Politics and views in the United States

Nirav Shah announces bid to replace Graham Platner as Maine’s Democratic Senate candidate. The federal housing bill becomes law without President Trump’s signature. And Puerto Rico faces economic growth challenges.

Transcript

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

The past few days have been frustrating and downright maddening for everyone here in Maine.

But now it is time to focus on the future, because our goals of flipping Maine's Senate seat and the entire U.S. Senate have not changed.

Former Maine public health official Dr. Nirav Shah is the latest to throw his hat into the ring to replace Graham Plattner as the state's Democratic Senate candidate.

Maine has until the 27th to decide who will replace the populist oyster farmer who suspended his campaign after a rape allegation he denies.

Also in the race are Maine's Secretary of State Shanna Bellows, former Capitol Hill staffer Jordan Wood, and former Maine's Senate President Troy Jackson.

Some candidates feel the midterms could be reshaped based on a recent Supreme Court ruling ending limits on how much political parties can spend on federal elections.

The decision is widely viewed as the sequel to the court's 2010 Citizens United ruling, which allowed corporations to spend unlimited money on elections. former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper cites this as a reason his race to be the state's next Democratic Senator may tighten This Supreme Court decision has opened an avenue for wealthy people to have more influence than small donors and now they can funnel this money in virtually Unlimited amounts Cooper currently holds a 14 point lead over Republican challenger Michael Watley the former Republican National Committee chair The 21st Century Road to Housing Act is now law without President Donald Trump's signature under a constitutional provision.

He refused to sign the bill unless the Senate passed the Save America Act.

The housing bill aims to boost new home building, reduce manufactured home costs, and turn vacant properties into affordable housing.

American families reportedly have spent at least $2,000 more for gas, utilities, groceries, and health care since the GOP passed its budget megabill last summer.

Jesse Lee is with Climate Power, which released the data, along with the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

He encourages voters to make their voices heard ahead of the midterms.

In the decades since the creation of Puerto Rico's Financial Oversight and Management Board, there are concerns it has strayed from its original mission.

Despite successfully restructuring the territory's over $40 billion in debt and bolstering certain economic measures, its goal of creating economic growth hasn't come to fruition.

George Laws Garcia with the Puerto Rico Statehood Council says the board's consolidated power is among the reasons.

It has basically stripped away the legitimacy of our local elected government and given authority to these seven unelected members that have been able to vote down local laws.

The board blocked the laws, saying they violate the territory's fiscal plan under the Puerto Rico Oversight Management and Economic Stability Act.

Garcia says there are few options to challenge the board because it only answers to Congress, but he notes statehood would eliminate the board entirely.

I'm Edwin J. Viera for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.