This week on the Beacon podcast, Taryn, Ben and Mike discuss a new report from the Maine Center for Economic Policy showing how the government of Maine has forfeited or ignored more than $1.9 billion in federal funding since 2011 that could have gone to health care, economic development and other state priorities, at a cost of nearly 5,000 jobs annually.

They also cover a recent Bangor Daily News article that tells a similar story of money that could be going to providing child care for Maine families, the impending vote on repealing the Affordable Care Act in the House, Rep. Larry Lockman’s absolutely insane new bill on climate change and how people who read Harry Potter have lower opinions of Donald Trump.

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Photo via Andi Parkinson.

This week on the Beacon podcast, Mike, Taryn and Ben talk health care, including the effects on Mainers of the Republican health care proposal and what a new poll tells us about the potential political cost to Sen. Susan Collins and Rep. Bruce Poliquin. Also, positive new jobs numbers show the minimum wage increase didn’t actually cause the sky to fall.

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Photo via Rep. Poliquin official site.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Taryn and Mike are joined by Robyn Merrill of Maine Equal Justice Partners to discuss the Republican health care plan, the state budget and what’s next for progressive organizing after the Resistance Summit last weekend.

They explain why LePage hates the Republican health care proposal: Despite costing far more and covering far fewer people than Obamacare, with tax cuts for the wealthy paid for by the poor, sick and elderly, he doesn’t think it cuts people off of health care quite fast enough. Also, even this far-right plan still incentivizes states to expand Medicaid coverage (a proposal he has vetoed five times and is now headed to the ballot this November).

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Photo via Sue Aubrey.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Ben, Taryn and Mike discuss the Resistance Summit being held this Sunday at the Augusta Civic Center. More than 700 Mainers have already RSVP’d for a packed agenda, including 18 skill-building workshops and a question and answer session with Rep. Chellie Pingree. Registration is still open here and you can find more information and connect with other attendees at the Summit Facebook event.

Also on the podcast this week: Eight Democratic lawmakers split with their party and with Maine voters to support bills rolling back part of Maine’s new minimum wage law and, after a close race two years ago, Ben is running again for mayor of Lewiston.

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Photo via Sarah Rawlings.

This week on the Beacon podcast, Taryn, Ben and Mike talk about the wave of protests that greeted Sen. Susan Collins on her return to the state, including an especially moving silent vigil as she walked out of the Maine Public Radio studio on Wednesday.

They also cover the certification of the signatures to place a health care expansion referendum on the November ballot and the launch of a campaign for guaranteed child and elderly care.

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Here’s one video of Collins’ walk, from the Mid-Coast Indivisible group:

Update: There were some issues with the original audio file. Should be fixed now!

This week on the Beacon podcast, Ben and Mike thank the hard-working organizers who are putting together the upcoming Maine Resistance Summit – all are welcome.

Also: A UMaine student is silenced at a legislative hearing and finds a much louder voice, and the Maine Restaurant Association begins to crack under the strain of supporting Trump and LePage.

Plus a special, musical ray of hope.

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Photo: MPA members meet in Portland.

This week on the Beacon podcast Taryn, Ben and Mike discuss Governor LePage’s State of the State address, how DHHS misdirected more than $13 million meant to help poor kids, a new attack on voting rights and some disappointing votes from Sen. Susan Collins.

They also mention some rays of hope stretching across a dark political landscape, including the alternative narrative of the Rodham Presidency, which since recording has now moved to its own Facebook page.

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This week on the Beacon Podcast, Taryn, Ben and Mike talk about the flood of marches, campaigns, rallies and actions in the first two weeks of Trump’s presidency and discuss how Maine activists can keep up on what’s happening and engage strategically without burning out.

Also: Gov. LePage’s budget and his latest lie about the minimum wage.

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Photo via Sarah Rawlings.

Amy Halsted and Taryn Hallweaver take over the podcast this week to talk about the women’s march, movement-building, intersectionality, and the fight ahead. They’re joined by June Sapiel of the Penobscot Nation, Shay Stewart-Bouley of Black Girl in Maine, Kendall Mackey from 350.org and Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives Sara Gideon.

If you’d like to feel better after the week we’ve just had, listening to these smart activists planning for the future will help.

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Photo via Andi Parkinson.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Mike and Ben discuss Governor LePage’s new budget proposal and racist remarks, as well as amazing rallies for health care in Portland and immigrants in Lewiston.

Also: the discussion continues on Ben’s election analysis.

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Photo via Jeff Kirlin.