Boston

blue

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Boston with Mike Deehan and Steph Solis.

Axios Boston

Standard

Axios Boston Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Boston Alerts

Alert

Axios Boston Partners

Boston Members

Membership

The Mass. primary down-ballot races that matter most

DA races and Wu-backed Senate challenges are quietly deciding who holds real power in Massachusetts.

Politics

Deehan here with Spill of the Hill, my column unraveling Massachusetts politics.While political news in Massachusetts this cycle has centered on marquee races like the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Democratic U.S. Senate primary" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/07/08/markey-moulton-debate-massachusetts" data-vars-content-id="6a679057-9069-4761-8ffd-e5dd82bd9cee" data-vars-headline="The Mass. primary down-ballot races that matter most" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/07/08/markey-moulton-debate-massachusetts" target="_self">Democratic U.S. Senate primary</a>, some of the contests getting the least attention will do the most to shape how power is wielded in Massachusetts.Why it matters: Three things are happening: DA races are testing prosecutorial power, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is pushing for more clout in the state Senate and disputes over how the Legislature actually operates are dominating down-ballot races.

Downtown Boston office vacancies create opening for nonprofits

Downtown's vacancy rate is hovering just above 25%.

Development

Boston-area nonprofits are capitalizing on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="office vacancies" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/04/27/boston-area-office-vacancies-drop-slightly-in-q1-2026" data-vars-content-id="2d971e74-7dd4-4d7e-9f2a-72f474f558c6" data-vars-headline="Downtown Boston office vacancies create opening for nonprofits" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/04/27/boston-area-office-vacancies-drop-slightly-in-q1-2026" target="_self">office vacancies</a> downtown.Why it matters: Office vacancies and, in some cases, steeply discounted building sales have created an opening for nonprofits to buy or lease in a pricey real estate market.

Where Trump's tariffs hit Massachusetts the hardest

States bear wildly different burdens from President Trump's $342 billion in tariffs.

Money

States bear wildly different estimated <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tariff" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/economy/tariffs" data-vars-content-id="db19257b-07fb-4b99-a86c-b43ba5fd096d" data-vars-headline="Where Trump&#x27;s tariffs hit Massachusetts the hardest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/economy/tariffs" target="_self">tariff</a> burdens from President <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump&#x27;s " data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" data-vars-content-id="db19257b-07fb-4b99-a86c-b43ba5fd096d" data-vars-headline="Where Trump&#x27;s tariffs hit Massachusetts the hardest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">Trump&#x27;s </a>trade actions since the start of 2025, from California&#x27;s<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" $62.8 billion" data-vars-click-url="https://tariffs.org/" data-vars-content-id="db19257b-07fb-4b99-a86c-b43ba5fd096d" data-vars-headline="Where Trump&#x27;s tariffs hit Massachusetts the hardest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://tariffs.org/" target="_blank"> $62.8 billion</a> share to Wyoming&#x27;s $107 million.Why it matters: Local industries dictate how and how hard communities have been hit — in this case, the impact on Massachusetts&#x27; health care industry.

Lynch survives Roath's primary challenge

The 71-year-old incumbent outlasted a heavily funded challenger who attacked his record on health care and immigration.

South Boston Rep. Stephen Lynch turned back a stiff primary challenge from attorney Patrick Roath on Tuesday, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Associated Press" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/massachusetts-primary-results/" data-vars-content-id="04f127e7-4151-4ada-9c79-30a2ad3672a0" data-vars-headline="Lynch survives Roath&#x27;s primary challenge" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/massachusetts-primary-results/" target="_blank">the Associated Press</a>.Why it matters: Lynch&#x27;s win, in the Boston and South Shore-based district he&#x27;s held since 2001, shows voters preferred experience and familiarity over new blood.

Boston braces for more traffic, higher costs this Labor Day

Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer.

Travel

Americans face a more congested and expensive Labor Day weekend.Why it matters: Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, and travelers want to make the most of it, despite rising costs.

Gardner Museum in Boston expands free admission to every Thursday

The museum is turning its free First Thursdays into a weekly event.

Things to Do

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/06/05/boston-travel-guide-best-things-to-do" data-vars-content-id="cdfa3d17-b3f5-49f1-948c-be5bd4640a53" data-vars-headline="Gardner Museum in Boston expands free admission to every Thursday" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/06/05/boston-travel-guide-best-things-to-do" target="_self">Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum</a> expanded its free admission on the first Thursday of the month to every week.Why it matters: The move increases access to the 123-year-old art museum.

The ultimate Boston travel guide for every visitor

From historic walking trails to hidden restaurants, here's how to experience the real Boston.

Boston has a lot more going on than lobster rolls and the Red Sox.<ul><li>Come see us and find out.</li></ul>Why it matters: Metro Boston is a sprawling collection of historic neighborhoods in dozens of cities and towns. Each has its own flavor, rich history and things to do.<ul><li>We rounded up some of the region&#x27;s best we think you should hit, grouped by the type of traveler you are.</li></ul>

Logan's Framingham remote terminal opens

Logan Airport is opening a first-in-nation remote terminal in Framingham — clear TSA there, board a bus, and arrive at your gate for $9.

