Here’s a quick roundup of some local political news, mostly Republican news (oddly enough) and covered mostly by the Herald (not so oddly enough since the Herald has traditionally covered the GOP more closely than the Globe). … Brian Shortsleeve, the former MBTA chief and venture capitalist, has launched his bid for governor, becoming the second  Republican candidate seeking to unseat Gov. Maura Healey, the Herald reports. Even before the launch, Shortsleeve was making the MBTA Communities Act a political issue, saying the housing law should be repealed and confirming Hub Blog’s prior hunch that the act would become a significant issue in the 2026 race. … As Shortsleeve starts his campaign, state Sen. Peter Durant, also a Republican, has ruled out a run, the Herald reports. …  The Herald has one more piece on the ‘burning debate’ within the Mass. GOP over whether to embrace or reject Donald Trump. You would think the answer is obvious, i.e. both, depending on the make-up of an individual legislative or congressional district. But political purists, such as MAGA types, rarely think in such terms. They want complete control and adherence to their cause, thus the ‘burning debate.’ …. Speaking of political purists, Patrick Roath, who apparently comes from the David Hogg wing of the Democratic Party, is challenging U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, a moderate Dem, GBH reports. Yet another progressive, I guess, who believes the best way to defeat Republicans is to defeat Democrats. … Frank Baker, the former Boston City Councilor, wants to return to the council, the Globe reports. … Universal Hub has the stunning news that Robert Cappucci is making his fourth run for mayor, officially becoming a perennial candidate. 

And, finally, as a centrist, I really enjoyed Bill Maher’s ‘Retake the Flag’ monologue the other night:

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Update – A reader notes, without comment, that Patrick Roath’s wedding got a New York Times write-up, as if that’s all that needs to be said. … For some reason, the Hub Blog mind drifts to the book ‘Abundance.‘