♪ ADAM: TONIGHT ON "TALKING POLITICS," THE BOSTON MAYOR SAID SHE IS CONFIDENT HER NEW APPROACH WILL WORK IN THE LONG RUN.

ARE THERE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO USED TO LIVE THERE.

THOSE QUESTIONS WERE PUT TO THE MAYOR.

SHE WILL JOIN ME WITH THE ANSWERS AND THE CONTEXT.

MASSACHUSETTS REPUBLICANS HAVE FLIPPED A STATE SENATE SEAT.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF THE STATE GOP?

IT IS HARD TO OVERSTATE THE SCALE OF THE HUMAN LAWS IN GAZA, WHERE ISRAEL HAS KILLED THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS IN RETALIATION FOR THE OCTOBER HAMAS ATTACK WHICH KILLED OVER 1400 ISRAELIS.

THE DEATH TOLL IS AT MORE THAN 11,000 PEOPLE.

THE U.N. HAS CALLED GAZA A GRAVEYARD FOR CHILDREN.

MANY JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN THE CROSSHAIRS.

AT LEAST 39 MEDIA MEMBERS HAVE BEEN KILLED, MARKING THE DEADLIEST MONTH FOR JOURNALISTS SINCE THE GROUP STARTED COLLECTING DATA IN 1992.

ISRAELI OFFICIALS SAY THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE THE SAFETY OF ANY JOURNALIST.

THERE IS A SERIOUS TRADE-OFF.

>> JOURNALISTS EMBEDDED WITH THE AUDIO IN GAZA OPERATE UNDER THE OBSERVATION OF ISRAELI COMMANDERS IN THE FIELD AND ARE NOT PERMITTED TO MOVE UNACCOMPANIED AS A CONDITION TO ENTER GAZA ON IDS ESCORT.

OUTLETS HAVE TO SUBMIT MATERIAL TO THE MILITARY FOR REVIEW PRIOR TO PUBLICATION.

I TELL YOU THIS BECAUSE CNN HAS AGREED TO THE TERMS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE VIEWERS A LIMITED WINDOW INTO GAZA.

ADAM: I AM JOINED BY A FORMER CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT.

AND SUSIE, HOST OF A NEW PODCAST.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

IT IS NOT JUST CNN.

ABC HAS AGREED TO THE TERMS.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT AGREEING TO EMBED WITH THE IDF AND SHARE YOUR RAW FOOTAGE IS AN APPROPRIATE TRADE-OFF FOR THE ABILITY TO COVER THE BIGGEST STORY IN THE WORLD?

>> THESE ARE REALLY COMPLICATED DECISIONS.

I THINK IF IT IS A PART OF YOUR COVERAGE AND ONE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU ARE COVERING THIS CONFLICT IS TO EMBED AND DISCLOSE IT IN THIS WAY THAT IT IS A TOOL THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE IN YOUR ARSENAL.

I THINK THE DANGER HERE IS THE DANGER THAT WAS OFTEN CITED DURING THE IRAQ WAR EMBEDS.

IF YOU ARE EMBEDDED WITH THE MILITARY YOU WILL START TO NATURALLY BY BEING WITH THEM TAKE ON A MILITARY POINT OF VIEW.

THE DANGER HERE IS THEY BECOME MASCOTS FOR THE MILITARY.

IT IS MORE COMPLICATED IN THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT BECAUSE WE ARE STRUGGLING TO GET ANY INFORMATION OUT OF GAZA THAT IS NOT FILTERED THROUGH THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT.

OF THE 39 JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED, 34 HAVE BEEN PALESTINIAN.

THAT IS AN IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE.

INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS IN GAZA ARE FAR AND FEW BETWEEN.

THEY ARE LITERALLY STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE AS THEY COVER THE CONFLICT.

I THINK IN THIS CASE, THE FACT THAT THE ONLY WAY ISRAEL IS LETTING ANY FOREIGN JOURNALIST INTO SEE FOR THEMSELVES THE CONFLICT DOES REPRESENT, THE MILITARY OFTEN BECAUSE THIS IN INFORMATION DOMINANCE THAT DOES SKEWED THE PICTURE IN WAYS THAT ARE NOT GREAT.

