Alexi Cohan

3 weeks ago | wgbh.org | Alexi Cohan

May 14, 2025 In Cambridge, a small group of motivated residents is fired up about what they see as a lack of transparency and accountability within the Massachusetts Legislature. They gathered in wake of Question 1, which passed by 72% in November, and still hasn’t happened. Voters opted to explicitly authorize the state auditor to audit the Legislature, but lawmakers have pushed back, questioning the constitutionality of it. Now, it’s tied up with state Attorney General Andrea Campbell.

1 month ago | wgbh.org | Alexi Cohan

May 01, 2025 On a humid April afternoon at Wellspring Harvest in Springfield, Stanley Zalewski is in the midst of a rapid search for a backup plan to sell countless heads of lettuce and basil plants. He doesn’t have a buyer for much of the upcoming summer harvest, as he was expecting. This season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture cut $1 billion in two federal grant programs that had helped schools and food hubs pay for locally produced food.

1 month ago | wgbh.org | Alexi Cohan

April 29, 2025 After 100 days of Donald Trump’s second presidency, young voters say they’re feeling the impact of his policy choices. A panel of Gen Z voters joined GBH News’ Politics IRL to share their thoughts on how they think the presidency is going so far, and whether the country is headed in the right direction.

2 months ago | wgbh.org | Alexi Cohan

April 04, 2025 Massachusetts is often seen as one of the more welcoming states for transgender people because of access to gender-affirming health care and antidiscrimination laws, among other protections. But young trans adults say in today’s environment, that’s not enough. “There is no amazing place to be a trans person in the U.S.,” said Julie Shapiro, 29, a trans woman who lives in Somerville. She noted instances of transphobia in Massachusetts as well as other states.

2 months ago | wgbh.org | Alexi Cohan

March 28, 2025 High school teacher Julie W. said she feels constant worry, stress and existential dread. She can’t stop checking the news. Julie said if she tries to take an hourlong nap, it turns into a five-hour nap. Other times she doesn’t sleep at all. She has picked at her skin and chewed her lips until they bled and stained her clothes. The cause? Politics. Julie, who lives in Roslindale, said the symptoms began slowly, then crashed over her the day after the 2024 presidential election.