Sen. Susan Collins, I’m sure you’ve heard that President Donald J. Trump, the head of your party, recently referred to the whole Epstein files saga as “a hoax.”

Do you think it is a hoax? Do you believe Trump or do you believe the victims of Epstein’s sex trafficking ring? Are you on the side of women rape victims. If so, are you willing to stand up to powerful men, such as the president of the United States and have the women name names?

Does the Epstein case “concern” you? Did it “concern” you when Trump pardoned the hundreds of people who were imprisoned for the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection?

Did it “concern” you when you discovered that Brett Kavanaugh lied to you when he said he wouldn’t help overturn Roe v Wade?

Does it “concern” you that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr,. the director of Health and Human Services, is getting hammered by your fellow Senators for his total incompetence? Remember when you voted to confirm him because of pressure from Trump and his allies? Mainers remember.

Does it “concern” you that your favorability polls have plummeted? In the final quarter of 2024, your approval rating stood at 47%. In July 2025, your approval rating dropped to 38%. Do you wonder why? Ask the thousands of Mainers who have repeatedly called your office to ask you to take a certain position. You didn’t want to hear their views if they went against the Trump agenda. That’s not totally true, you seem willing to buck Trump if your vote doesn’t make a difference. By the way, even hard core MAGAs are mad that you voted to impeach Trump the second time around.

While you’re happy to do the bidding of your lobbyist donors and the Trump machine, you’re not willing to face your constituents in a Town Hall. We understand that such an event would be painful for you, based on the receptions other Republicans who have dared to hold Town Halls. Why not give it a try? Just once.

If you’re been following the news, you’ve no doubt heard about a guy named Graham Platner, the Maine oysterman from the small town of Sullivan who is running to take your Senate seat. You’ve heard about the tremendous reaction he’s been getting in places large and small throughout Maine. How does it feel when you look at videos from his talks and hear what he says and see the reaction to his message?

If you run against Platner, he might just bring up the fact that billionaire Steve Schwarzman gave $2 million to Pine Tree Results, a super PAC backing you, just days before you voted to pass Trump’s “big beautiful bill” to the floor. Ouch.

We know you’re proud of your record of attendance in the Senate. Are you equally proud of the fact that when you first ran you promised to serve only two terms; yet, you’re now winding up your fourth term and want to seek a fifth. Hmmmm.

Graham Platner believes in term limits. You have clearly changed your mind about serving only two terms — time and time and time again.

Graham also believes in policies that will actually help working class Mainers: raising the minimum wage; creating Medicare for all, getting money out of politics and so on. He is a straight shooter when he says he cares about the working people because he’s a working guy himself. That’s quite a contract from your boss, Trump, who pretends to care about the little guy just to get their vote and then proceeds to use the presidency to enrich himself and his wealthy friends and donors.

Given that background, here’s my advice: Drop out of the Senate race, rather than risk the possibility of a humiliating loss. Give a farewell speech, saying it’s been an honor to serve Maine, etc.

And here’s another idea. In your time remaining, lead an impeachment effort against Trump. Declare that you care too much about your state and your country to see Trump continue to trash our democracy. Okay?

If that’s too much to ask, lead the drive to oust RFK, Jr. from his position. That should be an easy one, as many of your GOP colleagues seem willing to join the effort.

Remember when you stated that Donald Trump “learned his lesson” after the first impeachment trial? I assume you’ll agree that he didn’t learn his lesson. Has it occurred to you that Trump is out for Trump — period? Full stop.

So here’s my last suggestion Write a book entitled, “I Was Wrong. Trump Never Learned His Lesson. (But I Did),” by Susan Collins.

David Treadwell, a Brunswick writer, welcome commentary and suggestions for future “Just a Little Old” columns at dtreadw575@aol.com.