MIRS Monday Podcast

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). 

The following are clips of a March 1 zoom meeting Rep. Jim DeSana had with the Monroe County Executive Committee that were recorded and shared with Rep. Jamie Thompson by former Monroe GOP chair Todd Gillman.

To kick things off, MIRS podcast host Samantha Shriber does a recap of news and interviews from the past week. News ranges from the delayed opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Canada, to Michigan House Speaker, Republican Matt Hall, floating a four month temporary budget for state government if deals don't start moving. 

MIRS also sits down with Dan Papineau, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce's senior director of strategic initiatives. Dan describes why the Michigan Chamber will be pushing against November's question of whether the state constitution should be re-written (14:00). 

Also, who is Eric Chung? MIRS sits down with a Democrat running in Michigan's 10th U.S. House district, learning more about how he went from teacher to constitutional lawyer, as well as what it was like growing up in a household of Vietnamese immigrants working in Macomb County's automotive industry (32:30).   

Absentee ballots for the primaries must be ready to be issued to voters on June 25. MIRS interviews U.S. Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow, the Royal Oak state senator running in a high-intensity Democratic primary.

How does McMorrow plan to amplify her name ID with absentee voting about to begin soon? Also, she talks about believing folks who pay for their X accounts should disclaim when they're posting AI-generated content (9:20). 

MIRS also catches up with Ryan Hundt, the chief executive officer of the Michigan Works! Association. His association anticipates a $75 million to $90 million funding gap between support that lawmakers have proposed and what Michigan Works! will need to help Medicaid enrollees meet new federal workforce requirements (24:45). 

This week's episode includes host Samantha Shriber's coverage of the Mackinac Policy Conference, a yearly gathering of government, business and nonprofit leaders hosted by the Detroit Regional Chamber. 

MIRS sits down with David Jurcak, president of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. They talk about hiring tourism employees from overseas, concerns around the Shepler's Ferry monopoly and the United States' 250th anniversary (3:19). 

U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, the Holly Democrat, also explains why, as a former CIA officer, she sees Chinese cars driving into the country as "surveillance packages on wheels" (27:22). 

Also, President Brian Calley of the Small Business Association of Michigan says that 42% of members are one to three years away from no longer being able to offer health insurance due to rate increases (40:39). 

In 2026, is it time to ask Michigan voters to move the nominating process for Attorney General and Secretary of State races away from party-run conventions to public statewide primaries?

Republican strategist Jason Cabel Roe and Lon Johnson – a former chair of the Michigan Democratic Party – are teaming up to push legislators to put such a constitutional change on the ballot this year (3:02). 

Jason and Lon also share their thoughts on former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan suspending his independent bid for governor on May 21.