Of all the issues that divide Gov. Janet Mills from most members of her own Democratic Party, none is more vexing, or seemingly inexplicable, than her dogged opposition to any substantive alteration of the Land Claims Settlement Act governing Maine’s relationship with its indigenous tribes. The 1980 law has had vast and invidious consequences far […]

As if his political career wasn’t perverse and horrid enough, Donald Trump now holds the distinction of being the first former president in U.S. history to face federal criminal charges. Trump was arraigned on Tuesday on 37 separate counts over his handling of classified information, including willfully retaining national defense secrets in violation of the […]

Recently, my wife and I joined some friends to attend our first “rock” concert since the COVID pandemic temporarily made fun illegal. It was great to be back in that electric atmosphere among a crowd of excited music lovers, about 90% of whom were younger than my lawn mower. Ed Sheeran headlined the concert – […]

Last month, the NAACP made waves for issuing a travel advisory for Florida in response to Governor Ron DeSantis’ ruthless efforts to whitewash Black history and severely curtail diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. “Once again, hate-inspired state leaders have chosen to put politics over people. Governor Ron DeSantis and the state of Florida have engaged […]

It’s difficult to wrap my mind around it, but this will be my 20th Father’s Day as a father. All of those third Sundays in June have blurred together, but I certainly have warm memories of son Gideon’s everyday march toward adulthood. (He marched. I hopped – because of %$#@ plastic toys on the carpet.) […]

THE CONVERSATION — Former President Donald Trump’s indictment by a federal grand jury in Miami includes 31 counts of violating a part of the Espionage Act of 1917. The Espionage Act has historically been employed most often by law-and-order conservatives. But the biggest uptick in its use occurred during the Obama administration, which used it as the hammer of choice for […]

During the recent dedication of the John and Lile Gibbons Center for Arctic Studies at Bowdoin, one of my Bowdoin classmates (Class of 1964) recommended a book appropriate to our age group: “Eightysomethings: A Practical Guide to Letting Go, Aging Well, and Finding Unexpected Happiness.” That book prompted me to write this piece. I invite […]

Even as the school year comes to a close, the Brunswick Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BBPAC) is focused on providing “safe routes to school” or SRTS. According to the US Department of Transportation, a SRTS program promotes walking and biking to school through infrastructure improvements, enforcement, tools, safety education, and incentives to walk and […]

There have been so many Chris Christies that I need to number them. Chris Christie 1.0, during the winter of 2015-16, mocked the notion that a reality-TV host had the credentials to lead the nation: “It’s all make believe, if you think that (Trump’s tinsel stardom) forms the experience to run a government as complicated […]