Good morning! I lost all track of time yesterday and did not send out the newsletter. Today’s is mostly a recap of Monday’s, with the addition of the link to the CBS 60 Minutes CECOT story in case you haven’t seen it yet (which I recommend), today’s Daily Action from Emanuel, and a few other items in “Other News.” There will not be a newsletter tomorrow, New Year’s Day, but I WILL return with it on Friday, 1/2/2026. Thank you and Happy New Year!! ~~George
Following this newsletter is Emanuel’s Daily Action Email from Augusta; the daily action along with a link to his great list of important actions and information. Today’s action (12/31) is asking us to help protect trans youth.
Also, an action from Hancock County Democrats: Action 188–Stop the dog waggin! (12/19), that discusses President Trump starting a war with Venezuela to distract from his disastrous administrative blunders, revenge efforts, failing health, and downright grift. More HCD actions here.
Also, check out the latest from the Bold Coast Civic Alliance (12/22) with information about asking our senators and representative in Congress to demand the release of ALL the Epstein files NOW, to get rid of FBI head Kash Patel, and others actions. More BCCA actions here.
A lot of research goes into these additional actions, so be sure to read them!
And THANK YOU to supporters who have been donating to our ActBlue fund! Planning events and maintaining the website and email list take money, so these donations are appreciated!
Current News:
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Weekly vigils are happening here in the Bangor area!
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Tuesdays
Weekly Vigil at the Federal Building in Bangor – 11:00 am
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TODAY
Wednesday
Weekly Orono Vigil in the town center,
noon to 1:00 pm.
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Fridays
Bangor Visibility Brigade
The week finishes with two highway overpass actions! There is the Visibility Brigade on the Essex Street I-95 overpass at the new time of 3:00 p.m. Learn more here. Tell them you read about it here!
Please note, there will be no Visibility Brigade this Friday, 1/2.
Thank you and Happy New Year!
Upcoming Events:
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Get Graham on the Ballot in Bangor Week of Action
Thursday 1/1/26-
Sunday 1/4/26
Join the campaign in collecting signatures to get Graham on the ballot!
Once signed up, our team will reach out and invite you to your closest canvassing team where you’ll be trained and given materials to take action.
Thursday, January 1, 2026 – Sunday, January 4, 2026
Multiple times available!
Click here for more information and registration!
Help get Matt Dunlap on the ballot!
Help the campaign get Matt Dunlap on the ballot! Sign up to volunteer to collect petition signatures for our run for Congress. We’ll provide all the materials and guidance you need — just bring your energy and commitment to helping working families.
Join a Community Conversation with Maine Legislators
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Join Eastern Area Agency on Aging for Supporting Older Mainers: A Legislative Conversation, an engaging and interactive event designed for agency participants, older adults, caregivers, volunteers, staff, and local legislators. This community-centered conversation provides legislators an opportunity to hear directly from those with lived experience and from the staff and volunteers who support them, and to learn more about the needs of older Mainers and caregivers in our region. Legislators will share their priorities and connect one-on-one with constituents in a respectful, focused setting centered on aging-related issues.
The event will feature informal networking, guided tours of the Durgin Center, interactive program demonstrations, remarks from legislators and AARP Maine, and time to enjoy a complimentary lunch together while continuing the conversation.
Event Details
📅 Saturday, January 17
⏰ 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
📍 EAAA’s Durgin Center, 274 State Street, Brewer
Registration is required (Registration Closes on Jan. 9)
Please reserve your spot by visiting: EAAA.org/legislativeconversation
Faith Linking in Action’s
2026 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Faith Linking in Action will host a Martin Luther King Day gathering featuring singer/educator Reggie Harris and artist Bob Shetterly on Sunday afternoon, January 18.
Join them at the First United Methodist Church in Bangor at 3:00 p.m. Contact Faith Linking in Action for more information!
2026 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast
Monday, January 19, 2026
The Greater Bangor Area Branch NAACP is hosting our annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast at a new location, Jeff’s Catering & Event Center in Brewer, ME on 01/19/2026.
