>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": A CALL FOR THE STATE TO TAKE ACTION ON RACISM IN HEALTH CARE IN A NEW REPORT FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE'S TASK FORCE ON HEALTH CARE EQUITY.

THE CO-CHAIR OF THE TASK FORCE, THE C.E.O.

OF THE MASSACHUSETTS LEAGUE FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS MICHAEL CURRY AND ANOTHER MEMBER, THE C.E.O.

OF LYNN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, DR. KIAME MAHANIAH, JOIN ME.

THEN, LATER, I'LL TALK TO FORMER STATE REP AND FORMER MASS TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT CO-CHAIR GEOFF DIEHL, WHO JUST ANNOUNCED HE'LL SEEK THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR IN A RACE THAT MAY INCLUDE A SITTING REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR.

AND, FINALLY, THE ROAD TO TOKYO FOR ONE LOCAL PARALYMPIC SWIMMER.

♪♪ >> Braude: THERE HAVE BEEN RACIAL DISPARITIES IN HEALTH CARE FOR AS LONG AS THERE HAS BEEN HEALTH CARE.

BUT THIS PAST YEAR, HIGHER RATES OF COVID CASES AND DEATHS AMONG COMMUNITIES OF COLOR SHONE A LIGHT ON SOME LONG-STANDING INEQUITIES.

>> I WANT TO DECLARE RACISM A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.

>> Braude: THAT WAS FORMER MAYOR MARTY WALSH LAST YEAR, AND RECENTLY THE STATE'S TOP DOCTORS' GROUP MADE THE SAME DECLARATION, WITH ITS PRESIDENT SAYING IN A STATEMENT, "THE MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SOCIETY VIEWS HEALTH CARE AS AN INALIENABLE HUMAN RIGHT, AND FOR FAR TOO LONG INJUSTICE AND RACISM IN MYRIAD FORMS HAS INTERFERED WITH THAT RIGHT."

AND NOW A TASK FORCE CONVENED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS OUT WITH A NEW REPORT THAT CALLS ON THE STATE TO TAKE SPECIFIC ACTIONS TO ADDRESS HEALTH CARE RACISM, WRITING: "THE DISPARITIES IN COVID-19 MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY ARE THE DIRECT RESULT OF LONG-STANDING INEQUITIES IN ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES FOR BLACK, LATINX, AND DIVERSE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR," ADDING "RETURNING TO THE PRE-PANDEMIC NORMAL IS NOT AN OPTION.

'NORMAL' CREATED THE CONDITIONS THAT LED TO THESE DISPARITIES.

WE MUST SEIZE THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD A MORE EQUITABLE AND RESILIENT FUTURE FOR ALL.

THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW."

I'M JOINED BY THE CO-CHAIR OF THAT TASK FORCE, MICHAEL CURRY, THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE MASSACHUSETTS LEAGUE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, AND ANOTHER TASK FORCE MEMBER, DR. KIAME MAHANIAH, THE C.E.O.

OF THE LYNN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER.

>> Braude: DOCTOR, GOOD TO MEET YOU, AND, MICHAEL, GOOD TO SEE YOU, AS ALWAYS.

>> GOOD TO BE BACK.

>> Doctor: GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> Braude: THANK YOU, DOCTOR.

MICHAEL, WHAT WAS THE TASK FORCE CHARGED WITH A YEAR AGO?

>> IT WAS A PRETTY BROAD SCOPE FOR THE TASK FORCE.

16 MEMBERS, AND WE WERE CHARGED WITH MEETING REGULARLY.

WE MET 17 TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR, THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

AND WE WERE CHARGED WITH LOOKING AT THE DISPARITIES IN COVID-19, AND AS THEY PLAYED OUT FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR, FOR BLACK, LATINX, FOLKS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ACROSS THE BOARD.

WE WERE SEEING THOSE DISPARITIES PLAY OUT, AND WORKING AS A TASK FORCE TO LOOK AT THE UNDERLYING ISSUES, TO ADDRESS SHORTAGES OF P.P.E., EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

WE WERE LOOKING AT THE DATA THERE, AND THEN PROPOSING RECOMMENDATIONS TO DEAL WITH THE UNDERLYING HEALTH EQUITY CHALLENGES THAT EXISTED WAY BEFORE COVID-19 THAT WE, QUITE FRANKLY, SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED A LONG TIME AGO.

