MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday, July 25, 2022

It's a different story for each Republican gubernatorial candidate and their campaign finance numbers. Craig Mauger of the Detroit News and Simon Schuster of MLive, both former Michigan Campaign Finance Network (MCFN) directors and MIRS reporters, break down the stories behind the numbers.

Rep. Andrew Beeler (R-Port Huron) talks about running in the same district as Rep. Gary Eisen (R-St. Clair), House Republicans coalescing around Rep. Matt Hall as their next leader and more (39:54).

HD-103 candidate Betsy Coffia raises $188,000 in 2022 through more than 1,800 donations in her Traverse City/Leelanau County district. The Democratic County Commissioner talks about her accomplishment, why she wasn't surprised when Roe was overturned and more. (22:25).

MIRS Monday Podcast, July 18, 2022

Jamie Swafford, the running mate for Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley, shares her background and  answers several questions from the America First questionnaire being circulated by activist Debra El.

 

10th Congressional District candidate Carl Marlinga speaks about his race in Macomb County and the MIRS team talks about the disappearance of the single issue voter and the rise of a voting population that is more politically aware but arguably less educated.

 

MIRS Monday Podcast, July 11, 2022

Amid Michigan’s unpredictable GOP gubernatorial race, which Republicans are poised to do best?  We’ll ask pollster Steve Mitchell of Mitchell Research and Communications.

Also Jeff Litten of Secure MI Vote weighs in on last week’s debate among those candidates. 

Monday was the signature deadline for Constitutional amendment proposals in Michigan.  MIRS has an update, including news of a record-setting signature count for one proposal.

And in the wake of a new state budget, what’s the outlook for Michigan’s revenue and tax landscape?  We’ll hear from Robert Schneider of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan and Tyler Theile of the Anderson Economic Group.

 

MIRS Monday Podcast, July 4, 2022

A highly centralized budget-making process produced a record $76 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget by July 1, but not without some transparency issues.

How can seemingly sane individuals dive into conspiracy theories? Robert Saler, an Indiana-based research professor of religion and culture, explores this subject in light of theories of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election and the QAnon phenomenon.

Also, how is "Trucker" Randy Bishop, who got his political start as a Tea Party Republican in 2010 running as a Democrat in 2022? He answers this question and apologizes for comments he made earlier this year on his radio program about how a family should be a "white mom, a white dad and white kids."

MIRS Monday Podcast, June 27, 2022

What's the significance of 56 America First candidates running for Congress and the state Legislature? We speak with one of those candidates, Matt Seely of the new 8th Congressional District.

Also, state House candidate Emily Stivers talks about the challenge of women candidates being targeted for their appearance and the importance of abortion on the 2022 ballot. 

MIRS Monday, June 20, 2022

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says she takes no joy in seeing "insurrectionist" candidates like Ryan Kelley take hold in the Republican Party. State House write-in candidate Jon Rocha in the 78th District talks about the popularity of "America First" candidates like Kelley. Also, Senior Capital Correspondent Tim Skubick says he believes "our democracy is at risk."

MIRS Monday, June 13, 2022

Ryan Kelley further muddles a wide open Republican gubernatorial race, U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer shares a conspiracy theory and Adrian Hemond of Grassroots Midwest talks about the state House races and that the current map constitutes a racial gerrymandering.

MIRS Monday, June 6, 2022

Capt. Mike Brown says on fellow former gubernatorial candidate James Craig suggesting a continuation of his campaign after being kicked off the ballot, "That party is over."

 

Congressional candidate Hillary Scholten, MEDC CEO Quentin Messer, retiring Martin Waymire professional Kathy Barks Hoffman and a new reporter joins the MIRS team. All this and more on this week's edition of the podcast.

MIRS Monday, May 30, 2022

Gubernatorial candidate Ralph Rebandt says he would not go to the Mackinac Island debate if he were asked.

 

Sen. Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids), Sen. Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton), Adrian Hemond of Grassroots Midwest and MIRS Editor Kyle Melinn put early projections on who will win the Senate in 2022.

 

And the MIRS reporting team talks about the challenges Republican gubernatorial candidates will have getting on the ballot after the Board of Canvassers meeting last Thursday.

MIRS Monday, May 23, 2022

Budget Director Chris Harkins puts an upper limit dollar tag of $2 billion on the Governor's $500 rebate plan . . . but would such a plan impact inflation?  It's possible.

 

Republican political consultant Jason Roe talks about congressional candidate Tom Barrett, state Sen. Lana Theis, the DeVoses going with Tudor Dixon and more.

 

A record number of judicial and legislative candidates are being disqualified. Information on a state Senate campaign webinar in this week's edition.