ADAM: I HAVE NOT HEARD THAT PHRASE BUT THAT SEEMS VERY APT.

ONE OF YOUR CORRESPONDENTS GOT AN OFFER TO COME EMBED WITH US AND JUST MAKE SURE YOU SHARE ANY AUDIO OR VIDEO WITH US, HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND?

DAN: FIRST OF ALL, ON THIS SIDE OF THE AISLE, THE FIRST CONVERSATION I WOULD HAVE WOULD BE ABOUT SAFETY.

YOU ARE ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT IF IT IS SAFE.

EVEN IF YOU ARE GOING WITH THE MILITARY.

THIS IS THE KIND OF ASSIGNMENT THAT ABSENT OF ANY EXCESS YOU HAVE TO SAY YES TO.

MAKING SURE YOU ARE TRANSPARENT WITH THE AUDIENCE.

ONE OF THE BIG CRITICISMS IS WE DID NOT KNOW THESE WERE THE GUIDELINES AND THESE WERE THE RULES WHEN YOU SHOWED US THIS REPORT.

WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN FROM CNN IS THEY WILL SAY THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO SHOW THEM.

THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AND THIS IS WHAT WE DON'’T DO.

WE HAVE FULL EDITORIAL CONTROL OVER THE FINAL PRODUCT.

THERE IS A DISTINCTION BETWEEN WHAT WE ARE SEEING, FORAYS IN AND OUT.

YES, YOU ARE EMBEDDED BUT I DO NOT FORESEE THAT THIS WILL BE EXTENDED THE WAY THAT WE SAW DURING PAST EMBEDS WITH U.S.

TROOPS WHERE YOU WERE IN FOR THE LONG HAUL.

YOU WERE SLEEPING THERE, EATING WITH THEM, IN A TANK WITH THEM.

THAT IS THE DANGER OF BEING SO CLOSE TO THE SOURCES, YOU ARE REPORTING ON THEM ON A DAILY BASIS.

I REMEMBER ONE REPORTER TELLING ME I WAS ALWAYS A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT HOW HARD I WOULD HIT THEM KNOWING THEY WERE WATCHING MY BACK.

ADAM: THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE THING TO HAVE TO WEIGH.

DAN: THEY ARE ALLOWING YOU TO GO ALONG FOR A REASON.

IT IS NOT SAFE AND THEY WILL PROVIDE SOMEWHAT OF A CIRCLE OF SECURITY AROUND YOU.

THAT IS IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND YOU MAKE THESE EDITORIAL DECISIONS.

ADAM: IT WOULD HAVE TO BE.

I WANT TO ROLL SOUND FROM AN ABC NEWS REPORTER.

FORGIVE ME -- A QUOTE.

I WANT TO SHOW THE WAY HE DESCRIBES SOME OF WHAT HE SAW WHEN HE WAS EMBEDDED.

I THINK WE CAN PULL THAT UP RIGHT NOW.

IT IS A SCENE OF UTTER DEVASTATION.

BUILDING AFTER BUILDING IS SCARRED AND BLACKENED BY BOMBARDMENT.

NOWHERE IS SAFE.

A VETERAN OF PAST WARS, HE SAYS THIS TIME HAS TO BE DIFFERENT.

I ASKED HIM ABOUT THE HUGE CIVILIAN DEATH TOLL AND HE INSISTED THE IDF IS DOING ALL IT CAN TO MINIMIZE CASUALTIES.

THE DEVASTATION ALL AROUND SUGGESTS A LESS CAUTIOUS APPROACH.

I WANTED TO ROLL THAT BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT SHOWS THERE IS AT LEAST THE CAPACITY TO MAINTAIN A SEMBLANCE OF INDEPENDENCE AND CRITICAL DETACHMENT EVEN IF YOU ARE OPERATING UNDER THESE CONDITIONS.

