Scott From Kennebunk is our Caller Of The Week!

We discuss All Things New England Sports with John Tomase on Wicked Sports Weekend.

Montana Towers from the Maine Policy Institute joins Matt Gagnon for his regular segment on State and National Policy.

Jim Libby has withdrawn from the 2026 gubernatorial race due to failing to meet the Clean Elections program's signature requirements. Libby needed 3200 valid signatures but only received around 2800 after the Ethics Commission found issues with duplications and errors, including potential fraud. This issue is not uncommon in Maine, as it happened to Democratic candidate John Richardson in 2010. Libby's campaign had limited resources and trusted the wrong people for signature collection, ultimately falling short of the necessary signatures.

The discussion focused on the political dynamics in Maine, particularly the campaign of Governor Janet Mills, who is trailing significantly. Despite aggressive attack ads, her numbers have not improved. Mills' desperation is evident as she has pulled ads and proposed a $300 check scheme and a millionaire's tax, contradicting her past stance. The conversation also touched on media bias, emphasizing the need to cross-reference news from various sources to discern factual information. Matt criticized the media's selective coverage of military operations, highlighting the lack of similar coverage during the Afghanistan withdrawal.

Janet Mills' US Senate campaign is facing challenges, with no ads booked after Wednesday and trailing in polls. Despite this, her campaign raised $2.6 million in Q1 and committed to three debates. Her opponent, Graham Platner, has $190,000 in ads planned. Mills' spokesperson, Tommy Garcia, emphasized her strength against Susan Collins. The conversation also touched on broader political issues, including Trump's defense budget demands, the impact of billionaire wealth, and the perceived ineffectiveness of Democratic candidates. The discussion highlighted the complexities of political strategy, fundraising, and public perception in the run-up to the November election.

Matt is joined by security analyst Josh Filler. Josh is an attorney and former New York City, White House, and Department of Homeland Security official, bringing deep national security experience to the conversation.

Matt speaks with Heather Perry, Superintendent, Gorham School District who's speaking at Eggs & Issues along with a few students as well!

• Register: www.portlandregion.com/eggs
• Event Name: “Reimagining Maine’s Education System" 
• Topic Summary: Maine’s education system is at a pivotal moment. Our next Eggs & Issues will provide a candid and thought-provoking conversation about the current state of PreK–12 education in Maine and what it means for our future workforce.

The State House budget, totaling $529 million, includes $300 relief checks and a millionaires tax, which passed narrowly in a divided House. Governor Janet Mills, facing a tough Senate race, prioritized relief checks in exchange for the tax. The budget, criticized as one of the worst, passed 76-73, with only one Democrat voting against. Republicans proposed numerous amendments, but the majority party, led by Mills, systematically voted them down. Mills, who initially promised bipartisanship, has since become an extreme partisan, breaking her campaign promises.

Matt discusses the denial of bail for Elliot Cutler, who is facing charges for child exploitation, and the 15-year prison sentence given to Jasvene Sanga, a Hollywood drug dealer who supplied ketamine to Matthew Perry, who later died from it. Matt criticizes the leniency in Cutler's sentence compared to Sanga's, arguing that Cutler's crimes were more severe and should have resulted in a harsher punishment. He also reflects on the nature of ketamine and the consequences of drug trafficking, expressing bewilderment at the criminal justice system's inconsistencies.