Shows
Maine's Political PulseNov. 14, 2025: Angus King broke ranks to help end the government shutdown. The backlash has been witheringThe longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history is over. But with little to show for it, the mostly Democratic politicians who ended the standoff now face intense backlash.
2025-11-1407 minMaine's Political PulseNov. 5, 2025: Maine voters reject elections overhauls, enact red-flag gun billThe results from Tuesday’s referendum election highlighted new challenges for conservative activists hoping to use Maine’s citizens’ initiative process to implement long-sought changes to election law, while also challenging the supremacy gun rights groups have historically had over firearms laws.
2025-11-0508 minMaine's Political PulseOct. 31, 2025: Here's your last-minute guide to Questions 1 and 2 on Tuesday's ballotOn Tuesday, Maine voters will settle long-running policy debates over voter ID and guns during an off-year election that has been overshadowed by events in DC and primary contests that won't be decided until next year.
2025-10-3108 min
Ken Rudin's Political JunkieThe Day Of The Woman? Election 2025Maine Public Radio’s Steve Mistler focuses on what may be the Democrats’ best chance at a Senate pickup in 2026, the seat of five-term Republican incumbent Susan Collins. Establishment Democrats in Washington have come up with who they feel would be the strongest opponent, popular Gov. Janet Mills; earlier this year she made a name for herself by standing up to President Trump at a governors’ conference. But she is 77 years old, and progressives back home are instead rallying behind Graham Platner, an oyster farmer and former Marine who has raised more than $4 million. However, controversial old social media posts of...
2025-10-291h 15Ken Rudin's Political JunkieThe Day Of The Woman? Election 2025Maine Public Radio’s Steve Mistler focuses on what may be the Democrats’ best chance at a Senate pickup in 2026, the seat of five-term Republican incumbent Susan Collins. Establishment Democrats in Washington have come up with who they feel would be the strongest opponent, popular Gov. Janet Mills; earlier this year she made a name for herself by standing up to President Trump at a governors’ conference. But she is 77 years old, and progressives back home are instead rallying behind Graham Platner, an oyster farmer and former Marine who has raised more than $4 million. However, controversial old social media posts of...
2025-10-291h 15Maine's Political PulseOct. 24, 2025: Will Graham Platner's commanding polling lead falter amid stream of opposition research releases?For nearly two months, Graham Platner’s bid for the U.S. Senate was marked by momentum and bravado as the political newcomer drew big crowds to his town halls and he channeled Democratic voters’ hopes for a newer, brasher kind of candidate. During an interview in late September, he said, “I’ll just say, it’s been very surreal.” Reality has arrived over the past week. Now comes a test of Democratic primary voters' risk aversion.
2025-10-2408 minMaine's Political PulseOct. 15, 2025: What Janet Mills' entrance means for the Senate race in MaineState House correspondent Kevin Miller spoke with political science professor Jim Melcher from the University of Maine-Farmington about Gov. Janet Mills' bid for the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins next fall.
2025-10-1615 minMaine's Political PulseOct. 15, 2025: With Question 2, voters will weigh in on whether Maine's current gun-confiscation law is sufficientProponents of Question 2 argue that the existing law — often referred to as Maine’s yellow flag law — is a failed experiment that was not used to stop a gunman in Lewiston from killing 18 people and injuring and traumatizing countless others in 2023 despite warnings about his deteriorating mental health.
2025-10-1506 minMaine's Political PulseOct. 6, 2025: Does Maine's Question 1 call for commonsense voter ID changes or will it undermine absentee voting?The competing narratives about Question 1’s true objectives and potential impacts are perhaps best epitomized by the names of the groups leading the fight on either side: Voter ID for ME and the Save Maine Absentee Voting Coalition.
2025-10-0609 minMaine's Political PulseSept. 11, 2025: Maine's Democratic Senate primary is taking early shapeThere’s a bonafide primary contest among Democrats in the Maine race for the U.S. Senate. And one of the leading contestants, Gov. Janet Mills, isn't even an official candidate yet.
2025-09-1108 minMaine's Political PulseAug. 21, 2025: Who is Graham Platner and why is he everywhere right now?Defeating Susan Collins is Graham Platner’s primary goal, but he and his campaign also signaled that they’re gearing up for a potential fight against power brokers in the Democratic National Committee.
2025-08-2107 minMaine's Political PulseAug. 14, 2025: GOP gubernatorial hopeful takes aim at one of Maine's Somali-American lawmakersThe 2026 gubernatorial election is 16 months away, yet Republican hopeful Bobby Charles has already managed to break through the mostly routine campaign rollouts by the rest of the ever-growing field of candidates.