IS THAT A FAIR CONCLUSION TO DRAW FROM THAT AND THE WORK OF OTHER JOURNALISTS?

SUZY: I THINK IT IS FAIR.

THESE ARE ALL SEASONED JOURNALISTS.

THESE ARE ASSIGNMENTS WE GIVE TO THE MOST SEASONED REPORTERS.

THERE WILL BE SOME ABILITY TO MAINTAIN THIS INDEPENDENCE BUT I THINK THE QUESTION IS A LARGER QUESTION OF, ARE YOU BEING USED AS A PROPAGANDA TOOL?

YOU ARE ONLY SEEING WHAT THEY ARE ALLOWING YOU TO SEE.

YOU ARE ONLY SHOWING WHAT THEY ALLOW YOU TO SHOW.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL.

YOU HAVE TO SEND REPORTERS BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU ARE REALLY ABLE TO BE OBJECTIVE IN A SCENARIO WHERE JUST WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS BEING LIMITED.

THERE IS NOT A REAL AND FULL PICTURE BEING PRESENTED.

YOU ARE ONLY GETTING ACCESS TO INFORMATION THEY ARE WILLING TO GIVE YOU ACCESS TO.

IF THIS IS THE INFORMATION IAS HASN -- IAN HAS ACCESS TO, WHAT IS THE INFORMATION HE IS NOT BEING GIVEN ACCESS TO.

ADAM: AM I GETTING AHEAD OF MYSELF IN TERMS OF IT WORKING OUT OK?

DAN: YOU CAN ARGUE ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE NOT SEEING BECAUSE OF THE RESTRICTIONS YOU HAVE WHAT YOU ARE SEEING SOMETHING YOU WERE NOT SEEING BEFORE SO YOU ARE GETTING SOME ACCESS AND YOU ARE ABLE TO EITHER SUPPORT SOME OF THE NARRATIVES THAT WE HAVE HEARD OUT THERE OR CAST A DIFFERENT LIGHT ON THE NARRATIVES.

FOR VIEWERS WHO ARE JUST NOW PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, THIS CAME UP -- I WONDER WHEN -- I REMEMBER WHEN EMBEDS FIRST STARTED.

THE WAY IT FIRST STARTED BEING WITH DAVID WHEN HE SPENT ALL THAT TIME, I REMEMBER THERE WERE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE INFORMATION.

I DO NOT THINK THAT ANYONE FELT THIS WAS THE PERFECT WAY TO COVER A WAR OR CONFLICT, BUT IT CAN BE THAT TOOL.

IT GETS YOU CLOSER THAN YOU CAN GET FROM THE OUTSIDE AND HAVING TO RELY EITHER ON LOCALS TO GIVE YOU INFORMATION OR JUST ON VISUALS AND MILITARY VIDEO.

ADAM: I WANT TO SWITCH GEARS A LITTLE BIT.

AN OUTLET, A PRO-ISRAELI WEB ENTITY, ACCUSED FREELANCERS WHO ARE WORKING WITH BIG WESTERN NEWS OUTLETS OF POSSIBLY HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF THE ATTACK ON ISRAEL.

THEY TWEETED OUT A PHOTO OF ONE OF THE FREELANCERS.

HE IS POSING WITH A HAMAS LEADER.

YOU CAN SEE IT RIGHT THERE.

CNN HAS SEVERED TIES.

THEY HAVE STRESSED THEY HAD NO ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE OF THE ATTACK ON ISRAEL.

THE NEW YORK TIMES ALSO SAID THEY HAD NO ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE OF THE ATTACK ON ISRAEL.

SUSIE, IF ONE OR MORE OF THE FREELANCERS SINGLED OUT MUELLER REPORT DID KNOW THE ATTACK ON ISRAEL WAS COMING, TO THAT END UP REFLECTING BADLY ON THEIR EMPLOYERS OR DOES IT NOT?

SUSIE: I THINK THIS IS COMPLICATED.

