October 31, 2025 • 37 mins
42 million Americans rely on USDA SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits to buy food, and amidst the current government shutdown, those benefits are at risk. A federal judge ruled today that the Trump Administration must tap into its emergency funds to at least partially cover food stamp benefits set to halt on November 4th. The USDA has until Monday to decide how it will distribute benefits. Dan brings you the latest and wants your thoughts!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's Night Side on WBZ, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
All right, welcome back everyone. We are into our talk
hour now. And the big story that I think all
of us were waiting on today was the SNAP story
the future of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program. And I
know there's lots of takes on this story. I get it,
(00:30):
I get it, But the bottom line is, in my opinion,
a real I think, a series of mistakes. First, First
of all, why can't our politicians not have anticipated this?
And if it was apparent that the Trump administration either
(00:55):
claimed not to have the money or in fact didn't
have the money, why did people still have to go
through this uncertainty during this this entire week and it
still continues tonight when you when you think about it, Uh.
(01:18):
They the there was some resolution this afternoon when a
couple of federal judges, one in Massachusetts and one in
Rhode Island, UH, told the federal government, No, you have
to make funds available. Okay, However, there's still questions. Uh
(01:40):
it's three hours left in the month of October. So
we had two two judges, one in Rhode Island, one
in Massachusetts making decisions which are not identical they're similar
but not identical. And as a consequence, everything is really
(02:02):
still very much up in the air. You have the
Trump administration saying they don't have the money. Now you
have the judges saying, oh, yes, you do have the money. Okay.
One of the reports I saw today indicated that the
Trump lawyers, the lawyers for the administration, had told at
least the federal judge here in Boston that if the
(02:23):
ruling went against them, they would probably want to appeal it.
Now time is truly of the essence here. I mean
today's it's Friday night people. As of tomorrow, apparently money
will not be loaded onto their snap cards, the cards
(02:46):
that they rely upon, which to me should never happen
in America, and my focus is it should never have
happened in Massachusetts. This is what used to be called
food stamps and is now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
And I want to keep coming back to why I
(03:06):
don't understand the politics of this stinks. It's as simple
as that, the politics of this stinks. And both the
Republicans and the Democrats, I think the Democrats more, but
they both have some some questions to respond to. Bottom
(03:27):
line is I never realized that one out of eight
Americans or one out of seven I've seen these statistic
quoted at different times that you know, forty two million
Americans rely on SNAP benefits. That's an incredible number of people.
(03:48):
They are people who are living below you know, the
poverty level, some percentage of the poverty level. This is done,
and it's left to the politicians, and and of course
the bureaucrats apply what the politicians tell them to do.
But what we do know is this, and I'm reading
(04:11):
here from a piece out of the Boston Globe, which
which cleared just a couple of hours ago. Yeah, and
so officials have said repeatedly the SNAP benefits are said
to be halted on Saturday. We've known that for a
long time. Okay, abstin a deal by Congress and the shutdown.
I don't know. The shutdown is going to go on
(04:33):
for a while. I mean the Senate, the Senate isn't
even in session. This shutdown is going to go on
well into November. In my opinion. Uh, the benefits are
on the cusp of being halted due to the government shutdown,
with the Trump administration arguing the federal government confund snap.
Amid the stalemate, Democrats say the US Department of Agriculture
(04:56):
should use available contingency funds to cover November snap bend.
There's a lawyer out of Rhode Island who's with a
group called the Lawyer's Committee for Rhode Island said the
providence in Boston cases are distinct but complementary. And again,
(05:16):
we don't have to get into the weeds here, but
you have two judges coming to the same conclusion. Now again,
in terms of what we can talk about now, no
one knows. This doesn't mean the shutdown's over. There's no
question about that. The shutdown could go on for weeks.
But as of this afternoon, there's no suggestion that the
(05:43):
shutdown is close to being finished. Earlier this week, senators
has said that the atmosphere had shifted in a good direction. However, however,
the talks have yet to reach level of party leadership
or engage the House of the Trump administration. Let's get
(06:06):
into some of the specifics. According to the Little Product,
when SNAP benefits, when will the snap benefits be cut off? Well,
we're be cut off at midnight. During a Friday afternoon
hearing in the U S District Court of Rhode Island
Chief Judge John J. McConnell, junior Or to the government,
it tapped six billion in contingency funds to make the
(06:27):
snap payments. Well, no question yet as to whether no
decision yet or as far as I know, whether the
Trump administration is going to appeal the rulings. Since they
are in the same district, obviously the cases could be
combined and you can go up in front of the
First Circuit Court of Appeals here here in Boston. Excuse me,
(06:50):
but uh. According to the writing of the Judge McConnell,
it's the court having put the issue through a very
high standard that the October twenty fourth lettering ordering the
stop of staff payment violates the Administrative Procedure Act, both
(07:11):
in terms of being contrary to laws as well as
being arbitrary and capricious. You've heard me mention that that
phrase arbitrary and capricious is often used. It's unclear when
food stands will eventually reach the millions of people who
rely on them for groceries and in what amounts. This
is this is still this is still not foreclosed. I
(07:34):
want to now, of course, this afternoon, Governor more heally said,
She urges Trump to immediately restore full benefits as soon
as possible. Well that's a surprise, huh, isn't that a
stunner that mor Healey. We try to lay this at
the feet of the Trump administration. She goes on to say,
this ruling confirms what we've known all along. Donald Trump
(07:55):
has the funds to continue paying SNAP benefits, but he's
been choosing to force millions of Americans to go hungry.
At the moment, it is unclear. This is the Globe story,
not what Healey said, When November benefits will begin to
be paid and in what quantity? Even if they have
all six billion dollars, you're talking about a million people
(08:18):
in Massachusetts, and you're talking about forty two million people nationwide.
That's six billion dollars. When you're talking about forty one
to forty two million, people can disappear very quickly. So,
by the way, just to give you this is an
interesting to qualify for SNAP in twenty twenty five, a
(08:41):
family of forced net income after certain expenses cannot exceed
the federal poverty line, which is about thirty one thousand
dollars a year. Here's the bottom line. What has been proven. Here,
I'll tell you what has been proven. Governor Healy has
decided not. And this is the in my opinion, and
the big mistake that Governor Heally has made. Governor Heally
(09:04):
could have basically showed herself to be a bigger person
than Donald Trump. She missed the boat. Now could she
still get the boat? I don't know. I suspect that
once she makes her decisions, she's not going to back
off from it. We have eight and I want you
to listen to the number here. We have an eight
point eight billion rainy day fund. It's called a stabilization
(09:29):
fund formally. To put it in some perspective, when Charlie
Baker was governor, and when he came into office, we
had a rainy day fund of about a billion dollars.
That's where it kind of hovered for many, many many years.
It was there just in case there was an economic downturn. Well,
(09:53):
we grow. It's grown. It's grown through the Baker administration
and also to the Healy administration. It's not up to
eight point eight billion dollars. It has not been used
for anything in recent years, and it certainly wasn't used
to help poor people have some certainty. I'm able to
go to the grocery store tonight if I wanted to.
(10:14):
I went yesterday, I can go tomorrow. I don't have
to worry about Snap benefits. On the SNAP program, I'm blessed.
Most of you are blessed, but not everyone is blessed.
That program is what is paid for by taxpayers at
a federal level. But we also have this Rainy Day
(10:36):
Fund in Massachusetts, and governors, not only Heally, but any
governor loves to talk about the integrity in their home state.
