Muddy Waters

On this episode of Muddy Waters, Chuck Ellis welcomes Charlie Turgeon, Lisbon Town Councilor, to discuss how fiscal reform is possible at the local level. Charlie shares what he’s learned since joining the council: the impact of COVID stimulus creating recurring expenses, the 27% tax increase last year, efforts to keep the municipal rate flat, and the critical need for long-range planning, asset m...

On this episode of Muddy Waters, Chuck Ellis welcomes Pastor Michael (from the Democratic Republic of Congo) and Tim Devine for an inspiring conversation about faith, immigration, and God’s faithfulness. Pastor Michael shares his journey: fleeing war, arriving in the U.S., divine guidance to Maine, building Restoration Church, and his experience being detained by ICE. He talks about prayer, spirit...

On this episode of Muddy Waters, Chuck Ellis welcomes back Jon Fetherston of The Maine Wire for a raw discussion on the implosion of Graham Platner’s Senate campaign amid serious sexual assault allegations. They unpack the Democrat Party’s hypocrisy on “believe all women,” what party leaders knew and when, Platner’s background and lies, the impact on Susan Collins’ race, and how this affects Hanna...

On this episode of Muddy Waters, Chuck Ellis welcomes David Whitney — Maine National Committeeman and Washington County Republican Chair — for a practical conversation on activating conservatives after the primaries. They discuss the gubernatorial landscape, the importance of unifying behind Bobby Charles, challenges in key counties, and why low-propensity ("resting") Republican voters a...

Episode 187: Andrew McKnight joins Chuck Ellis to discuss his move to Maine as Turning Point Action’s first field rep. They break down the left’s institutional takeover, the role of churches in politics, relational organizing, and how conservatives can fight back against radical policies in Maine. A call for Christians to engage culturally and politically — plus why this fight is about more than j...

On this episode of Muddy Waters, Chuck Ellis welcomes Vernon Dukes for an unfiltered conversation about life, politics, and the future of Maine. Vern shares his path from Boston’s Roxbury to Maine, building businesses, raising kids, and becoming a strong conservative voice. They discuss the failures of public education, the importance of family and parental involvement, fiscal irresponsibility in...

Complete recap of the Maine Primary Election 2026. Chuck Ellis sits down with Aaron Chadbourne for an in-depth look at the results, rank-choice voting scenarios, and what it means heading into November. Key topics: • Republican race – Bobby Charles frontrunner status and RCV possibilities • Democrat chaos – Tight four-way race and likely surprises • Campaign strategies, turnout numbers, and voter...

Recorded live on Primary Election Day 2026 while polls were open. Chuck Ellis welcomes Jon Fetherston of The Maine Wire for a timely, real-time discussion about the importance of voting and the critical choices Maine voters faced that day. Topics include: • Live encouragement to get out and vote before polls closed • Analysis of the gubernatorial and Senate races • Discussion of Graham Platner, ra...

Demi Kouzounas — former Chair of the Maine Republican Party and U.S. Senate candidate — joins Chuck Ellis on the Muddy Waters Podcast. Born to Greek immigrants, Demi shares her inspiring journey from speaking only Greek as a child, to serving as a U.S. Army dentist in Cold War Germany, building a dental practice in Maine, and rising to lead the Maine GOP.In this candid conversation, she breaks dow...

Chuck Ellis and John Featherston break down the spectacular collapse of Graham Platner’s Senate campaign — from the bear suit security guard to inappropriate texts, fake apologies, and why even the New York Times is turning on him. They also discuss:- Why Susan Collins is nearly unbeatable- The wide-open gubernatorial primaries (and Rank Choice Voting madness)- Ongoing government fraud in Maine- W...

On this episode of Muddy Waters, Chuck Ellis talks with Ryan Tuttle — USM psychology lecturer, former Jehovah’s Witness, and unlikely Republican. Ryan opens up about growing up in a high-control religion that banned politics and holidays, his journey to atheism, and how those experiences shaped his fierce commitment to free speech and independent thinking. From being shunned by his community to fa...

Rep. Jack Ducharme joins the Muddy Waters Podcast to pull back the curtain on the Maine Appropriations Committee and the dramatic growth of state spending under one-party Democrat rule. From billion-dollar supplementals and hidden shortfalls to controversial ongoing funding for Planned Parenthood and the challenges of MaineCare, this episode gives listeners a rare insider’s view of how the state b...

