Beacon Podcast

Jennie Pirkl, campaign manager for Mainers for Health Care, joins the Beacon Podcast this week to talk about Question 2 on the ballot this November and share stories of some of the people who would gain access to health care with the expansion of Medicaid.

You can hear more from the farmer Jennie discusses, in his own words, in this video.

Also on the podcast, Ben, Taryn and Mike discuss Gov. Paul LePage’s legacy and what it means for the Republican candidates for governor running to continue his policies.

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, we share the stories of two Mainers, Adam Foley and Lynnea Hawkins, who are among the 70,000 who face pain and risk to their lives because of Maine’s failure to accept federal funding to expand health coverage through Medicaid. They would gain access to health care with the passage of Question 2. We also hear from two doctors who are struggling to treat patients who fall into the coverage gap.

Also, Ben and Mike go on a rather epic rant about DACA.

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 recap the Resistance Rising event in Lewiston, were candidates for high office had some substantive conversations with Maine progressives. They also interview Sam Saucier, the UMaine student who spoke out against misogynist signs and sparked a massive, positive community response. You can make a contribution to the UMaine Women’s Resource Center right here.

Plus: Ben recounts some listener feedback to last week’s conversation on Maine history and racism (you can read James Myall’s gret blog post on the subject here) and Taryn learns why people are comparing her with Cersei Lannister.

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, Ben and Mike discuss Gov. Paul LePage’s continuing awful statements in the wake of the violence in Charlottesville, the failures of education and popular culture that have contributed to the rise in racism and how to celebrate some of the better moments of Maine’s history.

They also discuss Rep. Bruce Poliquin’s illuminating remarks to a conservative cocktail reception and include some audio from the event.

Plus: A recap of the rally for racial justice last weekend, a reminder of the Resistance Rising forum next Wednesday in Lewiston and some thoughts on Rep. Jared Golden entering the race for the Second Congressional District.

You can ask your own question or leave a comment at (207) 619-3182.

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

Photo of Joshua Chamberlain via U.S. Library of Congress.

This week on the Beacon podcast, Ben, Mike and Taryn go line-by-unfortunate-line through Governor Paul LePage’s comments on the tragedy in Charlottesville, his “both sides” empowering of white supremacists and his defense of Confederate monuments. They provide contemporary and historical context to one of the Governor’s most appalling statements to date.

They also offer a full-throated defense of the referendum process as Maine’s best vehicle for progressive change, responding to listeners who are dispirited by the legislature’s response to referendums passed last year.

You can ask your own question or leave a comment at (207) 619-3182.

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

Please also join us this Sunday to rally for racial justice.

Photo via Flickr/Gage Skidmore.

This week on the Beacon podcast, Taryn, Ben and Mike examine a new poll of the Republican gubernatorial primary electorate and a potentially tough road ahead for Sen. Susan Collins if she sought that seat. They also discuss the successful veto of solar legislation this session and give a sneak preview of MPA’s legislative scorecard.

Also: they definitively answer another life advice question, solving the problem of dating in Central Maine.

You can ask your own question or leave a comment at (207) 619-3182.

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

Photo via official website.

From closing school-based health centers to dismantling public health partnerships to eliminating public health nurses to stymieing opioid treatment to cutting Medicaid to refusing or misusing federal funding, the LePage administration has systematically degraded Maine’s health care systems. Among the results are skyrocketing overdose deaths and increasing infant mortality.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Ben and Mike discuss this man-made crisis and how it relates to new tax breaks for the wealthy passed last month.

Also: They review the candidates lining up to run against Rep. Bruce Poliquin in CD2 and discuss the aftermath of the federal health care repeal implosion.

You can ask life advice question or leave a comment to be featured on a future show by calling (207) 619-3182.

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

Photo via Andi Parkinson.

New statements from Rep. Bruce Poliquin on health care repeal and discrimination against transgender service members are among the most weaselly in Maine political history.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Ben, Mike and James Myall of the Maine Center for Economic Policy discuss Poliquin’s rodent-like qualities as well as the endgame for federal health care, Trump’s military ban, Medicaid expansion, the opioid crisis and British politics.

Plus: you may be surprised to learn the issue on which Paul LePage-protege Mary Mayhew disagrees with her former boss.

You can ask life advice question or leave a comment to be featured on a future show by calling (207) 619-3182.

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

Photo via Poliquin official website.

This week on the Beacon podcast, Taryn, Ben and Mike examine the rapidly-expanding gubernatorial field and new fundraising numbers. They also discuss the latest federal health care happenings (and why we should stay vigilant) and the threat of Maine’s falling vaccination rate.

Also: They introduce a new segment (for which they are completely unqualified) giving some life advice (including a relationship question from an actual listener) and offer some rays of hope.

Ask your own question or leave a comment by calling (207) 619-3182.

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

Photo: some potential candidates for higher office on stage at MPA’s Resistance Rising event in Portland last month.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Ben, Taryn and Mike discuss the tactical and messaging missteps of Democrats in the legislature and why they matter now more than ever. Also: Rep. Poliquin runs from seniors, how scientists talk about climate change, Justin Trudeau, shark attacks, airstream trailers and more.

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