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 […]
Read more
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
Read more
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 […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more
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, […]
Read more
Our podcast, Maine Policy Matters, was recently ranked number 19 of Feedspot’s “70 Best Non Partisan Podcasts” list.
Read more
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 […]
Read more
Today is National Podcast Day, and we’re celebrating the release of the 8th season of the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center’s very own Maine Policy Matters. The first two episodes have been released: the Importance of Maine’s Libraries, and the Future of Whales in Maine! Library leaders from across Maine share how their roles reflect […]
Read more
In this episode, library leaders from across Maine share how their roles reflect the modern mission of public libraries and why these institutions remain vital to their communities. Listeners will learn how Maine libraries are adapting to meet today’s needs, the impact of federal funding cuts, and the strategies librarians employ to defend intellectual freedom […]
Read more