2025-08-1410 minMaine's Political PulseJune 20, 2025: Wrapping up the legislative sessionThe Maine Legislature wrapped up this year’s session on Wednesday night. Here's what they got done and still have left to do.
2025-06-2010 minMaine's Political PulseJune 6, 2025: Maine lawmakers spar over 'red flag' proposalThis week we’re gonna catch up on the latest from the State House where the Legislature is racing toward the end of the session. There’s a lot going on. But we’re going to focus on a few highlights, starting with a conflict between Democrats and Republicans over a "red flag" bill that will appear as a ballot measure in November.
2025-06-0609 minMaine's Political PulseMay 16, 2025: Rewriting Jan. 6, a possible primary challenge for Jared GoldenNearly one year after President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in the hopes of stopping certification of the 2020 election, the Maine House of Representatives debated a resolution commemorating the assault on Congress that ultimately led to the conviction of more than 1,270 rioters.
2025-05-1610 minMaine's Political PulseApril 14, 2025: Where Maine's federal lawmakers stand on Donald Trump's tariff policySome members of Congress, including most of Maine's delegation, are increasingly uneasy with President Donald Trump's tariffs — but efforts to curtail his power are likely going nowhere.
2025-04-1406 minMaine's Political PulseApril 4, 2025: Title IX, tariffs and the other stories driving Maine's political frenzyWelcome to April and a political news cycle that never stops. This week we’re going to focus on a few developments with the goal of providing a little clarity and context that isn’t always achievable when news breaks and deadlines loom.
2025-04-0409 minMaine's Political PulseMarch 14, 2025: As Trump makes the trade war about Canada's sovereignty, Maine hopes it won't pay the priceTrump has said repeatedly he wants Canada to become the 51st state. It's a statement sometimes laughed off in the U.S., but viewed as deadly serious in Canada.
2025-03-1408 minMaine's Political PulseFeb. 21, 2025: Maine’s new 3-day waiting period law could become test case in new legal landscape on gunsMaine’s new, three-day waiting period on gun purchases passed the Legislature by the slimmest possible margin last year and narrowly averted a veto from Democratic Gov. Janet Mills. Now, gun rights advocates think the law could become the vehicle to erase waiting period laws in Maine and roughly a dozen other states.
2025-02-2111 minMaine's Political PulseFeb. 7, 2025: For years, RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine rhetoric has found receptive ears in MaineRobert F. Kennedy Jr. has continued to push the long debunked claim that childhood vaccines cause autism. He has also argued that the COVID-19 vaccine was part of an elite plot to prolong the pandemic and shun other unproven or debunked remedies.
2025-02-0708 minMaine's Political PulseJan. 31, 2025: Trump’s funding freeze and the clarion call for Maine, national DemsDemocrats’ response this week to President Donald Trump’s attempt to freeze all federal grants and loans already approved by Congress was a rare moment of swift, unified and urgent condemnation.
2025-01-3109 minMaine's Political PulseJan. 17, 2025: Janet Mills' plan to fill Maine's first budget hole in over a decadeThe tax and fee changes that Gov. Janet Mills put forward last week in her budget only add up to about $150 million in a two-year state spending plan that tops $11.6 billion. But new taxes and fees are always controversial, even when they are narrowly “targeted,” as Mills argues in this case.
2025-01-1812 min
WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Audio ArchivesDemocracy Forum 11/15/24: Election Reflections: What Just Happened Here?Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine Production Assistance: Linda Washburn, Joel Mann Democracy Forum: Participatory Democracy, encouraging citizens to take an active role in government and politics. This month: This month, as we do each election year, we will reflect on the recent election: what just happened here, and why? What does it mean for Maine? Guest/s: – Nicholas Jacobs, Assistant Professor of Government, Colby College www.colby.edu/people/people-directory/nicholas-jacobs/ – Anna Kellar, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of Maine www.lwvme.org/lwvme-staff – Abby Kiesa, Deputy Director, CIRCLE circle.tufts.edu/about-circle/our-team – Steve Mi...
2024-11-1559 min
Democracy ForumDemocracy Forum 11/15/24: Election Reflections: What Just Happened Here?Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine Production Assistance: Linda Washburn, Joel Mann Democracy Forum: Participatory Democracy, encouraging citizens to take an active role in government and politics. This month: This month, as we do each election year, we will reflect on the recent election: what just happened here, and why? What does it mean for Maine? Guest/s: – Nicholas Jacobs, Assistant Professor of Government, Colby College www.colby.edu/people/people-directory/nicholas-jacobs/ – Anna Kellar, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of Maine www.lwvme.org/lwvme-staff – Abby Kiesa, Deputy Director, CIRCLE circle.tufts.edu/about-circle/our-team – Steve Mi...
