Federal Agents at the Polls

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Jul 09, 2026 (CommonDreams.org)

Troy Jackson, a fifth-generation logger from northern Maine who previously served as the state’s Senate president, is making the case that he has the best shot at unseating Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November following Graham Platner’s exit from the race on Wednesday.

“There is a powerful movement of working class people in the state of Maine, and millions more across America who are ready to send a progressive fighter to the Senate,” Jackson wrote in a social media post on Wednesday, formally announcing his Senate run. “I’ve been fighting for that movement my whole life—and I’m sure as hell not backing down now, when this fight is needed most.”

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“I’m in,” he added. “And we’re going to defeat Susan Collins. Maine deserves a senator that will fight for working families.”

Jackson, who filed federal paperwork earlier this week to explore a US Senate bid as the Maine Democratic Party scrambled to construct a process to choose Platner’s replacement ahead of the July 27 deadline, recently fell short in a highly competitive race for the Maine Democratic Party’s gubernatorial nomination.

But those who are rallying behind Jackson argue his economic populist messaging, union backing, support for Medicare for All, and appeal across broad swaths of Maine—including rural counties—make him the most sensible choice to take on Collins, who is running for a sixth term in the US Senate.

“Troy has spent his life fighting for working people,” said the national progressive advocacy group Our Revolution, which rescinded its endorsement of Platner following the sexual assault allegation against him, which he denied.

Our Revolution noted that Jackson led Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) presidential campaigns in Maine in both 2016 and 2020. Jackson also appeared alongside Sanders and Platner at “Fighting Oligarchy” rallies during his gubernatorial bid.

“Long before this Senate seat became available, Troy had built a record of standing with workers, unions, and rural communities across Maine,” said Our Revolution, which announced Wednesday that it is mobilizing volunteers across Maine to “ensure voters are represented by a candidate who reflects the agenda they overwhelmingly supported” during the Democratic primary process—a contest that Platner won handily.

Jackson is one of several Democrats jumping at the opportunity to challenge Collins, who has enabled President Donald Trump’s destructive legislative agenda and helped pave the way for the gutting of reproductive rights nationwide.

Nirav Shah, former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, formally announced on Thursday that he is launching a bid to replace Platner. Shenna Bellows, Maine’s secretary of state, said Tuesday that she is “seriously considering” entering the Senate race. (Like Jackson, both Shah and Bellows unsuccessfully ran for Maine’s Democratic gubernatorial nomination.)

A flash poll commissioned by the Platner campaign earlier this week found that Jackson performed better than Shah and Bellows in hypothetical match-ups against Collins.

Christine Kirby, a spokeswoman for Jackson, told Drop Site on Tuesday that since the sexual assault allegation against Platner was made public, Jackson’s team has received a torrent of calls and messages urging him to run for the Senate nomination.

“He is clearly the strongest option to replace Graham Platner and take on Susan Collins in the general election,” said Kirby. “This movement is greater than any one person, it’s about a coalition of Maine people fighting for a future that doesn’t have to belong only to the wealthy and powerful. And Troy is up for the fight.”

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SF Ballot Measure Could Help Establish the First City-Run Public Bank in the US

By admin | July 10, 2026 - 12:32 pm |July 10, 2026 Public Bank

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8 July 2026/SF Politics/Leanne Maxwell (SFist.com)

The SF Board of Supervisors voted to add a measure to the November ballot that would help the city work toward establishing its own public bank, which would fund affordable housing, green energy, and small businesses — the first of its kind in the nation.

The measure passed the Board of Supervisors on a 9-2 vote Tuesday, with Supervisors Stephen Sherrill and Alan Wong dissenting, as KQED reports.

“A public bank would open the doors to build an engine for affordable housing,” said Supervisor Chyanne Chen, per KALW, “a lifeline for struggling small businesses, and the financial backbone for our climate goals.”

Five supervisors co-sponsored the measure creating the municipal finance corporation, including Supervisors Jackie Fielder, Myrna Melgar, Bilal Mahmood, Shamann Walton, and Chyanne Chen, who recently introduced the legislation to the board while Fielder, who spearheaded a previous public bank proposal, was on medical leave. Mayor Daniel Lurie has reportedly not indicated whether he supports the proposal.

