MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday, January 20, 2025

MIRS sits down with Democratic state Rep. Stephanie Young, the newest chair of the Michigan Legislature's Detroit Caucus. She discusses wanting to build better relationships with city officials.

She adds that no one should expect Detroit lawmakers to automatically get behind Renaissance Center redevelopment funding, wanting human assistance to be part of the conversation (3:40).

Additionally, MIRS releases its "What To Expect" webinar from Jan. 16, featuring former Republican House Speaker Jase Bolger, past Democratic Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich and MIRS Editor Kyle Melinn (24:23). 

MIRS Monday, January 13, 2025

MIRS meets Christopher Smith – the State Bar's former elder law and disability rights section chair – and retired U.P. teacher Dee Lindenberger. They explain how right now, leaving behind a pension to a special needs child can result in them being disqualified from support services (2:58). 

Also, MIRS wraps up its interviews with active Michigan Democratic Party chair candidates, sitting down with Detroit-based activist Al Williams (29:12). 

Molly Medenblik of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network explains what her group is hoping to accomplish in Michigan during 2025 (47:50). 

MIRS Monday, January 6, 2025

What potential stories are you preparing for in 2025? MIRS kicks things off with Anna Heaton – the vice president of public affairs firm Resch Strategies – and Republican consultant Jamie Roe. They share what they have on their bingo cards for new year political and policy headlines (1:00). 

Additionally, MIRS meets Mark Ludwig, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party's Rural Caucus. He wants to be the next chair of the state Democratic party (24:40). 

MIRS also catches up with Scott Greenlee, a candidate for Michigan Republican Party chair. When he unsuccessfully ran in 2023, he said Republican legacy donors and "establishment" members were taking a lot of criticism. He thinks this year's party is ready for pitches to bring people together (42:40)

MIRS Monday, December 30, 2024

MIRS kicks things off with an end-of-year roundtable. Who were the biggest winners and losers of Michigan's Capitol in 2024? What reforms and deals can be achieved in a Democratic state Senate and Republican House? 

Sterling Heights Democrat Henry Yanez, outgoing state Rep. Graham Filler – a St. Johns Republican – and Tony Zammit of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research join the chat (1:43). 

MIRS also sits down with Curtis Hertel Jr., the East Lansing Democrat and former state senator who's running to be Michigan Democratic Party chair (31:22). 

Finally, MIRS concludes its "Best Of" awards series for 2024, exploring Michigan's policy movers and political shakers. The team names MIRS' Senator of the Year (50:35). 

MIRS Monday, December 23, 2024

In its post-lame duck episode, the MIRS team continues its "Best Of" awards series for 2024, exploring Michigan's policy movers and political shakers. They determine who will be MIRS' House Member of the Year. Throughout historic walk-outs and on-edge moments, who stood out for durability and productivity? (3:51). 

Many headlines covered Rep. Karen Whitsett, a Detroit Democrat, walking out of lame duck and protesting Democratic leadership. MIRS sits down with Whitsett, who explains her frustrations (30:14). 

MIRS also sat down with state Rep. Bryan Posthumus, a Rockford Republican. He talks about his constitutional amendment effort, ramping up Michigan's ID-to-Vote standards (44:16). 

MIRS Monday, December 16, 2024

MIRS sits down with Tom Grotewohl, an Upper Peninsula resident and founder of the Protect the Porkies campaign. Will 318,700-plus petition signers keep senators from passing a $50 million state grant to the Copperwood Mine project? (3:40)

Also, Group President Trevor Lauer of DTE Energy talks about the future of grid reliability, data centers possibly moving to Michigan and why utilities say no to community solar credit proposals (25:40). 

Finally, the MIRS team continues its award series for 2024, looking at Michigan's policy movers and political shakers. They will decide the Republican Legislator of the Year. Which of the Capitol's Republicans stood out, either as a passionate protester or a notable collaborator? (48:00) 

MIRS Monday, December 9, 2024

With 2024 coming to an end, the MIRS team kicks off its awards series, discussing Michigan's policy movers and political shakers. After every election cycle, MIRS names a "Political Figure of the Year." Who should that be this year? Who had wins beyond their own race? (2:21)

Also, MIRS talks to state Rep. Joseph Aragona, a Clinton Township Republican. As the House's incoming majority deputy whip, Aragona talks about plans to ramp up legislative oversight, with a vision of new sub-committees investigating specific state government issues (29:25). 

For Flint-based Dr. Brittany Tayler, the youngest patient she's seen for nicotine dependence was 9. She's spending her lame duck pushing for new fines and fees for retailers to sell vapes and cigarettes (44:26). 

MIRS Monday, December 2, 2024

In the final days of Michigan's Democratic trifecta, should lawmakers take up labor reform surrounding post-injury workers' compensation and unemployment benefits? MIRS talks to state Sen. John Cherry, a Flint Democrat, about the changes that are being considered (1:56). 

Also, Robert Schneider of Michigan's Citizens Research Council and Lisa Kats, an entrepreneurship consultant, report that Michigan is lagging behind its peers when it comes to nurturing a successful innovation and entrepreneurship environment in the state (19:07). 

MIRS additionally talks to Michael Alaimo of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and Rich Bowman of the Nature Conservancy. They want a state regulatory system for storing carbon dioxide emissions (42:19) 

MIRS Monday, November 25, 2024

MIRS catches up with state Sen. Stephanie Chang, a Detroit Democrat and the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety chair. She talks about police reform legislation to reduce use-of-force situations, and why progressives stand by bills making IDs available to residents without proof of citizenship (1:51). 

Also, Mark Griffin of the Michigan Petroleum Association explains why gas station owners are against bills raising the fines and fees around selling vapes and cigarettes (22:03). 

MIRS meets Andrew Kuhn, the board president of the Michigan Apartment Association to discuss the state of rental housing and housing reform (37:14). 

MIRS Monday, November 18, 2024

It is officially Lame Duck season in Lansing, and the MIRS team has some questions. Could the Governor veto something from her own party later this year? Do Democrats go progressive or uncontroversially moderate for their final days of a Democratic trifecta in the Capitol? (1:00). 

Also, MIRS meets Cody Venzke, the ACLU's senior policy counsel on surveillance, privacy and technology. He discusses a bill to keep certain websites and apps from processing reproductive and sexual health data without a user's specific consent (20:00). 

State Sen. Michael Webber, a Rochester Hills Republican, talks about how calling for improved oversight of state-run psychiatric hospitals became one of his main issues this term (36:40).