The integrity in this state would have been, in my opinion,
to basically put everyone's mind at ease and have them
be told that, hey, even if your Snap benefits do
not fill your Snap card on November first, you will
(11:01):
be taken care of here in Massachusetts by the Rainy
Day Fund. I'm ashamed. I'm ashamed that this governor chose
not to use, or at least be prepared to use,
so that children wouldn't go hungry, elderly people wouldn't go hungry,
people with disabilities wouldn't go hungry hungry, and single women
(11:22):
with families wouldn't go hungry. If you grie with me,
I'd love to hear from you if you want to
defend Governor Healey's decision not to basically calm the apprehensions
of Massachusetts residence, which she had the capacity to do.
I'd love to have someone defend that decision and explain
it to me. Six one seven, two four ten thirty
(11:44):
six one seven nine to three one ten thirty. This
is this is a mistake that Governor Heally will pay
a price for politically, in my opinion, because this runs
against everything that she has always part considered herself to be.
Joining the Conversation.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
By the way, the estimate in Massachusetts is that in
order to provide the SNAP benefits for everyone at the
one million or so people it's one point one million
that availed themselves that need SNAP benefits would be about
two hundred and forty million dollars. That is a minuscule
percentage of eight point eight billion dollars. It's about two
(12:35):
and a half percent. And I guarantee you that this
crisis as it exists will be over certainly by Thanksgiving.
I don't think I don't think either party is going
to allow this to linger much beyond I think that
(12:55):
a part of the I'm sad to say to you
that part of what is in play here, uh, the
gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia next Tuesday, as
well as the mayoral election which which has less it
has less impact on that, but I will have impact
in Virginia in New Jersey. Let me go to the phones.
(13:16):
Let me go to Bill and Danvers. First, Bill, thanks
for calling in your first this hour and night side. Uh. Yeah,
don't understand. I do not understand why mar Healy has
taken this this road.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Wow, I'm gonna throw a few logs on the fire.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Dan.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
You know, I'm sort of just looking at this, you know,
observing and and everything. And you had the auditor on
I believe what a week or two ago?
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Yes, maybe it was long. Yeah, sure, yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
Well, I mean, do we know for certain the way
to put our hand on a bible, that there's eight
eight billion plus there in the Randy Day funds?
Speaker 2 (13:52):
No question, no question in my mind about that that
that figure is confirmed by the Office of the Controller,
which is a non election.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
It official, Okay, because I mean I just find it
a little as a specialist that I mean, you look
at the last few years. I mean, and there was
a lot of money spent in these hotels and everything
went on. And I know we've covered you've covered some
of that, you know with these contracts.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Me, but do you know what the budget is right
now in Massachusetts? You have any idea?
Speaker 3 (14:21):
I don't know, be honest with you.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
I mean, let me tell you what it is. Let
me tell you it's sixty two billion dollars. Okay. It
has grown exponentially in the last few years. I mean,
I can remember if you go back around the time
that Deval Patrick, it has just grown by leaps and bounds.
We are collecting a lot of money. We have the
(14:42):
millionaire stacks. But yeah, there's no question that eight point
eight billion dollars is there. There's no question in my
mind that somehow someone has has has juggled the books
or something. No, absolutely not done. By the way, what
Disauglia wants to do is audit the legislature and and
there's a number of practices in the legislature that they
(15:04):
are fighting against. And what a lot of it involves,
uh civil judgments or civil agreements that have been made
by legislators. UH and non disclosure agreements where somebody would
accuse a legislator of doing something improper and the legislator
wants the uh it to go away, and if they
(15:26):
come can somehow say well, it was in the scope
of my employment. Uh And then there's a there's a
non disclosure agreement. That's what that's what this uglia wants
to get at, okay, and that is what the legislature
is resisting.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
You know, I was just thinking to myself, I says,
you know, it's kind of just because if you had
I mean, even if you had to release a billion
of it, I mean, you know, the cover or whatever, million, no,
a billion.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
If if let us say that the governors chose to
to set aside a billion dollars, that would be four months,
that would cover November December January February. And I guarantee
you that this shutdown, I mean, the longest shutdown before
it was I think thirty five days, and we're going
to sometime next week past thirty five days. And I
(16:14):
think the pressure will continue to build. I predict the
shutdown will be done. You know, sometime after the November
fourth elections. Shortly after the November fourth election, there will
be a break.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
You know, it may get closer to Thanksgiving. I think
they want to they can hold your hostage for the
air traffic controllers.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Well, you know, I think let me tell you you
have you have one bad plane accident, even if it's
got nothing to do with the air traffic controllers. They're
playing with fire hair built. They're playing with fire.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Oh I know that. Yeah, but if the elections, they
already got the goun of workers the Northern Virginia and
fair ex aloud in the county. So I don't know
how it really helps them as far as the fourth
and I don't know if it may not help him
at all. It's it's going to be close there, you know.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
I don't know. I don't know either, but we'll watch
it play out. I'm still trying to figure what do
you think Governor Healy's game plan is here? Why would
she have not said, hey, look, I want to assure
everyone in Massachusetts that if the the benefits, the snap
benefits are not available on November first, we will make
(17:26):
sure no one in Massachusetts goes hungry. Why would she
not say that?
Speaker 3 (17:31):
Maybe it's that that affunction that people get. It's called
Trump derangement and syndrome. Dan, unfortunately, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
I don't know. It's it's too bad that people who
need help were the ones who were being played here.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
I do know what older gentleman, you know, a little
later in life, he was a small business guy and
the divorce and stuff did a lot of damage to him.
And Joey means, you're getting the senior housing and stuff,
but it is tight for the guy. And I know
he gets a little bit on the on the stamps,
you know. And I called them the other day. I said, hey, listen,
I says, you know, I want to go out and
(18:06):
you know, I'll buy it then a lunch, comds and ends,
and you know, because I mean there's a guy, you know,
he probably gets like two hundred bucks a month, but
two hundred a month of this guy is you know,
and you know and that that makes a difference.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Dan, you know, you bet you Bill appreciate. I appreciate that.
That's the kind that is the individual gesture that we
all should be doing in Massachusetts. And the governor could
be doing a big gesture with our money. By the way,
it's not her money, it's our money that that we
have contributed that the state has set aside as the
Rainy Day Fund, and there will be people tomorrow in
(18:39):
Massachusetts who will not be able to go to the
grocery store because they snap card. The benefits on their
snap card have not been restored. We know that because
the judge who ruled here in Boston said, we'll talk
Monday about the timing of it.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Well, yeah, and that'll that'll go on for a week
to be in an appeal and every and could be you.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Bet you thanks Bill, talk to you soon, Have a
great night. Good night. Six one seven, two, five, four
ten thirty six one seven nine three one ten thirty. Uh.
This this really does bother me. And we've talked about it
a couple of nights, and I feel I want to
talk about it one more time.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
And I'd love to think that this is going to
get resolved even more quickly, but I'm not optimistic about that.
And I just think there's still now too much uncertainty. UH.
If you disagree and feel the governor's handled this perfectly,
please give us a call if you feel like me
that the governor has fumbled an opportunity here to really
(19:40):
let Massachusetts stand out. UH. Some other states I believe
that there are other states that have been more generous.
