dailykos--2020-04-08--Good News Roundup for April 8, 2020

Good News Roundup for April 8, 2020

Some music that feels right for this moment This one goes out to the homicidal maniac in the WH and his malevolent toadies .
Stevie always managed to put together the most brutal truth-telling with the most joyful funk music .
BTW , the catchy background vocals are by the Jackson 5 .
And Paul Simon has given us a new performance of “ American Tune.
” The lyrics hit especially hard right now , so skip this if you ’ re feeling fragile .
I get tears every time I watch it , but for me the catharsis feels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more heartening .
There ’ s nothing more comforting than a perennial oldie but goodie .
This is one of those stories you just have to read – editing it down would leave too much good stuff on the cutting room floor .
My favorite quotes include a 13-year-old ’ s response to the question “ What has quarantine taught you about yourself ?
” ( “ I am insufferable ” ) , and Trail Blazer shooting guard CJ McCollum ’ s unexpected response to the question “ What 's your secret to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , perspective and enjoying stillness.
” ) .
In Every Room in Portland , There ’ s a Story of Life During Quarantine .
Here Are 10 .
Virtual Club Nights ... You Can Literally Dance Like No One Is Watching .
Good news from around the nation Dolly Parton says she 'll donate $ 1 million for coronavirus research at Vanderbilt And Bill Gates is stepping up : Bill Gates is Now Building Factories to Produce 7 of the Most Promising COVID-19 Vaccines And Chef José Andrés continues to prove that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you would like to donate to support his work , use the donation link at the bottom of the quote .
With New York as the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States , our teams are working tirelessly to make sure residents in need are fed .
We are serving 25,000 meals each day across sites in The Bronx , Brooklyn , Queens , and Harlem , along with Elizabeth and Newark , New Jersey .
Next week we will be ramping up to 40,000 meals every day .
Additionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ cafe ” at the Mount Sinai field hospital that recently opened in Central Park .
We ’ ll keep the fridge here full of healthy , delicious meals for frontline medical staff to grab and heat up whenever they ’ re hungry .
WCK is currently providing fresh meals to doctors , nurses , and staff at more than 125 hospitals across the country .
We are working with local grassroots initiatives Frontline Foods , Off Their Plate , Feed The Frontline in Los Angeles , and East Bay FeedER , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heroes on the frontlines .
In Miami , we are working with Food Rescue US- South Florida and Red Rooster Overtown to prepare meals from restaurants for hospital staff .
The idea is simple : Support medical clinicians who are working in wartime-like conditions and support local restaurants who have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis .
[ They ’ re also providing meals to people in need in DC , Los Angeles , and the Bay Area . ]
Announced by Governor Gavin Newsom this weekend , WCK is partnering with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a coordinated effort to bring individuals experiencing homelessness into hotels and motels to protect them from COVID-19 .
WCK will be providing 3 meals each day to the people in this program .
In addition to the locations listed above , WCK is operating in Boston ; New Orleans ; Orlando ; Fairfax and Newport News , Virginia ; Little Rock , Arkansas ; St. John , USVI ; and Columbus , Ohio .
This week , Leonardo DiCaprio , Laurene Powell Jobs , and Apple , launched America ’ s Food Fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this support , and the support of so many others , we will get through this , together .
To donate to WCK , click here .
For real-time updates , follow us here .
NYC Opens Special Centers for Kids of Healthcare and Other Essential Workers on the Front Lines of COVID-19 North Texas Food Bank teams up with Shiftsmart to provide jobs and feed families Thousands of people in Dallas , Texas , lined up on Thursday for free meals provided by the school district .
In many places , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pace with the demand for food .
But one program is hiring workers laid off due to the coronavirus pandemic to help feed families in need in Washington D.C. , and Texas .
Typically , volunteers at the North Texas Food Bank prepare the 77 million meals the bank distributes each year — but COVID-19 has kept them away .
The solution ?
A partnership between the food bank and Shiftsmart , an online marketplace connecting workers with employers .
One of those workers is Anna Morris , who lost her bartending job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is great money , and a good opportunity to— to keep my spirits high , '' Morris said .
'The best thing to do was to match these hospitality workers with the volunteer shifts so those meals could keep getting delivered , '' said Shiftsmart president Patrick Brandt .
The partnership , called `` Get Shift Done , '' raised more than $ 2 million in just three days .
That money created more than 1,000 jobs paying $ 10 an hour .
Good news from around the world Irish Prime Minister Re-Registers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 Response Team British manufacturing this month faces perhaps the greatest test in its history .
Specialist firms have joined forces with industrial powerhouses such as Airbus and Rolls-Royce in an unprecedented collaborative effort to make medical ventilators to treat Covid-19 patients .
... dozens of companies more used to being rivals for lucrative contracts have pooled resources and shared expertise in the fight against a common enemy .
Martyn Ratcliffe , chairman of the Cambridge-based Science Group , which has one of the largest ventilator orders from the NHS after signing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sagentia , said : “ What has been extremely good about this whole process is that the world-leading Cambridge consultancies have been peer-reviewing each other ’ s designs in order to accelerate these critical product developments .
“ They ’ ve been adding constructive input into each other ’ s designs to address a genuine crisis .
The co-operation with people we usually compete with every day has produced the best of British engineering.
” Key ingredient in coronavirus tests comes from Yellowstone ’ s lakes In Groundbreaking Find , Three Kinds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Africa “ First take !
” Stipe said of this song , posted on YouTube March 28th .
“ This is the demo track.
” Stipe noted , “ No Time for Love Like Now ” is a collaboration with the National ’ s Aaron Dessner .
We need some humor !
First , some humorous takes on our current situation .
Okay , this is just the wildest thing I ’ ve ever seen on the internet , and that ’ s saying something !
!
And some random humor I just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ giant to this damned virus Legendary pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis Jr. died from COVID-19 on Wednesday , March 1 , at age 86 in New Orleans .
I hope we can all find some time to search out his music and celebrate his talent .
Here ’ s a typically lyrical and swinging performance of “ Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans , ” followed by a lovely obit from the Smithsonian : Marsalis was a towering figure of modern jazz .
Through his teaching , he became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extended well beyond the four sons who followed in his footsteps , report Janet McConnaughey and Rebecca Santan for the Associated Press .
The Marsalis family patriarch held teaching positions at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts , Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of New Orleans .
... Marsalis was known for his talents on the piano—he played alongside such greats as Cannonball Adderley and recorded more than 15 albums—but he was proudest of his legacy as a mentor and educator who carefully shepherded the next generation of musicians , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andrew Limbong for NPR .
“ He was like the coach of jazz .
He put on the sweatshirt , blew the whistle and made these guys work , ” Nick Spitzer , host of public radio ’ s “ American Routes ” and a Tulane University anthropology professor , tells the AP .
In 2010 , musician Anthony Brown and Ken Kimery , program director of Smithsonian Jazz , interviewed Marsalis for the Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program .
Recounting the conversation now , Kimery says the pianist “ afforded us great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New Orleans , ” favorite musicians and education , among other topics .
The full transcript of the interview is available here .
Things to keep you entertained at home Photo collections from every state in the Union The Atlantic has put together a photo album of gorgeous images from every state .
Of course , I ’ m especially drawn to the ones from Oregon , so here are a couple of my favorites .
I ’ ll bet the rest of you will enjoy browsing the photos from your own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online to find reliable and delicious recipes for baked goodies is King Arthur Flour .
But I also have a big collection of favorite recipes I ’ ve gathered from cookbooks and friends .
I shared in a comment on Sunday that I baked a loaf of sourdough bread and that it had come out even better than I had hoped .
Here ’ s a photo and the recipe , which I encourage you to try if you have sourdough or can get hold of some .
Apparently sourdough is “ having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around to see if anyone near you is sharing theirs .
Don Holm ’ s Mouse River Homestead Sourdough Bread ( from The Complete Sourdough Cookbook , now sadly out of print ) In a large bowl ( preferably ceramic , first warmed with hot water ) combine Mix well and cover with plastic wrap which you push down before sealing to the edges of the bowl , so the expanding gases won ’ t blow the plastic wrap off the bowl .
Turn out onto a floured work surface , sprinkle with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding flour as needed , until the dough is smooth and shiny .
Put in an oiled bowl to rise until doubled .
Turn your oven to 350˚ and butter the bottom and sides of an 8½ ” x 4½ ” loaf pan .
Punch down the dough ( which will be very soft ) and form it into a loaf , trying not to add more flour , and lay it in the buttered pan .
( Because the dough is soft , you need to work quickly getting it into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until doubled .
Bake in the preheated oven for 50 minutes to one hour , or until the loaf pulls away from the pan and sounds hollow when you tap it lightly .
Rub some butter on the top after you take it out of the oven .
Cool on a rack .
cookieandkate.com/… 50 Pantry-Friendly Recipes & Substitutions That Work , from cooking blog Cookie + Kate .