THESE ARE FREELANCERS SO THEY ARE NOT EMPLOYEES.

YOU ARE NOT AN EMPLOYER WHEN YOU REACH OUT TO A FREELANCER AFTER SOMETHING HAPPENED.

ADAM: I SHOULD NOT HAVE USED THE WORD EMPLOYER.

SUSIE: I THINK I CAN SAY WITH ALMOST 100% CERTAINTY NO AMERICAN MEDIA OUTLET WAS AWARE OF THESE ATTACKS BEFORE THEY HAPPENED.

A IT IS AN INCREDIBLY IRRESPONSIBLE CLAIM.

PART OF THE REASON I THINK IT IS DANGEROUS TO BE EMBEDDED WITH THE IDF.

THE IDF HAS SUPPORTED THIS CLAIM AND HAS REPEATED IT EVEN THOUGH THE OUTLET HAS NOT ACTUALLY CLAIMED ANY REPORTING IN THIS SCENARIO.

THEY HAVE JUST MADE THIS ACCUSATION WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE.

SURE, IF THEY HAVE FOUND THESE FREELANCERS WERE IN FACT AWARE OF THE ATTACKS OR COMPLICIT IN THEM, THAT IS A REAL ETHICAL CONCERN.

I DO NOT THINK THAT IS LIKELY THE CASE.

WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS PHOTOGRAPH YOU SHOW IS IT SEEMS INCENDIARY.

LOOK AT THIS PHOTOGRAPHER.

BUT THAT HAMAS LEADER AT THAT TIME WAS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT OF PALESTINE.

THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE MIGHT NOT FEEL HE REPRESENTED THEM BECAUSE HAMAS HAS NOT ALLOWED ELECTIONS IN MANY YEARS BUT AT THE TIME OF THE PHOTOGRAPH, THAT HAMAS LEADER WAS A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL AND THAT PHOTOGRAPHER WAS WORKING WITH THEM, MUCHE LIKE THE EMBEDS.

IF YOU ARE A PALESTINIAN REPORTER, YOU ARE REGULARLY COMMUNICATING WITH HAMAS LEADERS.

WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE AWARE OR COMPLICIT IN THEIR ATTACKS IS A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION BUT I DO NOT THINK THE PICTURE ITSELF IS NECESSARILY EVIDENCE -- ADAM: THEY HAD FOREKNOWLEDGE.

SUSIE: THAT IS A BIG ACCUSATION.

ADAM: THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT HAS AMPLIFIED THE CLAIM.

IF THERE WERE ANY JOURNALISTS WHO KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN AND THEY DID NOT SOUND AN ALARM BELL, THEY ARE EQUAL TO TERRORISTS AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH.

DAN: WHAT WE SEE, IT IS THE INFORMATION MORE THAT HAPPENS ALONGSIDE THE REAL WAR ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT IS NOT JUST IN THIS CONFLICT.

YOU SEE THIS ACROSS SOCIETY IN GENERAL.

IF YOU FIND EVEN A KERNEL OF SOMETHING THAT IS CONNECTED POTENTIALLY TO TRUTH, YOU BLOW IT UP TO USE IT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS.

I DO WANT TO WIND BACK JUST A LITTLE BIT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTEXT.

NEWS ORGANIZATIONS CANNOT DO THEIR WORK WITHOUT LOCALS ON THE GROUND.

WHETHER FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHERS, FIXERS, PRODUCERS, WE USE THEM ALL THE TIME.

BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT THAT THEY ARE LOCAL AND THEY LIVE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, THEY HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, SOURCES.

I DO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE BEHIND THE SCENES BUT OFTEN WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF SOMEONE IS CONNECTED TO SOMEONE AND THEY WILL SAY SOMETHING IS GOING DOWN TONIGHT.

WHETHER OR NOT YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING DOWN, YOU POSITION YOURSELF TO CAPTURE WHAT IS GOING DOWN.

IT IS POSSIBLE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HERE.

THIS IS HOW WE OPERATE.

WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AS RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISTS AND EXECUTIVES IN NEWS ORGANIZATIONS IS TO VET THE PEOPLE AND HAVE CONSTANT COMMUNICATION ABOUT WHO THEY KNOW, WHAT THEY KNOW, WHO ARE THEY AROUND.

WHEN WE BRING ON NEW PRODUCERS ON THE GROUND, IT IS A LOT OF VETTING.

ADAM: THAT IS A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY.

DAN: BUT YOU HAVE TO DO IT.

ADAM: DAN AND SUSIE, THANK YOU FOR TALKING THIS THROUGH.

ENFORCING A NEW CITYWIDE BAN ON ENCAMPMENTS, BOSTON MAYOR MICHELLE WU SAID SHE IS OPTIMISTIC WITH EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS OF HOMELESSNESS AND ADDICTION.

MAYOR WU: WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS AN APPROACH WE CAN SUSTAIN OVER THE LONG RUN.

ADAM: AFTER PAST SUITES, -- THEY HAVE NOT SEEN A NEW WAVE OF TENTS POP-UP.

THE MAYOR AND HER DIRECTOR ALSO SAID THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN LIVING IN THE AREA.

WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO DID NOT END UP WITH A PLACE TO STAY AND THE ROLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT?

YOU HAVE COVERED MASS AND CASS FOR A LONG TIME.

WAS THERE SOMETHING FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS?

>> BECAUSE OF THIS ORDINANCE, THE CITY WAS REQUIRED TO GIVE PEOPLE 48 HOURS NOTICE IF THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE DOWN SOMEONE'’S TENT.

NOW, POLICE CAN GO IN UNDER THREAT OF ARREST AND HAVE SOMEONE TAKE THEIR TENT DOWN.

WHERE WE ARE AT IN THE STATE, THERE IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS SHELTER, FEWER OPTIONS AND PEOPLE ARE MOVED INTO LOW THRESHOLD HOUSING.

PREVIOUSLY, THE FOCUS WAS MORE ON HOUSING AND NOW THERE IS MORE FOCUS ON SHELTER.

ADAM: DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN HOUSING AND SHELTER.

I THINK OF THEM AS THE SAME.

TORI: A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK OF THEM AS THE SAME AND THAT IS ONE OF THE ISSUES WITH THESE CLEARINGS AS THEY HAPPEN.

LOW THRESHOLD HOUSING IS A ROOM THAT IS YOURS.

YOU HAVE A KEY AND A DOOR AND YOU -- LOW THRESHOLD MEANS IF YOU ARE SOMEONE CURRENTLY USING DRUGS THAT YOU ARE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO DO SO WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH DETOX TO EARN THE HOUSING.

SHELTER IS USUALLY A CONGREGATE SHELTER SETTING WHERE YOU ARE LIVING MAYBE WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE AND YOU HAVE THE BED, MAYBE YOU HAVE AN AGREEMENT WHERE YOU HAVE A BED BUT MAYBE JUST FOR A NIGHT.

PEOPLE TEND TO STAY LESS TIME IN SHELTER.

ADAM: IN THIS CASE IT WAS ABOUT 70 PEOPLE PUT IN HOUSING?

TORI: 73.

ADAM: 30 GIVE OR TAKE PUT IN A SHELTER?

TORI: SOME PEOPLE WORKED WITH INDIVIDUALS TO FIND SPECIFIC SHELTER SITUATIONS.

THERE WERE SOME YOUNGER PEOPLE.

THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO NEEDED SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS.

ADAM: I KNOW ADVOCATES WHO ARE OPPOSED TO CLEARANCES LIKE THIS IN BOSTON OR ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THERE ARE PUBLIC HEALTH CONSEQUENCES WHEN THEY OCCUR.

TORI: THERE IS A HUGE BODY OF RESEARCH ABOUT THE IMPACT OF CLEARING TENTS AND POLICE INTERVENTION, INCARCERATION, INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT, INVOLUNTARY REHABILITATION.

