Indivisible Bangor

Author: George Lincoln

  • BCCA Action Items- Monday, 1/5

    We’re at the point where I’m repeating myself a lot with these civic actions. Lately there are some really huge things going on that require our unflagging focus and repeated entreaties to our legislators. The two big ones are, of course, Venezuela and the Epstein files. Trump has chosen to distract us from the Epstein files with Venezuela’s oil, but both involve criminal actions by him and both are yet more grounds for impeachment. I am suggesting calling/writing every day and encouraging friends and family to do the same (in person and on social media), because numbers matter: We need to flood our legislators’ phone lines and inboxes with demands for action.  

         As always, choose the actions that speak to you the most, and if you want more, go back over the most recent Action Items emails. 

    Action Items to choose from (or do all of them: your choice!) Scroll down to the matching number of your option: 

    1. Stop the illegal war on Venezuela and impeach Trump 
    2. Keep up the focus on the Epstein files 
    3. Speak up to protect trans youth AND the right of medical professionals to make decisions about patient treatment without the government butting in 
    4. Maine-specific action 

    Reminder: When you call vs when you email via our reps’ websites (best way to contact them in writing), don’t forget to begin with: “Hi, my name is [name] and I’m a constituent calling from [zip code]. That is important, because if they don’t know you’re actually a constituent, your opinion will be ignored. 

    Contact info:

    Angus King             
    DC: (202) 224-5344
    Augusta: (207) 622-8292 

    Susan Collins         
    DC: (202) 224-2523 
    Augusta: (207) 622-8414
    Bangor: (207) 945-0417

    Chellie Pingree      
    DC: (202) 225-6116
    Portland: (207) 774-5019  
    Waterville: (207) 873-5713  

    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

    (Please note that for those of you receiving this email who are not represented by Senators or House members in our district, I have to leave it up to you to find the contact info for your own representatives.)

    Actions 

    1)  Stop the illegal war on Venezuela and impeach Trump: 

         After campaigning on a “no more wars” policy, Trump has bypassed Congress to strike Venezuela, kidnap their president, and arrest him on trumped-up (pun intended) charges of massive drug trafficking (shortly after he pardoned the president of Honduras, who was guilty of major drug trafficking). Now he’s threatening Mexico, Panama, Canada, Greenland, and other countries. What the hell?  

         Contact Senators King and Collins and Rep. Golden to demand that Congress immediately begin the process to impeach Trump. Enough is enough, and we are way, way past “enough.”  

         Add that it is past time for Congress to take back its constitutional authority and stop Trump’s aggressive and illegal acts of war. (Susan Collins especially needs to hear this: She voted against last November’s joint resolution directing the cessation of US military involvement in any non-Congressionally-authorized hostilities against Venezuela.)  

        Do this every day, if you can. Also post on social media to encourage others to contact their legislators in Congress. 

    2)  Keep up the focus on the Epstein files: 
         The DOJ has just blown past the statutory deadline (set by the Epstein Files Transparency Act) to submit to Congress written justification for any documents from the Jeffrey Epstein files that were redacted or withheld. So far we’ve learned from the files already revealed that “co-conspirators” definitely existed (federal prosecutors once considered charging them), that people of power/money traveled repeatedly on Epsteins private aircraft, and that Epstein maintained access to staff and services from Mar-a-Lago. Recently released video footage has also contradicted prior official statements regarding the surveillance system at the federal detention facility where Epstein died in August 2019. This is serious stuff and must be brought to light.  
         It’s not enough that the Epstein Files Transparency Act was enacted by overwhelming bipartisan majority. Now that Act must be enforced. Congress has plenty of ways to respond to the DOJ’s stonewalling, including invoking contempt powers, conditioning appropriations, and initiating impeachment proceedings against officials who knowingly violate federal law. As in everything going on these days, Congress must step up and assert its authority.  
         Pressure Senators King and Collins and Rep. Golden, every day if you can, to demand that their colleagues in Congress to do the right thing and enforce the law with every tool at their disposal. 

    3)  Speak up to protect trans youth AND the right of medical professionals to make decisions about patient treatment without the government butting in: 
        Trump is sidestepping Congress (as usual) to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth by using the rulemaking process. 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.  
         Please note that regardless of how you might feel about gender-affirming care, this rule would set a very bad precedent for the insertion of government between doctors and their patients, and especially for the rights of women (or anyone, for that matter) to make their own decisions about their own health. 
        The rule must first go through a 60-day public comment period, which ends at 5pm on February 17th. We can do our part by submitting our comments. During this comment period, this rule can still be challenged, delayed, and fought, but only if people show up and refuse to let it move forward quietly. The Human Rights Campaign is making it easy for people to compose and submit comments: https://act.hrc.org/page/183931/petition/1 (their form is at the bottom of the webpage) 
     

    4)  Maine-specific: 
    Help get Nirav Shah on the ballot as a gubernatorial candidate:  
        Wendilee is collecting signatures for Nirav Shah to get his name on the ballot. To sign you must be a registered democrat. You can sign for multiple candidates. Contact Wendilee (wendileeheathobrien@proton.me) if you want to sign; she will come to you or you can go to her gallery (316 Main Street in Winter Harbor). She has sheets for Winter Harbor and Gouldsboro. 

    Yours in Civic Action, 

    Bold Coast Civic Alliance

  • Emanuel’s Daily Action Email, 1/6/26

    Emanuel’s Daily Action Email, 1/6/26

    More Actions Today if You Have the Bandwidth

    Ask your Congressional Representatives to: support a war powers resolution blocking any further unauthorized strikes on Venezuela, and call for an immediate investigation of the situation as a top priority of both the US Senate and House. 

    Indivisible has an action kit on this – for a letter template to send to your congress people and other strategies go here. For a script for calls go here. Let’s FLOOD them with calls. If you can only call one representative, call Collins – it is the Republicans that are voting against war powers resolutions, and she could play an active role in making this resolution pass the Senate.

    This is about O_I_L,  but also the rule of law, both national and international. Our concerted action on this will be determinative. Make time in your day today to: write, call, and spread the word through social media. 5calls.org makes this easy to do. 

     For a comprehtensive take on the stakes here, set aside 30 minutes to listen to Heather Cox Richardson on the situation. Act now.  

    Find a demonstration near you here on the Activate Maine website.

    Support the Plug-In Solar Bill LD 1730  (An Act to Make Small, Portable, Plug-in Solar Generation Devices) Hearing Set for Today 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.  They are looking for written testimonies only.  If one of your legislators is on the EUT Committee, please write or call  them as well.  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 the January 6th hearing. Here is a list of talking points and more info. (thank you to Indivisible Bangor for this one!) 


    Boycott: Being a consumer is one of the greatest powers we have as members of a capitalist economy. There are numerous boycotts going on, some of which we have listed below – ICE related boycotts include: Spotify, Linked In, Pandora, Home Depot, Walmart, Avelo Airlines, CBS News and more.  For a complete list of ICE related boycotts go to Icelist.

    Pick one of these companies to boycott, and stick to it until they stop working with ICE. Your boycott is more powerful if you contact the company to let them know you are boycotting them and why. (To find boycott related items below use the find function on your computer, and put in boycott.)