The proposal would create the governance structure for the municipal finance corporation, the first step toward eventually launching a city-run public bank, per KQED. It outlines the bank’s mission, prioritizing affordable housing, green energy, and small businesses, while barring lending to fossil fuel companies and weapons manufacturers. The plan would also establish a board with appointments made by the mayor, Board of Supervisors, city attorney, controller, and treasurer-tax collector.

According to Mission Local, no funding is attached to the ballot measure, and supporters estimate roughly $325 million in startup capital would still be needed before the bank could begin issuing loans. A previous proposal by Fielder included taxing large financial institutions, though advocates have also pointed to potential federal grants, philanthropic funding, and other financing sources.

Wong argued the city has not yet demonstrated it can responsibly manage the financial and regulatory demands of operating a bank and questioned whether voters should commit to the idea before a funding plan is in place.

“A public bank involves decisions about deposits, lending, credit, regulation and risk management,” Wong said Tuesday. “Those decisions carry real financial consequences. They demand institutional discipline, insulation from political pressure, transparency, and deep banking expertise. Our city’s track record shows that meeting those demands is harder than it sounds, even for institutions designed with the right intentions.”

[Update] As 48 Hills reports, Wong has changed his stance considerably since joining the Board of Supervisors, as he was previously in favor of public banks.

KQED reports that the measure must reportedly pass before a 2028 deadline, when the state law allowing cities to establish public banks is set to expire.

Supporters say a public bank could help finance thousands of approved affordable housing units that have stalled for lack of funding, while expanding access to low-cost loans for small businesses and climate projects.

“We can build a public bank that prioritizes reinvesting back into what we all need to sustain our local communities,” said Chen, per Mission Local.

The idea has reportedly been in the works for years. California legalized municipal public banking in 2019, and the Board of Supervisors later created a working group that developed a roadmap for a public bank, which the board adopted in 2023, per KQED. Supporters also point to a 2025 poll commissioned by the San Francisco Public Bank Coalition that found 67% of likely San Francisco voters backed the concept.

If approved, San Francisco would be on track to become the first US city to operate its own public bank, though publicly run banks already exist elsewhere, including North Dakota.

Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

‘Heavily intoxicated’: Woman says Senate nominee raped her in 2021

By admin | July 9, 2026 - 11:24 pm |July 10, 2026 National politics

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“Jake Tapper, now an anchor at CNN, wrote a 4,200-word essay in the Washington City Paper headlined I DATED MONICA LEWINSKY. (‘I’ll get with her because I figured that behind her initial aggressiveness lurked on easy, perhaps winning, bit of no-frills hookup.’)”
–Brooke Nevils, “Unspeakable Things: Silence, Shame and the Stories We Choose to Believe”

CNN Jul 6, 2026 A woman said Monday that Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maine, entered her home without permission and raped her while he was heavily intoxicated nearly five years ago when they were in a casual dating relationship – an allegation Platner denies. 0:00 Jenny Racicot describes meeting Platner in 2021 2:23 Does she have political motivations for making these claims? 4:35 Jenny describes what she saw in his eyes as the alleged assault occurred 7:24 Platner seemed aware that what he was doing was wrong at times 9:11 What happened after the alleged assault Watch 24/7 live news with CNN Headlines: https://bit.ly/4eIvlTr

TrumpsTruth.org

By admin | July 9, 2026 - 11:08 pm |July 9, 2026 Website

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Our site archives all of Donald Trump’s TRUTH Social posts, providing a searchable index of his statements, video transcripts, and image descriptions.

