Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center

On this episode, we feature a special host, Nicole Leblanc, who is a writer for our podcast. This episode focuses on climate resilience, Maine’s efforts toward clean energy and transportation, and Maine’s climate change infrastructure and will have two segments. The first will feature a one-on-one interview with Chief Engineer for the Maine Department of […]

In this episode, we interview Gordon Smith, Alex Rezk, Dr. Rachel Solotaroff, and Glenn Gordon on the opioid epidemic in Maine. Resources: Transcript [00:00:00] Dr. Rachel Solotaroff: As we have advanced our definitions of a substance use disorder, it’s an understanding that it’s a spectrum disease, right? It’s not black or white, it’s not good […]

In this episode, we interview Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows on election processes, election security, the importance of local municipal elections, and semi-open primaries. This episode explores the extensive systems Maine employs to protect the democratic process. Secretary Bellows provides an in-depth look at how the state ensures every vote is counted accurately, discussing […]

This episode is part 2 of a two-part series on the status of broadband in Maine, with today’s topic focusing on digital equity, attitudes, and access. As we discussed in part one, Maine is uniquely situated for addressing the challenge of getting broadband access to every person, from urban to rural towns, both having their […]

In this episode, we discuss broadband’s history and infrastructure in Maine with Heather Johnson, Nick Battista, Clara McCool, and Andrew Butcher. Heather Johnson is the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, which works with statewide and local partners, private industry, and small businesses to enhance and sustain economic prosperity in Maine. […]

On this episode, Bill Zoellick, Monique Coombs, and Jeremy Garielson join us for a panel discussion on Maine’s working waterfront. The panelists discuss the waterfront’s economic and cultural significance, on-foot access, preservation, community involvement, and much more. Resources Scuttlebutt Transcript [00:00:00] Monique Coombs: And our towns just haven’t been able to keep pace and so […]

On this episode, Samaa Abdurraqib and Mollie Cashwell join us for a panel discussion on the importance of the humanities in Maine. The panelists discuss community care, technology’s impacts on the humanities, and much more. [00:00:00] Mollie Cashwell: And I think in Maine, any kind of policy or any kind of economic plan that involves […]

This episode features a one-on-one interview with Charlene Virgilio, executive director of Four Directions. Then, you’ll hear a panel discussion with Tracy Michaud, Steve Lyons, and Rauni Kew on Maine’s tourism trends and hospitality. Tracy Michaud’s coauthored Maine Policy Review article: “The Role of Aquatourism in Sustaining Maine’s Working Waterfronts”  Steve Lyons’s Maine Policy Review article: “Coastal […]

On this episode, we interview David Vail, Caroline Paras, and Stuart Kestenbaum on Maine’s Tourism Sectors. Resources Portland Press Herald article on Maine’s outdoor recreation economy. Caroline Paras’s coauthored Maine Policy Review article: “The Role of Aquatourism in Sustaining Maine’s Working Waterfronts.” Transcript [00:00:00] Stuart Kestenbaum: You know, the goal wasn’t to bring tourists to […]