Lots of great suggestions for creating a pandemic pantry and using it to create healthy meals .
www.motherjones.com/… 7 Tips for Making the Most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These are truly helpful suggestions !
www.theatlantic.com/ ... Ina Garten ’ s Quarantine Playbook .
Ina ’ s helpful and charming Instagram posts have become indispensable to an ever larger audience .
As the author of the Atlantic article says , “ Garten has always managed to occupy a space between authenticity and contentment that inspires rather than irks.
” www.goodnewsnetwork.org/ ... Music Takes 13 Minutes to ‘ Release Sadness ’ and 9 to Make You Happy , Says New Study Thanks to each and every Gnusie for your smarts , your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our daily Gathering of the Herd .

Welcome!
Greetings Gnusies, Gnewbies, lurkers, and drop-ins! Come into our cozy space where we share good news and cheer while keeping a safe distance and wearing our snazzy homemade masks. [See photo below. And feel free to share your own!]
The sunny day required sunglasses, but I think we would’ve worn them anyway, just to complete the “bank robber disguise” vibe.
This is a pot luck, so please bring something to share in the comments, which we’re proud to claim as The Best Comment Section on the Internet™.
Insights, compassion, and wit are welcome. But although we encourage you to share your personal feelings honestly, please don’t add to the general gloom by boosting disaster stories from the media.
Thanks!
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Finding good news in bad times
This is a time when bad news has a legitimate claim on our attention. It’s not the same old “if it bleeds, it leads” media playbook. We actually need to pay sufficient attention to the news each day to know what the medical experts are recommending and what our local officials are requesting. This makes it unusually difficult to focus on finding good news. But good news there is, in abundance, and I’ve managed to find more than enough to fill today’s roundup.
Political news
Jeez, even W understood this!
I don’t feel like adding much political content today, but this piece by Eric Levitz is terrific. I recommend you open the link and read the whole piece.
Coronavirus Is Forcing the GOP to (Tacitly) Admit Its Ideology Is Delusional
From New York Magazine:
As the coronavirus pandemic shutters America’s storefronts and fills its ICUs, the GOP is camouflaging a whispered confession beneath a cough. The party’s admission is so quiet most Republicans can’t even make it out themselves. But listen carefully to recent directives from the Trump administration and its allies and you’ll hear unmistakably: Our theory of governance is a lie. The modern conservative movement holds these truths to be self-evident: 1. Undocumented immigrants are a scourge of American society... 2. Uncle Sam has grown badly bloated and could govern more effectively if a wide swath of federal agencies were gutted. 3. The market is (a largely) apolitical sphere ruled by the impartial dictates of an invisible hand. Thus the superrich do not owe their astronomical market incomes to any set of politically ordained laws or institutions; rather, they earn their gains... By the same token, the working poor cannot blame their low pay on political powerlessness but the objectively low value of their contributions to society. Thus mandating a higher wage floor would only condemn workers with skills that are objectively worth only $7.25 an hour to permanent unemployment. ✂ ...the pandemic has brought the tension between the verities of CPAC and exigencies of governance to such vertiginous heights Republicans have been forced to (tacitly, quietly) make three startling admissions: 1. Undocumented immigrants are among the most indispensable contributors to the American economy. ✂ 2. The administrative state needs to be reconstructed. ✂ 3. The “free market” is a big government program.
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Coping with the pandemic
A brilliant illustration of the effectiveness of social distancing
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Italian hermit living alone on an island says self-isolation is the ultimate journey
From CNN:
For more than 30 years, Mauro Morandi has been the sole inhabitant of a beautiful island in the Mediterranean Sea. For the past few weeks his hermit's hut has been an aptly isolated location from which to watch the global coronavirus crisis unfold. And, after being alone with his own thoughts for so much of his life, he's got some insight into the isolation that many of us now face in the weeks and months ahead. Morandi, a former teacher, arrived on the island of Budelli, off the coast of Sardinia, by accident while attempting to sail from Italy to Polynesia 31 years ago. He fell in love with the pristine atoll's crystal-clear waters, coral sands and beautiful sunsets -- and decided to stay. He took over from the previous caretaker shortly afterward and, at the age of 81, he's still there, having earned himself a reputation as Italy's Robinson Crusoe. ✂ He keeps up with the news though, learning first of mainland Italy's shutdown against the spread of coronavirus, and then the rest of the world's. In his solitary world, he says he currently feels like he's in the "safest place on Earth." He's also eager to share a few tips on how to best face self-isolation. "I am fine, I'm not scared," he tells CNN Travel via the mobile phone that is his link to the outside world. "I feel safe here. This island offers total protection. No risks at all. Nobody lands, not even a single boat can be seen sailing by." ✂ Morandi has a few tips for people now forced into solitude in Italy and elsewhere by the pandemic. He says a few weeks holed up inside is nothing to get upset about but is instead an opportunity to practice some soul searching. ✂ This introspection can, he says, ultimately be highly rewarding. Morandi recounts his own transformation from an inveterate wanderer who traveled across Europe each year to a solitary islander. "I just didn't feel like traveling anymore -- no interest," he says. "I understood that the most beautiful, dangerous, adventurous and gratifying journey of all is the one inside yourself, whether you're sitting in the living room or under a canopy here in Budelli."
Even in a time of isolation, love conquers all obstacles, as usual.
Finding love during the coronavirus outbreak
From Steve Hartman’s “On the Road,” CBS Nightly News:
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Some music that feels right for this moment
This one goes out to the homicidal maniac in the WH and his malevolent toadies. Stevie always managed to put together the most brutal truth-telling with the most joyful funk music. BTW, the catchy background vocals are by the Jackson 5.
x YouTube Video
And Paul Simon has given us a new performance of “American Tune.” The lyrics hit especially hard right now, so skip this if you’re feeling fragile. I get tears every time I watch it, but for me the catharsis feels good.
x YouTube Video
And now something sweeter and more heartening. There’s nothing more comforting than a perennial oldie but goodie.
x YouTube Video
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Good news from Portland
This is one of those stories you just have to read – editing it down would leave too much good stuff on the cutting room floor. My favorite quotes include a 13-year-old’s response to the question “What has quarantine taught you about yourself?” (“I am insufferable”), and Trail Blazer shooting guard CJ McCollum’s unexpected response to the question “What's your secret to staying sane?” (“Meditation, perspective and enjoying stillness.”).
In Every Room in Portland, There’s a Story of Life During Quarantine. Here Are 10.
From Willamette Week:
Social isolation got you feeling like the walls are closing in? You're not alone. OK, you are alone—but so are your fellow Portlanders, and everybody has a quarantine story to tell. Over the past week, we asked citizens of this city to describe how life has changed while everyone stays home to slow the spread of COVID-19. Dozens of people filled out WW's survey, which asked nine questions about coping while cooped up in a pandemic. Some of the people who responded are household names. Others we met for the first time. Everyone told us a lot more than we expected—stories that made us cry, laugh and mutter, "Oh my God!" Portlanders have packed a lot of living in between watching episodes of Tiger King. If there's one lesson that emerges from these diaries, it's that a virus is no match for this city's idiosyncrasy, vitality and courage.
Virtual Club Nights...You Can Literally Dance Like No One Is Watching.
From Willamette Week:
Last Friday, Holocene held its first dance party since the coronavirus pandemic shut down Portland's live music industry. In many ways, it was like any other DJ night at the Buckman nightclub. Resident DJ Ben Tactic and Nathan Detroit bumped house music from the venue's stage, cloaked under a layer of psychedelic lighting. There was one major difference, though. Other than the DJs and staff, the club was completely empty. Unable to host an audience in real life, Holocene decided to livestream the event on YouTube. It drew close to 700 viewers—more than twice the club's capacity. "For us, it's like, if you miss being able to come out and go to our dance nights, we want you to be able to have that opportunity at home with your roommate or your pet," says Gina Altamura, the club's head curator. In lieu of a cover charge, the venue posted an optional donation link in the YouTube stream's description box. The first livestream raised enough money to cover the cost of developing and running the stream, plus extra revenue for a fund that goes toward Holocene's staff.
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Good news from Oregon
World’s oldest coronavirus survivor? Oregon veteran lives to celebrate 104th birthday
From the Oregonian:
An Oregon veteran who celebrated his 104th birthday Wednesday could be one of the oldest people in the world to survive the new coronavirus. William Lapschies, among the first Oregonians known to have the disease, has been declared free of the virus, said daughter Carolee Brown. ✂ Lapschies lived through another pandemic – he was born at Salem Hospital in 1916 and was 2 when influenza infected a third of the world’s population
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Good news from around the nation
Dolly Parton is a National Living Treasure, no question.
Dolly Parton says she'll donate $1 million for coronavirus research at Vanderbilt
From the Tennessean:
Country legend Dolly Parton has announced she'll donate $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to fund research of the coronavirus. Parton made the announcement on social media Wednesday. "My longtime friend Dr. Naji Abumrad, who’s been involved in research at Vanderbilt for many years, informed me that they were making some exciting advancements towards research of the coronavirus for a cure. I am making a donation of $1 million to Vanderbilt towards that research and to encourage people that can afford it to make donations." ✂ On Monday, Parton announced plans for "Goodnight With Dolly," a weekly web series where she'll read a bedtime story from her international book donation program Imagination Library. “I think it is pretty clear that now is the time to share a story and to share some love," she said.
