Author: The Maine Wire

By Chad Grignon Ask any Maine business owner, and they’ll tell you one of the hardest parts of operating in our state is the cost of providing health insurance for employees. The numbers bear this out; according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the growth in per capita expenditures for healthcare in our state has outpaced the national average, annual inflation, and even Maine’s median household income since 2001. Among the primary drivers of these costs are the big hospital systems that fail to makeenough from Medicare and Medicaid, and then compensate by shifting costs ontoemployers. Northern Light…

by Zoe Scontras I attended Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) in Virginia from eighth grade through high school. I had my concerns then about how the school board ran the district. But what’s happening now reveals a deeper problem – one that should alarm parents and policymakers throughout the country, including here in Maine.  In 2021, my junior year, the school board voted to allow transgender students to use the bathroom or locker room of their choice. This policy resulted in a series of Title IX controversies – one of which gained national attention. More recently, in May, a transgender…

In a democratic republic, such as ours, power is vested in the people. And the people are guided by a constitution, and elected representatives who make the laws we all live by. This form of government is supposed to be closest to the people and best reflects the values of our nation and the state, not one party or a single individual. Although citizens transfer power to their elected officials, the people retain their right to speak in both elections and through participation in public hearings and through direct contact with their elected representatives. In Maine, that access for citizens…

by Robert Muldoon When Bates College did not release its admissions applications figures this March or April — as it does annually, like clockwork — I grew concerned. Did I have some small role in this omission?   When I wrote “Can a White Alum Write About a Black Alum at a Liberal Arts College?” in the American Spectator (Dec 2023), I mostly hoped Bates would allow me to tell the story of Thomas Seth Bruce, Class of 1898, an all-time athlete and civil rights leader. But I also wanted to hold Bates accountable. To me, Bates’ steadfast refusal telegraphed how empty…

During the not-so-long-ago Biden Administration years, certain Democratic officials seemed to operate under an unwritten rule: if your politics were correct, your conduct was irrelevant. While one of the most memorable beneficiaries of this rule will always be Hillary Clinton, in the more recent past there such high profile examples as Hunter Biden, as well as Adam Schiff, Anthony Fauci, and the others pardoned at the 11th hour of America’s long national nightmare under “Uncle Joe.” But there are signs that Democratic scofflaws who did not rate for pardons may finally receive some serious attention from the U.S. Department of…

By Keenan Pasztor In 2024, the pageant world was rocked when Miss USA 2024 and Miss Teen USA 2024 both stepped down from their titles citing mental health reasons and conflicts within the organization. This came just a few years after Miss USA 2019, Cheslie Kryst, tragically committed suicide in 2022. Pageants which were once showcased nationally on major TV networks eventually lost their prime spots and moved to streaming services. The seeming loss of popularity, combined with reports of bullying, favoritism, and rigged competition begs the question: “Are pageants still relevant in today’s day and age?” In order to…

Augusta hosted a showdown on May 7 between proponents of measures to restore girls’ school sports to biological females and those who want Maine’s current policy allowing those born male but who identify as female to play on girls’ teams in competitions they often dominate. The Maine State Legislature’s Judiciary Committee dedicated Thursday to public hearings on eight bills regarding trans-identifying persons, largely focusing on biological males participating in female sports or using women’s only spaces such as locker rooms or restrooms. Thursday marked the first instance of such a focus on these questions since Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn) was…

By Matthew Cortez As inflation cuts into Mainers’ savings, individuals and businesses are actively seeking ways to protect their hard-earned money. LD 372, sponsored by Sen. Marianne Moore (R-Washington) and Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn), and supported by the Sound Money Defense League and Money Metals Exchange, would end sales tax on purchases of gold and silver across the state. The problem of the steady erosion in the value of the Federal Reserve note, i.e. the dollar, is rooted in irresponsible federal monetary and fiscal policies. Maine doesn’t have to stand by as the effects of federal policies harm Mainers statewide.…

In recognition of the Maine Legislature’s passing a law to recognize the Seppala Sled Dog as the state’s official canine this past week, The Maine Wire sat down with Lilly, who identifies as one, to get her take on where things stand in the Pine Tree State today, an where she sees them going. MW: Lilly, thanks for speaking with us today. Just to get the record straight, are you really a Seppala Sled Dog or just a husky? Lilly: Perhaps you’re not aware, but my friend Rep. Nina Milliken (D-Blue Hill) is poised to introduce legislation that will extend…

If America were a household, we’d be the kind that earns $50,000 a year, spends $70,000, then hosts a pizza party to celebrate our budgeting skills. The U.S. national debt has now ballooned past $34 trillion—and no, that’s not a typo. That’s trillion with a “T,” the kind of number that usually only appears in sci-fi movies about intergalactic empires. According to the Congressional Budget OPice, we’re adding nearly $1.7 trillion a year to that tab, faster than a teenager at an all-you-can-eat buffet with dad’s credit card. Every American household now carries the equivalent of over $250,000 in national…

by Jerry Leeman New Hampshire’s proposed ban on offshore wind development proves the state’s loyalty to its coastal communities and the working men and women of the New England fisheries. New Hampshire’s state Senate will soon take up HB 682, a measure that reorganizes or closes state offices backing the offshore wind buildout in the Gulf of Maine, a region vital to Maine’s economy. My organization, the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association, supports this legislation because industrializing the sea will jeopardize our fishing fleets and maritime character. It is rare to see an unreservedly pro-fisheries bill like HB 682. We…

There’s a bill slithering through Augusta that reveals — unintentionally — why Gov. Janet Mills and her cabinet of Democrat Party loyalists have allowed Maine’s procurement process to become an unsupervised, non-competitive, non-transparent free-for-all. In case you’ve missed it, State Auditor Matt Dunlap has revealed in his 2024 audit report that Maine’s procurement process—that is, the way the executive branch spends your tax dollars—is rife with material weaknesses and significant deficiencies. These weaknesses and deficiencies leave Maine taxpayers vulnerable to government waste, fraud, abuse, and even raw corruption. While it’s tempting to view the glaring problems Auditor Dunlap has revealed…

