New England Take

A. J. is joined by Michael Stansfield, CEO of Civic-Chain, to discuss the importance of government transparency, providing tools that make it easy for journalists and citizens to keep government honest, and how blockchain tools (like Civic-Chain) can make this happen.Learn more about Civic-Chain at https://civic-chain.comAD: Get great specialty coffee from Porcupine Coffee Roasting using code "NETake" for 15% off at https://porcupinecoffeeroasting.comJoin the Substack at https://newenglandtake.com and email A. J. at [email protected]

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.newenglandtake.com/subscribe

A. J. dives into the moral and political failings of the Libertarian Party, the craziness of the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire (LPNH) getting kicked out, and Congressman Thomas Massie got his comeuppance.Concord Monitor, "‘Are you guys stupid?’: NH Libertarians ejected from national party after state leader’s speech": https://www.concordmonitor.com/2026/05/27/are-you-guys-stupid-nh-libertarians-ejected-from-national-party-after-state-leaders-speech/NBC News Kentucky District 4 Primary Results: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-primary-elections/kentucky-us-house-district-4-resultsJoin the Substack at https://newenglandtake.com and email the show at [email protected]

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.newenglandtake.com/subscribe

A. J. is joined by Meg Hagaman, candidate for Merrimack County Attorney, to break down the importance of county attorney (is Law & Order accurate?!?), her background as a prosecutor, and the future of criminal justice in New Hampshire. Learn more about her campaign at https://www.meg-for-merrimack.comJoin the Substack at https://newenglandtake.com and email A. J. at [email protected]

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.newenglandtake.com/subscribe

In the latest episode, A. J. dives into some recent headlines: Concord considers composting, the Concord Monitor shifts to USPS delivery, Jeremy Kauffman hurts the Republican's progress, and the Bangor Daily News with an unhinged article involving homeless feces.Concord Monitor, "Concord explores food waste drop-off proposal": https://www.concordmonitor.com/2026/05/13/concord-composting-food-scraps/Concord Monitor, "To Our Readers: An important update regarding home delivery": https://www.concordmonitor.com/2026/05/13/to-our-readers-an-important-update-regarding-home-delivery/InDepthNH, "NH Libertarian Leader Charged After Alleged Racist Incident": https://indepthnh.org/2026/05/12/nh-libertarian-leader-charged-after-alleged-racist-incident/NotTheBee, "This liberal couple fled Texas due to "climate change." They woke up one day in Maine to find someone had slept and pooped on their porch.": https://notthebee.com/article/this-liberal-texas-couple-fled-the-state-due-to-climate-change-they-woke-up-one-day-in-maine-to-find-someone-had-slept-and-pooped-on-their-porchJoin the Substack to support the show at https://newenglandtake.com and email the show at [email protected]

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.newenglandtake.com/subscribe

A. J. speaks with Ross Connolly, Northeast Regional State Director at Americans for Prosperity and host of WDEV's Vermont Viewpoint, to breakdown the state of Vermont politics and how it diverged so dramatically from New Hampshire.Learn more about AFP's efforts in Vermont at https://greenmountainprosperity.comGet great coffee from Porcupine Coffee Roasting, with 15% discount with code "NETake", at https://porcupinecoffeeroasting.comReach out to the show at [email protected] and join the Substack at https://newenglandtake.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.newenglandtake.com/subscribe

A. J. Kierstead and Dexter Tarbox dive into the senate race in Maine, diving into the shocker of Governor Janet Mills' failure and dropout, the Graham Platner socialist situation, and why none of this likely matters because Collins will win.Get some GREAT specialty coffee, that I drink EVERY morning, from Porcupine Coffee Roasting with code "NETAKE" at https://www.porcupinecoffeeroasting.comEmail the show at [email protected] and join the Substack at https://newenglandtake.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.newenglandtake.com/subscribe

A. J. reflects on hitting the five year mark of the New England Take and the state of local media in New Hampshire, followed by a deep dive into the US Department of Justice indicting the Southern Poverty Law Center for funding the very organizations it is allegedly fighting!

