Have the Democrats found a new strategy to scare Trump?

Have the Democrats found a new strategy to scare Trump?

From Americast by BBC News

April 17, 2026 · 33 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the Democratic strategy in Maine and the implications for future elections, featuring insights from a reporter who knows the frontrunner candidate.

Why has an oyster fisherman from Maine - criticised for having a Nazi tattoo - become a frontrunner for the Democrats, and one of their best hopes to help take back the US Senate in this year’s midterm elections? The north eastern state of Maine has become integral for Democrats as they look to unseat Republican senator Susan Collins, and elect their first Democrat senator in decades. But it also tells a bigger story, about how the Democratic party is looking to take on Donald Trump more widely, beyond this November’s midterms and into the 2028 presidential elections. Justin and Anthony unpack what Maine tells us about Democrat strategy and why Graham Platner, currently polling first, is not a typical Democrat candidate. And does it tell us something significant about what voters want in 2026? Plus, we speak to Josh Keefe, a reporter for the nonprofit Maine Monitor, who went to school with Graham Platner. He discusses his memories of Platner, what Mainers think about his tattoo and Reddit scandals, and he tells us what he loves about his state as in the return of our United States of Americast feature. HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Anthony Zurcher, North America…

People in this episode

Host: Justin

Guest: Josh Keefe

Topics covered

  • Democrats
  • Trump
  • Maine
  • midterm elections
  • Senate

Keywords

  • Graham Platner
  • Susan Collins
  • 2028 elections
  • voter sentiment

Mentioned in this episode

Products: #Americast

Places: Maine, United States of Americast, North America, US

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