Benjamin Kail

Senior Political Reporter @bangordailynews | Previously @PittsburghPG @BosBizJournal @masslivenews @thedayct @OswegoCoNewsNow | @NUJournalism

[Benjamin Kail @BenKail]

New: just got off phone w/former state Sen Pres & gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson, a strong ally of Platner's w/some of the same labor support that helped Platner's rise. Calls sexual assault allegation "very serious." If Platner steps aside, he's "very, very interested."

[Nirav D. Shah @nirav_maine]

On July 13, 2026, ICE murdered Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in the streets of Biddeford, Maine.

The rookie agent who killed him is named David Brouillette.

The @nytimes just published a damning investigation into Brouillette's disqualifying background.

Troubling work history, prior DV/abuse complaints, mental health issues, and a record of anti-immigrant hostility, especially against Colombians.

This is the consequence of ICE's lowered standards and rushed hiring process.

Most shocking part? The number of new hires created a backlog in reviewing background checks.

So that, "at the time of the shooting in Maine, officials still hadn’t gotten to look into Mr. Brouillette’s background report." But they still gave him a gun.

Every part of Guerrero's murder is a tragedy that could have been avoided.

https://t.co/erMqDyXgpN

[Jonathan D. Salant @JDSalant]

The incoming House minority leader played an active role in trying to overturn Pennsylvania's 2020 presidential election based on disproven claims of voter fraud. Our original story with @BenKail from 2023 when Jim Jordan was running for speaker.
https://t.co/DAncnaozGU

[Elizabeth Warren @SenWarren]

Troy Jackson and I have a lot in common:

We both love boba and are ready to break up health care conglomerates.

[Congresswoman Chellie Pingree @chelliepingree]

I’d always rather be in Maine, but after way too long of a “Hegseth Holiday,” I’m ready to get back to Washington and back to work.

We’ll have a HUGE Democratic majority in January. And we have a long to-do list.

Ending Trump’s illegal war in Iran. Reversing the cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. Ending his reckless tariffs. Investigating this administration’s historic, rampant corruption.

But first, we need to pass a government funding bill. And we could vote as soon as this week to impeach Pete Hegseth for his stunning incompetence, disastrous handling of the war, and mistreatment of our servicemembers.

Let’s get it done!

[Clipping Wings @ClippingWings]

Morning Joe is HYPED for their Troy Jackson interview. It's great to see this in corporate media!

Mika: Troy Jackson just stepped in and fit like a glove. Like Talarico, he has a temperament that fits his state.

[Joe Baldacci @JoeBaldacci]

My comments in this morning's BDN :
"But he had kind words for the man who beat him in June.
“I think Matt ran an honorable campaign and is clearly the better candidate and a good public servant,” Baldacci said. “The dynamics of the district are very independent.”

Going forward let's stop talking at each other and about each other and start talking to the rest of the Second District who are not Democrats as to why we can do more to help people here than our opponents. That is the real the challenge of 2028.
https://t.co/X48nSPge4E via @bangordailynews

[Not Jerome Powell @alifarhat79]

Jensen Huang’s wife divorce lawyers right now

[Boston Globe Pitchbot @BostonSatire]

One of the biggest lies the devil ever told

[Elizabeth Warren @ewarren]

This is the face of someone who's ready to protect Social Security by scrapping the cap and making billionaires pay their fair share.

[James Talarico @jamestalarico]

I just met with Senator John Cornyn.

He has served our state honorably, and I’m grateful for his advice and guidance. 

Now is the time for us to come together — Democrats and Republicans — to deliver for Texas.

[Benjamin Kail @BenKail]

Paul LePage lands in Washington, pitching himself as a dealmaker https://t.co/HmKEuJvx8V via @bangordailynews

[Troy Jackson @TroyJackson207]

Hello, DC. Let’s get to work. 🇺🇸

[Aaron Rupar @atrupar]

Josh Turek and other incoming Democratic senators today in the Capitol

(Win McNamee/Getty)

[Politics Watch @politics_watch1]

James Talarico, Troy Jackson and Annie Andrews arrive to Congress for orientation

[Aaron Rupar @atrupar]

"He advised against it while being paid by Pepsi" -- former HHS official Calley Means claims there's a "close-knit crew" in the White House around Susie Wiles who "explicitly catered to special interests against the will of the voters"

[Nathan Heller @nathanheller]

When Salon started, in 1995, the idea that an ambitious magazine could exist only online was unprecedented. Within three years, it had hundreds of thousands of readers, illustrious contributors, and mentions in the same breath as its print peers. A brave thing—gone not forgotten.

[Steven 💎 @StevenxTCG]

Ladies and gentlemen, I present Link-in Park

[Benjamin Kail @BenKail]

Platner took no questions. It was the 1st time I interviewed Jackson. We talked name recognition challenges & a shared love for @steelers. 2 months later he replaced Platner in Senate race. Shah consistently advocated for him/against Collins. Now Jackson is the senator-elect. 2/2

[Benjamin Kail @BenKail]

Going through some photos from the campaign trail & came across this one from late May. Platner had helped orchestrate a ranked-choice alliance (boxing out then-frontrunner @nirav_maine) in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, in which @TroyJackson207 would come in 3rd. 1/2

[Benjamin Kail @BenKail]

New: just got off phone w/former state Sen Pres & gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson, a strong ally of Platner's w/some of the same labor support that helped Platner's rise. Calls sexual assault allegation "very serious." If Platner steps aside, he's "very, very interested."