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ (Maine DHHS) Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) issued a no-bid contract worth nearly $800,000 in taxpayer money to house a non-citizen at an Oakland residential care facility, state contract documents obtained by the Maine Wire reveal. The shocking cost of the taxpayer-funded medical care the Mills Administration provided for a single non-working non-citizen began Feb. 2022. But it was only proposed via the legally required Project Justification Form (PJF) months later in June 2022 — and it was only approved several months later in Oct. 2022. That means Maine’s Department…

Could Maine become the site of a radical uptick in black market tobacco sales? If the experience of a nearby state that got regulation wrong is any example, it certainly could. In addition to that, increased Maine taxes on tobacco products will likely drive sales across state lines, and hurt local businesses. The Massachusetts Multi-Agency Illegal Tobacco Task Force recently released its annual report which shows a nearly 21,000% increase in illegal tobacco product seizures following Massachusetts’ implementation of high tobacco taxes and a comprehensive flavored tobacco sales ban: not a 21% increase in illegal tobacco seizures, but an alarming 21,000% increase. This…

The New York Times, the official media organ for the Democratic National Committee and diehard Democratic voters, is sounding the alarm over internal chaos at ActBlue, the political fundraising juggernaut that has helped left-wing candidates and committees raise billions of dollars since its founding in 2004. According to the bombshell report released Wednesday, the powerhouse fundraising platform, which is technically organized as a nonprofit political action committee, is facing internal chaos, with at least seven senior officials resigning amid increasing scrutiny from congressional Republicans. Key Findings from the NYT Report: Mass Resignations: Seven senior officials left ActBlue in February, including…

The Maine Wire’s Steve Robinson and Edward Tomic contributed to this story. Maine Gov. Janet Mills and Rep. Deqa Dhalac (D-South Portland) created the controversial “Office of New Americans” (ONA) last year as part of the governor’s plan to bring 75,000 new workers to Maine over a five-year period. On Dec. 18, Gov. Mills tapped former Catholic Charities and Department of Labor migrant resettlement coordinator Tarlan R. Ahmadov, 53, of Falmouth to be director of the ONA. Since Ahmadov’s appointment, details of his checkered past, including anti-Armenian social media posts and political advocacy, have led some in Maine’s migrant community…

Former Bangor Mayor, Democrat state senator and state representative Sean Faircloth won Maine House District 24 on Tuesday, holding the seat vacated by Maine State Treasurer Joe Perry for his party against a challenge by Republican Carolyn Fish with over 70 percent, or 1,431 votes to Fish’s 566. The district which covers parts of Bangor, Brewer, Veazie and Orono has been considered safe for Democrats in recent years, so Tuesday’s outcome resulted in no net change to current composition of the Maine House of Representatives. An attorney and long-time fixture in Bangor politics, Faircloth is perhaps best known for being…

The Maine House of Representatives voted 75 to 70 on Tuesday to censure Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn) for posting a viral image on social media that showed a male athlete taking first place in a girls’ track and field contest. The image set off an internet firestorm, with tens of thousands of social media users sharing the image and commenting on Maine’s policy of allowing young men to compete against young women. https://twitter.com/laurel_libby/status/1894145673169121612 The controversy was further elevated when Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who supports the policy, clashed in person with President Donald Trump, who had recently issued an executive…

After over a decade in law enforcement, this is where I find myself. I’ve watched as the communities I serve have deteriorated, ravaged by the insatiable demand for narcotics. I’ve arrested friends, schoolmates, their parents, and relatives. I’ve placed people I know in body bags, zipped them up, and carried them to the back of a hearse. I’ve knocked on doors at 2 a.m. to tell a parent their child has died. I’ve held mothers and fathers as they cried on my shoulder. The only thing that has not changed is the ever-growing demand for drugs. I’ve watched this evolution…

Maine lawmakers are slated to consider creating protections for workers that will limit how American businesses can use emerging monitoring and surveillance systems, which some corporations have adopted to spy on remote workers and ensure they are not slacking off. The bill, introduced by Rep. Amy Roeder (D-Bangor), would require employers to obtain informed consent from employees before using surveillance programs and would prohibit the most invasive types of corporate monitoring, such as audiovisual monitoring within an employee’s personal vehicle, device, or home. Rep. Roeder presented the bill to the legislature’s Labor Committee on Wednesday. [RELATED: Houlton Panopticon: Aroostook County…

Below is the full transcript of Gov. Janet Mills’ full “State of the Budget” speech, delivered to a joint session of the State Legislature on Jan. 28.

A minor earthquake struck Maine late Monday morning, rattling residents across parts of New England but causing no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the 4.1-magnitude quake at 10:22 a.m. local time. The epicenter was located at a depth of 20 kilometers (12 miles), approximately 19 kilometers (12 miles) east of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and 75 kilometers (47 miles) east-northeast of Manchester, New Hampshire. Residents in Maine, New Hampshire, and parts of northern Massachusetts reported feeling brief tremors on social media. Some described shaking windows, swaying light fixtures, and startled pets, though no damage was…

State House staff have published the final list of legislative proposals that state lawmakers will consider during the 132nd Legislature — most of which are certain to die a quick death. The pile of nascent legislative bills and resolves includes 394 bills related to taxes and 115 bills related to energy, with 29 concerning solar, seven on wind power, and nine having to do with nuclear power. Forty-nine of the bills would change Maine’s election laws or practices, while 88 bills relate to Maine’s adult-use or medicinal cannabis programs. The full text of the bills is not yet online but…

I was a defender on the pages of the Ellsworth American in November 2018 of Republican Sen. Susan Collins’s courageous and principled deciding vote to confirm now Associate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. In 2020, Sen. Collins voted to confirm all but two of President Joe Biden’s cabinet choices, despite nearly all being unqualified, freaks, a disgrace, or all of the above. To wit: Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Energy, who doesn’t know a wart from a watt from an ohm, from a volt—and still doesn’t know how many barrels of oil are produced by American drillers. Xavier Becerra, Secretary of…

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) has issued an executive order to establish a commission that will study what she called “Artificial Intelligence” — a catchall phrase that has come to describe large language models like ChatGPT. As a demonstrative project, we asked Chat GPT to make some predictions about Gov. Mills new commission, including whom she’s likely to appoint to the commission, what its policy recommendations will be, and what it will eventually report back to Maine’s leaders. Here below is the unedited predictions of our future robot overlords. Likely Appointees to the Task Force Heather Johnson: As the Commissioner…

