Collins Watch
@collinswatch.bsky.social
Keeping an eye on Maine's senior senator and Maine politics since 2006. Send tips/thoughts to [email protected]. susancollinswatch.substack.com
Susan Collins keeps voting to confirm Trump judges. Election deniers, cranks, anti-abortion zealots -- you name it. She's only voted against one during Trump 2.0. (He still got confirmed, of course.)
Collins voted against dozens of mainstream, highly qualified Biden judicial nominees. #MEpolitics
Collins voted against dozens of mainstream, highly qualified Biden judicial nominees. #MEpolitics
By a vote of 51-46, the #Senate confirmed Megan Blair Benton to be US District Judge for the District of Missouri.
This was a party line vote with Senators Crapo, Gillibrand, McConnel not voting.
This was a party line vote with Senators Crapo, Gillibrand, McConnel not voting.
February 4, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Susan Collins keeps voting to confirm Trump judges. Election deniers, cranks, anti-abortion zealots -- you name it. She's only voted against one during Trump 2.0. (He still got confirmed, of course.)
Collins voted against dozens of mainstream, highly qualified Biden judicial nominees. #MEpolitics
Collins voted against dozens of mainstream, highly qualified Biden judicial nominees. #MEpolitics
Gross for a number of reasons -- not least that Susan Collins ran a transparently antisemitic campaign in 2020 (tinyurl.com/22rb6jj7) and has never apologized for it.
(Her 2026 effort has so far made boogeymen of Schumer and Bernie Sanders. Both fair game...but there's a pattern here.) #MEpolitics
(Her 2026 effort has so far made boogeymen of Schumer and Bernie Sanders. Both fair game...but there's a pattern here.) #MEpolitics
Susan Collins Is Getting More Money From AIPAC Than Small Donors
As Graham Platner outraises Republican Susan Collins, the pro-Israel lobby collected nearly 20% of her donations for her, writes @minnahfarshad.bsky.social @andrewperez.bsky.social @premthakker.bsky.social:
zeteo.com/p/susan-coll...
As Graham Platner outraises Republican Susan Collins, the pro-Israel lobby collected nearly 20% of her donations for her, writes @minnahfarshad.bsky.social @andrewperez.bsky.social @premthakker.bsky.social:
zeteo.com/p/susan-coll...
Susan Collins Is Getting More Money From AIPAC Than Small Donors
As oysterman Graham Platner handily outraises Republican Susan Collins, the pro-Israel lobby collected nearly 20% of her donations for her.
zeteo.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Gross for a number of reasons -- not least that Susan Collins ran a transparently antisemitic campaign in 2020 (tinyurl.com/22rb6jj7) and has never apologized for it.
(Her 2026 effort has so far made boogeymen of Schumer and Bernie Sanders. Both fair game...but there's a pattern here.) #MEpolitics
(Her 2026 effort has so far made boogeymen of Schumer and Bernie Sanders. Both fair game...but there's a pattern here.) #MEpolitics
Is ICE turning The County woke?
Probably not but: "Many northern Mainers...have joined grassroots activist groups and attended ICE observer and de-escalation training. Others have offered mutual aid to neighbors and sent money to help immigrant families."
Interesting read. #MEpolitics
Probably not but: "Many northern Mainers...have joined grassroots activist groups and attended ICE observer and de-escalation training. Others have offered mutual aid to neighbors and sent money to help immigrant families."
Interesting read. #MEpolitics
ICE surge sparks community involvement in Aroostook beyond protesting
People are offering aid to immigrants, dropping groceries on porches, offering rides, volunteering at hospitals and food pantries and checking on neighbors.
www.bangordailynews.com
February 4, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Is ICE turning The County woke?
Probably not but: "Many northern Mainers...have joined grassroots activist groups and attended ICE observer and de-escalation training. Others have offered mutual aid to neighbors and sent money to help immigrant families."
Interesting read. #MEpolitics
Probably not but: "Many northern Mainers...have joined grassroots activist groups and attended ICE observer and de-escalation training. Others have offered mutual aid to neighbors and sent money to help immigrant families."
Interesting read. #MEpolitics
Quite the photo. Something tells me we'll be seeing more of it. #MEpolitics
Looks like Susan Collins has moved on from clutching her pearls to clutching her new hat.
February 4, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Quite the photo. Something tells me we'll be seeing more of it. #MEpolitics
A smiling Susan Collins in the oval holding a MAGA hat is an obligatory story in a healthy media environment.