Chuck Ellis is joined by energy expert Matt Jacobson for a hard-hitting discussion on Maine’s energy crisis. They examine why electricity prices continue to rise, the consequences of rejecting natural gas pipelines, the limitations of wind and solar, and how current policies are hurting families, businesses, and Maine’s entire economy. From de-industrialization and mill closures to grid reliabilit...

The AI revolution is already here — and it’s far more complex than most people realize. In this powerful conversation, Chuck Ellis sits down with Justin Donnaruma, tech entrepreneur and AI expert, to break down what AI really means for Maine and the future of work, energy, and society.**What you’ll hear:**- The massive productivity gains AI is bringing to coding, design, writing, and business- Why...

In this episode of the Muddy Waters Podcast, Chuck Ellis sits down with Jon Fetherston of The Maine Wire — Maine’s leading independent investigative outlet that has been exposing government waste, fraud, and corruption the mainstream media ignores. They dive deep into Maine’s massive fraud problem in social services and MaineCare, highlighted by VP JD Vance’s visit to Bangor. Jon recounts on-the-g...

Host Chuck Ellis sits down with Betsy Grant, a 26-year veteran child care business owner and fierce advocate for Maine families. Betsy shares her firsthand experience navigating the state's troubled child care subsidy program, revealing chronic payment delays, massive gaps in funding that threaten providers with financial ruin, and shocking discrimination in reimbursement rates between low-inc...

In this wide-ranging interview, Maine State Representative John Eder (former highest-elected Green Party official turned Republican) joins Chuck Ellis to discuss the state of Maine politics ahead of a critical election year. Topics include:• The Republican gubernatorial field and the importance of electability• Why Democrat leadership has shifted focus away from “old school” and “historic Mainers”...

Chuck Ellis welcomes Adrienne Paul, Republican candidate for Maine House District 85 (most of Standish and parts of Steep Falls). A single mom-raised entrepreneur who built a childcare center for 80 children, Adrienne explains why she’s running: to tackle Maine’s crushing costs in childcare, healthcare, housing, and energy. From infant care ratios and state waste to overregulation and rising heati...

Chuck Ellis sits down with Representative Rachel Henderson (R-Oxford County) to discuss what really happens inside the Maine State Legislature. Rep. Henderson shares her journey from rural Maine roots — growing up in Rumford, working multiple jobs including milking cows at 4 a.m. — to serving on the powerful Judiciary Committee. She explains how a bill becomes law, the critical role of committees,...

In this episode, Chuck Ellis welcomes back fearless investigative reporter **Jon Fetherston** of The Maine Wire. They pull back the curtain on the stories the mainstream media ignores — what’s really happening in Maine’s schools, city halls, and political backrooms. Jon shares how he was personally denied access to the DNC convention in Portland while Tim Walz (the “fraud father”) was brought in,...

In Episode 171 of Muddy Waters, Chuck Ellis welcomes RNC Spokesperson Delanie Bomar for a sharp discussion on Maine’s 2026 political battles. They examine the quick national Democrat backing of Graham Platner — with endorsements from Chuck Schumer, Sen. Gillibrand, the DNC, and Tim Walz on the ground — and what it signals about left-wing priorities. Plus, a deep dive into the opportunity to flip M...

In Episode 170 of the Muddy Waters Podcast, Chuck Ellis sits down with Alan Servinas of the Maine Education Initiative, Parental Rights in Education, and Maine Civic Action to cut through the muddy waters of local school budgets in Maine. Why are school budgets exploding while enrollment plummets and Maine ranks near the bottom nationally in education outcomes? Alan and Chuck expose how special ed...

Jon Fetherston of The Maine Wire joins Chuck Ellis to discuss the recent Maine Republican State Convention. They cover the event’s strong turnout and organization, Tim Scott’s speech, the seven gubernatorial candidates’ speeches, the straw poll, and what it means for the upcoming primary. They also examine the broader challenges facing Maine: government fraud, education results, taxes and spending...

Rep. Katrina Smith, Republican Whip and Assistant Minority Leader in the Maine House, joins Chuck Ellis on the Muddywaters Podcast. They break down the 2026 legislative session including: major fraud issues in DHS and autism services that have been exposed, the failure of bipartisan efforts to increase oversight on child deaths in state care, how Democrat leadership used procedural tactics on the...

Chuck Ellis and Jon Featherston (The Maine Wire) break down Maine’s crushing energy bills, the new millionaire’s tax, the data center moratorium, and the troubled $50M Vertical Harvest indoor farm in Westbrook facing lawsuits and tax liens. They also discuss exploding school budgets, taxpayer frustration with local government, and why knowing your city council and school board matters. The Maine W...