February 2025

Trump's historic war on traditional media

President Trump, in small and unprecedented ways, is punishing media companies more than any leader since America's founding. Once considered a bastion for free expression, America's record on press freedoms has fallen to a historic low, according to Reporters Without Borders. Under Trump's second presidency, the press is "under siege," the group argues. American trust in media has hit an all-time low. Most U.S. counties have little to no local news sources anymore. Trump is targeting traditional media sources at a moment of tremendous vulnerability for the industry.

Maine Uses Digital Equity Capacity Funds to Ensure Communities Can Thrive

On December 6, 2024, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) awarded the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) over $5.7 million in Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program funding towards closing the digital divide in the state. Maine plans to use these funds to spearhead a number of initiatives, including: