Congressman Auchincloss: An Update on the last 2 weeks (as of 1/26/24)

LAST 2 WEEKS IN REVIEW I'm your representative in Congress and I write to keep you informed. Standing with hostages Defending Ukraine Securing the border In the weeds with the IT industry Combatting Antisemitism Building more housing           — Honoring MLK Visiting Fall River Young Israel Sharon Tackling opioids & meth On the Hill Standing with the Hostages: I joined fellow Members of the House in standing behind hostage families at a candlelight vigil to commemorate 100 days since Hamas slaughtered, raped, and tortured innocent civilians and took hundreds more hostage. Congress must remain united in pursuing the release of all hostages. Defending Ukraine: I voted against Speaker Johnson's short-term funding measure. Consistent with my position from last summer, I will not bail the Republicans out of their continuing dysfunction unless they present a clear, credible, and concrete plan to fund Ukraine. Ukrainians are caught between Putin to their East and Trump to their West while they fight on the front lines of the free world, in their pursuit of self-determination. The funds already approved have had tremendous return on investment – making Russia weaker, NATO stronger, and boosting U.S. industrial capacity and jobs, including a billion dollars for Bay State industry alone. Congress must stop delaying and start shipping more materiel to our ally. I joined CNN to discuss my vote. You can watch it here.  Securing the border: I am angered by reports that Senate Republicans plan to torpedo an impending bipartisan deal to fund Ukraine and secure our border. By their own admission, they are responding to Trump's request that he wants to campaign on the border, so he doesn't want them to govern on it. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker Mike Johnson must demonstrate political courage in standing up to Trump and MAGA in order to govern for the good of the country. Last month, I joined state and local officials and service providers to deliver meals to migrants in our community. I remain committed to passing bipartisan immigration reform like the DIGNITY Act, which would upgrade border security and pre-process migrants in countries of origin; streamline & rationalize asylum & visa pathways; provide documentation and dignity to DREAMers; and help fund the upskilling of American workers. Legislating on immigration in an election year is a tall order, but I will continue to press for pragmatism and compromise in order to improve border security and ensure due process. In the weeds with the IT industry: I met with members of the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) to discuss the importance to the IT industry of strong intellectual property laws; access to global markets; and a thriving U.S. R&D ecosystem. These issues are not just critical to outcompeting China, they are also impactful to the Massachusetts economy. Combating Antisemitism: In response to the Boston City Council's vote against accepting counter-terrorism funds, I sent a letter to Council President Ruthzee Louijeune urging the council to approve the funding when Mayor Michelle Wu re-submits the request. The Boston Globe concurred in an editorial. Regrettably, the Boston City Council has again delayed approval. The Israel-Hamas War has heightened our region's need for counter-terrorism security measures, as underscored in recent congressional testimony by the FBI Director. Greater Boston is a national hub for the Jewish community. As antisemitism proliferates, counter-terrorism funding is more pertinent than ever. Impeding its disbursement could undermine the trust of Greater Boston's Jewish community. It is imperative that the City Council reconsider and approve these federal funds to support the safety of Greater Boston, including the town of Brookline in our district, which would be covered under the grant. Building more housing: I sent a letter to the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee requesting the expansion of the successful Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program in the bipartisan tax package. I am happy to report the expansion was included in the bill that House Ways & Means approved. You can read more about the proposal, which also includes an expansion of the Child Tax Credit and inducement of corporate research & development, here. Make your voice heard → I want to hear from you.  