The Find Out Podcast

Episode: Can a Beer Brewer Defeat Susan Collins?
Date: September 18, 2025
Host: Tim (Find Out Podcast) with Chris, Luke, Rich
Guest: Dan Cleban (Owner of Maine Beer Company, Senate Candidate)

Overview

This episode brings Maine brewery owner-turned-Senate candidate, Dan Cleban, into a raucous discussion with the Find Out Podcast crew. The conversation explores Dan's unique journey from homebrewer to entrepreneur and now to political candidate, and digs into the pressing political issues in Maine under Trump’s second term—particularly Senator Susan Collins’ actions (or inaction), current economic realities, and why Dan believes Maine deserves better representation. The episode balances humor with sharp political critique, providing listeners with both laughs and insights into the real stakes in Maine’s upcoming Senate race.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dan Cleban’s Backstory: Brewery Owner to Senate Candidate

• Early Days and Motivation
  • Dan shares how the Great Recession left him unemployed despite "doing everything right," leading him and his brother to start Maine Beer Company (00:51–04:35).
  • The company’s founding principle: “Do what’s right”—offering living wages, full healthcare, retirement, and giving 1% of revenues to environmental nonprofits.
  • Quote:

    "We wanted to show that business could be a force for good.”
    — Dan Cleban (03:26)

• Growth & Success
  • Maine’s craft beer landscape exploded from 18 to over 200 breweries; Main Beer Company now distributes in 35+ states (05:09–05:40).
  • Dan’s view: "If you just lead with your values... you give a shit about your employees, you give a shit about your community and the environment... that's the kind of world I want to live in." (05:40–06:26)

2. Why Run for Senate?

• The Political Leap
  • After building a successful, values-driven business, Dan feels compelled to enter politics because government (especially Susan Collins) is not truly standing up for working Mainers (06:26–08:29).
  • Quote:

    "Susan Collins... she's just not doing anything to stand up for hard working Mainers."
    — Dan Cleban (07:02)

• Need for Change
  • Frustration with career politicians and desire to see “real people who’ve run small businesses” in government.

3. Susan Collins’ Record—Moderate or Myth?

• Luke challenges Dan on Collins’ “independent moderate” branding (08:45–09:37).
• Dan details how Collins often only takes “bold stands” when her vote is not decisive, citing her recent votes on health care and clean energy (09:37–10:49).
  • Quote:

    "She’s always there when you don’t need her."
    — Dan Cleban (09:37)

• Panel consensus: Collins’ “concern” is performative; she reliably backs the GOP line when it matters.

4. Impacts of Recent Legislation: Healthcare, Energy, and Beer

• Healthcare Rollbacks
  • Collins enabled legislation stripping Medicaid and food assistance, impacting the most vulnerable (10:49–13:52).
  • The result: higher costs for everyone, not just direct recipients, due to the cost-shifting in health care.
• Clean Energy vs. Fossil Fuels
  • Maine stands to lose jobs and affordable energy as incentives for renewables are cut (13:52–16:11).
  • Dan points to wind and solar’s potential but stresses coordination with Maine’s fishing industry.
• Beer Connection
  • To make good beer, you need clean water and a stable climate—policies scrapping clean energy hurt the entire craft beer ecosystem (11:47–13:52).

5. Top Issues for Mainers

• Resoundingly, it’s the cost of living: home ownership, starting a family, and rising energy costs (16:38–18:22).
• Quote:

  “The cost of living is too damn high... People are fucking struggling...We as Democrats have lost focus of what really matters in people’s lives.”
  — Dan Cleban (16:38)

• Disillusionment with the American Dream and the failure of both parties to deliver tangible results.

6. Dan’s Policy Priorities

• Clawing Back Trump-Era Cuts
  • Reversing tax breaks for billionaires; refunding Medicaid; investing in ACA with a public option (18:53–20:48).
• Housing
  • Modernize construction methods, expedite permitting, and cut red tape to accelerate affordable housing.
  • Quote:

    "We build shit today like it's 1925... Government should be looking for innovative ways..."
    — Dan Cleban (19:43)

• Clean Energy and Jobs
  • Expansion of renewables, clean energy projects, and green jobs.
• Healthcare
  • Protect and expand access, focus on affordable and efficient delivery.

7. Tariffs and the Maine Economy

• Dan condemns Trump’s tariffs as reckless, creating uncertainty for all small businesses and particularly hurting Maine’s lobster and brewing industries (21:49–24:03).
  • Quote:

    "It’s injecting a tremendous amount of uncertainty... If you don’t know what the cost of construction is, you’re not going to do the project—which means small businesses aren’t growing, they’re not adding more jobs."
    — Dan Cleban (22:08)

8. What Would a Dem Senate Majority Change?

• Flipping the Senate means real leverage: “We better not roll over like we did last winter. We better fight, we better demand concessions...” (26:45)
• Beyond budgets: judges, nominations—all crucial levers where Collins has let Trump’s agenda through.

