Representative Shelley Pingree
Appearances
The Rachel Maddow Show
Needless economic pain from Trump not even worth it if his tariff gambit works: economist
Well, first, thanks so much for having me, and thanks for highlighting this issue, what crazy times we're living through. So, this retribution continues to our state. We're being singled out, but it's just like so many other things that Trump is doing.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Needless economic pain from Trump not even worth it if his tariff gambit works: economist
We've learned tonight that even though the secretary of agriculture said that no child will go unfed, that if a child was fed today, they'll be fed tomorrow, but now they have fired all the personnel who administer these programs. School lunch, school breakfast, the snacks. So, great that the money will be there, but if we can't get it to the schools, how are they going to serve lunch?
The Rachel Maddow Show
Needless economic pain from Trump not even worth it if his tariff gambit works: economist
It's crazy what they're doing here.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Needless economic pain from Trump not even worth it if his tariff gambit works: economist
Oh, sure. They've been doing a variety of things. They started off by taking all the funds from our main Sea Grant program. Now, that's a program that directly helps our fishermen who are challenged by, you know, ocean warming, sea level rise. Also helps our coastal communities. And we were struck by some severe storms last year. And the Sea Grant program helps with that.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Needless economic pain from Trump not even worth it if his tariff gambit works: economist
The whole delegation jumped on that. A few days later, they took it back. Then they went to the University of Maine, said they were going to take away all the funds for research on simple things like the potato beetle or PFAS in our soil. A few days later, they took that back.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Needless economic pain from Trump not even worth it if his tariff gambit works: economist
Then they went after the one that you heard about or you mentioned at the Social Security Administration, where they're doing an incredible amount of damage. And just the very idea that a newborn, you know, a mom with a newborn baby in a very rural state has to go to a Social Security office. I mean, it's just unthinkable. But as you said, people pushed back and they took it back.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Needless economic pain from Trump not even worth it if his tariff gambit works: economist
But this continues. You know, somewhere in the middle there, Trump said he wanted a full-throated apology from our governor. And then today we got this notice from the secretary of agriculture. But let's face it. We think these are illegal and unconstitutional activities. I'm an appropriator in Congress. We have the power of the purse. He doesn't.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Needless economic pain from Trump not even worth it if his tariff gambit works: economist
So he has no right or ability to take away this funding. And then what kind of world do we live in where you get mad at a governor who has to follow the laws of our state and also a recent Supreme Court decision? So she's dealing within the parameters she's got.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Needless economic pain from Trump not even worth it if his tariff gambit works: economist
And then you say, if you don't apologize or you're a petulant child, then suddenly your state is going to be denied this money, money that goes to farmers or to kids. I mean, it's really outrageous.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Needless economic pain from Trump not even worth it if his tariff gambit works: economist
Well, I think some of them, as in Senator Collins, who fought hard to get the Macy money back and who doesn't want to see our funding targeted, and who also is the chair of the Appropriations Committee, has appropriately fought back. You know, there are those in the legislature who will use this for their political gain.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Needless economic pain from Trump not even worth it if his tariff gambit works: economist
It was a state legislator who started the fight on transgender athletes in our school. By the way, we have two, or maybe it's down to one. So they are targeting and making young people feel— you know, very challenged and putting them in a difficult situation. But that is a matter for the main legislature to decide or this to be adjudicated in the court.
The Rachel Maddow Show
Needless economic pain from Trump not even worth it if his tariff gambit works: economist
The fact is, the president is just using his power. I mean, who is the petulant child here? He did not like being talked back to by the governor. And he doesn't like someone saying, I'll see you in court. You know, he always feels he's going to win in court. And as we know, he's losing about 95 percent of the cases in front of the courts right now.