    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 Shelley for this action)

    Force the release of all the Epstein Files. Call or email Pingree or Golden and ask them to support the inherent contempt charges against Attorney General Pam Bondi which House Members  Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) are threatening to draft.  If passed, inherent contempt charges would allow the House to bypass the courts and force Bondi to either release the files or face personal consequences such as imprisonment. (Go to 5calls.org for more on this action)

    Please consider asking your Maine State Representative and Senator to support LD 1383, a bill to end our complicity in all genocides and the persecution and detention of our neighbors by keeping our state’s investments aligned with our values. 

    You can learn all about the campaign in this one page toolkit from theThe Maine Coalition for Peace and Human Rights with easy links to background info on LD 1383 and where folks can write their own letters to reps in just minutes.

    Contact our Congressional Delegation and ask them to demand the release of the second strike video to all of Congress and the American people.  Let us make a judgement on the legitimacy of this action. So far, only top members of the Senate and House Intelligence and Armed Services Committees have viewed the second strike on the survivors of a Trump administration drone attack. Many legal experts have clarified that attacking survivors is against both US and international law.  Some Republicans say the two men were trying to flip their exploded boat over so they could continue their drug run. For more information go here and here.

    We haven’t talked much about farms and food lately as part of the resistance, but here in Maine we have scores of organic and traditional small farms and your support for these two bills will support the farmers who feed us and our families daily. Oppose the White House’s short-term farm-aid plan: Trump’s plan to provide 11 billion dollars for Big Agriculture, and 1 Billion for “specialty farming” which includes small family farms and organic farming is patently unfair. 
    Call Senators King and Collins and House Rep Golden     to urge them to speak up about this discriminatory farm-aid bill. ALL farmers are being hurt by Trump’s tariffs, and small and medium farms should not be left behind. And while you are on the phone ask King, Pingree and Golden to     Support the Domestic Organic Investment Act which gives Organic farmers the capacity to expand their businesses. Collins is one of the co-sponsors – so thank her for that.  (Thanks to Shelly for this action)

    Ask our Senators and Congressional Representatives to demand a resignation or begin impeachment proceedings for Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense.  He is now guilty of war crimes due to his ordering the killing of wounded combatants on a boat blown up twice in September by US drones. Both King and Collins voted AGAINST his nomination in the first place. For more information on this go here.  The Impeachment bill is H. Res. 935. 

    They should demand his immediate resignation NOW. Articles of Impeachment are on the way for RFK Jr. as well. (Thanks to Dave for this information.)

    Support the right of our troops to disobey illegal orders:   Defiance.org, in partnership with WhistleblowerAid.org, has launched Phase One of what it planned to be an ongoing effort to help members of our military obey lawful orders, recognize manifestly illegal ones, and know where to turn to understand the difference.  This campaign includes:

     Geo-targeted public service announcements, online and via social media; Billboards near key U.S. military installations ; Information about confidential, independent support available through Whistleblower Aid, a trusted nonprofit that offers legal intake and case support for servicemembers and government officials;  A volunteer-driven push to distribute information in military communities nationwide 
    Defiance.org has: Downloadable posters that we can distribute in our communities and/or near military hubs – Bases, Recruitment Centers, MEPs, ROTC Units, National Guard + Reserve Centers, etc.;Downloadable wallet cards you can keep on you to share with military members when you cross paths ,  A downloadable you can use to post about the campaign on social media. (Thanks to Shelly for this post!)

    Mutual Aid

    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.”  Even though the Government is “open” now, hunger issues continue for people around the country.

    Heating Assistance:  If you have friends, neighbors, or need support for Heating Assistance, Li Heap funds have been authorized for Maine, Click here to learn more about applying for LIHEAP assistance. Collins and King were  involved in pushing that this money get released after the Government shutdown.

    Insurance Crisis:  If the ACA tax cuts do not go through, tens of thousands of us will have to choose between health care premiums and food or rent.  If you have a personal story along these lines please contact Esther at the Maine People’s Alliance who is collecting personal testimony to support the passage of the ACA tax cuts.

    Arts and Politics!

    Consider boycotting Spotify and canceling your subscription to them: To participate in the boycott of Spotify for their running of ads recruiting for ICE, visit this Indivisible page for more information, and for ready-made materials you can post online and use in other ways to encourage others to cancel their subscriptions, visit this page.  According to Indivisible Bangor, Pandora is running the same ICE recruiting adds.  Pandora is a subsidiary of SiriusXM. Spotify’s stock has dropped 13% in the past month. 

    Indivisible Bangor suggests you stop using Spotify free version and instead try some of these options:  We’ve got instructions (and some suggestions on alternatives) here. (I have found another 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. (Thanks to George from Indivisible Bangor for these suggestions)

    GOT MORE TIME? HERE ARE SOME MORE ACTIONS  (just pick one!)

    • Boycott CBS News and let them know why you are doing it: Now owned by the Trump supporting Ellison family, CBS has just started to slant its news rightward by cancelling a 60 minutes segment on the torture prison CECOT in El Salvador. The piece was picked up on the internet and you can see it here. Contact CBS and let them know that you will be boycotting their stations as well as Paramount Plus. You can tell them, too, that you’ll be writing to their advertisers and letting them know that you won’t be shopping with them as long as they continue to buy ads with CBS and Paramount. You can reach them via their comment page online,  their ombudsman feedback page , their Facebook page , or by direct messaging them on their Instagram page. You can also email the following CBS executives: Tom Cibrowski, President & Executive Editor, CBS News: CibrowskiT@cbsnews.com Stacey Benson, CFO, CBS News: BensonS@cbsnews.com  Ross Dagan, CBS Executive VP & head of news operations: DaganR@cbsnews.com (Thank you Shelly for this piece)
    • Join the Maine People’s Alliance in bringing your story to our Congresspeople: Are your insurance rates going up? Did you lose SNAP benefits – the MPA wants to hear your story and use it to fight for Mainers in the ongoing shutdown budget battle. Fill out this form and tell your story here. 
    • Call or email our Congressional Representatives to publicly condemn the administration’s use of our Military to create havoc in Blue Cities:  It is time to publicly denounce these unconstitutional, king-like actions of our Executive branch. Where is the outrage? Go to 5calls.org for a script on this request.
    • From Linda:  I testified in support of LD 99 in 2020 and was thrilled that it was passed into law. LD 99 requires MainePERS to divest from all fossil fuel investments. The MainePERS Board was given until December 31, 2025, to comply with this law and has made almost no forward motion. If you would like to sign our petition in support of divesting, it would be appreciated.
    • Consider volunteering and/or donating to one of the worthy immigrant support organizations listed below:  Capital Area New Mainers Project, Mainers for Humane Immigration, Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, (all Maine based), and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, go here to donate to the Capital Area New Mainers Project.

