Jim Fossel
@jimfossel.bsky.social
Citizen. Freedom-lover. Boston fan. Portland Press Herald columnist. Substacker. Eaglebrook ‘98, Hebron ‘01, Dickinson ‘05. #Phish. I stand with Ukraine and Israel. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇳🇴
This week’s update: Janet Mills vetoed a bill making changes to the right-to-repair, let the tribes get exclusive control over online gaming, Maine’s congressional delegation react’s to Trump’s Venezuela raid, and more jimfossel.substack.com/p/fridays-wi... #mainepolitics #mepolitics
Fridays with Fossel
The weekly update for Friday, January 9, 2026
jimfossel.substack.com
January 9, 2026 at 12:49 PM
This week’s update: Janet Mills vetoed a bill making changes to the right-to-repair, let the tribes get exclusive control over online gaming, Maine’s congressional delegation react’s to Trump’s Venezuela raid, and more jimfossel.substack.com/p/fridays-wi... #mainepolitics #mepolitics
This week’s column: For better or worse, Maine is set to regain its bellwether status this year www.pressherald.com/2026/01/04/m... #mepolitics #mainepolitics
Maine is set to regain its bellwether status — for better or worse | Jim Fossel
The outcome of the state's 2026 election races should reveal a lot about the national mood.
www.pressherald.com
January 4, 2026 at 1:03 PM
This week’s column: For better or worse, Maine is set to regain its bellwether status this year www.pressherald.com/2026/01/04/m... #mepolitics #mainepolitics
It’s Ice (Cream) in the Freezer: Recapping @phish.com’s long, gloriously fun ending to 2025 - 12/31/25, New York, NY jimfossel.substack.com/p/its-ice-cr... #phish #yemsg #msg
It’s Ice (Cream) in the Freezer
A lengthy, gloriously fun ending to 2025
jimfossel.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 3:46 PM
It’s Ice (Cream) in the Freezer: Recapping @phish.com’s long, gloriously fun ending to 2025 - 12/31/25, New York, NY jimfossel.substack.com/p/its-ice-cr... #phish #yemsg #msg
Reposted by Jim Fossel
The Helping Friendly Book, it seemed, possessed the ancient secrets
Of eternal joy and never-ending splendor
The trick was to surrender to the flow
Of eternal joy and never-ending splendor
The trick was to surrender to the flow
Ok, everyone, what book is sacred enough to you to get sworn in on?
Strange takes on Mayor Zamdani swearing his oath on the Qu’ran. It has nothing to do with church & state. The point of the oath is for the person swearing in to do so upon some text that is sacred TO THEM. Some Presidents swore in w/o any book. John Quincy Adams was sworn on a law book. His choice.
January 2, 2026 at 12:44 AM
The Helping Friendly Book, it seemed, possessed the ancient secrets
Of eternal joy and never-ending splendor
The trick was to surrender to the flow
Of eternal joy and never-ending splendor
The trick was to surrender to the flow
Happy Friday, all! The number of homeless veterans has decreased, Republican lawmakers want greater accountability in MaineCare, and Maine’s expanded ban on forever chemicals has taken effect: jimfossel.substack.com/p/fridays-wi... #fridays
Fridays with Fossel
The weekly update for Friday, January 2, 2025
jimfossel.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Happy Friday, all! The number of homeless veterans has decreased, Republican lawmakers want greater accountability in MaineCare, and Maine’s expanded ban on forever chemicals has taken effect: jimfossel.substack.com/p/fridays-wi... #fridays
Reposted by Jim Fossel
Wandered to PT and I'm always amused by the people who think Phish were only good from 97 through 04 or so but they still follow the setlists and listen to the shows every night to prove to themselves that Phish aren't as good as they were in their favorite years!
December 31, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Wandered to PT and I'm always amused by the people who think Phish were only good from 97 through 04 or so but they still follow the setlists and listen to the shows every night to prove to themselves that Phish aren't as good as they were in their favorite years!
