The Maine Story

In this episode of A Couple Thinks, we take a closer look at the unfolding Maine Senate race—not just because Susan Collins’ seat could determine control of the U.S. Senate, but because the story raises much bigger questions about how political parties recruit, vet, and elevate candidates. We begin by exploring why Maine has long been viewed as one of Democrats’ best opportunities to flip a Republican-held Senate seat. Susan Collins has built her reputation as a moderate willing to break with her party, yet many voters now see a pattern of expressing “concern” while ultimately enabling the Republican agenda through key votes, including Supreme Court confirmations that reshaped the country for decades. From there, we unpack how Democrats arrived at the current moment. We discuss the establishment’s early push behind Governor Janet Mills, the rapid rise of Graham Platner, the troubling allegations and warning signs that emerged throughout his campaign, and the questions that many are now asking about whether proper vetting ever took place. We also examine what this says about political consultants, party insiders, and the tension between grassroots voters and party leadership. [Here’s the link to the Wall Street Journal interview with the consultants that we mention in the podcast.] Along the way, we reflect on a larger issue that extends far beyond Maine: Should charisma and electability outweigh character and judgment? Or have we reached a point where political teams have become so focused on winning that they sometimes forget to ask whether a candidate should be running in the first place? Fortunately, Maine Democrats now have another opportunity to choose a nominee. We’re hopeful they’ll select someone with experience, integrity, and a genuine connection to the people they’ll represent. As always, we’ll continue following the race and talk about meaningful ways people across the country can help once a nominee is chosen. We also close the episode with practical ways to stay engaged locally—including opportunities through Mobilize, Five Calls, Oath.vote, Postcards to Voters, and Jess Craven of Chop Wood Carry Water—as well as a few quieter joyful moments from our week, including morning pages from The Artist’s Way, a visit to Berkeley’s Curiosity Shop, and the excitement of preparing a new catio for Tucci. Thanks for listening, and as always, we’d love to hear from you. You can reach us at [email protected], and if you haven’t already, we’d appreciate your feedback through our listener survey at survey.acouplethinks.com. Get full access to A Couple Thinks at acouplethinks.substack.com/subscribe