Radio Midcoast WCME - Jim

06/24/2026

Jim Bleikamp here.

The continuation of what I believe we can safely call an emerging trend.

In New York on primary election today, a "three-fer" as two more progressive Democrats unseat two less progressive congressional incumbents and progressive Claire Valdez wins the seat of the retiring Nydia Velasquez.

All three were backed by Mayor and 2014 Bowdoin College grad Zohran Mamdani and Gen-Z political consultant Morris Katz.

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander wallops Dan Goldman in the Tenth District and in District 13, 32-year-old Democratic socialist Darializa Chevalier turns back 71-year-old Congressman Adriano Espaillat, the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, after having cast him as an insufficient fighter for the working-class residents of the upper Manhattan district, and out of touch with Democratic primary voters on Israeli policy.

Lander pictured at top, Chevalier and Valdez, bottom, left to right

06/24/2026

WCME Sports

Day 2 at Charlie's Maine Open Golf Tournament in Manchester saw Fletcher Babcock of Danielson, Connecticut take the lead with five birdies an an eagle on the 18th hole. Babcock shot a 7-under 63.

But Monday leader Caleb Manuel of Topsham, a three-time Maine Amateur champion who turned pro in 2024, remains in a strong position--shooting a 66, and tied for second with Nicholas Pandalena.

06/23/2026

WCME News -- Your 24/7 Midcoast Breaking News Leader

A conservative group headed by State Representative Laurel Libby of Auburn is launching a campaign for stricter oversight rules over MaineCare spending in the aftermath of concerns about fraud.

Lead Maine has collected more than 3,500 signatures from registered voters in support of two petitions that would force the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to examine new rules.

The group is proposing specific rules that would mandate in-person inspections of MaineCare providers and require payment suspensions in the event of improper payments.

However, a Health and Human Services spokeswoman says the department has “taken significant actions in recent years to increase oversight and scrutiny of Medicaid providers,” including implementing the first licensing standards for home and community support services and personal care agencies.

06/23/2026

WCME News -- Your 24/7 Midcoast Breaking News Leader

A reminder about something soon to disappear in Freeport.

The silver bullet recycling container on West Street (near the Public Safety building) will be removed on or shortly after July 1st and will no longer be available.

As part of municipal budget discussions, the Town Council determined that due to financial and environmental impacts, the town's remaining Silver Bullet should be closed.

Residents will need to take their recycling to the Recycling/Transfer Facility at 100 Hedgehog Mountain Road, Wednesdays through Saturdays from 7AM - 4PM or contract with a private hauler for this service.

06/23/2026

WCME News -- Your 24/7 Midcoast Breaking News Leader

In a decision that applies to Maine, a judge has ruled that the federal government can’t block benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in 23 states from being used to buy candy, soda and other sugary drinks.

This rulling cancels SNAP restrictions now in effect in Maine and 22 other states. and the Trump administration has not said whether it will appeal to a higher court.

Federal District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who was nominated to the bench by former President Obama, says in her opinion that the ruling isn't a comment on whether the restrictions are a good idea.

“The federal defendants and the states may have a genuine desire to improve the health of SNAP households by encouraging healthy choices at the store, and they can take lawful steps to meet those goals,” she wrote. “But what they cannot do is violate the law and their own regulations along the way.”

06/23/2026

From NBC News and WCME

The results of a Covid vaccine study blocked by the Trump administration are published by an outside source and the findings suggest that Covid vaccines reduced the likelihood of severe illness last fall and winter.

The findings suggest that Covid vaccines reduced the likelihood of severe illness last fall and winter.

06/23/2026

WCME Sports

At Charlie's Maine Open Golf Tournament in Manchester, Topsham's Caleb Manuel finishes the opening day tied for the lead with two other players at 5-under 65.

Manuel was three shots down before he birdied the 16th, 17th and 18th holes.

06/23/2026

Heads-Up: A major book drop on Tuesday.

The long-awaited release of "Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump"--from the New York Times' Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan--the two reporters who have perhaps covered Trump most extensively over the past decade.

Already number one on several best-seller lists in advance of its release.

And surprisingly, Vice-President Vance has acknowledged the accuracy of the reporting.

Trump will have a hard time blowing this book off as "fake news" because he has quite voluntarily for years spent many hours with Maggie Haberman, who in typical Trump gentlemanly fashion, has often been referred to as "maggot."

Regime Change covers the first year of Trump’s second presidency—a term the authors say was liberated from every constraint that defined his first term . The generals who once told him “no” are gone, and the lawyers who remain learned to pick their battles. His administration flouted court orders and he claimed powers that Congress once checked. What remains is a President willing to take enormous risks that upended global markets and toppled heads of state; an imperial President operating almost entirely on instinct alone.

Here are Haberman and Swan talking about the book with MS NOW's Lawrence O' Donnell.

https://www.ms.now/the-last-word/watch/haberman-and-swan-react-to-trump-s-attacks-on-them-ahead-of-damning-book-regime-change-2504432195806

06/22/2026

WCME News -- Your 24/7 Midcoast Breaking News Leader

U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner gets the endorsement of Planned Parenthood, a largely Democratic-aligned organization that until now had withheld support from Platner in his battle with Republican Susan Collins.

The endorsement comes two days ahead of the four-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe vs. Wade, the court decision that in 1973 legalized most abortion.

Platner and others have blamed Collins for that reversal, because of her vote for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh who went on to become a deciding vote in favor of overturning Roe vs. Wade.

Meanwhile, Collins, on Fox News, says she is not reconsidering her support of Israel, in the face of growing opposition to AIPAC, the American Israel Public Action Committee, the lobbying group which supports strong ties between Israel and the U-S.

06/22/2026

WCME News - Your 24/7 Midcoast Breaking News Leader

The end of the school year can be a joyous time for kids, but it can also be a time of need. When the school year ends, children lose access to the free breakfasts and lunches provided in Maine schools.

So beginning this week, the Bath Area Family YMCA begins delivering free meals to children and teens in the community as part of its summer food program.

From June 25 to August 20, on Tuesday and Thursday of each week, Y staff and volunteers will deliver prepared meals at 12 locations in the communities of Bath and Brunswick. Meals are provided free of charge and available to any child or teen from the surrounding communities. Parents may pick up meals for their children but must register in advance.

It's no small thing -- nearly 1 in 5 children in Maine experience food insecurity, the second highest rate among New England states.

(Photo courtesy, Bath Family Y)