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
Media outlets with access never ask Susan Collins the most relevant questions because tossing softballs is how they got access to begin with.
E.g. 11 months into Trump she hasn't held even one oversight hearing and that fact literally never comes up.
Amazing. And gross. And corrupt. #MEpolitics
E.g. 11 months into Trump she hasn't held even one oversight hearing and that fact literally never comes up.
Amazing. And gross. And corrupt. #MEpolitics
December 1, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Media outlets with access never ask Susan Collins the most relevant questions because tossing softballs is how they got access to begin with.
E.g. 11 months into Trump she hasn't held even one oversight hearing and that fact literally never comes up.
Amazing. And gross. And corrupt. #MEpolitics
E.g. 11 months into Trump she hasn't held even one oversight hearing and that fact literally never comes up.
Amazing. And gross. And corrupt. #MEpolitics
Totally get where this LTE writer is coming from but also let's not assume that when Susan Collins does offensive/despicable things, she's doing them in *spite* of her beliefs rather than *because* of them.
Like maybe Collins acts like a bigot because deep down that's who she is? #MEpolitilcs
Like maybe Collins acts like a bigot because deep down that's who she is? #MEpolitilcs
December 1, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Totally get where this LTE writer is coming from but also let's not assume that when Susan Collins does offensive/despicable things, she's doing them in *spite* of her beliefs rather than *because* of them.
Like maybe Collins acts like a bigot because deep down that's who she is? #MEpolitilcs
Like maybe Collins acts like a bigot because deep down that's who she is? #MEpolitilcs
Bland/boilerplate pro-Susan Collins LTE gives no indication that its author seems to be state director of the radical, fervently anti-abortion Concerned Women of America -- a SPLC-designated anti-LGBTQ hate group.
Collins's biggest supporters won't admit the real reasons they like her. #MEpolitics
Collins's biggest supporters won't admit the real reasons they like her. #MEpolitics
November 30, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Bland/boilerplate pro-Susan Collins LTE gives no indication that its author seems to be state director of the radical, fervently anti-abortion Concerned Women of America -- a SPLC-designated anti-LGBTQ hate group.
Collins's biggest supporters won't admit the real reasons they like her. #MEpolitics
Collins's biggest supporters won't admit the real reasons they like her. #MEpolitics
Plenty to criticize Graham Platner over and not hard to grasp why any number of folks might prefer Mills but this seems like a bad faith smear. E.g as far as we can tell Platner never worked for Blackwater.
Worth listening to his version of events at 20:08: tinyurl.com/3a7t27at #MEpolitics
Worth listening to his version of events at 20:08: tinyurl.com/3a7t27at #MEpolitics
November 29, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Plenty to criticize Graham Platner over and not hard to grasp why any number of folks might prefer Mills but this seems like a bad faith smear. E.g as far as we can tell Platner never worked for Blackwater.
Worth listening to his version of events at 20:08: tinyurl.com/3a7t27at #MEpolitics
Worth listening to his version of events at 20:08: tinyurl.com/3a7t27at #MEpolitics
There was a brief stretch in 2017 when Susan Collins had a habit of running to reporters to distance herself from this sort of embarrassing misogyny.
But that was a long time ago. And as Greeley suggests, the shift is symptomatic of Collins broader acquiescence to Trump and Trumpism. #MEpolitics
But that was a long time ago. And as Greeley suggests, the shift is symptomatic of Collins broader acquiescence to Trump and Trumpism. #MEpolitics
November 29, 2025 at 3:01 PM
There was a brief stretch in 2017 when Susan Collins had a habit of running to reporters to distance herself from this sort of embarrassing misogyny.
But that was a long time ago. And as Greeley suggests, the shift is symptomatic of Collins broader acquiescence to Trump and Trumpism. #MEpolitics
But that was a long time ago. And as Greeley suggests, the shift is symptomatic of Collins broader acquiescence to Trump and Trumpism. #MEpolitics
Former Antonin Scalia clerk, Senate Judiciary Committee general counsel and deputy assistant attorney general under George W. Bush suggests, in so many words, that the Secretary of Defense committed war crimes.
