President-elect Trump has made known his intent to carry out mass deportation once in office. Is there a need? None I know of. It appears as straight racism and hatred to me. If such a need exists, Trump should do the country the honor of sending his plan to Congress where it can be properly […]

More than 4 million Americans currently hold a security clearance. Every one of them had a background check that was conducted by the FBI. During my 30 years of federal government service, I also held a security clearance, so I’m familiar with background checks, with the procedures for handling classified information, and with the importance […]

Maine Senator Margaret Chase Smith was the first U.S. Senator to speak up against the rhetoric and tactics of Sen. Joseph McCarthy, in her 1950 “Declaration of Conscience” speech on the Senate floor. She will go down in history for it. As of now, Maine Sen. Susan Collins will be remembered for saying that Donald […]

Sen. Susan Collins supports sanctioning the International Criminal Court if its prosecutor continues to pursue arrest warrants against Israeli officials. When ICC prosecutor Karim Khan requested arrest warrants for Hamas and Israeli leaders, he alleged that Israel was using starvation as a weapon of war against the civilian population in Gaza. Khan said that the […]

As a 91-year-old homeless veteran living at the Bread of Life Ministries veterans homeless shelter at Augusta, I’d like to say a word or two concerning the “Homeless Veterans Mobile Stand Down” that was held Oct. 30 at Mill Park in Augusta. On behalf of my homeless brothers, and the staff of Bread of Life, […]

As a physician who cares deeply about the health and safety of all of our patients and communities, I am appalled by Donald Trump’s reckless decision to appoint Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). The health and well-being of 336 million Americans depend on leadership at HHS that prioritizes […]

Chuck Hagel, a former Republican senator and U.S. defense secretary, has expressed serious concerns about the new Trump administration’s plans to politicize the U.S. military leadership. His warning should be taken seriously. When decisions are made to put our sons and daughters in harm’s way, we should provide them with the best possible support. President […]

The people of Maine desperately need one or more local journalists to dig into the state of our judicial system. Right now, across Maine, the ability to access justice varies greatly depending on a person’s ZIP code. Some courts, such as Lewiston District Court, consistently deliver access to justice the way it’s intended to be. […]