Fox News, “DOJ says Southern Poverty Law Center funneled $3M+ to white supremacist and extremist groups like the KKK”: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/doj-says-southern-poverty-law-center-funneled-3m-white-supremacist-extremist-groups-like-kkk

NY Post, “Georgia Teacher of the Year finalist sues district after being removed from classroom over Charlie Kirk post”: https://nypost.com/2025/10/25/us-news/michelle-mickens-sues-georgia-school-district-over-charlie-kirk-fallout/

Support the show by joining our Substack at https://newenglandtake.com and email A. J. at [email protected]

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.newenglandtake.com/subscribe

A. J. hits the latest headlines: NHFPI being Democrat shills, New Hampshire Representative Ellen Read in trouble, and the latest parental disclosure bill.NH Journal, "Dem Read’s Erratic Behavior Gets Her Banned From House on Non-Session Days": https://nhjournal.com/dem-reads-erratic-behavior-gets-her-banned-from-house-on-non-session-days/NHPR, "'Everyone knows the F word:' Lawmaker faces censure for use of profanity at State House": https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2026-04-14/nhpolitics-nh-politics-ellen-read-lawmaker-behavior-newhampshire-house-legislatureUnion Leader, "Emotional testimony offered over parental disclosure bill": https://www.unionleader.com/news/politics/state/emotional-testimony-offered-over-parental-disclosure-bill/article_5820ce0c-e660-4392-bd40-56ec015b7aba.htmlJoin the Substack to support the show at https://newenglandtake.com and email A. J. at [email protected]

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.newenglandtake.com/subscribe

A. J. breaks down the good news of college ID no longer approved for New Hampshire voter ID, bad news in the fight to charge more for out of staters using state parks, Portland has yet another bad idea in Maine, and Democrat chaos at Sharpton’s NAN Conference.Ad: Get great coffee every month from Porcupine Coffee Roasting with code "NETAKE" at https://www.porcupinecoffeeroasting.comJoin the Substack at https://newenglandtake.com and email the show at [email protected] Hampshire Bulletin, “Ayotte signs bill barring use of student IDs to vote”: https://newhampshirebulletin.com/briefs/ayotte-signs-bill-barring-use-of-student-ids-to-vote/?emci=ca820339-ef31-f111-9a48-000d3a14b640&emdi=bb9a7deb-7032-f111-8ef2-000d3a14b640&ceid=550912Union Leader, “House panel rejects bill to raise park entry fees for out-of-staters”: https://www.unionleader.com/news/politics/state/house-panel-rejects-bill-to-raise-park-entry-fees-for-out-of-staters/article_8d6b45df-be40-4ce0-a789-2905091607ae.htmlWGME, “New vacant storefront ordinance goes into effect in Portland”: https://wgme.com/news/local/new-vacant-storefront-ordinance-in-portland-goes-into-effect?fbclid=IwY2xjawRD8I1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFrRlFRZGJiNmgyalRLdGNTc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHiIm94Edkqoe5ttuWRH_s2bELjanF_WstLPkNfvODz_D8hPMKjl7wSScpDI3_aem_11D_DqnRegDOY8ZFI0HAiwNH Journal, “At Sharpton’s NAN Conference, Activists Take Aim at FITN Primary”: https://nhjournal.com/at-sharptons-nan-conference-activists-take-aim-at-fitn-primary/

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.newenglandtake.com/subscribe

A. J. is joined by Middle East expert Jason Pack, of the Disorder Podcast and NATO Foundation, to break down the geopolitical state of the Iran military conflict and how it compares to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya. Does Trump have this in control?Check out the Disorder Podcast https://www.youtube.com/@DisorderShow and their Substack https://natoandtheged.substack.comSend your comments to [email protected] and join the Substack at https://newenglandtake.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.newenglandtake.com/subscribe