“That Sounds Like An Endorsement” — 'Mud Season' Episode 3

Welcome back to Politics Between Us and Episode 3 of Mud Season. This week, we’re sitting down with Lucas St. Clair — conservationist, foundation leader, and former congressional candidate.Lucas’ story is unlike anyone else in Maine politics. He grew up off the grid in rural Piscataquis County, watched his mom build Burt’s Bees on a wood stove in a one-room schoolhouse, and spent years winning over deeply hostile communities to turn 87,000 acres of northern Maine into a national monument. Then he ran for Congress.We get into all of it: what it actually felt like to walk into communities that despised him, how he turned opponents into allies one kitchen table at a time, and what he thinks about politicians going negative.We also dig into the question Alison and Luca keep coming back to: who gets to define your identity? Lucas has a lot to say about the attacks on Graham Platner’s biography because he lived a version of the same story. And after dancing around it, he comes pretty close to an endorsement….but you should hear that for yourself.Plus, is Lucas considering running for office again? Maybe. Or maybe there’s more power in staying outside.Then stick around for Agebait, where Luca introduces Alison to looksmaxxing, mogging, and a whole online universe of scary extreme ideas.Join the Politics Between Us Community:Background ReadingKatahdin Woods and Waters‘Looksmaxxing’ Reveals the Depth of the Crisis Facing Young MenMusings on the political and Graham Platner: Reflections on a conversation, Part 1Clavicular Looksmaxxing InterviewPolitics Between Us is created by Alison Beyea and Luca DeAngelis and produced by Steven Jackson.This Substack is a personal project. Alison and Luca are both employees of Colby College, but the views and opinions expressed here are entirely our own and do not represent those of Colby College or any other institutions with which we are affiliated. This publication is not produced, sponsored, or endorsed by the College.Keywords: Lucas St. Clair, Katahdin Woods and Waters, Maine Senate primary, Graham Platner, Janet Mills, rural Maine, identity politics, class and authenticity, looksmaxxing, Gen Z, negative campaigning, happy warrior, 2026 Senate race. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit politicsbetweenus.substack.com