The House Republican Office distributed the following press release on Friday afternoon. The weekly radio address can be viewed here: Mid-December and the weather is just perfect for taking a day to go walk on my family hunting property. I’m State Representative Billy Bob Faulkingham and this is this week’s Republican Radio Address. So the weather’s been great this year and it’s extending into the winter and it’s a great opportunity to get out in the outdoors and get some exercise. There’s a big push from the incoming presidential administration to Make America Healthy Again. I’m doing my part, you…

President-elect Donald Trump continues to send shockwaves through Washington, D.C., and American politics as his proposed cabinet picks bring into clearer perspective what the second Trump administration will look like. On Thursday, Trump caused an eruption of discontent among the public health bureaucracy with the announcement that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a former independent candidate for president who was once considered for a cabinet post by Democratic President Barack Obama, be nominated to serve as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. “I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health…

Former Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under President Donald Trump, Tom Homan, shocked the left-wing host of 60 Minutes last week with a simple solution to prevent the separation of families during large-scale deportation efforts. Homan, who was regarded during Trump’s time in office as one of the toughest law enforcement advocates for strict border controls, didn’t mince words when asked how family units can be preserved while American immigration law is enforced. Here’s a partial transcript from a clip that went semi-viral on the Web: 60 Minutes: “We have seen one estimate that says it would…

Maine Wire Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson joined the Maine Policy Institute’s Pine Tree Pulse Podcast on Friday to explain how we can prove that non-citizens, including legal aliens and paroled illegal aliens, are registered to vote in Maine elections–and some have had votes cast in their names. In the podcast, Robinson answers many of the questions readers and critics have had about the nature of the reporting, the underlying source documents, and the request from Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey (D) and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) to hand over the identities of non-citizen voters. [LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO PINE…

Maine’s Attorney General and Secretary of State sent a letter to the Mane Wire on Friday asking the investigative news outlet to hand over records showing non-citizens are registered to vote and have had votes cast in their names since at least 2016. In the letter, Attorney General Aaron Frey and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows asked Maine Wire Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson to provide the state with identifying information related to individuals who appear to be illegally registered to vote, “complete copies” of source documents, and “any other documentation you may have collected that is relevant” to the investigative report…

Daily Wire podcaster and best-selling children’s book author Matt Walsh has returned to theaters with a new film, Am I Racist?, which is now playing in major theaters across the United States, including Maine. This film serves as a follow-up to his previous work, What Is a Woman?, where Walsh critically examined transgender medical treatments and the ideologies that promote them. This time, Walsh directs his critique at the philosophy of anti-racism and the thriving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) industry. Here’s the short review: The movie is damn hilarious. The liberal in your family might find it hard to…

Following the University of Maine System’s (UMS) decision to renege on a deal to sell the Hutchinson Center in Belfast to a Christian church, the church — Calvary Chapel Belfast — has said it intends to pursue litigation against the taxpayer-funded system. Calvary Chapel Belfast Lead Pastor Greg Huston said Sunday that the church intended to fight what it viewed as an unjust and discriminatory decision on the part of UMS. Prior to his typical sermon, Huston addressed UMaine’s decision and the left-wing campaign that aimed to disrupt the sale of the property to a Christian organization. [RELATED: UMaine Rescinds…

Three on One is ABC Fun: The second presidential debate of 2023 took place, this time featuring Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate. The debate was universally panned across social media for ABC’s heavy-handed and one-sided moderation, including questionable “fact-checking” and lopsided interruptions. There’s no question Vice President Harris overperformed expectations, while Trump failed to get his message out as effectively as in the last debate. Here are some clips the Maine Wire caught last night: https://twitter.com/TheMaineWire/status/1833705473175904288 https://twitter.com/TheMaineWire/status/1833682723468144964 https://twitter.com/TheMaineWire/status/1833679919466897545 Meanwhile, in life under the Biden-Harris Administration… The U.S. Army sounded the alarm on a growing Venezuelan gang presence…

In August of 2023, immigration reporter Jennie Taer published a leaked Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memo that revealed Asian Transnational Criminal Organizations — a.k.a. the Chinese mafia — had established more than 270 drug trafficking hubs throughout rural Maine. These foreign criminal organizations, the memo revealed, were making billions of dollars illegally growing cannabis throughout rural Maine, taking advantage of our state’s rural character, lax law enforcement, and laissez-faire attitude toward our neighbors. These criminal organizations were using their profits to support narcotics trafficking, human trafficking, and sending profits back to the People’s Republic of China to support the…

As the girls rounded the corner into the last stretch before the finish line, I couldn’t help myself: “Go, girls, go, girls!” I yelled as they sprinted and jostled for first place. Their feet pounding and red cheeks flaring, they ran hard because, on this cold fall day, the State Championship was up for grabs in Belfast, Maine. However, something was out of place in this scenario, and it wasn’t me. I stood there watching as a woman who had vigorously competed in high school sports, relishing the competition and the banter the girls on my teams had during practice…

The Maine Wire, Maine’s fastest growing digital news and investigative reporting outlet, announced Monday that it has filed a lawsuit against Gov. Janet Mills in Kennebec County Superior Court seeking compliance with Maine’s Freedom of Access Act. Maine Wire Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson, the plaintiff in the complaint, issued the following statement: “For 195 days, Gov. Mills has refused to turn over her schedules for three days in Dec. 2023, blatantly disregarding the spirit and letter of Maine’s Freedom of Access Act. The Maine Wire will not tolerate government officials who illegally frustrate basic journalistic inquiry for their own political benefit.…

Facebook, the flagship social media site of Meta Platforms, Inc., deleted thousands of social media posts from users in Maine on Friday night. Almost all of the posts included links to content from the Maine Wire; however, some right-leaning Facebook pages and groups that featured commentary on Maine politics were also negatively impacted. The move followed on the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that the State of Missouri, among others, lacked standing to sue the federal government for pressuring social media companies to censor Americans’ speech online. During the 2020 election and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal…