So we're supposedly a caring state. Remember we were a
sanctuary state. How about some sanctuary for our own citizens
at the end, does anyone see the eye here? Six one, seven, two, five, four,
(20:02):
ten thirty. There's only a line or two there. Feel
free to fill them up. Back on Nightside, we will
change topics at ten o'clock. What has happened recently is
that all of you decide to call it ten minutes
of the hour. I will tell you right now. We're
changing topics at ten o'clock. So dial now or forever.
Hold your piece back on Nightside after this.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
If you're on Nightside one Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Let's go up to Salem speaking about Salem, and Susan
is in Salem. Hi, Susan, you're next on Nightside.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
Welcome, Hi Dan, Thank you. The person who closed the
shutdown should be the one to cancel it. I think
he was off that question today and I think he
said I think it's illegal. Well, if it's illegal to
bring it back, how did he get it shut down?
(20:58):
I think really it's a political retribution situation here. But
I do think if Haley stepped forward and helped the
situation that she would look like a hero.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
But that's what I don't that's what I don't understand.
By the way the you know, I don't want to
argue with you on it, but you do know that
the Republican senators have been voting to open the government
to end the shutdown, and the Democratic senators have been
(21:34):
voting opposed to reopening the government. Now, there is politics
at play, so it's a little bit more complicated than that.
Speaker 4 (21:41):
Yeah, I didn't know that.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
Yes, that's the truth. That's the truth. Okay. The Republicans
in order to open the government, they have fifty three
votes in the US Senate, but they need sixty because
they have this rule in the Senate that in order
to on a vote like this, if someone says they
(22:07):
need this to be a vote of sixty, it's just
not a majority vote because obviously the Republicans have fifty
three senators. They have this concept called filibuster, where people
can fight against something in the Senate. Even though the
(22:30):
Senate right now, the one hundred members is fifty three
Republicans and forty seven Democrats. The Republicans have a majority,
but they need sixty votes to stop the filibuster and
to vote what's called culture. But they don't have sixty votes.
They have fifty three and two or three Democratic senators
(22:51):
have voted with the Republicans, and that they gun I
think as high as fifty six, but they need sixty.
And the Democrats have said, we will only vote to
open the government if you agree to certain terms, and
the Republicans had said, look, we disagree, let's open the government.
(23:14):
Let's keep the government running on what they call a
continuing resolution, which doesn't solve any of the differences of opinion.
But the Democrats are saying, we're not going to vote
to open the government until you agree to concede two
(23:37):
or three points. And there are important points to the Democrats.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Yeah, it was a health insurance issue, raising of health
insurance for people that I think that's the thing that's
in the way for them.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Right, and they have every right to take that position.
But I think that the damage is being done to
people who rely upon snap benefits, also to members of
the military, also to air traffic controllers. And I think
that if everybody came to the table and said, okay,
we need to uh, you know, do this, or that
(24:13):
they could come to an agreement on this. The point
is that they get paid money to sit and you know,
hash things out to to to to compromise. They say
politics as they are to compromise, and it's not happening
right now. And and and Trump is very much on
the side he is. He has asked the Republicans, which
(24:34):
they can buy by a majority vote, to say, get
rid of the filibuster. They call that the nuclear option.
And it's I know I'm in the weeds here a
little bit with you, Susan, but I wanted to be
thorough with him, make sure that you understood what I
was saying.
Speaker 4 (24:51):
Well, thank you for that.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
How crazy is it up in Salem tonight? If your
doors locked you're close to the downtown.
Speaker 4 (24:59):
They were saying, million people, it's quieted down. I don't.
I think it's more like three million.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
Wow. Now, is it because this Halloween's on a Friday night?
It's not always on the thirty first, obviously, it is
on different nights during the year. Is it particular? Is
it extra crazy this year because it's going to be
a whole weekend?
Speaker 4 (25:20):
Well, I think it's extra okay, because they're coming earlier
and they're not leaving. It's very frustrating for the residents.
I'll tell you. I mean, I'm glad people are having
a good time, and I'm sure glad that the weather
was was fine for them. They deserve to have fun.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
Yeah, okay, well, you're a good sport power.
Speaker 4 (25:41):
It's empowering though for us.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
Susan, thanks so much for calling and and thank you
for allowing me to I think I tried to explain
it as fairly as I could. It's it's it's almost
like a sporting event. You got to know the rules
in which they're playing with. Okay, thanks as well.
Speaker 4 (25:57):
Thanks for the time, your time, you.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Bet you talk to you soon. Let's keep rolling. Here're
going to go to Geane and every gene you were
next time.
Speaker 5 (26:04):
Nightshi goright ahead, Hi Jane, good evening you. So listen,
what makes anyone think that these politicians care about any
of us? Please don't, Okay, look around at how they
make us live and what they do to us. They
build apartments over every bit of open space forcefully, and
(26:25):
they're continuing to do it. They let us get run
over by bikes everywhere they They let and invite others
into our country and let us pay for their every need,
and on and on and on, while there are people
here suffering all the time for every reason. They can't
find a place to live, they can't eat, they have
(26:46):
no help for medical everything else, and yet we're paying
for everyone else. These politicians do not care about any
of us. It's all about them, it really is, Jim.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
The problem is these politicians get re elected all the time.
Speaker 5 (27:03):
I mean, well, you know it's because.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
We people re elect them.
Speaker 5 (27:09):
Yeah, But there they are. These people who are electing
these politicians, are on their email, their links, they're all
together on the web all the time, and none of
us are invited to that. So we don't have a choice.
And how long do you have to live in Massachusetts
to vote?
Speaker 6 (27:30):
No?
Speaker 2 (27:31):
US citizen? If you're a US citizen and you move here,
you should be able to establish that you were a
resident here and you should be eligible to vote right away.
Speaker 4 (27:42):
Right.
Speaker 5 (27:43):
And I don't think.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
You're if you're if you're a US citizen.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
Right, But I don't think you have to live in
Massachusetts too long to be able to vote. You just
have to have an address, you.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Have to know, you should have to prove your citizenship.
Speaker 5 (27:59):
Yes, with that right.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
If someone moves here and they're not citizens, they shouldn't
vote until their citizens. But that's a whole another story. Geane,
I appreciate. I appreciate your frustration. I hear it in
your voice, and I and I understand.
Speaker 5 (28:16):
It's not right. Nothing's right anymore, and they need to
start caring about us and doing things for us.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Maybe we need to change the politicians, Gane. Is what
I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (28:25):
Yeah, well, let's try to get some good people to run.
That's another problem.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
I know it's a problem, a problem, But what I'm saying, Gane,
is that it's it's one thing to criticize the people
who are in office if you're not happy with them,
and enough people aren't happy with them, it's still a majority.
You know, people get elected if they win by one
vote or a thousand votes or ten million votes.
Speaker 5 (28:48):
I didn't invote for half of these people. I'll tell
you the truth. People said, we're just leverage. Absolutely how
I feel about us.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
Probably you're you're congress person since you live in Everett.
I suspect, okay, I'm certain of that.
Speaker 5 (29:06):
I never will.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
All right, thank you to appreciate you call have a
great weekend, happen.
Speaker 5 (29:10):
I have a good night.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
You two good night. Would take a very quick break.
I got Ann Marie coming up in New Mexico, Jeff
and Abington, Michael and Den, and we'll get to those.
The only line open right now is six one, seven,
nine three. We do have a guest coming up at
ten o'clock, but I will get to at least those
three callers who have called early enough. Thank you very much.
