MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday, July 14, 2025

Why would school districts someday need to start creating policies for distributing overdose reversal medications to students? How does needing prior authorization from insurers to distribute substance abuse treatment drugs possibly slow down addiction care? 

MIRS this week sits down with Dr. Cara Poland, a Grand Rapids addiction medicine physician and head of the state's opioid advisory commission (4:55). 

MIRS Monday, July 7, 2025

Will Michiganders sign a petition to ask voters if wealthy residents should be taxed extra to create more school funding? Rachelle Crow-Hercher of the Michigan Education Justice Coalition talks about the "Invest in MI Kids" ballot effort ahead of 2026 (4:53). 

Also, MIRS meets Dan Cherrin, the MI Care Council's executive director. How does the way Michigan itself manages Medicaid dollars possibly create delays and complications? Dan explains why his group wants fewer regional entities overseeing behavioral health benefits (21:59).

MIRS Monday, June 30, 2025

The month of June for a Republican-led House and Democratic-controlled Senate ends with a game of budget season chicken in the state Capitol. Can the Legislature's pace in creating a K-12 budget impact the Governor's legacy? 

Also, how do voters really feel about the U.S. House's new proposed Medicaid eligibility mandates? And does a new road funding plan for Michigan still seem achievable? 

On the podcast to discuss these things and more is Lansing-based Andrea Bitely of Bitely Communications and Ann Arbor City Council Member Jen Eyer (5:45).

MIRS sits down with Michigan Chamber of Commerce president, Jim Holcomb, as well. Jim says the Chamber will be loud and aggressive in its opposition against proposed new taxes for single filers earning $500,000 or more (30:31). 

MIRS Monday, June 23, 2025

Why is the Michigan Chamber of Commerce sounding the alarm on a possible corporate income tax increase  proposed for road funding? Why do state budget negotiations feel especially different this year, and can a cell phone app someday be used to make lobby gifts more transparent? 

Talking about such topics and more are two State Representatives, Jaime Greene, the northern Macomb County Republican, and Ann Arbor Democrat Carrie Rheingans (5:57). 

Also, MIRS meets attorney Sharon Almonrode, who's been representing residents impacted by the May 2020 Edenville Dam failure. Nearly 800 business owners and individuals in Midland, Saginaw and Gladwin Counties want the state to take accountability for damages they argue the government could have prevented (36:26). 

MIRS Monday, June 16, 2025

House Republicans are beginning to roll out their budget proposals for the next fiscal year, but why are some people around Lansing talking about government shutdowns theories? MIRS' Samantha Shriber and Editor Kyle Melinn talk about their questions amid Senate Democrats and House Republicans' big budget-making differences this summer (3:12). 

Multiple labor unions are becoming interested in storing CO2 emissions deep underground in Michigan, saying such projects could create jobs. Robert Joerg of the Michigan Laborers District Council talks about why he's supporting state-run carbon capture permitting (16:43). 

A small western U.P. town of around 300 people wants a $50 million grant from Lansing to secure future mining and other industry careers. MIRS meets up with Wakefield Township Supervisor Mandy Lake to talk about this quest over 10 years in the making (39:37). 

MIRS Monday, June 9, 2025

State Senator Mark Huizenga, the Walker Republican, wants to start a PFAS blood-testing pilot for West Michigan children. Also, he feels like there's been "a bit of fear mongering" in Democrats' messaging on the future of Medicaid (1:02). 

Where do Oakland and Macomb Counties split over Lansing's road funding debate? Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter says he's way less optimistic than his Macomb County counterpart (16:41). 

MIRS Monday, June 2, 2025

MIRS continues to share interviews from this week's Mackinac Policy Conference hosted by the Detroit Regional Chamber.  First, why did U.S. Sen. Gary Peters decide to not seek reelection in the 2026 elections? Also, the Senator explains his thoughts on cryptocurrency, Medicaid's possible future and Michigan's military assets (1:17). 

Additionally, MIRS sits down with the U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, the Birmingham Democrat and a 2026 U.S. Senate candidate (11:53). 

Also, Airbnb wants Michigan policymakers to know that Airbnb guests in the state spent nearly $1.3 billion on goods and services last year while visiting, based on its new report (24:00). 

MIRS Monday at Mackinac, May 29, 2025

Welcome to a special midweek edition of the MIRS Monday podcast, direct from the Mackinac Policy Conference on Mackinac Island!

Democratic Senate majority leader Winnie Brinks says road funding legislation in Michigan needs to be bicameral, blasting House Speaker Matt Hall, alleging he’s unwilling to seriously discuss new sources of road funding (1:37).

And Senate minority leader and candidate for Governor, Aric Nesbitt says he’d vote for the recently passed House roads plan and urges a vote now.  Nesbitt also laments the lack of discussion about education and literacy at Mackinac (13:45).

MIRS Monday, May 26, 2025

MIRS’ publisher John Reurink and editor Kyle Melinn sit down with President Bernie Porn of EPIC-MRA. Together they preview the results of the biannual Capitol Insider Survey, revealing who government professionals project to be the biggest winners in policy and politics (6:50). 

Also, MIRS sits down with Destiny Wilkins, head of the Jackson County Medical Care Facility. She talks about how long-term care and nursing home facilities feel about the U.S. House GOP’s proposed Medicaid changes (25:07). 

MIRS Monday, May 19, 2025

MIRS gives a news recap on state policy and politics. Updates range from lawmakers being told that forecasted state revenues are down, to an ex-House staffer being charged for allegedly spending state money on gold bars, firearm accessories and silver (1:30).

MIRS sits down with Senate Appropriations Chair Sarah Anthony, the Lansing Democrat. She explains why Senate Democrats proposed a $85.95 billion state budget, her hopes to negotiate a caregiver tax credit and her reaction to calls for state employees to work fully in-person (4:49). 

And why has Delta Air Lines been around Lansing calling for tax credits on new fuel linked to soybeans and corn? The airline's government affairs director, Sarah Gonzales, walks MIRS through the proposal (26:29).