President Joe Biden should not, cannot, — must not! — step aside for some other candidate to serve as the Democratic nominee for President of the United States. As the honorable Governor of Maine Janet Mills said last night, after watching President Biden triumph over a cold and cruise to a commanding debate victory, Democracy is at stake in November, as well as common sense and civility, and “we’re not seeing that on the part of Mr. Trump tonight.” In an interview with a seldom-read progressive blog, Mills rebuked those calling for Democrats to stage a coup and replace Biden…

Crony capitalism — driven entirely by Maine Democrats and far-left ideological extremists — has corrupted Maine’s energy market, and the result is that all of Maine is poorer, less vibrant, and every Mainer is suffering. Well, not every Mainer. Some are growing fabulously wealthy. Namely, those “green energy” lobbyists, government hacks, and the few providers of subsidized “renewable energy” products that are actually located in Maine. It’s a cruel irony that the very people driving the policies that are impoverishing Mainers are also the ones getting wealthy off of these green energy schemes. Take the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC).…

By Steve Robinson and Edward Tomic Maine’s taxpayer-funded “harm reduction” specialists call it “boofing” or “booty dumping,” but those are just pleasant euphemisms referring to the practice of sticking heroin, fentanyl, or meth up your butt. Maine Access Points, a taxpayer-funded nonprofit based in Bangor, as well as the city of Portland’s city-run needle distribution center are both offering extensive how-to guides and — even anal injection kits — to help drug users squirt narcotics into their anuses. In Portland, the “Portland Public Health Boofing Kit” comes with a needleless syringe and an informational flyer explaining the proper technique for…

Editor’s Note: The group quota regime is a revolutionary threat which aims to overthrow the political order of the United States and the Constitution that underlies it. In its maneuvers for political power, this revolutionary enemy already operates on a set of legal and constitutional principles entirely different from those on which our country was founded. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the corrupt prosecution of President Donald Trump, and the attendant, authoritarian insistence that criticism of the machinations of “justice” is unwelcome in a democratic society. [This column was originally published at TomKlingenstein.com and is republished here with…

A&D Mortgage, a Florida-based lender, announced Monday that it has increased the maximum loan limits for Foreign National and Foreign National DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) loans. Effective immediately, the maximum loan limit for purchase transactions is set at $3 million, and the limit for cashout transactions is $2 million, the company said in a press release. The company aims to better serve the financial needs of foreign national clients. The higher loan limits demonstrate A&D Mortgage’s commitment to providing comprehensive financial products tailored to the unique circumstances of international borrowers, the company said. “Our decision to raise the loan…

A new report released in May 2024 by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) sheds light on the activities and foreign connections of the Shut It Down for Palestine (SID4P) movement, revealing significant connections between the anti-Israel protesters and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Formed in October 2023, SID4P is an anti-capitalist, anti-police, and anti-government protest movement. https://twitter.com/wolfejosh/status/1790720818852266277 The group regular makes news through demonstrations and direct-action campaigns targeting critical infrastructure and public spaces, including protests that create traffic jams and block access to airports. “SID4P functions as a hybrid online/real-world network,” the report states. Organizations under the SID4P umbrella,…

Maine Governor Janet Mills’ refusal to act on dozens of last-minute spending bills passed by Senate Democrats when lawmakers returned to Augusta last Friday for “veto day” resulted in an embarrassing moment for House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Portland). A video shared to social media Friday by Republican State Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn) shows the House Speaker and her chief of staff walking dejectedly back to the State House shortly after 8 p.m. Libby and other State House sources said Talbot Ross was attempting to gain access to the governor’s mansion in a bid to convince Gov. Mills to consider…

Maine Wire reporter Edward Tomic joined the Grace Curley Show Wednesday afternoon to discuss an Maine Wire exclusive report on the illegal alien who caused a four-car crash on I-95 that left an Albion woman dead and her husband in critical condition. WATCH: According to the Maine Department of Public Safety, an initial investigation into the April 26 crash found that 23-year-old Oguzhan Cildir — who was described as a resident of Brighton, Mass. — started the crash when he struck a pickup truck and minivan while driving southbound on the Maine Turnpike in Wells. The Maine Wire learned from…

CBS News Investigations ran a segment Tuesday highlighting the proliferation of Asian transnational criminal organizations throughout rural Maine, including an interview with Maine Wire Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson: From CBS News: Maine is the newest frontier for the illicit marijuana trade, with potentially hundreds of suspected unlicensed grow houses operating in the state… It’s part of a larger phenomenon nationwide. Thousands of illegal marijuana farms have been cropping up in states like Oklahoma, California and Colorado, according to Raymond Donovan, the former chief of operations for the Drug Enforcement Agency. “[Maine] is a perfect location to cultivate cannabis and do it…

Residents of New England are paying some of the highest taxes in the United States, according to a comprehensive study analyzing the lifetime tax burdens across all fifty states. The report, recently published by financial services firm Self Financial, provides an eye-opening glimpse into the financial futures of Americans based on current tax policies. On average, a Maine resident will pay $581,750 in total taxes over their lifetime, which amounts to 40.9 percent of their estimated lifetime earnings. This places Maine as one of the top ten highest tax-paying states by percentage of lifetime earnings in the nation, alongside its…

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is urging federal bureaucrats to avoid reclassifying the potato as a vegetable, a move which could have deleterious consequences for consumers of the nutrient rich tuber as well as farmers throughout northern Maine. Sen. Collins and Michael Bennet (D-CO) have spearheaded a bipartisan appeal to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) to maintain the classification of potatoes as vegetables. The move comes amid reports that potatoes may be reclassified as grains in the upcoming Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs), a move which could have a negative…

In an unexpected development that could spell ongoing challenges for the U.S. economy, the U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday that inflation at the wholesale level rose significantly in February 2024. The department’s Producer Price Index (PPI), which measures inflation at the wholesaler level, i.e. before it impacts consumers, jumped 0.6 percent from January to February. This increase outpaced the modest 0.3 percent gain forecasted by federal economists. Over the past 12 months, the PPI has climbed 1.6 percent, marking the highest annual surge since September 2023. Final demand goods experienced a 1.2 percent price increase in February, the most significant…

Maine is the 13th most federally dependent state in the nation, according to a recent study published by WalletHub’s financial analysts. Source: WalletHub The analysis, which is based on U.S. Bureau of Census data, highlights the varying degrees of federal aid reliance among states. Although the analysis found that “Red States” tend to be more reliant on federal tax dollars than “Blue States”, Maine is one of the Democrat-controlled states that bucks the national trend. To determine the levels of federal dependency, WalletHub evaluated states across three critical metrics: the return on taxes paid to the federal government, federal funding…