And Bill Gates is stepping up:
Bill Gates is Now Building Factories to Produce 7 of the Most Promising COVID-19 Vaccines
From Good News Network:
Bill Gates has just announced that he and his foundation are accelerating the COVID-19 response effort by building factories for all seven of the most promising vaccines currently in development—even though only one or two of them will likely be produced. Gates discussed the initiative during his at-home interview with The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah this week. “Because our foundation has such deep expertise in infectious diseases, we’ve thought about the epidemic, we did fund some things to be more prepared, like a vaccine effort,” Gates said. “Our early money can accelerate things.” Despite how building factories for all seven vaccines in development will likely waste billions of dollars in construction costs, Gates says that having facilities ready for any one of the treatments will likely end up saving thousands of lives in the long run.
And Chef José Andrés continues to prove that he’s a true hero. If you would like to donate to support his work, use the donation link at the bottom of the quote.
#ChefsForAmerica Update: Week 3
From World Central Kitchen website:
With New York as the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, our teams are working tirelessly to make sure residents in need are fed. We are serving 25,000 meals each day across sites in The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Harlem, along with Elizabeth and Newark, New Jersey. Next week we will be ramping up to 40,000 meals every day. Additionally, we have set up a WCK “cafe” at the Mount Sinai field hospital that recently opened in Central Park. We’ll keep the fridge here full of healthy, delicious meals for frontline medical staff to grab and heat up whenever they’re hungry. WCK is currently providing fresh meals to doctors, nurses, and staff at more than 125 hospitals across the country. We are working with local grassroots initiatives Frontline Foods, Off Their Plate, Feed The Frontline in Los Angeles, and East Bay FeedER, as well as sweetgreen, to support these heroes on the frontlines. In Miami, we are working with Food Rescue US- South Florida and Red Rooster Overtown to prepare meals from restaurants for hospital staff. The idea is simple: Support medical clinicians who are working in wartime-like conditions and support local restaurants who have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. [They’re also providing meals to people in need in DC, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area.] ✂ Announced by Governor Gavin Newsom this weekend, WCK is partnering with the State of California on Project Roomkey, a coordinated effort to bring individuals experiencing homelessness into hotels and motels to protect them from COVID-19. WCK will be providing 3 meals each day to the people in this program. ✂ In addition to the locations listed above, WCK is operating in Boston; New Orleans; Orlando; Fairfax and Newport News, Virginia; Little Rock, Arkansas; St. John, USVI; and Columbus, Ohio. This week, Leonardo DiCaprio, Laurene Powell Jobs, and Apple, launched America’s Food Fund to support WCK and FeedingAmerica. With this support, and the support of so many others, we will get through this, together. To donate to WCK, click here. For real-time updates, follow us here.
NYC Opens Special Centers for Kids of Healthcare and Other Essential Workers on the Front Lines of COVID-19
From Good News Network:
For the 1.1 million public school students in New York City, life was upended when all classes were closed down to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Now, in a never-before-attempted project, children with parents in the medical field have got a place to go during the day, while their parents go to work on the frontlines of the contagion. The largest school state system in the United States set up “regional enrichment centers” where the 8,000 public school kids can do their school work at spaced-apart desks, eat three hot meals a day, and learn how to protect themselves from COVID-19. The centers are not only taking in kids of hospital workers, the enrichment centers are helping children whose parents work in essential services, like utility departments, postal services, and grocery stores.
North Texas Food Bank teams up with Shiftsmart to provide jobs and feed families
From CBS News:
Thousands of people in Dallas, Texas, lined up on Thursday for free meals provided by the school district. In many places, there aren't enough helping hands to keep pace with the demand for food. But one program is hiring workers laid off due to the coronavirus pandemic to help feed families in need in Washington D.C., and Texas. Typically, volunteers at the North Texas Food Bank prepare the 77 million meals the bank distributes each year — but COVID-19 has kept them away. The solution? A partnership between the food bank and Shiftsmart, an online marketplace connecting workers with employers. One of those workers is Anna Morris, who lost her bartending job a few weeks ago. "This is great money, and a good opportunity to— to keep my spirits high," Morris said. 'The best thing to do was to match these hospitality workers with the volunteer shifts so those meals could keep getting delivered," said Shiftsmart president Patrick Brandt. The partnership, called "Get Shift Done," raised more than $2 million in just three days. That money created more than 1,000 jobs paying $10 an hour.
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Good news from around the world
Irish Prime Minister Re-Registers as Medical Practitioner So He Can Join the COVID-19 Response Team
From Good News Network:
Citizens and news outlets around the world are praising Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar for re-registering as a doctor with the national health service in order to offer an extra hand in fighting the novel coronavirus outbreaks. Prior to going into politics and being removed from the medical register in 2013, Varadkar reportedly spent seven years working as a junior doctor at St. James’s Hospital and Connolly Hospital in Dublin. Trained as a general practitioner, Varadkar rejoined the medical register in March so he could offer up his services to the country’s Health Service Executive once a week. According to Irish broadcaster RTE, part of the prime minister’s work will involve conducting phone assessments in order to free up the work load of hospital front line workers.
British manufacturers are cooperating to produce ventilators
From The Guardian:
British manufacturing this month faces perhaps the greatest test in its history. Specialist firms have joined forces with industrial powerhouses such as Airbus and Rolls-Royce in an unprecedented collaborative effort to make medical ventilators to treat Covid-19 patients. ...dozens of companies more used to being rivals for lucrative contracts have pooled resources and shared expertise in the fight against a common enemy. Martyn Ratcliffe, chairman of the Cambridge-based Science Group, which has one of the largest ventilator orders from the NHS after signing up to provide 10,000 via its subsidiary Sagentia, said: “What has been extremely good about this whole process is that the world-leading Cambridge consultancies have been peer-reviewing each other’s designs in order to accelerate these critical product developments. “They’ve been adding constructive input into each other’s designs to address a genuine crisis. The co-operation with people we usually compete with every day has produced the best of British engineering.”
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Science news
Key ingredient in coronavirus tests comes from Yellowstone’s lakes
From National Geographic:
MICROBIOLOGIST THOMAS BROCK was tramping through Yellowstone in the 1960s when he stumbled upon a species of bacteria that would transform medical science. Brock was investigating the tiny life-forms that manage to eke out a living in the superheated waters of the park’s thermal pools. There, he and a student found golden mats of stringy growth in Yellowstone’s Mushroom Spring containing a microbe that produces unusual heat-resistant enzymes. Today, those enzymes are a key component in polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, a method used widely in labs around the world to study small samples of genetic material by making millions of copies. This technique, which would have been impossible without the discovery of heat-resistant bacteria more than half a century ago, is now being used to boost the signal of viruses in most of the available tests for COVID-19.
In Groundbreaking Find, Three Kinds of Early Humans Unearthed Living Together in South Africa
From Smithsonian Magazine:
Scientists studying the roots of humanity’s family tree have found several branches entangled in and around a South African cave. Two million years ago, three different early humans—Australopithecus, Paranthropus, and the earliest-known Homo erectus—appear to have lived at the same time in the same place, near the Drimolen Paleocave System. How much these different species interacted remains unknown. But their contemporaneous existence suggests our ancient relations were quite diverse during a key transitional period of African prehistory that saw the last days of Australopithecus and the dawn of H. erectus’s nearly two-million-year run. “We know that the old idea, that when one species occurs another goes extinct and you don’t have much overlap, that’s just not the case,” says study coauthor Andy Herries, a paleoanthropologist at La Trobe University in Australia.
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Musical break
“First take!” Stipe said of this song, posted on YouTube March 28th. “This is the demo track.”
Stipe noted, “No Time for Love Like Now” is a collaboration with the National’s Aaron Dessner.
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We need some humor!
First, some humorous takes on our current situation.
Trump Practicing Distancing from All His Prior Statements About the Coronavirus From Andy Borowitz’s satire column in the New Yorker: Issuing a new distancing guideline on Wednesday, Donald Trump said that he was now practicing distancing from all of his previous statements about the coronavirus. “As of today, I will be keeping a great distance between myself and anything I said about covid-19 in the months of January, February, and March,” he said. “I will be staying at least six feet away from those statements, and probably more like ten thousand feet.” Quarantine cat As someone commented, this cat is trying to bury the turd he’s seeing on the screen. Don’t you wish it were that easy!! x COVID 19 feelings #QuarantineCats pic.twitter.com/rSEEpBdfi5 Ã¢ÂÂ Ben Dewberry (@Bendew) March 18, 2020 17 Pets Who Aren't Used To Their Owners Working From Home I couldn’t resist stealing this link from a recent comment by Getting1. The ones below are my favorites, but they’re all good for a laugh.