>> Braude: MICHAEL, WHEN YOU ADDRESSED THE UNDERLYING CHALLENGES, WHAT I THOUGHT WHEN I WAS READING THE REPORT, IS THAT IT IS SORT OF ANALOGOUS FOR JOE BIDEN TO VIEW INFRASTRUCTURE, IT IS NOT NARROWLY ROADS, BRIDGES, INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT A BROAD SPECTRUM OF HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT'S SORT OF ANALOGOUS OF HOW YOUR TASK FORCE VIEWED THE CHALLENGES AROUND HEALTH CARE?

>> THAT'S A GREAT ANALYSIS.

I'VE BEEN DOING POLICY WORK IN HEALTH CARE FOR MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE.

WE KNOW IT IS NOT WISE TO HAVE PEOPLE GETTING THEIR CARE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

WE KNOW THAT HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOMS AND HOSPITAL SETTINGS ARE COSTLY.

WE KNOW THAT WE CAN DO THINGS TO PREVENT SICKNESS AND ENSURE PEOPLE LIVE LONGER LIVES.

AND WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN, AND THE DOCTOR KNOWS THIS, IS THAT THE UNDERLYING ISSUES OF MOST OF THE HEALTH CARE THERE IS RACISM, POVERTY, FOOD INSECURITY AND HOUSING INSECURITY.

AND THEY ARE LINKED, AND I WAS GLAD THAT THIS TASK FORCE MADE THAT CONNECTION AND DID NOT STICK TO DIRECTLY COVID ISSUES, BUT TALKED ABOUT THE UNDERLYING ISSUES.

>> Braude: DOCTOR, IS A GROWING BODY OF CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IN YOUR FIELD THAT THESE SOCIAL DETERM DEDETERMINANTS THAT MICHAEL DESCRIBED THEM, ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY ITSELF, OR IS THIS STILL SEEN AS SORT OF A MARGINAL KIND OF APPROACH?

>> Doctor: NO, I THINK THERE IS A CONSENSUS IN THE HEALTH CARE FIELD FOR DEVIL DECADES NOW, WHAT HAPPENS IN HOSPITALS OR A HEALTH CARE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, THAT IS A FAIRLY SMALL PART AS TO WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO A PERSON'S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

I DON'T THINK THAT IS NEW.

WHAT I THINK IS NEW IS GOING BEYOND HEALTH CARE, AND THE FACT THAT THIS IS TRUE, THAT YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT HEALTH CARE WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT SOME FUNDAMENTAL BACKGROUND.

>> Braude: AND YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT HEALTH CARE, DOCTOR, THAT IT SEEMS TO ME, WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE BIASES BAKED IN.

I WILL NEVER FORGET -- I DISCUSSED THIS WITH MICHAEL -- THE STUDY THAT WHITE INTERNS AND RESIDENTS AND SOME MEDICAL STUDENTS, WHO WERE SURVEYED, AND OVERWHELMING NUMBERS OF THEM BELIEVED THAT BLACK PATIENTS HAD THICKER SKIN, BLACK PATIENTS WERE MORE RESISTANT TO PAIN THAN WHITE PATIENTS.

HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THESE THINGS, IT SEEMS TO ME WITHOUT WHICH YOU NEVER GET TO THE END ZONE?

>> Doctor: WELL, I THINK THAT CERTAINLY INTERPERSONAL OR PERSONAL BIAS HAS A STRONG ROLE TO PLAY IN THE SORT OF RACIAL IMPACT OF INEQUITIES.

BUT I THINK MORE, AND YOU COULD HEAR IT WHEN MICHAEL WAS TALKING ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT ARE NEEDED -- IT IS MORE A QUESTION OF ARE WE GOING TO CONSCIOUSLY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT THESE DISPARITIES EXIST AS WE ARE DESIGNING THE SYSTEMS OF THE FUTURE?

>> Braude: UH-HUH.

>> Doctor: I THINK ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS WE'RE RECOMMENDING THROUGH THIS REPORT IS THAT REALLY WHEN WE'RE DESIGNING A LAW OR DESIGNING INTERVENTION, THAT WE THINK LONG AND HARD, WILL THIS HAVE AN EQUITABLE IMPACT?

MEANING, WILL WE BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS, WHETHER IT IS A TRANSPORTATION BILL OR A ZONING BILL, ARE WE MAKING SURE THAT WE LOOKED AT WHAT IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE ON PEOPLE OF COLOR?

OF COURSE WHAT TENDS TO HAPPEN, IF YOU'RE THE DECISION-MAKER, IS THAT YOU MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON PEOPLE YOU KNOW AND PROBLEMS YOU KNOW.