Do you support federal tax credits for affordable housing? Around the Fourth Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.: Needham Select Board Member Marcus Nelson and I spoke about our work to advance affordable housing as a foundation of racial justice at Needham's MLK celebration. The celebration's theme was building bridges, not walls. Exclusionary zoning is a paper wall. We can't build bridges if we can't build housing. Image Credit: Colin Furze, the Herald News Visiting Fall River: With Mayor Paul Coogan, I visited the Homeless Overflow Shelter at the Timao Center, where federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding has supported the Shelter's dynamic team of first responders, substance abuse counselors and mental-health practitioners in treating the homeless population and putting these individuals on the path to self-sufficiency. At the Highland Head Start Birth to Five Center, I heard from early educators about the hundreds of children on their waiting list and the 'two generation' model they pursue, where they uplift both children and their parents. I then toured the Veterans Association of Bristol County, where Executive Director Ken Levesque explained his efforts to expand from a food pantry to a full-service veterans-services hub for southeastern Massachusetts, encompassing social services and community building. Young Israel Sharon: I joined the members of several Sharon temples at Young Israel of Sharon on Sunday, where I reiterated my support for the Israeli people and encouraged Israel's war cabinet to articulate achievable aims of returning all hostages; degrading Hamas to prevent it from waging further attacks; and establishing transitional governance for Gaza that is consistent with both Israel's security and the aspiration of the Palestinian people for a state of their own. Israel's reported offer of a two-month pause in return for all hostages is an important step in that direction. Hamas' rejection of the offer is another example of that terrorist organization's barbarity and the necessity of destroying its leadership and excluding it from governance. Tackling Opioids & Meth: I met with the director and analysts from New England's High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program. The HIDTA Program is funded from the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and has a track record of success fusing government efforts in three domains: Driving tight feedback loops between federal, state, and local law enforcement Combining public safety with public health Addressing drug trafficking along with related threats, including money laundering and illegal gun distribution HIDTA briefed me on substance-abuse trends in Massachusetts, where in addition to the opioid crisis the analysts highlighted the alarming rise in methamphetamine abuse in the commonwealth, which previously has been spared that scourge. We also discussed bipartisan reauthorization of the HIDTA Program and the local Coast Guard's role in drug interdiction. This last element is of particular interest to me as a Member of the Coast Guard & Maritime Subcommittee and as a former commander of a joint training team for drug interdiction in Panama. Onwards, Jake WASHINGTON 15 Independence Avenue SE 1524 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-5931 NEWTON 29 Crafts Street Suite 375 Newton, MA 02458 Phone: (617) 332-3333 ATTLEBORO 8 North Main Steet Suite 200 Attleboro, MA 02703 Phone: (508) 431-1110 Contact

Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 255: Marilee Bramhall of Iola Wines (audio)

The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 255

Marilee Bramhall of Iola Wines interview.

In this episode Kim and Mark interview Iola wines creator Marilee Bramhall.

Marilee Bramhall is doing her part to change the wine world's status quo. Although up to 80% of wine purchases in the U.S. are made by women; only 15% of the winemakers worldwide are women. Her company, Iola Wines, champions women vigneronnes who are every bit as talented as their French and Italian brethren by sharing their wines through the Iola Wine Society Wine Clubs.

The idea of Iola Wines came to Marilee Bramhall after years of working in the Washington and California wine industry, studying and traveling the wine regions of Europe, and completing with Highest Honors certifications for French and Italian Wine Scholar and WSET L3 with Merit.

The brand is set apart by a sophisticated style of old-world wines from France and Italy, made with little to no intervention. You’ll often find Marilee hosting wine tastings and educating attendees about the history and stories behind the wines.

You can find Marilee and her wines at www.iolawines.com

Cheers

Kim and Mark

Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 255: Marilee Bramhall of Iola Wines (audio)

#podcast #thewonderfulworldofwine #wine #iolawines #wineeducation 

https://soundcloud.com/user-492543397/episode-255-marilee-bramhall-of-iola-wines-interview

The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) · Episode 255-Marilee Bramhall of Iola wines interview

Franklin TV: PEG in a Nutshell – 10

The State of Streaming Media - 2024

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 01/14/2024

The On-demand Streaming Video (SVoD) industry has been around long enough to have a history. The novelty is long-faded, and maturing is afoot. There were late-comers to the party. Predictably, most of these more recent arrivals didn’t survive because there wasn’t much growth opportunity left at the buffet table. Even the players with large legacy libraries are seeing profits dwindle. Today they struggle with the same issue that legacy networks and cable carriers do. Remember, Bill Clinton’s quip? “It’s the economy, stupid.”