From Buzzfeed:
x my new wfh coworker is so needy, I canÃ¢ÂÂt get anything done Ã°ÂÂÂ pic.twitter.com/FyIeLY45GO Ã¢ÂÂ Kevin P. Johnson (@OkayJoJay) March 19, 2020
x canÃ¢ÂÂt stop thinking about this couple who had to make a fake lap for their clingy cat so they could get work done pic.twitter.com/oqMDcs19st Ã¢ÂÂ antonella (@antogold) March 20, 2020
Okay, this is just the wildest thing I’ve ever seen on the internet, and that’s saying something!!
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And some random humor I just had to include:
Never Trust a Dog
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We lost a giant to this damned virus
Legendary pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis Jr. died from COVID-19 on Wednesday, March 1, at age 86 in New Orleans. I hope we can all find some time to search out his music and celebrate his talent. Here’s a typically lyrical and swinging performance of “Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans,” followed by a lovely obit from the Smithsonian:
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Ellis Marsalis Jr.: A Father and Mentor to Jazz Players Marsalis was a towering figure of modern jazz. Through his teaching, he became the patriarch of a musical family that extended well beyond the four sons who followed in his footsteps, report Janet McConnaughey and Rebecca Santan for the Associated Press. ✂ The Marsalis family patriarch held teaching positions at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of New Orleans. ... ✂ Marsalis was known for his talents on the piano—he played alongside such greats as Cannonball Adderley and recorded more than 15 albums—but he was proudest of his legacy as a mentor and educator who carefully shepherded the next generation of musicians, including four of his six sons, reports Andrew Limbong for NPR. “He was like the coach of jazz. He put on the sweatshirt, blew the whistle and made these guys work,” Nick Spitzer, host of public radio’s “American Routes” and a Tulane University anthropology professor, tells the AP. ✂ In 2010, musician Anthony Brown and Ken Kimery, program director of Smithsonian Jazz, interviewed Marsalis for the Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program. Recounting the conversation now, Kimery says the pianist “afforded us great insight into his family history, life in New Orleans,” favorite musicians and education, among other topics. The full transcript of the interview is available here.
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Things to keep you entertained at home
Photo collections from every state in the Union
The Atlantic has put together a photo album of gorgeous images from every state. Of course, I’m especially drawn to the ones from Oregon, so here are a couple of my favorites. I’ll bet the rest of you will enjoy browsing the photos from your own state.
Bake something!
My favorite place to go online to find reliable and delicious recipes for baked goodies is King Arthur Flour. But I also have a big collection of favorite recipes I’ve gathered from cookbooks and friends. I shared in a comment on Sunday that I baked a loaf of sourdough bread and that it had come out even better than I had hoped. Here’s a photo and the recipe, which I encourage you to try if you have sourdough or can get hold of some. Apparently sourdough is “having a moment” now, so search around to see if anyone near you is sharing theirs.
Don Holm’s Mouse River Homestead Sourdough Bread (from The Complete Sourdough Cookbook, now sadly out of print)
For one 8 ½ ” x 4 ½ ” loaf:
Night before:
In a large bowl (preferably ceramic, first warmed with hot water) combine
1 c. lively sourdough
½ c. warm water
½ c. milk
1¼ c. whole wheat flour.
Mix well and cover with plastic wrap which you push down before sealing to the edges of the bowl, so the expanding gases won’t blow the plastic wrap off the bowl.
Next morning:
Melt
2 tablespoons butter
then add
1 tablespoon honey
1½ to 2 teaspoons salt
½ cup whole wheat flour
about ¾ cup unbleached all-purpose flour.
Turn out onto a floured work surface, sprinkle with more a-p flour, and knead lightly, adding flour as needed, until the dough is smooth and shiny. Put in an oiled bowl to rise until doubled. Turn your oven to 350˚ and butter the bottom and sides of an 8½ ” x 4½ ” loaf pan. Punch down the dough (which will be very soft) and form it into a loaf, trying not to add more flour, and lay it in the buttered pan. (Because the dough is soft, you need to work quickly getting it into the pan.) Let rise again until doubled. Bake in the preheated oven for 50 minutes to one hour, or until the loaf pulls away from the pan and sounds hollow when you tap it lightly. Rub some butter on the top after you take it out of the oven. Cool on a rack.
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Hot lynx
cookieandkate.com/… 50 Pantry-Friendly Recipes & Substitutions That Work, from cooking blog Cookie + Kate. Lots of great suggestions for creating a pandemic pantry and using it to create healthy meals.
www.motherjones.com/… 7 Tips for Making the Most of the Food Already on Your Shelves. These are truly helpful suggestions!
www.theatlantic.com/...Ina Garten’s Quarantine Playbook. Ina’s helpful and charming Instagram posts have become indispensable to an ever larger audience. As the author of the Atlantic article says, “Garten has always managed to occupy a space between authenticity and contentment that inspires rather than irks.”
www.goodnewsnetwork.org/...Music Takes 13 Minutes to ‘Release Sadness’ and 9 to Make You Happy, Says New Study
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And in closing:
x YouTube Video
❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Thanks to each and every Gnusie for your smarts, your hearts, and your faithful attendance at our daily Gathering of the Herd.
❤💙 RESIST, PERSIST, REBUILD, REJOICE!💙❤


dailykos--2020-03-25--Increased Stay at Home Orders Now in Effect in Wisconsin and Some Tips for Staying Healthy

Democratic Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers issued “ Safer at Home ” orders which went into effect today at 8 AM .
Under the order , people will be able to go to grocery stores , doctor 's offices and pharmacies and go outside to exercise or walk a dog .
But people will be required to stay at home for most other reasons and the governor noted that means `` no sleepovers , no playdates and no dinner parties with friends and neighbors . ''
Restaurants , which were closed by the governor last week for dine-in service , will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and curbside takeout , according to the governor .
Some manufacturers , such as paper product maker Kimberly-Clark Corp. , may also stay open under the governor 's order .
`` Folks , 'all hands on deck ' means you too , '' Evers said in a telephone news conference .
He had previously declared a public health emergency on March 20 , but extended the reach of his orders to attempt to contain the spread of the disease .
Republicans , who control the State Legislature , are furious about the effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( of course ! )
, but can ’ t control the Governors power to declare emergencies .
During the lame duck session in 2018 ( after Democrats were elected to fill the entire Executive Branch ) , the GOP infamously rushed into an emergency session and passed legislation which literally transferred the powers of the Governor to themselves in the Legislature .
Here ’ s a list of what ’ s considered essential and allowed to stay open : • Businesses that provide food and beverage manufacturing , processing and distribution • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shipping services • Businesses that sell office supplies and IT equipment • Transportation services like Uber and Lyft , taxi cab companies and public buses • Hotels and motels that close swimming pools , hot tubs and gyms

Democratic Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers issued “Safer at Home” orders which went into effect today at 8 AM.
Under the order, people will be able to go to grocery stores, doctor's offices and pharmacies and go outside to exercise or walk a dog. But people will be required to stay at home for most other reasons and the governor noted that means "no sleepovers, no playdates and no dinner parties with friends and neighbors." Restaurants, which were closed by the governor last week for dine-in service, will be able to continue to provide delivery and curbside takeout, according to the governor. Some manufacturers, such as paper product maker Kimberly-Clark Corp., may also stay open under the governor's order. "Folks, 'all hands on deck' means you too," Evers said in a telephone news conference.
He had previously declared a public health emergency on March 20, but extended the reach of his orders to attempt to contain the spread of the disease.
Republicans, who control the State Legislature, are furious about the effects that the order will have on business (of course!), but can’t control the Governors power to declare emergencies. During the lame duck session in 2018 (after Democrats were elected to fill the entire Executive Branch), the GOP infamously rushed into an emergency session and passed legislation which literally transferred the powers of the Governor to themselves in the Legislature.
Here’s a list of what’s considered essential and allowed to stay open:
Healthcare providers
Grocery stores
Bakeries
Pharmacies
Family caregivers
Convenience stores
Gas stations
Pet supply stores
Liquor stores
Businesses that provide food and beverage manufacturing, processing and distribution
Animal shelters
Banks
Insurance offices
Hardware stores
Trades, like carpenters, electricians and plumbers
Laundromats
Post Offices, and other mailing and shipping services
Businesses that sell office supplies and IT equipment
Transportation services like Uber and Lyft, taxi cab companies and public buses
Hotels and motels that close swimming pools, hot tubs and gyms
Everyone else is supposed to stay home. Schools have been closed for a couple of weeks already and our State University System will conduct the remaining school year on line only. Summerfest, concerts, and any other public events have been cancelled and/or rescheduled. We still have Elections April 7 and that can’t be delayed because it includes not just the Wisconsin Presidential Primary and a State Supreme Court race, but municipal elections also. Those who win the municipal elections will take office in April or early May making postponement a serious problem. Since we have No Excuse Absentee Voting, Governor Evers is recommending that people request an absentee ballot online. I requested mine 2 weeks ago and it will be the first time in nearly 50 years that I won’t be voting in person.