We'll be back on Nightside right after this.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
It's Nights with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
All right, back to the phones, you go, let me try.
It's gonna be tough to get. We got full lines.
Let's go to Anne Marie in New Mexico. Anne Marie,
welcome back.
Speaker 7 (29:47):
HOI there, how are you?
Speaker 8 (29:48):
Thank you for taking my call?
Speaker 2 (29:50):
You're welcome. Thanks checking in.
Speaker 8 (29:53):
So I just you know, the snap benefits thing is
really bothering me, and especially Maury Healy's Craven just guard
for her constituents. It's absolutely appalling. There are states that
have pledged money to fund the snap benefits so that
people won't go without. For instance, my state, already the
governor has promised thirty thousand dollars. People are getting it
(30:16):
right into their EBT cards beginning tomorrow because nobody is
going to be hurting in New Mexico and Connecticut and
Louisiana and Vermont and Rhode Island and New York and
Nevada and Hawaii has pledged one hundred million dollars for
their citizens, and I think even Virginia and Florida. So
(30:37):
I don't understand why Mara Heely is taking the stance.
You know, maybe she should get off her high horse
and call the people that are her senators in her
state and say, hey, vote for the continuing resolution.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
Right No, Well, continuing resolution would simply open up reopen
up debate. But the Democrats are saying, no, before we're
going to vote for that, we want you to conceive
point one point two, one point three. And why would
the Republicans concede point one and two and three before
there's the stage in a conversation.
Speaker 8 (31:11):
Regardless, there is no excuse for that woman to have
that much money and not take care of her constituents.
And I hope the citizens of Massachusetts remember that in
the next cubatorial election.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
A Marie, thank you very much. It's eight point eight
billion with a B dollars, So if you're talking, and
if it's in New Mexico. And by the way, we
have a budget in the state of sixty two billion dollars,
so that's a pretty healthy stabilization fund and a rainy
day fund. It is. You got it, Hey and Bury,
(31:44):
Thank you so much for checking in for New Mexico.
Always great, Thank you, Thanks you, Amory. We talk to
you soon. I got to keep rolling here. We're going
to roll from New Mexico. Get a little closer to home.
Jefferson Abbingdon, Jeff you're next on Nightside, Go right a
head stir.
Speaker 9 (32:00):
The reason she get away with this because the mainstream
media never challenges her on anything. When she says something,
nobody ever counter after argument with a question, well what
about this? And what about that? They just nod their heads.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
Yes, yes, yes, I don't disagree with you on that,
because I think that a pointed question. I don't know
how many news programs on four, five, seven, or ten
have pointed out that we do have a stabilization fund,
a rainy day eight point eight bill.
Speaker 9 (32:39):
Do you watch the local news?
Speaker 5 (32:40):
Do you ever watch it?
Speaker 2 (32:43):
I used to be part of it. A long time
ago to know.
Speaker 6 (32:46):
Do you ever watch it now? That's why I have
to It is fluff and we don't get Trump so
anything that they twisted around like we have a people
who listen to a talk shows a much more well
informed than people who watch a Channel four, five or
(33:06):
seven or ten.
Speaker 9 (33:07):
They give you nothing nothing.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
I'm not going to disagree with you, Phil Jeff you
get my drift. Uh yeah, And well let me just
leave it there, okay, because I don't want to be
seen as criticizing people who are friends of mine in
the media.
Speaker 9 (33:27):
Well that's the problem. You will criticize them.
Speaker 6 (33:31):
Them.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
Well, it's not a problem because I have responsibility for
what I put on my show, and I will stand
by the integrity of my show, and I'll stand by
the integrity of my career in television if you if
you remember my career in television, but I you know,
it's it's it's you know, if I play, if I
play for the Red Sox and I'm a good player,
(33:53):
and I produce for the Red Sox, I don't have
to spend my time criticizing Aaron Judd or you know,
or or Jazz Chisholm on the Yankees that should be
that's up to the sports writers.
Speaker 9 (34:07):
Well, Dan, I'm disappointed, because what do you want me
to do?
Speaker 2 (34:11):
Just trash everybody? In four five and seven?
Speaker 9 (34:15):
The truth? Tell the truth.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
I do tell the truth on this program. That's why
I want people to listen to this program. Period. I'm
not here to trash other people. I'm here to tell
you what the truth is, and that's the truth. And
I know that you don't like me to say that
to you, but I'm telling you I don't disagree with you.
But that's not my job. My job is to spend
focus on issues here and explain to them the people,
(34:36):
and and be honest and have some integrity. That's what
I want you to judge.
Speaker 9 (34:41):
Why don't you have a so called news reporter on
your showed and ask them questions? Why don't you ask
Waal and Haley this or that?
Speaker 2 (34:50):
If we've had Governor Heally on, if she wants to
come on you come on any night, Jeff, what do
you think I'm afraid of mar Heey as a guest.
Speaker 9 (34:58):
Come on, No, I'm having those cast is on to
say why are you in the why w What's not
my job?
Speaker 2 (35:04):
That is not my job, Jeff, I got to get
to some other callers. I'm just telling you the truth.
I know you don't want to hear it, but I'm
telling you the truth. I consider you, Jeff. That's a
great idea. Let me get to that. I'm not gonna
b s U. Why would a reporter four or five
or seven want to come on the show and know
that I'm going to ask them questions like that. They
wouldn't do it, Jeff, I got to run. Thank you, Runch,
appreciate the call. Please keep calling. Let me go next
(35:26):
to Michael and Data. Michael want to get you in
one more in Please go right ahead. Michael.
Speaker 8 (35:30):
Hey Dan, how are you.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
I'm doing fine? What's your take on all of this?
Speaker 3 (35:35):
I'm thinking a lot about the eight hundred billion dollars
that they're hoarding in the state House.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
No it's not eight hundred it's eight point eight billion dollars.
It's almost nine billion dollars.
Speaker 7 (35:48):
I don't know how they can get away with hoarding
now in the state House.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
Well, because they have the discretion, okay, and you know
you don't. For example, you know no one can force
you to give to charity, but you do what you
want you probably are a good guy and and help
some charities out. But you you put the same people
in office time after time, you know, year after year,
(36:13):
and you get you get the same results.
Speaker 7 (36:16):
I don't vote.
Speaker 8 (36:17):
I never voted any one of them, Dan, I never did.
Speaker 2 (36:20):
Well, find some people to vote for. You kind of
vote for some people. Hey, Michael, I want to get
one more in here real quick. I wish you called early.
We have more time. Okay.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
I think you got a great show, Dan.
Speaker 2 (36:32):
Michael, I appreciate it. Thank you much. It's only a
great show because people like you will call, and I
wish you'd call more often. Thank you much. My friend
had a great night. Let go to Paula Paula and
Whitman Paula and give you about thirty seconds. You're late,
but what can you do with you? Go right ahead?
Speaker 7 (36:47):
Well, I just I'm gonna agree with mister Abington. I
think you should call Cheeley's office and uh after to
explain her situation.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
We have not had a great deal of luck. I've
had more helium before. I'm not probably a favorite of
the governor's office, but I will have my producer call
next week specifically. Okay, great sounds good, and I will
report back the results of that call.
Speaker 7 (37:13):
Fair enough, all right, Thank you Dan, I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
Thank you Paula for calling. Here comes the ten o'clock news.
We got to get out of the way and we
get back. We're going to talk about a professional pickleball league.