In this case it’s the cost of programming – quality programs that folks will seek out. No one is making any money. Their business models are being ‘tweaked’ (optimized). That translates into higher subscriber fees, tighter password sharing limits, and/or also including – commercials. Note that you can’t skip over their ads.

The two big take-aways: New TV is becoming more like old TV, and like old TV, eventually there will be fewer streaming choices due to consolidation.

In 2018 I anticipated an asymptotic point would emerge in about 5 years. Today, the U.S. Cable TV homes that don’t have streaming service is only 5 percent. That statistic clearly indicates a no-growth market – saturation – the stable asymptote.

On-demand Streaming Video (SVoD) industry

The SVoD industry average annual churn rate for streaming services is 50 percent, meaning many services are also struggling to keep their customers. Again, offering quality ‘binge-worthy’ programming – consistently – is costly. Further, binging is becoming restricted – fewer ‘full-season drops’ are giving way to ‘3 episode, teaser’ drops, then weekly drops that ‘encourage’ (force) subscribers to hang on longer.

What does all this mean for local studios like us? Cord-cutting was initially a way to save on home entertainment. However, it reduces our revenue from Comcast and Verizon. Over the next 5 years we anticipate some stabilization at a revenue reduction of about 10 percent. It means keeping our operating costs down while continuing to offer the most (and best) local programs possible.

Thanks for listening to 102.9 wfpr●fm. 

And – as always – thanks for watching.

 

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf   

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Tri-County Culinary Program provided catering for the recent SAFE Jack Frost Jubilee

Flanking members of the Tri-County RVTHS Culinary Program are Culinary Instructor and TC alum Mrs. Brittney Colon and SAFE's COO Ms. Carrie Asprinio during the pickup of the order prior to SAFE's Jack Frost Jubilee, held late last week.

Preparing and executing this complex catering order is one of many ways our students gain real-world industry-level experience as part of CTE.

Tri-County Culinary Program provided catering for the recent SAFE Jack Frost Jubilee

The SAFE Coalition, Inc. is a Franklin-based non-profit that bills itself as a judgment-free community organization relentlessly committed to educating and supporting those affected by substance use disorder and mental health concerns across southeastern Massachusetts.

The Guardian view on Cop28: a phase-out of fossil fuels is the only decision that makes sense | Editorial | The Guardian

"It was never really in doubt. But the first week of Cop28, which ended with a rest day on Thursday, made one crucial fact impossible to ignore: the fossil fuel industry is not planning to go quietly. Far more of its lobbyists are in the UAE than have attended UN climate talks before. One analysis counted 2,456 of them – nearly four times the number registered last year in Egypt.

The battle is hotting up over what next week’s report on progress towards the Paris goals, known as the global stocktake, will say. Fossil fuel interests – both corporate and national – are pushing hard to avoid references to the phase-out that would signal the end of their business model and vast profits. They don’t want an energy transition that leads to their demise.

Last week, the Guardian revealed that Sultan Al Jaber, who holds the Cop presidency and leads the UAE’s state oil company, recently asserted that “no science” indicates that “a phase-out of fossil fuel is what’s going to achieve 1.5C”. Forced on to the defensive, he later said that “the phase-down and phase-out of fossil fuel is inevitable”. But it is the nations at Cop28 that will decide, and there is no guarantee that any such pledge will appear in the final text.

One of the key battlegrounds at Cop28 is that of language: whether fossil fuels will be phased “down” or “out”. The choice is either reducing carbon energy sources or getting rid of them entirely. The latter would be preferable, but there are many other battles to be won. There will be haggling over whether a transition to a cleaner future should see fossil fuels “unabated”, with greenhouse gas emissions released directly into the atmosphere, or “abated”, where carbon capture technology and carbon offsets reduce the harm caused. The latter have so far failed to deliver promised benefits, appearing more of a risk than a solution, in enabling the necessity of replacing fossil fuels to be ducked."