Massachusetts is getting a first-of-its-kind way to go through airport security with the new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Logan Airport" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/11/06/flight-chaos-looms-at-logan-as-faa-cuts-flights" data-vars-content-id="4f758f59-eecc-4933-b776-332706cc7a22" data-vars-headline="Logan&#x27;s Framingham remote terminal opens" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/11/06/flight-chaos-looms-at-logan-as-faa-cuts-flights" target="_self">Logan Airport</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Remote Terminal" data-vars-click-url="https://www.massport.com/logan-airport/getting-here/remote-terminal" data-vars-content-id="4f758f59-eecc-4933-b776-332706cc7a22" data-vars-headline="Logan&#x27;s Framingham remote terminal opens" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.massport.com/logan-airport/getting-here/remote-terminal" target="_blank">Remote Terminal</a> in Framingham launching Monday.<ul><li>It lets travelers complete security screening miles from the airport and travel by secure bus directly to the terminal.</li></ul>Why it matters: The concept is a radical departure from the typical Logan experience.

Waymo says robotaxis are ready to handle Boston's icy streets

The autonomous leader faces navigating Massachusetts' strict self-driving laws.

Waymo is laying the groundwork to bring its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="autonomous taxi service" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/09/self-driving-car-waymo-taxi-test" data-vars-content-id="7182a6dc-9630-42e3-9cec-aa7210dce6dd" data-vars-headline="Waymo says robotaxis are ready to handle Boston&#x27;s icy streets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/09/self-driving-car-waymo-taxi-test" target="_self">autonomous taxi service</a> to Boston, claiming the technology is ready to handle the city&#x27;s complex infrastructure and severe winter weather.Why it matters: In returning to Boston, one of the nation&#x27;s most challenging driving environments, Google&#x27;s autonomous ride-hailing company is signaling it&#x27;s ready for national expansion.

Proposal targets parking rules blamed for rising Boston housing prices

Boston leaders may end parking mandates that can add $50K per unit to housing costs.

The Boston City Council wants to spur housing construction by eliminating minimum parking mandates for new residential buildings.<ul><li>Why it matters: Removing these barriers to speedy construction is a growing trend around the region, with the goal of boosting housing supply and cutting costs.</li></ul>

Get ready for the worst holiday travel ever

Nearly 82 million Americans are expected to travel for Thanksgiving, with Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons bringing the worst traffic in Massachusetts.

Bay State travelers should gear up for a record-setting holiday <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="traffic" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/11/03/boston-traffic-congestion-commute" data-vars-content-id="b197b665-269e-492b-8a23-467c770a15f7" data-vars-headline="Get ready for the worst holiday travel ever" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/11/03/boston-traffic-congestion-commute" target="_self">traffic</a> surge, with a national forecast of nearly 82 million Americans hitting the roads or skies between Nov. 25 and Dec. 1.

Flight chaos looms at Logan as FAA cuts flights

Thousands of Boston travelers may be stranded as FAA mandates 10% flight reduction at Logan.

Boston&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Logan Airport" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/02/13/logan-airport-uber-lyft-fees-increase" data-vars-content-id="b0247b43-c816-4ce5-b6f4-76ec12e3e7be" data-vars-headline="Flight chaos looms at Logan as FAA cuts flights" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2025/02/13/logan-airport-uber-lyft-fees-increase" target="_self">Logan Airport</a> is set to experience significant flight reductions starting Friday, as federal authorities force emergency capacity cuts due to the government shutdown.Why it matters: The Federal Aviation Administration wants a 10% traffic reduction at 40 major airports nationwide, including at Logan.<ul><li>That could strand thousands of New England travelers and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="disrupt holiday plans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/03/government-shutdown-thanksgiving-travel-delays-canceled-flights" data-vars-content-id="b0247b43-c816-4ce5-b6f4-76ec12e3e7be" data-vars-headline="Flight chaos looms at Logan as FAA cuts flights" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/03/government-shutdown-thanksgiving-travel-delays-canceled-flights" target="_self">disrupt holiday plans</a>.</li></ul>

Boston traffic congestion keeps getting worse

We're still under 2019 peaks, but congestion is on the up.

The good news: In Greater Boston, the time we spend in traffic has gone down by nearly 7% since before the pandemic.<ul><li>The bad news: Congestion is getting worse year after year, and we&#x27;re almost back to the heights of the 2010s, a new report finds.</li></ul>Why it matters: The findings put some hard data behind a common feeling among many drivers: Traffic has been getting worse — or at least is different — since the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="COVID-19 pandemic" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/28/cdc-covid-vaccine-rules-recommendations-high-risk-fda" data-vars-content-id="30a50856-d922-487a-b109-a3f6f7c0b03c" data-vars-headline="Boston traffic congestion keeps getting worse" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/08/28/cdc-covid-vaccine-rules-recommendations-high-risk-fda" target="_self">COVID-19 pandemic</a>, even if the stats say otherwise.

Sound off: Is Boston traffic really that bad?

Do you think traffic congestion has gotten worse since the end of the pandemic?