One might think that the May 24 reopening of the State House to the public and the Legislature, after nearly 15 months in mothballs due to the pandemic, would have been cause for celebration, if not rejoicing. But it was not to be. The Legislative Council meeting a week ago Thursday made that clear. In an hour-long discussion that was […]

When Viola Fletcher, 107, appeared before Congress in May 2021, she called for the nation to officially acknowledge the Tulsa race riot of 1921. I know that place and year well. As is the case with Fletcher – who is one of the last living survivors of the massacre, which took place when she was […]

Who knew that America was filled with so many amateur social studies teachers? Whenever I write about Republican-led efforts to sharply curtail voting rights (which disproportionately impact Black and brown voters who tend to support Democrats), I’ll often get a letter from aggrieved conservative readers who remind me, “John, you of all people should know […]

I’m not going to change your mind about abortion. This is not a “hearts and minds” sort of essay, seeking common ground on a battlefield bloodier than Gettysburg. This is a simple acknowledgement that, for the first time in 48 years, there is a strong possibility that the most cited, most manipulated, most controversial Supreme […]

Maine needs a paid medical leave policy to protect seniors The pandemic has had a significant impact on all facets of our lives. In Maine where our workforce relies heavily on jobs created by the tourism industry, we faced high levels of unemployment, which made it difficult for many of us to make ends meet. […]