Pine & Roses
@pineandroses.org
A volunteer working class publication focused on issues that affect folks living around Maine, or who are involved in organizing and activism. DMs are open. editor@pineandroses.org | project of Maine DSA
Contributor @strim.bsky.social offers his opinions on what a potential tenant bill of rights should include. Some of these were influenced by what others have said, the Portland Tenants Union has fought for, and his own experiences as a renter. #mepolitics
A Tenant Bill of Rights - Pine & Roses
In the past decade, many have seen rent increases in the double digits, well above inflation and raises in pay. On top of that, tenants can be
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New from @strim.bsky.social, an opinion piece explaining why the citizen initiative effort to create universal healthcare in Maine is important to support. This piece originally appeared in @mainebeacon.bsky.social. #mepolitics
Why I am excited to sign the petition to pass Health Care for All Mainers - Pine & Roses
I’ll be honest, I was a little skeptical when I first heard about the effort to achieve universal health care in Maine through a statewide citizen
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Contributor @strim.bsky.social notes the recent ruling by a Maine court that confirms the legality of rent control laws passed in Portland, initiated by Maine DSA. Landlords are not happy. #mepolitics
Maine Court Slams Landlords, Confirms Rent Control Laws Initiated by Maine DSA - Pine & Roses
On March 18, a Maine Superior Court judge summarily rejected the latest attempt by landlords to gut Portland’s rent control law and stifle the power
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Contributor @strim.bsky.social writes on how important it is for Mainers to defeat the anti-trans referendum this Fall, and how it also serves as a tool to distract us from other issues the ultra-rich don't want us discussing. This piece originally appeared in @mainebeacon.bsky.social
Don’t be fooled – anti-trans referendum is just a distraction while they pick your pocket - Pine & Roses
Maine, thankfully, has mostly resisted this wave. Our legislators have defeated numerous efforts by GOP anti-trans legislators to persecute trans
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Contributor Todd Chretien presents the second part in an on-going miniseries, "MAGA Before the Elections." In this piece, Todd takes a closer look at Clintonism 2.0, MAGAism 3.0, what they mean and what they're capable of. #MAGA #2026elections
Aiming for Trump’s Achilles’ Heel: MAGA Before the Elections, Part II - Pine & Roses
Several months into the second year of his second term, Trump’s might-makes-right strategy, at home and abroad, has spurred more mass disgust among his
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Ethan Strimling offers his opinions on Janet Mills' chances, and how she basically has two options: improve her record on labor, the environment, and more to show she's serious; or, drop out. - This story was originally published in the @mainebeacon.bsky.social
Opinion: It’s time for Mills to drop out (or step up) - Pine & Roses
Based on recent polling, it doesn’t look good for Gov. Janet Mills. Two new polls show her down by somewhere between seven and 38 points
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Contributors T. Sinclair and @breadnrosie.bsky.social share their different opinions on Senate candidate Graham Platner in this back-and-forth conversation.
A Conversation on Graham Platner - Pine & Roses
Graham Platner’s campaign in Maine’s 2026 Senate race has caused divided opinions among many of the state’s progressive and left wing voters, partly due to
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Salar Mohandesi writes on Iran, leftist debates around internationalist approaches, and the need to organize in the heart of empire against imperialist violence. This piece originally appeared on @versobooks.bsky.social, reprinted here with permission.
Organizing in the Heart of Empire: On the Left's debate around Iran - Pine & Roses
The situation in Iran poses a political challenge for anyone who cares about emancipation. Everyone knows that the single greatest threat to that goal on a
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Landlords cried that new tenant protections would hurt housing development in Portland, ME. @strim.bsky.social shows that hasn't been true. In fact, over the last five years development has increased since their implementation. [Piece originally appeared in @mainebeacon.bsky.social ]
Portland's Housing Development Booming After Maine DSA Sponsored Tenant Protections - Pine & Roses
My personal favorite bug-a-boo, of course, is around housing. If you dare to regulate the housing market to prevent landlords from gouging tenants and to stop
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We are pleased to reprint this opinion piece by @strim.bsky.social, originally published in @mainebeacon.bsky.social. Ethan acknowledges Maine Sec. of State Shenna Bellows for standing up to Trump's regime time and time again.