@realDonaldTrump · July 9, 2026, 8:07 PM

A very big day in Palm Beach, Florida, where it was my Great Honor to have the Palm Beach International Airport be renamed, by a spectacular vote, The President Donald J. Trump International Airport. The Area is HOT, the Location is GREAT, and the Renovation will be SPECTACULAR. Thank you to all in Palm Beach for your Vote and your Confidence. This will soon be one of the Greatest and Most Spectacular Airports anywhere in the World! President DONALD J. TRUMP

@realDonaldTrump · July 8, 2026, 9:39 PM

Thank you to the brilliant and highly respected Gwynne Shotwell, and her husband, Robert, for their extreme Generosity in helping children to attain the ever magnificent American Dream! Their Gift of 325 Million Dollars of SpaceX Stock is greatly appreciated by all. Thousands of children have just been given a better life. Thank you Gwynne and Robert, and continued Great Success! President DONALD J. TRUMP

Tweet by Gwynne Shotwell discussing participation in the Invest America program, gifting SpaceX stock to children through Trump Accounts, focusing on those aged 11-17 in lower-income households, especially near central Texas. Expresses hope for encouraging the next generation and gratitude to contributors.

A social media post by Brad Gerstner announces the introduction of a new investment initiative for American children called "Trump Accounts," established by the Invest America Act signed into law by President Trump. Every child will gain a shareholder status with a $1000 investment in top American companies. The initiative aims to foster economic participation and provide resources for future education, homeownership, and business opportunities, while promoting capitalism over government reliance. The initiative includes significant contributions from philanthropists and corporations, positioning it as a transformative civic and economic effort.

Text statement celebrating America's 250th birthday, emphasizing unity and democracy, mentions “Trump Accounts” and “Invest America Act.” Authored by Brad Gerstner, dated July 4, 2026, includes social media handles. Below the text is an image of a large American flag hanging on a multi-story building with arched windows. The post has 2.3 million views.

@realDonaldTrump · July 8, 2026, 8:16 PM

Nighttime scene of an explosion in Iranshahr, Iran, with flames and smoke rising near a built-up area and palm trees in the foreground, accompanied by a tweet confirming U.S. strikes on an airport utilized by the IRGC Aerospace Force.

@realDonaldTrump · July 8, 2026, 8:16 PM

@realDonaldTrump · July 8, 2026, 7:23 PM

The newly revamped West Wing of the White House, including signage and renovated walls, maple trees, and plantings! President DONALD J. TRUMP

Entrance to a white building labeled "The West Wing," featuring large windows and columns, surrounded by manicured bushes and trees along a patterned stone pathway.

@realDonaldTrump · July 8, 2026, 7:22 PM

Gavin Newscum’s recent Career Threatening Interview where he said he can’t read a speech, he was a stupid person, but smarter than the people in the room (RACIST!), has mental incapacity, difficulty, and various other ailments, may be the worst Interview given by a
“professional” Politician in 100 years. No Politician has ever made such statements, and survived! Newscum is in BIG TROUBLE when he openly admits that Kamala is smarter than he is! President DONALD J. TRUMP

@realDonaldTrump · July 8, 2026, 6:16 PM

We just landed and met up with our new Air Force One, which was sent earlier to RAF Mildenhall, so we could show the wonderful Servicemembers, as per the entire Base’s request. They were very excited, picture enclosed. It was on our way back to the States from Turkey, with virtually no deviation of flightpath. President DONALD J. TRUMP

Large crowd of people gathered on an airport tarmac in front of a government aircraft, labeled "United States of America." Airplane in the background, clear sky at sunset.

@realDonaldTrump · July 8, 2026, 6:07 PM

Urban street scene at dusk with heavy traffic and visible road signs, large clouds of smoke in the background, and illuminated commercial signage on buildings.

@realDonaldTrump · July 8, 2026, 6:06 PM

Large fire with thick smoke billowing into the night sky, city lights visible in the background.

@realDonaldTrump · July 8, 2026, 6:06 PM

Trump’s Truth is an archive of TRUTH Social posts from President Donald Trump. This site is a project of Defending Democracy Together.

Platner Campaign Accuses Maine Dems of Plotting Replacement Process ‘Behind Closed Doors’

By admin | July 9, 2026 - 2:08 pm |July 9, 2026 National politics

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Graham Platner speaks at a town hall at the Leavitt Theater on October 22, 2025 in Ogunquit, Maine.

