Maine Calling MPBN

This is a rebroadcast of an earlier show (original air date January 11, 2021); no calls will be taken. President-elect Joe Biden has asked Americans to come together and "stop treating opponents as enemies." Is it possible? We'll examine the historic and sociological roots of the growing polarization that we see all around us--and how it is tied not only to politics, but to people's deeper sense of identity. We'll discuss what it might take to "heal" the nation.

As Maine struggles to recover from the devastation of the pandemic, the year ahead will be critical for our state’s economic stability. Our panel discusses the economic outlook for Maine in 2021. Amanda Rector , Maine state economist Andrew Crawley , assistant professor, School of Economics, University of Maine in Orono Yellow Light Breen , president & CEO, Maine Development Foundation Gary Vogel, past president, Maine Real Estate & Development Association 'We Cannot Afford Inaction':

As the House votes for a second impeachment of President Trump in the wake of the insurrection at the Capitol, the nation is watching to see what the last days of the Trump Administration will bring. We discuss repercussions of the siege in D.C., and what to expect of our government leaders and citizenry as Inauguration Day approaches.

We speak with Maine author Kerri Arsenault about her new book, “Mill Town.” Part personal story and part investigative reporting, Arsenault documents how her childhood in a typical Maine mill town illustrates the plight of the working class, and the hazards brought on by the very entities that support these working-class families. The book examines the mixed feelings people have for places they call home.

The siege on the Capitol has further muddied the last days of President Trump's time in office. Our political analysts discuss: electoral college votes; movement toward impeachment or invoking the 25th Amendment; the implications of the Georgia election; and how major developments on the national front might affect Maine.

Gov. Janet Mills returns to talk about the state’s pandemic response and economic impacts as she rolls out the new budget, and to discuss her legislative priorities in 2021. We’ll also address the news out of Washington, D.C.