Maine Calling

For this President's Day, we listen back to our earlier conversation on 12/9/20 with author and jouranlist Tom Ricks about his book First Principles: What America's Founders Learned from the Greeks and Romans and How That Shaped Our Country. Panelist: Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military for the Washington Post from 2000 through 2008 and was on the staff of the Wall Street Journal for 17 years before that. He reported on American military operations in Somalia, Haiti, Korea, Bosnia, Kosovo,

To reduce coronavirus exposure, many are people are still putting their dental appointments on hold until the pandemic subsides. What are the consequences for dental health in Maine? We discuss what care and procedures dentists are providing, how they are handling Covid safety, and what concerns they have for the health of their patients.

We talk with our automotive experts to learn about the new cars, trucks & SUVs on the market and advances in electric vehicles. We also get advice on how to maintain vehicles that have been sitting idle during the pandemic, and answer your questions about repair, maintenance, safety and more.

As the second day of the Senate impeachment trial unfolds, we discuss legal questions and political implications that arise. How will the trial affect the ability of the Biden Administration to move forward, and how will history judge the actions of those involved—particularly former President Donald Trump? Panelists: Joseph R. Reisert , Christian A. Johnson Professor of Integrative Liberal Learning; d irector, Integrated Studies Program, Department of Government, Colby College Jeanne Cummings ,

The Biden administration faces numerous challenges in both domestic and foreign affairs. We’ll discuss where the new administration may choose to focus its efforts, the opportunities and perils ahead, and answer listener questions about priorities of a new regime in Washington. Aaron David Miller , senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; former State Department Middle East analyst and negotiator in Republican and Democratic Administrations; CNN Global Affairs Analyst;

A look at what has happened across the state to forward racial justice since the protests erupted last summer in the wake of George Floyd’s death. From state action to youth activism to police reform, local governments, schools, police departments and community groups are taking steps to raise awareness and implement change for greater racial justice.

Every era has terminology and slang that surfaces in response to the events occurring around us. This past year has been one of so much turmoil and change, and our language has evolved along with it. We discuss some of the words, phrases, terms and new usages that have come about due to the shifts in how we live and how the world is changing.

The pandemic has caused great disruption to normal K-12 schooling, and teachers have borne the brunt of many of these changes. We’ll speak with educators about the problems they face, from staying connected to students to worrying about their own health. We will also hear about some of the innovative ways in which teachers have kept learning at the forefront during this crisis.

February is American Heart Month, and we’ll discuss the latest advances in cardiac health — from new treatments and technology to a focus on women’s health. We’ll also address how people can learn about their risk for heart disease, as well as how they can help reduce risks for cardiac issues later in life.

Maine’s Death With Dignity Act went into effect in Sept. 2019. Since then, a small number of Mainers have chosen to end their lives with a physician’s assistance. We speak with the daughter of a Maine man who chose to have an assisted death, as well as the physician who prescribed the medication to him. We’ll learn about the difficult factors that families as well as health care providers weigh in end-of-life decisions — and why some object to these choices.