10/30 As vicious Maine Senate election winds down, I asked Troy Jackson if he thinks Susan Collins is a “bad person." Here's how he answered. #maine #MEpolitics #MESen

NEW: Before Janet Mills's tepid endorsement of Troy Jackson today, the two tried behind the scenes to lock arms in a formal, visible way. The efforts fizzled. More here: ms.now/news/maine-gov-janet-…

🚨 It’s Official: Paula Reid joins @MSNOWNews as Chief White House Reporter. Reid joins MS NOW’s Washington Bureau, bringing her experienced reporting and insightful scoops to the network’s White House team.

SCOOP: Democrats have insisted they have nothing to do with the other Dan Sullivan on Alaska's Senate ballot. But aides with the Mary Peltola campaign and DSCC were part of a monthslong secret plan to recruit him to run -- as well as other candidates. nytimes.com/2026/10/28/us/po…

NEW: I spent 3 days last week in Roger Marshall's longtime home of Great Bend. I talked to women whose babies he delivered, people who've known him 30 years, Dems, Republicans, a guy Marshall once tried to talk into buying a bird dog from his litter. (cont'd)

Big endorsement in ME-2. King, an independent who caucuses with Dems, has not endorsed Jackson (or Collins), citing his need to work with whomever wins the Senate seat.

Center Forward, a dark-money group focused on moderate politics that was very active in backing Haley Stevens this summer, put $1.8 million into the super PAC behind Susan Collins this month, per new filing.

Two days after at least 5 were escorted from his rally in Wichita

New story: In 2025, the FBI was examining the actions of Sen Lindsey Graham, Rep. Jim Clyburn, and Rep. Joe Wilson as part of a sweeping bribery probe. Then Trump’s campaign of retribution demolished public corruption investigations. propublica.org/article/navat…

Trump’s Kansas rally: thousands of attendees stood for hours, snaking through the parking lot. When they finally got inside around dinner time, they lined up for concessions—-until they were suddenly shut down by rally staff, as they wanted people to fill up the seats as the speakers started. “They want everybody to sit down, that’s the problem,” the concession stand workers told yelling rallygoers. “When the White House tells you to do something, you gotta listen,” one staffer said.   After complaints, the concessions were reopened for “drinks only.”

Dropkick Murphys vocalist Ken Casey says of Troy Jackson: “I can't understand a word the fucking guy says.” “But then again, I can't understand half those rednecks down south, but they say, you know — at least this guy is the real deal, walking his talk, and we need more union members in Congress, that's for damn sure.” One audience member shouts: “He’s a logger!” Casey: “Fuck yeah. He’s a wicked logger.”

NEW: Susan Collins is used to picking off Democratic-leaning voters, but some of those former supporters say they're moving on. Not that they're enchanted with Troy Jackson. His own voters described him to MS NOW as “lukewarm,” “not particularly” strong and “missing what it takes.” But frustration with Trump -- and, often, with Collins herself -- is pushing them toward Jackson anyway. ms.now/news/its-time-for-a-c…

. @GenDonBolduc, calling in to discuss his supporting @ChrisPappasNH, dropped that he was also endorsing @stefanyshaheen. He also said that after winning the GOP Sen race in '22 Trump called and said he was going to sabotage him. wgiram.iheart.com/featured/n… #NHPolitics #NH01 #NHSen

#MaineSenate Protester interrupts debate between Susan Collins and Troy Jackson Collins: “This is obviously one of Troy Jackson’s supporters.” Troy Jackson to Collins: “Oh, shut up.”

Susan Collins says she does not regret voting to confirm RFK Jr. "I agree with him on some issues, I don't on others." Cited Kennedy's help last week fast-tracking LIHEAP funding to Maine.

Asked by @PHirschkorn for an example of a time she voted against her party and it changed the outcome, Susan Collins points to how she organized the opposition to Pete Hegseth. Pressed, she concedes it didn't change outcome (one R changed vote), but she notes it almost did.

Whoa: the GOP’s 2022 New Hampshire Senate nominee Don Bolduc has endorsed Dem Rep. Chris Pappas in this year’s Senate race unionleader.com/news/politic…

ESCANABA, Mich. — Good morning from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where AOC is set to hold an event with Abdul El-Sayed in an hour. Dozens of AES supporters are lined up to get in. And Mike Rogers voters are showing up with signs outside. Also, there’s a man blowing a shofar.

SCOOP: President Trump is finalizing plans to rally with Sen. Darline Graham on Oct. 21 in Greenville, S.C., sources tell me & @jake__traylor. Ralph Norman carried Greenville in the primary. The rally comes as the #SCsen race grows unexpectedly close. ms.now/news/trump-rally-sout…

Matt Dunlap criticized Jared Golden in response to an event question last week, leading to this response from the incumbent. “This comes across as someone scared of losing, and seeding the ground to shift the blame if he does." bangordailynews.com/2026/10/… via @BenKail