{"id":325,"date":"2026-06-10T11:42:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T11:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=325"},"modified":"2026-06-10T11:42:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T11:42:17","slug":"the-maine-concern","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/modernhomejournals.com\/?p=325","title":{"rendered":"The Maine Concern"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Today\u2019s notice:<\/i><\/b> Platner wins big, but big enough? The U.S. strikes Iran. Republicans on the Hill don\u2019t like Trump\u2019s AI company equity plan. The Secret Service prepares to be busy. And: Will D.C. ban foie gras?<\/i><\/p>\n

Read more The pet duck helping the effort to ban foie gras in D.C.<\/a><\/p>\n

THE LATEST<\/b><\/h2>\n

On the ground in Maine:<\/b> In theory, Graham Platner<\/b>\u2019s win last night in the Democratic Senate primary kicked off one of the most important races on the party\u2019s map. Huge resources should pour into the effort to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins<\/b> now. But will they? \u201cIt just doesn\u2019t feel worth the investment when this guy has proven to be so untrustworthy,\u201d one Democratic strategist told NOTUS.<\/p>\n

Our Igor Bobic, Christa Dutton and Alex Roarty report<\/u><\/span> on the trepidation among some Democrats and the desire to move on from the series of scandals that have dogged Platner for months. \u201cI\u2019m sure it\u2019ll be an interesting general election, but I think he can win,\u201d Sen. Tina Smith <\/b>(D-Minnesota) said.<\/p>\n

One metric worth considering: <\/b>As the polls closed, some wondered how big a win Platner would have to put up in the primary to silence critics. As votes were still being counted late last night, he appeared to be doing better in his primary than the last Democratic nominee to face Collins, the former state legislator Sara Gideon<\/b>, did in hers<\/u><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Christa was at Platner\u2019s victory party. <\/b>She caught some of that ride-or-die energy he\u2019s going to need to calm national Democratic nerves. \u201cThe tattoo, the sexting \u2014 which I thought was ridiculous as far as an issue \u2014 and a couple other things, they don\u2019t look good, but he\u2019s a realized man,\u201d one supporter at the rally told her. \u201cWhen you hear him speak, he doesn\u2019t speak in platitudes.\u201d<\/p>\n

A name you won\u2019t be hearing<\/b> on the general election campaign trail: Rep. Nancy Mace<\/b>. She failed to qualify for the runoff in the South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary, which will feature<\/u><\/span> Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette<\/b> and state Attorney General Alan Wilson<\/b>. There\u2019s a runoff in both the Republican and Democratic primaries for Mace\u2019s House seat as well.<\/p>\n

Other results:<\/b> The Democratic primary in Maine\u2019s 2nd Congressional District, being vacated by retiring Democratic Rep. Jared Golden<\/b>, will go to a ranked runoff. The winner of that primary will face former Republican Gov. Paul LePage<\/b> in the fall. And Sen. Lindsey Graham<\/b> (R-South Carolina) won his primary over an opponent who had drawn a lot of attention by condemning the war in Iran, which Graham has championed.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, in Iran: <\/b>U.S. Central Command announced just before 9 p.m. ET yesterday that it had completed \u201cself-defense strikes against Iran,\u201d the latest test of an increasingly tenuous ceasefire with the country. The strikes were launched after Donald Trump<\/b> said the U.S. \u201cmust, of necessity, respond\u201d to an attack that brought down a U.S. Apache helicopter patrolling the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n

Open tabs:<\/b> Kalshi Plans Workplace Disclosure Rule to Combat Insider Trading<\/u><\/span> (WSJ); The White House blocked a study on alcohol consumption. This is what it said<\/u><\/span> (The Hill); Gallego hires Andrew Bates for crisis comms around Swalwell<\/u><\/span> (Axios); ICE has detained over 500 babies and toddlers under Trump<\/u><\/span> (MS NOW)<\/p>\n

From the Hill<\/b><\/h2>\n

The DHS shutdown fight finally ends:<\/b> Yesterday, House Republicans narrowly passed a party-line immigration-enforcement funding bill that their counterparts in the Senate approved last week. There were lots of distractions during this process \u2014 Trump\u2019s \u201canti-weaponization\u201d fund, ballroom construction money \u2014 but in the end none of them were attached to the bill.<\/p>\n

