My column deadline is supposed to be Wednesday at noon, for submission the following Sunday. I’ll admit that sometimes I stretch that deadline a bit.
It’s Wednesday morning, and I am tired. I woke up at 4 a.m. to go to the bathroom and saw that the race had been called for Donald Trump. I saw a light on in the living room and stumbled out. Bo was sitting on the couch and I knew she knew. I sat down and said, “I saw,” and she said, “I know.” I went to lie down again because I had to get up for work; you have to clock in even if you’re scared for your family’s future.
I don’t want to write anything. I don’t want to think of fancy words or a good take on things and I don’t even really want to organize my thoughts. All I can think of is unprintable swear words. I’m sad and scared. Mad, too. Frustrated. Bitter, even. Like, this guy? Really? I could understand electing a regular conservative, but this friggin’ guy? With the bronzer and the rambling about Hannibal Lecter and the felony convictions in a court of law? Do I need to worry about anti-LGBTQ violence? Should I buy a gun to protect my family?
We don’t have a call on which way the House of Representatives will swing. Will abortion care be outlawed nationwide? Will it be safe for me to try and have a baby, given that any pregnancy for me is a high-risk pregnancy? Do I need to worry that, because I’ve publicly criticized Trump in a newspaper, I’ll be locked up or shot at, as he has indicated he’d like to do to members of the mainstream media?
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Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think I’m that important in the grand scheme of things, and this isn’t a big outlet (by national standards), but what if he gets bored once he’s through with CNN and starts looking for smaller targets?
This sucks. It sucks so much. Anyone who isn’t already rich, such as Scrooge McDuck, is going to have their life get significantly worse economically – including most of the regular people who voted for Trump. Is it really worth it for you guys in order to be able to see other people suffer? That’s just so weird to me. Good luck with the privatization of Medicare and Social Security, I guess.
Here in America, men hate women and white people hate Black people. Maybe Democrats would have won if they’d run a white guy. Or maybe they wouldn’t have. Maybe a majority of Americans want a dictator instead of a president. For the in-groups, fascism seems like a great deal. You don’t have to worry about stuff, pay attention to political goings-on, and all the people you don’t like just sort of go away.
At least I’m not hungover … Election Night in 2016 is a vivid memory for me. My mom, sister, our neighbor Roxanne and I were having an Election Night party because we were so sure we were going to see America elect its first female president. We started out the night drinking kir royales, a delicious drink made of raspberry liqueur and champagne. Then we settled in to watch the results roll in.
After a while, we ran out of the raspberry liqueur and switched to straight champagne. Then I switched to vodka (nobody else hit the vodka, that was a Victoria thing). I cried. Sobbed, actually. I was the sobbing liberal that Trump voters seem to enjoy making fun of. (I don’t know why people like laughing at someone who is scared and upset. Americans are meaner than I thought.)
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I was scared. My sister had recently converted to Islam and Trump had run on a Muslim ban. I was so drunk and so scared and all I could think of was how I was going to protect my baby sister. My baby sister is 24 now. Not a baby anymore. And she’s in the Netherlands at graduate school. Even though I miss her a lot, I’m so glad she’s there.
I had to take a pause from drafting this column because just now, in the middle of writing it, my dog Janey (who, by the way, is from Mexico) randomly threw up on the floor. So we’re both feeling the same way.
Last week, I wrote that this election felt, to me, like a callback to the battle of views between my two great-great-grandfathers: Filipino immigrant Victor and KKK member Garrett. Expansive idea of America vs. isolationist, exclusive, violent idea of America. America picked Garrett.
And now, I have to go clean dog barf off the floor. Which is most likely pretty much what the next four years are going to be like, politically and economically speaking.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine Democrat Graham Platner has picked up another high-profile endorsement in his bid to flip a key Senate seat blue, marking another sign of the oyster farmer and combat veteran’s political resiliency even as he continues to face controversy throughout his campaign.
Arizona Democrat Ruben Gallego announced Monday that he was backing Platner, saying that the first-time candidate “reflects the grit and independence that defines Maine.”
“Graham Platner is the kind of fighter Maine hasn’t seen in a long time, someone who tells you exactly what he thinks, doesn’t owe anything to the special interests, and wakes up every day thinking about working families,” said Gallego, who won a Senate seat in Arizona in 2024 by more than 2 points while Trump carried the state by nearly 6 points.
Platner has previously been endorsed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, and New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich, a Democrat.
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However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has endorsed Platner’s main opponent, Maine Gov. Janet Mills.
Both Platner, 41, and Mills, 78, are hoping to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins, 73, a five-term incumbent who announced last month that she was running for another term. A victory in Maine is crucial for Democrats’ efforts to take back control of the Senate. The Democratic Party needs to net four seats to retake the Senate majority, and they are aiming to do that in Maine, North Carolina, Alaska and Ohio.
READ MORE: Maine’s Graham Platner thinks voters will overlook his past to support a new type of candidate
Platner has gained traction with his anti-establishment image and economic equality message. He’s pressed forward despite controversies over old social media posts and a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, which he recently had covered up.
Gallego is among the Democrats named as possible 2028 presidential contenders. Last fall, he stumped in New Jersey, Virginia and Florida, where he campaigned for Democrats who went on to win their elections.
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“I have an immense amount of respect for him and I’m looking forward to joining him as a fellow Marine and combat infantryman in the U.S. Senate,” Platner said in a statement.
Kruesi reported from Providence, Rhode Island.
A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy.
On March 2, Spurwink will join community partners for a special viewing of Building Hope: Ending Homelessness in Maine at the University of Southern Maine’s McGoldrick Hall.
Directed by Richard Kane and produced by Melody Lewis-Kane, the film shines a compassionate light on the realities of Maine’s homelessness crisis. Through deeply personal stories, Building Hope explores the challenges faced by unhoused individuals and families, while highlighting the hope that emerges when communities come together to create solutions. It’s been praised for its honesty, dignity, and inspiring message: change is possible when we work together.
Following the screening, a panel of local leaders and advocates will discuss the film and the ongoing effort in Maine to end homelessness. Panelists will include Katherine Rodney, Director of Spurwink’s Living Room Crisis Center; Cullen Ryan, Chief Strategic Officer at 3Rivers; Donna Wampole, Assistant Professor of Social Work at USM; and Preble Street staff. Catherine Ryder, Spurwink’s Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, will bring her expertise in trauma-informed care and community collaboration to the panel as the moderator.
Keon Johnson had 21 points and 10 rebounds as the Maine Celtics defeated the Windy City Bulls 122-87 in an NBA G League game on Sunday afternoon at the Portland Expo.
Hason Ward scored 16 points and Jalen Bridges 14 for Maine (13-15), which had seven players score in double digits. Bridges drained four 3-pointers for the Celtics, who shot 13 for 28 (46.4%) from beyond the arc.
Max Shulga dished out 11 assists and scored nine points.
Maine led 33-18 after one quarter 72-36 at halftime.
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Keyshawn Bryant scored a game-high 25 points for Windy City (12-12).