Republican lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are advancing an effort to ward off the potential threat of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), a proposed electronic currency that would be centrally controlled by the federal government or the Federal Reserve. A coalition of Senate Republicans, led by Sens. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), have introduced the CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act (S. 3801). The legislation aims to prevent the Federal Reserve, which is not a government body, from issuing a CBDC, either directly to individuals or indirectly through financial institutions or…

Journalist Tucker Carlson, of Maine, published his controversial Feb. 6 interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday evening. The interview mostly concerns the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with Putin discoursing at length on the historical factors that have created modern Eurasia. Putin blames the American CIA for blowing up the Nordstream pipeline, insists that Russia has long sought peaceful agreements with the U.S., and pointedly refuses to allow Carlson to return home with WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich. Here’s the full interview: https://twitter.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1755734526678925682?s=20

Maine, a state that has some of the highest taxes and electricity costs in the country, can also now count itself among the states with the highest levels of consumer debt, according to a new analysis from WalletHub. Mainers saw their average credit card balance climb by 7.27 percent in the span of a single quarter, reaching $6,903. Meanwhile, auto loan balances inched up by 1.12 percent, landing at $24,496, and personal loan debts rose by 3.72 percent to $10,389. The fintech firm’s latest report found that the overall debt load carried by residents of Maine is the fourth highest…

It’s been a transformational year for the Maine Wire. Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson officially took the reins in February, and now the Wire has six full-time employees, including four reporters and a digital media editor. We’re not done — not by a longshot — and we have plans to continue growing in the coming year and expand our impact throughout state. We’re committed to ensuring that Mainers don’t have to rely on left-wing media companies and lazy hacks to learn what’s happening in Augusta or anywhere else in Maine. We believe that Maine desperately needs an news outlet that doesn’t see…

Notes from a parallel universe… AUGUSTA, Maine – Maine Secretary of State Eric Brakey declared Thursday that former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will not be allowed to appear on the Maine Democratic primary ballot for the 2024 presidential election because she is a “war criminal.” “From North Africa to the Middle East, Hillary Clinton is a war criminal who has used war and the might of the American government to enrich herself,” Brakey said in a press release. “It’s also very likely that Clinton has ordered the murder of dozens of American citizens, including Seth Rich and Jeff…

In an eye-opening examination of higher education’s current climate, Bates College stands as a stark example of the struggles with free speech on campus, revealing a disconcerting trend that extends beyond the student body to the very faculty that shapes students’ minds. Bates, located in Lewiston, is ranked dismally for free speech at 213 out of 250 nationally, At the elite liberal arts college, a chilling environment has emerged, according to an article posted by Bates alum Roy Matthews at The Federalist. Students, accustomed to navigating a minefield of restrictive speech codes and peer-enforced social pressure, are not the only…

By Jennie Taer of the Daily Caller News Foundation PORTLAND, Maine — Illegal marijuana grows run by Chinese nationals have sprung up all across the state of Maine, and residents say law enforcement isn’t doing enough to stop their spread. An illegal Chinese marijuana grow is operating ACROSS THE STREET from a daycare in Maine.This video from @JennieSTaer and the @DailyCaller highlights the sheer insanity of the situation. https://t.co/HTWKJaFWJg pic.twitter.com/FIDyy8cU8Y— The Maine Wire (@TheMaineWire) November 22, 2023 The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified 270 suspected Chinese illegal marijuana grow operations in the state that could be making an estimated $4.37…

The following is a letter to the editor from Rep. Reagan Paul (R-Winterport): As a member of the Energy, Utilities, and Technology (EUT) committee, it is unfortunately customary to be expected to vote on legislation that comes before us with very little information provided. LD 1895 “An Act Regarding the Procurement of Energy from Offshore Wind Resources”, sponsored by Sen. Mark Lawrence (D-York), is no exception. [RELATED: Another Offshore Wind Project Scuttled as Maine Charges Forward with Mills’ “Roadmap”…] We had no idea what the costs to ratepayers would be, what the environmental or economic impacts were (even though the…

The following is on op-ed submission from Bates Alumnus Roy Mathews At private schools, like Bates College, free speech is on life support if not already underground. Activists have raised the cost of engaging in free speech to a level that most students and faculty would rather stay silent than speak out. I arrived as an undergraduate at Bates College several years ago, ready to be challenged and expand my horizons at school. I expected my papers would be graded strictly and for professors to question, critique, and edit my work to make me a better writer. I did not…

Robert R. Card II, 40, of Bowdoin, is the primary person of interest in the largest mass shooting in Maine’s history, according to the Maine Information and Analysis Center, the intel unit of the Maine State Police. Police began receiving calls about an active shooter incident in Lewiston at 6:56 pm Wednesday. Media reports indicate there are 22 people dead and several dozen more injured, though police officials were reluctant Wednesday evening to confirm those numbers. The shootings occurred first at Sparetime Recreation and minutes later at Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant. pic.twitter.com/r1UBE2pRQP— The Maine Wire (@TheMaineWire) October 26, 2023…

The following op-ed was submitted to the Maine Wire by the Republican members of the Energy Committee and reflects the opinion of the authors: In a few short weeks, Maine voters will head to the polls to vote on Question 3. While referendum questions can often be confusing and unclear, Question 3 is straightforward. This proposal asks Mainers one simple question: do you support the forced seizure of two private Maine companies to be replaced by a politician-run electric utility? As members of the Energy Committee, our answer is NO. If Question 3 passes, eminent domain will be used to…

Gov. Janet Mills published the following radio address on Wednesday, finally weighing in decisively against a campaign by the Maine Democratic Socialists of America and national environmental groups to seize Maine’s electrical utilities and place them under government control. The plan is supported by some Maine lawmakers, including Sen. Rick Bennett (R-Oxford) and House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Portland). When you walk into the voting booth this November 7th, there will be a whopping eight referendum questions for your consideration – and a few of them have enormously high stakes for Maine and for our future. Hello, this is Governor…