Opinion: Bellows is Badass - Pine & Roses
That explained, my first official “Badass Award” goes to Shenna Bellows for how she has used the Secretary of State’s office to oppose Trump. She hasn’t just
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We are happy to offer this piece by Todd Chretien, originally printed in "The Call" publication, on how Maine organized to beat back the state's most recent ICE surge. #MEpolitics #ICE
Maine Forces ICE to Retreat - Pine & Roses
After Renée Good’s murder on January 6, Maine went on high alert. Customs and Border Patrol and ICE were already bragging that they had detained 1,000 people
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On Saturday, February 7, over three hundred people gathered in downtown Portland to participate in an event focused on skill shares and "know your rights" workshops, aimed at educating residents on anti-ICE strategies. #MEpolitics
Hundreds Attend "No ICE" Skill Share in Portland - Pine & Roses
On Saturday, February 7, as temperatures barely crested double digits, over 300 people across Maine gathered at the Maine Irish Heritage Center in Portland
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We offer this mini-series of political cartoons from contributor Vernon S. for the month of February.
Political Cartoons, February 2026 - Pine & Roses
We offer you these political cartoons from contributor Vernon S, please enjoy and share.
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T. Sinclair offers up this opinion piece, suggesting people take a “if it walks like a duck” approach when deciding whether the Trump administration should be considered the “F” word.
If it Walks Like a Duck and Talks Like a Duck ... - Pine & Roses
For these reasons of vagueness and the slow dilution of the term's meaning, I suggest we take a “if it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck” attitude when
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Zohran Mamdani's swearing-in was a celebratory event for New Yorkers, but also an inauguration for the broader US left. Editor T. Sinclair describes the event, and why it was felt so deeply by leftists and socialists extending beyond the five boroughs.
Mamdani's Swearing-In: An Inauguration of the Left - Pine & Roses
After a crushing year under the Trump administration, the US left had little to celebrate at the end of 2025. The Israeli government continues its ethnic
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Penned just a couple days ago, before the US invasion of Venezuela and the extralegal abduction of its President, contributor Beckham O. offers this opinion piece on why Americans need to demand that the US keep its hands off Venezuela.
Hands Off Venezuela: No Blood for Oil - Pine & Roses
Note: the following piece was penned just days before the United States' recent military attack on Venezuela and kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and
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Saturday, November 15th, roughly 125 people attended the first ever Maine Solidarity Conference in Lewiston, hosted by Maine DSA. The purpose was to bring together folks from union leadership, mutual aid groups, and activist organizations to share and learn from each other.
Maine DSA Holds Solidarity Conference in Lewiston - Pine & Roses
On Saturday, November 15, people began to slowly trickle into Lewiston’s Franco Center as soon as the doors opened at 9:00 AM. Coming from all over the state,
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Trump had a bad month, but he may be stronger than he looks. Todd Chretien writes that defeating #MAGA and the billionaires will need a better strategy.
MAGA one year before the 2026 elections - Pine & Roses
Trump had a bad month, but he may be stronger than he looks. Defeating MAGA and the billionaires needs a better strategy.
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Today, with the author’s permission, we offer you a re-printing of a piece @breadnrosie.bsky.social wrote for @powermap.bsky.social. Rose lays out why Janet Mills represents a centrism that does not meet the moment, and is a bad choice to represent Mainers in the Senate.
Maine Voters Don’t Want Janet Mills for Senate. There’s a Reason for that. - Pine & Roses
Earlier this year Maine Governor Janet Mills made national headlines when she quipped “see you in court” to Trump at the National Governors Association summit
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In our ongoing debate/opinion series focused on 2026 candidates in Maine, we present this piece by contributor Bluebird. The author lays out why they believe socialists not only can but should support Troy Jackson for Governor.