This year’s keynote speaker is Darmita Wilson, Northern Light Health Vice President of Medical Education and Research.
Join us for good food and inspiring speeches. Individual, business, and organizational sponsorships gratefully accepted!
Please visit https://www.bangornaacp.org/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-breakfast for more information and tickets! Thank you!
Jordan Wood in Orono! Town Hall at the Orono Public Library!
Thursday, January 29, 2026
About this event
Orono! Democratic House Candidate Jordan Wood is coming to meet you. We’ll be at the Orono Public Library. Come out to meet Jordan, learn why he’s the strongest candidate to defeat Paul LePage, and hear about what his plans as your next Congressman: sweeping campaign finance reform, passing the Ultra-Millionaire Wealth Tax, enacting universal childcare and addressing the affordability crisis head on.
Bring your friends and family!
Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026
Event begins: 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm;
Doors Open: 5:15 pm
Location: Orono Public Library
39 Pine St Orono, ME 04473
Here We Go Map
Other News:
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CBS News and the
60 Minutes CECOT Story
In case you missed it, we want to share with you the CBS 60 Minutes story that was to have aired on December 21st, 2025. The Trump-friendly CBS News editor-in-chief axed this story that was about the administration sending Venezuelans to the maximum security prison in El Salvador. It was not broadcast in our country, but was available in Canada and is still available on the Internet Archives site here. Please see issue no. 5 in the BCCA action (12/29) for more details on the state of CBS News and their collaboration with the Trump administration. This Wikipedia article also has good information, including background discussing the Paramount-Skydance merger.
The Year Ahead
It’s going to be a rocky start to the new year for a lot of us. The ACA premium tax credits expire today, which will cause ACA rates to be so high that many Americans will no longer be able to afford health insurance. There is a bipartisan bill in the senate to address this, involving tax credits and health savings accounts. Read more about this bipartisan plan in this article from The Hill (12/26).
Also on the horizon are the primaries for one senate seat, the House representatives, and the governor. We also have the anti-trans ‘Protect Girls Sports’ referendum coming up, for which many of us saw signature gatherers at the polls last month. And there will surely be more nonsense from the administration weekly, if not daily. Stay tuned for a possible action during the State of the Union Address, the date for which has not yet been determined.
House and Senate Sessions and Calendar
The US House goes into session Tuesday, January 6th, and the Senate Monday January 5th. To keep up with their calendars go here for links to both houses. The Maine State Legislature begins action next week. Go here for a day by day rundown of committee meetings etc. You can bookmark these links in your browser. Thank you Emanuel for this info!
Plug-In Solar Bill Hearing Set for January 6, 2026
A message from the The Maine Unitarian Universalist State Advocacy Network (MUUSAN):
A plug-in solar bill has been accepted for a hearing this session. That’s the good news. The not so good news is that the hearing is set for January 6th! And the bill hasn’t actually been written yet, so we’ll go with the information we have to write and submit testimonies. They are looking for written testimonies only. As always, if one of your legislators is on the EUT Committee, please write to them as well.
LD 1730 An Act to Make Small, Portable, Plug-in Solar Generation Devices
Accessible for All Maine Residents to Address the Energy Affordability Crisis
Summary: This bill creates a new category for small plug-in solar generation devices less than or equal to 1,200 watts, eliminates interconnection requirements for these devices, and establishes basic safety requirements. This measure will help bring renewable energy accessibility and affordability to Mainers.
Sponsors: Senator Nicole Grohoski
Committee: Energy, Utilities & Technology
Public Hearing: Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 1:00pm, Cross Building Rm. 212
Call to Action: Written testimony is for January 6th hearing
UU Connection:
Justice, Equity, Interdependence (web of life)
This reform makes clean energy ownership accessible to renters, low income households, and families whose homes aren’t suitable for traditional solar, helping them lower electricity bills at a time of steep utility price increases. By enacting LD 1730, Maine has a chance to lead in energy equity and resilience without subsidies, without fiscal impact, and with enormous public benefit. Increased use of solar power reduces the destruction of the web of life by human overuse of fossil fuels.
