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🎙️ Q-Point Podcast | Angus King III — Part Two

“There’s A Lot Of Grit In The Gears.” — How Regulation And Red Tape Are Making It Harder To Do Business In Maine.

In Part Two of Q-Point Podcast, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Angus King III continues the conversation with a wide-ranging discussion on Maine’s business climate, regulatory environment, and the practical challenges facing employers, entrepreneurs, and communities across the state.

King describes what he calls “grit in the gears” — the accumulated friction created by permitting delays, regulatory complexity, and administrative burdens that make it harder for businesses to locate, expand, and operate in Maine. He points to real-world examples, including multi-year permitting timelines and businesses choosing other states due to regulatory hurdles, while emphasizing that Maine’s quality of life remains among the best in the nation.

The conversation explores how regulatory decisions disproportionately affect small businesses, which make up the vast majority of Maine employers, and how even minor paperwork requirements can compound across thousands of businesses. King argues that improving coordination, streamlining processes, and creating clearer points of entry for businesses could help Maine better compete while still protecting its natural resources and communities.

Beyond the business climate, the episode also touches on leadership philosophy, executive versus legislative experience, economic development, workforce challenges, and how state government can better align policy with real-world practice. King discusses his view of the governor’s role as a chief executive focused on execution, accountability, and bringing people together to get results.

📻 Airs weekends on The Voice of Maine (101.3 FM, 103.9 FM & The Voice of Maine App).
⬇️ 🎧 Now streaming on QPointPodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music & more.
Produced and sponsored by Corenna Quirk, Broker at NextHome Experience.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily represent those of the hosts, Q-Point Podcast associates, or affiliates.

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This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice or recommendations of any nature whatsoever, and no warrantee, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy of the information presented is made by your use. The views, information, opinions, comments, and observations of this podcast may not be those of the host or the management, and you entertain and rely on the content presented at your sole risk and responsibility. Your access of this podcast acknowledges that the contents and design are the sole property of the presenter and no use in any shape, manner or form of this podcast may be made without written permission. The presenter of the podcast hereby disclaims any and all responsibility for any and all damages arising out of or related to your use, reference and reliance on podcasts and information presented therein.

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🎙️ Q-Point Podcast | Angus King III — Part One

“Life’s Just Become Too Hard For Too Many Folks Here In Maine …” — King On Why He Entered The Race

In Part One of Corenna and David Quirk’s conversation with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Angus King III, he explains why he entered the race, arguing that Maine is at a moment where everyday costs, housing shortages, healthcare strain, and energy affordability are making life harder for too many people across the state. Drawing on his background—from early political work and time in the White House to a career spent building affordable housing and large-scale energy projects—King outlines the perspective he says he brings to governing: practical problem-solving with a focus on results.

A central focus of the conversation is Maine’s housing challenge, which King reframes as a housing opportunity. He describes regulatory complexity, lengthy permitting processes, and disconnected state systems as key barriers that drive up costs and slow construction—often making affordable housing harder to build than market-rate homes. King discusses the need for a cultural shift toward “how do we get to yes,” along with better coordination among state agencies, support for municipalities on zoning and planning, and encouragement of innovation in construction, design, and financing.

The discussion then broadens to healthcare and demographic pressures, including workforce shortages, rural hospital closures, aging-in-place needs, and the growing financial impact of dementia care. King emphasizes prevention, public health, and system-wide thinking as ways to improve outcomes while controlling long-term costs. He also addresses challenges within DHHS, stressing that while intentions are good, government must become more responsive and easier for Mainers to navigate.

On energy, King draws on decades of industry experience to outline a systems-level approach focused on affordability, reliability, and accountability for ratepayers. He discusses permitting reform, grid efficiency, renewable energy, and responses to criticism of wind power, emphasizing collaboration among stakeholders and long-term planning. The episode closes with King’s view on bridging partisan divides by focusing on shared priorities, practical solutions, and a bias toward action that puts Maine people first.

📻 Airs weekends on VOM (The Voice of Maine — 101.3 FM, 103.9 FM & The Voice of Maine App).
⬇️ 🎧 Now streaming on QPointPodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music & more.
Produced and sponsored by Corenna Quirk, Broker at NextHome Experience.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily represent those of the hosts, Q-Point Podcast associates, or affiliates.

Support the show

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice or recommendations of any nature whatsoever, and no warrantee, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy of the information presented is made by your use. The views, information, opinions, comments, and observations of this podcast may not be those of the host or the management, and you entertain and rely on the content presented at your sole risk and responsibility. Your access of this podcast acknowledges that the contents and design are the sole property of the presenter and no use in any shape, manner or form of this podcast may be made without written permission. The presenter of the podcast hereby disclaims any and all responsibility for any and all damages arising out of or related to your use, reference and reliance on podcasts and information presented therein.

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🎙️ Q-Point Podcast | Graham Platner — Part Two

“When I Talk About Taxing the Rich, That’s Who We’re Going After.”

In Part Two of the Q-Point Podcast conversation with Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner, the discussion centers on wealth inequality, federal taxation, and the growing burden placed on working people and small states like Maine. Platner explains what he means by “taxing the rich,” drawing a sharp distinction between ultra-wealthy individuals and multinational corporations versus small business owners, fishermen, and family-run operations. He argues that current tax structures allow extreme wealth to go untaxed through asset borrowing, shifting financial pressure onto states and municipalities.

Platner outlines why Maine continues to experience high property and income taxes, pointing to what he describes as decades of federal retreat from funding infrastructure, healthcare, and education. He makes the case that only the federal government has the capacity to address concentrated corporate and billionaire wealth—and that doing so could ease tax pressure on states, municipalities, and working families.

The conversation turns to Maine’s fisheries and coastal industries, where Platner discusses the lobster industry as a rare example of an economy built around local ownership rather than corporate consolidation. He reflects on the role regulation has played in shaping that model, the challenges fishermen face today, and why he believes long-term thinking is essential for the future of Maine’s working waterfront.

Platner also weighs in on federal regulation, conservation, and economic development, emphasizing the importance of aligning policy with on-the-ground realities. He discusses broader ideas around rebuilding domestic industries, investing in innovation, and thinking more strategically about how Maine’s natural resources can support future growth.

The episode also touches on the Senate committees Platner would seek if elected, why those assignments matter to Maine, and how they align with his broader economic and policy priorities.

Closing the conversation, Platner emphasizes coalition-building across party lines, unscripted town halls, and his belief that rebuilding trust in politics requires long-term thinking, imagination, and genuine engagement with everyday Mainers.

📻 Airs weekends on VOM (101.3 FM, 103.9 FM & The Voice of Maine App).
⬇️ 🎧 Now streaming on QPointPodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music & more.
Produced and sponsored by Corenna Quirk, Broker at NextHome Experience.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily represent those of the hosts, Q-Point Podcast associates, or affiliates.

Support the show

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice or recommendations of any nature whatsoever, and no warrantee, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy of the information presented is made by your use. The views, information, opinions, comments, and observations of this podcast may not be those of the host or the management, and you entertain and rely on the content presented at your sole risk and responsibility. Your access of this podcast acknowledges that the contents and design are the sole property of the presenter and no use in any shape, manner or form of this podcast may be made without written permission. The presenter of the podcast hereby disclaims any and all responsibility for any and all damages arising out of or related to your use, reference and reliance on podcasts and information presented therein.