April 22, 2019
Less than four months into her tenure as Attorney General, Dana Nessel is raising eyebrows with her blunt, tell-it-like-is commentary that has yielded five MIRS Quotes of the Day in 2019. Nessel talks to MIRS about her first 100 days on the job and if we should expect her to tone down her public comments much going forward.
Also, Rebecca Bahar-Cook of Capitol Fundraising Associates talks about putting together this year's inaugural festivities. What happened had it been -10 degrees outside? What happened when the dignitaries came out to the top steps to find they were four seats short? Why did two state officials take their oath of office before the ceremony?
Plus, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey on the slow pace of this year's session on this week's edition.
April 15, 2019
It's been 10 years since the Tea Party burst on the political scene with "Tax Day" rallies across the country. Leading the charge in Michigan was Sharon Lollio with Rattle With Us and Gene Clem, formerly of the Van-Kal Tea Party movement. The two join today's podcast to talk about the state of the Tea Party, the cause for a declining visual Tea Party presence and the future of the movement.
Also, Ron Fournier with Truscott Rossman joins the MIRS panel to talk about Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Donald Trump's relationship with the media, the decline in traditional media jobs and the Energy Promise.
April 8, 2019
Why is President Donald Trump having appointments problems? Marketing Resource Group President Tom Shields joins the MIRS panel to talk about how two Michigan high-rollers still don't have their ambassador appointments confirmed two years after the pick (4:49). Also, MIRS reaches into its mailbox and pulls out a letter from "Michael" who says it's "stupid" to write off Elizabeth Warren as a presidential candidate whose time has come and gone (11:36).
Rich Baird, the former top aide to Gov. Rick Snyder, insults senior Capitol correspondent Tim Skubick and the rest of the state press corps on Skubick's own show (17:34) and Shields talks about working with the Ilitch family, Willie Horton and the Detroit Tigers baseball (21:31).
March 31, 2019
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says she won't sign a budget that doesn't include a road-funding fix, she defines which projects Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II will be working on and refutes a rumor regarding the Detroit Medical Center. These comments and more in Whitmer's first MIRS Monday interview as governor (28:15).
Old friends Matt Resch from Resch Strategies and John Sellek from Harbor Strategic Public Affairs recap about President Donald Trump visit and how Michigan's national profile in the presidential race could have implications on the state policy front.
March 25, 2019
Dianne Byrum, chair of the Michigan State University Board of Trustees, talks about John Engler, Attorney General Dana Nessel's investigation, former Trustee George Perles and basketball coach Tom Izzo. What has MSU's enrollment numbers looked like since the Larry Nassar sexual assault affair and what is the top reform Byrum thinks the university has made as a result of that?
Also, Dennis Denno from Denno Research joins the MIRS team to talk about memorable moments from the Senate's advice and consent hearings, the legislative freshmen who are off to fast starts (8:33) and Nessel throwing shade on soon-to-be-former marijuana licensing board member Don Bailey and former AG opponent Pat Miles (15:09). Oh, and of course, MSU basketball and college hockey.
March 18, 2019
Where does the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) fall on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's 45-cent gas tax proposal? New President and former Lt. Gov. Brian Calley answers that question along with others: Was he bothered that his personal friend, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, in her budget proposed a pass-through entity tax that would impact many of his members? What are his thoughts on using the General Fund to pay for road improvements?
Stu Sandler of Grand River Strategies also stops by to talk about President Donald Trump, John James, Mike Bishop, the House Republicans and John Yob's tiki bar in the Virgin Islands.
March 11, 2019
If expanding the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act to the LGBT community went on the board for a House vote, Erin Knott of Equality Michigan said she believes it would pass. What if it went to the Senate? The LGBT advocacy group's interim director also talks about tracking hate crime incidents, among other issues.
Kathy Barks Hoffman of Martin Waymire adds her insight into such questions as: Is the honeymoon over between Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Republican-led Legislature? Which former governor does Gov. Whitmer's budget more closely resemble? Should Whitmer be concerned that her favorability number is only 3 percentage points higher than that of President Donald Trump?
March 5, 2019
The following is unedited audio of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's budget presentation followed by her comments to the media afterwards. The media Q&A begins at the 1:20:53 mark.
March 4, 2019
How about arming teachers with pepper spray and stun guns? That's the newest bill proposal from Rep. Beau LaFave, but is he willing to get tasered in a House committee in exchange for it moving through the process? Hear what the second-term House member and chair of the House Military, Veterans & Homeland Security Committee has to say about that.
Also, T.J. Bucholz from Vanguard Public Affairs joins the MIRS crew to talk about Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's upcoming budget proposal, a possible U.S. Rep. Justin Amash presidential bid and Gov. Rick Snyder's portrait.
February 25, 2019
New Michigan Republican Party (MRP) Chair Laura Cox, MRP 11th Congressional Chair Meshawn Maddock and former gubernatorial nominee Bill Schuette spend time with MIRS Monday during the post-state Republican convention edition.
Who is the face of the state Republican Party at this point? What did delegates get excited about during the convention? The MIRS team answers these questions along with the perception that the outward promotion of a "Tea Party" contingent within the GOP is long dead. It's been replaced by a "Trump Republican" that has locked arms with "establishment Republicans" by necessity.