Some of you, I'm sure have participated in this, and
you could turn pro if you're fifty or over. Believe
it or not, we'll explain, and then we have a
twentieth hour. It is Halloween themed tonight. Stay with us.
It's Night Side on WBZ, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
All right, welcome back everyone. We are into our talk
hour now. And the big story that I think all
of us were waiting on today was the SNAP story
the future of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program. And I
know there's lots of takes on this story. I get it,
(00:30):
I get it, But the bottom line is, in my opinion,
a real I think, a series of mistakes. First, First
of all, why can't our politicians not have anticipated this?
And if it was apparent that the Trump administration either
(00:55):
claimed not to have the money or in fact didn't
have the money, why did people still have to go
through this uncertainty during this this entire week and it
still continues tonight when you when you think about it, Uh.
(01:18):
They the there was some resolution this afternoon when a
couple of federal judges, one in Massachusetts and one in
Rhode Island, UH, told the federal government, No, you have
to make funds available. Okay, However, there's still questions. Uh
(01:40):
it's three hours left in the month of October. So
we had two two judges, one in Rhode Island, one
in Massachusetts making decisions which are not identical they're similar
but not identical. And as a consequence, everything is really
(02:02):
still very much up in the air. You have the
Trump administration saying they don't have the money. Now you
have the judges saying, oh, yes, you do have the money. Okay.
One of the reports I saw today indicated that the
Trump lawyers, the lawyers for the administration, had told at
least the federal judge here in Boston that if the
(02:23):
ruling went against them, they would probably want to appeal it.
Now time is truly of the essence here. I mean
today's it's Friday night people. As of tomorrow, apparently money
will not be loaded onto their snap cards, the cards
(02:46):
that they rely upon, which to me should never happen
in America, and my focus is it should never have
happened in Massachusetts. This is what used to be called
food stamps and is now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
And I want to keep coming back to why I
(03:06):
don't understand the politics of this stinks. It's as simple
as that, the politics of this stinks. And both the
Republicans and the Democrats, I think the Democrats more, but
they both have some some questions to respond to. Bottom
(03:27):
line is I never realized that one out of eight
Americans or one out of seven I've seen these statistic
quoted at different times that you know, forty two million
Americans rely on SNAP benefits. That's an incredible number of people.
(03:48):
They are people who are living below you know, the
poverty level, some percentage of the poverty level. This is done,
and it's left to the politicians, and and of course
the bureaucrats apply what the politicians tell them to do.
But what we do know is this, and I'm reading
(04:11):
here from a piece out of the Boston Globe, which
which cleared just a couple of hours ago. Yeah, and
so officials have said repeatedly the SNAP benefits are said
to be halted on Saturday. We've known that for a
long time. Okay, abstin a deal by Congress and the shutdown.
I don't know. The shutdown is going to go on
(04:33):
for a while. I mean the Senate, the Senate isn't
even in session. This shutdown is going to go on
well into November. In my opinion. Uh, the benefits are
on the cusp of being halted due to the government shutdown,
with the Trump administration arguing the federal government confund snap.
Amid the stalemate, Democrats say the US Department of Agriculture
(04:56):
should use available contingency funds to cover November snap bend.
There's a lawyer out of Rhode Island who's with a
group called the Lawyer's Committee for Rhode Island said the
providence in Boston cases are distinct but complementary. And again,
(05:16):
we don't have to get into the weeds here, but
you have two judges coming to the same conclusion. Now again,
in terms of what we can talk about now, no
one knows. This doesn't mean the shutdown's over. There's no
question about that. The shutdown could go on for weeks.
But as of this afternoon, there's no suggestion that the
(05:43):
shutdown is close to being finished. Earlier this week, senators
has said that the atmosphere had shifted in a good direction. However, however,
the talks have yet to reach level of party leadership
or engage the House of the Trump administration. Let's get
(06:06):
into some of the specifics. According to the Little Product,
when SNAP benefits, when will the snap benefits be cut off? Well,
we're be cut off at midnight. During a Friday afternoon
hearing in the U S District Court of Rhode Island
Chief Judge John J. McConnell, junior Or to the government,
it tapped six billion in contingency funds to make the
(06:27):
snap payments. Well, no question yet as to whether no
decision yet or as far as I know, whether the
Trump administration is going to appeal the rulings. Since they
are in the same district, obviously the cases could be
combined and you can go up in front of the
First Circuit Court of Appeals here here in Boston. Excuse me,
(06:50):
but uh. According to the writing of the Judge McConnell,
it's the court having put the issue through a very
high standard that the October twenty fourth lettering ordering the
stop of staff payment violates the Administrative Procedure Act, both
(07:11):
in terms of being contrary to laws as well as
being arbitrary and capricious. You've heard me mention that that
phrase arbitrary and capricious is often used. It's unclear when
food stands will eventually reach the millions of people who
rely on them for groceries and in what amounts. This
is this is still this is still not foreclosed. I
(07:34):
want to now, of course, this afternoon, Governor more heally said,
She urges Trump to immediately restore full benefits as soon
as possible. Well that's a surprise, huh, isn't that a
stunner that mor Healey. We try to lay this at
the feet of the Trump administration. She goes on to say,
this ruling confirms what we've known all along. Donald Trump
(07:55):
has the funds to continue paying SNAP benefits, but he's
been choosing to force millions of Americans to go hungry.
At the moment, it is unclear. This is the Globe story,
not what Healey said, When November benefits will begin to
be paid and in what quantity? Even if they have
all six billion dollars, you're talking about a million people
(08:18):
in Massachusetts, and you're talking about forty two million people nationwide.
That's six billion dollars. When you're talking about forty one
to forty two million, people can disappear very quickly. So,
by the way, just to give you this is an
interesting to qualify for SNAP in twenty twenty five, a
(08:41):
family of forced net income after certain expenses cannot exceed
the federal poverty line, which is about thirty one thousand
dollars a year. Here's the bottom line. What has been proven. Here,
I'll tell you what has been proven. Governor Healy has
decided not. And this is the in my opinion, and
the big mistake that Governor Heally has made. Governor Heally
(09:04):
could have basically showed herself to be a bigger person
than Donald Trump. She missed the boat. Now could she
still get the boat? I don't know. I suspect that
once she makes her decisions, she's not going to back
off from it. We have eight and I want you
to listen to the number here. We have an eight
point eight billion rainy day fund. It's called a stabilization
(09:29):
fund formally. To put it in some perspective, when Charlie
Baker was governor, and when he came into office, we
had a rainy day fund of about a billion dollars.
That's where it kind of hovered for many, many many years.
It was there just in case there was an economic downturn. Well,
(09:53):
we grow. It's grown. It's grown through the Baker administration
and also to the Healy administration. It's not up to
eight point eight billion dollars. It has not been used
for anything in recent years, and it certainly wasn't used
to help poor people have some certainty. I'm able to
go to the grocery store tonight if I wanted to.
(10:14):
I went yesterday, I can go tomorrow. I don't have
to worry about Snap benefits. On the SNAP program, I'm blessed.
Most of you are blessed, but not everyone is blessed.
That program is what is paid for by taxpayers at
a federal level. But we also have this Rainy Day
(10:36):
Fund in Massachusetts, and governors, not only Heally, but any
governor loves to talk about the integrity in their home state.
