Columnist

Joe Battenfeld

Joe Battenfeld is a veteran Herald political columnist and multimedia reporter.

Maura Healey and Michelle Wu face crucial tests this week as they reach self-imposed deadlines on limiting migrants and cleaning up the drug-riddled Mass and Cass neighborhood zone.

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Battenfeld: Maura Healey and Michelle Wu face twin tests this week on migrants and homeless

October 30, 2023 at 6:48 p.m.

Maura Healey and Michelle Wu face crucial tests this week as they reach self-imposed deadlines on limiting migrants and cleaning up the drug-riddled Mass and Cass neighborhood zone.

Joe Biden risks losing a key purple state by flipping off New Hampshire voters in an election that could come down to just a few electoral votes.

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Battenfeld: Joe Biden’s move to skip New Hampshire primary could come with steep price in November

October 27, 2023 at 6:54 p.m.

Joe Biden risks losing a key purple state by flipping off New Hampshire voters in an election that could come down to just a few electoral votes.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey continues to dodge responsibility for the beleaguered MBTA nearly a year after she took office and promised to restore accountability and transparency.

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Battenfeld: Maura Healey dodges blame for repeated MBTA failures

October 25, 2023 at 7:05 p.m.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey continues to dodge responsibility for the beleaguered MBTA nearly a year after she took office and promised to restore accountability and transparency.

With President Biden threatening to draw the U.S. into a wider Mideast war, suddenly foreign policy – an issue almost overlooked weeks before – has become a heated flash point in the 2024 White House campaign.

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Battenfeld: War and foreign policy become new flash point in 2024 White House campaign

October 23, 2023 at 7:03 p.m.

With President Biden threatening to draw the U.S. into a wider Mideast war, suddenly foreign policy – an issue almost overlooked weeks before – has become a heated flash point...

Councilors continue to hand out hefty, taxpayer-funded pay bonuses to staffers in a practice that smacks of old school politics excess.

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Battenfeld: Boston city councilors hand out big, taxpayer-funded bonuses to staffers

October 20, 2023 at 8:06 p.m.

Councilors continue to hand out hefty, taxpayer-funded pay bonuses to staffers in a practice that smacks of old school politics excess.

Wu can and should stop deferring to the do-nothing council and send police and social services in now to restore order and safety to the blighted, drug-infested Mass and Cass neighborhood – before it gets any colder.

Opinion Columnists |
Battenfeld: Mass and Cass crisis worsens while Boston City Council does nothing

October 18, 2023 at 7:33 p.m.

Wu can and should stop deferring to the do-nothing council and send police and social services in now to restore order and safety to the blighted, drug-infested Mass and Cass...

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is now pushing the panic button, and gently trying to extricate herself from a crisis she helped create.

Opinion Columnists |
Battenfeld: Maura Healey pushes panic button on migrants and tries to dodge responsibility

October 17, 2023 at 2:01 p.m.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is now pushing the panic button, and gently trying to extricate herself from a crisis she helped create.

Kennedy’s independent bid for president could pose a major threat to Joe Biden and Democrats – no matter what party activists are saying now that it hurts Republican Donald Trump more.

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Battenfeld: RFK Jr. could be Democratic spoiler in 2024 presidential race

October 14, 2023 at 9:15 a.m.

Kennedy’s independent bid for president could pose a major threat to Joe Biden and Democrats – no matter what party activists are saying now that it hurts Republican Donald Trump...

Democrats are embroiled in controversy over how to respond to the terrorist attack on Israel and the far left’s position that the U.S. should support a cease-fire in the Middle East.

Opinion Columnists |
Battenfeld: Democrats embroiled in bickering over how to respond to attack on Israel

October 11, 2023 at 7:44 p.m.

Democrats are embroiled in controversy over how to respond to the terrorist attack on Israel and the far left’s position that the U.S. should support a cease-fire in the Middle...

Massachusetts Democrats and other liberals who have criticized Israel are now getting blowback after calling for a cease-fire following Hamas’s terrorist attacks that left more than 1,000 innocent civilians, including Americans, dead or captured.

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Battenfeld: Massachusetts Democrats and liberals face blowback for comments on Israel

October 9, 2023 at 8:56 p.m.

Massachusetts Democrats and other liberals who have criticized Israel are now getting blowback after calling for a cease-fire following Hamas’s terrorist attacks that left more than 1,000 innocent civilians, including...

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