SO WE'RE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO LOOK BEYOND THAT.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, MICHAEL, WHEN I HEAR THE DOCTOR DESCRIBE THE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING GOVERNMENT DOES, EVERYTHING IS DONE THROUGH AN EQUITY LENS, FOR LACK OF A BETTER EXPRESSION, AND READING THE REPORT, IT HAS A REP REPARATIONS FEEL TO ME.

WAS THAT PART OF THE MINDSET OF THE DRAFTERS OF THIS THING?

>> IT IS SO FUNNY YOU SAY THAT, BECAUSE THAT WAS ON MY MIND THIS MORNING, JIM, AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS INTERVIEW.

THIS IS THE ALTERNATIVE TO REPARATIONS.

WE COULD MAKE AN ARGUMENT, AND I'M SURE DR. MAHANIAH AND I COULD HAVE AN ARGUMENT ABOUT THE LEDGE LEFT -- IF THERE IS A DISASTER, YOU PUT RESOURCES WHERE THE DISASTER IS.

UNDER THIS DISEASE, THERE WAS A DISASTER IN BLACK AND BROWN AND POOR COMMUNITIES AND IN SENIOR HOMES, THAT WE NOW NEED TO PUT EQUITABLE RESOURCES.

IN THIS RECKONING THAT DR. MAHANIAH HAS TALKED ABOUT, WE NOW KNOW WE NEEDED TO PUT RESOURCES IN ROXBURY AND THE SOUTHEAST, AND IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE BLACK AND BROWN, THAT ARE HAVING HIGHER MORBIDITY RATES.

YOU MIGHT CALL THAT REPARATIONS.

I CALL IT EQUITABLE HEALTH CARE.

BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT REPARATIONS, TOO.

>> Braude: DOCTOR, ONE OF THE HEADLINES COMING OUT OF THIS TASK FORCE REPORT WAS THAT THERE BE A CABINET-LEVEL POSITION THAT THE SECRETARY CREATED, OBVIOUSLY A CABINET-LEVEL POSITION WOULD BE CLOSE TO THE CURRENT GOVERNOR AND WHOEVER THE NEXT GOVERNOR IS.

HOW CRITICAL IS THAT CREATION TO THIS WHOLE THING THAT YOU'RE PRESCRIBING WORKING?

>> Doctor: I THINK IF YOU READ THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS, THEY ALL INTERWEAVE TOGETHER.

IF YOU TAKE ONE AWAY, IT DIMINISHES THE POWER AND THE IMPACT OF THE REST.

BUT CERTAINLY HAVING A CABINET-LEVEL POSITION IS A WAY OF ENSURING THAT THERE IS ALWAYS THAT VISION.

ARE WE LOOKING AT THE POOREST FOLKS THAT LIVE IN OUR STATE?

ARE WE LOOKING AT PEOPLE OF COLOR?

ARE WE LOOKING AT PEOPLE WHO HISTORICALLY HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST?

I THINK IN THE ROUGH AND TUMBLE OF EVERYDAY LIFE IT IS EASY TO OVERLOOK THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE.

SO I THINK HAVING A CABINET-LEVEL POSITION IS ALMOST LIKE A BULLWORTH AGAINST POSSIBLY OVERLOOKING POSITIONS OF EQUITY.

>> Braude: MICHAEL, MY UNDERSTANDING IS -- WERE THERE THREE REPUBLICANS ON THIS TASK FORCE -- WHATEVER NUMBER, THEY VOTED AGAINST THIS, THEY DIDN'T LIKE INDIVIDUAL PIECES, THAT SORT OF THING.

ULTIMATELY, THE GOVERNOR HAS TO SIGN OFF ON THIS.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO SIGN OFF AND THE THEY HAVE TO ADOPT IT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY FEELERS BACK FROM LEGISLATIVE LEADERS OR GOVERNOR BAKER?

I KNOW YOU WORKED WITH HIM ON THE TASK FORCE AND OTHER THINGS -- AS TO HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THIS RECOMMENDATION?

>> I THINK THE STARS ARE ALIGNED.

I TALKED TO THE GOVERNOR.

I TALKED IN DEPTH WITH SECRETARY SUTTERS AND OUR FORMER D.P.H.

COMMISSION -- >> Braude: ABOUT THIS REPORT?

>> ABOUT THIS REPORT, AND ABOUT THE NEED TO ADDRESS EQUITY IN HEALTH CARE.

THERE IS A CONCERTED EFFORT TO FIGURE THAT OUT NOW.