2024-11-1559 minMaine's Political PulseJune 12, 2024: Political Pulse primary elections recapA look back at Tuesday's results and what they mean.
2024-06-1208 minMaine's Political PulseJune 7, 2024: A primary primer as parties prepare to pick politicians at polls in MaineTuesday is primary election day in Maine (again) as voters head to the polls to select party nominees for Congress, the Legislature and local offices.
2024-06-0707 minMaine's Political PulseMay 2, 2024: Here are the major takeaways from the 2nd session of the Maine LegislatureWhile lawmakers will return to the State House next week to take up the governor’s vetoes, the 131st Legislature has already left its imprint on some of the issues and challenges confronting the state.
2024-05-0208 minMaine's Political PulseMarch 29, 2024: Maine Democrats make last-minute push for 'red flag' gun lawRepublicans have described the proposal as a late-session ambush designed to catch gun rights groups and the public off guard.
2024-03-2909 minMaine's Political PulseMarch 15, 2024: Politics roundup: Gun bills, Netflix taxMaine lawmakers are plodding toward a mid-April adjournment with a slew of contentious issues to resolve, including gun safety and a new spending plan. Meanwhile, a divided Congress continues its obsession with the November election in its quest for historically unproductive governance.
2024-03-1513 minMaine's Political PulseMarch 1, 2024: What to know about Maine's primary elections ahead of Super TuesdayNext Tuesday, voters in Maine and more than a dozen other states will cast ballots during the single-largest primary day of the 2024 elections.By presidential primary standards, this year’s Super Tuesday contests are relatively anti-climactic because the Republican and Democratic tickets are pretty much set at this point. Absent some ground-shaking legal or political developments, the nation appears headed for a Biden-Trump rematch this November.But electors are still at stake in Maine. And for the first time this year, thanks to Maine’s switch to a “semi-open” primary, independent voters can join the proverbial party without literally having to join
2024-03-0107 minMaine's Political PulseFeb. 9, 2024: What the immigration bill's spectacular collapse means for MaineBowing to pressure from former President Donald Trump, a majority of Republicans in the U.S. Senate this week helped torpedo the bipartisan immigration bill that would have restricted and overhauled the asylum process while giving the president clear authority to close the border.The failure to advance the bill after four months of negotiations ensures that immigration will remain a key campaign issue in the 2024 presidential and congressional election with possible implications for down ballot contests in state legislatures.Maine's Political Pulse was written this week by State House correspondent Kevin Miller and produced by digital news reporter Esta...
2024-02-0911 minMaine's Political PulseFeb. 1, 2024: With new proposals, Janet Mills treads lightly into charged gun debateGov. Janet Mills reset the political debate over guns in Maine on Tuesday by unveiling a suite of policy proposals that she says were shaped or inspired by conversations since October’s mass shooting in Lewiston.
2024-02-0109 minMaine's Political PulseDec. 29, 2023: The fallout from deciding to keep Trump off Maine's primary ballotMaine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has decided to keep former President Donald Trump off the state's Republican primary ballot. Here's why.
2023-12-2906 minMaine's Political PulseNov. 8, 2023: Maine election resultsChief political correspondent Steve Mistler joins Morning Edition host Irwin Gratz to discuss Tuesday's election results in Maine.
2023-11-0806 minDemocracy ForumDemocracy Forum 10/20/23: Yikes – 8 Ballot Questions!Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine The mostly volunteer team at the League of Women Voters – Downeast who plan and coordinate this series includes: Martha Dickinson, Michael Fisher, Starr Gilmartin, Maggie Harling, Lisa Leaverton, Ann Luther, Rick Lyles, Judith Lyles, Wendilee O’Brien, Maryann Ogonowski, emerita, Lane Sturtevant, Leah Taylor, and Linda Washburn. Democracy Forum: Participatory Democracy, encouraging citizens to take an active role in government and politics This month: – Some of them are citizen initiatives; some of them are constitutional amendments. What’s the difference? – What do they mean, what will they do, where did they come...
2023-10-2058 minMaine's Political PulseOct. 5, 2023: Here's everything we know about the referendum to replace CMP and Versant with Pine Tree PowerQuestion 3 in November proposes a dramatic overhaul of who is responsible for delivering electricity to the majority of Mainers. In this state and across the nation, it's unmatched in manner, scope or known outcomes.
