Portland Press Herald headline: Susan Collins’ role in budget oversight looms as election issue Maine’s Republican senator chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, but critics say President Donald Trump has had his way with Congress on spending decisions.

One thing you won't learn from this pathetically deferential article from @billykobin.bsky.social and @pressherald.com is how many oversight hearings focused on the Trump administration Susan Collins committee has held since she took over in January 2025.

None. The answer is none. #MEpolitics

There's a pretty good chance Susan Collins votes "no" on this bill when it comes to final passage. But today's vote -- the one to let her MAGA party avoid the filibuster and pass the bill with 50 Republican votes -- is the one that counts.

(Don't tell the Maine press.) #MEpolitics

Why are you responding to a post from 3 months ago?

Photo of Susan Collins accepting an award at "Lobbyist Prom."

Susan Collins receiving an award at the annual event Politico has called "Lobbyist Prom" and that Washington Post deemed "the premier social event for Washington's lobbyists." (tinyurl.com/mv6wz5mb)

That she's comfortable doing this out in the open hints at how messed up things are. #MEpolitics

Susan Collins openly working to shovel $70,000,000,000 to the masked crew who went on a campaign of threats and menace in Maine in Jan/Feb.

Among other things, $70B could fix up quite a few fire houses. #MEpolitics

Graham Platner tweet: Won’t be taking advice about the soul of America from the guy that killed the Child Tax Credit then went back to his yacht. Steve Collins tweet: @Sen_JoeManchin: "If you lose a @SenatorCollins in the United States Senate, you've lost the soul of America, what it's all about, and I mean that with my heart. I believe that."

Fair. #MEpolitics

Alex Seitz-Wald tweet.

@aseitzwald.bsky.social is soliciting questions for a Maine Dems gov forum. tinyurl.com/4mz6hj49 #MEpolitics

That post is from 3 months ago???

Susan Collins tweet about 4-H with a photo.

No one should willingly participate in a photo-op with Susan Collins. It helps give cover for all the awful things she's up to in DC. But if standing with her in a photo can't be avoided...there are better and worse ways to approach it.

Someone here understood the assignment. #MEpolitics

Union agreements terminated at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Union workers at the shipyard expressed concerns that losing collective bargaining protections could adversely affect safety, pay, and working conditions.

Sure, keep telling us how powerful Susan Collins is. #MEpolitics

It's amazing how brazen Susan Collins camp is about this sort of thing. But it's also pretty pathetic that they have to call in favors to get anyone to say anything good about her. #MEpolitics

Bangor Daily News website with five ads touting Susan Collins.

Below the fold on the Bangor Daily News website. Embarrassing. #MEpolitics

The photo in the Bangor Daily News ad that's been running for weeks (months?) is from 2007 or 2008. tinyurl.com/52r2txm3 #MEpolitics

The general election message against Susan Collins has to include words and imagery about her tolerance for and enabling of this corruption.

No hearings. No blocked nominees. Nothing. #MEpolitics

Headline: Collins, Bipartisan Senate Group Press OMB to Release Remaining LIHEAP Funds

When you read the article -- published by the disinfo outlet run by a fake "think tank" that Susan Collins supports financially -- you learn that the only thing Collins has done or is doing here to "press" Trump to release $$$ appropriated by Congress is...write a letter.

That's it. #MEpolitics

Bangor Daily News letter to the editor: Shame on Sen. Susan Collins for largely supporting this president, who I view as unhinged, and for not taking a stronger stand to stop the damage he is doing in our name. She is opposed to recent war powers resolutions, which would reclaim the Senate’s right to declare war. She is supportive of the SAVE Act to restrict voting (which is similar to a measure soundly defeated by Mainers last year). We, the people, must reclaim our power. We can speak out, defend our Constitution, and vote for “regime change” here at home in November. We can start by replacing Susan Collins in the U.S. Senate. Linda Sisson Bangor

Susan Collins ad in the middle of a letter calling for Susan Collins defeat is a pretty good allegory for the Bangor Daily News and the Maine media landscape more broadly. #MEpolitics

And now more on Fetterman from Platner. Pretty good answer. #MEpolitics

FEC transaction detail for Susan Collins's leadership PAC's contribution to the Cumberland County Republican Committee.

What is the relation between this committee and the county committee? Any idea? Or are they completely independent?

Susan Collins gave $2,500 to the Cumberland County committee just a few weeks ago. #MEpolitics

Graham Platner tweet: We don't need another Fetterman in the Senate.

Ha. Opening bid from Platner. #MEpolitics

Pretty sure "Who's more likely to vote like Fetterman?" isn't how most Mainers are thinking about the ME-Sen primary...

...but it'd be great all the same to see Mills/Platner compete to convince voters that THEY'RE the one less likely to go rogue or become an obstacle to Dem priorities. #MEpolitics

LaFlamme didn't make the ballot.

"Golden has not endorsed any of the Democrats seeking to succeed him in Maine’s 2nd District. State Auditor Matt Dunlap, state Sen. Joe Baldacci, D-Bangor, ex-Capitol Hill operative Jordan Wood and University of Maine graduate student Paige Loud are competing in the June 9 primary for the chance to face the Republican contender, former Gov. Paul LePage, in November."

Would any of the three accept Jared Golden's endorsement if he offered it? Kinda doubt it. #MEpolitics

Susan Collins reliance on televised testimonials from a corporate lobbyist posing as an average Mainer is as clear an indication as you could ask for that her team believes the Maine press is in their pocket and they can operate without any meaningful media blowback.

Probably right! #MEpolitics

THE PROBLEM WITH PLANNED PARENTHOOD Why did turning her back on abortion rights earn Susan Collins pro-choice praise?

Re-raises the question of why Planned Parenthood was shilling for Susan Collins as recently as last year. #MEpolitics

Maine News Center headline: Senator Susan Collins will not support resolution to rein in President Trump on Iran war

Rare to see a local news headline slip through that states so straightforwardly what Susan Collins is up to. #MEpolitics

WGME headline: Sen. Collins pushes proposal to lower insulin costs

Alternative (better) headline: Susan Collins pushes plan to prevent the uninsured from having their insulin costs capped. #MEpolitics

Bangor Daily News headline: Susan Collins worried about Iran cyberattacks during partial government shutdown

If only she knew someone with influence over federal spending decisions. #MEpolitics

77% of the Senate Dem caucus voted for the resolution Janet Mills says she opposes here -- including Angus King.

This is another issue where Mills simply isn't in the Democratic mainstream. #MEpoliticd

AdImpact Politics tweet: #MESen: Janet Mills’ last aired broadcast TV ad ran on 4/10. Since then, her opponent Graham Platner has logged 900+ broadcast ad airings. Total ad support: Platner: $6.4M Mills: $1.8M Future reservations: Platner: $96K Mills: $0

What was the point of the Senate Dem machine endorsing Mills -- a net *minus* for her in an anti-establishment year -- if they weren't planning to actually throw significant resources her way?

The whole thing doesn't make a whole lot of sense. #MEpolitics