This was a busy week in Maine and beyond.
A ranked-choice voting repeal bill was heard in Augusta at a legislative committee this week, and some MPI employees are more optimistic of its success than others. Another bill prohibiting noncitizen voting is also in the works, and Democrats in Maine seem not to be learning the lessons of 2024 yet.
We also talk about some of the early work from the new Department of Government Efficiency. Is it producing results, and will it truly be able to make a difference? (We think so).
Finally, we tackle Trump’s executive order prohibiting trans athletes from competing in women’s sports. Maine, and Attorney General Aaron Frey, have already signaled they intend to defy the order, which will likely jeopardize the state’s federal education funding, setting up a showdown.
This and more on this week’s Pine Tree Pulse Podcast.