Maine Calling

The Wall Street Journal’s Jeanne Cummings and USM’s Political Science professor Ron Schmidt return to discuss the election results – what we know, what we don’t know, how the national landscape has, or hasn’t, changed, and what may be next in national politics.

After Election Day, we address questions that remain, particularly what processes might unfold to determine the results of the election. What is allowed under the Constitution and the law, and what areas are unclear, even to legal scholars? We'll also hear what questions and concerns listeners have about what to expect post-Election Day.

We cover the developments of Election Day in Maine by checking in with Maine's Secretary of State, local election officials, poll workers, and reporters across the state. We will also hear from voters who have either gone to the polls or turned in their ballots already to learn about their voting experiences. 

This show is part of our coverage of topics relating to Maine's bicentennial.

One of the most renowned leaders to hail from Maine, Margaret Chase Smith was the first woman to win election to both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. She made her mark with her independent stances, including legislation on behalf of women in the armed services, and her famous "Declaration of Conscience" speech, criticizing Sen. Joseph McCarthy's red-baiting tactics. We discuss her remarkable life and career, and the relevance of her actions to today's political climate.

Our panel of editorial page editors returns to discuss the high-profile election, the latest on the surging cases of COVID-19 statewide, and other newsmaking Maine headlines in in October.

Of the many side effects that COVID-19 has had on people's wellbeing, sleep often comes up in conversation as something that has been disrupted during the pandemic. We will talk with medical experts about how sleep is integrated with overall mental and physical health, what ways the pandemic is affecting people's sleep (and even their dreams), and approaches that can help foster healthy sleep patterns.

Our automotive experts return to discuss news from the auto world, including GMC’s entry into the EV world with its all-electric, $100k Hummer and the latest from Tesla. We'll get answers on what to do to maintain and repair cars that have been sitting for too long during the pandemic, and we'll get tips on preparing your car for winter driving.

Jessica Meir, NASA astronaut, marine biologist and native of Caribou, Maine, made history one year ago when she and colleague Christina Koch made the first all-female spacewalk while on the International Space Station.

We'll talk with Meir about her six months spent in space, her experience since returning to Earth — and to the pandemic — in April, and her plans for the future.

As the state sees increased COVID-19 cases yet keeps our overall positivity rate low, we talk with Nirav Shah, director, Maine Center for Disease Control, about the trajectory of the pandemic here in Maine.

https://extension.umaine.edu/

From finding ways to get food to those who need it, to helping healthcare workers de-stress, to assisting older Mainers, we learn about all the ways that people have found to help one another during the pandemic.

Matthew Dunlap, Maine Secretary of State, returns to address the complexities and confusion that remain in the days before the election, including the ins and outs of absentee voting and ranked choice voting. He'll also discuss the U.S. Census, motor vehicle questions and more.

The pandemic has already changed how we go about our work. We'll discuss what changes we are seeing, and what the lasting effects may be on workers and workplaces. How will more remote work alter societal behaviors? Will offices have new configurations or smaller sites in different cities? Will improved lifestyles be a byproduct of this time of sweeping change?

A recent Harvard survey found that 68 percent of young people say they will "definitely be voting" in 2020—a notable increase over past years.

We discuss trends in youth voting, including what obstacles they face, their attitudes, and what is being done in Maine to increase participation in democracy among the younger generation.

We discuss the latest research and information about Covid-19, including risk factors, long-term effects, and vaccine progress. We'll also hear the medical perspective about questions raised by President Trump's symptoms and treatment for the disease—including what we know about therapeutics and immunity.