The Most Shocking Election In America
We spent 4 days traveling the entire state of Maine with Graham Platner to find out if he can win.
Along the way we sat him down with Republicans and Independents.
One voter told us: “We’re so tired of the establishment, and Maine is a very anti-establishment state.”
Producer and Editor: Josh Hirschfeld-Kroen
Producer and Reporter: John Russell
Videographer: Colin Bell
Supervising Producer: Meg Herschlein
Video Production Manager: Isabel Atalaya
Video Production Coordinator: Jodi Clemens
Video Production Fellow: Astrid Dong
Assistant Editor: Daria Nastasia
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More Perfect Union is an Emmy-winning, nonprofit newsroom whose mission is to build power for working people. Here’s what that means: We report on the real struggles and challenges of the working class from a working-class perspective. We attempt to connect those problems to potential solutions. We report on the abuses and wrongdoing of corporate power. And we seek to hold accountable the ultra-rich who have too much power over America’s political and economic systems.
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@bmxiggy
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
Combat Vet will be voting for Graham
@msonix
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
Sobering, and I'm not even an American. That roundtable with vastly different people felt so genuine – thanks for giving voice to the people.
Great work, More Perfect Union.
@saddletramp6935
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
He should go back to nowhere!
@tiffariff
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
This is what happens when communities are smaller- you can judge people by their character more because you can get to know them. Without that- all you have is their history of mistakes and successes making only the perfection and success the bigger measures- but humans are so much more than their greatest achievements and worst mistakes. It’s how we change and adapt that makes us not only the most powerful and intelligent species on our earth at the moment but life itself that becomes irreplaceable than anything artificial we can even make ourselves.
@Metrosoda
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
The fact that the smear campaign came from the DNC says a hell of a lot about the current political climate. Establishment neoliberals are only interested in exploiting our labor and our income. Short term, the RNC is way worse, don't get me wrong. But long term, the DNC is just as at fault for the massive wealth gap. We desperately need to restructure the electoral college and make room for more parties.
@renzotoglia
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
Planer is a good man. He is sincere and most important he is powerful though he is on the wrong tact. I had to stop watching. If the billionaires are blamed then the system that is creating the wealth by money exchange is winning. Their wealth is created by the huge profit margin of manufacturing outside our borders facilitated in the past by the old Country Club Republicans and now fueled by the Democrats. First ask what is the purpose of tariffs and then follow that thread of your question. Platner pointed out the lack of the manufacturing that caused the problem then he focused on the wealthy as the ones that created the problem. Please reader we must not get distracted. There is a mission afoot now with this administration to bring jobs back to our country. The tariffs are working. Go online. Turn off corporate media. The credible facts to support this assertion is available and discoverable but only by your effort.
@thomasblackmon5722
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
That’s so-called Christian with the plaid shirt. He’s what’s wrong with America.
@flacoflee
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
Beware the Fetterman in sheeps clothing
@sojourner99
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
I love how democrats call everyone nazis,,, except the guy wirh an actual nazi tatoo.😂
@DainBentley
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
obedience to God, votes in a serial adulteror
@Amanda-bt6zz
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
I love the guy who says he’s all about faith and in the next sentence says he’s a huge Trump fan????
@SHOEB289
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
1:42 and people that's right there how he gets way with it all!
@pipergilbert6079
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
The Trump fan ignores completely that Trump, a billionaire, bragged about not paying taxes. Yet, bc this guy hates "wokeness", he is fine with Trump. The clauses in the Bible about adultery, or helping the poor don't matter to the hypocrite Trump fan.
@azertyuioppoiuytreza9763
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
The girl at 8:00 is probably the most beautiful girl I've seen from Maine. The cutest person ever
@davidarneson7100
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
Is that an Azof Battalion tattoo?
@Syrnbjorn
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
13:00 He's non political.
@bebcky
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
Dude knowingly had a nazi tattoo for years and didn't do anything about, then lied about knowing about it, he's a pos who should be nowhere near a position of power
@bluekeys7661
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
I wish we had more people like Graham Platner in this country.
@vinnymurray6098
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
This guy is a fake, he is a global communist, he will not make things better, he’s bought and paid for.
@QuantumTV
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
He's a huge Trump Fan, wait till he hears that he's a pdf.
@chrisharrimanwireworxllc7425
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
i just got the same Nazi tattoo as graham.
@maritawoods5267
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
I would vote for him if I lived in Maine
@RedStretchLimo
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
"It’s true that any politician who proposes a pushback against modern American oligarchy will face a tidal wave of lavishly funded venom. But given the realities of who today’s plutocrats are and what they do, there are big opportunities for leaders willing to pull an FDR and declare, “I welcome their hatred.” -Paul Krugman
@thomaswikstrand8397
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
…"I votey bible, obedience to God" – holy shit, that is absolutely TERRIFYING
@matthiaskroll7740
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
Good luck, reasoning and trust. We are in a ethnic cleansing circle. There are old Systems@work and the leaders share the same genetics. You need protection, they see us as slaves and they will wipe you all out. Its not the first time, they never build anything and steal all. You have to fight, they dont fear you, they harm you nonstop without respect.
@franklarsen7461
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
Without Elon Musk $300 million for donalds johns epsteins trumps Campaign to become the president
@aconsideredopinion7529
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
It’s incredible to witness Americans casually referring to hospitals going bankrupt when the rest of the civilized world accepts that hospitals and by extension healthcare is a basic right. He is correct that the battle is between the exploitation of the rich of the middle class and the poor.
You get the government you deserve and if you want good governance you need to vote for people who will make the world or their community better.
All politics at their core are local.
@daricklapaglia4337
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
He said his faith in god is number 1 and thats why he voted for trump.
@basscheffener1564
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
For two seconds i thought that this was channel 5 news,
Anyhow interesting how this topic goes.
Kind of makes me understand why trumps tactic of attack attack attack worked so well or was being used. Though taking full responsibility and transparency is better, sadly the media is not always so keen on showing happy moments
@antonytselios497
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
If in 2026 30% of the people still say they are Trump supporters it will take generations to actually make any change for the better. the whole opposition is about a tattoo… wtf so much dirt thrown on the man…
@batzzman11
May 12, 2026 at 12:33 pm
NO MORE AIPAC!