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James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 45m

We’re expecting a tsunami of food insecurity in our state and across the country,” said Anna Korsen, deputy director of Full Plates Full Potential, a Brunswick-based organization that focuses on ending childhood hunger in Maine. #mepolitics

www.pressherald.com/2025/10/12/t...

Thousands of Mainers face loss of SNAP benefits as program undergoes historic cuts

The changes will put more pressure on food pantries, which are already seeing a rise in need and warning that they won't be able to fill the gap.

www.pressherald.com

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James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 14h

Instagram showed me a clip of the Mew Jersey gubernatorial debate where both candidates agreed that pumping your own gas should stay illegal because it’s a kind of cultural touchstone for the state and I’ve been irrationally mad about it for the last hour.

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James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 15h

To be clear, policy alone isn’t a reason to suggest Mills shouldn’t run in a primary, imo. I just think it’s a concern some folks have rather than age.

James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 15h

FWIW there’s a policy argument to be made against Mills. She’s much more to the center than Platner on a number of issues. Closer comparison with King but perhaps some of the folks who don’t like Mills are part of the 89,000 who voted for King’s Democratic challenger last year.

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James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 23h

Glad to see a gubernatorial candidate talking about state action on health care. It’s too important to just accept federal efforts to dismantle it. #mepolitics

(“Public option” can mean a lot of things so I’d like to hear more but this is promising)

www.pressherald.com/2025/10/10/w...

Mainers deserve better health care | Hannah Pingree

As governor, I won't just call out the problem, I'll use the power of the state to build a solution.

www.pressherald.com

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James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 1d

Something that occurred to me that I’d appreciate your take on - hasn’t the historical pattern for theocracies generally been that they make the church more venal rather than making the state more holy?

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James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 1d

@jimfossel.bsky.social does this mean you endorse ending the filibuster? If so, I’m glad to see the movement catching on.

www.pressherald.com/2025/10/10/d...

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James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 1d

“The trees may be slowing down” feels like the kind of thing Tolkien would write. I love it.

ACLU of Maine @aclumaine.bsky.social · 1d

The trees in Maine may be slowing down as fall takes hold, but not the work at the ACLU of Maine!
✅ Arguments at the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
✅ ACLU of Maine x Local Artists
✅ Banned Books Week
✅ Preparing for the 2025 Scolnik Award

Catch up on the latest ⤵️

Weekly Highlights October 6 – 10

This week at the ACLU of Maine: Arguments at Maine's highest court, supporting local art and civil liberties, celebrating Banned Books Week, and preparing for the Scolnik Award to honor Mainers

www.aclumaine.org

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James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 1d

It’s fine to have the view that shutdowns are harmful to vulnerable Americans (they are). But nowhere does Rep Golden explain why he supports the filibuster but opposes Democrats using the little leverage they have. He says the shutdown won’t work to extend the APTCs but doesn’t explain how else to

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James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 1d

Few things are more annoying to read than “let me set the record straight” followed by a bunch of straw-man arguments.

I think Rep Golden is the first person I’ve heard suggest that the CR itself cuts health care

jaredgolden.substack.com/p/its-time-t...

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Reposted by James Myall

James Medlock @jdcmedlock.bsky.social · 2d

“I’ll declare war on you if you don’t give me the peace prize” is an incredible bit

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James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 2d

In my own corner of Government Shutdown Problems, the Census Bureau website shows this message, and half the time it never redirects you.

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Reposted by James Myall

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 2d

Republicans have had 15 years to come up with an Obamacare replacement plan. They still haven’t

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 3d

Thune: "The president would like to overhaul Obamacare and give people health insurance that is higher quality and more affordable."

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James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 3d

If a senator won’t even exercise her most basic constitutional authority, what’s the point of re-electing her?

Maine Morning Star @mainemorningstar.com · 3d

Maine Sen. Susan Collins joined most other Republicans in rejecting resolution that would have blocked Trump from engaging in hostilities abroad without congressional approval. mainemorningstar.com/2025/10/08/r...