AND I TALKED DIRECTLY TO SPEAKER MARIANO, AND I WAS APPOINTED TO THE TASK FORCE.

SO I THINK THERE IS A WILLINGNESS, AND THE STARS ARE ALIGNED.

NOW, WHETHER WE HAVE A WILLINGNESS TO, AS DR. MAHANIAH SAID, TO MOVE EVERY ASPECT OF THE REPORT -- OUR LEGISLATIVE PROCESS NEVER REALLY WORKED THAT WAY.

YOU NEGOTIATE BETWEEN THE HOUSE, THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR, AND YOU COME OUT SOMEWHERE, HOPEFULLY IN THE DIRECTION WE NEED TO BE.

THERE WERE SOME REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED AGAINST THE OVERALL REPORT, BUT THEY AGREE WITH MOST OF THE REPORT.

YOUR MISSION IS TO KNOW THAT, THAT THERE WAS A UNANIMITY IN THAT TASK FORCE ON 90% OF THAT REPORT.

THAT'S OUR PROCESS.

THAT'S HOW LEGISLATION WORKS.

THAT'S HOW POLICY WORKS.

NOBODY AGREES 100%.

AND CREDIT TO DR. ASSAD FROM BLEU BLUE CROSS TO HELP WRITE THE REPORT -- IT IS A TREMENDOUS REPORT AND, QUITE FRANKLY, A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

>> Braude: DOCTOR -- WE ONLY HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT, DOCTOR, SOME SAY BEACON HILL IS WHERE GOOD IDEAS GO TO DIE.

ARE YOU AS OPTIMISTIC AS MICHAEL CURRY IS ABOUT THIS, QUICKLY, IF YOU CAN?

>> Doctor: YES.

I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC.

I THINK WE THINK AS A SOCIETY, IT IS TIME TO GRAPPLE WITH THE LEGACY OF RACISM, AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT MOMENT, AND I THINK THE STARS ARE ALIGNED.

>> Braude: THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR WORK, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

TAKE CARE.

>> Braude: GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER STILL HASN'T ANNOUNCED IF HE PLANS TO RUN FOR A THIRD TERM NEXT YEAR, BUT IF HE DOES JUMP IN THE RACE, HE'S ALREADY GOT A PRIMARY CHALLENGER TO CONTEND WITH.

FELLOW REPUBLICAN GEOFF DIEHL, WHO SERVED AS A STATE REP FOR EIGHT YEARS, HELPED LEAD A SUCCESSFUL EFFORT ON THE BALLOT TO REPEAL THE INDEXING OF THE GAS TAX TO INFLATION, CO-CHAIRED THE CAMPAIGN OF DONALD TRUMP HERE IN 2016, AND RAN AGAINST SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN IN 2018, LAUNCHED HIS GUBERNATORIAL BID SUNDAY.

HE JOINS ME NOW.

>> Braude: GEOFF DIEHL, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU, JIM.

THANK YOU.

>> Braude: WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS, GEOFF?

>> I RAN IN 2010 FOR STATE REP BECAUSE I THOUGHT I COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE TOWNS I LIVED IN AND THE TOWNS I REPRESENTED.

I GOT TO SEE A LOT MORE WHEN I GOT TO BEACON HILL, ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE STATE.

I THINK I STILL HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE TO MASSACHUSETTS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO RUN IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, IF I HAVE AB AN OPPONENT, AND TAKE MY CASE TO 2022.

>> Braude: IT IS PRETTY OBVIOUS IF YOU'RE RUNNING AGAINST A REPUBLICAN, THAT HE IS NOT DOING SOME THINGS THE WAY HE SHOULD, THAT YOU WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY.

GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OR TWO OF THINGS THAT -- >> LET'S START IN 2014, I LED THE REPEAL OF THE INDEX GAS TAX.

AND HE RAN WITH ME, AND NOW HE SAYS IT WILL NOT CREATE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT THAT PEOPLE WERE HOPING.

IT WILL BE MORE OF AN ADDITIONAL TAX ON COMMUTERS AND COST MORE FOR FAMILIES.

NOW HE IS THE ONLY STATE,, MASSACHUSETTS IS THE ONLY STATE HANGING ON TO THIS T.C.

I.

THING.

I THINK HE NEEDS TO LET IT GO, BUT IT DOESN'T THINK THAT THAT IS HAPPENING.

>> Braude: BUT THE UNDERLYING GOAL IS TO LIMIT CARBON AND LIMIT EMISSIONS.

EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE WAY HE WOULD GET THERE, DO YOU SHARE THE GOAL?

>> AN UNELECTED BUREAUCRATIC GUY DECIDES WHAT THE COST IS THAT GETS PASSED ON TO PEOPLE?

I DON'T LIKE THE WAY IT IS SET UP.

AND THE SIERRA CLUB SAYS THE BENEFITS TO THE ENVIRONMENT ARE NEGLIGIBLE.

>> Braude: YOU ALSO CRITICIZED THE GOVERNOR'S HANDLING OF COVID.

WHERE DID HE GET IT WRONG THAT YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IT RIGHT?

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO OWN SMALL BUSINESSES HAD TO LAYOFF THEIR EMPLOYEES.

I SAW ZERO LAYOFFS AND FURLOUGHS FROM STATE GOVERNMENTS.

NOBODY WAS NON-ESSENTIAL IN STATE GOVERNMENT, SO THERE WAS NO SORT OF RECIPROCITY OR ALIGNMENT FOR THE PEOPLE WORKING IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR FROM THE STATE SIDE.

THAT WAS ONE MISTAKE.

THE ROLLOUT OF THE VACCINE WAS ANOTHER PROBLEM.

AND WE'VE SEEN WITH THE SOLDIERS' HOMES -- THERE WERE ISSUES WITH HOW THE STATE HANDLED PATIENTS WITH COVID.

>> Braude: DO YOU HOLD CHARLIE BAKER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF 76 DEATHS AT THAT SOLDIERS' HOME?

>> I DON'T HOLD HIM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF THE SEVEN MARINES THAT WERE KILLED WHEN THE R.V.

DIDN'T PULL -- >> Braude: THE -- >> I THINK THEY FAILED.

>> Braude: YOU MENTIONED SMALL BUSINESSES.

IN YOUR ANNOUNCEMENT, AND I REMAIN MYSTIFIED THAT WHY BUSINESSES LIKE THE HOME DEPOT REMAINED OPEN, BUT THE LOCAL HARDWARE STORE REMAINED CLOSED.

MY HARDWARE STORE REMAINED OPEN.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

>> NOT EVERY BUSINESS WAS ABLE TO GET THAT STATUS.

THE BIG BOX STORES WERE LEFT OPEN WHILE THE SMALLER BUSINESSES WERE FORCED TO SUFFER AND BE CLOSED.

MY WIFE AND I OWN A SMALL BUSINESS.

WE WERE FORCED TO CLOSE.

WE ADAPTED IMMEDIATELY TO THE TECHNOLOGY AND GOT KIDS ONLINE FOR DANCE CLASSES, OF ALL THINGS, ON ZOOM.

IT WAS NOT WITHOUT A LOT OF INTERFERENCE BY GOVERNMENT.

>> Braude: AND YOU MENTIONED THE VACCINATION SCREW-UP, WHICH HE ACKNOWLEDGED.

AND NOW WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST VACCINATION RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

>> WE ALSO HAVE ONE OF THE THIRD HIGHEST PER CAPITA DEATH RATE.

DOES IS HE DESERVE CREDIT FOR THAT?

>> Braude: TALKING ABOUT THE DIRECTION THE STATE IS GOING IN, DEMOCRATS, WHO ARE A THIRD OF THE ELECTORATE, 79 TO 12 SAID RIGHT DIRECTION.

INDEPENDENTS, 57% OF THE ELECTORATE, 60 TO 26.

THE ONLY GROUP THAT WAS ROUGHLY A DEAD HEAT, ONLY 10% ARE REPUBLICANS.

OBVIOUSLY THAT IS UNDER BAKER'S LEADERSHIP.

WHO IS THE IDEAL VOTER.

IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO GET REPUBLICANS TO VOTE FOR YOU TO END UP BEING ELECTED GOVERNOR, AS YOU KNOW FAR BETTER THAN I.

WHO IS THE DEAL VOTER IN THIS MIX WHERE OVERWHELMING PEOPLE SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR AND THINK WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> JIM, THIS MAY SHOCK YOU, BUT I WAS ACTUALLY THE THIRD HIGHEST VOTE-GETTER IN 2018.

SO THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS PEOPLE KNOW WHO I AM, THEY KNOW WHAT I STAND FOR.

I THINK THEY APPRECIATE IT.

AND THIS STATE WILL ELECT SOMEONE WHO IS A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR.

I MAY BE CENTER RIGHT, AND CHARLIE BAKER MAY GOVERNOR CENTER LEFT, BUT I THINK GIVEN THE CHOICE OF WHO THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE MAY BE, SENATOR RIGHT MAY CENTER RIGHT MAY BE WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.

