U.S.WHAT JUST HAPPENED

Sen. Susan Collins struggles to name a time she stopped Trump

The Washington Post reports the Maine Republican, known for breaking with her party at times, had trouble naming a specific example when asked; critics and defenders disagree on what it means.

On air: Chip Darnell and Kenji Moonfield on The Five O'Clock
Published 5:45 PM ET, Friday, October 16, 2026

Photo: U.S. Congress · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

▶ As it aired · U.S.

Watch it as it aired: Chip Darnell and Kenji Moonfield on this story, from The Five O'Clock at 5:45 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The Washington Post's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: U.S. Congress · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

Photo: Susan Collins — Photo: U.S. Congress · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

First reported by The Washington Post: “Sen. Susan Collins struggles to name a time she stopped Trump”.
Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 5:45 PM ET on The Five O'Clock, by Chip Darnell and Kenji Moonfield.
Topics: Sen, Susan Collins, Trump.
BBN covered this story before: Troy Jackson tells Susan Collins to 'shut up' in Maine debate (October 16).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

The Washington PostSen. Susan Collins struggles to name a time she stopped Trump

What BBN said about it

Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorHere is the one-sentence version: a senator known for pushing back was asked for a time she actually stopped Trump, and she struggled to name one.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentStruggled how? Like, a long pause, or like she was reading the question in another language?
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe Washington Post reports that Susan Collins, the Republican from Maine, had trouble coming up with a specific example when asked.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentOne example.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorJust one. And the details of her answer matter, but the headline is that it was not quick.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentMy phone finds a song from one hummed note faster than that. Where was this question asked, though?
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe story we have doesn't spell out the setting, so I won't guess. What we know is the Post's framing of it.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentOkay, so why does anyone care about this one senator?
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorBecause she has a reputation as a Republican who sometimes breaks with the president, and her midterm-season image leans on that independence.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the brand is independence, and the receipts are in a drawer somewhere.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorHer defenders would say a lot of that work happens quietly, in meetings, and never makes a headline.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentQuietly. So quietly that even she can't find it.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThat's the critics' line, and it's a fair one to put to her. Supporters call the question a gotcha.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentA gotcha is when they ask something weird. This was her own résumé.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorBoth sides will keep arguing over that, and I'd say it depends on how much weight you put on a single answer.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentWho does this hit hardest? Maine voters?
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAnyone deciding how much her independence is worth, whichever party they sit in. It's a fair test for every politician, honestly.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentWhat happens next?
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorIt's not clear yet. Expect her to be asked again, and expect a better-prepared answer next time.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentA rehearsed list. Bullet points, probably, with dates.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo the one-sentence version now: a senator was asked for one time she stopped Trump, and the pause became the story.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentI'm filing it under missing items. Last seen: somewhere in the cushions. Check the couch.

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