Continue reading The Guardian article online -> (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/08/the-guardian-view-on-cop28-a-phase-out-of-fossil-fuels-is-the-only-decision-that-makes-sense

Credit: Kiara Worth | UN Climate Change

Rausch Report: Sharing Light This Holiday Season (November 2023)

Your monthly Beacon Hill update from Senator Becca Rausch. 

View this email in your browser Dear Friend, I hope you had a very happy Thanksgiving. The holiday season is a chance to spend time with the people we love, eat nourishing food, reflect on the year behind us, and look ahead with full hearts.   These last 8 weeks have been an emotional roller coaster for so many of us. I decided over the course of these many days that I needed to do something with these emotions and use my platform to address what we've seen unfold since October 7. In my last newsletter, I shared that I co-authored the Massachusetts Senate resolution supporting the people of Israel, the victims of Hamas's terrorist attack, and those who are being held hostage. Since then, I have continued to vocally denounce and condemn antisemitism in our communities, our Commonwealth, and our nation. I also led a bipartisan nationwide open letter to President Biden, Vice President Harris, and all Members of Congress signed by nearly 300 state lawmakers from more than half the states in the country denouncing antisemitism and Islamophobia and committing to further educational efforts to expose and reduce anti-Jewish prejudice and extremism. In addition, I hosted an open community space for people impacted by the terrorism and violence in Israel and the attendant antisemitism, communicated with all the superintendents in our district about the drastic rise in antisemitism, collaborated with our partners in the Healey-Driscoll Administration to secure the near-immediate remediation of antisemitic graffiti on the Mass Pike, and have been in conversation with local, national, and international leaders including Israel's Special Envoy for Combatting Antisemitism about productive next steps for this critical work.  We have much more to do to address the stark rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia and combat hatred in all its forms. I will continue these efforts in many ways, including my service as a member of the Hate Crimes Task Force. (In that capacity, I was honored to join the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and statewide leaders in equity and inclusion as Governor Healey announced new strategies for addressing identity-based incidents of hatred. One of these strategies is the creation of the "Hate Crimes Awareness and Response Team" (HART), which is tasked with improving statewide data collection efforts to identify patterns and trends, developing training with the Municipal Police Training Committee, and improving coordination across all levels of law enforcement. As we experience record levels of hatred and bigotry, these strategies are both timely and sorely needed. Read more here.)  This month's Rausch Report includes legislative updates, a roundup of district events, joyful events happening in our communities, and more.   For real-time updates, please follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. If you are a constituent and need assistance, please don't hesitate to call me and my team at (617) 722-1555, email me at becca.rausch@masenate.gov, or attend upcoming office hours. We are here to help.    Wishing you and yours a happy, safe, and joyful holiday season.  Yours in service,     Senator Becca Rausch    In Committee As Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources, we held two hearings this month about animals, fishing, hunting, and trapping. Our committee has now held ten public hearings, all of which were hybrid for easier public access, and we have heard testimony on a whopping 348 bills. I look forward to working with my House Co-chair Dan Cahill to advance important environmental protection and preservation legislation.  Also this month, I testified on five bills I filed as part of my legislative portfolio. These bills would expand abortion access (S.1114), protect people from doxing (S.1116), safeguard the freedom of the press (S.1115), prevent minors from overdosing on dextromethorphan (S.1456), and modernize birth certificates (S.1459).     On the Floor Earlier this month, I voted yes alongside my Senate colleagues to pass two important pieces of legislation before the winter recess: An Act Relative to Pharmaceutical Access, Costs, and Transparency (the PACT Act) and the Supplemental Budget to close out Fiscal Year 2023.     Improving Pharmaceutical Access, Cost, and Transparency  The bipartisan PACT Act would make urgent and much-needed reforms to the pharmaceutical system in the state by lowering the cost of drugs at the pharmacy counter and improving oversight of the pharmaceutical industry. It also creates more equitable access to life-saving medications by providing a free, no-cost sharing option for certain drugs used to treat chronic illnesses. I secured two successful amendments to enhance transparency and accountability. This legislation now moves to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for consideration.    Supplemental Close-Out Budget  The Senate's supplemental close-out budget totaled $2.81 billion and contained several provisions to support the ongoing operations of programs and services that benefit the residents of the Commonwealth, including $250 million to address the ongoing need for emergency housing. I joined my colleagues on a successful amendment to improve oversight, transparency, and accountability for contract compliance among emergency housing providers. The supplemental budget also included:  $75 million for school districts impacted by special education tuition rate increases;  $15 million for disaster relief for municipalities impacted by storms and naturals disasters that occurred in 2023;  Funding to implement collective bargaining agreements; and  $500,000 for the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning Youth.  I filed a single amendment to the Senate close-out budget that would have permanently fixed our state primary scheduling problem. As I said in my remarks on the floor, the statutorily dictated state primary date is so bad that the Legislature has had to change it every election cycle since 2012. Once again, this close-out budget moves the state primary date, and once again, it will be held on the day after Labor Day, yielding a host of problems for access to the ballot, engagement among candidates and voters, and logistics for our local clerks. Our current statutory law governing the scheduling of our last-in-the-nation state primary is a detriment to democracy and must be changed. While this amendment was unsuccessful, I will keep pushing for this necessary shift to align our state primary with the overwhelming majority of similar state primaries in the nation, which are held in late Spring. I've filed legislation to generate this change as well (S.435 and S.439).   I am pleased to report that earlier today, after advocacy from me and many of my colleagues, an agreement was reached between the two chambers on a compromise bill. I look forward to its adoption in both the House and the Senate so collective bargaining agreements and other matters may be funded and finalized and the state comptroller can close the books on Fiscal Year 2023. Our mailing address is: The Office of Senator Becca Rausch Massachusetts State House, Room 215 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133  Note this newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full set of content, follow this link -> https://mailchi.mp/masenate/monthlynewsletter-17586993

