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Amy Fried

@asfried.bsky.social

7.6K followers 5.2K following 4.7K posts

Political scientist, kayaker Emeritus, UMaine Political Sightlines at https://amyfried.substack.com/ Books on how U.S. conservatives weaponized distrust, New England politics, professionalizing polling, and perceptions of public opinion as a resource

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Amy Fried @asfried.bsky.social · Nov 12

Blueskyers, I’m a retired political scientist, still actively writing and doing more real politics, whose core research has been on the history and political uses of public opinion. But I've done research other topics, too! My 1st pub was on abortion politics, the latest on ranked choice voting. 1/5

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Jonathan Bernstein @jonathanbernstein.bsky.social · 6h

I know people are dedicated to believing that Dems are ignoring everything important, but nevertheless there are two Senate Democrats doing their jobs. Just as the state's governor has, and many other Dem politicians around the nation.

No, they're not perfect, but they just aren't the problem.

Senator Dick Durbin @durbin.senate.gov · 7h

We’re outside of the Broadview ICE facility.

It’s clearer than ever before.

What’s happening in Illinois is an unprecedented, unlawful abuse of power.

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Jonathan Ladd @jonmladd.bsky.social · Nov 11

I'm on team Theda Skocpol/Hahrie Han on this. www.thenation.com/article/poli...

The US Is a Civic Desert. To Survive, the Democratic Party Needs to Transform Itself.

The party should jettison its consultant class and move toward a local-membership model that would help to rejuvenate civic life across the country.

www.thenation.com

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Amy Fried @asfried.bsky.social · 7h

Remember this as Jared Golden tries his "both sides are to blame" shtick on the shutdown. #mepolitics

Aaron Fritschner @fritschner.bsky.social · 11h

A few minutes ago in the House:

- Speaker Mike Johnson officially cancels votes next week, extending the House recess through a fourth week

- House Republicans block Democrats from passing a bill to pay the troops during the shutdown, ensuring they will miss paychecks next week

House Press Gallery: During today's pro forma session, the Clerk read a message from the Speaker designating Tuesday, October 14 through Sunday, October 19 as a district work period.

Punchbowl's Briana Reilly: House gaveled in and out of its pro forma just now w/o recognizing Rep Elfreth, who was seeking to UC a mil pay bill from Rep Sykes.

Elfreth told reporters after that House Dems stand “ready and willing to take” up standalone legislation to pay troops.

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Rep. Jamie Raskin @raskin.house.gov · 10h

And the lawsuits will follow promptly. Government shutdowns give presidents no additional authority to dismiss federal workers. We’ll fight these outrageous assaults on civil servants and public services.

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Amy Fried @asfried.bsky.social · 7h

Bernie Sanders telling Janet Mills not to run is political malpractice. Someone from away trying to direct Maine politics is a turnoff. Also, progressives love him but the only time Sanders was on the ballot in ME, in the 2020 Dem pres primary, he got 32%. #mepolitics

thehill.com/homenews/cam...

Sanders: Mills should stay out of Maine Senate race

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) urged Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) to stay out of the 2026 senate race in the Pine Tree State, arguing that it would force a heavy spending lift for candidates in an &#822…

thehill.com

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Eileen Clancy 🧿 @clancyny.bsky.social · 7h

A laughably false claim.

I wonder what the next 2 or 3 stories they fabricate will be? Before they are forced to swear until penalty of perjury. Because that's the pattern. Make up something on the spur of the moment, discard it, and move to the next tall tale.

Justin Baragona @justinbaragona.bsky.social · 8h

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughling is now claiming that Debbie Brockman was arrested for "assault on a federal law enforcement officer" because she was throwing objects at a Border Patrol agent.

Chicago Tribune @chicagotribune.com · 10h

A WGN-TV video editor and producer was roughly detained by two Border Patrol agents on Friday morning during a highly visible rush hour enforcement action in Lincoln Square.

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Amy Fried @asfried.bsky.social · 8h

Dunlap Facebook ad does a great job in drawing contrasts between him and Golden.

#mepolitics

Our district needs a fighter who will stand up to Trump.
There’s a thousand and one crises in America right now: health care and housing prices are skyrocketing, Trump is using armed troops to kidnap our neighbors in broad daylight. And right now Jared Golden is caving to Trump every chance he gets.
Trump won’t even meet with Democrats to talk about a bipartisan solution to the government funding debate, but Jared Golden already threw his vote in with Trump’s Republicans – the only Democrat to cave so far.
Maine’s 2nd deserves better than a choice between Jared Golden and Paul LePage, and Matt Dunlap is that choice.
Learn more at http://mattdunlapforuscongress.com/ #ME02

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Amy Fried @asfried.bsky.social · 8h

Was it "worrisome" when Mills stood up to Trump at the NGA?