Maine Sen. Susan Collins jokingly told reporters Monday that she plans to wear a bikini on the Senate floor in response to new lax dress code changes introduced by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) that are set to come into effect this week. https://twitter.com/frankthorp/status/1703895323909718466?s=20 Schumer has directed the Senate’s Sergeant at Arms to no longer enforce the chamber’s informal dress code for its members, according to Axios, which first reported the rule change. “I plan to wear a bikini tomorrow to the Senate floor and [Sen.] Chris Coons [D-Del.] is gonna wear shorts because there’s no dress code anymore,” Collins told…

The COVID-19 authoritarians are on the march. Hospitals from California to Massachusetts are bringing back mask mandates. NPR is openly speculating about the return of broader mandates nationally. On Tuesday, President Joe Biden’s press secretary announced that the Commander-in-Chief would once again be masking. https://twitter.com/TheChiefNerd/status/1699125564978672069?s=20 In Maine, liberal media outlets are hyping the new COVID-19 variant with stories like this one: “COVID-19 infections rise in Maine, and wastewater testing indicates more to come”. Gov. Janet Mills’ sister, Dora Mills, an executive at MaineHealth, recently told the same paper that “COVID is a fire that is circulating the globe…” The writing…

The following is an op-ed submission from Jay T. Allen, a board certified medical doctor currently living in Maine. He retired last year. On July 26, 2023, Michigan passed a ban on conversion therapy. In doing so, it became the 22nd state to pass such a ban. Conversion therapy is broadly defined as interventions imposed with the intent of promoting a particular sexual orientation and/or gender identity as a preferred outcome. This term is generally limited to efforts to align sexual orientation and gender identity with heterosexual and “cisgender” norms but in the broader sense it can apply to any…

President Joe Biden was once again vacationing on Rehoboth Beach in Delaware on Sunday. Asked to comment on the devastating fires that left 96 dead in the Maui town of Lahaina, President Biden said, “No. No comment.” https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1691107234292654080?s=20 https://twitter.com/justinsink/status/1690861939746852864?s=20 Conservatives panned Biden’s apparent lack of empathy online. https://twitter.com/LarryOConnor/status/1690903854492082176?s=20 https://twitter.com/kylenabecker/status/1691142069002055687?s=20 https://twitter.com/TONYxTWO/status/1691093776331423744?s=20 https://twitter.com/MikeASperrazza/status/1691067099240595456?s=20

Last week, the Maine Wire’s Steve Robinson and Edward Tomic spent some time touring Portland’s various homeless encampments. Hundreds of tents are set up throughout the city, but there are three primary encampments at Fore River, Western Promenade, and Marginal Way. Robinson and Tomic recount what they saw at the camps, including open drug trafficking and drug use, the city’s lackluster attempt to get the residents into shelters and housing, and frustrated business owners who feel ignored.

On Thursday, Maine Wire Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson and reporter Edward Tomic visited Portland’s largest three homeless encampments and spoke with local business owners about how the city’s homeless population is affecting their business operations. The Maine Department of Transportation Park and Ride on Marginal Way recently became Portland’s second largest encampment, with over thirty tents lining the state land next to I-295. The Park and Ride encampment formed after the encampment between the Portland Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods was shut down and cleaned out in May. FULL PODCAST: The Maine Wire’s Steve Robinson and Edward Tomic recount their inspection…

President Joe Biden made his first visit as president to Maine on Friday, giving a short speech at an Auburn manufacturing company before attending a fundraiser at Wolfe’s Neck in Freeport. https://twitter.com/TheMaineWire/status/1685039425347059712?s=20 The Commander in Chief landed at the Brunswick Executive Airport, the former location of the Brunswick Naval Air Base, as its runway is long enough to accommodate Air Force One, a customized Boeing 747-200B series aircraft. Biden deplaned from the big stairs and waved to the hundred or so spectators, mostly supporters, who had gathered to watch him arrive. The 80-year-old made it down the stairs without stumbling.…

The following is an op-ed submission from Joel Stetkis, Chairman of the Maine Republican Party: Growing up here in Maine, being neighborly was always just how we lived our lives — but unfortunately, our Maine way of life seems to be continually changing for the worse. Take the Maine case getting national attention right now. I’m talking about the case of Leonard Leo, longtime leader at the prestigious Federalist Society: right now, this prominent — and deeply effective — conservative activist is under personal fire in Maine in a way that would never have happened in the past. [RELATED: Maine…

The following is an op-ed submission from Jay T. Allen, a board certified medical doctor currently living in Maine. He retired last year. In the words of Patrick K. Hunter, MD, who gave testimony at a joint meeting of the Florida Board of Medicine and the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine, “Children and youth with gender dysphoria are suffering. They need care—the best possible care, excellent care.” The vast majority (if not all) of the American gender clinics and specialists, if asked, would declare that “gender affirming” care is the best possible care. They will tell you that “gender affirming”…

Mainstream media outlets reported Thursday on a lawsuit claiming that two Maine police officers wrongfully arrested a left-wing political protester “at the behest of” a conservative legal activist in Northeast Harbor, with the Bangor Daily News writing that the claim was “bolstered” by the dashcam audio. It appears likely that two Maine police departments will pay Eli Durand-McDonnell $150,000 to settle his claim that he was wrongfully arrested for disorderly conduct after he screamed obscenities at Federalist Society co-chairman Leonard Leo, his wife, and their 11-year-old daughter. The media has zealously adopted Durand-McDonnell’s narrative of events: that his civil rights…

This opinion piece was originally published on July 5, 2023 in the Washington Times. The insane election. That’s how I remember the 2021 race for the Charter Commission in Portland, Maine. The ballot asked voters to rank 10 candidates, from the one they liked most to the one they liked least — a system known as ranked-choice voting. When the ballots were counted, the results defied logic. One of the winners started with 4 percent of the vote. My city elected four at-large seats, and in a normal election, the four candidates with the most votes would have won. Not…

Two stories regarding Maine’s second most powerful legislator, House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Portland), have remained largely untouched by the state’s newspapers, corporate press, and taxpayer-funded media. One stems from the claim made by a highly credible Maine State Police figure that the House Speaker misrepresented his support for a racial profiling bill before the Judiciary Committee. The other story is her sensational Juneteenth statement that “We should be storming the Capitol” over the “supremacist” ideology of Maine’s Department of Education. The first story, reported exclusively by the Maine Wire, revealed that earlier in June the House Speaker misrepresented the…

