Today’s semi-random thoughts — Even though it’s not clear why she’s resisting the resistance, I kind of admire Gov. Maura Healey’s initial decision not to join the new Governors Safeguarding Democracy, launched by the Democratic governors of Illinois and Colorado to confront the “dangers of authoritarianism” posed by a second Trump administration. … It sounds so dramatic. Too dramatic. And maybe that’s why Healey, a fellow Democrat who’s tangled with Trump in the past, hasn’t joined Governors Safeguarding Democracy, perhaps figuring the political theatrics are a bit too ham-handed even for a proven Trump critic. Or maybe it’s just pure political survival instincts on Healey’s part, considering the slight rightward shift of the Mass. electorate on Nov. 5. Or maybe she meant it when she struck a conciliatory tone after last week’s big election win by Trump, calling it a “time to come together” and promising to be a voice for everyone, including Trump supporters, etc, etc.. … Whatever her reasons, a more balanced, deliberate opposition to Trump this time around might be in order. Reject Trump’s crazy cabinet picks? Definitely. Make principled stands against onerous policy proposals? Of course. Steadfastly defend democratic norms? Without hesitation. But running around with your hair on fire screaming “fascist” every time he says or does something outrageous? Been there, done that. Doesn’t work. … I’m with Peggy Noonan, who’s more than a little gobsmacked by the appallingly awful quality of Trump’s nominees. But she’s also not buying into U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s call to crank up the outrage machine. … I don’t agree with Conor Friedersdorf ‘s call for “treating Trump like a normal president.” He’s anything but normal. He’s abnormal. And he loves smashing the norms. But I do like the sentiments behind this Friedersdorf line: “Unaligned Americans who don’t even like Trump are tired of being browbeaten for not hating him enough.” … The NYT has a piece on why the resistance movement in New York just won’t be the same as it was during the first Trump term. … Back to Healey, she’s emerging as more of a pragmatic progressive, not a purist-driven progressive, and that’s fine with me. It’s a topic I touched upon just prior to the election

Single-issue Dems go after Moulton 

On one hand, proponents of trans-athlete rights say biological boys playing girls sports isn’t a big deal, since there are so few instances of it happening. On the other hand, they go berserk when someone questions trans-athlete polices and vow to find a challenger to run against him in the 2026. … So it really is a big deal to them. 

Et tu, Richard Neal and Stephen Lynch?

Two other members of the state’s Congressional delegation are questioning the Democratic Party’s stands on various cultural issues. Good for them. … To stress: the  economy was indeed the top issue last week. But there were other issues at play too.

Trump’s ‘drone attack’ picks

A friend of mine had an interesting way to describe Trump’s bizarre nominee picks of late (Gaetz, Hegseth, Gabbard, RFK Jr. etc.), and I’m paraphrasing him: Trump’s flurry of picks is like a massive drone attack. Trump would love it if all of them hit their target, but he knows some of them will get shot down. That’s OK. They’re expendable. Just as long as some of them get approved. Then he can later browbeat the Senate for shooting down some of his nominees, wearing down their defenses for the second wave attack to come. … The Globe’s James Pindell tries to come up with rational explanations for the irrational nominations. … I’m sticking with the drone-attack theory. … I liked Scot Lehigh’s line: “Only the real Trump would have nominated Matt Gaetz for attorney general.”

Stop & Shop’s empty shelves

Stop & Shop is sucking wind these days, closing stores and losing market share. And now many of its store shelves are empty due to a recent cyberattack that disrupted its supply-chain operations. WBUR has the details. … The company can’t get a break these days, it seems. 

Housing market collapse?

Contrarian Boston’s Scott Van Voorhis this past week hosted one of the best discussions I’ve heard yet on the housing crisis in Massachusetts, led by Cabot Cabot & Forbes’s Jay Doherty, who warned that the housing crisis has actually risen to the level of an emergency that will only get worse, in terms of home prices and rents, over the next few years. … He also warned of an industry collapse in terms of fewer workers entering the trades due to lack of construction work. … As I told Scott after his conference, I wish key state leaders would watch a video copy of the conference. It really conveyed how much more support the state needs to provide in order to move the needle on new housing.

Bruce Mohl’s legacy 

James Aloisi praises Bruce Mohl’s long tenure as editor of CommonWealth Beacon. And Mohl, who retired earlier this month, richly deserves that praise and more. His journalistic legacy: turning an obscure, wonkish, nonprofit print magazine into a highly respected and widely read publication covering mostly state and local politics and public-policy issues. … Not a bad journalistic legacy. Not bad at all. … P.S. – As a former energy reporter at the Boston Herald, I can say no one covered local energy issues better than Bruce. He wasn’t just a top-notch editor. He was a top-notch reporter too.