Now, some tips from a retired RN:
Wash your hands . Remember to wash your thumbs, the web space between your thumb and index finger, both sides of your fingers, and the sides of your hands. Pay particular attention to your nails and tips of the fingers. Use a mild soap (it’s the washing action and foaming rather than the harshness of the soap that does the job). Use hand cream or lotion to prevent your skin from drying out or chapping.
. Remember to wash your thumbs, the web space between your thumb and index finger, both sides of your fingers, and the sides of your hands. Pay particular attention to your nails and tips of the fingers. Use a mild soap (it’s the washing action and foaming rather than the harshness of the soap that does the job). Use hand cream or lotion to prevent your skin from drying out or chapping. Use hand sanitizer only when soap and water isn’t available. It does work, but it is very drying on the skin and you’ll have chapping if you use it too frequently.
It does work, but it is very drying on the skin and you’ll have chapping if you use it too frequently. Don’t use cash . If you have to use cash, then don’t take your change back. Leave it as a tip for the worker who is just as scared as you are and has to work. Use your debit or credit card instead particularly if you’re using a swiping device and are the only one handling your card. While you CAN wash money, I’m not sure how well it removes viruses. You can easily sanitize your card.
. If you have to use cash, then don’t take your change back. Leave it as a tip for the worker who is just as scared as you are and has to work. Use your debit or credit card instead particularly if you’re using a swiping device and are the only one handling your card. While you CAN wash money, I’m not sure how well it removes viruses. You can easily sanitize your card. Don't visit grandma or anyone with a compromised immune system . This includes anyone on immune suppressant drugs like transplant recipients, people taking HIV drugs, anyone on chemotherapy, and anyone who take meds to suppress conditions like Rheumatoid arthritis. No matter how lonely they get, they don’t need you bringing Covid 19 and we know that even people without symptoms are contagious. Give them a phone call instead.
. This includes anyone on immune suppressant drugs like transplant recipients, people taking HIV drugs, anyone on chemotherapy, and anyone who take meds to suppress conditions like Rheumatoid arthritis. No matter how lonely they get, they don’t need you bringing Covid 19 and we know that even people without symptoms are contagious. Give them a phone call instead. If ordering things online, wash your hands after handling the delivery box . You have no idea who has touched that box before and after delivery. As an added precaution, I leave the box unopened for 2 days (the length of time some viruses can remain on surfaces). Those worries don’t extend to food deliveries (except the bag or box it came in) because food workers in most places are required to wear gloves when handling food. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling the bag or box your food was delivered in. The food containers inside the bag are fine.
. You have no idea who has touched that box before and after delivery. As an added precaution, I leave the box unopened for 2 days (the length of time some viruses can remain on surfaces). Those worries don’t extend to food deliveries (except the bag or box it came in) because food workers in most places are required to wear gloves when handling food. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling the bag or box your food was delivered in. The food containers inside the bag are fine. Relax! Yes, easier said than done, but when you’re stressed out your body produces stress hormones and those interfere with your immune system leaving you more vulnerable. If you’re stuck at home, do fun things are tackle a project you’ve been wanting to do, but didn’t have time. In fact, those dresser drawers and closets could use some attention around here.
I’m in Wisconsin and we hug — NO Hugging — so I send you my best wishes and (((a virtual hug))). Stay safe.


dailykos--2020-03-26--Quick Overview of Maine's 2020 State Senate Races

Democrats currently control the Maine State Senate by a 21-14 margin .
As is the case in all of New England , all seats are up for re-election every two years .
Here ’ s how I ’ d rate them .
District 1 ( northern Aroostook ) : This district voted for Trump by 7 percent , but incumbent Troy Jackson ( D ) , the President of the State Senate , won re-election 61-39 in 2018 .
He is being challenged by Republican Brian Schaefer of Winterville Plantation , who appears to be the Director of Facilities Management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kent .
Schaefer seems to be a third- or fourth-tier candidate , and so shouldn ’ t pose much of a threat to Jackson , who fits his district very well .
Likely D. District 2 ( southern Aroostook ) : This district voted for Trump by a punishing 62-32 margin , Trump ’ s second-best district in the whole state ( just behind the 4th ) , yet somehow it ’ s represented by a Democrat , Michael Carpenter .
Carpenter only won re-election 51-49 in 2018 , and this year he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whip Harold “ Trey ” Stewart of Presque Isle .
Stewart is one of the strongest candidates the Republicans could run here , and considering how red the district is , I ’ ve got to say that Stewart is probably favored to defeat Carpenter .
Lean R. District 3 ( Somerset ) : This district voted for Trump 56-37 and is represented by first-term Republican Bradlee Farrin , who won 60-40 in 2018 .
This year he faces Democrat Katherine Wilder of Norridgewock , a local school board member who lost a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Farrin will most likely win easily .
Safe R. District 4 ( Piscataquis and part of Penobscot ) : This district is the reddest district in Maine , voting for Trump 62-32 .
The Republican incumbent here is Paul T. Davis of Sangerville , who won re-election 66-34 in 2018 .
He first faces a primary with former state senator Doug Thomas of Ripley , who Davis himself ousted in the 2014 primary .
The winner of the primary will face Democrat David Ziemer of Orneville Township , who has run for this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year won ’ t be any different .
Safe R. District 5 ( Orono , Old Town , and Millinocket ) : This district is one of the most consistently Democratic districts in Maine , having elected only Democrats for more than 20 years .
It voted for Clinton by a 48-44 margin in 2016 .
The incumbent here , Democrat James Dill of Old Town , won re-election 56-37 in 2018 , with the remaining 7 percent going to a Green candidate .
This year , Dill faces Republican Christian Ireland of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name , the first thing that comes up is a court order affirming Ireland ’ s conviction on charges of drug trafficking .
Needless to say , he poses no threat to Dill .
Safe D. District 6 ( Washington ) : This district voted for Trump by a 55-38 margin , and first-term Republican incumbent Marianne Moore of Calais is running for re-election .
Her challenger is Democrat Jeffrey Lovit of Addison , a local lawyer .
Considering that Moore won in 2018 by a larger-than-expected 61-39 margin , she probably has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R. District 7 ( Hancock ) : This 53-41 Clinton district is represented by first-term Democrat Louis Luchini of Ellsworth , who won by a dominating 64-36 margin in 2018 .
Two Republicans filed to challenge him — former state senator Brian Langley , who represented the district for 8 years and was known as a moderate , and local used car dealership owner John Linnehan , both of Ellsworth .
It ’ s hard to see this district turn red even if Langley is the Republican nominee — Luchini won in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever won by .
Luchini has a strong base in Ellsworth , the largest town in the district , and it ’ s very difficult for me to see Langley winning it by anywhere near as big a margin as he ’ d need .
Safe D. District 8 ( Bucksport , Brewer , Lincoln ) : This district voted 53-39 for Trump , and is represented by Republican Kim Rosen of Bucksport , who won by 17 percent in 2018 .
Rosen first faces a primary challenge from state rep Lawrence Lockman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year .
Lockman is a horrible and despicable human being , so I hope Rosen defeats him .
The Democrat waiting in the general election is local historian Trudy Scee of Brewer .
If Rosen wins her primary ( which I expect her to ) , then the general election will be Safe R. If Lockman somehow defeats her , then the general election may be more competitive .
District 9 ( Bangor and Hermon ) : This 49-43 Clinton district is open , as Democratic incumbent Geoff Gratwick is term-limited .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baldacci , a Bangor city councillor and brother of former Governor John Baldacci , and Victoria Kornfield , a term-limited state rep .
The Republican candidate is John Hiatt , the Penobscot County Treasurer .
County offices in Maine are very low-profile , so most voters won ’ t know who Hiatt is beforehand .
Both of the Dems are strong candidates , and either one would be favored , but an upset by Hiatt can not be completely ruled out .
Likely D. District 10 ( outer Penobscot ) : This district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ represented by Republican Stacey Guerin , who won her first term by a 66-34 margin in 2018 .
The Democrat facing her is Frederick Austin of Newport , who has run for state rep numerous times and lost by wide margins every time .
Guerin will win in another landslide .
Safe R. District 11 ( Waldo ) : This district voted for Clinton by about a half a percent .
First-term Dem Erin Herbig is not running for re-election , in order to become the city manager of Belfast .
Three Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Belfast , who ran for this seat in 2012 and lost 54-46 ; Charles Pattavina of Winterport , an emergency medicine doctor ; and Robyn Stanicki of Belfast .
All three candidates seem like second- or third-tier — this is definitely a race where the Democrat ’ s not running for re-election reduced Dem chances of victory .
The Republican here is Duncan Milne of Liberty , an ex-Colonel in the Marines — he ’ s clearly not a top-tier candidate either .
This is a tough race to handicap since none @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but I ’ ll say Lean D. District 12 ( Knox ) : This district voted 55-39 for Clinton , and re-elected its Democratic incumbent , Dave Miramant of Camden , by a 63-37 margin in 2018 .
