April 19, 2021
Could congressional and legislative redistricting maps take until early 2022 to complete? Independent Redistricting Commissioner Steve Lett addresses this, potential lawsuits, the criteria they'll use to redraw maps and more. Hear why Steve Kiefer, president of General Motors International and the Kiefer Foundation, sees 2021 as the year the legislature passes a no-handling-a-cell-phone-while-driving law.
Mario Morrow from Mario Morrow & Associates joins the MIRS panel to talk U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Virg Bernero more.
April 12, 2021
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addresses COVID-19, the Republicans' voting reform package, her COO vacationing in Florida, Justice Richard Bernstein in the Middle East and other topics.
University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker explains why being chair of the Michigan Republican Party and being a U of M regent are not compatible titles for the same person, Wolverine football games in the Big House and other topics.
And Michigan Rising Action Executive Director Tori Sachs joins the MIRS team to talk about where Michigan is with the COVID pandemic and how the independent Redistricting Commission is choosing to spend its time.
April 5, 2021
Sen. Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton) talks elections, appointments and COVID restrictions. Jason Smith with the Michigan Center for Youth Justice talks about the nearly one-year anniversary of the death of Cornelius Frederick and what improvements have been made in the juvenile justice system.
Also, Kathy Hoffman sits in the with the MIRS team to talk John James' political future, Michigan Republican Party Ron Weiser and the possibility of schools going remote after Spring Break.
March 29, 2021
Attorney General Dana Nessel talks Marlena Pavlos-Hackney, the Senate Republicans' $1.25 million for county prosecutors, nursing homes and more. (17:45) Matthew DiLoreto, vice president of state government affairs of the Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA), talks vaccine distribution. Why can't we get the vaccine quicker with Pfizer located in Kalamazoo? (39:12)
MiGOP Chair Ron Weiser's witch comment, could the Governor return back to more restrictions in the Third Surge, Vanguard Public Affairs and more.
March 22, 2021
Plymouth Township doesn't have significant cashflow issues. They don't have a lot of lead pipes or any old infrastructure to replace. How will they spend the $2.67 million in COVID relief money coming from the federal government? Township Supervisor Kurt Heise answers these and other questions.
Sen. Dayna Polehanki talks about the Senate Republicans' mid-COVID schools plan, transgender athletes and the continuation with school athletics amid a scattering of coronavirus outbreaks.
Public relations professional Darci McConnell sits in with the MIRS team to talk about the formation of groups discontented about "everything," the Marlena Pavlos Hackney arrest and a concrete sign the Governor isn't as strict as her own administration's recommendations in her COVID response.
March 15, 2021
Whether it's been with the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Attorney General's office or some other post, Matthew Schneider has never felt free to speak what's really on his mind . . . until now. The Honigman law firm's newest attorney speaks his mind on "hush money," the Governor's reaction to the Wolverine Watchman prosecution and a potential run for political office in this week's edition.
Also, not everything is going swimmingly in Detroit, according to mayoral candidate Anthony Adams. The former deputy mayor under Kwame Kilpatrick talks about how he feels incumbent Mike Duggan's public relations shop is snowblowing Lansing into believing he's got the city going 100% in the right direction.
March 8, 2021
Rep. Mari Manoogian (D-Birmingham), consultant Renee Walker and Michigan AFL-CIO spokesperson Josh Pugh talk about the future of the Michigan Democratic Party. What person do they see as the future of the party? (27:30)
The MIRS team discusses whether Republicans will advise and consent to the appointment of Department of Health and Human Resources Director Elizabeth Hertel (16:51), what Michigan is going to do with $3.9 billion more for schools and $5.7 billion more for state government under the U.S. Senate-approved President Biden American Rescue Plan (7:54) and the importance of a major auto insurance carrier splitting up its company in the face of Michigan's auto insurance reform.
March 1, 2021
Rep. Matt Hall, former MI-GOP Party Chair Susy Avery and political consultant Scott Greenlee talk about the future of the Michigan Republican Party in a roundtable format.
Also, Michigan Solidarity leader Liano Sharon talks about his movement and why he believes it's getting blowback from the Michigan Democratic Party "establishment" and others within the progressive movement.
February 22, 2021
A survey of Lansing insiders shows great pessimism about the relationship between the Governor and the Michigan legislature getting better any time soon. We break down results and get commentary from ex-Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema, formerly of Public Sector Consultants.
Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes explains what's next for the party after her re-election. She's asked about Michigan Solidarity, a progressive movement led, in part, by activist Liano Sharon.
Ryan Kelley, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, shares his story, his interest in the Patriot movement and what he was doing on U.S. Capitol property on Jan. 6.
February 15, 2021
The future of Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, the Senate Republican caucus and the New York Times article on Michigan militias are the top items on the agenda for the MIRS crew and Susy Avery of the Michigan Political Leadership Program.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has an opponent, but how serious is it? Steve Hood breaks that down and other Detroit political goings-on in the city.
And how did U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene ever get elected? Jamie Jones, editor of the Daily Citizens News in Dalton, Georgia, gives his take.