    Statewide Actions

    •  Support the Plug-In Solar Bill LD 1730  (An Act to Make Small, Portable, Plug-in Solar Generation Devices) Hearing Set for January 6, 2026,  Energy, Utilities & Technology  Public Hearing: Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 1:00pm, Cross Building Rm. 212, Written testimony is for the January 6th hearing. Here is a list of talking points and more info.
    • Oppose Huge Energy Sucking AI Data Centers in Maine. Lewiston denied an AI Center this past Wednesday, here is some more information about them as they try to relocate somewhere else in Maine.From TIME: “Is Elon Musk’s Supercomputer Polluting Memphis? A Community Fights Back”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQoNq-zE3rM From Harvard Business Review: “Mitigating the Public Health Impacts of AI Data Centers” hbr.org/2025/11/mitigating-the-public-health-impacts-of-ai-data-centers  From CalReview: “Data centers are putting new strain on California’s grid. A new report estimates the impacts” https://calmatters.org/environment/2025/11/data-center-environmental-report From FedScoop: “Environmental groups to Congress: Take a timeout on AI data centers” https://fedscoop.com/pause-ai-data-centers-letter-to-congress.  (Thanks to Azalea for this information!)
    • Ask your local Maine Representative and Senator to support LD 1383 “An Act to Require State Divestment from Perpetrators of International Human Rights Violations.” This bill prohibits Maine from investing its funds from any companies, entities, persons or financial institutions that are “associated with” a “perpetrator state”. For more details see the attachment below. The Maine Coalition for Peace and Human Rightsis responsible for this campaign, see their  one page toolkit  here, and write a letter to your state legislative representatives.
    • Home Depot Actions: Sign the petition that is demanding that Home Depot stop complying with ICE, personalize this letter to Home Depot corporate headquarters making the same demand, for more actions such as going to your local Home Depot and delivering a letter to the manager go to Ice Out of Home Depot. 
    • More ICE resistance: 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. NO I.C.E. for Maine (noice4me): Learn more about this effort to reign in ICE. Here is the number for the ICE Watch hotline in Maine: 207 544 9989
    • Mid Maine Indivisible has a great weekly newsletter – To sign up: go here. Indivisible Bangor has a great daily newsletter and actions go here to sign up. If you are in the Mid Coast area consider joining Audacity – learn more here. The Bold Coast Civic Alliance has a newsletter as well as the Hancock County Democrat.   Cumberland County Indivisible newsletter go here.  Greater Portland Indivisible, go here. We are developing a great ecosystem for resistance communications in Maine.
    • Check out the No Kings Alliance page for  updates about actions that you can take to continue building the pro-democracy movement, building and protecting our communities. (Thank you to Indivisible Mid Maine for this suggestion)

    Find Your State Senator: By name:

    Here , By district: Here

    Find your State Representative: By name: Here , By District:Here

    New:

    For Maine State Legislative Calendar day by day go  here.

    For links to US Legislative Calendars go here.

    LOCAL ACTIONS: Join Mid Maine Indivisible(Kennebec and Somerset Counties) Please join us if you are in the Mid Maine area.  To sign up: go here. If you have items for our weekly newsletter, please email me and I will pass them on. Our last email, the 2025 Year End Wrap Up is full of resources to educate yourself as a resistor.  Check it out – Attached below.


    ICE is here in Mid Maine: Someone got arrested by Border Patrol at Ming Lee Restaurant in Waterville last Wednesday. I do not have more details, but keep your eyes open for Border Patrol trucks and ICE vehicles and call in the information if you see one to the ICE Hotline at 

    207 544 9989.

    Indivisible MidMaine is sponsoring an MLK day event that has limited seating – Indivisible Mid Maine Remembers and Honors Dr. King – Monday January 19th, 1-4 at the Playhouse at Waterville Station (the old RailRoad Square building). The event will include the viewing of a documentary, discussion, and the opportunity to donate winter clothing for folks who need it. To sign up go here, remember, space is limited! Join us and help build the Mid Maine community of resisters.

    Later that day Waterville’s One Million Rising Group will be meeting to support one another in our activism – whatever form that takes.  If you want to join us please email Emanuel or Jeanine.

    There is a community member who is looking to provide home cleaning services in the Waterville area for $25 an hour. Send an email with subject “Cleaning” to get in contact for scheduling! You would be providing income for a local mother with an infant son to care for.   

    Are you interested in helping New Mainers learn/improve their English?  To sign up for English tutoring or any of our other volunteer opportunities, please visit: Capital Area New Mainers Project (CANMP) to fill out a volunteer interest survey. An English Learning option at the Waterville library at 1:00 on Mondays is also an option for volunteers. Contact CANMP for the details. You can also Donate to the Capitol Area New Mainers Project’s rapid response fund. CANMP is actively helping those affected by ICE abductions, both with legal funding and other financial support for family members.

    The Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition and partners have organized an ICE watch Hotline  in Maine. They need volunteer hotline operators to answer phones from Mainers concerned about ICE sitings. They are looking for folks fluent in one or more of the following: Spanish, French and Portugese. 207-544-9989

    Tuesday, January 6th: 12:00-1:00 (and every Tuesday) Old Location at Tesla Charging Stations at Elm Plaza, Waterville  Stand with us to remind the traffic that we need to WAKE UP and start resisting the authoritarian take over of our Government. We have been at this location since Tuesday, Feb. 4th? 2025! 
    Wednesday, January 7th: (and every Wednesday) 12:00-1:00 Waterville,  Corner of Main and Chaplin St. Grandmothers for Reproductive Rights, GRR! demonstrates every Wednesday across from Resolve, the local anti-abortion center. Please join us in assuring all Mainers have access to safe, legal, shame-free reproductive health care including abortions and contraceptive care. For more info please contact Elayne Richard  at recordconnection@gmail.com 

    Resist the Regime, Impeach the Imposters, Stop the War on Venezuela, Thursday, January 8th:  Fairfield Benton Bridge 3-4 pm:
    First Saturday of Each Month: Somerset Stands Up Rallies 2:30–Margaret Chase Smith Bridge, downtown Skowhegan. Bring your signs, American flags, your voice, your friends, families and neighbors for this peaceful gathering of concerned residents of Somerset County. 
    Sunday, January 11th : 1:00 (and every Sunday): Stand with us against Trump/Stephen Miller; For Peace in the Middle East, For Ukraine, Stop the War in Iran, etc. on the Bridge by CVS in Waterville  

    SOLIDARITY

    *Consider supporting Graham Platner. He is an electrifying speaker, with good positions on the important issues. Volunteer here. The oddsmakers have him beating Mills in the primary as of this week.

    However, Mills is a good alternative to support if she wins the primary in June. We must oust Collins!

    *If you would like to join Maine People’s Alliance Federal Lobby Group, please contact Jim Parakilas at jamesparakilas@gmail.com. We meet Mondays at 2 pm on Zoom. 

    With great appreciation for all the engagement everywhere!  

    As always, throw a little sand in their gears! 

    Emanuel

    ps. Please let me know if you don’t wish to get these Action Alerts, and please feel free to pass all or parts of these alerts on to others you know. Note my email is changed to emanuel.pariser@gmail.com

    More Anti War Music brings me back to these numbers – please send my your favorites:

    Rich Man’s War by Steve Earle  and Peace Piece by Bill Evans  (pro peace and incredibly beautiful)

    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!

  • IB News: Monday, 1/5: NO WAR IN VENEZUELA

    IB News: Monday, 1/5: NO WAR IN VENEZUELA

    Good morning. We are focusing on the illegal actions in Venezuela that President Trump has taken. For a copy of the regular newsletter from Friday that has information about the MLK Jr. events and other items, please click here. ~~George

    Following this newsletter is today’s 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 call to action is to contact our congressional representatives to support a war powers resolution.

    Two new actions from Hancock County Democrats: Action 189 – Voting 2026 (1/2), Action 190 – Support Small-Scale SOLAR (1/2), and an addendum to Action 191 that was promoting yesterday’s protest. This addendum is a graphic that shows the amount of oil reserves that countries have, showing Venezuela at the top. More HCD actions here.

    Also, two new actions from the Bold Coast Civic Alliance, Bold Coast Civic Alliance (1/2), discussing the Kennedy Center, Maine-based actions, and other actions, and a special edition from yesterday, Bold Coast Civic Alliance Special Edition (1/4), with information on what we can do in response to these war 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:

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Weekly vigils are happening here in the Bangor area!

    *****
    TOMORROW
    Tuesdays
    Weekly Vigil at the Federal Building in Bangor – 11:00 am

    *****
    Wednesdays
    Weekly Orono Vigil in the town center,
    noon to 1:00 pm.  

    *****
    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!

    Upcoming Events:

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    For upcoming events, as listed in Friday’s newsletter, please click here.

    Other News:

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    As mentioned in the BCCA Special Edition action, Indivisible has a toolkit to help us relay the message to Stop Trump’s War in Venezuela:

    “The Trump administration is dragging us into war with Venezuela. On the night of January 2, they launched an attack that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Maduro. 

    “Now Trump has declared that the US will “run” Venezuela and control oil production until a transition of power can take place. He is disregarding national sovereignty and forcing a regime-change all without authorization from Congress and without citing evidence of a legitimate threat to the United States. 

    “And it’s all in service of his own authoritarian ambitions. If he’s not stopped, Trump will continue this power grab, escalating violence in the region and putting US service members and civilians in danger unnecessarily. 

    “We need Congress to check this regime’s lawless violence, or there’s no telling where this will end. The Constitution states clearly that war powers belong to Congress—not the White House. 

    “Every Member of Congress must do everything in their power to stand up to Trump and prevent war with Venezuela.”

    Go to Take Action: Stop Trump’s War in Venezuela to see what you can do.

    There was a protest rally in Bangor at the Waterfront yesterday. Around 100 people braved the freezing temperatures to show their opposition to the war in Venezuela. “No Blood For Oil” was seen on many signs. Graham Platner, Jordan Wood, Paige Loud, and other spoke out against the war actions.

    See the television news coverage here: WABI and WVII. More to come later.

    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!

    Sign up to become a member

    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.

    (207) 544-9989

    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!

    Call with 5calls.org

    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.

    Email Angus King
    Email Susan Collins
    Email Jared Golden

    We are on Blue Sky, Instagram, and Facebook!

    Follow us! Invite your friends! Comment! You’ll be glad you did!

    Follow us on Blue Sky!
    Follow us on Instagram!
    Follow and take part in discussions on Facebook!

    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.

    Donate to Indivisible Bangor with ActBlue.

    Thank you for all you do! – George and Indivisible Bangor

    Emanuel’s Daily Call to Action:

    Action Monday January 5th: Put Pressure on our Congressional Representatives (Especially Collins) to Support a War Powers Resolution – Call, Write Now

    Good Morning Folks, the New Year is 5 days old and we have a full fledged illegal, unconstitutional war on our hands. For a comprehensive take on the stakes here, set aside 30 minutes to listen to Heather Cox Richardson on the situation. Act now.

    Top Action to Take Today:

    Ask your Congressional Representatives to: support a war powers resolution blocking any further unauthorized strikes on Venezuela, and call for an immediate investigation of the situation as a top priority of both the US Senate and House. Indivisible has an action kit on this – for a letter template to send to your congress people and other strategies go here. For a script for calls go here. Let’s FLOOD them with calls. If you can only call one representative, call Collins – it is the Republicans that are voting against war powers resolutions, and she could play an active role in making this resolution pass the Senate.

    This is about O_I_L,  but also the rule of law, both national and international. Our concerted action on this will be determinative. Make time in your day today to: write, call, and spread the word through social media. 5calls.org makes this easy to do.

    For “More Actions Today if You Have the Bandwidth” from Emanuel’s Daily Call to Action (1/5), 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!

  • Emanuel’s Daily Action Email, 1/5/26

    Emanuel’s Daily Action Email, 1/5/26

    More Actions Today if You Have the Bandwidth

        Being a consumer is one of the greatest powers we have as members of a capitalist economy. There are numerous boycotts going on, some of which we have listed below – ICE related boycotts include: Spotify, Linked In, Pandora, Home Depot, Walmart, Avelo Airlines, CBS News and more.  For a complete list of ICE related boycotts go to Icelist.Pick one of these companies to boycott, and stick to it until they stop working with ICE. Your boycott is more powerful if you contact the company to let them know you are boycotting them and why. (To find boycott related items below use the find function on your computer, and put in boycott.)

    Support the Plug-In Solar Bill LD 1730  (An Act to Make Small, Portable, Plug-in Solar Generation Devices) 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.  They are looking for written testimonies only.  If one of your legislators is on the EUT Committee, please write or call  them as well.  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 the January 6th hearing. Here is a list of talking points and more info. (thank you to Indivisible Bangor for this one!) 

    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 Shelley for this action)

    Force the release of all the Epstein Files. Call or email Pingree or Golden and ask them to support the inherent contempt charges against Attorney General Pam Bondi which House Members  Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) are threatening to draft.  If passed, inherent contempt charges would allow the House to bypass the courts and force Bondi to either release the files or face personal consequences such as imprisonment. (Go to 5calls.org for more on this action)

    Please consider asking your Maine State Representative and Senator to support LD 1383, a bill to end our complicity in all genocides and the persecution and detention of our neighbors by keeping our state’s investments aligned with our values. 

    You can learn all about the campaign in this one page toolkit from theThe Maine Coalition for Peace and Human Rights with easy links to background info on LD 1383 and where folks can write their own letters to reps in just minutes.

    Contact our Congressional Delegation and ask them to demand the release of the second strike video to all of Congress and the American people.  Let us make a judgement on the legitimacy of this action. So far, only top members of the Senate and House Intelligence and Armed Services Committees have viewed the second strike on the survivors of a Trump administration drone attack. Many legal experts have clarified that attacking survivors is against both US and international law.  Some Republicans say the two men were trying to flip their exploded boat over so they could continue their drug run. For more information go here and here.

    We haven’t talked much about farms and food lately as part of the resistance, but here in Maine we have scores of organic and traditional small farms and your support for these two bills will support the farmers who feed us and our families daily. Oppose the White House’s short-term farm-aid plan: Trump’s plan to provide 11 billion dollars for Big Agriculture, and 1 Billion for “specialty farming” which includes small family farms and organic farming is patently unfair. 
    Call Senators King and Collins and House Rep Golden     to urge them to speak up about this discriminatory farm-aid bill. ALL farmers are being hurt by Trump’s tariffs, and small and medium farms should not be left behind. And while you are on the phone ask King, Pingree and Golden to     Support the Domestic Organic Investment Act which gives Organic farmers the capacity to expand their businesses. Collins is one of the co-sponsors – so thank her for that.  (Thanks to Shelly for this action)

    Ask our Senators and Congressional Representatives to demand a resignation or begin impeachment proceedings for Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense.  He is now guilty of war crimes due to his ordering the killing of wounded combatants on a boat blown up twice in September by US drones. Both King and Collins voted AGAINST his nomination in the first place. For more information on this go here.  The Impeachment bill is H. Res. 935. 

    They should demand his immediate resignation NOW. Articles of Impeachment are on the way for RFK Jr. as well. (Thanks to Dave for this information.)

