALED ONLY BY THIS MUTUAL FUND MORE AN EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE MAYOR, PEOPLE OF SPRINGFIELD BECAUSE OF THE EPIDEMIC I HAVE CANCELED MY VACATION TO THE BAHAMAS, I SHALL NOT LEAVE THE CITY -- HEY, YOU, GET THAT STEEL DRUM OUT OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

>> I ACTUALLY THINK THE CRUZ THING MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORE EGREGIOUS, BECAUSE WHAT WE LATER LEARNED WAS THAT FAMILY, WHO MADE SURE TO INVITE TED'S OLD COLLEGE ROOMMATE, AS WELL AS SEVERAL NEIGHBORS ALONG ON THE RIP, LEFT THEIR POODLE AT THEIR QUOTE FREEZING HOUSE, AS CRUZ'S WIFE DESCRIBED IN LEAKED TEXTS.

ALMOST MAKES THIS INFAMOUS LBJ MOMENT LOOK KIND BY COMPARISON.

CRUZ'S DOG'S NAME BY THE WAY?

YOU KNOW IT.

SNOWFLAKE.

WHICH THE INTERNET JUMPED ON, INCLUDING GEE-MELLOW WHO TWEETED THE MONIKER SNOWFLAKE APPLIES MORE NATURALLY TO TED CRUZ THAN IT DOES TO THE DOG HE LEFT IN THE FREEZING HOUSE.

SUNDAE GURL TWEETED THIS SCENE FROM SILENCE OF THE LAMBS ALONG WITH THE CAPTION WATCHING TED CRUZ DIG HIS OWN GRAVE.

TO WHICH SOMEONE ELSE REPLIED, IT PUTS HIS RESIGNATION THE BASKET, WOOF.

THE WHOLE THINGS IS SHADES OF SEAMUS, THAT WAS SENATOR MITT ROMNEY'S DOG IT WAS STRAPPED TO THE TOP OF THE FAMILY STATION WAGON DURING A 12-HOUR ROAD TRIP TO CANADA BACK IN 1983, LEADING AN ENTIRE GROUP NAMED DOGS AGAINST ROMNEY TO PROTEST AT DOZENS OF EVENTS DURING BOTH HIS 2008 AND 2012 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS.

BUT UNLIKE SNOWFLAKE, AT LEAST SEAMUS, HE GOT TO GO ON VACATION.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

E-MAIL US, TWEET US, SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS, THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, PLEASE COME BACK TOMORROW.

WE WILL HEAR FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS DEFENSE ASSOCIATION THAT WILL BE ON THE GOVERNOR'S NEW PUSH TO PHASEOUT REMOTE ONLY LEARNING AS SOON AS APRIL FOR SOME, THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WATCHING AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

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