It was another busy week of politics in Maine and across the country. From the effects of the war in Israel to a forum with candidates looking to be Portland's next mayor, our political analysts weighed in on the key issues.
Pro-Palestine Backlash
In Portland this week, there was a rally held in Monument Square in support of Palestine. It comes as the country is bombarded by Israeli airstrikes in retaliation for the attack by Hamas on Israel. Some demonstrators clashed with prop-Israel counter protesters.
Maine Sen. Susan Collins was among those who condemned the rally's organizers.
"Terrorists went house to house, indiscriminately murdering everyone from babies to senior citizens in wheelchairs," Collins said in a statement. "They should be condemning Hamas, rather than excusing these appalling tactics."
PHIL: "She's exactly right. This is somehow being morphed into the Israelis somehow are responsible for the Palestinians behavior. They're not. This was an act of barbarism by a group, Hamas, who are part of the Palestinian community. And they're the reason this is unfolding. It's not it's not Israel and I would just observe that, you know, if the terrorist groups would put down their arms, there would be peace in the Middle East. If the Israelis put down their arms, there would be no Israel. That's what's at stake here."
ZACH: "And Susan Collins wasn't the only one to weigh in here. Democrat Congressman Jared Golden also put out a statement condemning the rally. Were they justified in that?"
BJ: "Absolutely. In fact, you can even go down to New York City with liberal AOC condemning these types of protests in her own hometown. And at the end of the day, to for the Maine DSA to run a rally like this at the same day that the Jewish Community Alliance is holding a vigil for Israel is unconscionable."
House Speaker Vote
Now two weeks without a speaker of the house, republicans in congress still cannot get together around a new leader. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., dropped out Thursday after failing to get the votes need to lock in the speakership. Rep. Jim Jordan, R- Ohio, who was backed by former president Donald Trump, was nominated late Friday, but a final vote isn't set until next week.
BJ: "Look, these are the Republicans of the 118th Congress. And what we find is that they are unable to come together to form a government when we have uncertainty at home and abroad. And this is what happens when you give Republicans the keys to the federal government. It's really a shame and it's shows a lack of leadership."
PHIL: "Well, it's pretty tough to argue with the realities of what has unfolded. But I would say this is a perfect example of why we need state's men and women in office rather than partisan politicians. The Republicans. You're right, B.J. they can't get out of their own way. It's going to take leadership. And I think this is an opportunity for Democrats to work with some Republicans to get the House back to work so that they can do the business of we the people."
BJ: "And I'll say, Phil's not alone. Within the Republican Party, there are Republican congress people who are saying things like, if you see smoke coming out of this building, it's not because we have a speaker. It's because someone lit the place on fire. It's chaos in D.C.."
Voice of the Voter Forum Recap
This week NEWS CENTER Maine held a Voice of the Voter Forum for the candidates looking to be Portland's next mayor. The candidates discussed evreything from the city's homelessness crisis, to housing affordability, to climate change. Homelessness was by far the largest topic of discussion.
ZACH: I think the real question here is what issue will actually get voters to the polls?
PHIL: "It's all of them. I think what was really interesting is what the candidates didn't talk about is how are we going to grow the economic tax base in the city of Portland so that there are more revenues coming in to address the housing and in drug addiction and and asylum seekers and so forth? There was a lot of conversation about what should the government be doing, but really it's about what are we as a community going to do to grow and help solve these problems?"
BJ: "I think at the root cause of all of this, much like Phil said, is there are people in Portland right now that feel like they can't afford to live there. And we heard some of that from the mayoral candidates, not all of them, but I think that that's what people will be voting on this November."
You can watch Political Brew every Sunday on The Morning Report at 6 a.m. You can also catch it any time on NEWS CENTER Maine+.