The following is an opinion editorial written by Myra Broadway of Gardiner. Originally submitted to the Bangor Daily News and the Portland Press Herald, but never published, the op-ed appears here in its entirety. Broadway was the Executive Director of the Maine State Board of Nursing from 1998-2015, and the Assistant Executive Director for the Maine State Board of Nursing from 1992-1997. Prior to that she worked in QualityAssurance/ Risk Management Coordinator, Pease AFB Hospital, at Pease AFB, Portsmouth, NH. Dr. Shannon Carr, an OB/GYN physician, was one of Maine proponents’ expert witnesses at the public hearing for LD 1619,…

In the latest video for Maine Wire TV, Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson sat down with Rep. Heidi Sampson (R-Alfred) and Rep. Gary Drinkwater (R-Milford) to discuss a range of issues impacting Maine’s public schools, including healthcare mandates and curriculum transparency. Rep. Drinkwater is the sponsor LD 51, a bill that would restore the philosophical and religious exemptions for public school vaccine mandates. That bill was killed on party line votes in May, and you can read more about it here. Those exemptions were removed in 2019 by the State Legislature, prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, and public school vaccine mandates do…

The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) has released a mini-documentary alleging that the Biden Administration is blocking their investigation into attempts by the federal government to interfere with state elections. FGA has filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to obtain public records related to the federal government’s “strategic plan” for state elections, but so far, the Department of Justice has totally stonewalled their inquiry. https://twitter.com/TheFGA/status/1665728608944508930?s=20 The FGA investigation revolves around so-called “Zuckerbucks” — that is, grant money provided by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg that funded election administration in 2020. Twenty-three states have banned the use of private 3rd party…

Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart joins Maine Wire Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson for a conversation about Maine’s net energy billing scheme, the Wabanaki tribal sovereignty push, Gov. Janet Mills’ duplicitous abortion flip flop, and more.

The Press Herald has yet again been duped into quoting a left-wing astroturf group that purports to represent Maine small businesses. The so-called “Maine Small Business Coalition” sounds like a group that represents Maine small businesses. If you only read the Press Herald, you probably think that’s what it is. But according to records from Maine’s Secretary of State, the “coalition” is actually an assumed name registered to the Maine People’s Alliance, a left-wing nonprofit funded by international dark money. Press Herald reporter Joe Lawlor credulously quotes “Selecca Bulgar-Medina, director of the Maine Small Business Coalition” in his story on…

The following is a letter to the editor: During my 33 years specializing in Pediatric care my first motto was first and foremost do no harm. I loved my job but being a parent and protecting my children was always my first priority. So here is my story. From the time my daughter was age 2 years old she would tell people when asked that she was a boy. My co worker always said she should have been born a boy. She grew up very much a tom boy. Perhaps that was because she had been rejected by her dad.…

David Creech, the principal of the Marshwood Middle School, tendered his resignation this week citing health concerns. But the sudden departure of the long-time employee of various public schools in Maine happens to coincide with a district employee’s allegation that he had become infatuated with her and harassed her. The Portland Press Herald was the first outlet to break the news of Creech’s resignation and the unnamed woman’s allegations. The timing, along with MSAD 35 Superintendent John Caverly’s statement that Creech will not return to the district, suggests that the protection from harassment order the unnamed woman sought played a…

The decision to freeze student loan payments in 2020 as part of the response to COVID-19 may have actually led some households to take on more debt. That’s the paradoxical conclusion of researchers from the National Bureau of Economic Research, according to a working paper published this month. In 2020, at the peak of uncertainty over the pandemic, the federal government paused student loan payments, collection and interest. The move was intended to provide economic security to American’s paying down student loan debt during a period of economic turmoil. But the working paper suggests that those who benefited from the…

Florida on Tuesday became the first U.S. state to outlaw the use of a federally adopted Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) as well as foreign CBDCs. The legislation, signed into law by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, is intended to safeguard the financial freedom of Floridians from what he terms “government overreach” and “globalist efforts to adopt a worldwide digital currency.” The bill, SB 7054, garnered strong bipartisan backing in the legislature and amends the definition of money in Florida’s Uniform Commercial Code to omit any CBDC. This comes on the heels of an executive order from the Biden administration in…

BANGOR, MAINE – A milk delivery truck overturned on the I-395 WB offramp at Exit 3 early Thursday morning, causing a significant spillage of milk onto the roadway and leading to the closure of the ramp. At approximately 6:00 am on May 11, 2023, 35-year-old Austin Davis of Newburgh lost control of the vehicle, subsequently hitting a guardrail and tipping over, the Maine State Police said in a press release. The aftermath of the accident saw gallons of milk strewn across the highway. Davis was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital due to injuries sustained in the crash. His current…

Maine Wire Editor-in-Chief joined WVOM’s George Hale and Ric Tyler Show this morning to discuss the Maine Wire’s reporting on the ongoing debacle in Sanford, where hundreds of migrants have arrived unannounced seeking shelter and benefits. Sanford City Manager Steve Buck has said the city has reached its capacity for accommodating migrants. Buck also said the influx may have started with two Sanford residents who took it upon themselves to tell migrants at the Portland Expo that they could get better accommodations and benefits if they came to Sanford.

