Muddy Waters

In this episode of the Muddy Waters Podcast, Chuck Ellis talks with Melissa Winslow, candidate for Maine House District 104 in Gray and New Gloucester.Melissa shares why she decided to run after being asked by Rep. Amy Arata, her work as a mom of five, youth minister, and co-owner of Menlo Agriculture, and her three priorities: affordability, accountability, and opportunity. They dig into Maine’s tax burden and budget growth, waste and no-bid contracts, policies that punish work, education and basic skills, and what she’s hearing from voters at the door.Muddy Waters Podcast – helping Mainers understand what’s really going on in our state.

In this episode of the Muddy Waters Podcast, Chuck Ellis talks with Robert Joseph Reed, president of Young Americans for Liberty at Thomas College.

Robert shares how he grew up in Livermore Falls, got into debate at Waterville High, and started a YAL chapter on campus. They dig into free speech and free markets, why students are afraid to put their names on a signup sheet, debate night at Thomas, a campaign to allow non-lethal self-defense tools on campus, and how Young Americans for Liberty is trying to make those ideas easier for students to hear.

Muddy Waters Podcast – helping Mainers understand what’s really going on in our state.

In this episode of the Muddy Waters Podcast, Chuck Ellis talks with Katherine Divine, formerly Katherine Parker, about her campaign for Bangor City Council.

Katherine shares why she decided to run, how becoming a mom changed her focus, and what she’s hearing from people in Bangor. They dig into public safety, needles in public spaces, homelessness and addiction policy, opioid settlement funds, school spending versus results, and why she believes the city needs more accountability.

Muddy Waters Podcast – helping Mainers understand what’s really going on in our state.

In Episode 200 of the Muddy Waters Podcast, host Chuck Ellis welcomes back Bobby Charles, Republican candidate for Governor of Maine, for a deep discussion on the state’s current trajectory and a clear path forward. Having just launched his general election campaign, Bobby outlines why Maine is in peril—skyrocketing property and income taxes driven by unfunded state mandates, the highest energy cost increases in the nation, failing schools, sanctuary policies, drug trafficking, and rampant government fraud and waste. He explains how one-party Democrat control under Janet Mills has eroded public trust and why competence, character, and common sense must return to the Blaine House. Key topics covered: - Rolling back unfunded mandates to lower property taxes and give young families and seniors relief - Cutting income taxes and energy costs (ending solar/wind subsidies, expanding natural gas and hydro) - Restoring real education with measurable outcomes in reading, writing, math, science, history, and trades - Ending sanctuary status, removing illegal aliens, and cracking down on drug traffickers - Rooting out fraud and theft of taxpayer dollars with real oversight and accountability - Why Republican voter turnout is the key to flipping the governorship, House, Senate, and more - Reaching moderate Democrats, independents, and disaffected voters with truth over propaganda Bobby shares insights from 15 months on the trail, meetings with 25,000 Mainers, and his vision for limited government that works for the people—not the other way around. Maine has all the pieces to succeed. The question is whether voters will show up and demand change this November. Learn more about Bobby’s campaign and positions at his official channels. Share this episode, talk to your friends and neighbors, and make sure every common-sense Mainer votes. Thanks for watching/listening. Subscribe for more conversations that cut through the media noise and focus on what’s really happening in Maine. #MainePolitics #BobbyCharles #GovernorRace #MuddyWatersPodcast #CommonSense #MaineElection2026

In this episode of the Muddy Waters Podcast, host Chuck Ellis sits down with Shawn Packard, Republican candidate for Maine House District 64 in Waterville. They dig into why Maine ranks near the bottom in education, economic growth, and affordability despite heavy Democrat control—and why local decisions in Augusta, city halls, and school boards matter far more than the daily drama in Washington. Shawn shares his vision for real education reform (retention-based teaching and testing over indoctrination), the need for genuine public accountability of elected officials, and why voters must engage beyond party lines: research candidates, show up at meetings, and hold representatives to the people they serve rather than party machines. Topics include: - Maine’s poor performance on education and taxes compared to other states - The failure of one-party dominance and the importance of common-sense policies - Restoring critical thinking, family values, public safety, and economic opportunity - How ordinary Mainers can reclaim influence over local government - Shawn’s background, approach to representation, and call for informed voting Whether you’re in District 64 or anywhere in Maine, this conversation challenges the media narrative and focuses on practical solutions close to home. Learn more or support Shawn’s campaign: PackardFOR464.com or search “Shawn Packard for State Representative District 64” on Facebook. If you live in the district, research the candidates thoroughly and vote. Outside the district, you can still help by sharing this episode and spreading the word. Thanks for listening. Subscribe for more interviews that cut through the noise and focus on what’s happening in Maine. Episode 200 featuring gubernatorial candidate Bobby Charles is coming up next. #MainePolitics #HouseDistrict64 #ShawnPackard #MuddyWatersPodcast #LocalGovernment #EducationReform