A recap of @phish.com at MSG, December 30, 2025: Ghosts of Chalk on a chilly Tuesday jimfossel.substack.com/p/ghosts-of-... #phish
Ghosts of Chalk on a chilly Tuesday
Well, here we are again, everyone, back in the Garden for the penultimate show of the run.
jimfossel.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 2:28 PM
A recap of @phish.com at MSG, December 30, 2025: Ghosts of Chalk on a chilly Tuesday jimfossel.substack.com/p/ghosts-of-... #phish
Toppling towards Tuesday on Night Two: A recap from the Garden, @phish.com , 12/29/25 #phish
Toppling Towards Tuesday on Night Two
Another bust-out and more elegant, beautiful jamming
jimfossel.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Toppling towards Tuesday on Night Two: A recap from the Garden, @phish.com , 12/29/25 #phish
I can’t describe the feeling of Sunday Night One - a recap of @phish.com
from Madison Square Garden, Sunday, December 28, 2025: jimfossel.substack.com/p/i-cant-des... #phish
from Madison Square Garden, Sunday, December 28, 2025: jimfossel.substack.com/p/i-cant-des... #phish
I can’t describe the feeling of Sunday Night One
Heading into last night’s opening run of Phish’s four-night stand at Madison Square Garden, there were two polar opposite trends facing off against one another.
jimfossel.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:51 PM
I can’t describe the feeling of Sunday Night One - a recap of @phish.com
from Madison Square Garden, Sunday, December 28, 2025: jimfossel.substack.com/p/i-cant-des... #phish
from Madison Square Garden, Sunday, December 28, 2025: jimfossel.substack.com/p/i-cant-des... #phish
Good morning, everyone! Donald Trump endorsed Paul LePage, Maine’s U.S. Senate race is already expensive, and BIW wants to build a Trump battleship: jimfossel.substack.com/p/fridays-wi... #MEpolitics #mainepolitics
Fridays with Fossel
The weekly update for Friday, December 26, 2025
jimfossel.substack.com
December 26, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Good morning, everyone! Donald Trump endorsed Paul LePage, Maine’s U.S. Senate race is already expensive, and BIW wants to build a Trump battleship: jimfossel.substack.com/p/fridays-wi... #MEpolitics #mainepolitics
This week’s update: Rench threw in the towel, Mills won’t let Maine work with ICE, judicial ethics, and more jimfossel.substack.com/p/fridays-wi... #MEpolitics #mainepolitics
Fridays with Fossel
The weekly update for Friday, December 19, 2025
jimfossel.substack.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:54 PM
This week’s update: Rench threw in the towel, Mills won’t let Maine work with ICE, judicial ethics, and more jimfossel.substack.com/p/fridays-wi... #MEpolitics #mainepolitics
This week’s update: Another union is mad at Mills, a judge didn’t like the settlement over services for disabled children, the state says CMMC has to remain a trauma center, and more: jimfossel.substack.com/p/fridays-wi... #MEpolitics #mainepolitics
Fridays with Fossel
The weekly update for Friday, December 12, 2025
jimfossel.substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 12:29 PM
This week’s update: Another union is mad at Mills, a judge didn’t like the settlement over services for disabled children, the state says CMMC has to remain a trauma center, and more: jimfossel.substack.com/p/fridays-wi... #MEpolitics #mainepolitics
An update on the odds in the Democratic Senate primary: jimfossel.substack.com/p/new-odds-o... #mepolitics #mainepolitics
New odds on the Democratic Senate Primary
From the Department of Predictions
jimfossel.substack.com
December 11, 2025 at 12:40 PM
An update on the odds in the Democratic Senate primary: jimfossel.substack.com/p/new-odds-o... #mepolitics #mainepolitics
Three days in a row!
Wordle 1,635 2/6
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Wordle 1,635 2/6
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December 10, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Three days in a row!
Wordle 1,635 2/6
🟨⬜🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,635 2/6
🟨⬜🟩⬜🟩
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This week’s column: Both parties have failed to address the affordability issue www.pressherald.com/2025/12/05/b... #MEpolitics #mainepolitics
Both parties have failed to address the affordability challenge | Jim Fossel
Although playing the political blame game may help win elections, it doesn't help the American people one bit.
www.pressherald.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:57 AM
This week’s column: Both parties have failed to address the affordability issue www.pressherald.com/2025/12/05/b... #MEpolitics #mainepolitics
This week’s update: Paul LePage has a primary opponent, Shenna Bellows swears she’s still looking into that ballot thing, Cooper scored 36 points, and more - jimfossel.substack.com/p/fridays-wi... #mainepolitics #mepolitics
Fridays with Fossel
The weekly update for Friday, December 5, 2025
jimfossel.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 12:03 AM
This week’s update: Paul LePage has a primary opponent, Shenna Bellows swears she’s still looking into that ballot thing, Cooper scored 36 points, and more - jimfossel.substack.com/p/fridays-wi... #mainepolitics #mepolitics
Many of you will tire of me constantly reminding you that I was glad that the #Patriots got the number three pick and drafted Drake Maye. I’m going to keep doing it anyway.
