Fridays with Fossel
The weekly update for Friday, July 4, 2025
Welcome to this week’s recap, everyone - for Friday, July 4, 2025.1
Happy Independence Day, everyone! Today’s graphic is a reminder that the day is not just about hot dogs, hamburgers, beer, and grills, but about the men (and women) who fought and died for our independence. We’ve had 249 years of this glorious experiment, and despite the constant grumbling from - frankly - both sides of the aisle, things are actually going pretty well. Or, well, fine, at least. Yes, I know that bold assertion will be enough to set some of you off, from both sides of the aisle - and it could be a column all on its own - but let’s put a pin in that and move on. Here are some of the towns around Maine that have parades and/or fireworks.
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🗳 Maine News & Politics🗳
The Maine Legislature has adjourned for the session, finally, after passing a budget that included higher spending and higher taxes - a typical Democratic budget, in other words. Democrats pulled back on an expansion of ranked-choice voting thanks to a standing veto threat from Democratic Governor Janet Mills, who continues to irk her own base. That means that ranked-choice voting won’t be in place for the general election in the next gubernatorial race, which might make Rick Bennett more relevant than he himself possibly ever could.
Janet Mills, or Hamlet on the Kennebec, as I like to call her, has yet to make a decision about running for the U.S. Senate against Susan Collins. I don’t think she’ll run, personally, but not because of a Fox News reporting expanding upon the allegations that she used cocaine. She just hasn’t been playing her cards right, policy-wise, to move more to the center, appeal to independents and a few Trump voters, and mount a decent challenge to Collins.
Rather than vetoing a terrible bill that would bar Maine law enforcement agencies from cooperating with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, she decided to carry it over to the next legislative session in 2026. This has to be a bit of a nightmare for Maine Democrats politically, since it moves the issue into the election year. I’m not quite sure what she was thinking about this bill that Rick Bennett voted for, to be honest; she should have just vetoed it. If she’d wanted to pander to the center, that’s what she’d have done; if she wanted to pander to the left, she’d have signed it, or let it become law without her signature. Punting it into next year only hurts Democrats - and Rick Bennett, even if he doesn’t realize it - politically.
In an off year with the Legislature adjourned, we’re settling in to the doldrum season in Maine politically. In D.C., however, things are heating up: Senator Susan Collins was one of three Republicans to vote against Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill2, and kudos to her for it, because it’s terrible. It adds to the budget, doesn’t offer any meaningful tax relief to most working-class people, and expands upon a pointless tax cut for the wealthy. Lisa Murkowski, though, caved, abandoning her principles to vote for the godawful thing. Apparently a few extra bucks for Alaska did the trick for her. To her credit, Collins didn’t pull the strings for that kind of deal. I’d say Mitch McConnell abandoned his principles to vote for it as well, except he’s never really had any.
🏀 Sports 🏀
The Boston Celtics and the Boston Bruins are both fully in offseason mode, drafting players, signing a few guys, doing their usual offseason thing. While the Bruins have made a few signings and had a relatively high draft pick, center James Hagens, who went to Boston College and is from Long Island; the Rangers also wanted him. They also traded for winger Viktor Arvidsson from Edmonton, and signed winger Tanner Jeannot to a long-term deal. While they’ve been active, their moves haven’t exactly screamed ‘Stanley Cup contender’. It’ll be interesting to see how they do.
Derrick White, of the Celtics, has continued to be the subject of trade rumors, which haven’t materialized, thank god. Luke Kornet went to the Spurs in free agency, and Al Horford may find a new home with the Golden State Warriors by the end of the day. Still, it looks like with Tatum on the sidelines next year, and Porzingas and Holiday gone, they’re in retooling mode, if not exactly a full rebuild.
Otherwise, sports are pretty quiet. The Red Sox are still mediocre, the Patriots are advancing forwards towards possibly being, you know, something, and Cooper Flagg is probably house-hunting in Dallas.
Really, all is quiet on all fronts in Maine - and New England - right now after a hectics few weeks.
That’s quite the opposite of 1776, to be sure.
🍺 What I’m drinking 🍺
Ranunculus (8.0%), by Belleflower Brewing, is a bright, light, juicy, tropical hazy IPA. It’s not quite smooth the way that some of their other IPAs are, but eminently drinkable in a different way. Its lightness makes sense, given that it was made with a Pilsner base. Perfect to enjoy while grilling later today.
🎵What I’m listening to 🎵
Rustic Overtones is, without a doubt, the most successful band to emerge from the Pine Tree State. Their blend of ska, rock, soul - and, later, hip-hop - was innovative. They’re still around with an altered lineup, and their 1998 album Rooms By The Hour, a staple for me in my high school years - and my very first concert ever - is fantastic. The success they achieved was well-deserved.
Jim is also a weekly columnist for the Portland Press Herald, Maine’s largest daily newspaper. Follow him on X, BlueSky, on Facebook.
This was written Thursday evening and scheduled for publication Friday morning.
Ugh, I still can’t believe they didn’t come up with an actual freakin’ name for the thing.