Angus King

Sen. Susan Collins cast a pivotal vote in pushing Trump's "big beautiful bill" past a key procedural hurdle step over the weekend but said Monday that changes to Medicaid are "problematic."

The Democratic governor laid out her concerns in a letter to the state's congressional delegation this week as the Senate continues work on the bill, which contains key aspects of President Trump's domestic agenda.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic Rep. Jared Golden expressed support for the airstrikes. Independent Sen. Angus King called them important yet "potentially dangerous" while Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree said they were reckless and unconstitutional.

The two senators spoke during committee hearings where Cabinet secretaries fielded a variety of questions about the president's cost-cutting measures and policy priorities.

Canada is both the largest source of imported goods to Maine and the state's biggest export market, accounting an estimated $6 billion in cross-border trade last year.

Sen. Susan Collins steered clear of criticizing any one party in the meeting, which have clouded hopes for ending Ukraine's war with Russia.

Maine's two senators have voted opposite of one another on more than a half-dozen of President Trump's Cabinet picks. The latest, vaccine-skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., will now lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

Russell Vought formerly led the Office of Management and Budget. But he was also a key architect of Project 2025, the conservative playbook that appears to be influencing many of Trump's recent actions.

The nominee can only afford to lose three GOP senators if Democrats unite against him so attention could now shift to Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins and other potential swing votes.

Former Republican congressman John Ratcliffe was a controversial choice for Director of National Intelligence during Trump's first term, but his conformation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee was uncontentious.