The Maine Polis Podcast

TMP Podcast #19 - A Look at Some of the Bills Approved for the Upcoming 2nd Session

The Maine Polis — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 03:38:40 +0000

Investigating illegal Chinese cannabis grows, keeping the Sea Dogs from leaving Maine, a Farm Worker’s Bill of rights and more have all been added to the legislative table for the upcoming second session. This episode discusses a few of those bills and how they could effect Maine policy. Show Notes, Sources & Comments Here

TMP Podcast #18 Question 3: The Pine Tree Power Question

The Maine Polis — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 13:34:07 +0000

This episodes explores the details of the proposed Pine Tree Power referendum question. Some of what is explored includes how a utility company can be made to sell its assets, the stated purpose and direction of Pine Tree Power, the organization of its governing board and how it compares and contrasts with other electric utilities in Maine. Show Notes can be found here

TMP Podcast #17 – When Maine Election Law Bumps Against Federal Election Law Part II: The Appeal

The Maine Polis — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 02:03:26 +0000

A quick follow-up to episode #16, this episode goes over whats know of the appeal filed by Maine's Secretary of State's office against the courts decision in favor of the Public Interest Legal Foundation's complaint against Secretary of State Sheena Bellows. Show Notes EPIC Amicus Brief Judicial Watch Amicus Brief US Dept of Jutice Amicus Brief

TMP Podcast #16 - When Maine Election Law Bumps Against Federal Election Law

The Maine Polis — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 02:40:48 +0000

Episode 16 reviews a multi-year dispute between the Public Interest Legal Foundation and Maine's Secretary of State's Office over access to Maine's voter registration data. This episode reviews some of the timeline leading up to the court's decision and the consequences of that decision. Show Notes: View Relevant Court Documents And PILF Press Releases Here

View Results and Appendix's for PEW Study - Why Are Millions of Citizens Not Registered to Vote? -

L.D. 916 - An Act To Protect Data Privacy and Security in Elections - Proposed Bill, Amendments, and Final Signed Bill. LD 916 - An Act to Protect Data Privacy and Security in Elections - Committee Actions & Public Testimony

§196-A. Use and distribution of central voter registration system information

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows Testifying In Support of L.D. 916 “An Act To Protect Data Privacy and Security in Elections" (pdf)

TMP Podcast #15 - The Problem with the National Popular Vote Compact & Why It Won't Work In Maine

The Maine Polis — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 03:50:55 +0000

This episode looks at the latest legislative attempt to have Maine join the National Popular Vote Compact, which would have Maine's presidential electoral votes go toward the national popular vote winner regardless of how Mainer's voted, and why Maine election law is complicating those efforts. Check out the show notes at themainepolis.com

TMP Podcast #14 - Legislature Considers dropping 100MW Renewable Energy Cap...Again...

The Maine Polis — Tue, 09 May 2023 04:10:07 +0000

This episode takes a look at the 5th attempt within the legislature to remove the 100MW cap protecting Maine's renewable energy sector from competing against Hydro-Quebc. We look at the arguments for and against its removal and potential solutions to this legislative deadlock. Check HERE for Show Notes

TMP Podcast #13 - Maine's Health Care Worker Vaccine Mandate: A Chronological Review

The Maine Polis — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 05:49:30 +0000

Its been a year since Gov. Mills demanded all Maine's healthcare, nursing home & EMS workers receive a Covid vaccination. This episode reviews several articles that provides context to the public & legal debate occurring as the mandate was first handed down as well as where we are a year later. Click Here for Show Notes

TMP Podcast #12 - The Problem with Poliquin

The Maine Polis — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 07:39:03 +0000

Former US House Rep Bruce Poliquin faces off against Caratunk councilwoman Liz Caruso for the Republican spot to face Democrat incumbent Jared Golden in the November Mid-terms. I go over some of what Ive heard Bruce speak on and why I think its problematic for Maine's 2nd district. Show Notes... Republican congressional primary suddenly turns red hot - Lewiston Sun Journal Republican congressional candidates differ on whether U.S. should aid Ukraine - CentralMaine.com Liz Caruso, candidate for Maine CD2, sits down for Voice of the Voter interview (transcript) Bruce Poliquin seeks to reclaim his old seat in Congress Bruce Poliquin’s Wall Street past raises questions Told to Defund Police, Portland Adds Three “Civilians” to the Force Maine municipalities review police funding, tackle systemic racism after protests

Pressure mounts on Maine’s municipal officials to rein in police departments

TMP Podcast #11 - How the Maine Dems Became the Largest Voter Block In Maine

The Maine Polis — Tue, 10 May 2022 04:07:04 +0000

In a previous episode it was discovered that sometime between 2016 and 2020 the total number of registered Democrats overtook voters with no party affiliation as the largest voter block in Maine. This episode uses voter registration data to look at the signs leading up to "the switch" and the circumstances of when it actually happened. This episode also looks at absentee voting trends by comparing absentee ballot totals over the past 3 presidential elections.