(Photo by Sophie Park/Getty Images)

“We firmly believe that the supporters and volunteers who built this movement deserve to have a real role in any nomination process,” said Graham Platner’s campaign manager.

Jul 08, 2026 (CommonDreams.org)

Graham Platner’s campaign manager on Wednesday accused the Maine Democratic Party of coordinating with national Democrats “behind closed doors” and cutting the embattled US Senate nominee’s supporters out of the process to determine his potential replacement in the wake of a sexual assault allegation—and amid expectations that he will soon drop out of the race.

In a text message sent to Platner supporters, campaign chief Ben Chin wrote that the Maine Democratic Party “allowed the DC-based Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to send staffers to plan a potential nominating process behind closed doors. Both the state and national parties cut our team, our volunteers, and our vast networks of supporters out of the conversation completely.”

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“We firmly believe that the supporters and volunteers who built this movement deserve to have a real role in any nomination process,” Chin’s message continued. “If the Maine Democratic Party hopes to harness our movement, and avoid disillusioning the hundreds of thousands of supporters who came into the fray because of our movement’s policies, it must consult the feedback and proposals of the people who built and sustained this.”

The text included a link to a two-question survey asking Platner volunteers, “What message do you have for the Democratic Party?” and, “What message do you have for Graham?”

The defiant message came as Platner’s campaign was reportedly planning the nominee’s exit from the US Senate race to pave the way for a different Democratic candidate to take on five-term Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) in November. Platner has denied the sexual assault allegation that prompted mass calls for him to exit the race, including from his most prominent supporters such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Chin’s text message was circulated a day after Devon Murphy-Anderson, the Maine Democratic Party’s executive director, said in a video posted to social media that the party has been “working around the clock” to develop a plan to replace Platner that is “open, inclusive, transparent, and fair.” The party has not yet publicly specified what that plan could entail, saying Platner must formally withdraw from the race first.

Murphy-Anderson accused Platner’s team of “repeatedly reach[ing] out” to the Maine Democratic Party “in an attempt to put their thumb on the scale of what this process looks like.”

“We have repeatedly reiterated to Graham Platner’s team that they have no role in determining our next Democratic nominee for the US Senate,” Murphy-Anderson added.

In response to Murphy-Anderson’s statement, the Platner campaign denied that it has attempted to exert influence over the replacement process, saying it simply “reached out to the party to try and understand what this process would look like.”

“Over 150,000 Mainers voted for this movement, and over 15,000 Mainers volunteered their time and energy to it,” an unnamed Platner campaign official told NBC News late Tuesday. “While Graham wouldn’t want to be a part of the process, he would want to make sure the voters and volunteers make this decision—not the political establishment.”

On Wednesday, the Maine Democratic Party issued a new statement decrying what it called the Platner team’s “false accusations against us” while also expressing gratitude for “his supporters and all of their efforts to defeat Susan Collins.”

“They are a vital part of our party and deserve to participate in an open process to select Platner’s replacement,” said Maine Democrats.

CNN reported that Platner is “expected to announce his decision” on his candidacy “through a recorded video, which could come later Wednesday.”

Platner must drop out of the race by July 13 if he’s to be replaced on the November ballot. If he exits the race, an alternative must be selected by July 27.

Politico reported that Platner “quietly fielded a poll Tuesday gauging the strength of people who could replace him on the ballot.”

“The flash poll, obtained by Politico, was conducted by Public Policy Polling and commissioned by Platner’s campaign,” the outlet reported. “It tested head-to-head match-ups between Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Platner, along with five possible Democratic replacements for Platner, including former Maine state Senate President Troy Jackson and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.”

“Of the Democrats tested, Jackson performed the best, leading Collins 49% to 44%, with 7% of voters undecided,” Politico reported. The outlet also noted that the poll, conducted the day after the sexual assault allegation against Platner was first reported by Politico, showed Platner trailing Collins 47% to 42%.

Jackson has filed paperwork to explore a Senate bid in preparation for Platner’s expected exit, and Bellows—who lost badly to Collins in 2014—has said she would “seriously consider entering this race.” Nirav Shah, former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, is also weighing a Senate bid.

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