2023-10-0515 minDemocracy ForumDemocracy Forum 11/18/22: Election Reflections: What Just Happened Here?Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine The mostly volunteer team at the League of Women Voters – Downeast who plan and coordinate this series includes: Martha Dickinson, Starr Gilmartin, Maggie Harling, Lisa Leaverton, Ann Luther, Judith Lyles, Wendilee O’Brien, Lane Sturtevant, Leah Taylor, Linda Washburn Democracy Forum: Participatory Democracy, encouraging citizens to take an active role in government and politics This month: Election Reflections: What Just Happened Here? -A conversation about the election. -Less about how the parties and the candidates performed; more about how democracy performed. -How did the election machinery hold up? -How did our...
2022-11-1858 min
Clermont County, OhioBCC Session August 17, 2022BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DRAFT AGENDA
AUGUST 17, 2022
A. 10:00 A.M. CALL TO ORDER
B. APPROVAL OF REGULAR SESSION MINUTES OF 08/10/2022
C. PRESENTATION: USI HEALTHCARE - Steve Ferguson, Susan Stockman and Michele Mistler
D. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION CONSENT AGENDA NON-CONSENT AGENDA ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
E. CONSENT ADGENDA
F. NON-CONSENT ADGENDA
G. ADDITIONS TO THE ADGENDA
H. EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 121.22 (G)(3) OF THE OHIO REVISED CODE TO CONFER WITH THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY CONCERNING DISPUTES INVOLVING THE PUBLIC BODY THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF PENDI...
2022-08-1952 min
Politics with Amy WalterA Look at Pennsylvania and 2020's Battleground StatesWith caucus and primary season around the corner, it’s only a matter of time until candidates shift gears and begin expanding their campaigns in battleground states. Come November, voters in states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin will play a critical role in determining what party will take the White House.
Although Pennsylvania handed President Obama victories in 2008 and 2012, voters decided to take a chance on President Trump in 2016, awarding him 20 electoral votes. This week, Politics with Amy Walter traveled to Pennsylvania to hear from politicians in the state about the lessons learned from 2016 and what’s at...
2020-01-1751 min
NEXT New EnglandEpisode 68: ReferendumThis week, we’re talking ballot questions. Why are more of them showing up in voting booths in states like Maine and Massachusetts, and how much power do elected officials have to tinker with citizen-passed laws? Plus, a Puerto Rican family is reunited in Holyoke, Mass., and a Vermont veteran with PTSD finds a way to heal, through farming. Listen to the end, and we’ll take you to the most peaceful place in the universe. Marijuana plants are harvested and hung in a processing facility in Franklin, Mass. Currently only medical cannabis sales are legal in Massa...
2017-11-1649 min
NEXT New EnglandEpisode 61: Heart of GoldNew England communities prepare for an influx of hurricane refugees from Puerto Rico, and worry about family back home. We’ll learn what Germany can teach us about welcoming immigrants, and we’ll tour an old Hartford factory that’s preparing for a new life as a food and jobs hub for a struggling neighborhood. Plus, the craft beer industry is exploding in New England, but another time-honored trade is in danger of disappearing. A scene from the Swift Factory, which manufactured gold leaf in Hartford from 1895 to 2005. The nonprofit that owns the building hopes to house food o...
2017-09-2849 minDemocracy ForumDemocracy Forum 2/17/17Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine Engineer: John Greenman Program Topic: Ballot Questions in Maine: Whose Initiatives Are They? Key Discussion Points: We’ll discuss what happened in the recent election What our constitution provides What role the legislature and the governor are playing now. Guests: a) John Brautigam, Attorney and election law expert b) Ron Schmidt, Associate Professor of Political Science at USM. usm.maine.edu/pos/ronald-schmidt To learn more about this topic: Laws Governing the Initiative Process in Maine Initiated Bills in Maine 1911 – Peoples Vetoes in Maine 1909 – Referenda in Maine 1910 – As Progressives Turn to Ballot I...
2017-02-1700 min
Dangerous R&R Show PodcastDRR Show 43_The Unbearable Linkness of WrayFrom the opening salvo of Russ Meyer to Richard Lloyd's rerecording of Fields of Fire we aim to pummel....Link Wray / Dale Hawkins / The Blue Things / The Kills / The Kennedys / Junior Wells / Bobby Freeman / Elmore James / The Troggs / Steve Wynn / The Galileo 7 / The Southern Sons / Link Wray & finishing off another hour with Richar Lloyd's rerecording of his fantatastic "Fields of Fire" originally on Mistler Records 1985....the 20th anniversary of the song......
2011-02-1558 min