February 17, 2020
Michigan's 11th Senate District is more diverse than New Hampshire or Iowa and should be selecting Democratic presidential hopefuls before either, according to the home Senator, Jeremy Moss. Moss disputes the theory that Pete Buttigieg's campaign is a non-starter with African-Americans and shares some news about the future of his FOIA and LORA bills.
Also, Thursday's rejection of Anna Mitterling to the Natural Resources Commission officially kicked off political season in Lansing, according to MIRS Editor Kyle Melinn. He shares his commentary on how its guns v. women early in the 2020 campaign.
And according to one member of Generation Z, government is so political it isn't working for anyone. Hear thoughts from Amanda Shafer from Bridge USA. This, five tough presidential trivia questions and more.
February 10, 2020
Threats and violence are an issue at Secretary of State offices as wait times for those without appointments reached 52 minutes in 2019. Rep. Ann Bollin (R-Brighton Twp.) said she doesn't believe the increased security that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer put in her proposed budget is the answer. What is? Bollin also talks about how Michigan could speed up the counting of its absentee ballots so Michigan can avoid an Iowa Caucus-like vote-counting disaster this November.
Also Bob McCann from Cover Two Strategies and the Tri-County Alliance for Public Education joins Sara Wurfel from Truscott Rossman on Whitmer's State of the Union response, her education funding choices and why the budget presentation is more important than the State of the State address.
February 3, 2020
Which Democratic candidates will still be around come Michigan's Mar. 10 presidential primary? Is 35 minutes for a State of the State address good? Chris DeWitt from DeWitt Communications and Sam Inglot from Progress Michigan weigh in on those questions among other topics.
U.S. Rep. Justin Amash's fundraising totals are discussed. Did Peter Meijer cross a line in his Super Bowl ad? Has Elissa Slotkin already won re-election? Who has the better roads plan -- Speaker Lee Chatfield or Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey? MIRS peppers Inglot on Progress Michigan's lobbying reform constitutional amendment and more.
January 27, 2020
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey says attempting to push through high numbers of public acts to show the Legislature's activity level is a "fool's errand." On this week's podcast, Shirkey talks about how he'd prefer the Legislature spend more time on government oversight to make sure the laws that are passed are working as intended. He also runs through other legislative priorities in 2020.
Also, Andrea Bitely of Truscott Rossman says Sen. Pete Lucido is running out of time to make a real, heart-felt apology about the way in which he interacts with women and acknowledging the fact that it is making them uncomfortable. John Sellek of Harbor Strategic weighs in on Progress Michigan's constitutional amendment proposal and MIRS Publisher John Reurink says that with Gov. Whitmer giving the State of the Union response, the window in which to get any major substantial legislative accomplishments can get done in 2020 is rapidly closing.
January 20, 2020
Adrian Hemond and Scott Bean from Grassroots Midwest talk Michigan state House. Where do the Democrats have to win? What do the Republicans have to defend with majority on the line. Also, Hemond, Bean and MIRS Editor Kyle Melinn give their early thoughts on which House primaries they are watching.
Also, Sen. Marshall Bullock, the new Michigan Legislative Black Caucus chair, talks about the history of African Americans and agriculture, the racial tensions developing from urban farming, recovering from "white fight" and more.
January 13, 2020
Former Speaker Jase Bolger expresses "regret" he wasn't able to deliver a road funding solution during his tenure, but opines on various solutions, including a one-penny sales tax increase and bonding. Attorney Michael Naughton from the Larry Inman recall campaign pushes back on last week's show when the group he represents was described as "the gang that can't shoot straight."
Also, Launch President Adam Zemke and Executive Director Lindsay Palsrok join Rep. Aaron Miller on what makes the new collaboration "Launch Michigan" unique. And, Miller, as the K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee Chair, names which vetoed categorical he'd save if he could only save one.
January 6, 2020
Genesee County Clerk John Gleason criticizes his former state Senate colleague, now-Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, for scheduling a special primary election in the 34th House District on top of the canvassing for the Flint mayor's race. Dave Crabill of iHemp talks about how industrial hemp might look like marijuana, but its uses are much different and should be treated as such.
Also, how the Larry Inman recall group missed the deadline to challenge signatures and why Republicans hope a judge doesn't give them additional time. John James, Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin also are topics of conversation in this week's edition.
December 30, 2019
MIRS names its 2019 state House Member of the Year and 2019 state Senator of the Year based on effectiveness, impact and a high level of activity. Five members of the MIRS News team each named a nominee from which a winner was chosen.
Past winners include now-Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and now-Speaker Lee Chatfield before they assumed their current leadership posts.
December 23, 2019
House Speaker Lee Chatfield names his top legislative priority for 2020 and answers questions about the status Rep. Larry Inman, potential tweaks to the state's new auto insurance law, his level of activity in the 2020 election cycle and more.
Also, as part of its annual award series, MIRS names its Democratic legislator of the Year based on the criteria of effectiveness, impact and level of activity.
December 18, 2019
The following is an unedited interview with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and members of the capitol press corps at her year-end interview.