9. Accountability, Judges, and Social Issues

• Host Chris wants Democrats to talk more about accountability, e.g., impeaching Trump’s anti-science appointees (31:16–32:24).
• Much criticism of Susan Collins for her role in nominating anti-choice, anti-science judges, especially the notorious Kavanaugh vote (28:07–30:20).
  • Quote:

    “She was lying or she’s incredibly naive—and I don’t know which one’s worse.”
    — Dan Cleban on Collins’ Kavanaugh defense (30:07)

10. Collins’ Disconnect from Maine

• Susan Collins hasn’t held a town hall in over 20 years (41:36–41:49).
  • Quote:

    “The fact that there’s no record of when her last town hall was tells you how long she’s fucking been there.”
    — Dan Cleban (41:49)

• Dan pledges to stay connected, promising continued presence in his brewery’s tasting room to listen to regular Mainers (40:25–41:36).

11. Campaign Strategy and the Path Forward

• On differences from the last challenge to Collins (the Gideon race): The politics of today are more dire, Collins is even more out-of-touch, and Dan offers authentic, community-rooted leadership (36:48–38:22).
  • He credits John McCain as a Republican who actually took a stand; Collins, meanwhile, never has a "thumbs down moment."
  • Acknowledgment of her voting against the "skinny repeal" of Obamacare (38:32–39:27), but reiterates how rare her opposition actually is.
• When asked about Governor Janet Mills possibly entering: "We’re in it to win it... I think I'm the best candidate to beat Susan Collins." (44:46–46:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Beer & Business Values

  “If you just lead with your values... that’s not the kind of world I want to leave for my kids.”
  — Dan Cleban (05:40)

• On Susan Collins’ Persona

  “She’s kind of always there when you don’t need her.”
  — Dan Cleban (09:37)

• On Maine Politics

  “Twenty years ago I was in Iraq. That was the beginning of the war. That was a long time ago. The world has changed so much since Susan Collins has talked to a regular person.”
  — Chris (42:45)

• On Policy Bluntness

  "The cost of living is too damn high... People are fucking struggling."
  — Dan Cleban (16:38)

• On Maine: Local Culture Lightning Round

  • Moxie: “I do not like Moxie. That may cost me some votes.” (50:07)
  • Lobster roll: “Butter.” (50:40)
  • Favorite brewery (outside Maine): “Sierra Nevada.” (51:48–51:55)

• Beer Tasting Room Promise

  “Oh heck yeah. I mean, it’s one of my favorite spots... It’s one of the most rewarding things about operating this brewery is going in... just talking about their life... it gives me hope, you know, like there is hope. There's humanity here.”
  — Dan Cleban (40:52)

• On Collins’ Town Halls

  “I will host [a town hall] for her. I know she’s gonna get beat up and I’ll buy her a beer afterwards.”
  — Dan Cleban (41:49)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:51–04:35] — Dan’s journey: Law, unemployment, brewing, business philosophy
• [06:26–08:29] — Why run for Senate now: politics, Susan Collins’ failures
• [09:37–10:49] — “She’s always there when you don’t need her”: dissecting Collins’ reputation
• [13:52–16:11] — Clean energy, climate, and beer’s future in Maine
• [16:38–18:22] — What Mainers care about: cost of living, American Dream
• [18:53–20:48] — What Dan would do in the Senate—policy talk
• [21:49–24:03] — Trump’s tariffs, economic uncertainty, real-world effects
• [28:07–30:20] — Judges, Kavanaugh, and the myth of Collins’ moderation
• [31:16–32:24] — Accountability and public health
• [36:48–38:22] — Lessons from the last election, why this time is different
• [40:25–41:36] — Keeping connected: Dan’s “tasting room promise”
• [41:36–41:49] — Collins' absence: town halls (or lack thereof)
• [44:46–46:14] — On facing strong primary contenders (Mills)
• [50:07–51:55] — Maine trivia & beer culture lightning round

Tone and Style

• Language: Candid, irreverent, and often profane—reflects the “no bullshit” branding of the podcast.
• Humor: Regular banter, especially with inside Maine references, beer jokes, and digs at political “moderates.”
• Real Talk: Blunt assessments of today’s politics, economic struggles, and the disconnect between D.C. and ordinary people.

Final Takeaway

This episode gives listeners an unvarnished look at why Dan Cleban thinks Maine, and the country, need change—rooted in lived experience, local common sense, and a healthy skepticism about performative politics. Whether mocking Susan Collins’ “deep concern,” unpacking Trump’s economic policies, or debating the supremacy of IPAs, the show is a blend of sharp political critique and friendly, regional camaraderie.

Learn More: danformaine.com
Dan welcomes volunteers, donations, and above all—real conversations with real people.