Listen to the rest of this premium episode by subscribing at <a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/107982813?utm_campaign=postshare_creator" rel="noopener noreferrer">patreon.com/knowyourenemy.</a>
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 <a href="https://dissentmagazine.org/online_articles/know-your-enemy-suburban-woman-with-dorothy-fortenberry/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">#Resistance moms</a>, <a href="https://dissentmagazine.org/online_articles/know-your-enemy-living-at-the-end-of-our-world-with-daniel-sherrell-and-dorothy-fortenberry/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">art and climate change</a>, and <a href="https://dissentmagazine.org/online_articles/know-your-enemy-women-vs-the-system/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trump's women-hating cabinet</a>. A new show she worked on, “Nocturne,” is coming out on Apple TV in October.
This episode was edited and produced by <a href="https://www.colinwambsgans.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Colin Wambsgans</a> (Jesse is on vacation).
Further reading:
Jessica Piper & Adam Wren, "<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/06/graham-platner-sexual-assault-allegation-00987737" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Woman who dated Graham Platner says he sexually assaulted her</a>," Politico, July 6, 2026.
Katie Gluck & Lisa Lerer, "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/04/us/politics/platner-maine-senate-girlfriends-relationships.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Several Women Who Dated Graham Platner Recall 'Unsettling' Behavior</a>," NYTimes, June 4, 2026.
Lisa Lerer, Katie Gluck, & Michael Kruse, "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/08/us/politics/graham-platner-campaign-implosion-maine.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘A Slow-Rolling Disaster’: Inside the Implosion of the Platner Campaign</a>," NYTimes, Jul 8, 2026.
Will Steakin & Chris Sommerfeldt, "<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/17/platner-is-finished-does-the-same-fate-await-the-out-of-state-consultants-who-recruited-him-01002652" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘Professional malpractice’: The Platner fallout engulfs the operatives who made him</a>," Politico, July 7, 2026.
Dorothy Fortenberry, "<a href="https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/cant-fight-feeling-anymore" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore</a>," Commonweal, Nov 5, 2020.
— "<a href="https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/one-those-serious-women" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">One of Those Serious Women,</a>" Commonweal, Apr 29, 2019.
Moira Donegan, "<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jul/10/graham-platner-drops-out-defense" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Why was the pundit class so quick do defend Graham Platner</a>," The Guardian, Jul 10, 2026.
Rebecca Traister, "<a href="https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/what-women-saw-in-graham-platner.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What Women Saw in Graham Platner</a>," New York Magazine, July 9, 2026.

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