The Platner Ordeal (w/ Dorothy Fortenberry) [Teaser]

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Matt and Sam are joined by their great friend Dorothy Fortenberry to discuss the debacle of Graham Platner: the Maine Democratic Senate nominee who was forced to drop out amid allegations of rape. We compare notes about our evolving estimations of Platner, his appeal, and his scandals; uncover the gendered fantasies involved in his rise and fall; and game out what lessons can be learned from this experience — for the left and for the Democratic Party.

Dorothy is an essayist, playwright, and TV writer/producer, including four seasons on “The Handmaid’s Tale.” In previous appearances, she's discussed #Resistance moms (dissentmagazine.org/online_articles/know-your-…), art and climate change (dissentmagazine.org/online_articles/know-your-…), and Trump's women-hating cabinet (dissentmagazine.org/online_articles/know-your-…). A new show she worked on, “Nocturne,” is coming out on Apple TV in October.

This episode was edited and produced by Colin Wambsgans (colinwambsgans.com) (Jesse is on vacation).

Further reading:

Jessica Piper & Adam Wren, "Woman who dated Graham Platner says he sexually assaulted her (politico.com/news/2026/07/06/graham-platner-se…)," Politico, July 6, 2026.

Katie Gluck & Lisa Lerer, "Several Women Who Dated Graham Platner Recall 'Unsettling' Behavior (nytimes.com/2026/06/04/us/politics/platner-mai…)," NYTimes, June 4, 2026.

Lisa Lerer, Katie Gluck, & Michael Kruse, "‘A Slow-Rolling Disaster’: Inside the Implosion of the Platner Campaign (nytimes.com/2026/07/08/us/politics/graham-plat…)," NYTimes, Jul 8, 2026.

Will Steakin & Chris Sommerfeldt, "‘Professional malpractice’: The Platner fallout engulfs the operatives who made him (politico.com/news/2026/07/17/platner-is-finish…)," Politico, July 7, 2026.

Dorothy Fortenberry, "Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore (commonwealmagazine.org/cant-fight-feeling-anym…)," Commonweal, Nov 5, 2020.

— "One of Those Serious Women, (commonwealmagazine.org/one-those-serious-women)" Commonweal, Apr 29, 2019.

Moira Donegan, "Why was the pundit class so quick do defend Graham Platner (theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jul/10/grah…)," The Guardian, Jul 10, 2026.

Rebecca Traister, "What Women Saw in Graham Platner (nymag.com/intelligencer/article/what-women-saw…)," New York Magazine, July 9, 2026.