November 29, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Former Antonin Scalia clerk, Senate Judiciary Committee general counsel and deputy assistant attorney general under George W. Bush suggests, in so many words, that the Secretary of Defense committed war crimes.
North Carolina-based, pro-nuclear energy Republican super PAC out with a mailer backing Susan Collins a year before Election Day.
They say Collins is "deliver[ing] innovative energy solutions" and "fighting to lower our energy bills." Really? How so? #MEpolitics via @reanderthal.bsky.social
They say Collins is "deliver[ing] innovative energy solutions" and "fighting to lower our energy bills." Really? How so? #MEpolitics via @reanderthal.bsky.social
November 29, 2025 at 12:59 AM
North Carolina-based, pro-nuclear energy Republican super PAC out with a mailer backing Susan Collins a year before Election Day.
They say Collins is "deliver[ing] innovative energy solutions" and "fighting to lower our energy bills." Really? How so? #MEpolitics via @reanderthal.bsky.social
They say Collins is "deliver[ing] innovative energy solutions" and "fighting to lower our energy bills." Really? How so? #MEpolitics via @reanderthal.bsky.social
Interesting "book club" list from Graham Platner. We're fans of David Graeber's DEBT and Eric Foner. tinyurl.com/4zj75ran #MEpolitics
November 26, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Interesting "book club" list from Graham Platner. We're fans of David Graeber's DEBT and Eric Foner. tinyurl.com/4zj75ran #MEpolitics
NYT reports that a faction of Senate progressives (Van Hollen, Smith, Murphy, Sanders, Warren etc) are upset about not-terribly-subtle interventions by Schumer and Gillibrand (DSCC chair) into Senate primary races including backing Janet Mills over Graham Platner. tinyurl.com/mtk3afhe #MEpolitics
November 26, 2025 at 8:41 PM
NYT reports that a faction of Senate progressives (Van Hollen, Smith, Murphy, Sanders, Warren etc) are upset about not-terribly-subtle interventions by Schumer and Gillibrand (DSCC chair) into Senate primary races including backing Janet Mills over Graham Platner. tinyurl.com/mtk3afhe #MEpolitics
Also while @billykobin.bsky.social is maybe technically correct to say that Sara Gideon has given "almost all" of her $15M post-2020 campaign war chest away...as of 9/30/25 the account still had $3,285,882.47 in it! That's not nothing! #MEpolitics
November 26, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Also while @billykobin.bsky.social is maybe technically correct to say that Sara Gideon has given "almost all" of her $15M post-2020 campaign war chest away...as of 9/30/25 the account still had $3,285,882.47 in it! That's not nothing! #MEpolitics
Honest initial reaction to this was: "Why? Like why is that something you would want to do?"
Mending fences, maybe? Or he's planning to funnel it all to the half-dozen Dems who are most deferential to Trump? tinyurl.com/mrw9znre #MEpolitics
Mending fences, maybe? Or he's planning to funnel it all to the half-dozen Dems who are most deferential to Trump? tinyurl.com/mrw9znre #MEpolitics
November 26, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Honest initial reaction to this was: "Why? Like why is that something you would want to do?"
