In this episode, we interview Rebecca Gibbons, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Southern Maine, who discusses why Maine would be a strategically and politically amenable place for nuclear weapons placement, as well as the current state of affairs regarding nuclear weapons. Transcript Coming Soon
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An article in Maine Policy Review, “From Resilience Planning to Action: Small Towns and Big Costs” was cited in the Bangor Daily News article, “Hancock County towns grapple with keeping coastal roads above rising seas.” The news article highlights the urgent infrastructure challenges in Hancock County, where flooding frequently threatens to isolate peninsula and island […]
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In honor of this President’s Day, we celebrate our namesake, Margaret Chase Smith, who was the first woman nominated by a major political party for the highest office in the land. She made history during the New Hampshire primary. Her candidacy was built on a foundation of integrity and her famous “Declaration of Conscience,” which […]
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Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center is currently accepting applications for the 2026 NEW Leadership Institute! Institute Dates are from May 29-June 2, 2026. The application deadline is Friday, March 20th, 2026. For questions, please contact Mary Mahoney-O’Neil: maryellen.mahoneyoneil@maine.edu
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The Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center at the University of Maine proudly announces the launch of Season 9 of its podcast, Maine Policy Matters. Dedicated to making public policy information more accessible, the podcast serves policymakers, government officials, business and nonprofit leaders, and the general public. Maine Policy Matters continues to offer insightful panel discussions […]
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In this episode, we interview Chris O’Brien on Maine’s strategic role as a nuclear frontier during the Cold War, highlighting how bases like Loring became central to national defense. We examine the legacy of Senator Margaret Chase Smith, balancing her famous stand against McCarthyism with her firm support for nuclear military readiness. Transcript [00:00:00] Chris […]
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Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center research associate was interviewed by the Portland Press Herald to discuss staffing shortages in fire departments across Maine. “Alexander Rezk, a research associate at the policy center, agreed to discuss a 2020 survey of Hancock County fire departments that corroborated much of what the fire chiefs elsewhere had to say.‘I […]
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In this episode, we discuss the high-stakes expiration of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs)—a pandemic-era policy that is set to sunset at the end of 2025 with Hilary Schneider, Jordan Rhodes, and Hilary Schneider, Jordan Rhodes, and Meg Garrat-Reed. While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) laid the groundwork for subsidized health insurance in 2010, […]
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Our podcast, Maine Policy Matters, was recently ranked number 19 of Feedspot’s “70 Best Non Partisan Podcasts” list.
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In this episode, we explore the critical role whales play in the marine ecosystem and how advances in research technology have transformed our ability to study and protect them. Our guest, Toby Stephenson, shares inspiring moments from the field, insights from recent population studies, and the challenges posed by a changing climate. We also discuss […]
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