Deehan here with Spill of the Hill, my column unraveling Massachusetts politics.

Massachusetts Democrats have staked out sharply different positions on Graham Platner, the insurgent populist who won a highly contested Democratic primary to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine.

Why it matters: Platner's radical candidacy is drawing enthusiastic backers and fierce critics from the capital of New England.

• Massachusetts can have an outsized role in the ideological direction of New England Democratic politics.
• The Platner debate exposed a fault line between progressives and the party's more moderate flank here at home.

State of play: Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey both endorsed Platner during the primary, defying the Democratic establishment's preference for Maine Gov. Janet Mills.

• Warren stood by her endorsement even after Platner faced allegations of sending explicit messages to women after he was married.
• Markey has continued to praise Platner's takes on kitchen-table economic issues like health care costs, food prices and Trump-era trade policy, but his campaign wouldn't respond to Axios' request for an update on his support.

What they're saying: Democratic political consultant Mary Anne Marsh boils down why the established left is having a hard time accepting Platner after several revelations about his background and worries about his character.

• "Of all the sins you can commit in politics, it seems to be acceptable in this time of Trump that if you abuse people or have other incidents with them, you will be forgiven," Marsh told Axios.

The intrigue: Unseating Collins is the line taken by Markey's primary challenger Rep. Seth Moulton, but he's not specifying if he actually supports Platner.

• "We need to be a big tent party to win. Voters want an aggressive, positive agenda they can believe in, and will elect people they trust to deliver on that agenda."

Another Democrat with a primary challenger, Rep. Stephen Lynch, was more direct, telling Axios Platner "is the Democratic nominee and I believe he will stand up to the Trump White House unlike Senator Collins - so I am with him."

• Lynch's challenger Patrick Roath said he also backs Platner.

The other side: Rep. Jake Auchincloss has been among Platner's sharpest critics in Massachusetts, calling a now-covered, Nazi-linked tattoo Platner received while deployed personally disqualifying.

• Auchincloss, about as moderate as Massachusetts Congressional Democrats get, warns that Platner's brand of politics risks alienating the broader electorate in Maine.
• Moulton took a softer line on the tattoo business, saying Platner's willingness to own his mistake was something he respected.

The bottom line: The Massachusetts Democratic establishment's fractured response to Platner mirrors the national party's ongoing debate between prioritizing ideological alignment and electability heading into the high-stakes November midterms.

See where Michelle Wu and Maura Healey stand on Platner

🌇 Mass. won't escape the heat dome later this week, with temperatures statewide exceeding 90 and some areas potentially pushing 100. (MassLive)

Friends and relatives gathered in Roxbury Saturday to mourn the loss of 32-year-old Mabinty Janneh, who was struck and killed by a carjacked vehicle in Mattapan. (Globe)

• Janneh's casket is being flown to Sierra Leone, where she was born, for her burial.

A duck boat full of passengers tipped over Saturday while trying to exit the Charles River onto a Cambridge road, injuring 11 people. (CBS Boston)

🇻🇪 The Venezuelan Association in Massachusetts is raising funds to help with humanitarian aid efforts after two earthquakes rocked northern Venezuela. (GBH News)

• Mass. is home to roughly 8,000 Venezuelans.

After 34 years anchoring the Porter Square food court, Tampopo is officially winding down operations at the end of this month.

Why it matters: Longtime patrons are flocking to the tiny eatery for a final taste of its signature katsu don, creating lines out the door during its final weeks.

• Chef-owner Yasumasa Ito opened the iconic donburi and noodle bodega in 1992 and helped shape Cambridge's "Little Tokyo" hub of Japanese restaurants.

State of play: After more than 30 years serving affordable Japanese comfort food to the Lesley crowd, Ito decided it was time to close the shop on his own terms to travel and spend time with family.

• The closure marks the end of an era for locals who cherished its unique, intimate atmosphere.

What they're saying: "Tampopo is the only spot in Boston that made me feel like I was in Japan," social media creator The Fake Food Show said of the shop, which the host called one of his favorite restaurants in the world.

Share with a Lesley grad.

Monday, 6/29

FIFA World Cup 2026: Round of 32 takes over Gillette Stadium in Foxborough for Match 74 (Germany vs. TBD) of the global tournament, 4:30pm.

Tuesday, 6/30

The Red Sox vs. Washington Nationals continue their mid-summer interleague series at Fenway Park under the lights, 7:10pm.

Free Screening: The Friends of Eddie Coyle at The Brattle Theatre in Cambridge presents the definitive Boston neo-noir classic, 6pm.

• State of play: Admission is completely free but strictly first-come, first-served.

Wednesday, 7/1

Soul City Live at the Boston Harbor Hotel brings the 27th Annual Summer in the City entertainment series to life, featuring waterfront soul, R&B, and dance music, 6pm–10pm.

Thursday, 7/2

Boston Harborfest 2026 officially kicks off.

• The 44th annual festival brings hundreds of family-friendly activities to Boston's coastal landmarks over three days to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Friday, 7/3

Two Friends (21+) at Big Night Live brings the upbeat electronic dance music duo to the stage near TD Garden to kick off the holiday weekend, 9:30pm.

Forward this to a friend who needs an excuse to wear red, white, and blue.