Timeless Leadership by Scott Monty talks with Rick Wilson of The Lincoln Project (audio)

Via Scott Monty: 

"If you were faced with the prospect of losing your business, losing friends, and being ostracized in your industry for simply doing what you thought was right, do you think you be able to do it?

That's exactly the scenario that faced Rick Wilson, co-founder of The Lincoln Project and 30-year advertising veteran for Republican political candidates. When he chose to break from the party to stop Donald Trump, he lost nearly everything. He was humiliated and horrified, but he didn’t trade his morals for money.

Our discussion includes the origin story of The Lincoln Project and its methods, the impact of social media and tightly controlled vertical platforms on society, and Elon Musk's decimation of Twitter.

It's all tied to human nature, integrity, and the courage to make hard choices when faced with moral quandaries."

Follow the link to Substack to  listen -> 

https://open.substack.com/pub/scottmonty/p/the-lincoln-project-with-rick-wilson?r=uw58&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

Timeless Leadership by Scott Monty talks with Rick Wilson of The Lincoln Project (audio)

Congressman Auchincloss: An Update for the prior two weeks (11/21/23)

LAST 2 WEEKS IN REVIEW I'm your representative in Congress and I write to keep you informed. On the Hill The War in Israel: In a recent interview I was asked how Israel should respond to anger on the Arab Street. My response – if Israel had let Arab popular opinion dictate its strategy in 1947; 1967; 1973, it would have been destroyed. Israel should pursue its mission: rescue the hostages, destroy Hamas, and help architect just post-war governance for Gaza. This latter requires that Israel not only buttress a peaceful alternative to Hamas in Gaza, but also that it cease & reverse inflammatory, destabilizing actions in the West Bank. While in Washington, I joined a bipartisan vigil in support of the 240+ hostages held by Hamas terrorists. Many watched their families tortured and slain before being dragged to captivity. Some of them are children. I am committed to supporting Israel in securing their release. Funding the Government: When House Republicans took us to the brink in September, I vowed it would be the last time I'd vote to bail out their dysfunction without a clear, credible, and concrete plan for supporting Ukraine. Last week, I kept my word. Since we last voted on a continuing resolution, the world has only become more dangerous for democracies. Congress must demonstrate through its power of the purse that the United States stands with its allies in Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Despite credible efforts that reflect the bipartisan majorities in both chambers in favor of aid, there is no clear and concrete plan from Republicans to demonstrate global leadership to friends and foes alike. I could not support a short-term spending measure, cobbled together as the GOP careens from crisis to crisis, that fails to defend democracy. Military Veterans Caucus: To mark Veterans Day, I joined the Military Veterans Caucus to address mental health and our veterans. We discussed strong legislation to accelerate mental health research. This Veterans Day, let's recommit ourselves to ensuring veterans receive high-quality care that honors the uniform. Military Promotion Blockade: I led the Democrats on the House Select Committee on China in pressuring Leader McConnell to break Tuberville's blockade of military promotions. No Republicans from the Select Committee on China would join us, despite Senate Republicans recently raising the alarm on force readiness in the Indo-Pacific. National security should be above partisanship. I encourage Republicans on the committee to join us in a bipartisan commitment to a strong military. Make your voice heard → I want to hear from you. Do you support additional funding to Ukraine? Around the Fourth Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce: At the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, I argued that Democrats should negotiate on border policy with Republicans as part of a compromise that strengthens border security and unlocks further support for Ukraine. I also emphasized that the most important way that federal and state officials can improve the Bay State business climate is to expand the supply and deepen the affordability of housing. MIT Visit: Attending MIT was one of the best decisions I made in my career (and my life – I met my wife there!) I was honored to return as part of its alumni series to discuss Congress, to encourage students to help rebuild trust in society, and to reflect on how MIT's emphasis on science, enterprise, and bold ideas have shaped my policy-making. Boston Passport Office: Many of you know the feeling: you're packing your bags and retrieving your passports from the drawer when, oh #$@! – one of those passports is about to expire. I am here to help, and my staff and I rely on the hardworking civil servants at the Boston Passport Agency to expeditiously and securely issue new passports. I'm grateful for their professionalism, responsiveness, and commitment to serve the traveling public. And remember: check your passport before you buy the ticket! Some countries require that your passport be valid for up to six months after your date of return. So even if your passport hasn't expired, it might need to be renewed before travel. Check travel.state.gov for entry requirements. Pioneering AI Summit: Earlier this year, I raised awareness of AI in Congress by giving the first AI-drafted speech in history on the House floor. Since then, I've been working with legislators, regulators, and technologists to understand and prepare for this general-purpose technology. At the Flagship Pioneering AI Summit, I advocated for Congress to fund a public cloud for civil society & researchers as a counterweight to Big Tech, but cautioned against knee-jerk, sweeping legislation before national lawmakers have been able to assess various efforts by the Administration, states, civil society, and industry to see what works and what doesn't. Congress should ultimately craft legislation that induces competition, not furthers monopoly power; that unlocks innovation in domains like biomedical R&D and education; and that prevents further degradation in trust, particularly through disinformation and defamation on social media. Happy Thanksgiving: I hope everyone is able to spend the upcoming holiday with friends and loved ones. As the representative of a cranberry-growing district: please make sure to include that delicious dish! Onwards, Jake WASHINGTON 15 Independence Avenue SE 1524 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-5931 NEWTON 29 Crafts Street Suite 375 Newton, MA 02458 Phone: (617) 332-3333 ATTLEBORO 8 North Main Steet Suite 200 Attleboro, MA 02703 Phone: (508) 431-1110 Contact