>> Braude: THE CHAIR OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY REFUSED TO LISTEN TO GOVERNOR BAKER, AND I BELIEVE EVERY REPUBLICAN ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE WITH ONE EXCEPTION, SAYING THEY SHOULD GET RID OF A COMMITTEE MEMBER WHO SAID SHE WAS, QUOTE, "SICKENED BY THE FACT THAT A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS IN THE WORE WORECHESTER ADOPTED CHILDREN."

WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON THERE?

>> I TOTALLY SIDE WITH THE CANDIDATE.

VERY NIGHT GUY, I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THIS RUN FOR CONGRESS.

SECONDLY, I THINK THE STATE COMMITTEE WOMAN WHO MADE THE COMMENTS WAS WRONG WITH WHAT SHE SAID.

OUR BYLAWS DON'T PERMIT FOR REMOVAL OF A MEMBER FOR FREE SPEECH.

I UNDERSTAND THAT SPEECH MAY NOT BE ANYTHING ANYBODY AGREES WITH, BUT NOTHING IN THE BYLAWS ALLOW FOR REMOVAL.

>> Braude: IF PRESIDENT TRUMP CHOSE TO RUN AGAIN IN 2024, HE SAID HE HAS MADE UP HIS MIND, HE IS NOT GOING TO TELL US FOR A WHILE, AND HE OFFERED YOU THE SAME POSITION, WOULD YOU TAKE IT?

>> YOU KNOW, HYPOTHETICALS ARE CRAZY.

FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK I WOULD BE ALLOWED ON THE SHOW AGAIN IF I ENDORSED DONALD TRUMP, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> Braude: YOU WERE CHAIR IN 2016, AND YOU'RE ON THE SHOW NOW, SO THAT IS IRRELEVANT.

WOULD YOU ACCEPT THE OFFER IF IT WAS MADE IN 2024.

>> I DON'T THINK HE IS RUNNING, SO I THINK IT IS A HYPOTHETICAL.

>> Braude: NO HYPOTHETICAL.

HE SAID HE WON THE ELECTION, IT WAS STOLEN.

IS HE RIGHT?

>> NO, THOSE STATES HAVE TO SORT OUT IF THEY HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH VOTING.

I DON'T THINK IT WAS A STOLEN ELECTION.

I THINK AT THIS POINT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND STOP CRYING OVER SPILLED MILK AS A REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND LOOK TO THE FUTURE OF WHO IS GOING TO BE THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR '24.

>> Braude: IF YOU WERE ELECTED TO THE SENATE AND HAD BEATEN ELIZABETH WARREN, WOULD YOU HAVE VOTED FOR THAT BIPARTISAN COMMISSION ON JANUARY 6th THAT WAS REJECTED BY ALL OF THE REPUBLICANS THERE?

>> YOU KNOW MY HISTORY IN THE LEGISLATURE.

I HAVE ACTUALLY VOTED FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY ALL OF THE TIME.

I WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR A COMMISSION TO GET TO THE BOTTOM, GOOD, BAD, OR UGLY.

LET'S FIGURE IT OUT.

>> Braude: ONE MORE HYPOTHETICAL THAT YOU DON'T LIKE, BUT THAT'S THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS.

YOU'RE RUNNING POTENTIALLY AGAINST CHARLIE BAKER.

AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW IF HE WILL ANNOUNCE.

LET'S ASSUME HE DOES RUN AND WINS THE PRIMARY, AND HE IS THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS FOR A THIRD TIME, WOULD HE HAVE YOUR SUPPORT?

>> OF COURSE.

I SUPPORTED HIM IN 2010, '14, '18, EVEN AFTER THE DEBATE, WHEN HE SAID HE WASN'T SURE IF HE WAS GOING TO SUPPORT ME FOR U.S. SENATE.

I STILL SUPPORTED HIM.

IT IS ABOUT PUTTING THE BEST CANDIDATE FORWARD THAT THE REPUBLICAN CAN.

IF HE BECOMES THE NOMINEE, ABSOLUTELY I WILL SUPPORT HIM.

>> Braude: YOU'LL COME BACK WHEN YOU'RE INVITED?

>> I HOPE IT IS OFTEN.

>> Braude: GOOD LUCK.

I HOPE TO SEE YOU OFTEN OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

>> THANK YOU, JIM.

TAKE CARE.