Local media not touching it, though. In the warped Maine news ecosystem, drawing attention to Collins being icky without balancing it against something positive amounts to bias. #MEpolitics
Local media not touching it, though. In the warped Maine news ecosystem, drawing attention to Collins being icky without balancing it against something positive amounts to bias. #MEpolitics
Feels like this photo of Susan Collins standing proudly behind Trump in the Oval Office, red MAGA hat in hand, really deserves to go viral.
February 4, 2026 at 1:52 PM
A smiling Susan Collins in the oval holding a MAGA hat is an obligatory story in a healthy media environment.
Local media not touching it, though. In the warped Maine news ecosystem, drawing attention to Collins being icky without balancing it against something positive amounts to bias. #MEpolitics
Local media not touching it, though. In the warped Maine news ecosystem, drawing attention to Collins being icky without balancing it against something positive amounts to bias. #MEpolitics
Susan Collins was standing alongside Trump for this. (Any video that shows her during this exchange?) #MEpolitics
Trump attacking Kaitlan Collins for asking about justice for Epstein survivors: You are the worst reporter. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile. Your organization should be ashamed of you.
February 4, 2026 at 3:27 AM
Susan Collins was standing alongside Trump for this. (Any video that shows her during this exchange?) #MEpolitics
!!! #MEpolitics
Susan Collins is holding a MAGA hat. Tells you everything you need to know. #mesen #mepolitics
February 4, 2026 at 1:18 AM
!!! #MEpolitics
The last time Susan Collins was at the White House (that we know of!) she got caught holding what looked like a Trump swag bag -- from the weirdo MAGA merch emporium off of the oval office. tinyurl.com/425pavjn #MEpolitics
February 4, 2026 at 1:17 AM
The last time Susan Collins was at the White House (that we know of!) she got caught holding what looked like a Trump swag bag -- from the weirdo MAGA merch emporium off of the oval office. tinyurl.com/425pavjn #MEpolitics
Fox News host says the quiet part loud. #MEpolitics
Top Trump ally Brian Kilmeade says on the radio that Trump "wants Susan Collins to win" and they paused the ICE surge there to "help Susan Collins" with her re-election.
They're not even pretending any more.
#mesen #mepolitics
They're not even pretending any more.
#mesen #mepolitics
February 4, 2026 at 1:04 AM
Fox News host says the quiet part loud. #MEpolitics
[eyes with pupils way over to one side emoji] #MEpolitics
Hey Susan Collins — when you're done rubbing elbows with Donald Trump, the people of Maine are ready for you to grow a backbone.
February 3, 2026 at 11:03 PM
[eyes with pupils way over to one side emoji] #MEpolitics
Never ceases to amaze us that Maine's largest city and half the state is represented in Congress by a pol -- one who routinely wins by landslide margins -- who's to the left of every legacy media columnist, on-air commentator etc.
This does not seem to be an accident! #MEpolitics
This does not seem to be an accident! #MEpolitics
This week Congress has a real opportunity to rein in ICE and CBP. I will be a HELL NO on the Homeland Security bill. #ICEOUT
February 3, 2026 at 1:57 AM
Never ceases to amaze us that Maine's largest city and half the state is represented in Congress by a pol -- one who routinely wins by landslide margins -- who's to the left of every legacy media columnist, on-air commentator etc.
This does not seem to be an accident! #MEpolitics
This does not seem to be an accident! #MEpolitics
Here's the ad from a group linked to the Dem-leaning Senate-focused super PAC hitting Susan Collins over complicity in ICE's terror campaign in Maine.
Schumer reportedly wants to refocus attn from ICE to prices/inflation...but folks in his orbit still realize Collins is vulnerable here. #MEpolitics
Schumer reportedly wants to refocus attn from ICE to prices/inflation...but folks in his orbit still realize Collins is vulnerable here. #MEpolitics
February 2, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Here's the ad from a group linked to the Dem-leaning Senate-focused super PAC hitting Susan Collins over complicity in ICE's terror campaign in Maine.
Schumer reportedly wants to refocus attn from ICE to prices/inflation...but folks in his orbit still realize Collins is vulnerable here. #MEpolitics
Schumer reportedly wants to refocus attn from ICE to prices/inflation...but folks in his orbit still realize Collins is vulnerable here. #MEpolitics
No idea where the ME-SEN primary stands and Janet Mills may even be the favorite...but numbers like these have got to be sobering to her team.