    Support the right of our troops to disobey illegal orders:   Defiance.org, in partnership with WhistleblowerAid.org, has launched Phase One of what it planned to be an ongoing effort to help members of our military obey lawful orders, recognize manifestly illegal ones, and know where to turn to understand the difference.  This campaign includes:

     Geo-targeted public service announcements, online and via social media; Billboards near key U.S. military installations ; Information about confidential, independent support available through Whistleblower Aid, a trusted nonprofit that offers legal intake and case support for servicemembers and government officials;  A volunteer-driven push to distribute information in military communities nationwide 
    Defiance.org has: Downloadable posters that we can distribute in our communities and/or near military hubs – Bases, Recruitment Centers, MEPs, ROTC Units, National Guard + Reserve Centers, etc.;Downloadable wallet cards you can keep on you to share with military members when you cross paths ,  A downloadable you can use to post about the campaign on social media. (Thanks to Shelly for this post!)

    Mutual Aid

    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.”  Even though the Government is “open” now, hunger issues continue for people around the country.

    Heating Assistance:  If you have friends, neighbors, or need support for Heating Assistance, Li Heap funds have been authorized for Maine, Click here to learn more about applying for LIHEAP assistance. Collins and King were  involved in pushing that this money get released after the Government shutdown.

    Arts and Politics!

    Consider boycotting Spotify and canceling your subscription to them: To participate in the boycott of Spotify for their running of ads recruiting for ICE, visit this Indivisible page for more information, and for ready-made materials you can post online and use in other ways to encourage others to cancel their subscriptions, visit this page.  According to Indivisible Bangor, Pandora is running the same ICE recruiting adds.  Pandora is a subsidiary of SiriusXM. Spotify’s stock has dropped 13% in the past month. 

    Indivisible Bangor suggests you stop using Spotify free version and instead try some of these options:  We’ve got instructions (and some suggestions on alternatives) here. (I have found another 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. (Thanks to George from Indivisible Bangor for these suggestions)

    GOT MORE TIME? HERE ARE SOME MORE ACTIONS  (just pick one!)

    • Boycott CBS News and let them know why you are doing it: Now owned by the Trump supporting Ellison family, CBS has just started to slant its news rightward by cancelling a 60 minutes segment on the torture prison CECOT in El Salvador. The piece was picked up on the internet and you can see it here. Contact CBS and let them know that you will be boycotting their stations as well as Paramount Plus. You can tell them, too, that you’ll be writing to their advertisers and letting them know that you won’t be shopping with them as long as they continue to buy ads with CBS and Paramount. You can reach them via their comment page online,  their ombudsman feedback page , their Facebook page , or by direct messaging them on their Instagram page. You can also email the following CBS executives: Tom Cibrowski, President & Executive Editor, CBS News: CibrowskiT@cbsnews.com Stacey Benson, CFO, CBS News: BensonS@cbsnews.com  Ross Dagan, CBS Executive VP & head of news operations: DaganR@cbsnews.com (Thank you Shelly for this piece)
    • Join the Maine People’s Alliance in bringing your story to our Congresspeople: Are your insurance rates going up? Did you lose SNAP benefits – the MPA wants to hear your story and use it to fight for Mainers in the ongoing shutdown budget battle. Fill out this form and tell your story here. 
    • Call or email our Congressional Representatives to publicly condemn the administration’s use of our Military to create havoc in Blue Cities:  It is time to publicly denounce these unconstitutional, king-like actions of our Executive branch. Where is the outrage? Go to 5calls.org for a script on this request.
    • From Linda:  I testified in support of LD 99 in 2020 and was thrilled that it was passed into law. LD 99 requires MainePERS to divest from all fossil fuel investments. The MainePERS Board was given until December 31, 2025, to comply with this law and has made almost no forward motion. If you would like to sign our petition in support of divesting, it would be appreciated.
    • Consider volunteering and/or donating to one of the worthy immigrant support organizations listed below:  Capital Area New Mainers Project, Mainers for Humane Immigration, Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, (all Maine based), and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, go here to donate to the Capital Area New Mainers Project.

    Statewide Actions

    •  Support the Plug-In Solar Bill LD 1730  (An Act to Make Small, Portable, Plug-in Solar Generation Devices) Hearing Set for January 6, 2026,  Energy, Utilities & Technology  Public Hearing: Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 1:00pm, Cross Building Rm. 212, Written testimony is for the January 6th hearing. Here is a list of talking points and more info.
    • Oppose Huge Energy Sucking AI Data Centers in Maine. Lewiston denied an AI Center this past Wednesday, here is some more information about them as they try to relocate somewhere else in Maine.From TIME: “Is Elon Musk’s Supercomputer Polluting Memphis? A Community Fights Back”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQoNq-zE3rM From Harvard Business Review: “Mitigating the Public Health Impacts of AI Data Centers” hbr.org/2025/11/mitigating-the-public-health-impacts-of-ai-data-centers  From CalReview: “Data centers are putting new strain on California’s grid. A new report estimates the impacts” https://calmatters.org/environment/2025/11/data-center-environmental-report From FedScoop: “Environmental groups to Congress: Take a timeout on AI data centers” https://fedscoop.com/pause-ai-data-centers-letter-to-congress.  (Thanks to Azalea for this information!)
    • Ask your local Maine Representative and Senator to support LD 1383 “An Act to Require State Divestment from Perpetrators of International Human Rights Violations.” This bill prohibits Maine from investing its funds from any companies, entities, persons or financial institutions that are “associated with” a “perpetrator state”. For more details see the attachment below. The Maine Coalition for Peace and Human Rightsis responsible for this campaign, see their  one page toolkit  here, and write a letter to your state legislative representatives.
    • Home Depot Actions: Sign the petition that is demanding that Home Depot stop complying with ICE, personalize this letter to Home Depot corporate headquarters making the same demand, for more actions such as going to your local Home Depot and delivering a letter to the manager go to Ice Out of Home Depot. 
    • More ICE resistance: 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. NO I.C.E. for Maine (noice4me): Learn more about this effort to reign in ICE. Here is the number for the ICE Watch hotline in Maine: 207 544 9989
    • Mid Maine Indivisible has a great weekly newsletter – To sign up: go here. Indivisible Bangor has a great daily newsletter and actions go here to sign up. If you are in the Mid Coast area consider joining Audacity – learn more here. The Bold Coast Civic Alliance has a newsletter as well as the Hancock County Democrat.   Cumberland County Indivisible newsletter go here.  Greater Portland Indivisible, go here. We are developing a great ecosystem for resistance communications in Maine.
    • Check out the No Kings Alliance page for  updates about actions that you can take to continue building the pro-democracy movement, building and protecting our communities. (Thank you to Indivisible Mid Maine for this suggestion)

    LOCAL ACTIONS: Join Mid Maine Indivisible(Kennebec and Somerset Counties) Please join us if you are in the Mid Maine area.  To sign up: go here. If you have items for our weekly newsletter, please email me and I will pass them on. Our last email, the 2025 Year End Wrap Up is full of resources to educate yourself as a resistor.  Check it out – Attached below.


    ICE is here in Mid Maine: Someone got arrested by Border Patrol at Ming Lee Restaurant in Waterville last Wednesday. I do not have more details, but keep your eyes open for Border Patrol trucks and ICE vehicles and call in the information if you see one to the ICE Hotline at 

    207 544 9989.

    Indivisible MidMaine is sponsoring an MLK day event that has limited seating – Indivisible Mid Maine Remembers and Honors Dr. King – Monday January 19th, 1-4 at the Playhouse at Waterville Station (the old RailRoad Square building). The event will include the viewing of a documentary, discussion, and the opportunity to donate winter clothing for folks who need it. To sign up go here, remember, space is limited! Join us and help build the Mid Maine community of resisters.