The integrity in this state would have been, in my opinion,
to basically put everyone's mind at ease and have them
be told that, hey, even if your Snap benefits do
not fill your Snap card on November first, you will
(11:01):
be taken care of here in Massachusetts by the Rainy
Day Fund. I'm ashamed. I'm ashamed that this governor chose
not to use, or at least be prepared to use,
so that children wouldn't go hungry, elderly people wouldn't go hungry,
people with disabilities wouldn't go hungry hungry, and single women
(11:22):
with families wouldn't go hungry. If you grie with me,
I'd love to hear from you if you want to
defend Governor Healey's decision not to basically calm the apprehensions
of Massachusetts residence, which she had the capacity to do.
I'd love to have someone defend that decision and explain
it to me. Six one seven, two four ten thirty
(11:44):
six one seven nine to three one ten thirty. This
is this is a mistake that Governor Heally will pay
a price for politically, in my opinion, because this runs
against everything that she has always part considered herself to be.
Joining the Conversation.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
By the way, the estimate in Massachusetts is that in
order to provide the SNAP benefits for everyone at the
one million or so people it's one point one million
that availed themselves that need SNAP benefits would be about
two hundred and forty million dollars. That is a minuscule
percentage of eight point eight billion dollars. It's about two
(12:35):
and a half percent. And I guarantee you that this
crisis as it exists will be over certainly by Thanksgiving.
I don't think I don't think either party is going
to allow this to linger much beyond I think that
(12:55):
a part of the I'm sad to say to you
that part of what is in play here, uh, the
gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia next Tuesday, as
well as the mayoral election which which has less it
has less impact on that, but I will have impact
in Virginia in New Jersey. Let me go to the phones.
(13:16):
Let me go to Bill and Danvers. First, Bill, thanks
for calling in your first this hour and night side. Uh. Yeah,
don't understand. I do not understand why mar Healy has
taken this this road.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Wow, I'm gonna throw a few logs on the fire.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Dan.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
You know, I'm sort of just looking at this, you know,
observing and and everything. And you had the auditor on
I believe what a week or two ago?
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Yes, maybe it was long. Yeah, sure, yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
Well, I mean, do we know for certain the way
to put our hand on a bible, that there's eight
eight billion plus there in the Randy Day funds?
Speaker 2 (13:52):
No question, no question in my mind about that that
that figure is confirmed by the Office of the Controller,
which is a non election.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
It official, Okay, because I mean I just find it
a little as a specialist that I mean, you look
at the last few years. I mean, and there was
a lot of money spent in these hotels and everything
went on. And I know we've covered you've covered some
of that, you know with these contracts.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Me, but do you know what the budget is right
now in Massachusetts? You have any idea?
Speaker 3 (14:21):
I don't know, be honest with you.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
I mean, let me tell you what it is. Let
me tell you it's sixty two billion dollars. Okay. It
has grown exponentially in the last few years. I mean,
I can remember if you go back around the time
that Deval Patrick, it has just grown by leaps and bounds.
We are collecting a lot of money. We have the
(14:42):
millionaire stacks. But yeah, there's no question that eight point
eight billion dollars is there. There's no question in my
mind that somehow someone has has has juggled the books
or something. No, absolutely not done. By the way, what
Disauglia wants to do is audit the legislature and and
there's a number of practices in the legislature that they
(15:04):
are fighting against. And what a lot of it involves,
uh civil judgments or civil agreements that have been made
by legislators. UH and non disclosure agreements where somebody would
accuse a legislator of doing something improper and the legislator
wants the uh it to go away, and if they
(15:26):
come can somehow say well, it was in the scope
of my employment. Uh And then there's a there's a
non disclosure agreement. That's what that's what this uglia wants
to get at, okay, and that is what the legislature
is resisting.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
You know, I was just thinking to myself, I says,
you know, it's kind of just because if you had
I mean, even if you had to release a billion
of it, I mean, you know, the cover or whatever, million, no,
a billion.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
If if let us say that the governors chose to
to set aside a billion dollars, that would be four months,
that would cover November December January February. And I guarantee
you that this shutdown, I mean, the longest shutdown before
it was I think thirty five days, and we're going
to sometime next week past thirty five days. And I
(16:14):
think the pressure will continue to build. I predict the
shutdown will be done. You know, sometime after the November
fourth elections. Shortly after the November fourth election, there will
be a break.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
You know, it may get closer to Thanksgiving. I think
they want to they can hold your hostage for the
air traffic controllers.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Well, you know, I think let me tell you you
have you have one bad plane accident, even if it's
got nothing to do with the air traffic controllers. They're
playing with fire hair built. They're playing with fire.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Oh I know that. Yeah, but if the elections, they
already got the goun of workers the Northern Virginia and
fair ex aloud in the county. So I don't know
how it really helps them as far as the fourth
and I don't know if it may not help him
at all. It's it's going to be close there, you know.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
I don't know. I don't know either, but we'll watch
it play out. I'm still trying to figure what do
you think Governor Healy's game plan is here? Why would
she have not said, hey, look, I want to assure
everyone in Massachusetts that if the the benefits, the snap
benefits are not available on November first, we will make
(17:26):
sure no one in Massachusetts goes hungry. Why would she
not say that?
Speaker 3 (17:31):
Maybe it's that that affunction that people get. It's called
Trump derangement and syndrome. Dan, unfortunately, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
I don't know. It's it's too bad that people who
need help were the ones who were being played here.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
I do know what older gentleman, you know, a little
later in life, he was a small business guy and
the divorce and stuff did a lot of damage to him.
And Joey means, you're getting the senior housing and stuff,
but it is tight for the guy. And I know
he gets a little bit on the on the stamps,
you know. And I called them the other day. I said, hey, listen,
I says, you know, I want to go out and
(18:06):
you know, I'll buy it then a lunch, comds and ends,
and you know, because I mean there's a guy, you know,
he probably gets like two hundred bucks a month, but
two hundred a month of this guy is you know,
and you know and that that makes a difference.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Dan, you know, you bet you Bill appreciate. I appreciate that.
That's the kind that is the individual gesture that we
all should be doing in Massachusetts. And the governor could
be doing a big gesture with our money. By the way,
it's not her money, it's our money that that we
have contributed that the state has set aside as the
Rainy Day Fund, and there will be people tomorrow in
(18:39):
Massachusetts who will not be able to go to the
grocery store because they snap card. The benefits on their
snap card have not been restored. We know that because
the judge who ruled here in Boston said, we'll talk
Monday about the timing of it.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Well, yeah, and that'll that'll go on for a week
to be in an appeal and every and could be you.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Bet you thanks Bill, talk to you soon, Have a
great night. Good night. Six one seven, two, five, four
ten thirty six one seven nine three one ten thirty. Uh.
This this really does bother me. And we've talked about it
a couple of nights, and I feel I want to
talk about it one more time.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
And I'd love to think that this is going to
get resolved even more quickly, but I'm not optimistic about that.
And I just think there's still now too much uncertainty. UH.
If you disagree and feel the governor's handled this perfectly,
please give us a call if you feel like me
that the governor has fumbled an opportunity here to really
(19:40):
let Massachusetts stand out. UH. Some other states I believe
that there are other states that have been more generous.
So we're supposedly a caring state. Remember we were a
sanctuary state. How about some sanctuary for our own citizens
at the end, does anyone see the eye here? Six one, seven, two, five, four,
(20:02):
ten thirty. There's only a line or two there. Feel
free to fill them up. Back on Nightside, we will
change topics at ten o'clock. What has happened recently is
that all of you decide to call it ten minutes
of the hour. I will tell you right now. We're
changing topics at ten o'clock. So dial now or forever.
