MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS catches up with state Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) now that Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Democrats' nominee for governor, has selected Brinks to be her running mate as Lieutenant Governor (2:15). 

Podcast host Samantha Shriber was in Mount Pleasant over the weekend covering the Michigan Republican Party's nominating convention. Second-term Representative Bill G. Schuette (R-Midland) gives updates as chair emeritus of the House Republican Campaign Committee (HRCC) (11:20). 

MIRS also brings listeners into scrums with Republicans' Secretary of State and Attorney General nominees, Anthony Forlini and Doug Lloyd (19:55). 

However, three miles outside of the convention, Mount Pleasant City Commissioner Ryon Skalitzky was recruiting locals to join the Isabella County Democratic Socialists of America (25:50)

U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) visited a Troy brunch restaurant with the Republican nominee for Michigan Governor, U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township), along with others. Together, they tried to make the case that the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) shouldn't be used as a dirty acronym in the 2026 elections (1:40). 

The morning after it was revealed that State House Oversight Chair Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay) was James' pick for Lieutenant Governor, his ex-committee member, Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing) started making the media rounds. She wants Michiganders to know that DeBoyer rejected her public push to hold a hearing on alleged sexual abuse inside a Northern Michigan arts camp (10:35).

Furthermore, what does Democratic nominee for Governor, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, want to do to further economic development in Michigan? (20:50)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To recap the Aug. 4 primary elections, MIRS sits down with Lansing-based Andrea Bitely – a moderate Republican – and Democratic Socialist Jessica Newman, a political operative in Ferndale (1:30). 

How will Democrat U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed try to connect with Detroit seniors, Macomb County's pro-Trump autoworkers and "Reagan Democrats", and the pre-Trump Republicans in white collar Oakland County?

Also, what might be Republican U.S. Senate nominee Mike Rogers' courting strategy to win Democratic voters who wanted Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) to win the primary?

Additionally, they discuss who might vote YES on summoning a state Constitutional Convention in November, and whether Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Democrat nominee for Governor, is prepared for a "fire hose" of negative ads from Republicans. 

Recently retired publisher of MIRS, the boss John Reurink, reflects on more than 40 years of monitoring Michigan politics and policy. Before leading the publication, John was intrigued by the idea of offering bill details, news background and more "right there at your fingertips" (1:45).

Amid new policy changes in the healthcare world, anesthesia services have seen declines in coverage reimbursements and controversial proposals nationally to limit the time anesthesia is covered by insurers, says Gena Welch, the president of the Michigan Association of Nurse Anesthetists (17:20). 

MIRS sits down with Livingston County Republican Meghan Reckling, the founder of the Victory Field Operations field operations firm, and Ann Arbor Democrat Robert Joerg. (1:57). 

Together they explore how seniors will vote in the 2026 elections and what local election phenomena might rock the boat statewide. Also, how much should people be reading into Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald not endorsing Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit for Attorney General on Fox 2? 

Oakland County Judge Michael Warren Jr. is on to discuss his Michigan Supreme Court candidacy, which has been endorsed by both the Republican and Libertarian Parties. He wants to bring trial court experience back to the bench (35:19). 

MIRS sits down with political consultant David Forsmark of Genesee County and Adrian Hemond, head of Grassroots Midwest, the political outreach and advocacy firm. 

Together, they discuss why special interest groups might be involving themselves in primaries instead of reserving resources for Michigan's most flipable races. Also, what group of Michigan voters might surprise folks this cycle? (1:45) 

Also, who is Tom Turner, the lone Democrat running in the 57th state House district covering parts of Troy, Madison Heights and Sterling Heights? Tom talks about why he chose hitting the campaign trail – attempting to defeat a Republican incumbent in November – as his post-military life move (30:28).     

MIRS Monday's Republican-Democratic roundtable returns, featuring Warren City Council Member Angela Rogensues – a Democrat – and political advisor Dennis Darnoi, a Farmington Republican (5:32). 

Michiganders are more likely to tell you who got dumped on "Love Island" than who's running for governor, says Dennis on this past week's "Debate Week." Also, Angela doesn't anticipate high progressive turnout in August translating to yes-votes on local millage proposals. 

MIRS also catches up with Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini, Republicans' endorsed candidate for Secretary of State (37:14). 

MIRS recaps the all-nighter state lawmakers pulled to finalize state budget deals before July 4. The end product was $6 billion smaller than the budget created last year. Together, they eliminated more "ghost employees," tapped into stagnant accounts and tried tightening Michigan's Medicaid practices to make ends meet. 

But Democrats like state Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) and Senate Appropriations Chair Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing) warn that the obstacles of federal reforms and state revenue shortfalls are not over. (4:35). 

Also, former U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) is condemning national Republicans for allegedly trying to get "the most-left" and Democrat Socialists to turn out for Abdul El-Sayed (12:25). 

With the suspension (on Sunday, July 5th) of the US Senate campaign of State Senator Mallory McMorrow, Michigan's U.S. Senate primary for Democrats is now a two-person race between Abdul El-Sayed, the former Wayne County health director – and U.S. Representative Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham), Stabenow's pick. 

Ahead of the United States' 250th anniversary, MIRS sits down with Sandra Clark – the Michigan History Center's director of more than 34 years – and Don Cooper, the Gerald Ford Presidential Foundation's chief operating officer. 

Why does it feel like there might be an excitement deficit going into the 250th anniversary? How has the $5 million the state appropriated in 2024 to honor the 250th been spent? Sandra and Don also share what Michigan artifact they think has the most bizarre backstory (1:28). 

Additionally, Cyndi Roper – a senior policy advocate on environmental health with the Natural Resources Defense Council – talks about another round of birthdays. 

According to the NRDC, some of Michigan's water infrastructure is approaching 100 years old. Cyndi projects that new road pavements are at risk of soon being opened again if built over aging, vulnerable water mains (23:25). 

MIRS sits down with William Lawrence, a Lansing progressive running in the Democratic primary for Michigan's 7th U.S. House district, covering the greater Lansing area and Livingston County communities. 

Joining Lawrence is Randy Cantu, a 72 year-old retired General Motors worker residing across the street from where a data center developer plans to build on nearly 400 acres of farmland in the 7th District. Once being a "pretty quiet" guy politically, Cantu has decided to get behind Lawrence's campaign, believing he's "the only one that gets their hands dirty" when it comes to protesting the controversial development. (1:10).