This week on the Beacon Podcast, Taryn, Ben and Mike interview Doug Rooks, author of Rise, Decline and Renewal: The Democratic Party in Maine.

From its rise in the 1950s to what he marks as its decline in the 1990s, Rooks charts the fortunes of the Maine Democratic Party and predicts that Democrats can only reattain their primacy among Maine voters through a focus on issue-based populism, including fair taxation and investment in the future.

“Democrats continue to say they support government as a means to provide economic and educational opportunity, but their actions in office often do not support their words. The decline in the party’s electoral fortunes may owe more to this inconsistency than to any other single cause,” writes Rooks.

You can ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at (207) 619-3182.

Subscribe to the podcast feed right here using your favorite podcasting app or subscribe using iTunes.

This week on the Beacon podcast, Taryn, Ben and Mike break down the convention speeches of the Democratic candidates for governor, sharing clips, themes and thoughts about the race as it barrels towards the ballot on June 12th.

Be sure to express your own preferences in the Beacon straw poll.

Also: Ben Chin interviews Julia Brown of the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project about the rights of immigrants when dealing with law enforcement and what allies and bystanders can do when they witness an interaction with ICE.

You can ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at (207) 619-3182.

Subscribe to the podcast feed right here using your favorite podcasting app or subscribe using iTunes.

Photo via Jeff Kirlin.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Anna Kellar of Maine Citizens for Clean Elections and the League of Women Voters explains how a minor typo in Maine’s budget, combined with House Republicans’ refusal to allow the legislature to perform its most basic functions, may create a funding crisis for the state’s system of public campaign financing. She urges listeners to call their legislators and the governor to demand a quick fix and to make a five dollar qualifying contribution to their local Clean Elections candidates right now.

Also on the podcast: Maine House Assistant Majority Leader and candidate for Congress Jared Golden joins Taryn, Ben and Mike to discuss his work in the legislature, his campaign against Rep. Bruce Poliquin and how our nation can begin to repair a damaged democracy.

Plus: Poliquin tries to cut funds from the Children’s Health Insurance Program and Taryn almost electrocutes herself.

You can ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at (207) 619-3182.

Subscribe to the podcast feed right here using your favorite podcasting app or subscribe using iTunes.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Second Congressional District candidate Lucas St. Clair joins Taryn, Mike and Ben to discuss why he’s challenging Rep. Bruce Poliquin. But first, he’ll have to find him. The Portland Phoenix has declared that Poliquin beat out bigfoot this year for the title of Maine’s most elusive creature.

Also: Updates on the governor’s race, women running for office in Maine, and how taxing the wealthy can help make America great again.

You can ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at (207) 619-3182.

Subscribe to the podcast feed right here using your favorite podcasting app or subscribe using iTunes.

As Republicans shut down the legislature in an attempt to cut health care and the minimum wage, a lawsuit goes forward to force Governor Paul LePage to comply with the Medicaid expansion law and campaigning for the homecare for all referendum heats up.

This week on the Beacon podcast, Taryn, Ben and Mike put these developments in some philosophical context, provide updates on the anniversary of the federal health care repeal attempt and Maine’s races for governor and the Second Congressional District.

Plus: podcast and book recommendations and some fun facts about fungi.

You can ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at (207) 619-3182.

Subscribe to the podcast feed right here using your favorite podcasting app or subscribe using iTunes.

Photo via Flickr/Todd Lappin.

What a few years ago would have been unthinkable – a legislative caucus refusing to perform even the basic functions of their offices – seems likely to happen this year, as no deal has yet been reached for lawmakers to return to Augusta beyond a single veto override day and process a huge volume of legislation, including on some important issues of health and education. On the podcast this week, Taryn Hallweaver breaks down where we are now and the price of inaction.

Also on the show: Max Linn enters and (hopefully) exits Maine politics, the RCV ballot looks great, Maine Magazine has a #metoo moment, the insane drive to cut food assistance, LePage on the minimum wage and child labor laws, it turns out immigrants are some of our best people, and the consequential votes of Sen. Susan Collins are finally getting some real attention.

You can ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at (207) 619-3182.

Subscribe to the podcast feed right here using your favorite podcasting app or subscribe using iTunes.

Photo via Andi Parkinson.

This week on the Beacon podcast, Ben Chin, Mike Tipping and Taryn Hallweaver interview Democratic gubernatorial candidate Adam Cote, discussing gun safety, clean energy and why some people think he’s more conservative than his policies suggest.

Also: Taryn recaps a ridiculous night in the Maine legislature, as House Republicans shut down the State House in an attempt to delay implementation of Medicaid expansion and roll back minimum wage increases.

Plus: Ranked-choice voting is law and Mike and Taryn share some music and TV recommendations.

You can ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at (207) 619-3182.

Subscribe to the podcast feed right here using your favorite podcasting app or subscribe using iTunes.

Photo via Jeff Kirlin.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Taryn Hallweaver interviews Sen. Mark Dion, Democratic candidate for governor. Also: Waterville Mayor Nick Isgro is facing a recall as he continues to lash out, the legislature takes some good votes on immigration, democratic rights and Medicaid expansion, and Mike and Taryn recap the Democratic primary debate.

Plus: We read some listener mail and invite you to join the Beacon book club. We’re reading Rise, Decline and Renewal: The Democratic Party in Maine by Doug Rooks.

You can ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at (207) 619-3182.

Subscribe to the podcast feed right here using your favorite podcasting app or subscribe using iTunes.

Correction: Rep Ben Collings is Sen. Dion’s campaign manager.

Dion official photo.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Taryn, Ben and Mike address a half-dozen topics in a Maine Politics lightning round, from ranked-choice voting to the minimum wage to Republican TV debate. One thread that runs through them all is a Republican party that thrives on confusion and chaos.

Join us in reading and discussing Doug Rooks’ new book Rise, Decline and Renewal: The Democratic Party in Maine.

You can ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at (207) 619-3182.

Subscribe to the podcast feed right here using your favorite podcasting app or subscribe using iTunes.

Isgro official photo.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Ben, Taryn and Mike discuss the state of the race for governor among the Republican and independent candidates and what the departure of Senate President Mike Thibodeau says about the state of Republican politics.

Also: Medicaid expansion advocates flood the State House, some labor history, Emma Gonzales’ speech, Ben’s concussion protocols and which Maine politicians know how to react well to children.

You can ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at (207) 619-3182.

Subscribe to the podcast feed right here using your favorite podcasting app or subscribe using iTunes.

Thibodeau campaign photo.