Hold your piece back on Nightside after this.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
If you're on Nightside one Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Let's go up to Salem speaking about Salem, and Susan
is in Salem. Hi, Susan, you're next on Nightside.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
Welcome, Hi Dan, Thank you. The person who closed the
shutdown should be the one to cancel it. I think
he was off that question today and I think he
said I think it's illegal. Well, if it's illegal to
bring it back, how did he get it shut down?
(20:58):
I think really it's a political retribution situation here. But
I do think if Haley stepped forward and helped the
situation that she would look like a hero.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
But that's what I don't that's what I don't understand.
By the way the you know, I don't want to
argue with you on it, but you do know that
the Republican senators have been voting to open the government
to end the shutdown, and the Democratic senators have been
(21:34):
voting opposed to reopening the government. Now, there is politics
at play, so it's a little bit more complicated than that.
Speaker 4 (21:41):
Yeah, I didn't know that.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
Yes, that's the truth. That's the truth. Okay. The Republicans
in order to open the government, they have fifty three
votes in the US Senate, but they need sixty because
they have this rule in the Senate that in order
to on a vote like this, if someone says they
(22:07):
need this to be a vote of sixty, it's just
not a majority vote because obviously the Republicans have fifty
three senators. They have this concept called filibuster, where people
can fight against something in the Senate. Even though the
(22:30):
Senate right now, the one hundred members is fifty three
Republicans and forty seven Democrats. The Republicans have a majority,
but they need sixty votes to stop the filibuster and
to vote what's called culture. But they don't have sixty votes.
They have fifty three and two or three Democratic senators
(22:51):
have voted with the Republicans, and that they gun I
think as high as fifty six, but they need sixty.
And the Democrats have said, we will only vote to
open the government if you agree to certain terms, and
the Republicans had said, look, we disagree, let's open the government.
(23:14):
Let's keep the government running on what they call a
continuing resolution, which doesn't solve any of the differences of opinion.
But the Democrats are saying, we're not going to vote
to open the government until you agree to concede two
(23:37):
or three points. And there are important points to the Democrats.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Yeah, it was a health insurance issue, raising of health
insurance for people that I think that's the thing that's
in the way for them.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Right, and they have every right to take that position.
But I think that the damage is being done to
people who rely upon snap benefits, also to members of
the military, also to air traffic controllers. And I think
that if everybody came to the table and said, okay,
we need to uh, you know, do this, or that
(24:13):
they could come to an agreement on this. The point
is that they get paid money to sit and you know,
hash things out to to to to compromise. They say
politics as they are to compromise, and it's not happening
right now. And and and Trump is very much on
the side he is. He has asked the Republicans, which
(24:34):
they can buy by a majority vote, to say, get
rid of the filibuster. They call that the nuclear option.
And it's I know I'm in the weeds here a
little bit with you, Susan, but I wanted to be
thorough with him, make sure that you understood what I
was saying.
Speaker 4 (24:51):
Well, thank you for that.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
How crazy is it up in Salem tonight? If your
doors locked you're close to the downtown.
Speaker 4 (24:59):
They were saying, million people, it's quieted down. I don't.
I think it's more like three million.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
Wow. Now, is it because this Halloween's on a Friday night?
It's not always on the thirty first, obviously, it is
on different nights during the year. Is it particular? Is
it extra crazy this year because it's going to be
a whole weekend?
Speaker 4 (25:20):
Well, I think it's extra okay, because they're coming earlier
and they're not leaving. It's very frustrating for the residents.
I'll tell you. I mean, I'm glad people are having
a good time, and I'm sure glad that the weather
was was fine for them. They deserve to have fun.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
Yeah, okay, well, you're a good sport power.
Speaker 4 (25:41):
It's empowering though for us.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
Susan, thanks so much for calling and and thank you
for allowing me to I think I tried to explain
it as fairly as I could. It's it's it's almost
like a sporting event. You got to know the rules
in which they're playing with. Okay, thanks as well.
Speaker 4 (25:57):
Thanks for the time, your time, you.
Speaker 2 (25:59):
Bet you talk to you soon. Let's keep rolling. Here're
going to go to Geane and every gene you were
next time.
Speaker 5 (26:04):
Nightshi goright ahead, Hi Jane, good evening you. So listen,
what makes anyone think that these politicians care about any
of us? Please don't, Okay, look around at how they
make us live and what they do to us. They
build apartments over every bit of open space forcefully, and
(26:25):
they're continuing to do it. They let us get run
over by bikes everywhere they They let and invite others
into our country and let us pay for their every need,
and on and on and on, while there are people
here suffering all the time for every reason. They can't
find a place to live, they can't eat, they have
(26:46):
no help for medical everything else, and yet we're paying
for everyone else. These politicians do not care about any
of us. It's all about them, it really is, Jim.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
The problem is these politicians get re elected all the time.
Speaker 5 (27:03):
I mean, well, you know it's because.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
We people re elect them.
Speaker 5 (27:09):
Yeah, But there they are. These people who are electing
these politicians, are on their email, their links, they're all
together on the web all the time, and none of
us are invited to that. So we don't have a choice.
And how long do you have to live in Massachusetts
to vote?
Speaker 6 (27:30):
No?
Speaker 2 (27:31):
US citizen? If you're a US citizen and you move here,
you should be able to establish that you were a
resident here and you should be eligible to vote right away.
Speaker 4 (27:42):
Right.
Speaker 5 (27:43):
And I don't think.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
You're if you're if you're a US citizen.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
Right, But I don't think you have to live in
Massachusetts too long to be able to vote. You just
have to have an address, you.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Have to know, you should have to prove your citizenship.
Speaker 5 (27:59):
Yes, with that right.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
If someone moves here and they're not citizens, they shouldn't
vote until their citizens. But that's a whole another story. Geane,
I appreciate. I appreciate your frustration. I hear it in
your voice, and I and I understand.
Speaker 5 (28:16):
It's not right. Nothing's right anymore, and they need to
start caring about us and doing things for us.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Maybe we need to change the politicians, Gane. Is what
I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (28:25):
Yeah, well, let's try to get some good people to run.
That's another problem.
Speaker 2 (28:29):
I know it's a problem, a problem, But what I'm saying, Gane,
is that it's it's one thing to criticize the people
who are in office if you're not happy with them,
and enough people aren't happy with them, it's still a majority.
You know, people get elected if they win by one
vote or a thousand votes or ten million votes.
Speaker 5 (28:48):
I didn't invote for half of these people. I'll tell
you the truth. People said, we're just leverage. Absolutely how
I feel about us.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
Probably you're you're congress person since you live in Everett.
I suspect, okay, I'm certain of that.
Speaker 5 (29:06):
I never will.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
All right, thank you to appreciate you call have a
great weekend, happen.
Speaker 5 (29:10):
I have a good night.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
You two good night. Would take a very quick break.
I got Ann Marie coming up in New Mexico, Jeff
and Abington, Michael and Den, and we'll get to those.
The only line open right now is six one, seven,
nine three. We do have a guest coming up at
ten o'clock, but I will get to at least those
three callers who have called early enough. Thank you very much.
We'll be back on Nightside right after this.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
It's Nights with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
All right, back to the phones, you go, let me try.
It's gonna be tough to get. We got full lines.
Let's go to Anne Marie in New Mexico. Anne Marie,
welcome back.
