The Robinson Report

After Graham Platner ran away from reporters at a small Portland event last Sunday, staff and supporters formed a human wall around him while Jon Fetherston tried to ask questions. The moment fed into wider concerns about campaign transparency, staff behavior, shrinking crowds and whether new allegations are starting to weaken Platner’s public image. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive n...

After Troy Jackson released a populist video about working-class Mainers and oligarchs, new reporting showed a PAC supporting him had received money from out-of-state donors and labor interests. This raises questions about clean-money branding, Wall Street donors, campaign hypocrisy and whether Jackson is borrowing Graham Platner’s outsider playbook. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive n...

After Graham Platner accused Susan Collins of sending him to war, Collins responded that he enlisted after the Iraq War had already begun and later worked for Blackwater. The exchange raised questions about Iraq War politics, military service, Iran, Democratic support for past wars and whether Platner’s argument ignores his own decisions. The focus shifted to children shooting children, local offi...

After new polling showed Ben Midgley in third place in the Republican governor’s race, he pointed to straw poll wins, Ann LePage’s endorsement and ranked-choice voting as signs his campaign has room to grow. The discussion quickly turned to Shenna Bellows, the girls sports referendum, voter suppression claims and whether a Republican governor could reverse Maine’s direction on Title IX. This Subst...

Robert O’Neill, the SEAL Team 6 veteran who killed Osama bin Laden, joined Maine Wire TV to discuss Graham Platner’s resurfaced comments about veterans, Chris Kyle and combat injuries. O’Neill said the best response to past mistakes is to own them directly, rather than justify bad behavior with someone else’s bad behavior. Women’s rights advocate Molly Curtis said Maine girls are afraid to speak u...

Jon Fetherston described visiting Lewiston organizations with City Councilor Brent Martel to invite community leaders to a public forum on children, gun violence and public safety. The effort drew pushback outside MIRS, where Fetherston said he was accused of trespassing, stalking and harassment while trying to deliver a flyer. Get full access to The Robinson Report at robinsonreport.substack.com/...

A pit bull shot in Bangor became a major story after Blink the pit bull was put down and the man who fired the shot received online death threats. Additionally, a new political fight emerged after Joe Baldacci’s Democratic rivals criticized him over national PAC support in the Second District race. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a fre...

The resurfaced porta-potty post was described as especially damaging because Platner was not being accused of youthful stupidity, but of making strange online comments as an adult. With the Maine Senate race already focused on character, consultants, donor money and campaign image, the latest Reddit revelation gave critics another line of attack. Get full access to The Robinson Report at robinsonr...

Nate Field joined Main Wire TV to discuss his independent run for U.S. Senate, describing himself as a working-class single father who has lived through homelessness, addiction and financial struggle. He said those experiences give him a different perspective from Susan Collins and Graham Platner in Maine’s 2026 Senate race. Get full access to The Robinson Report at robinsonreport.substack.com/sub...

Turning Point USA “Make Heaven Crowded” event in Portland is described as a family-friendly Christian gathering. Jon Fetherston mentions Portland Mayor Mark Dion helped ensure the event could proceed with security in place. Get full access to The Robinson Report at robinsonreport.substack.com/subscribe

Vice President JD Vance praised Maine Wire’s reporting during his Maine visit, naming Jon Fetherston and Steve Robinson while discussing fraud in Medicaid and other taxpayer-funded programs. Steve Robinson later described the issue as organized crime involving foreign political factions, not just isolated welfare abuse. Get full access to The Robinson Report at robinsonreport.substack.com/subscrib...

JD Vance’s planned trip to Maine was framed around fraud, accountability and the mounting national focus on MaineCare and home health care reporting. The comments suggested his visit could increase pressure on Gov. Janet Mills while giving Paul LePage’s Second District campaign a boost. Graham Platner’s campaign was criticized as a manufactured political product driven by national progressive oper...

Senator Collins questioned Kash Patel about illegal Chinese marijuana grow houses in Maine and whether the money from those operations is tied to drug trafficking. Patel said federal task forces are targeting grow houses and tracing financial records, though questions remained about why more operations have not already been shut down. Furthermore, Jon Fetherston visits a sober house in South Portl...

JD Vance’s upcoming visit to Maine was described as a major development tied to fraud concerns, emails sent to the White House and calls for federal accountability. Additionally, Graham Platner was criticized after campaign materials appeared on the ground despite his earlier video attacking Susan Collins-linked mailers and saying his campaign would not use that kind of outreach. Get full access t...

Radio icon, Mike Adams, host of the Planet Mikey podcast, criticized fraud tied to taxpayer-funded programs and questioned who is responsible for oversight when child care centers, home care operations and benefits programs show signs of abuse. Get full access to The Robinson Report at robinsonreport.substack.com/subscribe

Grace Curley joined the discussion that began with parenting advice for Steve Robinson after the birth of his first child, including comments on newborn sleep, discipline and slowing down to enjoy family life. The focus then shifted to migrant housing costs, Medicaid fraud and the frustration that major spending stories are not always covered by legacy media. Get full access to The Robinson Report...

Jessica Machado discussed public records connected to Massachusetts shelter hotels, including incident reports involving domestic violence, child neglect, suicide and unattended children. She said those reports showed problems inside the hotels before residents were moved into communities where the same level of reporting may no longer exist. Additionally, Lewiston residents criticized city offici...

Celebrity culture is criticized for celebrating unhealthy lifestyles, unusual fashion and extreme forms of self-expression while pressuring the public to call it beautiful or brave. The remarks connect those trends to social media, advertising and a broader cultural push to normalize what older generations would have rejected. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my...

From Graham Platner’s donors to Lewiston political controversies and new questions about home healthcare fraud, the discussion highlighted how money and transparency are becoming central themes in Maine’s 2026 races. With Susan Collins, Maine Democrats, Medicaid fraud and the governor’s race all in focus, the campaign season is already moving into sharper territory. Get full access to The Robinson...

Jon Fetherston described being blocked from the Maine Democratic Convention despite the event’s public-facing message that “everyone is welcome.” The exchange led to broader questions about why Maine Democrats would restrict access to conservative media while major candidates and party figures gathered inside. Get full access to The Robinson Report at robinsonreport.substack.com/subscribe

John Fetherston reports live from Lewiston as he attempts to talk with candidates, campaign staff and local officials entering and leaving a political event closed to some media. The discussion expands into Graham Platner’s campaign, Susan Collins’ Senate seat, Maine People’s Alliance influence and concerns about transparency in Maine politics. Get full access to The Robinson Report at robinsonrep...

Jon Fetherston reports live from the State House as a dramatic adjournment effectively killed LD 127, a transparency bill tied to oversight of child welfare cases under DHHS. Supporters argue the move halted efforts to investigate a growing number of child deaths in state care, raising urgent accountability questions in Augusta. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support m...

A series of site visits in Portland and Westbrook identified clusters of home care businesses sharing addresses, signage, and in some cases connections to money transfer services. The pattern has prompted renewed scrutiny of how MaineCare providers are approved and monitored. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. G...

A third reported assassination attempt involving President Trump is raising concerns about escalating political violence and media influence. Discussion centers on whether heated rhetoric and coverage trends are contributing to a more volatile political climate. Get full access to The Robinson Report at robinsonreport.substack.com/subscribe

Jon Fetherston live-streamed from the Republican convention this afternoon, corralling multiple gubernatorial candidates, including Jonathan Bush, Owen McCarthy, and Robert Wessels. Medicaid oversight and fraud allegations took center stage, with candidates arguing that existing data already reveals patterns that could be addressed through stronger enforcement, while warning that inaction risks fu...