The Case for Troy Jackson - Pine & Roses
Troy Jackson is a man that needs very little introduction within the labor movement in Maine. Troy has spent nearly half of his life in public service, having
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With newer generations growing up under the panopticon of the internet's long memory, T. Sinclair argues that the left will need to embrace a sense of revolutionary forgiveness when it comes to candidates, and each others', pasts.
Revolutionary Forgiveness: Why it’s needed now more than ever - Pine & Roses
By no means is skepticism an incomprehensible stance, given the socialist left’s history dealing with both centrist and right-wing capitalists who seemingly
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As a debate grows among Maine’s political and working classes around Graham Platner’s problematic past, Todd Chretien argues that it’s important for the left to continue supporting him.
Platner and Jackson are standing up for Maine workers - Pine & Roses
A funny thing happened on the way to Graham Platner’s political funeral.
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In response to Todd Chretien's letter calling for Maine DSA to consider endorsing Graham Platner, Bluebird responds with this piece encouraging Maine DSA to find ways to support the candidate, but not endorsing him.
Support, but don't endorse Platner - Pine & Roses
Maine DSA should support, but not endorse, Graham Platner for U.S. Senate
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Pine & Roses@pineandroses.org · 10mo ago🚨 NEW 🚨 Todd Chretien discusses why Maine socialists and DSA should consider supporting Graham Platner for Senate and Troy Jackson for Governor, and how supporting them is more than just supporting a candidate, it’s a step toward build power.
🚨 NEW 🚨 Todd Chretien discusses why Maine socialists and DSA should consider supporting Graham Platner for Senate and Troy Jackson for Governor, and how supporting them is more than just supporting a candidate, it’s a step toward build power.
What's at stake in Maine in 2026 - Pine & Roses
Graham Platner has broken the race for US Senate wide open while Troy Jackson promises to be the most pro-union governor in the state’s history.
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🌲 New from Pine & Roses 🌹 Todd Chretien covers the growing number of people showing up to County Commissioners meetings, demanding Cumberland County stop cooperating with ICE, and why it’s important. #maine
As Cumberland County goes, so go immigrant rights in Maine - Pine & Roses
The Cumberland County Jail is the largest ICE detention facility in Maine. The Board of Commissioners can cancel the contract.
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🌲 New from Pine & Roses 🌹 Joey B. comments on the passage of Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," how it's a form of social murder, and what it means for the working class.
Trump’s Social Murder Bill Passes – Now What? - Pine & Roses
How did you resist the bill likely to be Trump’s longest lasting impact? More of us than ever before called our senators and marched through our cities.
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👀 NEW THIS MORNING 👀 We share this public statement from the newly organized “No ICE for ME” campaign in Maine.
Stop Deportation Machine: End ICE Cooperation in Cumberland County - Pine & Roses
Eyidi Ambila, a man from the Democratic Republic of Congo, served a short sentence in Cumberland County Jail and has since been caged for over eight months by
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🎧 New Podcast Episode 🎧 This month our Maine Mural podcast brings you a presentation from the Poli Ed Committee of @mainedsa.org. Geared toward folks newer to left-wing thought, it offers a brief overview on the origins of the socialist movement.
Maine Mural: Origins of the Socialist Movement - Pine & Roses
This month we bring you an audio adaptation of a presentation designed by the Political Education Committee of Maine DSA. It is narrated by Bluebird, and is
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📰NEW📰 As the Trump admin threatens student deportations and pressures schools, Bowdoin College has found itself caught up in it. T. Sinclair gives an update on the battle over academic freedom at the esteemed institution.
Bowdoin, Trump, and the Battle for Academic Freedom - Pine & Roses
Here in Maine, we feel like we’re kept safely away from much of what happens nationally, but that is a myth we feed ourselves. At Bowdoin College in
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What went into May Day planning? Todd Chretien gets into behind-the-scenes details that made #MayDay such a success in Maine and beyond.
Maine unions and community unite for May Day - Pine & Roses
5,000 participants spread over 26 towns and cities from Madawaska to Orono to Portland rallied in Maine on May Day.
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