Republicans say no to Trump\u2019s AI stock plan: <\/b>\u201cI\u2019m not a huge fan of the government owning industry, and I think with this you\u2019d combine the worst of the big bureaucrats with the Big Tech monopolist,\u201d Sen. Josh Hawley<\/b> (R-Missouri) told NOTUS<\/u><\/span>, echoing several members of his party who do not want the president to go through with his plan<\/u><\/span> for the government to own equity stakes in AI companies.<\/p>\n

FISA shot\/chaser:<\/b> Senate Republican Leader John Thune <\/b>told reporters yesterday that it would be easier to pass a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act reauthorization if Trump appointed a permanent director of national intelligence now, our Hill team reports<\/u><\/span>. But that appears unlikely. \u201cWilliam Pulte<\/b>, who is working closely with Tulsi Gabbard<\/b>, will be taking over as Acting Director of National Intelligence on Friday, June 19th,\u201d Trump posted<\/u><\/span> to Truth Social yesterday evening, seemingly dashing Thune\u2019s and others\u2019 hopes.<\/p>\n

From the White House<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Secret Service\u2019s busy summer:<\/b> It will be one of the most demanding periods in the agency\u2019s history, NOTUS\u2019 Derek Hawkins reports<\/u><\/span>. The first test comes this weekend, when the agency provides security for a UFC cage fight at the White House. Then comes the 250th anniversary events, campaign travel, the World Cup and on and on.<\/p>\n

Read more D.C. Council Votes to Restore Social Services, Defying Bowser Cuts<\/a><\/p>\n

The list got longer just last week <\/b>when Trump announced his \u201crally to end all rallies\u201d would take place on June 24 in place of a Freedom 250 concert that many acts dropped out of. Derek reports that Secret Service officials have met to discuss how they would position the rally stage and mitigate lines of sight. One agenda item: whether livestock from the Great American State Fair happening on the National Mall would need security screening.<\/p>\n

NOTUS METRO<\/b><\/h2>\n

Sign up for our new local newsletter.<\/b> NOTUS has added some of the best reporters covering D.C.-area news, sports and culture. Sign up for the NOTUS Metro Newsletter now!<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n

Bad news for Butterworth\u2019s? <\/b>The MAGA-favored eatery may lose one of its prized dishes if a petition drive to get a foie gras ban on the D.C. ballot succeeds this summer, NOTUS\u2019 Martin Austermuhle reports<\/u><\/span>. June is a make-or-break month for the effort; organizers say they are more than halfway to collecting the roughly 24,000 signatures they need to turn in by early July.<\/p>\n

A recent study says D.C. is tied with Las Vegas for having the second-highest number of restaurants serving foie gras in the country. New York is first. \u201cIt is my favorite ingredient, hands down,\u201d Bart Hutchins<\/b>, Butterworth\u2019s chef and co-owner, told Martin. The restaurant has a regular menu item featuring foie gras and lamb, and recently offered foie gras ice cream, too.<\/p>\n

ON NOTUS PODCAST<\/b><\/h2>\n

From your favorite podcast app: <\/b>On today\u2019s episode of On NOTUS<\/u><\/span>, President Trump blurs the lines between branches as Speaker Johnson cedes influence in the House. NOTUS\u2019 Oriana Gonz\u00e1lez is joined by her colleagues Kadia Goba, Reese Gorman and Paul Kane to discuss Trump\u2019s influence in both chambers of Congress. Plus, new revelations about the House Ethics Committee, including how a gender gap impacted one investigation into sexual misconduct allegations.<\/p>\n

NEW ON NOTUS<\/b><\/h2>\n

Awkward:<\/b> The long-shot Republican nominee for governor in Pennsylvania, Stacy Garrity<\/b>, is supported by Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania, a grassroots organizing group founded by donor and organizer Cliff Maloney<\/b>, NOTUS\u2019 Avani Kalra reports<\/u><\/span>.The backing is notable because Maloney has faced multiple accusations of sexual assault and harassment throughout his time in Pennsylvania politics \u2014 though he has denied the allegations.<\/p>\n

More:<\/b> Social Security Is in Worse Shape Than Previously Projected: Report<\/u><\/span>, by Torrie Herrington<\/p>\n

Ex-Fox News Host Steve Hilton to Face Xavier Becerra in California Governor\u2019s Race<\/u><\/span>, by Manuela Silva<\/p>\n

NOT US<\/b><\/h2>\n