SO MUCH AS BEEN STUDIED AND RESEARCHED ABOUT THIS TO THE POINT -- WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS IN BOSTON FOR SO LONG THAT THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES TO COME OUT FROM PREVIOUS CLEARINGS HERE, INCLUDING OPERATION CLEAN SWEEP IN 2019 CONDUCTED BY FORMER MAYOR MARTY WALSH.

CONCERNS ARE THAT PEOPLE TEND TO OVERDOSE.

THE OVERDOSE DEATH RATE HEIGHTENS.

PEOPLE ARE DISPLACED AND IT IS HARDER TO FIND PEOPLE.

ADAM: MAYBE CONNECTED WITH HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

TORI: I SPOKE TO A PSYCHOLOGIST WHO WORKS AT MGH AND SHE SAID SHE IS CONCERNED THAT SOME PEOPLE WILL BE PLACED IN BOTH THRESHOLD HOUSING AND THOSE PEOPLE WILL HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO BE MOVED OR PROGRAMS BUT OTHER PEOPLE WHO MAYBE HAVE PREVIOUS WARRANTS MIGHT GET ON THE TRAIN AND KEEP GOING.

THE ON-RAMP NEAR BACK WAYSTATION , THERE ARE PEOPLE LIVING UNDER BRIDGES.

PEOPLE HIDING OUT.

THOSE PEOPLE WILL BE HARDER TO FIND.

ADAM: THAT IS REALLY INTERESTING AND IT MAKES ME WONDER, IS THERE SPECULATION THAT THIS FOCUS ON MASS AND CASS WILL END UP DISPERSING THAT POPULATION THROUGHOUT THE CITY?

TORI: THE MAYOR HAS EMPHASIZED ENFORCEMENT WILL BE HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY.

SHE SENT OUT OUTREACH TEAMS.

ONE THING THAT IS INTERESTING THAT HAS COME UP IS THEY WILL NEED TO INVOLVE STATE POLICE ON DCR PROPERTY, PARKS PROPERTY.

SOME OF THE ENCAMPMENTS THAT HAVE COME UP WERE BROUGHT UP IN CITY COUNCIL SESSIONS ABOUT THE ORDINANCE BECAUSE ACTUALLY ENFORCING THAT -- THERE IS A JURISDICTION ISSUE THEY NEED TO FIGURE OUT.

ADAM: THE MAYOR TALKS ABOUT THIS CENTRAL BOOKING SYSTEM IN CONNECTION WITH THIS CLEARANCE.

MAYOR WU: WE HAVEN'’T LAMENTED OF ESSENTIAL BOOKING.

RATHER THAN BEING HELD IN THE POLICE PRECINCT CLOSEST WHERE THEY WERE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY, OUR PRECINCTS ARE NOT SET UP WITH FOOD OR MEDICAL CARE OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THAT, FOLKS ARE NOW TAKEN TO SUFFOLK COUNTY -- TAKE INTO THE HOUSE OF CORRECTIONS.

ADAM: THERE YOU HAVE THIS BALLISTIC, MORE ACCOMMODATING -- HOLISTIC, MORE, GETTING APPROACH.

TORI: IT IS HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL AND THE LEGALITY IS QUESTIONABLE.

I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THE SPECIFICS.

IT HAS BEEN PROPOSED IN EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND HAS NOT YET PASSED AS SOMETHING THE SHERIFF CAN DO.

THEY HAVE AN ARRANGEMENT TO BRING PEOPLE IN.

PEOPLE ARE BEING HELD PRE- ARRAIGNMENT.

THEY HAVE NOT GONE TO THE PRECINCT OR DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO KNOW WHAT THEIR BAIL MIGHT BE.

I THINK THE POINT IS TO BE ABLE TO GIVE PEOPLE MEDICAL RESOURCES AND TO BE ABLE TO GIVE PEOPLE THE HELP THAT THEY NEED BECAUSE THIS IS A VULNERABLE POPULATION BUT IT IS HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY PUBLICIZED AS A PART OF THIS ORDINANCE.