On this episode of the Muddy Waters Podcast, host Chuck Ellis sits down with Aaron Chadbourne (Inside Maine on WGAN, former senior policy adviser in the LePage administration) for a clear-eyed look at Maine’s major races.They dig into the U.S. Senate contest between Susan Collins and Troy Jackson (following the collapse of Graham Platner’s campaign), Paul LePage’s path in CD2 against Matt Dunlap, the governor’s race featuring Hannah Pingree, Bobby Charles, and independent Rick Bennett, Chellie Pingree’s hold on CD1, the critical Cumberland County DA race with Stephanie Anderson, and the battle for control of the Maine House and Senate. Aaron brings his signature realism on Republican prospects, the power of local races, media bias, and why hard work and turnout matter more than hope. Practical insights for anyone who wants to understand what’s actually happening in Maine politics—and how to influence it.Tune in for straight talk on the races that will shape the state’s future.#MainePolitics #MuddyWatersPodcast #SusanCollins #PaulLePage #HannahPingree #AaronChadbourne

Chuck Ellis talks with Annalyse Sarvinas, Republican candidate for Maine House District 51 (Topsham).A teacher and mom of two, Annalyse explains why she’s running and the issues she’s focused on: taxes and affordability, government fraud, education reform (including phonics-based literacy), healthcare access, and support for local law enforcement. She also discusses her approach to limited government and public service.Visit votesarvinas.com to learn more or get involved.

In this episode of the Muddy Waters Podcast, Chuck Ellis talks with Eryn Soule, former Lewiston City Councilor and Independent candidate for Maine State Senate.Eryn shares how she fell in love with Lewiston after moving from Freeport, her two years on the City Council fighting for public safety, and why she launched a citizens’ petition to put a stricter needle-exchange ordinance on the November ballot. They dig into syringe litter, the problems with unlimited needle distribution, rising HIV concerns, soft-on-crime policies, support for police and prosecutors, and what it will take for Augusta to actually fight for Lewiston.She also explains why she’s running as an unenrolled Independent and encourages Lewiston voters to turn out and vote yes on the needle ordinance.Find Eryn on Facebook at “Eryn Soule for Senate.” She’s a Clean Elections candidate — Lewiston residents can make a $5 contribution through the Maine Ethics Commission.Muddy Waters Podcast – helping Mainers understand what’s really going on in our state.

In this episode of the Muddy Waters Podcast, host Chuck Ellis sits down with Nick Murray, Policy & Communications Director at Lead Maine, for a deep dive into Flock Safety cameras and automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) spreading across Maine.These fixed cameras don’t just read plates—they log make, model, bumper stickers, and even track bikes and pedestrians, feeding data into massive national databases. Nick explains how this creates “pattern of life” surveillance, raises serious Fourth Amendment concerns, and has already led to documented abuses by law enforcement. Towns like Auburn and South Portland installed systems with little public notice (sometimes via federal grants), only to face fierce backlash and cancel contracts.They discuss why this isn’t a left-vs-right issue—ACLU of Maine and conservatives are aligned here—why “local control” failed, the case for a statewide ban, and practical steps Mainers can take: FOIA requests, town meetings, petitions, and legislative testimony.Nick also shares Lead Maine’s longer-term mission: building a pipeline of engaged citizens for free-market policies and a more prosperous Maine by 2030, plus an update on their MaineCare accountability project.If you value privacy, due process, and limited government, this conversation is essential listening.Subscribe, share, and join the conversation. Protecting constitutional rights starts at the local level.

Chuck Ellis interviews Leyland Streiff of Maine Girl Dads about the ongoing legal fight to save the “Protect Girls Sports and Spaces” citizen initiative. After massive signature collection, the Secretary of State’s office invalidated thousands of signatures on technicalities, blocking it from the November ballot.Now in federal court to revalidate signatures and restore the petition.