    Later that day Waterville’s One Million Rising Group will be meeting to support one another in our activism – whatever form that takes.  If you want to join us please email Emanuel or Jeanine.

    There is a community member who is looking to provide home cleaning services in the Waterville area for $25 an hour. Send an email with subject “Cleaning” to get in contact for scheduling! You would be providing income for a local mother with an infant son to care for.   

    Are you interested in helping New Mainers learn/improve their English?  To sign up for English tutoring or any of our other volunteer opportunities, please visit: Capital Area New Mainers Project (CANMP) to fill out a volunteer interest survey. An English Learning option at the Waterville library at 1:00 on Mondays is also an option for volunteers. Contact CANMP for the details. You can also Donate to the Capitol Area New Mainers Project’s rapid response fund. CANMP is actively helping those affected by ICE abductions, both with legal funding and other financial support for family members.

    The Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition and partners have organized an ICE watch Hotline  in Maine. They need volunteer hotline operators to answer phones from Mainers concerned about ICE sitings. They are looking for folks fluent in one or more of the following: Spanish, French and Portugese. 207-544-9989

    Tuesday, January 6th: 12:00-1:00 (and every Tuesday) Old Location at Tesla Charging Stations at Elm Plaza, Waterville  Stand with us to remind the traffic that we need to WAKE UP and start resisting the authoritarian take over of our Government. We have been at this location since Tuesday, Feb. 4th? 2025! 
    Wednesday, January 7th: (and every Wednesday) 12:00-1:00 Waterville,  Corner of Main and Chaplin St. Grandmothers for Reproductive Rights, GRR! demonstrates every Wednesday across from Resolve, the local anti-abortion center. Please join us in assuring all Mainers have access to safe, legal, shame-free reproductive health care including abortions and contraceptive care. For more info please contact Elayne Richard  at recordconnection@gmail.com 

    Resist the Regime, Impeach the Imposters, Stop the War on Venezuela, Thursday, January 8th:  Fairfield Benton Bridge 3-4 pm:
    First Saturday of Each Month: Somerset Stands Up Rallies 2:30–Margaret Chase Smith Bridge, downtown Skowhegan. Bring your signs, American flags, your voice, your friends, families and neighbors for this peaceful gathering of concerned residents of Somerset County. 
    Sunday, January 11th : 1:00 (and every Sunday): Stand with us against Trump/Stephen Miller; For Peace in the Middle East, For Ukraine, Stop the War in Iran, etc. on the Bridge by CVS in Waterville  

    SOLIDARITY

    *Consider supporting Graham Platner. He is an electrifying speaker, with good positions on the important issues. Volunteer here. The oddsmakers have him beating Mills in the primary as of this week.

    However, Mills is a good alternative to support if she wins the primary in June. We must oust Collins!

    *If you would like to join Maine People’s Alliance Federal Lobby Group, please contact Jim Parakilas at jamesparakilas@gmail.com. We meet Mondays at 2 pm on Zoom. 

    With great appreciation for all the engagement everywhere!  

    As always, throw a little sand in their gears! 

    Emanuel


    Anti War Music brings me back to these numbers – please send my your favorites:

    War by Edwin Starr and Work for Peace by Gil Scott Heron  

    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!

  • Action 191 Addendum

    A message from the Hancock Country Democrats:

    This chart tells you what you need to know about the real reasons.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Contact:

    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

  • BCCA Action Items- SPECIAL EDITION, Sunday, 1/4

    I know we’re all angry/upset/scared about Trump’s illegal invasion of Venezuela and his kidnapping of their evil dictator Maduro and his wife, so I just wanted to share Indivisible’s toolkit for action items you can do right away. Feel free to use their letter and call script: I think right now numbers are more important than making everything personal. They should be flooded with emails and phone calls. The actual content doesn’t matter beyond making clear that you want them to do everything they can to stop this insanity. 

    1. Start by signing and sending their letter to your representatives: https://act.indivisible.org/sign/stop-trumps-war-in-venezuela/ You can add your own comment or send it as it is.
    2. Call their offices: Use Indivisible’s call script (https://indivisible.org/resource/call-now-tell-your-representative-stop-trumps-war-venezuela)   or compose your own. You know the drill.
    3. Share this toolkit with everyone you know and also on social media:  https://act.indivisible.org/share/link?type=fb&page_name=stop-trumps-war-in-venezuela&action_id=24854271&akid=.3507471.lZcGEO&ar=1&rd=1

    Together in civic action,

    Bold Coast Civic Alliance

    Contact info: 

    Angus King             
    DC: (202) 224-5344
    Augusta: (207) 622-8292 

    Susan Collins         
    DC: (202) 224-2523 
    Augusta: (207) 622-8414
    Bangor: (207) 945-0417

    Chellie Pingree      
    DC: (202) 225-6116
    Portland: (207) 774-5019  
    Waterville: (207) 873-5713  

    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

  • Action 190 – Support small scale solar (not “small scale”nukes!)

    A message from the Hancock Country Democrats:

    Background: Hancock County legislators lead once again! Senator Nicole Grohoski has a new bill in the legislature that will have one of this year’s first hearings, on January 6. LD 1730 (1) carried over from last year was one of those concept drafts that don’t give you any information. But Nicole submitted the details on Dec. 30 (2) and more information on the concept is available in a Google doc (3) from Representative Gary Friedmann. The bill now has a name: “An Act to Make Small, Portable, Plug-in Solar Generation Devices Accessible for All Maine Residents to Address the Energy Affordability Crisis”. The initial sections of the legislation deal with building code modifications to increase energy efficiency. Then we come to Section 3475. Plug-in photovoltaic and battery systems. These new-ish devices (already widely available up to 800 Watts: you can see them on Amazon for instance) will allow homeowners to harvest the sun’s energy directly, to reduce their electricity bills from the power companies. This bill creates a new category for small plug-in solar electricity generation devices less than or equal to 1,200 watts, and establishes safety requirements. They would not be able to export power to the grid, so net energy billing would not apply. The owners would have to notify, but not get permission from, the utility. The devices would be treated as personal property by homeowner insurance, and if installed by, say, a renter on someone else’s property, they would have to be removed at the end of their use and the structure restored. The hearing will be Tuesday, January 6, 1:00pm. Written (rather than oral) testimony is requested.

    Action: Testimony can be sent to the Energy, Utility and Technology Committee. Here is the online portal: https://www.mainelegislature.org/testimony/ or just email the committee at EUT@legislature.maine.gov

    Extra Credit:

    (1) https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/1730?legislature=132

    (2) https://legislature.maine.gov/backend/App/Services/getDocument.aspx?documentId=121199

    (3) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a8qtkRTXNdr_nRjN4fzyiAGJqwCLY3F9ZpE6W46FOmA/edit?tab=t.0

    (4) https://mainemorningstar.com/2025/09/25/plug-in-solar-bills-are-in-the-works-in-new-hampshire-and-vermont/

    Now about the small scale nukes… There is a push among some nuclear power enthusiasts to start building “small” nuclear power plants in Maine. These would be of a size appropriate for AI data centers – up to around 300 MW or about 1/3 the capacity of Maine Yankee. This push came to the Maine Legislature last year in the form of three pro-nuke bills. Two of the bills failed in committee, and the third, LD 343, was substantially revised by its sponsor Republican Reagan Paul to an innocuous-sounding title: “An Act to Ensure Periodic Assessment for Clean Energy Technology.” This bill has been carried over – see its history here – https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracker/#Paper/HP0243?legislature=132 – but nothing is scheduled for it so far this year. Until the nuclear power promoters have solved the conundrum of what to do with nuclear waste (5), and until the federal government no longer indemnifies the power plant owners/operators for any accidents (6), nuclear power is “too hot to handle” and doesn’t belong in Maine.