SHE ALSO MENTIONED NO ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN CONNECTION TO THE ORDINANCE.

I THINK SHE MEANT PEOPLE HAVE NOT REFUSED TO TAKE DOWN THEIR TENTS AND BEEN ARRESTED BECAUSE OF THAT BUT THE ORDINANCE LANGUAGE SPECIFIES ANY KIND OF PUBLIC DISTURBANCE -- DRINKING, SWEARING -- YOU CAN BE ARRESTED WITHOUT AN WARRANT AND BROUGHT INTO THE CENTRAL BOOKING SYSTEM.

ADAM: HAVE THERE BEEN ARRESTS MADE FOR OTHER THINGS?

TORI: I DON'’T KNOW.

I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SEVERAL TIMES.

I HAVE ASKED THE JAILS ABOUT IT.

I THINK IT WOULD BE HIGHLY UNUSUAL THAT IN THAT AREA NO ARRESTS HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE POLICE THAT THEY WOULD INCREASE ENFORCEMENT WITH INCREASED PRESENCE.

THEY ALSO SAID THE DIFFERENTIATION IS MADE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.

ADAM: YOU CANNOT SAY DEFINITIVELY.

TORI: YOU ALWAYS HAVE ME ON HERE SAYING "I DON'’T KNOW."

YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT ON TV.

ADAM: TORI, THANK YOU.

AMONG THE MANY ELECTIONS, THERE WAS AN OUTLIER.

A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR STATE SENATE IN CENTRAL MASS WHERE VOTERS FLIPPED THE WORCESTER SEAT LUNG HELD BY DEMOCRATS.

PETER DURANT WON THE RACE.

CRITICISM OF THE GOVERNORS RESPONSE TO THE SHELTER CRISIS.

HOW DID HE TURN THE DISTRICT RED AND WHAT IF ANYTHING DOES IT MEAN FOR MASSACHUSETTS REPUBLICANS HEADING INTO 2024?

THIS REPORTER WAS THERE ON ELECTIONS NIGHT AND SHE JOINS ME.

THIS IS JUST ONE ELECTION.

REPUBLICANS ARE STILL VERY MUCH IN THE MINORITY.

I HAVE THE IMPRESSION FOR YOUR COVERAGE THAT PEOPLE FROM BOTH SIDES WERE REALLY INVESTED IN THIS.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WAS CAMPAIGNING.

TRYING TO GET PEOPLE PUMPED UP TO VOTE FOR DURANT.

IT WAS THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE WORLD IS TO KNOCK ON DOORS.

WHY THE INTENSE INVESTMENT IN ONE RACE WHEN THE DISPARITY IS SO GREAT?

KATIE: I THINK IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT IN MANY WAYS THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN OR AT LEAST IN RECENT MEMORY BEEN A RED DISTRICT.

MANY OF THE TOWNS WENT FOR GEOFF DIEHL OVER MAURA HEALEY.

FOR MASSACHUSETTS, THE WEIRDLY COMPETITIVE NATURE, PURPLE NATURE OF THIS DISTRICT MADE THE STAKES HIGHER FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I THINK THE REPUBLICANS WERE REALLY LOOKING FOR A WIN HERE TO START A NEW NARRATIVE AFTER THEY WERE SHUT OUT FROM STATEWIDE ELECTORATE OFFICE LAST YEAR.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS DID NOT WANT TO GIVE UP ANY GROUND.

THEY WANT TO KEEP THAT STREAK GOING.

WE SAW ABORTION ACCESS BEING INVOKED ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE WITH ORGANIZATIONS HIGHLIGHTING THE DEMOCRAT, HIS VOTES IN THE HOUSE FOR ABORTION ACCESS MEASURES AND PEER DURANT'’S VOTES -- PETER DURANT'’S VOTES AGAINST THEM.

THE REPUBLICANS ARE LOOKING TO USE THIS TO START SOMETHING.

THE SENATE MINORITY CAUCUS WILL GROW FROM 4 TO 3.

ADAM: YOU MENTIONED THE ISSUE OF THE ABORTION.