He ’ s being challenged by Republican Gordon Page of Owls Head , a local nonprofit leader .
Page is a fairly good candidate , but Miramant hasn ’ t done anything to piss off his voters , and it ’ s very hard for me to see an incumbent in such a blue district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lincoln ) : This district voted for Clinton by 59 votes — about 0.25 % .
In 2018 , it re-elected its Republican incumbent , Dana Dow of Waldoboro , by a 51-49 margin .
This district consistently sees very close races , and this year looks like another one .
Challenging Dow is Democratic state rep Chloe Maxmin of Nobleboro .
Maxmin is undoubtedly to the left of the district , but she ’ s also to the left of her state House district , and that didn ’ t stop her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known in the rural , inland towns of the district will help Maxmin .
This is , as usual , a top-tier race .
Tossup .
District 14 ( southern Kennebec ) : This district voted for Trump by about 2.5 % , and re-elected its Democratic incumbent , Shenna Bellows of Manchester , by a 58-42 margin in 2018 .
This year , Bellows faces a primary challenge from Danielle Grondin-Stevens of Winthrop , a chiropractor .
The Republican waiting in the general election is Mark Walker , the mayor of Hallowell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town — this is the problem with nonpartisan local elections , they allow Republicans to gain footholds in Democratic towns to ultimately run for higher office . )
If Bellows wins her primary , she ’ ll be favored in the general , but Walker could also win .
Lean D with Bellows , Tossup with Grondin-Stevens .
District 15 ( Augusta area ) : This district voted 49-44 for Trump , and elected Republican Matthew Pouliot of Augusta to the state senate in 2018 by a 57-43 margin .
This year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Augusta , a local leader and pro-immunization activist .
There ’ s a lot of support for that position ( as shown by the recent ballot referendum which affirmed Maine ’ s new vaccination laws ) , but Augusta loves its moderate Republicans , and Pouliot will not be easy to dislodge .
Likely R. District 16 ( Waterville area ) : This district voted for Trump by less than one percent , and re-elected Republican Scott Cyrway in 2018 by a similarly narrow 0.8 % .
This district is divided between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the rural towns of Albion , Benton , and Clinton , which are heavily Republican .
The two remaining towns of Winslow and Fairfield are the swing towns , and so far they ’ ve liked Cyrway .
This year , Cyrway is being challenged by Democrat Hilary Koch of Waterville , a member of the city ’ s charter commission .
This race will be close again , and considering how close it was in 2018 without presidential-year turnout , Dems could certainly win this .
Tossup .
District 17 ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Trump , and elected Republican Russell Black of Wilton by a 9-point margin in 2018 .
This year , Black faces a rematch with the woman he defeated in 2018 — Democrat Jan Collins of Wilton .
This district , like the 15th , also has a long history of electing Republicans , and Black is favored for a second term .
Likely R. District 18 ( Oxford ) : This heavily WWC , quickly Republican-trending district voted 52-39 for Trump ( after going 57-39 for Obama in 2012 ) , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dixfield , won re-election in 2018 by a larger-than-expected 65-35 margin .
This year , she faces Democrat Gabriel Perkins of Bethel , the executive director of Mahoosuc Pathways , a local outdoor recreational organization .
Perkins ’ level of success will depend on whether or not he can connect with those WWC Obama/Trump voters in places like Rumford and Mexico .
The trends here , along with Keim ’ s massive victory in 2018 , do not bode well .
Likely R. District 19 ( southern Oxford , Bridgton ) : This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is an open seat , as Republican incumbent James Hamper is term-limited .
Democrats are running Katherine Branch of Paris , a yoga studio owner .
Republicans are running Richard Bennett of Oxford , a former state senator and chair of the Maine Republican Party .
Bennett is a more experienced politician , and that , plus the fact that the district leans Republican , indicates to me that he is favored .
Likely R. District 20 ( Auburn area ) : This district voted for Trump by 7 percent , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Dems in 2018 .
This year , Claxton faces Republican Matthew Leonard , a local businessman and former Chamber of Commerce head .
Auburn leans to the left , while the four surrounding towns in the district are more Republican , and this is going to be a close race .
Tossup .
District 21 ( Lewiston ) : This district voted 49-44 for Clinton , and Democratic incumbent Nate Libby won re-election 60-40 in 2018 .
This year , Libby faces Republican Timothy Gallant , a Congressional staffer .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though slowly trending Republican ) , and Libby should be fine .
Safe D. District 22 ( rural Androscoggin ) : This WWC , Republican-trending district voted 58-35 for Trump , and elected Republican Jeffrey Timberlake to his first term in 2018 by a 63-37 margin .
This year , Timberlake is being challenged by Democrat Martha Poliquin , a former state rep candidate who lost by 21 percent in 2018 .
Timberlake won ’ t have any issues here .
Safe R. District 23 ( Sagadahoc ) : This district voted 49-43 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vitelli 58-42 in 2018 .
This year , Vitelli faces Republican Holly Kopp of Topsham , a local school board member .
The only time this district went Republican in the past decade is when a Green candidate sucked up 10 % of the vote , and no Green candidate is running this time , so I ’ d say that Vitelli is in good shape .
Safe D. District 24 ( Brunswick area ) : This district voted 62-32 for Clinton , and its Democratic primary will be more interesting than its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everett “ Brownie ” Carson , is not running for re-election , and two Democrats are running to succeed him — state rep Matthea “ Mattie ” Daughtry , and former state senator Stanley Gerzofsky .
That primary will be an interesting one to watch .
The winner will face Republican Bradford Pattershall of Freeport , a lawyer , and defeat him easily .
Safe D. District 25 ( Falmouth/Yarmouth area ) : This district contains a series of upper-class , well-educated coastal suburbs between Portland and Brunswick , and has been trending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinton by a 59-35 margin .
The Democratic incumbent , Cathy Breen , won her first election in 2014 by an extremely close 10 votes , but has won by steadily increasing margins since then as her district moves to the left ( 62-38 in 2018 ) .
This year , Breen faces Republican Jennifer White of Gray , a local activist whose pet cause is for her section of town to secede and join neighboring Raymond ( her section of town is cut off from the rest of Gray by Little Sebago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Raymond ) .
That probably won ’ t endear her to residents of the rest of Gray , never mind the wealthy , liberal coastal towns .
Safe D. District 26 ( Windham , Sebago Lake area ) : This district voted for Trump by a 51-42 margin , but is represented by a popular moderate Democrat , Bill Diamond , who has never faced a close race here ( he was totally unopposed in 2018 ) .
This year , he ’ s being challenged by Republican Karen Lockwood of Raymond , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Budget-Finance Committee .
Diamond is a very strong incumbent , and won ’ t face any issues .
Safe D. District 27 ( inner Portland ) : This is the most Democratic district in Maine , voting 79-15 for Clinton .
Democratic incumbent Ben Chipman won in 2018 by a 75-25 margin against an Independent .
No Republicans have filed for this seat ( not that it would have made any difference ) .
Safe D. District 28 ( outer Portland ) : This district voted 67-27 for Clinton , and Democratic incumbent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No Republicans filed for this seat this year either .
Safe D. District 29 ( South Portland and Cape Elizabeth ) : This district voted 68-27 for Clinton , and Democratic incumbent Rebecca Millett is term-limited , making this an open seat .
Three Democrats have filed here , including one state rep , Anne Carney .
A Republican , Stephanie Anderson , has also filed , but this district is so blue that they stand no chance .
Safe D. District 30 ( Scarborough and Gorham ) : This district voted 52-42 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ narrowly defeated a Republican incumbent 50.5-49.5 in 2018 to pick up the seat .
Sanborn isn ’ t running for re-election .
Instead , Dems are running Stacy Brenner of Scarborough , an organic farmer and small business owner , while Republicans are running Sara Rivard of Gorham , a chiropractor .
Both candidates seem like second- or third-tier candidates , so therefore due to the lean of the district I ’ ll call this race Lean D. District 31 ( Saco area ) : This district voted 51-43 for Clinton , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here in 2018 .
This year , he is challenged by Republican William Gombar of Old Orchard Beach , a local businessman .
Chenette is popular and this is a Democratic district — he has nothing to worry about .
Safe D. District 32 ( Biddeford area ) : This district voted for Clinton by 8 percent , and re-elected its Democratic state senator , Susan Deschambault , by a 63-37 margin in 2018 .
This year , Deschambault faces Republican Robert Daigle of Arundel , an engineer and former state rep. Daigle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but this is a reliably Democratic district , and I can ’ t see Deschambault losing .
Safe D. District 33 ( Sanford area ) : This district voted 51-41 for Trump , and the Republican incumbent , David Woodsome of Waterboro , won re-election 59-41 in 2018 .
This year , Woodsome is challenged by Democrat Michael McKinney , who ran for the 19th district in 2018 and lost 58-42 to the Republican incumbent James Hamper .
It would seem that McKinney moved to a neighboring town ( his hometown in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but is now listed as neighboring Cornish ) in order to live in the district that he ’ s running for .