    (5) I was present at a conference in the early 1970s, where I remember Dr. Alvin Weinberg saying nuclear power was “a solution in search of a problem” and it found it, in the problem of waste disposal. Not much has changed. Here’s what Google AI overview has to say today: “No, the nuclear waste problem has not been fully solved, as there is no universally implemented permanent disposal solution, although significant progress has been made in safe temporary storage and waste management techniques. Currently, countries primarily rely on temporary storage, and while some, like Finland, have developed deep geological repositories, their full operation and long-term success are still being evaluated.”  Note that some of the testimony on Maine’s nuke bills touted France’s ability to manage the nuclear fuel cycle. Actually, France is currently engaged in remediation of its prior practice of dumping nuke waste in the ocean, and is still searching for a satisfactory solution.

    (6) The federal government still indemnifies nuclear power plants through the Price-Anderson Act of 1957 which limits liability and provides a government backstop for claims exceeding the industry’s private insurance and self-funded capacity. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) indemnifies commercial nuclear power plants, while the Department of Energy (DOE) provides indemnification for its contractors. This system has been renewed multiple times, most recently in 2024, to ensure that damages from a nuclear incident would be covered. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF10821

    Contact:

    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

  • Action 189 – Voting 2026

    A message from the Hancock Country Democrats:

    Background: There is nothing in the Maine political world more important than this year’s votes, in June and November. All the efforts we have been making to rescue the sinking ship of state will be either accomplished, or severely hampered if not nullified, by the result of those votes.

    Everyone’s time and energy are limited, so it’s important to focus. We can drive ourselves batty responding to every outrage that comes to us in our daily news feeds, or we can acknowledge the outrages while focusing on this year’s primary goal: to nominate and then elect patriotic Americans who will change course, back to the principles and aspirations on which the nation was founded. We have a representative form of government. OUR job is to make sure our representatives are the best ones.

    It’s not sufficient just to donate money, although that is important. You have to volunteer as an active participant in their campaign. You have to door-to-door canvass for them, write letters to the editor supporting them, wear their buttons and other merch, put up their road signs, make additional homemade road signs, put a bumper sticker on your car, host a house party, speak out in favor of them whenever you have a chance, and help them understand the issues that are important to you (i.e. help them develop their policies). If you are doing all this, you are doing the work necessary. If you have not yet started, please get busy!

    The Democratic Party is not supposed to endorse specific candidates until after the primary. Unfortunately, in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, the party has a habit of putting its thumb on the scale in favor of incumbents and other cronies. If you want to change this dynamic, research and support the other candidates. However, after the primary, be prepared to be fully on board with the nominees, because whoever they are, they are a better choice than any person who is still a member of the Republican party. Its leadership holds views antithetical to our principles, and the party rank-and-file is either ignorant, spineless, or complicit.  In good conscience you cannot vote for, or promote, anyone who is still a Republican, to any office whatsoever.

    Action: Pick your candidates and make it a top priority to get them elected! Or run yourself.

    Urgency: Do your homework NOW and volunteer for someone by the end of January.


    Contact:

    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

    Extra Credit:

    Understand Ranked Choice voting. It will be used in the June primaries for US Senate, US Congress, Governor, State Senate and State Representative, and also in the November election for US Senate and US Congress if there are three or more qualified candidates. On election night, municipal officials count only the first-choice selections for each ranked-choice voting contest. If no candidate received more than 50% of the first-choice votes, the memory devices containing the results (for tabulator municipalities) and the paper ballots (for hand-count municipalities) are delivered to the Secretary of State in Augusta for a central ranked-choice voting tabulation. Results from all memory devices and scanned paper ballots are uploaded into one database. The cast vote records are extracted and then processed through the ranked-choice voting software to produce final results.

    Running for office. Collecting valid signatures is an excellent way to start promoting your favored candidate – which could even be you!. To be on the ballot in June, a signed petition must be received by the Secretary of State no later than March 16. The required minimum numbers of valid signatures for PARTY candidates are: 2000 for Governor or US Senator, 1000 for US Representative, 150 for county officers, 50 for County Commissioner, and 25 for state legislators. The signers must be registered to vote in the party for which the candidate is seeking nomination. The numbers of signatures required for NON-PARTY candidates are double these figures. The rules are spelled out in the State of Maine 2026 Candidate’s Guide to Ballot Access.


  • BCCA Action Items- Friday, 1/2

    Happy New Year! Welcome to 2026 and our continuing fight to bring compassion, fairness, and peace into the hearts and minds of all Americans (citizens or not).  

    Action Items to choose from (or do all of them: your choice!) Scroll down to the matching number of your option: 

    1)      Help save the Kennedy Center’s independence and reputation 

    2)      Stop Trump’s illegal attacks on Venezuela 

    3)      Demand that the ultra-rich polluters pay their fair share 

    4)      Resist Trump’s attempts to destroy alternative energy growth and to bolster coal 

    5)      Keep fighting ICE by boycotting companies that are enabling it 

    6)      Watch the CBS CECOT prison story that was pulled off the air 

    7)      Learn what we might do to fight in 2026 

    8)      Maine-Specific Actions 

    Reminder: When you call vs when you email via our reps’ websites (best way to contact them in writing), don’t forget to begin with: “Hi, my name is [name] and I’m a constituent calling from [zip code]. That is important, because if they don’t know you’re actually a constituent, your opinion will be ignored. 

    Contact info: 

    Angus King             
    DC: (202) 224-5344
    Augusta: (207) 622-8292 

    Susan Collins         
    DC: (202) 224-2523 
    Augusta: (207) 622-8414
    Bangor: (207) 945-0417

    Chellie Pingree      
    DC: (202) 225-6116
    Portland: (207) 774-5019  
    Waterville: (207) 873-5713  

    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

    (Please note that for those of you receiving this email who are not represented by Senators or House members in our district, I have to leave it up to you to find the contact info for your own representatives.)

    Actions 

    1) Help save the Kennedy Center’s independence and reputation: 

       On Tuesday, Dec. 23rd, Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (MD-06) introduced two pieces of new legislation:  

    1. H.R.6925, the Kennedy Center Protection Act – “To require the removal of any signage or other identification from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts that differs from the designation ‘John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’, as designated under section 3 of the John F. Kennedy Center Act (20 U.S.C. 76i)” 
      In plain English: basically to undo the recent addition of Trump’s name on the  
      John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; 
    2. H.R.6926, the Federal Property Integrity Act – “To prohibit the naming, renaming, designating, or redesignating of any Federal building, land, or other asset in the name of a sitting President” 
      In plain English:to ban Trump from doing this to any other federal asset during  
      his tenure (which, given his love of spreading his “brand” all over the world, he is 
      sure to do), and to prevent future presidents from trying the same thing.  
         So far, there are 3 co-sponsors, John Larson (CT-1), Jahana Hayes (CT-5), and Adelita Grijalva (AZ-7)—all Democrats. Contact Rep. Jared Golden to urge him to co-sponsor these bills. This is the United States of America, not the United States of Trump. 
       