IT MIGHT BE A TOUGH SELL WHEN THE STATUS QUO IS AS ENTRENCHED.

PETER DURANT WILL NOT PROTECT ACCESS.

PEOPLE NO REPUBLICANS DO NOT HAVE ANY CRITICAL NEED TO MAKE CHANGES.

KATIE: THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO LOSE A LOT MORE SEATS TO PUT THAT AT RISK.

ADAM: IS THERE A SENSE AMONG REPUBLICANS YOU TALK TO THAT DURANT'’S APPROACH, TALKING ABOUT THE MIGRANT CRISIS, SHELTER SYSTEM, GUN RIGHTS, THAT THIS IS A PLAYBOOK THEY COULD USE IN OTHER DISTRICTS TO GET A LITTLE MORE ROBUST REPRESENTATION ON BEACON HILL?

KATIE: DEFINITELY.

I TALKED TO STATE SENATOR RYAN FATTMAN AND HE SAID IF PETER DURANT WINS, THAT IS A REFERENDUM ON THOSE ISSUES.

THOSE CAN BE WINNING ISSUES FOR THE PARTY.

I TALKED TO SOME OTHER FOLKS WHO SAID HE IS FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC ISSUES, THE COST OF HOUSING, LIVING, THE ECONOMY.

THOSE ARE BREAD-AND-BUTTER ISSUES FOR REPUBLICANS IN SOME CASES.

THERE IS AN INTEREST THAT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES CAN FIND THEIR OWN WAY INTO THIS PLAYBOOK AND MAYBE HAVE SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE.

ADAM: IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THIS IS A NICE BOOST, A PARTY THAT HAS PLEDGED TO TRY TO BRING TOGETHER THIS PRO-TRUMP AND PRO-BAKER FACTIONS UNDER HER PREDECESSOR.

THIS IS A GOOD THING FOR HER.

KATIE: THEY MADE A POINT OF HAVING UNITY EVENTS WITH BRUCE CHESTER, WHO PETER DURANT BEAT OUT IN THE PRIMARY.

I REPEATEDLY HAVE BEEN HEARING THE PHRASE "ROWING IN THE SAME DIRECTION."

REPUBLICANS WANT TO SHOW WE CAME TOGETHER BEHIND A CANDIDATE.

WE ARE READY TO PUT THE INFIGHTING BEHIND US.

WHEN WE COME TOGETHER WE CAN WIN.

ADAM: I RAB RACING A QUOTE FROM STEVE CARRIGAN SANG THE PARTY WAS ALL IN ON THIS RACE.

HOW ARE DEMOCRATS EXPLAINING THE LOSS?

KATIE: THEY ARE POINTING TO THE DYNAMICS OF THE DISTRICT.

I THINK YOU ARE HEARING STILL THAT IT IS ONE SEAT.

IT WILL CERTAINLY GIVE THE REPUBLICANS ANOTHER MEMBER, A LITTLE BIT MORE VOICE IN THE SENATE BUT WE STILL HAVE A DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY, A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, ALL DEMOCRATS IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES AND CONGRESS.

I DO NOT THINK YOU WILL HEAR DEMOCRATS MAKING TOO MUCH OF THIS ONE RACE ON THE OTHERS.

ADAM: UNLESS WE START TO SEE MULTIPLE REPUBLICAN VICTORIES.

KATIE: YOU WILL PROBABLY SEE DEMOCRATS MAKE ANOTHER PLAY AT THIS SEAT NEXT YEAR BECAUSE IT WAS A SPECIAL ELECTION.

ALL THE SEATS IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE UP FOR GRABS NEXT YEAR.

ADAM: KATIE, GOOD TO TALK TO YOU AS ALWAYS.

THAT WILL DO IT FOR TONIGHT BUT DO COME BACK NEXT WEEK AND PLEASE TELL US WHAT YOU THINK.

THE EMAIL IS TALKINGPOLITICS @WGBH.ORG.

FOR NOW, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT.

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