Beacon Podcast

“Everybody looks at the negative part of global warming, but with the ice melting, the Northern pass has opened up. The new sea traffic is going across the north. So rather than Maine being at the end of the pipeline, we’re at the beginning of the new pipeline.” —Paul LePage, 2013.  Welcome to the fourth…

The post Podcast Special: Burning it Down — LePage and the Climate first appeared on Maine Beacon.

Editor’s note: This episode contains obscene, offensive, and threatening language in the first minute. If you’d like to listen but don’t wish to hear such language, please advance to the 1:00 minute mark on the recording. “This is Gov. Paul Richard LePage. I would like to talk to you about your comments about me being a…

The post Podcast Special: Divide and Conquer — LePage and Race first appeared on Maine Beacon.

“I think like a business person. […] You know the last thing you want to send me into is an operating room doing brain surgery. But I can understand an economy. I do understand supply and demand. I do understand what heats up inflation and I do know what’s going to cause recession” —Paul LePage,…

The post Podcast Special: Run it Like a Business — LePage and the Economy first appeared on Maine Beacon.

“About 47% of able-bodied people in the state of Maine don’t work … about 47%. It’s really bad” —Paul LePage, 2013.  Welcome to the first episode of Trump Before Trump: The Legacy of Paul LePage — a special series of the Beacon Podcast. For the next four episodes, we’ll be taking a break from our…

The post Podcast Special: Slash and Burn — LePage and the Social Safety Net first appeared on Maine Beacon.

Esther, Ben and Cate run down this week’s debates, what surprised them, and what didn’t — and give some fact-checking shout outs. Also, some activities and calls to action for Indigenous Peoples Day. Ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at (207) 619-3182, and subscribe to the podcast feed right here…

The post Podcast: The good, bad, and ugly moments from the first LePage-Mills debate first appeared on Maine Beacon.

In this special episode of the podcast, Ben talks with David Duhalde (he/him), long-time democratic socialist activist and the author of a chapter in the new book “Power Concedes Nothing: How Grassroots Organizing Wins Elections.” Ben and David talk about David’s experiences organizing as a college student in Maine, and what it was like to…

The post Podcast: David Duhalde discusses how grassroots organizing can win elections first appeared on Maine Beacon.

Esther, Ben and Mike discuss competing priorities on education in the governor’s race, Maine’s record decrease in residents without health insurance, and big plans for gathering signatures for paid family and medical leave. Volunteer for paid family and medical leave signature gathering on election day. Watch the Make Medicines Affordable panel. Ask a question or…

The post Podcast: Do you want to fund schools or ban books? first appeared on Maine Beacon.

On the podcast this week, Esther, Ben and Mike discuss new polling from the Maine People’s Resource Center, new developments in legislative races and proposed new changes to Portland city government that have prompted Mayor Kate Snyder to announce she won’t be seeking re-election. Ask a question or leave a comment for a future show…

The post Podcast: Exploring new polling on medicaid expansion, abortion rights first appeared on Maine Beacon.

On the podcast this week, the hosts discuss celebrating Labor Day in the midst of a surge of union organizing, the use of ranked-choice voting in the Alaska special election and a new website comparing LePage and Mills by the numbers. Plus: Edward Gibbon and the corn song are among our rays of hope. Ask…

The post Podcast: Ranked-choice voting spreads from Maine to Alaska first appeared on Maine Beacon.

On the podcast this week, Esther Pew, Ben Chin and Mike Tipping discuss the federal decision to forgive student loan debt, the court ruling on the CMP corridor and 2022 record-setting rate of overdose deaths. Plus: Blues, bargains and bake-offs are our rays of hope. Ask a question or leave a comment for a future…

The post Podcast: student loans, a CMP corridor resurrection and overdose awareness day first appeared on Maine Beacon.