December 2, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Many of you will tire of me constantly reminding you that I was glad that the #Patriots got the number three pick and drafted Drake Maye. I’m going to keep doing it anyway.
This week’s update: conservative groups are getting involved in school boards, including where I live in Gardiner, the union is unhappy with Janet Mills, the state is bringing in more tax revenue, and more - jimfossel.substack.com/p/fridays-wi... #MEpolitics #mainepolitics
Fridays with Fossel - Post-Thanksgiving edition
The weekly update for Friday, November 28, 2025
jimfossel.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:47 PM
This week’s update: conservative groups are getting involved in school boards, including where I live in Gardiner, the union is unhappy with Janet Mills, the state is bringing in more tax revenue, and more - jimfossel.substack.com/p/fridays-wi... #MEpolitics #mainepolitics
Would you like some Phish @phish.com before your turkey? A Thousand Barefoot Children, a history of Down With Disease, Chapter 5: October 1994. jimfossel.substack.com/p/a-thousand... #phish
A Thousand Barefoot Children 05: October 1994
Trying to Hear the Music
jimfossel.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Would you like some Phish @phish.com before your turkey? A Thousand Barefoot Children, a history of Down With Disease, Chapter 5: October 1994. jimfossel.substack.com/p/a-thousand... #phish
This week’s column, in case you missed it: Apparently billionaires are actually just fine, as long as they’re Democrats like @jbpritzker.bsky.social www.pressherald.com/2025/11/21/j... #mepolitics #mainepolitics
JB Pritzker could be a nuisance for Democrats | Jim Fossel
What ever happened to fighting the oligarchy?
www.pressherald.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:03 AM
This week’s column, in case you missed it: Apparently billionaires are actually just fine, as long as they’re Democrats like @jbpritzker.bsky.social www.pressherald.com/2025/11/21/j... #mepolitics #mainepolitics
This week’s update: Jared Golden got enough signatures to force a discharge petition, Jordan Wood is running for Congress now, Eliot Cutler is headed back to court, and more jimfossel.substack.com/p/fridays-wi... #MEpolitics #mainepolitics
Fridays with Fossel
The weekly update for Friday, November 21, 2025
jimfossel.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:15 PM
This week’s update: Jared Golden got enough signatures to force a discharge petition, Jordan Wood is running for Congress now, Eliot Cutler is headed back to court, and more jimfossel.substack.com/p/fridays-wi... #MEpolitics #mainepolitics
In case you missed it, my column this week: Democrats actually pretty much got what they wanted out of the shutdown www.centralmaine.com/2025/11/14/t... #MEpolitics #mainepolitics
The truth of the Democrats’ shutdown deal | Jim Fossel
This fight over Affordable Care Act subsidies shows that, far from being the sweeping solution Democrats portrayed it as, the Affordable Care Act was another patchwork fix.
www.centralmaine.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:21 AM
In case you missed it, my column this week: Democrats actually pretty much got what they wanted out of the shutdown www.centralmaine.com/2025/11/14/t... #MEpolitics #mainepolitics
This week’s update, for Friday, November 14, 2025: The Patriots won, Jordan Wood is running for Congress now, Angus King III isn’t criticizing his father’s deal, and more jimfossel.substack.com/p/fridays-wi... #mainepolitics #MEpolitics
Fridays with Fossel
The weekly update for Friday, November 14, 2025
jimfossel.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:13 PM
This week’s update, for Friday, November 14, 2025: The Patriots won, Jordan Wood is running for Congress now, Angus King III isn’t criticizing his father’s deal, and more jimfossel.substack.com/p/fridays-wi... #mainepolitics #MEpolitics
Do you all remember how pissed off all of you were at Jerod Mayo for winning that one game and costing us Jayden Daniels or Caleb Williams? Remember how I always preferred Drake Maye and said it would all be fine? Do you remember? Pepperidge Farm remembers. #Patriots
November 14, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Do you all remember how pissed off all of you were at Jerod Mayo for winning that one game and costing us Jayden Daniels or Caleb Williams? Remember how I always preferred Drake Maye and said it would all be fine? Do you remember? Pepperidge Farm remembers. #Patriots
It’s been a long time coming, folks. Sorry for the delay, but here’s Chapter 4 of A Thousand Barefoot Children: Down With Disease, July 1994 jimfossel.substack.com/p/a-thousand... #phish
A Thousand Barefoot Children 04 - July
July 1994
jimfossel.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:06 AM
It’s been a long time coming, folks. Sorry for the delay, but here’s Chapter 4 of A Thousand Barefoot Children: Down With Disease, July 1994 jimfossel.substack.com/p/a-thousand... #phish