Here is a list of talking points and more info.
Thanks for taking a minute out of this busy season to support this bill.
Happy Holidays,
The Maine Unitarian Universalist State Advocacy Network
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policies and Academic Freedom
Fellow IB member and member of the American Association of University Professors, Elliot Benjamin, is forming a network with like-minded individuals at other US colleges and universities to organize and gather support for maintaining this kind of academic freedom.
Please read his latest blog post, “Join Me in Supporting DEI Policies and Academic Freedom” in the Academe magazine blog for more information. Thank you!
Cancel Spotify Until They Stop Collaborating with ICE
From Indivisible Project:
Today, social media feeds are full of people sharing their Spotify Wrapped results, while Spotify is full of … ICE recruitment ads.
Here are a few things you can do right now:
- If you’re still paying for Spotify premium, cancel your subscription. We’ve got instructions (and some suggestions on alternatives) here.
- (I have found a fun streaming site alternative, Soma.FM, based in San Francisco. They are listener supported and feature an eclectic selection of channels, including holiday, soul, and groovy pop! And another fun and quirky alternative, also based in California, is Luxuriamusic.com. Any other suggestions, just let me know! -George).
- Don’t use Spotify’s free version either. You don’t need to delete your account. Just close out your apps and don’t open them again until Spotify stops forcing ICE ads into people’s feeds.
- Instead of sharing your Spotify Wrapped this year, share our Wrapped-themed posts calling on others to cancel Spotify. As long as Spotify is willing to take money from ICE, they don’t need (and don’t deserve) free advertising on our social feeds. And there’s no reason you can’t post your own list of top songs/artists on social — maybe alongside a message about why you chose not to stream them on Spotify.
- Use this social media moment to have GENTLE, NON-SHAMING conversations with friends about the Spotify boycott. Seriously, no one is going to respond well to judgy DMs when they’re just trying to post something fun about the music they like. So approach with kindness, maybe compliment their music tastes, and then talk about why you’ve decided to stream from other platforms for the time being (one point you can make: Those platforms probably treat their favorite artists much, much better than Spotify does).
- Help us track the growth of this economic campaign by taking our one-question survey.
Join Indivisible Bangor!
Do you want to become more involved? Would you like to help with the website and communications? How about helping to organize events, such as rallies and visibilty actions or be a peacekeeper? Or do you just want to keep up with what we’re doing? Sign up to volunteer with Indivisible Bangor! Your level of involvement is up to you!
Weekly member meetings are on Zoom with in-person meetings on the first Wednesday of the month. Please click the link below to sign up and we’ll help you with the process of becoming a member of Indivisible Bangor!
New members, and current members, too, are invited to join one of our monthly Zoom informational meetings, which will resume after the holidays!
Donate to a Food Bank or Pantry
The shutdown is over, but the need is not. There are still cuts to programs that help people with food and other needs.
Please DONATE to a local food pantry- food, personal items, and even cash. Faith Linking in Action maintains a database of all food pantries and free meals– organized by both location and day of the week– in the Bangor area. Check it out here.
Also, ActivateMaine has created a site, SNAP Into Action: “a statewide effort to help those who are affected by the freezing of benefits due to the Government shut down.” If you know of any food drives that are happening, please visit this site to add it to the database!
The Maine ICE Watch Hotline
The purpose of the hotline is to protect immigrant families by providing accurate, real-time information about ICE and Border Patrol activity and connect Maine families to resources and support services during a time of heightened enforcement and targeting of immigrants and refugees.
Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition ICE Watch Resource Hub.