The Maine Wire reported Friday about the $1.26 million settlement involving Dr. Shannon Carr, a Maine OB/GYN tapped by Gov. Janet Mills to lobby in support of LD 1619, a bill to legalize full-term abortion in Maine. Last Monday, Carr was invited into the Cabinet Room for a press conference alongside Gov. Mills. Carr also testified in favor of the bill as an expert witness, calling late-term abortion “life-saving care.” But in 2017, Carr authorized and participated in a late-term abortion on 23-year-old Keisha M. Atkins, a 24-weeks-pregnant Albuquerque woman who would later die from complications related to her abortion.…

The following is a commentary submission from Ray Thombs, a small businessman from Union. He is a member of Speak Up for Life. I’m Hooked on It, You? I love to have my fishing lure suddenly snatched off the surface of the water and the subsequent zing of the fishing reel dishing out my line as the big lunker takes off with my lure. It’s exhilarating to reel-it in to find a trophy-sized fish on the end of it. In that moment, a surge of adrenaline kicks in and creates a craving to come back and do this again! That…

The following post by Forrest Robinson has been republished in part with the permission of the author and IM–1776. To read the full post or other articles from IM–1776, click here. In 2019, Portland, Maine was overrun with hundreds of migrants from Central Africa. All of them had traveled along the “underground railroad” of migrant safe houses that extends from Central America through Mexico, and into the United States. Once they arrived in America, Catholic Charities Maine assisted in sending hundreds of the Angolans and Congolese migrants from San Antonio to Portland, paying for their bus fare and providing specific instructions on what…

State Sen. Erica Brakey (R-Androscoggin) joins Maine Wire TV to talk about his 2018 campaign against U.S. Sen. Angus King and the revelation that King had giant social media companies censor Brakey’s supporters. We also cover monetary policy, Bitcoin, precious metals, and a unique proposal that would have Maine create a 100% reserve state bank. Brakey also explains his “Defend the Guard”.

Tucker Carlson, just days before his ouster from Fox News, brought the house down at the Heritage Foundation with a clarifying speech about this moment in American politics. Heritage has posted the speech in its entirety. If you don’t watch the whole thing, just watch the snippet in this Columbia Bugle tweet: https://twitter.com/ColumbiaBugle/status/1649601516783665153 Watch full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N32UPXGChgo

Three years after Maine ended the prohibition on adult cannabis use, the price of the sticky flower has collapsed by nearly 50 percent. In 2020, one gram of the psychoactive product retailed for an average of $15.83, but so far in 2023 that number is just $8.04 per gram, according to data from the Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP). The trend may be explained, in part, by the large number of Mainers who are growing, refining, and selling the plant. According to OCP, there are currently 126 licensed or conditionally licensed cultivation operations in Maine and 172 licensed or conditionally…

In the inaugural episode of Maine Wire TV, Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson interviews Amber Lavigne, the mother of a 13-year-old girl who received gender transition counseling at Damariscotta’s Great Salt Bay Community School. Maine Wire readers have followed our exclusive reporting on Samuel Roy, the 26-year-old conditionally licensed social worker who gave Lavigne’s daughter a breast binder. School officials never informed Lavigne about the gender counseling her daughter received, and they took steps to conceal that information from her. While school officials were initially sympathetic to Lavigne’s complaints, they quickly circled the wagons and have refused to share vital information with…

The Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs will hold public hearings on six bills aimed at reinstating religious and philosophical exemptions for COVID-19 vaccines approved under emergency use authorizations on Monday. Supporters of the bills have dubbed the day “Medical Freedom Day.” These bills seek to ensure access to education for all students, regardless of their vaccination status. Rep. Gary Drinkwater (R-Milford) said he now understands the need for exemptions after hearing testimony about vaccine injuries. He added that schools should not withhold education from children due to their vaccination status. Drinkwater’s bill would restore vaccine mandate exemptions…

Former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury in connection to the hush money payment he allegedly made to adult film star Stephanie Clifford, aka Stormy Daniels, during the 2016 presidential campaign. According to NBC News, the indictment is currently under seal. Two sources reportedly confirmed to NBC News that Trump’s lawyers have been notified of the indictment. The investigation is being conducted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. If true, this would be the first time in U.S. history a former president has been indicted. The news will send shockwaves through American politics and throw…

Maine Wire Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson joined PJ Media’s Megan Fox this week to discuss Maine’s education system and recent Maine Wire reporting regarding Maine schools. https://twitter.com/TheMaineWire/status/1638571745455087621 You can watch the first full video of the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uffcqH03T14

On Monday morning, the Cultural Alliance of Maine, a group purporting to represent “culture workers” in Maine, had a Zoom call with Democratic Gov. Janet Mills that did not go as planned. “We had the opportunity to talk state cultural policy with Governor Mills LIVE at a special CAM Convening on Monday, March 20th,” the group cheerily writes on its website. The meeting coincided with Mills and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows proclaiming a week in March as “Maine Cultural Heritage Week”. But other than the symbolic proclamation, Mills didn’t appear very enthusiastic about supporting CAM and the 71 “culture…

A most basic right, that of fair and honest elections, is the cornerstone of our representative form of government. A Maine Clean Election Act (MCEA) funded elected official recently resigned after being charged with 20 counts of Aggravated Forgery (a felony), and 13 lesser crimes regarding his MCEA funding. His Republican opponent, also an MCEA candidate, lost by less than 300 votes after being outspent 3.4 to 1. Many of the signatures in question were stamped received in Augusta on April 11,2022 almost all were stamped as received prior to June 4. This writer asks, why was this candidate allowed…

Inflation rose by 0.4 percent for February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday. “Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 6.0 percent before seasonal adjustment,” the BLS said. The largest contributor to increasing inflation was the cost of shelter, which accounted for 70 percent of the total increase. The cost of food, household furnishings, and recreation all went up as well. According to BLS’s inflation calculator, $1,000 in January 2021 had the same buying power as $1,150 today. Wall Street’s main indexes climbed upon the release of the news, with many analysts speculating that a downward…

Maine Sen. Angus King found himself ensnared this week by a bonafide scandal of his own making. For those who haven’t kept up with the news: Mr. King’s 2018 campaign was exposed by independent journalist Matt Taibbi as having conspired with social media giants Facebook and Twitter to suppress and censor the supporters of his political opponents, State Sen. Eric Brakey (R-Androscoggin) and socialist Zak Ringelstein. King popped up to address the controversy midweek, but he’s since disappeared from social media and our television sets. Documents show Mr. King’s campaign created an “enemies list” of social media users and sent…

U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) on Wednesday introduced a bill to prohibit the Federal Reserve from issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) or using a CBDC to control monetary policy. https://twitter.com/GOPMajorityWhip/status/1628397390024638466 Emmer’s bill would also require the Federal Reserve to be transparent with Congress about any attempts it makes to study the implementation of digital currency systems in the U.S. Centralized governments are increasingly exploring the possibility of using crypto-currency inspired digital currency technology to digitize money and financial systems, but freedom and privacy advocates warn that such CBDCs would give unprecedented power and control to the Fed and…