>> Braude: THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE 2020 TOKYO OLYMPIC GAMES THREW OFF MANY ATHLETES WHO HAD LONG BEEN TRAINING FOR THEIR MOMENT.

BUT ONE ATHLETE FROM BEDFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE, SAW IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY.

GBH NEWS' CRISTINA QUINN HAS THIS STORY.

>> Reporter: AN ELITE ATHLETE SINCE AGE 14, MORGAN STICKNEY LIVES TO SWIM AND THRIVES ON COMPETITION.

AND WHILE SHE'S NOT EASILY DAUNTED, SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE'S UP AGAINST AS SHE GETS READY FOR TOKYO.

>> OBVIOUSLY, I WANT TO BE UP ON THAT PODIUM, BUT ALL I CAN DO IS JUST TRY MY BEST EVERY SINGLE DAY AND GIVE IT EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEN I HAVE TO BE HAPPY WITH HOW I DID.

>> Reporter: LIKE MANY ATHLETES, HER OLYMPIC DREAMS STARTED EARLY.

BUT WHEN A RARE VASCULAR DISEASE MEANT GETTING HER LEFT LEG AMPUTATED IN 2018, ANY HOPES OF GOING TO THE GAMES WERE DASHED.

INSTEAD OF WALLOWING, STICKNEY QUICKLY PIVOTED AND SET HER SIGHTS ON THE 2020 PARALYMPIC GAMES.

BUT THEN A SECOND AMPUTATION OF HER RIGHT LEG THE FOLLOWING YEAR BROUGHT EVERYTHING TO A HALT.

GBH NEWS MET WITH STICKNEY IN NOVEMBER 2019 AT SPALDING REHAB, SHORTLY AFTER HER SECOND AMPUTATION.

EVEN THEN SHE WAS ALREADY TALKING ABOUT GETTING BACK IN THE POOL.

>> NOTHING WILL STOP ME FROM GETTING BACK IN THE POOL.

MY GOAL IS TO GO TO THE 2024 PARALYMPIC GAMES.

I'LL BE IN A DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATION THIS TIME, BUT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.

>> Reporter: BUT STICKNEY, LIKE THE REST OF US, DIDN'T PLAN FOR A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

AND WHEN THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPICS COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED LAST YEAR THAT THE 2020 GAMES WOULD BE POSTPONED, SHE FOUND A VERY BRIGHT SILVER LINING.

>> AND I WAS, LIKE, OH, MY GOSH, LIKE, I ACTUALLY HAVE A LEGITIMATE SHOT AT GOING TO TOKYO.

>> Reporter: BEAR IN MIND, THIS WAS ONLY SIX MONTHS AFTER HER SECOND AMPUTATION.

SHE WAS STILL HEALING.

HER LEGS STILL TENDER.

BUT THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK NOW.

>> AND EVERYONE WAS SO UPSET THAT TOKYO GOT POSTPONED, AND THEN THERE'S THIS LITTLE GIRL OVER HERE THAT'S, LIKE, SO EXCITED THAT SHE MIGHT ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO CHASE HER DREAM.

AND SO WHEN I FOUND THAT OUT, I JUST, LIKE, PUT MY HEAD DOWN AND I STARTED GRINDING AND WORKING HARD, LIKE EVERY SINGLE SESSION.

>> Reporter: IT PAID OFF.

>> YOU'VE GOT MORGAN STICKNEY HOLDING ONTO HER LEAD, REALLY MAKING A BIG MOVE AWAY FROM THE HEAT THERE.

MORGAN STICKNEY THERE, THOUGH SHE'S JUST GOING TO SAY NEVER SAY DIE ON THIS RACE.

>> Reporter: IN APRIL SHE PLACED FIRST IN THE WORLD IN THE 400-METER FREE-STYLE RACE AT THE WORLD PARA-SWIMMING WORLD SERIES SWIM MEET IN LEWISVILLE, TEXAS.

AFTER THAT IT WAS THE PARALYMPIC TRIALS IN MINNESOTA.

AND THEN THE PHONE CALL SHE WAS HOPING FOR.

>> MORGAN STICKNEY!

>> WE'RE GOING TO TOKYO!

>> Reporter: MORGAN STICKNEY WILL BE COMPETING IN THE 400-METER AND 50-METER FREE-STYLE RACES AT THE TOKYO PARALYMPICS IN AUGUST.

ALL THE WHILE, SHE IS STILL GETTING USED TO BEING A BILATERAL AMPUTEE.

AND IT CAN BE PAINFUL.

