Beacon Podcast

We’re discussing the aftermath, and pending results, of the yesterday’s elections. Our hosts Esther, Ben and Cate share their thoughts on why Donald Trump won the presidency. And despite a red wave year, it seems that Maine has maintained Democratic control of the House and Senate. Key local results include Sen. Angus King’s re-election to… The post The 2024 election results and what’s next for Maine first appeared on Maine Beacon.

For our last podcast episode before the election, we are sharing our interview with Rep. Chellie Pingree. The congresswoman touches on the contentious nature of the current election year and the stakes involved, as well as the growing issue of housing in Maine, the expiring Trump tax cuts, the state’s efforts to expand food nutrition… The post Rep. Pingree on Election Day, housing, tax cuts and more first appeared on Maine Beacon.

A year ago today, a shooter killed 18 people and wounded another 13 in Lewiston. On this week’s podcast, Ben, Cate and Esther talk about what’s happened since then to get justice for the people who were hurt or killed, and their families. They also dive into a Maine law that could have stopped the… The post One year after the Lewiston mass shooting first appeared on Maine Beacon.

Election season is just around the corner, and our host and public policy director Cate Blackford connected with Maine’s Secretary of State Shenna Bellows to help educate folks on their voting rights. Bellows also offers an inside look of the electoral security process that ensures all votes are counted accurately. Listeners can ask a question… The post Podcast: Exclusive interview with Secretary Shenna Bellows on voting rights, election protections first appeared on Maine Beacon.

Ben, Cate and Esther are all back together for this week’s podcast episode. Our hosts discuss the major talking (and fashion) points of Monday’s debate between Rep. Jared Golden and state Rep. Austin Theriault in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. Also, early voting is now available to Mainers; Esther shares how to get an early ballot.… The post Golden wins the debate, early voting and rent stabilization in mobile home parks first appeared on Maine Beacon.

On the podcast this week, Ben and Esther discuss the Vice-Presidential debate and the rhetoric candidates use and issues they co-opt when they attempt to appeal across party lines. Ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at (207) 619-3182. Subscribe to the podcast feed using any podcasting app or subscribe on… The post How Vance, Walz, Golden and Theriault speak across party lines first appeared on Maine Beacon.

This week on the podcast, Ben and Cate discuss the new Pan Atlantic poll showing some interesting results across the state. They also dig into expenditure reports and online ad archives to give a sense of the hard-fought battle for control of Maine’s state legislature. Ask a question or leave a comment for a future… The post The under-the-radar ad war in the districts that will decide Maine’s legislature first appeared on Maine Beacon.

Marshall Ganz, America’s pre-emeninent expert on grassroots organizing, sits down with Ben Chin on the podcast this week to discuss how to build organizing skills, build a movement, and create lasting change. Ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at (207) 619-3182. Subscribe to the podcast feed using any podcasting app… The post Heads without bodies: Marshall Ganz on the problems of modern organizing first appeared on Maine Beacon.

On the podcast this week, Cate and Esther discuss the presidential debate and its aftermath, Maine’s new online voter registration system and increased rates of Mainers registering to vote. They also discuss Maine’s housing crunch and how it’s affecting college students and some possible solutions seen in Connecticut. Plus rays of hope. You can submit… The post Voter registration in Maine and the Taylor Swift effect first appeared on Maine Beacon.

On the podcast this week, Cate interviews Miles Rapoport, Executive Director of 100% Democracy, an initiative to advance voting as both a fundamental right and a civic responsibility. Ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at (207) 619-3182. Subscribe to the podcast feed using any podcasting app or subscribe on Apple… The post 100% Democracy: Miles Rapoport makes the case for making sure everyone votes first appeared on Maine Beacon.

This week on the podcast, Ben interviews Vincent Bevins, journalist and author of the new book If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and the Missing Revolution. Bevins discusses the mass movements of the 2010s across the world, where they failed and how change can be made. Ask a question or leave a comment for… The post Vincent Bevins on why mass protests have failed, how to make real change first appeared on Maine Beacon.

This week on the podcast, Ben interviews Deepak Bhargava, a longtime social justice leader and organizing luminary on his new book, Practical Radicals: Seven Strategies to Change the World. Cate and Ben also discuss Kamala Harris’ economic agenda and their shared love of Robert Caro. Ask a question or leave a comment for a future… The post Deepak Bhargava on how to be a practical radical first appeared on Maine Beacon.

This week on the podcast, Esther Pew is joined by an impressive array of Maine LGBTQ and reproductive rights experts to discuss the implementation of the state’s new shield law, protecting health care providers and patients from investigation and prosecution by authorities in other states. The panel includes Mary Bonauto with GLBTQ Legal Advocates &… The post Maine’s shield goes up – stopping out-of-state attacks on reproductive and trans health care first appeared on Maine Beacon.

On the Beacon Podcast this week, Esther Pew interviews Tess Parks, a policy organizer with Maine Recovery Advocacy Project, on drug policy and recovery. Esther and Ben also discuss the pick of Gov. Tim Walz as the Democrat for VP and how his record in Minnesota compares to Maine. Ask a question or leave a… The post Under Walz, Minnesota did what Maine did, but faster first appeared on Maine Beacon.

Esther and Ben discuss the big changes in the presidential race and the effects on enthusiasm and turnout in Maine. They also recap some findings from investigations of the Lewiston mass shooting and talk about how local housing regulations have worked in Portland. Ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at… The post Podcast: Maine’s elections just got a lot more interesting first appeared on Maine Beacon.

You heard us right! This week, Ben and Cate talk about Pres. Joe Biden’s proposal on Tuesday to cap rent increases at 5% for large corporate landlords. The proposal is a huge win for tenant advocates and would impact 20 million homes around the country. And that’s not all — around Maine this week, we’ve… The post Good news for tenants (really!) first appeared on Maine Beacon.

Arthur Philips of the Maine Center for Economic Policy joins Cate Blackford to discuss the results of their report on Maine’s direct care workforce. It’s not good. Ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at (207) 619-3182. Subscribe to the podcast feed using any podcasting app or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. The post Podcast: The ongoing abandonment of older Mainers first appeared on Maine Beacon.

This week on the podcast, Esther, Cate and Ben discuss some of the testimony before the Independent Commission on the mass shooting in Lewiston, a new proposed anti-panhandling ordinance in Bangor, and some structural problems with how Maine addresses mental health, homelessness and policing. Plus: Learn how to support a strong paid family leave program… The post Podcast: Prosecuting panhandlers and missing mass shooters first appeared on Maine Beacon.

Guests Andy O’Brien of the Maine AFL-CIO and Lisa Margulies of Planned Parenthood join guest-host Mike Tipping to discuss the results of this week’s primary and municipal elections. From the flipping of an anti-trans school board to the ousting of Democratic incumbent Bruce White in Waterville by Cassie Julia, progressive candidates had a good election.… The post Podcast: Why anti-choice and anti-trans incumbents lost their seats in Maine this week first appeared on Maine Beacon.

Guest Mike Tipping joins Esther on the podcast this week to talk polling results, the Republican Primary race in CD2, health care, housing and Aztec history. Ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at (207) 619-3182. Subscribe to the podcast feed using any podcasting app or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. The post Podcast: How much do Mainers hate insurance companies (and other poll results) first appeared on Maine Beacon.