US Senate rejects restriction of military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean • Maine Morning Star

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate failed to advance Wednesday night a resolution designed to curb the president’s power regarding military actions abroad after the Trump administration ordered four…

mainemorningstar.com

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James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 3d

Demographic stat of the day - In 1973, Androscoggin and Aroostook Counties had the same population (95,000). Since then, their paths have diverged considerably. Today, Androscoggin's population is 70% larger than Aroostook's.

fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=1MRpe

FRED Graph

fred.stlouisfed.org

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James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 4d

Good reading in the context of Governor Mills celebrating the opening of an Amazon delivery center in northern Maine - Amazon's "independent contractor" drivers earn less, have fewer protections, and are more likely to report being unable to meet basic needs.

Raj Nayak @rdnayak.bsky.social · 4d

Fantastic report by the SHIFT Project team + @profsheenalives.bsky.social and @juliesulabor.bsky.social

Amazon Drives Low Wages: The Unraveling of Workplace Protections for Delivery Drivers - The Shift Project

Read the Full Article Amazon has revolutionized shopping and challenged traditional brick-and-mortar retail. But at the heart of this logistics […]

shift.hks.harvard.edu

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James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 4d

Charles I also tried to abuse his authority to collect an existing tax (ship money) by declaring a fake emergency.

"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux @bretdevereaux.bsky.social · 4d

So Trump is now going to try to rule like an early modern king - just avoid calling the estates general or parliament or the diet and so rule by fiat.

Maybe someone in the GOP should turn the page in book and see what happened next...oh, oh dear...oh no...oh dear ohnonono....

George Pearkes @peark.es · 4d

Well that's not how appropriations work at all

*WHITE HOUSE TO TRANSFER TARIFF REVENUE TO FUND WIC: LEAVITT

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James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 4d

AG isn't a statewide elected race in Maine. It's chosen by the legislature. But she has won statewide elections twice.

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James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 4d

Even George III knew you couldn’t do this.

"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux @bretdevereaux.bsky.social · 4d

So Trump is now going to try to rule like an early modern king - just avoid calling the estates general or parliament or the diet and so rule by fiat.

Maybe someone in the GOP should turn the page in book and see what happened next...oh, oh dear...oh no...oh dear ohnonono....

George Pearkes @peark.es · 4d

Well that's not how appropriations work at all

*WHITE HOUSE TO TRANSFER TARIFF REVENUE TO FUND WIC: LEAVITT

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James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 5d

Not only is Johnson the Speaker, but he voted for the 2019 law that guarantees back pay for furloughed employees!

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 5d

Johnson: "It's true that in previous shutdowns, many or most furloughed employees have been paid for the time they were furloughed, but there is new legal analysis - I don't know the details, I just saw a headline - but there are some legal analysts saying that might not be appropriate or necessary"

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James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 5d

Here’s the appropriations committee website with the quote.

www.appropriations.senate.gov/about/jurisd...

Committee Jurisdiction | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations

United States Senate Committee on Appropriations

www.appropriations.senate.gov

James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 5d

“The [Appropriations] Committee, chaired by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), writes the legislation that allocates federal funds to the numerous government agencies, departments, and organizations on an annual basis.” - Senate website #mepolitics

www.pressherald.com/2025/10/06/s...

Sen. Susan Collins criticizes Democrats for shutdown, Trump for layoff threats

Maine's Republican senator said Monday that she has asked the Office of Management and Budget not to pursue mass layoffs of federal workers, something the White House has threatened.

www.pressherald.com

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Reposted by James Myall

Michael Derby @michaelsderby.bsky.social · 5d

Another item caught in Trump's tariff war? Library books. via 404 Media

Libraries Can’t Get Their Loaned Books Back Because of Trump’s Tariffs

Libraries have shared their collections internationally for decades. Trump’s tariffs are throwing that system into chaos and can ‘hinder academic progress.’

www.404media.co

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James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 6d

I get why Yglesias thinks it would be better for Democrats to take moderate positions. I get why elected Dems would like to be able to get group endorsements while compromising on values for the sake of electability. But I don’t see why LCV should be selling themselves out for electability

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James Myall @jamesxmyall.bsky.social · 6d

This piece captures a lot of what’s annoying with complaints about “The Groups.” Yglesias seems to start with the assumption that the job of groups is to help Dems win, so they should compromise or build coalitions. But that simply isn’t the job of an advocacy org

www.slowboring.com/p/the-groups...

The groups have learned nothing

We got the League of Conservation Voters’ endorsement questionnaire and it’s bad.

www.slowboring.com

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