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Trump petrified by bogus Dem's reckoning

Hartmann presents Platner’s campaign as evidence that Maine Democrats want a more populist candidate.

Trump petrified by bogus Dem's reckoning
Image · Alternet.org

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Outlet credibilityAlternet.org45/100 MEDIUM
This article1 analysis · Oct 7, 2026
May 5, 2026
tl;dr

Thom Hartmann argues that Janet Mills’s exit from Maine’s Senate race and Graham Platner’s rise show Democrats should embrace populist economic proposals. He praises a Progressive Caucus affordability agenda and urges readers to support Platner and other progressives.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Platner in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Platner’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →

Senate candidate presented as the presumptive Democratic nominee in Maine

PRIMARY SUBJECT

Senate candidate who suspended her campaign

Mills's version of this story ↗
Susan M. Collins
R · ME · SEN

Republican senator whom Platner is expected to challenge

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President criticized in Hartmann’s account of Republican actions

Former president mentioned in connection with student debt relief

Bernie Sanders
I · VT · SEN

Senator who endorsed Platner

Mark Pocan
D · WI-2

Representative credited with the Progressive Caucus affordability agenda

Chuck Schumer
D · NY · SEN

Senate minority leader criticized for backing Mills

Ilhan Omar
D · MN-5

Representative credited with the Progressive Caucus affordability agenda

Representative credited with the Progressive Caucus affordability agenda

Greg Casar
D · TX-35

Representative credited with the Progressive Caucus affordability agenda

Ro Khanna
D · CA-17

Representative credited with the Progressive Caucus affordability agenda

ALSO MENTIONED  Barack Obama, Former president cited in Hartmann’s criticism of Democratic economic policy; Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister mentioned in Hartmann’s criticism of U.S. policy; Bill Clinton, Former president cited in Hartmann’s criticism of past Democratic policies; Clarence Thomas, Supreme Court justice mentioned in a criticism of Democrats’ response to Republicans; Harry Truman, Former president quoted on voters choosing between a Republican and a “phony Democrat”; Hillary Clinton, Former presidential candidate cited in Hartmann’s account of the 2016 campaign; Zohran Mamdani, New York politician cited as an example of the populist approach

Part of a bigger story

4 OUTLETS
Janet Mills Withdraws From Maine Senate Campaign

Outlets agree Graham Platner is a Democratic candidate for Maine’s Senate seat and that Democrats are backing him. Left-leaning outlets present his rise, alongside Janet Mills’s exit, as evidence Democrats should embrace populist economic proposals. Right-leaning outlets focus on his past posts and tattoo, casting Democratic support for him as inconsistent with the party’s working-class image.

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