    2) Stop Trump’s illegal attacks on Venezuela: 
         So far, no proposed legislation to take back Congress’s power to declare war has passed either the House or the Senate. The Republican legislators are still too afraid of Trump to attempt to clip his wings at all, and the Democrats have not succeeded in making more than a couple of them see sense and act. But this has to stop, especially when we have a kill-happy play-soldier at the head of the Pentagon and a sociopathic, power-hungry lunatic with the keys to the nuclear codes as his boss. Unless war has been declared, the extrajudicial murders of civilian boats and the (only known…so far) attack on a dock in Venezuela are all illegal. And it’s Congress’ job, not the president’s, to declare war. Plus, the evidence that has been presented in support of these attacks is very, very thin.  
       Contact Senators King and Collins and Rep. Golden to ask that they introduce new legislation to block war with and unprovoked/unjustified military actions against Venezuela, including those aimed at bringing about regime change in that country.  
     

    3) Demand that the ultra-rich polluters pay their fair share: 
        As climate disasters intensify, the ultra-rich and fossil fuel corporations continue to dodge accountability for their role in worsening the crisis. Oxfam America’s latest research shows that a person from the richest 0.1% produces more carbon in a single day than a person in the bottom 50% produces all year. Yet while the super-rich profit from environmental destruction, everyday people pay the price. The ultra-rich are not just overconsuming carbon, but also actively investing in and profiting from the most polluting corporations. Oxfam’s research finds that the average billionaire produces 1.9 million tons of CO2 a year through their investments, while the rest of us are left to shoulder the burden of the growing climate crisis.  
       Contact Senators King and Collins and Rep. Golden to demand that they push for legislation to tax the very richest of the rich so that the federal government will have the money to help communities most harmed by the floods and wildfires, droughts and heat waves caused by the climate crisis.  
        And/or you can sign this petition: https://act.oxfamamerica.org/page/90180/petition/1 
     

    4) Resist Trump’s attempts to destroy alternative energy growth and to bolster coal: 
       On Monday, December 22nd, Trump ordered the suspension of five offshore wind projects that were under construction along the East Coast and poised to deliver power to more than 2.5 million homes and businesses. At least one was already partially working. The next day, his administration ordered two coal-burning power plants in Indiana to continue operating past their scheduled closure dates while it also gave hundreds of coal plants an additional five years before they will need to prevent toxic chemicals from leaching into sources of drinking water. 
        Contact Senators King and Collins and Rep. Golden to urge them to oppose these moves by Trump to kill the proliferation of greener energy and to bolster his beloved coal industry—an industry that is probably the dirtiest of all fossil fuels. This is more evidence that he 1) is irrational and motivated by whims rather what is best for this country’s land and its people; and 2) cares only about further enriching the hugely wealthy fossil-fuel companies and his billionaire cronies; the health and safety of the American people is of no interest to him. Our legislators must act to reverse both recent orders. 
     

    5) Keep fighting ICE by boycotting companies that are enabling it: 
        Choose at least one of these companies that you already do business with and boycott them (https://icelist.is/boycott/). Contact their CEOs and boards to let them know you are doing this and why. Post about it on social media and ask friends and family to do the same. 

         If you’re a Spotify or Pandora user, here are some replacement possibilities that aren’t complicit in supporting ICE: 

    • Tidal (www.tidal.com): Artist-owned, transparent royalty model, and no record of hosting ICE or DHS recruitment campaigns.  
    • Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/home): Operates under strict ad-placement standards and does not run third-party government recruitment ads.  
    • SomaFM (www.somafm.com): Over 30 unique channels of listener-supported, commercial-free, underground/alternative radio broadcasting to the world. All music hand-picked by SomaFM’s award-winning DJs and music directors. 
    • LuxuriaMusic (www.luxuriamusic.com): Unique, eclectic, and diverse Internet radio programming.  
       

    6) Watch the CBS CECOT prison story that was pulled off the air: https://archive.org/details/60minutes-cecotsegment 

    7) Learn what we might do to fight in 2026: 
    Read this short article (https://open.substack.com/pub/robertreich/p/what-you-can-do-in-2026) and do what you can. 
     

    8) Maine-specific actions:  

    If you are so inclined, help get Graham Platner on the ballot: 
         If you want to help collect signatures to get Graham on the ballot, sign up now: https://www.mobilize.us/grahamformaine/event/871380/  

    Support making solar energy more affordable for Mainers: 
         LD 1730: An Act to Make Small, Portable, Plug-in Solar Generation Devices Accessible for All Maine Residents to Address the Energy Affordability Crisis is being carried over to the new legislative session of 2026. This bill, sponsored by Senator Nicole Grohoski, would create a new category for small plug-in solar generation devices less than or equal to 1,200 watts, eliminate interconnection requirements for these devices, and establish basic safety requirements. You can read the latest concept draft of this bill here: https://legislature.maine.gov/backend/App/Services/getDocument.aspx?documentId=121199 
         A hearing is scheduled for January 6th, this coming Tuesday. You can join the Zoom hearing or submit written testimony here: www.mainelegislature.org/testimony/  Choose “Public Hearing” and then for committee choose “Energy, Utilities, and Technology,” and then the date, Jan. 6, 2026, 1pm. Written testimony can be submitted any time between now and the day of the hearing. 
         If any of your legislators are on this committee, you should also contact them directly. For local (Hancock County) folks, note that the sponsor of this bill is Hancock County’s state senator. 
         Members of the Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee: 
    Senate:  
    Mark Lawrence, Chair (D-York) 
    Nicole Grohoski (D-Hancock) 
    Matthew A. Harrington (R-York) 
    House:  
    Melanie F. Sachs, Chair (D-Freeport) 
    Christopher J. Kessler (D-South Portland) 
    Valli D. Geiger (D-Rockland) 
    Sophia B. Warren (D-Scarborough) 
    Walter Gerard Runte, Jr. (D-York) 
    Kilton M. Webb (D-Durham) 
    Steven D. Foster (R-Dexter) 
    Nathan J. Wadsworth (R-Hiram) 
    Reagan L. Paul (R-Winterport) 
    Mathew David McIntyre (R-Lowell) 
     

    p.s. If you haven’t done all the actions in these emails and have the energy and/or the time, don’t forget to go back to previous Action Items emails to redo actions you feel strongly about or to do some you haven’t done yet. If, on the other hand, you want more Action Items than I’m able to provide these days, check out https://indivisiblebangor.org/call-to-action/. You’ll see my most recent emails there, too, but a lot of other stuff from Indivisible Bangor, Indivisible Mid Maine, Hancock County Democrats, and Washington County Democrat. 

    Yours in Civic Action, 

    Bold Coast Civic Alliance

  • IB News Extra: TRUMP OUT OF VENEZUELA PROTEST, SUNDAY, 1/4/26, Bangor

    IB News Extra: TRUMP OUT OF VENEZUELA PROTEST, SUNDAY, 1/4/26, Bangor

    Indivisible Bangor, Maine People’s Alliance, and Democratic Socialists of America have organized a march and rally to oppose Trump’s war action in Venezuela.  It starts at 12 PM on the bridge, with marching to the park at 12:20 PM, speakers start at 12:30 PM at the waterfront.

    Confirmed speakers are Jordan Wood, Graham Platner, Brendan Davison-DSA, Paige Loud, and others, along with a choir performance.

    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.

    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