Demonstrations honoring late civil rights leader and former Congressman John Lewis take place across the state.
Nation & World
National and world news from the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel.
Collins, King vote against $9B in spending cuts passed by Senate
The Senate approved, 51-48, President Donald Trump’s request to cut federal spending, including deep reductions to public broadcasting and foreign aid.
Collins votes no but Senate advances Trump budget request
Vice President JD Vance broke a 50-50 tie in a procedural vote on the president’s demand to cut $9.4 billion in funding already approved by Congress for foreign assistance and public broadcasting.
Trump plans to hike tariffs on Canadian goods to 35%
Imports from Maine’s largest international trading partner may face steeper taxes next month, the result of the president’s continued frustrations over a trade deficit and fentanyl smuggling.
New Hampshire judge to pause Trump’s birthright citizenship order
The ACLU of Maine is among several plaintiffs challenging the White House’s use of a phrase in the 14th Amendment in a bid to end an intrinsic part of US law for more than a century.
Trump to put 25% tariffs on Japanese goods, impacting nearly $65M in imports to Maine
The new rates for Japan, which has been one of the state’s top trade partners for years, and South Korea are scheduled to take effect on Aug. 1.
Donald Trump gave Susan Collins a pass, for now. Will Maine voters?
The Republican senator’s maneuvering on Trump’s tax and spending cuts bill shows she’s walking a tightrope ahead of her 2026 reelection bid.
Trump signs his giant tax and spending cut bill at White House July 4 picnic
The legislation extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, slashes Medicaid and food stamps by $1.2 trillion, and provides for a massive increase in immigration enforcement. Congress’ nonpartisan scorekeeper projects that nearly 12 million people will lose health insurance under the law.
Maine joins lawsuit alleging Trump administration shared Medicaid data for immigration enforcement
Federal officials say the data sharing is related to an effort to prevent abuse of the Medicaid program, but Maine and other states say it’s illegal and raises privacy concerns.
Maine delegation votes ‘no’ as House gives final approval to Trump’s big tax bill
The tight roll call, 218-214, came at a potentially high political cost, with two Republicans joining all Democrats opposed.