Mending fences, maybe? Or he's planning to funnel it all to the half-dozen Dems who are most deferential to Trump? tinyurl.com/mrw9znre #MEpolitics
Mending fences, maybe? Or he's planning to funnel it all to the half-dozen Dems who are most deferential to Trump? tinyurl.com/mrw9znre #MEpolitics
Susan 'stigmatizing trans kids is so important I voted to defund Maine schools over it' Collins commending a constituent, apparently, for "helping others understand the real-life struggles of the nonbinary community" and "steadfast leadership" on DEI. #MEpolitics via @dabbs346.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Susan 'stigmatizing trans kids is so important I voted to defund Maine schools over it' Collins commending a constituent, apparently, for "helping others understand the real-life struggles of the nonbinary community" and "steadfast leadership" on DEI. #MEpolitics via @dabbs346.bsky.social
This -- being straight with folks about the journey Susan Collins has been on -- seems like a better approach for center/left groups than constantly puffing her up out of a misguided hope that maybe, just maybe, she'll come around if you clap hard enough. tinyurl.com/3ka9x4ku #MEpolitics @ppfa.org
November 25, 2025 at 1:26 PM
This -- being straight with folks about the journey Susan Collins has been on -- seems like a better approach for center/left groups than constantly puffing her up out of a misguided hope that maybe, just maybe, she'll come around if you clap hard enough. tinyurl.com/3ka9x4ku #MEpolitics @ppfa.org
Several articles in the local press on Susan Collins support for overturning Maine's longstanding, LePage-era policy around after school sports...but not one of them notes that Collins is so thirsty to stigmatize trans kids that she voted to DEFUND MAINE SCHOOLS over the policy in 2021. #MEpolitics
November 25, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Several articles in the local press on Susan Collins support for overturning Maine's longstanding, LePage-era policy around after school sports...but not one of them notes that Collins is so thirsty to stigmatize trans kids that she voted to DEFUND MAINE SCHOOLS over the policy in 2021. #MEpolitics
Don't forget that Susan Collins voted to DEFUND MAINE SCHOOLS over the state's policies around after school sports -- a shocking betrayal of her constituents that would've devastated Maine if successful. (tinyurl.com/ynmcarxf)
This is a political weakness for Collins not a strength. #MEpolitics
This is a political weakness for Collins not a strength. #MEpolitics
November 24, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Don't forget that Susan Collins voted to DEFUND MAINE SCHOOLS over the state's policies around after school sports -- a shocking betrayal of her constituents that would've devastated Maine if successful. (tinyurl.com/ynmcarxf)
This is a political weakness for Collins not a strength. #MEpolitics
This is a political weakness for Collins not a strength. #MEpolitics
After a strong headline this past week underscoring Susan Collins have-it-both-ways nonsense on the funding bill and the self-dealing provision she slipped into it...BDN is back to its old ways.
Someone please give these folks a tutorial on what the word "want" means. #MEpolitics
Someone please give these folks a tutorial on what the word "want" means. #MEpolitics
November 22, 2025 at 6:41 PM
After a strong headline this past week underscoring Susan Collins have-it-both-ways nonsense on the funding bill and the self-dealing provision she slipped into it...BDN is back to its old ways.
Someone please give these folks a tutorial on what the word "want" means. #MEpolitics
Someone please give these folks a tutorial on what the word "want" means. #MEpolitics
Susan Collins on her role in the govt funding bill before she got blowback about the vile, corrupt provision she's reported to have slipped in to benefit several of her GOP Senate pals:
"I was responsible for not only putting the bill together but also managing it on the Senate floor." #MEpolitics
"I was responsible for not only putting the bill together but also managing it on the Senate floor." #MEpolitics
November 21, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Susan Collins on her role in the govt funding bill before she got blowback about the vile, corrupt provision she's reported to have slipped in to benefit several of her GOP Senate pals:
"I was responsible for not only putting the bill together but also managing it on the Senate floor." #MEpolitics
"I was responsible for not only putting the bill together but also managing it on the Senate floor." #MEpolitics
In other news, even having abandoned his campaign after being faced with a primary challenge, Jared Golden continues to do somersaults to avoid calling Trump out by name.
At least he's consistent? tinyurl.com/ebufx3ej #MEpolitics
At least he's consistent? tinyurl.com/ebufx3ej #MEpolitics
November 21, 2025 at 1:07 PM
In other news, even having abandoned his campaign after being faced with a primary challenge, Jared Golden continues to do somersaults to avoid calling Trump out by name.
At least he's consistent? tinyurl.com/ebufx3ej #MEpolitics
At least he's consistent? tinyurl.com/ebufx3ej #MEpolitics
At top of Press Herald's home page right now.
It'd be one thing if they covered e.g. Susan Collins complicity in the corrupt/lawless abuse of executive power under Trump w/ anything like the vigor/tenacity the moment demands.
But they're not doing that. They want to write about chairs. #MEpolitics
It'd be one thing if they covered e.g. Susan Collins complicity in the corrupt/lawless abuse of executive power under Trump w/ anything like the vigor/tenacity the moment demands.