Speaker 7 (29:47):
HOI there, how are you?
Speaker 8 (29:48):
Thank you for taking my call?
Speaker 2 (29:50):
You're welcome. Thanks checking in.
Speaker 8 (29:53):
So I just you know, the snap benefits thing is
really bothering me, and especially Maury Healy's Craven just guard
for her constituents. It's absolutely appalling. There are states that
have pledged money to fund the snap benefits so that
people won't go without. For instance, my state, already the
governor has promised thirty thousand dollars. People are getting it
(30:16):
right into their EBT cards beginning tomorrow because nobody is
going to be hurting in New Mexico and Connecticut and
Louisiana and Vermont and Rhode Island and New York and
Nevada and Hawaii has pledged one hundred million dollars for
their citizens, and I think even Virginia and Florida. So
(30:37):
I don't understand why Mara Heely is taking the stance.
You know, maybe she should get off her high horse
and call the people that are her senators in her
state and say, hey, vote for the continuing resolution.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
Right No, Well, continuing resolution would simply open up reopen
up debate. But the Democrats are saying, no, before we're
going to vote for that, we want you to conceive
point one point two, one point three. And why would
the Republicans concede point one and two and three before
there's the stage in a conversation.
Speaker 8 (31:11):
Regardless, there is no excuse for that woman to have
that much money and not take care of her constituents.
And I hope the citizens of Massachusetts remember that in
the next cubatorial election.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
A Marie, thank you very much. It's eight point eight
billion with a B dollars, So if you're talking, and
if it's in New Mexico. And by the way, we
have a budget in the state of sixty two billion dollars,
so that's a pretty healthy stabilization fund and a rainy
day fund. It is. You got it, Hey and Bury,
(31:44):
Thank you so much for checking in for New Mexico.
Always great, Thank you, Thanks you, Amory. We talk to
you soon. I got to keep rolling here. We're going
to roll from New Mexico. Get a little closer to home.
Jefferson Abbingdon, Jeff you're next on Nightside, Go right a
head stir.
Speaker 9 (32:00):
The reason she get away with this because the mainstream
media never challenges her on anything. When she says something,
nobody ever counter after argument with a question, well what
about this? And what about that? They just nod their heads.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
Yes, yes, yes, I don't disagree with you on that,
because I think that a pointed question. I don't know
how many news programs on four, five, seven, or ten
have pointed out that we do have a stabilization fund,
a rainy day eight point eight bill.
Speaker 9 (32:39):
Do you watch the local news?
Speaker 5 (32:40):
Do you ever watch it?
Speaker 2 (32:43):
I used to be part of it. A long time
ago to know.
Speaker 6 (32:46):
Do you ever watch it now? That's why I have
to It is fluff and we don't get Trump so
anything that they twisted around like we have a people
who listen to a talk shows a much more well
informed than people who watch a Channel four, five or
(33:06):
seven or ten.
Speaker 9 (33:07):
They give you nothing nothing.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
I'm not going to disagree with you, Phil Jeff you
get my drift. Uh yeah, And well let me just
leave it there, okay, because I don't want to be
seen as criticizing people who are friends of mine in
the media.
Speaker 9 (33:27):
Well that's the problem. You will criticize them.
Speaker 6 (33:31):
Them.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
Well, it's not a problem because I have responsibility for
what I put on my show, and I will stand
by the integrity of my show, and I'll stand by
the integrity of my career in television if you if
you remember my career in television, but I you know,
it's it's it's you know, if I play, if I
play for the Red Sox and I'm a good player,
(33:53):
and I produce for the Red Sox, I don't have
to spend my time criticizing Aaron Judd or you know,
or or Jazz Chisholm on the Yankees that should be
that's up to the sports writers.
Speaker 9 (34:07):
Well, Dan, I'm disappointed, because what do you want me
to do?
Speaker 2 (34:11):
Just trash everybody? In four five and seven?
Speaker 9 (34:15):
The truth? Tell the truth.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
I do tell the truth on this program. That's why
I want people to listen to this program. Period. I'm
not here to trash other people. I'm here to tell
you what the truth is, and that's the truth. And
I know that you don't like me to say that
to you, but I'm telling you I don't disagree with you.
But that's not my job. My job is to spend
focus on issues here and explain to them the people,
(34:36):
and and be honest and have some integrity. That's what
I want you to judge.
Speaker 9 (34:41):
Why don't you have a so called news reporter on
your showed and ask them questions? Why don't you ask
Waal and Haley this or that?
Speaker 2 (34:50):
If we've had Governor Heally on, if she wants to
come on you come on any night, Jeff, what do
you think I'm afraid of mar Heey as a guest.
Speaker 9 (34:58):
Come on, No, I'm having those cast is on to
say why are you in the why w What's not
my job?
Speaker 2 (35:04):
That is not my job, Jeff, I got to get
to some other callers. I'm just telling you the truth.
I know you don't want to hear it, but I'm
telling you the truth. I consider you, Jeff. That's a
great idea. Let me get to that. I'm not gonna
b s U. Why would a reporter four or five
or seven want to come on the show and know
that I'm going to ask them questions like that. They
wouldn't do it, Jeff, I got to run. Thank you, Runch,
appreciate the call. Please keep calling. Let me go next
(35:26):
to Michael and Data. Michael want to get you in
one more in Please go right ahead. Michael.
Speaker 8 (35:30):
Hey Dan, how are you.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
I'm doing fine? What's your take on all of this?
Speaker 3 (35:35):
I'm thinking a lot about the eight hundred billion dollars
that they're hoarding in the state House.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
No it's not eight hundred it's eight point eight billion dollars.
It's almost nine billion dollars.
Speaker 7 (35:48):
I don't know how they can get away with hoarding
now in the state House.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
Well, because they have the discretion, okay, and you know
you don't. For example, you know no one can force
you to give to charity, but you do what you
want you probably are a good guy and and help
some charities out. But you you put the same people
in office time after time, you know, year after year,
(36:13):
and you get you get the same results.
Speaker 7 (36:16):
I don't vote.
Speaker 8 (36:17):
I never voted any one of them, Dan, I never did.
Speaker 2 (36:20):
Well, find some people to vote for. You kind of
vote for some people. Hey, Michael, I want to get
one more in here real quick. I wish you called early.
We have more time. Okay.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
I think you got a great show, Dan.
Speaker 2 (36:32):
Michael, I appreciate it. Thank you much. It's only a
great show because people like you will call, and I
wish you'd call more often. Thank you much. My friend
had a great night. Let go to Paula Paula and
Whitman Paula and give you about thirty seconds. You're late,
but what can you do with you? Go right ahead?
Speaker 7 (36:47):
Well, I just I'm gonna agree with mister Abington. I
think you should call Cheeley's office and uh after to
explain her situation.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
We have not had a great deal of luck. I've
had more helium before. I'm not probably a favorite of
the governor's office, but I will have my producer call
next week specifically. Okay, great sounds good, and I will
report back the results of that call.
Speaker 7 (37:13):
Fair enough, all right, Thank you Dan, I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
Thank you Paula for calling. Here comes the ten o'clock news.
We got to get out of the way and we
get back. We're going to talk about a professional pickleball league.
Some of you, I'm sure have participated in this, and
you could turn pro if you're fifty or over. Believe
it or not, we'll explain, and then we have a
twentieth hour. It is Halloween themed tonight. Stay with us.
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