The 33rd is a little bit less Republican than the 19th , but McKinney seems to be carpetbagging , and Woodsome is a strong incumbent .
Safe R. DIstrict 34 ( Berwick , Wells , Kennebunk ) : This district voted for Clinton by 196 votes , or roughly 0.75 % .
In 2018 , it elected the popular Republican state rep from Wells , Robert Foley , over frequent candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ margin .
Foley is not running for re-election this year .
The Republicans are running Michael Pardue , the town manager of Kennebunk , which is the most Democratic town in the district .
Democrats are running Joe Rafferty , the football coach at Kennebunk High School .
Both candidates are well-known , and this will be a close race .
Tossup .
District 35 ( York/Kittery area ) : This district is reliably Democratic , voting for Clinton by almost 20 percent .
Democratic incumbent Mark Lawrence of Eliot won by 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Bradley Moulton of York , a former one-term state rep who lost re-election in 2016 and lost again in 2018 .
Considering the blueness of the district and Moulton ’ s spotty electoral record , Lawrence will be fine .
Safe D. Since Democrats currently hold 21 seats , if the Tossups are split down the middle and every other district votes as expected , Democrats will hold the same number of seats .
Republicans would have to sweep the Tossups and win two of the Lean D seats in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is unlikely , so I would put overall control as Likely Democratic .

Democrats currently control the Maine State Senate by a 21-14 margin. As is the case in all of New England, all seats are up for re-election every two years. Here’s how I’d rate them.
District 1 (northern Aroostook): This district voted for Trump by 7 percent, but incumbent Troy Jackson (D), the President of the State Senate, won re-election 61-39 in 2018. He is being challenged by Republican Brian Schaefer of Winterville Plantation, who appears to be the Director of Facilities Management at the University of Maine — Fort Kent. Schaefer seems to be a third- or fourth-tier candidate, and so shouldn’t pose much of a threat to Jackson, who fits his district very well. Likely D.
District 2 (southern Aroostook): This district voted for Trump by a punishing 62-32 margin, Trump’s second-best district in the whole state (just behind the 4th), yet somehow it’s represented by a Democrat, Michael Carpenter. Carpenter only won re-election 51-49 in 2018, and this year he faces a stronger candidate — House Minority Whip Harold “Trey” Stewart of Presque Isle. Stewart is one of the strongest candidates the Republicans could run here, and considering how red the district is, I’ve got to say that Stewart is probably favored to defeat Carpenter. Lean R.
District 3 (Somerset): This district voted for Trump 56-37 and is represented by first-term Republican Bradlee Farrin, who won 60-40 in 2018. This year he faces Democrat Katherine Wilder of Norridgewock, a local school board member who lost a state House race 57-43 in 2018. Farrin will most likely win easily. Safe R.
District 4 (Piscataquis and part of Penobscot): This district is the reddest district in Maine, voting for Trump 62-32. The Republican incumbent here is Paul T. Davis of Sangerville, who won re-election 66-34 in 2018. He first faces a primary with former state senator Doug Thomas of Ripley, who Davis himself ousted in the 2014 primary. The winner of the primary will face Democrat David Ziemer of Orneville Township, who has run for this seat previously and been crushed. This year won’t be any different. Safe R.
District 5 (Orono, Old Town, and Millinocket): This district is one of the most consistently Democratic districts in Maine, having elected only Democrats for more than 20 years. It voted for Clinton by a 48-44 margin in 2016. The incumbent here, Democrat James Dill of Old Town, won re-election 56-37 in 2018, with the remaining 7 percent going to a Green candidate. This year, Dill faces Republican Christian Ireland of Howland. When Googling Ireland’s name, the first thing that comes up is a court order affirming Ireland’s conviction on charges of drug trafficking. Needless to say, he poses no threat to Dill. Safe D.
District 6 (Washington): This district voted for Trump by a 55-38 margin, and first-term Republican incumbent Marianne Moore of Calais is running for re-election. Her challenger is Democrat Jeffrey Lovit of Addison, a local lawyer. Considering that Moore won in 2018 by a larger-than-expected 61-39 margin, she probably has very little to worry about. Safe R.
District 7 (Hancock): This 53-41 Clinton district is represented by first-term Democrat Louis Luchini of Ellsworth, who won by a dominating 64-36 margin in 2018. Two Republicans filed to challenge him — former state senator Brian Langley, who represented the district for 8 years and was known as a moderate, and local used car dealership owner John Linnehan, both of Ellsworth. It’s hard to see this district turn red even if Langley is the Republican nominee — Luchini won in 2018 by a much larger margin than Langley ever won by. Luchini has a strong base in Ellsworth, the largest town in the district, and it’s very difficult for me to see Langley winning it by anywhere near as big a margin as he’d need. Safe D.
District 8 (Bucksport, Brewer, Lincoln): This district voted 53-39 for Trump, and is represented by Republican Kim Rosen of Bucksport, who won by 17 percent in 2018. Rosen first faces a primary challenge from state rep Lawrence Lockman of Amherst, who is termed out this year. Lockman is a horrible and despicable human being, so I hope Rosen defeats him. The Democrat waiting in the general election is local historian Trudy Scee of Brewer. If Rosen wins her primary (which I expect her to), then the general election will be Safe R. If Lockman somehow defeats her, then the general election may be more competitive.
District 9 (Bangor and Hermon): This 49-43 Clinton district is open, as Democratic incumbent Geoff Gratwick is term-limited. There are two Democrats running: Joseph Baldacci, a Bangor city councillor and brother of former Governor John Baldacci, and Victoria Kornfield, a term-limited state rep. The Republican candidate is John Hiatt, the Penobscot County Treasurer. County offices in Maine are very low-profile, so most voters won’t know who Hiatt is beforehand. Both of the Dems are strong candidates, and either one would be favored, but an upset by Hiatt cannot be completely ruled out. Likely D.
District 10 (outer Penobscot): This district voted 59-34 for Trump, and is represented by Republican Stacey Guerin, who won her first term by a 66-34 margin in 2018. The Democrat facing her is Frederick Austin of Newport, who has run for state rep numerous times and lost by wide margins every time. Guerin will win in another landslide. Safe R.
District 11 (Waldo): This district voted for Clinton by about a half a percent. First-term Dem Erin Herbig is not running for re-election, in order to become the city manager of Belfast. Three Democrats filed for this seat: Glenn Curry of Belfast, who ran for this seat in 2012 and lost 54-46; Charles Pattavina of Winterport, an emergency medicine doctor; and Robyn Stanicki of Belfast. All three candidates seem like second- or third-tier — this is definitely a race where the Democrat’s not running for re-election reduced Dem chances of victory. The Republican here is Duncan Milne of Liberty, an ex-Colonel in the Marines — he’s clearly not a top-tier candidate either. This is a tough race to handicap since none of the candidates are elected officials, but I’ll say Lean D.
District 12 (Knox): This district voted 55-39 for Clinton, and re-elected its Democratic incumbent, Dave Miramant of Camden, by a 63-37 margin in 2018. He’s being challenged by Republican Gordon Page of Owls Head, a local nonprofit leader. Page is a fairly good candidate, but Miramant hasn’t done anything to piss off his voters, and it’s very hard for me to see an incumbent in such a blue district losing. Safe D.
District 13 (Lincoln): This district voted for Clinton by 59 votes — about 0.25%. In 2018, it re-elected its Republican incumbent, Dana Dow of Waldoboro, by a 51-49 margin. This district consistently sees very close races, and this year looks like another one. Challenging Dow is Democratic state rep Chloe Maxmin of Nobleboro. Maxmin is undoubtedly to the left of the district, but she’s also to the left of her state House district, and that didn’t stop her from winning it in 2018. Being known in the rural, inland towns of the district will help Maxmin. This is, as usual, a top-tier race. Tossup.
District 14 (southern Kennebec): This district voted for Trump by about 2.5%, and re-elected its Democratic incumbent, Shenna Bellows of Manchester, by a 58-42 margin in 2018. This year, Bellows faces a primary challenge from Danielle Grondin-Stevens of Winthrop, a chiropractor. The Republican waiting in the general election is Mark Walker, the mayor of Hallowell. (Hallowell is a heavily Democratic town — this is the problem with nonpartisan local elections, they allow Republicans to gain footholds in Democratic towns to ultimately run for higher office.) If Bellows wins her primary, she’ll be favored in the general, but Walker could also win. Lean D with Bellows, Tossup with Grondin-Stevens.
District 15 (Augusta area): This district voted 49-44 for Trump, and elected Republican Matthew Pouliot of Augusta to the state senate in 2018 by a 57-43 margin. This year, Pouliot is challenged by Democrat Kalie Hess of Augusta, a local leader and pro-immunization activist. There’s a lot of support for that position (as shown by the recent ballot referendum which affirmed Maine’s new vaccination laws), but Augusta loves its moderate Republicans, and Pouliot will not be easy to dislodge. Likely R.
