On this episode of the Beacon Podcast, Ben Chin interviews Maine House Speaker Mark Eves, looking back on his eight years in office.

In part one, they discuss how, in the few short years after Eves first became involved in politics by attending a local Democratic caucus, he won a seat in a successful challenge to a Republican legislator, chaired the Health and Human Services Committee, and then ran for Leadership of the House.

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Photo: Speaker Eves at a senior listening tour event in Kennebunk

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Ben and Mike discuss the just-released official wording of the minimum wage question, new numbers on low-wage workers from Oxfam, Gov. LePage’s misuse of TANF funds and threats to end food stamps and Britain’s vote on leaving the European Union.

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This week on the Beacon Podcast, Ben Chin interviews political consultant and Bangor Daily News columnist David Farmer on how he came to progressive politics, the recent history of LGBT rights in Maine (from Governor Baldacci signing the marriage bill to Michael Heath’s latest referendum plans), how and why he writes about poverty, and more.

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Image via WCSH video still.

In this week’s episode of the Beacon Podcast, Ben and Mike discuss new support among small business owners for the minimum wage campaign, the announcement of new federal payday lending rules and they continue their conversation with Rep. Adam Goode and Rep. Ryan Tipping-Spitz.

On the issue of the Stand Up for Students referendum, Goode and Tipping-Spitz express surprise that, despite serving on the tax and education committees, they haven’t heard any Mainers making more than $200,000 a year complaining about the ballot initiative and note that there was no effort in the legislature to derail it with a competing measure, as there was with the minimum wage.

“It’s a referendum that’s not even bothering those very wealthy people. It’s crazy that theres a referendum that’s going to reverse part of the LePage tax cuts and the people the governor has portrayed as wanting this or demanding this, they aren’t even asking for it to stop,” said Goode.

“I didn’t get even a single call against that one,” agrees Tipping-Spitz.

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Episode 50(!) of the Beacon Podcast features part one of a conversation with Rep. Adam Goode of Bangor and Rep. Ryan Tipping-Spitz of Orono. They discuss how they got involved in politics as canvassers with MPA, the ups and downs of the most recent legislative session and their approaches to public office.

Also, learn why Adam refuses to march in parades.

Ryan and Adam are also part of Chamberlain, the source of the podcast’s theme music. You can find their albums at The Rock and Art Shop.

Photo via Jeff Kirlin.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Mike and Ben discuss Rep. Bruce Poliquin’s flipping, Gov. LePage’s lying and the media’s reaction to both. Also, an ethics complaint in a Portland state senate primary highlights some campaign finance concerns.

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Photo via Andi Parkinson.

This week on the Beacon podcast, Ben and Mike discuss the growing movement to raise the minimum wage in states across the country, new overtime rules that will benefit tens of thousands of Mainers and a video of a talk by a Maine trans woman that has gone viral. They also unpack some recent false statements from the LePage administration and give updates on Rep. Poliquin’s position on Donald Trump and the mayor of Lewiston’s about-face on lead poisoning and unscrupulous landlords.

Here’s the Economic Policy Institute website on overtime protections.

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Photo via Andi Parkinson.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Ben and Mike discuss a new approach to populist organizing, Rep. Bruce Poliquin’s comments about Donald Trump, the LePage administration’s latest attack on immigrants and how Portland is doing several months after raising the minimum wage.

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Photo via Flickr/Gage Skidmore.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Ben and Mike talk about Donald Trump’s victory in the Republican primaries and what it means for our country’s politics. They also answer the question: Should Bernie Sanders drop out now and back Hillary Clinton?

Also: The Maine GOP targets mike with a hilarious email, the minimum wage campaign overcomes a major hurdle and hunger is up in Maine after food stamp cuts.

Brought to you by a new sponsor: Oyster River Winegrowers.

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Photo via Maine GOP.

This week on the Beacon Podcast, Ben and Mike discuss the series of strange comments and reactions from Gov. Paul LePage, the possibility of a referendum on health care expansion, Sen. Susan Collins backing Donald Trump for president and (really) Beyoncé‘s “Lemonade.”

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Photo via Andi Parkinson.