All indications are that she will be outspent. She'll probably need to devote more time/energy to fundraising to even stay close. #MEpolitics
All indications are that she will be outspent. She'll probably need to devote more time/energy to fundraising to even stay close. #MEpolitics
In small dollar contributions, we raised more than three times as much as the rest of the field combined.
Our most common donor occupation: teachers.
(Apologies to Susan Collins, whose name doesn't fit on the bar.)
Our most common donor occupation: teachers.
(Apologies to Susan Collins, whose name doesn't fit on the bar.)
February 2, 2026 at 5:48 PM
No idea where the ME-SEN primary stands and Janet Mills may even be the favorite...but numbers like these have got to be sobering to her team.
All indications are that she will be outspent. She'll probably need to devote more time/energy to fundraising to even stay close. #MEpolitics
All indications are that she will be outspent. She'll probably need to devote more time/energy to fundraising to even stay close. #MEpolitics
Credit where it's due:
We called for this last week and now a Schumer-aligned group is reportedly committing $1.6M to ads hitting Susan Collins over her complicity in ICE's terror campaign in Maine. tinyurl.com/2555u4f2 #MEpolitics
We called for this last week and now a Schumer-aligned group is reportedly committing $1.6M to ads hitting Susan Collins over her complicity in ICE's terror campaign in Maine. tinyurl.com/2555u4f2 #MEpolitics
February 2, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Credit where it's due:
We called for this last week and now a Schumer-aligned group is reportedly committing $1.6M to ads hitting Susan Collins over her complicity in ICE's terror campaign in Maine. tinyurl.com/2555u4f2 #MEpolitics
We called for this last week and now a Schumer-aligned group is reportedly committing $1.6M to ads hitting Susan Collins over her complicity in ICE's terror campaign in Maine. tinyurl.com/2555u4f2 #MEpolitics
More and more people are saying it. (Paywalled, alas.) #MEpolitics
February 2, 2026 at 1:21 PM
More and more people are saying it. (Paywalled, alas.) #MEpolitics
Haven't independently confirmed these figures but no reason to doubt them. (Tagaris is a political pro of longstanding).
2 upshots if the data is correct:
--Mills avg donation is more than 2x Platner's.
--Platner's avg'd 183 donations per day from Maine since announcing and Mills 51. #MEpolitics
2 upshots if the data is correct:
--Mills avg donation is more than 2x Platner's.
--Platner's avg'd 183 donations per day from Maine since announcing and Mills 51. #MEpolitics
February 2, 2026 at 1:50 AM
Haven't independently confirmed these figures but no reason to doubt them. (Tagaris is a political pro of longstanding).
2 upshots if the data is correct:
--Mills avg donation is more than 2x Platner's.
--Platner's avg'd 183 donations per day from Maine since announcing and Mills 51. #MEpolitics
2 upshots if the data is correct:
--Mills avg donation is more than 2x Platner's.
--Platner's avg'd 183 donations per day from Maine since announcing and Mills 51. #MEpolitics
Pretty wild (i.e. slanted) way to spin new fundraising numbers for a quarter in which Platner raised $4.7M, Mills raised $2.7M and Susan Collins raised $2.2M.
The only reason Collins "led" is that she's been raising $$ for 2026 for 5 years and her rivals have only been at it 3-5 months. #MEpolitics
The only reason Collins "led" is that she's been raising $$ for 2026 for 5 years and her rivals have only been at it 3-5 months. #MEpolitics
February 1, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Pretty wild (i.e. slanted) way to spin new fundraising numbers for a quarter in which Platner raised $4.7M, Mills raised $2.7M and Susan Collins raised $2.2M.