TMP Podcast #10 - Special Elections & Maine's Ruling Party

The Maine Polis — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 18:54:19 +0000

This episode looks at Maine's most recent special election for House District 27 and what it says about Maine's wider political landscape.

TMP Podcast #9 - Maine's Fireworks Policy Problems & A First Look at Bill to Prevent Election Audits

The Maine Polis — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 03:52:22 +0000

This episode starts off with a look at LD 1307, An act to Restrict the Sale, Purchase and use of Fireworks in the State, as well as some other fireworks legislation to see where Maine’s fireworks policy is failing. The episode also explores a potential problem with LD 1779, An Act to Protect Election Integrity by Regulating Possession of Ballots and Voting Machine Devices.

Check Here For Show Notes

TMP Podcast #8 - New England Clean Energy Connect Project Part III: HydroQuebec & The Environmental Cost of Clean Energy

The Maine Polis — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 06:08:57 +0000

This is the final part of a 3 part series looking the New England Clean Energy Connect Project. This episode looks at Hydro-Quebec and a handful of their largest hydroelectric facilities; The Beaurharnois, The Bersimis, The Manic-Outardes, The Romaine and James Bay Projects. The episode also looks into the environmental cost of this type of clean energy for the local environment and for the entire region.

Find episode show notes & sources here

TMP Podcast #7 - Maine's Election Process Part I: The Municipal Players, Election Day & Absentee Voting

The Maine Polis — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 02:05:00 +0000

This episode goes in deep on Maine’s Election process at the municipal level. I explain the specific roles and responsibilities of those involved in pulling of a Maine Election on both Election Day & the 3 Months of Absentee Voting leading up to Election Day.

We get even deeper exploring the rules around 3rd parties helping voters cast absentee, how “Get Out The Vote” groups get your address and the legality of making copies of blank ballots vs. making copies of completed ballots.

Click here for Sources & Show Notes

TMP Podcast #6 - New England Clean Energy Connect Project Part II: The Companies Pushing for the Project

The Maine Polis — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 15:30:39 +0000

This is Part II of the TMP Podcast's analysis of the NECEC Project. In this episode we focus on the 5 companies pushing for this project. We go over their history, subsidiaries and what their presence within New England's energy market looks like. Find Episode Sources HERE

TMP Podcast #5 - New England Clean Energy Connect Analysis Part I: How the NECEC Got Legs

The Maine Polis — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 05:10:07 +0000

This episode is the first part in a series looking at the New England Clean Energy Connect Project. In this part, we look at how, exactly, a project like the NECEC gets legs in the first place. How does New England's wholesale electricity market work & what's happening in Massachusetts to spur this project forward? Show Sources Listed Here

TMP Podcast #4 Who Voted for Joe Biden & What's Counting Our Votes?

The Maine Polis — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 01:35:19 +0000

In this episode we use Maine’s secretary of state election data to find exactly where Biden’s surge in support came from by taking a close look at the top 5 counties where his boost in support came from exactly.. We also take a look at the vote tabulator machines used by over half of Maine’s communities and their known security issues. Find Episode Sources Here

TMP Podcast #3 - Election Follow-Up: Finding Biden's Base

The Maine Polis — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 14:21:26 +0000

Biden got record breaking support in Maine in the November election and in this episode. we’re going to dig at where, exactly, his support came from. We’ll take a hard look at the Associated Press election projections and also take a look at voter registration changes and party enrollment shifts in Maine since the 2016 Presidential election. Find Episode Sources Here

NOTE: The original audio for this episode sounded awful. I tried cleaning it up a few weeks after publishing but decided to just re-record the entire episode. Its a near exact word-for-word copy except for a couple of exceptions. While going over the notes, I found a mistake with some of my AP analysis figures I discuss. The mistakes were not significant and the corrections do not detract from any conclusions and may actually strengthen them.

TMP Podcast #2 - Maine's November 3rd Election Results Shakedown

The Maine Polis — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 10:16:56 +0000

Posted On: 11/16/2020

On the second episode of The Maine Polis Podcast we take a in depth look at the result in Maine’s November 3rd Election. Starting with what’s changed and what’s staying the same in Maine’s legislature and then we’ll examine the results of Maine’s federal elections.

TMP Podcast #1 - Sara Gideon's Time at the State House

The Maine Polis — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 17:01:37 +0000

Posted On: 11/2/2020 On the first episode of the Maine Polis Podcast we take a closer look at Sara Gideon's record in the Maine State House. Gideon is running for a senate seat against incumbent Susan Collins, Lisa Savage and Max Lin.