Read more about it here in this Newscenter Maine article.
| Other Ways to Take Action (Courtesy of Indivisible Cumberland County: Maine’s ICE Watch Hotline Training: Get trained to field, verify, and document potential community ICE sightings and provide trusted, reliable information on ICE activity to immigrant communities. Action Alert on LD 1917: Contact Governor Mills and tell her to sign into law this bill to protect Maine’s immigrant communities, workforce, public safety, and future! Donate to the Maine Solidarity Fund: Fund pools resources from across communities into a shared fund we can draw from immediately when urgent needs arise. NO I.C.E. for Maine: Learn more about this effort to reign in ICE. |
Make Some Calls!
It’s mentioned a few times in these newsletters about calling your representatives in Washington, D.C. It’s one of the most important things we can do and it’s so easy!
Write Some Emails!
If you are more comfortable with sending emails to our Maine congressional delegation in Washington, click the links/buttons. This is a good option if you have lengthy comments or questions.
We are on Blue Sky, Instagram, and Facebook!
Follow us! Invite your friends! Comment! You’ll be glad you did!
We have an easy way to donate to Indivisible Bangor. Drop off your returnable bottles and cans to Ohio Street Redemption in Bangor and tell them to put it on the account of Indivisible Bangor. They’ll add the money to our kitty, mail out a regular check, and the money goes to our bank account to help with our expenses! You can find them here!
****Be sure the attendant writes down “Indivisible Bangor” because several donations have not been credited. Thank you!****
And you can donate here, too! Donations help pay for supplies, website, outreach, and to fund the many upcoming actions in Maine.
Thank you for all you do! – George and Indivisible Bangor
Emanuel’s Daily Call to Action:
Action Wednesday December 31st: Protect Trans Youth – Make a Comment on Trump’s Rule to Ban Gender Affirming Care
Good Morning Folks, it’s the last day of 2025. It’s been a year of enormous suffering for many, tax and power breaks for the billionaires, and the upwelling of a powerful resistance movement. Thanks to all of us for any action we have taken this year to build community and push back on the authoritarian tide. Here’s to a better year in 2026.
Top Action to Take Today:
Help Protect Trans Youth:Transequality reports that 58 transgender persons have been either murdered or died by suicide since the regime rolled out its cruel rhetoric and anti-trans policies. “Trump is now beginning the process of banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth through a rulemaking process, thus sidestepping Congress and the legislative process entirely.
The proposed rule, RIN 0938-AV87, would bar any hospital system that participates in Medicaid or Medicare from offering gender-affirming care to transgender youth, regardless of whether that care is paid for with federal funds or privately. The rule must first go through a 60-day public comment period, which ends no later than 5pm on February 17th 2026. During a comment period, rules can be challenged, delayed, and fought, but only if people show up and refuse to let it move forward quietly. You can leave a public comment here. Note that public comments really are public, so if you have a reason to protect your anonymity, do it.” (Thank you to BCCA for this action)
For “More Actions Today if You Have the Bandwidth” from Emanuel’s Daily Call to Action (12/31), click here.
With great appreciation for all the engagement everywhere!
As always, throw a little sand in their gears!
~~Emanuel
It’s a piece of cake to email or call with these links!
The names of our senators and representatives listed below are links that go right to their official congressional contact form pages. The telephone numbers are links that should open your phone app to call that number. It’s that easy!
Senator Angus King
DC: (202) 224-5344
Augusta: (207) 622-8292
Senator Susan Collins
DC: (202) 224-2523
Augusta: (207) 622-8414
Bangor: (207) 945-0417
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree
DC: (202) 225-6116
Portland: (207) 774-5019
Waterville: (207) 873-5713
Congressman Jared Golden
DC: (202) 225-6306
Bangor: (207) 249-7400
Caribou: (207) 492-6009
Lewiston: (207) 241-6767
Find your State Representative:
By name: Here
By district: Here
Find your State Senator:
By name: Here
By district: Here
Our government in Augusta:
Governor Janet Mills
Email Governor Mills
Call (207) 287-3531
Secretary of State Shenna Bellows
Contact Secretary Bellows
Call (207)626-8400
Attorney General Aaron M. Frey
Contact Mr. Frey
Call (207) 626-8800
Questions or comments? Contact George!