>> MY LEGS WILL, LIKE, RIP OPEN FROM THE TOUCHPADS, FROM DOING FLIP TURNS ON THEM, BUT, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST SOMETHING YOU SUCK UP.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE ONLY TWO OTHER DOUBLE-AMPUTEE ELITE SWIMMERS COMPETING IN TOKYO.

THEY'RE VETERAN PARA-ATHLETES, AND STICKNEY VIEWS THEM AS HER COMPETITORS AND MENTORS.

>> THEIR LEGS ARE A LOT MORE MATURE THAN MINE ARE, SO EVERYTHING I'VE LEARNED FROM THEM -- I'VE WATCHED YouTube VIDEOS AND EVERYTHING, AND I'VE JUST, LIKE, ANALYZED WHAT THEY DO, AND THEN I TRY TO DO IT MYSELF.

SOME THINGS THAT THEY DO, I CAN'T DO BECAUSE MY LEGS ARE JUST SO NEW AND SO FRESH, SO THEN I HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO DO IT DIFFERENTLY.

>> Reporter: BUT SHE'S NOT SWEATING IT.

SHE'S USED TO DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

AND RIGHT NOW SHE'S JUST REALLY EXCITED AND GRATEFUL.

>> Braude: CRISTINA QUINN JOINS ME NOW.

>> Braude: I'M NEVER GOING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ANYTHING AGAIN.

SHE IS UNBELIEVABLE, CHRISTINA.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, BY THE WAY.

SHE STILL FEELS PAIN.

MY LEGS WILL, LIKE, RIP OPEN FROM THE TOUCHPADS.

WHAT IS TRAINING LIKE?

DOES SHE TRAIN EVERY DAY?

>> OH, YEAH, SHE TRAINS EVERY DAY.

SHE SAYS MOST OF HER DAYS ARE SPENT TRAINING AND RESTING, TRAINING AND RESTING.

SHE IS SO FOCUSED ON JUST BEING READY.

WHEN SHE ISN'T IN THE POOL, SHE IS HANGING OUT WITH HER DOG AT HOME.

>> Braude: I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER BACK TO YOUR ORIGINAL REPORT, DIDN'T YOU DESCRIBE SOME REVOLUTIONARY AMPUTATION SURGERY?

>> YEAH.

THE ORIGINAL STORY, WE FOLLOWED HER TO SPALDING, AND SHE WAS RECOVERING FROM THE EWING AMPUTATION, WHICH IS A CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE IT RECONNECTS THE NERVES OF A LEG WHEN IT HAS BEEN AMPUTATED BELOW THE KNEE.

SHE WAS PART OF A GROUP OF 12 PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SURGERY AT BRIGHAM WOMEN'S HOSPITAL.

IT WAS NAMED AFTER THE FIRST PERSON WHO UNDERWENT IT.

THE WHOLE LONG-TERM GOAL IS BECAUSE THOSE NERVES ARE RECONNECTED, HOPEFULLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE, THE PROSTHETICS THAT THEY'LL BE WEARING, THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED AT THE ROBOTICS GROUP, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO CONTROL THESE MECHANICAL LEGS WITH THEIR MINDS, JUST LIKE WE CONTROL OUR LEGS WITH OUR MINDS.

>> Braude: I'M ASSUMING SHE DOESN'T SPEND EVEN A MINUTE FEELING SORRY FOR HERSELF?

>> THERE IS NO ROOM FOR THAT.

SHE DOES NOT MAKE ANY ROOM FOR THAT.

SHE IS NOT ONE TO WALLOW.

I REMEMBER HER TELLING ME BACK IN 2019, THE NIGHT BEFORE HER SECOND AMPUTATION, SHE WAS OBVIOUSLY DEVASTATED, AND SHE PROBABLY GAVE HERSELF A LITTLE BIT OF SELF-PITY, AND THEN SHE WAS, LIKE, THAT'S IT.

IT COULD BE WAY WORSE, AND I'M JUST GOING TO KEEP MOVING AHEAD.

SHE IS REALLY AN INCREDIBLE YOUNG WOMAN.

I JUST LOVE HER SUNNY DISPOSITION AND THE FACT THAT SHE IS JUST UNFLAPPABLE AND REALLY, REALLY MOTIVATED.

>> Braude: I FEEL THE SAME WAY.

YOU DID A BEAUTIFUL JOB WITH THE PACKAGE.

THE PARALYMPICS START IN LATE AUGUST.

CRISTINA, IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU.

THANKS FOR THE WORK.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING, AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

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