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Maine Morning Star
Here’s what the French anti-fascist election coalition can teach us
On Sunday, July 7, French voters saved their republic from the political guillotine by decisively rejecting the extremist Rassemblement National, or RN. Before ballots were cast in the second and decisive round of French legislative elections, pundits predicted that the RN would take between 230 and 280 seats of the 577 in the French National […] The post Here’s what the French anti-fascist election coalition can teach us appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
Rep. Golden accused of minimizing threats posed by second Trump presidency
Some Democratic lawmakers and community leaders in Maine’s Second District are disappointed in Congressman Jared Golden’s stance on President Donald Trump’s potential re-election, which they say dismisses threats to their rights and communities and does not reflect the values of the Democratic Party. In an op-ed in the Bangor Daily News last week, the Second […] The post Rep. Golden accused of minimizing threats posed by second Trump presidency appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
Republicans want to kill the Dept. of Ed and privatize education. Billionaires are helping them.
In the fall, the Department of Education will mark 45 years since its inception, but that anniversary could be its last if Donald Trump gets his way. The federal agency is one of several he’s vowed to slash if reelected president. “We’re going to end education coming out of Washington, D.C.,” he said in a […] The post Republicans want to kill the Dept. of Ed and privatize education. Billionaires are helping them. appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
Citing stakes of election, Maine’s Democratic delegates defend support for Biden
While some of Maine’s delegates to next month’s Democratic National Convention have concerns about President Joe Biden’s candidacy, they still plan to vote for him to be the party nominee for the November election. Not doing so, they argue, would put key freedoms — including LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights — at risk. Democrats both on […] The post Citing stakes of election, Maine’s Democratic delegates defend support for Biden appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
United by their objections to Trump, congressional Dems largely close ranks behind Biden
Congressional Democrats appeared to quell some inner tumult over supporting President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign, after highly anticipated internal meetings Tuesday showed the president retained considerable support from the Congressional Black Caucus and other lawmakers in public statements. Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, Democrats from both chambers largely declined to detail their closed-door conversations. […] The post United by their objections to Trump, congressional Dems largely close ranks behind Biden appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
Maine enters agreement with Northeast states to improve grid, ease transition to clean energy
Maine joined nine other Northeast states on Tuesday in signing a memorandum of understanding to coordinate efforts to establish a more efficient electric grid to accelerate the clean energy transition. The states agreed to coordinate regional planning of power transmission after requesting last year that the U.S. Department of Energy convene a first-in-the-nation multi-state initiative […] The post Maine enters agreement with Northeast states to improve grid, ease transition to clean energy appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
Portland police alarmed by increase in gun violence among youth
In the past two weeks, Portland Police have recovered three ghost guns — or firearms without serial numbers that are purchased online and can be assembled at home by an individual. Major Robert Martin said this is just one example of the increased gun violence and drug activity the city is seeing, especially among youth. […] The post Portland police alarmed by increase in gun violence among youth appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
Federal regulator: Pharmacy middlemen appear to be raising prices, hurting patients
The federal trade watchdog on Tuesday released an interim report saying that sprawling health care conglomerates are driving out competition in the pharmacy sector and appear to be increasing prices in the process. The interim report comes after the Federal Trade Commission in 2022 announced that it was undertaking a sweeping investigation of pharmacy middlemen […] The post Federal regulator: Pharmacy middlemen appear to be raising prices, hurting patients appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
The Supreme Court just limited federal power. Health care is feeling the shockwaves.
A landmark Supreme Court decision that reins in federal agencies’ authority is expected to hold dramatic consequences for the nation’s health care system, calling into question government rules on anything from consumer protections for patients to drug safety to nursing home care. The June 28 decision overturns a 1984 precedent that said courts should give […] The post The Supreme Court just limited federal power. Health care is feeling the shockwaves. appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
Housing listed among top four health priorities for Maine
Housing is considered a top priority for improving the health of Mainers over the next couple years. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention released its updated draft Statewide Health Improvement Plan late last month to guide state and local agencies to enhance the health of Mainers. The plan outlines four priority areas including […] The post Housing listed among top four health priorities for Maine appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt
Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over Biden’s ability […] The post Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
Biden tells congressional Dems he is staying in the race, urges end to speculation
President Joe Biden pledged Monday to stay in his race for reelection, even after a weekend in which a growing number of Democrats asked for him to withdraw and a key U.S. House Republican called for an investigation into the president’s doctor. In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden argued that the calls for him […] The post Biden tells congressional Dems he is staying in the race, urges end to speculation appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
Maine congressional delegation dances around question of Biden’s candidacy
U.S. Sen. Angus King of Maine said that President Joe Biden needs to demonstrate to the public that he is capable of being the Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential election after a widely criticized debate performance late last month. When asked about increasing calls for Biden to step aside so the Democratic Party can […] The post Maine congressional delegation dances around question of Biden’s candidacy appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
Day care: the moment in history when politicians and families agreed
Mom or Dad is at work all day, or out of the picture altogether. The spouse is at home taking care of the kiddos but needs to get out of the house to work or pursue an education. There is just one obstacle, but it is a big one – day care. Throughout the nation […] The post Day care: the moment in history when politicians and families agreed appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
Biden in first TV interview since debate denies medical condition: ‘It was a bad episode’
President Joe Biden on Friday in his first televised interview since the presidential debate defended his reelection bid and rejected calls that he should step aside amid growing anxiety among some Democrats about his mental and physical state. The 22-minute interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos came as some lawmakers and other prominent Democrats have […] The post Biden in first TV interview since debate denies medical condition: ‘It was a bad episode’ appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
Abortion surveillance isn’t new but monitoring has increased post Dobbs, activists say
Abortion surveillance is something former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, has said is up to states. But for abortion providers and advocates, surveillance and monitoring by anti-abortion activists has long been the reality. And post-Dobbs many states are actively trying to expand government surveillance. “There is a lot of confusion in our patient population […] The post Abortion surveillance isn’t new but monitoring has increased post Dobbs, activists say appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
Colorado-based software company to build Maine paid leave portal for $19.7 million
The Maine Department of Labor is partnering with a Colorado-based software company to build an online contribution portal for the state’s paid family and medical leave program. After receiving five proposals, the state selected FAST Enterprises, LLC to build the online portal that will allow employers to register their business with the benefit program, file […] The post Colorado-based software company to build Maine paid leave portal for $19.7 million appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
Editorial: For so many the work goes on in Vacationland
“Summer is an interesting time in Maine,” Rev. Jeffery Logan, executive director and a co-pastor at Grace-Street Ministry, told a small crowd gathered in Portland’s Old Port [last week]. “Because the rest of the year is such a meteorological maelstrom, the summer often feels like time out of time. A period during which we can […] The post Editorial: For so many the work goes on in Vacationland appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
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Maine Morning Star is an independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan news site covering state policy and politics — and how they impact the lives of Maine’s people. We focus on issues that Mainers grapple with every day: from the overdose crisis, to housing affordability, to tribal rights, to the challenges of the legal system, to the impact that our changing climate will have on the geography and economy of the Pine Tree State. We aim to hold powerful people and institutions accountable and explain how their actions affect communities from Kennebunk to Caribou. You might say we’ve got Moxie™. Ultimately, we believe good journalism is essential for a strong democracy and that honest reporting can empower Mainers to create the world that they hope to achieve. Maine Morning Star is an affiliate of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers, which has editors and reporters throughout the country dedicated to relentless coverage of state government, policies and statewide issues. Our original reporting and opinions are free to readers and other news outlets, so please feel free to reprint our work. Also, drop us a line if you’d like to submit commentary for publication.
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