The only reason Collins "led" is that she's been raising $$ for 2026 for 5 years and her rivals have only been at it 3-5 months. #MEpolitics
The only reason Collins "led" is that she's been raising $$ for 2026 for 5 years and her rivals have only been at it 3-5 months. #MEpolitics
NEW: As measles cases soar (tinyurl.com/5y3ft269) Susan Collins reiterates her support for RFK Jr. as Health Secretary. tinyurl.com/35ppyfy6 #MEpolitics
February 1, 2026 at 3:59 PM
NEW: As measles cases soar (tinyurl.com/5y3ft269) Susan Collins reiterates her support for RFK Jr. as Health Secretary. tinyurl.com/35ppyfy6 #MEpolitics
Janet Mills still won't say if she wants to ditch or keep the current Senate Dem leadership that has repeatedly failed to meet the moment. tinyurl.com/35ppyfy6
May seem like inside baseball. But as we've argued before (tinyurl.com/yj546xpj) it's a threshold issue of high consequence. #MEpolitics
May seem like inside baseball. But as we've argued before (tinyurl.com/yj546xpj) it's a threshold issue of high consequence. #MEpolitics
February 1, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Janet Mills still won't say if she wants to ditch or keep the current Senate Dem leadership that has repeatedly failed to meet the moment. tinyurl.com/35ppyfy6
May seem like inside baseball. But as we've argued before (tinyurl.com/yj546xpj) it's a threshold issue of high consequence. #MEpolitics
May seem like inside baseball. But as we've argued before (tinyurl.com/yj546xpj) it's a threshold issue of high consequence. #MEpolitics
Just spitballing here but maybe telling these guys to wear bodycams and throwing them a few bucks for de-escalation training isn't going to do the trick? #MEpolitics
February 1, 2026 at 3:08 AM
Just spitballing here but maybe telling these guys to wear bodycams and throwing them a few bucks for de-escalation training isn't going to do the trick? #MEpolitics
This is the agency -- the Trump paramilitary -- that Susan Collins continued to praise as recently as yesterday and wants to send more money to without meaningful reforms. #MEpolitics
This is just insane. It’s only a matter of time before DHS kills another innocent person here.
(clip via MPR and @davidjbier.bsky.social on X)
(clip via MPR and @davidjbier.bsky.social on X)
February 1, 2026 at 3:01 AM
This is the agency -- the Trump paramilitary -- that Susan Collins continued to praise as recently as yesterday and wants to send more money to without meaningful reforms. #MEpolitics
Wild.
Susan Collins will have all the $$ she needs cuz of her billionaire-backed super PACs and deep-pocketed affiliate groups.
But Mills...Even with DSCC's backing she's putting up weak numbers.
Will be fine if she wins the nomination...but these numbers suggest that's very much TBD. #MEpolitics
Susan Collins will have all the $$ she needs cuz of her billionaire-backed super PACs and deep-pocketed affiliate groups.
But Mills...Even with DSCC's backing she's putting up weak numbers.
Will be fine if she wins the nomination...but these numbers suggest that's very much TBD. #MEpolitics
January 31, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Wild.
Susan Collins will have all the $$ she needs cuz of her billionaire-backed super PACs and deep-pocketed affiliate groups.
But Mills...Even with DSCC's backing she's putting up weak numbers.
Will be fine if she wins the nomination...but these numbers suggest that's very much TBD. #MEpolitics
Susan Collins will have all the $$ she needs cuz of her billionaire-backed super PACs and deep-pocketed affiliate groups.
But Mills...Even with DSCC's backing she's putting up weak numbers.
Will be fine if she wins the nomination...but these numbers suggest that's very much TBD. #MEpolitics
This is in the county Susan Collins grew up in. At least she's seeing to it that ICE has plenty of money. #MEpolitics
Northern Maine General’s outpatient and case management programs are slated to close by the end of March, affecting 154 clients and 12 staff.
12 Northern Maine General staff to lose their jobs as programs shut down
Northern Maine General’s outpatient and case management programs are slated to close by the end of March, affecting 154 clients and 12 staff.
www.bangordailynews.com
January 31, 2026 at 8:38 PM
This is in the county Susan Collins grew up in. At least she's seeing to it that ICE has plenty of money. #MEpolitics
Susan Collins praised ICE as recently as yesterday! The day before she voted to funnel the paramilitary billions of dollars that could go to schools or hospitals etc.
Not sure how many Mainers know this! Would be a good time for the folks with big megaphones/wallets to spread the word. #MEpolitics
Not sure how many Mainers know this! Would be a good time for the folks with big megaphones/wallets to spread the word. #MEpolitics
Union Carpenter Derek Ellis of Skowhegan was down the street from his job site in Portland when he saw ICE agents shout at a woman to "get the hell out" of her car. As they tore her out of her car, she screamed "I'm a US citizen! I'm a citizen!" as her small child in a carseat cried hysterically.
January 31, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Susan Collins praised ICE as recently as yesterday! The day before she voted to funnel the paramilitary billions of dollars that could go to schools or hospitals etc.
Not sure how many Mainers know this! Would be a good time for the folks with big megaphones/wallets to spread the word. #MEpolitics
Not sure how many Mainers know this! Would be a good time for the folks with big megaphones/wallets to spread the word. #MEpolitics