District 16 (Waterville area): This district voted for Trump by less than one percent, and re-elected Republican Scott Cyrway in 2018 by a similarly narrow 0.8%. This district is divided between Waterville, which is heavily Democratic, and the rural towns of Albion, Benton, and Clinton, which are heavily Republican. The two remaining towns of Winslow and Fairfield are the swing towns, and so far they’ve liked Cyrway. This year, Cyrway is being challenged by Democrat Hilary Koch of Waterville, a member of the city’s charter commission. This race will be close again, and considering how close it was in 2018 without presidential-year turnout, Dems could certainly win this. Tossup.
District 17 (Franklin): This district voted 49-43 for Trump, and elected Republican Russell Black of Wilton by a 9-point margin in 2018. This year, Black faces a rematch with the woman he defeated in 2018 — Democrat Jan Collins of Wilton. This district, like the 15th, also has a long history of electing Republicans, and Black is favored for a second term. Likely R.
District 18 (Oxford): This heavily WWC, quickly Republican-trending district voted 52-39 for Trump (after going 57-39 for Obama in 2012), and its Republican incumbent, Lisa Keim of Dixfield, won re-election in 2018 by a larger-than-expected 65-35 margin. This year, she faces Democrat Gabriel Perkins of Bethel, the executive director of Mahoosuc Pathways, a local outdoor recreational organization. Perkins’ level of success will depend on whether or not he can connect with those WWC Obama/Trump voters in places like Rumford and Mexico. The trends here, along with Keim’s massive victory in 2018, do not bode well. Likely R.
District 19 (southern Oxford, Bridgton): This district voted 53-39 for Trump, and it is an open seat, as Republican incumbent James Hamper is term-limited. Democrats are running Katherine Branch of Paris, a yoga studio owner. Republicans are running Richard Bennett of Oxford, a former state senator and chair of the Maine Republican Party. Bennett is a more experienced politician, and that, plus the fact that the district leans Republican, indicates to me that he is favored. Likely R.
District 20 (Auburn area): This district voted for Trump by 7 percent, but Democrat Ned Claxton narrowly picked it up for the Dems in 2018. This year, Claxton faces Republican Matthew Leonard, a local businessman and former Chamber of Commerce head. Auburn leans to the left, while the four surrounding towns in the district are more Republican, and this is going to be a close race. Tossup.
District 21 (Lewiston): This district voted 49-44 for Clinton, and Democratic incumbent Nate Libby won re-election 60-40 in 2018. This year, Libby faces Republican Timothy Gallant, a Congressional staffer. This district is a reliably Democratic one (though slowly trending Republican), and Libby should be fine. Safe D.
District 22 (rural Androscoggin): This WWC, Republican-trending district voted 58-35 for Trump, and elected Republican Jeffrey Timberlake to his first term in 2018 by a 63-37 margin. This year, Timberlake is being challenged by Democrat Martha Poliquin, a former state rep candidate who lost by 21 percent in 2018. Timberlake won’t have any issues here. Safe R.
District 23 (Sagadahoc): This district voted 49-43 for Clinton, and re-elected Democrat Eloise Vitelli 58-42 in 2018. This year, Vitelli faces Republican Holly Kopp of Topsham, a local school board member. The only time this district went Republican in the past decade is when a Green candidate sucked up 10% of the vote, and no Green candidate is running this time, so I’d say that Vitelli is in good shape. Safe D.
District 24 (Brunswick area): This district voted 62-32 for Clinton, and its Democratic primary will be more interesting than its general election. The incumbent, Democrat Everett “Brownie” Carson, is not running for re-election, and two Democrats are running to succeed him — state rep Matthea “Mattie” Daughtry, and former state senator Stanley Gerzofsky. That primary will be an interesting one to watch. The winner will face Republican Bradford Pattershall of Freeport, a lawyer, and defeat him easily. Safe D.
District 25 (Falmouth/Yarmouth area): This district contains a series of upper-class, well-educated coastal suburbs between Portland and Brunswick, and has been trending to the left. It voted for Clinton by a 59-35 margin. The Democratic incumbent, Cathy Breen, won her first election in 2014 by an extremely close 10 votes, but has won by steadily increasing margins since then as her district moves to the left (62-38 in 2018). This year, Breen faces Republican Jennifer White of Gray, a local activist whose pet cause is for her section of town to secede and join neighboring Raymond (her section of town is cut off from the rest of Gray by Little Sebago Lake, and is closer to downtown Raymond). That probably won’t endear her to residents of the rest of Gray, never mind the wealthy, liberal coastal towns. Safe D.
District 26 (Windham, Sebago Lake area): This district voted for Trump by a 51-42 margin, but is represented by a popular moderate Democrat, Bill Diamond, who has never faced a close race here (he was totally unopposed in 2018). This year, he’s being challenged by Republican Karen Lockwood of Raymond, a member of her town’s Budget-Finance Committee. Diamond is a very strong incumbent, and won’t face any issues. Safe D.
District 27 (inner Portland): This is the most Democratic district in Maine, voting 79-15 for Clinton. Democratic incumbent Ben Chipman won in 2018 by a 75-25 margin against an Independent. No Republicans have filed for this seat (not that it would have made any difference). Safe D.
District 28 (outer Portland): This district voted 67-27 for Clinton, and Democratic incumbent Heather Sanborn won unopposed in 2018. No Republicans filed for this seat this year either. Safe D.
District 29 (South Portland and Cape Elizabeth): This district voted 68-27 for Clinton, and Democratic incumbent Rebecca Millett is term-limited, making this an open seat. Three Democrats have filed here, including one state rep, Anne Carney. A Republican, Stephanie Anderson, has also filed, but this district is so blue that they stand no chance. Safe D.
District 30 (Scarborough and Gorham): This district voted 52-42 for Clinton, and Democrat Linda Sanborn narrowly defeated a Republican incumbent 50.5-49.5 in 2018 to pick up the seat. Sanborn isn’t running for re-election. Instead, Dems are running Stacy Brenner of Scarborough, an organic farmer and small business owner, while Republicans are running Sara Rivard of Gorham, a chiropractor. Both candidates seem like second- or third-tier candidates, so therefore due to the lean of the district I’ll call this race Lean D.
District 31 (Saco area): This district voted 51-43 for Clinton, and Democratic incumbent Justin Chenette won re-election 66-34 here in 2018. This year, he is challenged by Republican William Gombar of Old Orchard Beach, a local businessman. Chenette is popular and this is a Democratic district — he has nothing to worry about. Safe D.
District 32 (Biddeford area): This district voted for Clinton by 8 percent, and re-elected its Democratic state senator, Susan Deschambault, by a 63-37 margin in 2018. This year, Deschambault faces Republican Robert Daigle of Arundel, an engineer and former state rep. Daigle’s not a bad candidate, but this is a reliably Democratic district, and I can’t see Deschambault losing. Safe D.
District 33 (Sanford area): This district voted 51-41 for Trump, and the Republican incumbent, David Woodsome of Waterboro, won re-election 59-41 in 2018. This year, Woodsome is challenged by Democrat Michael McKinney, who ran for the 19th district in 2018 and lost 58-42 to the Republican incumbent James Hamper. It would seem that McKinney moved to a neighboring town (his hometown in the 2018 election was listed as Hiram, but is now listed as neighboring Cornish) in order to live in the district that he’s running for. The 33rd is a little bit less Republican than the 19th, but McKinney seems to be carpetbagging, and Woodsome is a strong incumbent. Safe R.
DIstrict 34 (Berwick, Wells, Kennebunk): This district voted for Clinton by 196 votes, or roughly 0.75%. In 2018, it elected the popular Republican state rep from Wells, Robert Foley, over frequent candidate Thomas Wright of Berwick by a 52-48 margin. Foley is not running for re-election this year. The Republicans are running Michael Pardue, the town manager of Kennebunk, which is the most Democratic town in the district. Democrats are running Joe Rafferty, the football coach at Kennebunk High School. Both candidates are well-known, and this will be a close race. Tossup.
District 35 (York/Kittery area): This district is reliably Democratic, voting for Clinton by almost 20 percent. Democratic incumbent Mark Lawrence of Eliot won by 25 percent in 2018. Challenging him is Republican Bradley Moulton of York, a former one-term state rep who lost re-election in 2016 and lost again in 2018. Considering the blueness of the district and Moulton’s spotty electoral record, Lawrence will be fine. Safe D.
Here’s the overview:
Safe D: 5, 7, 12, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 35 (14)
Likely D: 1, 9 (2)
Lean D: 11, 14, 30 (3)
Tossup: 13, 16, 20, 34 (4)
Lean R: 2 (1)
Likely R: 15, 17, 18, 19 (4)
Safe R: 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 22, 33 (7)
Since Democrats currently hold 21 seats, if the Tossups are split down the middle and every other district votes as expected, Democrats will hold the same number of seats. Republicans would have to sweep the Tossups and win two of the Lean D seats in order to gain control of the State Senate. This is unlikely, so I would put overall control as Likely Democratic.