But they're not doing that. They want to write about chairs. #MEpolitics
November 21, 2025 at 1:00 PM
At top of Press Herald's home page right now.
It'd be one thing if they covered e.g. Susan Collins complicity in the corrupt/lawless abuse of executive power under Trump w/ anything like the vigor/tenacity the moment demands.
But they're not doing that. They want to write about chairs. #MEpolitics
It'd be one thing if they covered e.g. Susan Collins complicity in the corrupt/lawless abuse of executive power under Trump w/ anything like the vigor/tenacity the moment demands.
But they're not doing that. They want to write about chairs. #MEpolitics
Oh look who else just won this award! Look what she won it for!
When Susan Collins isn't slipping corrupt, self-dealing provisions into must-pass bills, celebrating these sorts of people is how she's spending her time in 2025, apparently. tinyurl.com/9zs34y42 #MEpolitics
When Susan Collins isn't slipping corrupt, self-dealing provisions into must-pass bills, celebrating these sorts of people is how she's spending her time in 2025, apparently. tinyurl.com/9zs34y42 #MEpolitics
November 20, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Oh look who else just won this award! Look what she won it for!
When Susan Collins isn't slipping corrupt, self-dealing provisions into must-pass bills, celebrating these sorts of people is how she's spending her time in 2025, apparently. tinyurl.com/9zs34y42 #MEpolitics
When Susan Collins isn't slipping corrupt, self-dealing provisions into must-pass bills, celebrating these sorts of people is how she's spending her time in 2025, apparently. tinyurl.com/9zs34y42 #MEpolitics
Icky: Susan Collins poses with the "editor" of the disinformation outlet run by Maine's fake right-wing think tank (why's his head missing?) upon his receipt of an award from a Trumpy foundation.
This is the outlet that alleged ME schools were teaching kids how to have sex with cats. #MEpolitics
This is the outlet that alleged ME schools were teaching kids how to have sex with cats. #MEpolitics
November 20, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Icky: Susan Collins poses with the "editor" of the disinformation outlet run by Maine's fake right-wing think tank (why's his head missing?) upon his receipt of an award from a Trumpy foundation.
This is the outlet that alleged ME schools were teaching kids how to have sex with cats. #MEpolitics
This is the outlet that alleged ME schools were teaching kids how to have sex with cats. #MEpolitics
Now one of Susan Collins beltway errand-runners is pushing the spin that Collins felt "blindsided" by a provision that other outlets have reported COLLINS HERSELF INSERTED into the funding bill.
So much of the DC press is totally shameless. #MEpolitics
So much of the DC press is totally shameless. #MEpolitics
November 20, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Now one of Susan Collins beltway errand-runners is pushing the spin that Collins felt "blindsided" by a provision that other outlets have reported COLLINS HERSELF INSERTED into the funding bill.
So much of the DC press is totally shameless. #MEpolitics
So much of the DC press is totally shameless. #MEpolitics
Better headline: Susan Collins is NOT co-sponsoring legislation to repeal provision in funding bill allowing senators to sue the government
Subhead: The provision was included in the continuing resolution Collins has taken credit for authoring... #MEpolitics
Subhead: The provision was included in the continuing resolution Collins has taken credit for authoring... #MEpolitics
November 20, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Better headline: Susan Collins is NOT co-sponsoring legislation to repeal provision in funding bill allowing senators to sue the government
Subhead: The provision was included in the continuing resolution Collins has taken credit for authoring... #MEpolitics
Subhead: The provision was included in the continuing resolution Collins has taken credit for authoring... #MEpolitics
Not sure we agree with Lisa Wesel about Angus King's reasons for capitulating to Trump (Angus caved well before SNAP payments were withheld) but she makes some good points! #MEpolitics
November 20, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Not sure we agree with Lisa Wesel about Angus King's reasons for capitulating to Trump (Angus caved well before SNAP payments were withheld) but she makes some good points! #MEpolitics
Like half of Susan Collins fan club works at the New York Times. #MEpolitics
November 20, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Like half of Susan Collins fan club works at the New York Times. #MEpolitics