What does Donald Trump have against Maine lobster?

Good morning from Augusta, where there are very few Democrats because many of them are headed south to the Democratic State Convention in Portland.

The convention schedule runs through tomorrow, though most of it is pretty routine. Maine’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention in July in Philadelphia will be chosen, which is the most important thing, though there will also be a move to change how super delegates cast their votes in the future, beginning in 2020.

You can see my advance of the convention by clicking here (and I’ll remind you again, below in the reading list). Watch bangordailynews.com for full coverage, including a live blog similar to the ones we hosted in the final days of the legislative session.

Among the speakers at the convention Saturday on behalf of presidential candidate Bernie Sanders will be Jon Fishman, drummer for the jam band Phish, of which I have long been a fan. That calls for a soundtrack. — Christopher Cousins


Pingree signals ‘growing support’ in Congress for ending Cuban embargo

Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, who is on a trade mission to Cuba, met Thursday with Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, who is the lead negotiator for the Cuban government in negotiations with the United States.

“There is growing bipartisan support in Congress for ending the Cuban embargo,” said Pingree in a written statement following the meeting. “It’s only a matter of time before relations between the two countries are normalized, and the economic benefit that will come from that will be significant.”

Pingree’s trip centers on discussions about organic farming, which she has long practiced at home and emphasized as a member of Congress.

“The Cubans have a commitment to organic agriculture and the companies that are with me collectively sell billions of dollars of organic products every year,” she said. “There are definitely some opportunities for both sides.” — Christopher Cousins

Reading list


‘Fresh Nova Scotia lobster’

Wait, what?

There was a mini controversy yesterday about Donald Trump’s tweet about eating a taco bowl, and how the best taco bowls in the world are made at his own Trump Grill. The tweet set off a few offshoots of controversy, including that Trump has a photo of his former wife in a bikini on his desk.

(I noticed there were also some newspapers on The Donald’s desk, which made me like him a little more.)

Anyway, hat tip to Christine Rousselle, who posted this from the Trump Grill menu on Twitter. Has she ignited yet another controversy? Where’s the love for Maine lobsters?

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(That makes me like The Donald a little less). — Christopher Cousins

Christopher Cousins

About Christopher Cousins

Christopher Cousins has worked as a journalist in Maine for more than 15 years and covered state government for numerous media organizations before joining the Bangor Daily News in 2009.