Democratic dread in Maine: From the Politics Desk

From the Politics DeskDemocratic dread in Maine: From the Politics DeskPlus, a preview of Trump’s “Meet the Press” interview. Add NBC News to GoogleWomen who dated Graham Platner detail 'unsettling' behavior in NYT article05:10Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 5, 2026, 6:07 PM EDTBy The Politics DeskWelcome to From the Politics Desk, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.In today’s edition, we dive into the Democratic response to the latest Graham Platner controversy and the questions that still surround Rep. Tom Kean Jr.’s absence. Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.— Adam Wollner📺 Exclusive: President Donald Trump told “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker that Iranian leaders have not yet reached a deal with the U.S. to end the ongoing war because they’re “strong” and “proud,” but ultimately, he added, “they’ve got no choice” except to reach an agreement. Read more → Catch the rest of the interview on “Meet the Press” this Sunday.Democrats navigate a new Graham Platner controversy in Maine’s battleground Senate raceBy Natasha Korecki, Bridget Bowman and Sahil KapurFor the Democratic Party, the road to Maine’s Senate primary is paved in dread. All Graham Platner had to do was glide into Tuesday’s election to clinch the state’s Democratic Senate nomination, since Gov. Janet Mills abruptly suspended her campaign in late April. But with each passing day, the divisions inside the party have grown as some lawmakers and activists say they are increasingly alarmed over the breadth and depth of controversies and scandals facing the military veteran.As some Democrats nervously wondered what the next controversy might be, they worried he might be too risky a candidate to face off against the party’s...