Amy Fried @asfried.bsky.social · 8h

The headlines doesn't say what you're claiming.

Reposted by Amy Fried

Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 8h

Jared Golden never talks about this stuff -- let alone tries to do anything about it. Either he's OK with it, doesn't really care or doesn't think it's part of the job.

Whatever the reason, it's disqualifying.

His silence seems even louder with a viable alternative in the picture. #MEpolitics

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Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 8h

Not only is this rude, inappropriate, partisan, costly, and illegal, it reveals the fundamentally anti-American idiocy of this administration’s policy of handing over to China the most important economic sector of the 21st century.

Jamie Dupree @jamiedupree.bsky.social · 9d

Next move from OMB - canceling $8 billion in clean energy funds. You will note, all of the projects are in states led by Democrats

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Amy Fried @asfried.bsky.social · 8h

Those polls were wrong. But recall this was a ranked choice race in which Collins only got 51% and her opposition was nearly all from a Democrat and a Green party candidate. If Collins got, say a 48% plurality, there was a good chance she would have lost and Gideon would have won.

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Mark Joseph Stern @mjsdc.bsky.social · 9h

This arrest appears to be in direct violation of a temporary restraining order prohibiting DHS officers from arresting journalists. The officers here may well be subject to contempt of court. protectdemocracy.org/wp-content/u...

It is hereby ORDERED that Defendants,' their officers, agents, assigns, and all
persons acting in concert with them (hereafter referred to as "Federal Agents"), are temporarily
ENJOINED in this judicial district from:
a.
Dispersing, arresting, threatening to arrest, threatening or using physical
force against any person whom they know or reasonably should know is a Journalist, unless Defendants have probable cause to believe that the individual has committed a crime.

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Amy Fried @asfried.bsky.social · 9h

Fair enough. Note I haven’t seen that kind of kvetching from the Platner campaign. It’s been from some of his supporters who seem to want a coronation. The race doesn’t have anyone with extensive governing or campaign experience and one would be good. The Collins folks are tough cookies.

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Amy Fried @asfried.bsky.social · 9h

Platner’s supporters should welcome a competitive primary, not act like him drawing campaign crowds means no one else should enter the race. He has not been through a rough and tumble campaign. His only elected office is Selectman of a town of 1,207.

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GHOULLIKEHELLMACHINE @golikehellmachine.com · 11h

“we are telling you right now that we do not intend to honor anything we agree to” is certainly a negotiating position one can take

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 12h

Q: Rescission are something Dems have said is a reason for a lack of trust. What rescissions are you discussing?

JOHNSON: We have more than $37t in debt. We're doing everything we can to get us back to sound fiscal responsibility. What does that include? A rescission package is part of our process

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Amy Fried @asfried.bsky.social · 12h

It’s really patronizing to tell people what they should want to do with their time.

Amy Fried @asfried.bsky.social · 12h

Platner backers should welcome a competitive primary rather than a coronation. His only elected office ever is as selectman in a town of 1207 people. Let’s see him in a real primary against someone with governing experience to gauge how he’d do in the general election. #mepolitics

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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 15h

The anti-voter SAVE Act failed in Congress thanks to widespread opposition. Now, its proponents are pressuring the Election Assistance Commission to enact a similar “show-your-papers” requirement for voting. Will you speak out against this attack on the freedom to vote?

Regulations.gov

www.regulations.gov

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Amy Fried @asfried.bsky.social · 13h

Philadelphia Inquirer

Amy Fried @asfried.bsky.social · 15h

No. Dunlap was the president of the Sportsmen’s Alliance, the state advocacy group for hunters and fishermen. His state legislative record was more centrist than Golden’s.

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Amy Fried @asfried.bsky.social · 15h

The irony is that Golden doesn’t listen to others but Dunlap does.

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Amy Fried @asfried.bsky.social · 15h

We already have a great candidate challenging Golden. Also Mills would be the only Democratic Senate candidate who’s run and won and governed at a level higher than town selectman. Primary voters will decide if they prefer her or Platner.

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Amy Fried @asfried.bsky.social · 15h

substack.com/home/post/p-... Golden’s blue dog group (their home page has a picture of him on it) put out a piece that reads like AI was instructed to hype Golden and create straw man critics. It’s gaslighting to say he talks to everyone and Dunlap is nothing like their fake opposition. #mepolitics

What Democrats Misunderstand About Jared Golden

The Right Guy. The Toughest Seat.

substack.com

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Amy Fried @asfried.bsky.social · 15h

Bondi should lose her law license.

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 17h

(Politico) - All it took was a personal message to “Pam.”

@politico.com @kyledcheney.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...