What I'm hearing

🤔 A senator, an amendment and a "better option."

◉ Quite the week of headlines for Maine's senior senator. After she voted Tuesday against advancing President Donald Trump's "rescissions" request to cut $9 billion in congressionally-approved funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting programs, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins got more press as the package won final passage Wednesday.

◉ Punchbowl News senior congressional reporter Andrew Desidirio noted Collins — who in opposing it cited a lingering lack of details from the White House on the package and its cuts to public broadcasting, though she was fine with cutting NPR's funding — had floated an amendment to lower the request to $6.5 billion. But Collins decided to not formally propose the amendment that the House and White House would likely not have accepted.

◉ Critics of Collins questioned her decision and motives behind mentioning the change but then not proposing the amendment. Collins spokesperson Phoebe Ferraiolo told me Thursday it was because it "became clear that she did not have enough votes here in the Senate on final passage."

◉ "So even with like, say, a Dem or two saying they would vote for it, [she] didn't have enough," Ferraiolo said.

◉ Ferraiolo also shared Thursday more hallway remarks Collins gave to reporters, including how she felt the amendment talk was a "political stunt by the Democrats, because what I found was that they intended to vote no at the end." Collins also said the Republican-led House "had absolutely no interest in the substitute amendment."

◉ That explanation won't please everyone, and Collins continues to face scrutiny this week tied to 2026 reelection prospects and how fellow Republicans are making her dream role as Senate Appropriations Committee chair a "nightmare." On top of that, Politico posted a brief Wednesday night on how Trump would love to see a "better option" to replace Collins on the ballot next year if she would not run, and there's still no serious talk of primarying her.

◉ "White House officials have discussed potential candidates who could replace [Collins] if she elects not to run again in 2026, according to a person familiar with the conversation granted anonymity to speak about political strategy," the Politico blurb said. "...The person declined to say who Trump might like to see run if Collins retires when her fifth term ends."

◉ Ferraiolo deferred to the other spokespeople focused on her campaign (Blake Kernan and Shawn Roderick) for comment on that. I didn't get any on-the-record thoughts from them.

◉ The chatter in Washington is sometimes different than the chatter in Maine, and I'd take these ongoing bits of reelection talk with a dose of skepticism, as national Republicans are still behind Collins and protecting her seat in a blue state next year. But we'll see if Trump more strongly criticizes her in these next few weeks. The Republican president has still seen his preferred legislation reach his desk without Collins' support.

News and notes

Reading list

☀️ The abrupt end to certain tax credits is bringing turbulence to Maine's solar and heat pump industries.

🐘 What's missing from how Susan Collins explains her votes on advancing controversial legislation.

🥯 From the Press Herald: A Portland bagel shop's sign does not only advertise food. It's a spiritual journey.

🚨 Trump's proposed cuts to public broadcasting would hurt Maine's emergency alert system.

💵 The Orrington trash plant owner met its first mortgage payment deadline.

☎️ From Maine Public: The Trump administration ended a suicide prevention hotline for LGBTQ+ youth used by thousands of Mainers.

🏗️ From the archives: Why the military built Fort Knox along the Penobscot River nearly 180 years ago.

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