Beacon Podcast

Ben and Esther talk about this week’s “House Everyone!” day of action in Augusta, and advocacy for fair state worker wages in Maine. They also talk about how the Medicaid “unwinding” process is making health insurance even more inaccessible for many Mainers. Ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at (207)…

The post Podcast: ‘The Unwinding…’ and how it’s hurting Mainers first appeared on Maine Beacon.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Ben and Cate discuss how proposed Maine legislation could help combat otherwise-unnoticed wage theft in Maine. They also discuss how the federal Child Tax Credit would dramatically help low-income Maine families improve their standard of living, and they ponder the necessity of the proposed federal military spending bill. We’ll…

The post Podcast: Wage theft? Heck no! first appeared on Maine Beacon.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Ben and Cate are joined by Jodi Hayashida with Multifaith Justice Maine. They talk about Gov. Janet Mill’s State of the State address and the moral questions around her decision to put another $100 million away rather than using it to fund programs to help Mainers in need. They…

The post Podcast: How Gov. Mills’ budget stands up as a moral document first appeared on Maine Beacon.

On the Beacon Podcast this week, Esther and Cate reflect on the hearing of LD 780, a proposed amendment to the Maine state constitution which would further protect abortion access and reproductive healthcare in Maine. They also discuss what the process for implementation of the new paid family and medical leave law looks like and…

The post Podcast: Protecting abortion rights and gender-affirming care in the legislature first appeared on Maine Beacon.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Esther is joined by Olivia Pennington from Maine Family Planning, Julia McDonald and Aspen Ruhlin from the Mabel Wadsworth Center and Lisa Margulies from Planned Parenthood Maine. Together they discuss access to reproductive and gender affirming healthcare in Maine and efforts to protect it with legislation, and a constitutional…

The post Podcast: The future of reproductive healthcare in Maine first appeared on Maine Beacon.

This week, Nora, Cate and Genevieve discuss a bill to introduce a public health approach to drug use in Maine (LD 1975), and how a rent relief bill (LD 1710) can support Mainers in need of sustainable and affordable housing. If you’d like to testify in favor of LD 1975, send an email to Genevieve…

The post Podcast: Drug policy and housing in the legislature first appeared on Maine Beacon.

This week, Cate and Ben talk about this week’s encampment sweep in Portland and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ decision to bar former Pres. Donald Trump from appearing on the Maine primary ballot and the predictable right-wing backlash. They also talk about this week’s gun safety rally at the State House, and the four big…

The post Podcast: Gun safety advocates rally in Augusta, Shenna Bellows’ decision, homeless encampment sweep in Portland first appeared on Maine Beacon.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Nora, Cate and Ben talk in depth about the Maine legislative session beginning in January, including upcoming bills and the impact of recent revenue forecasts on budgeting. They dig into ongoing campaigns and proposed legislation on drug policy, tribal sovereignty, worker rights, housing, childcare, paid family medical leave, health…

The post Podcast: What to expect in the Maine legislature in the new year first appeared on Maine Beacon.

James Myall of the Maine Center for Economic Policy joins Ben Chin to discuss the 2023 State of Working Maine report and the economic environment of the Pine Tree State. Also, Esther Pew and Nyawal Lia remember the life and work of Lado Lodoka. Ask a question or leave a comment for a future show…

The post Podcast: Will robots take Maine’s jobs and other insights from the author of the State of Working Maine first appeared on Maine Beacon.

Ben Chin moderates a debate between Angela Lang, founder of Black Leaders Organizing for Community, and Stanley Fritz, Director of State and Local Policy at the Very Institute, on the 4-day workweek and the work to build a sustainable and effective progressive movement. The discuss both how a 4-hour week could work (or not) at…

The post Podcast: A head-to-head debate over the 4-day workweek first appeared on Maine Beacon.