Fallout Boys: Trump/Musk Regime Roundup

There’s a five-alarm fascist fire happening in DC right now. The chaos is overwhelming by design and it can be hard to tell the difference between threats, bluster, and real-life actions.

So much of the Trump admin’s orders will impact Maine and there’s far more that’s still unknown. Here are a few things with tangible impact already:

1. Housing and Support for Asylum Seekers and Refugees: With freezes in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding, Portland’s largest family shelter announced it won’t be able to keep its doors open. Right now, 22 families are being housed in the shelter next to the Forest Ave YMCA that’s operated by Commonspace. Many of the families have young children in Portland Public Schools. Absent federal funding, the shelter expects it will have to close its doors by the end of March.

2. Kneecapping the National Parks and Tariff Retaliations: This summer's tourist season will undoubtedly take a hit. Acadia National Park just laid off eight full-time staff and was delayed in hiring seasonal workers. The park is already madness in the summer — expect it to get worse. Meanwhile, Trump’s threatened tariffs against Canada and comments about annexing the country are enraging northern neighbors who make up a sizable chunk of Maine's summer tourist population. Canadians are celebrating today, though, after the Canadian men’s hockey team defeated the U.S. Thursday evening.

3. Science Research and Funding: Scientists at the University of New England, agricultural researchers at Wolfe's Neck Farm, and farmers across the state are in limbo because of the Trump administration's freeze on federal grants. Many research institutions like UNE rely on regular federal funding to carry out their research. Several farms in the state have already spent money on upgrades they assumed would be reimbursed by the feds. It’s unclear if and when federal reimbursements or grants will be coming.

Live Nation’s Proposed Local Concert Killer

Live music monopoly Live Nation Entertainment wants to develop a 3,300-capacity concert hall in downtown Portland, adjacent to Portland City Hall and the Merrill Auditorium. This proposal is a worrying development for a local music scene that’s just beginning to rebound from the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Developers affiliated with Live Nation laid out plans for the project on January 27th at the Press Hotel, where they were loudly met by opposition in the arts community, we were told by multiple attendees. 

It's hard to overstate how a venue like this could harm the local music scene. Live Nation owns venues, manages and promotes artists, and sells tickets to shows. In all of these ventures, it's a market leader, allowing their company to stifle competition and set prices for artists, venues, and concert-goers alike. It’s a monopoly. Local venues wouldn’t be able to compete on a level playing field with a Live Nation venue: it’s a venture that threatens the businesses, artists, and the workers who support the local music ecosystem.

In spring of 2024, the U.S. Justice Department— along with 40 other state Attorneys General— sued Live Nation for anti-competitive practices. Maine’s Attorney General, Aaron Frey, did not join the suit against Live Nation.

In order to move forward, Live Nation’s venue would need approval from the Portland Planning Board. The City could potentially also intervene in any number of ways to deny licenses, restrict new concert venues, or otherwise make the development financially unworkable in a bid to protect local workers and businesses.

City Budget Crisis Looming

If Governor Mills’ proposed budget passes, the City of Portland and poor Mainers will be hit hard. Rather than raising more funds by taxing the wealthy, Mills’ budget reportedly proposes cuts to General Assistance, childcare, housing, and food assistance.

General Assistance is a program that helps people meet basic needs for housing, fuel, food, or medication. The City of Portland receives a sizable chunk of revenue each year from the state as reimbursement for funds spent on General Assistance. 

Combined with plenty of other budget stressors— including the freezing of federal grants and an increase in other service costs— Portland will likely face a tough budget year. In order to raise revenue, cities often increase fees for services (like purple trash bags, parking meters, and permits) or by raising property taxes. Portland's city councilors are reportedly already citing a need to be "creative" this budget cycle. Yacht fees, anyone?

What Do You Want to Read?

Read this far? Would love to hear your thoughts on what you’d like to see in future additions.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading the first edition!

Authors and Editors

We’re a collective of writers, editors, and journalists from Portland, Maine. This first edition was authored by Em Burnett with editing by Nick Schroeder and Emma Reynolds.