MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday, Dec. 6, 2021

MIRS names its Freshman Legislator of the Year based on the criteria of effectiveness, impact and level of activity. This year's nominees includes Rep. Andrew Fink, Rep. Timmy Beson, Rep. Amos O'Neal and more.

Sen. Rosemary Bayer talks about the social media and traditional media responses to the school shooting in her community and the relative invisibility of Rep. John Reilly (R-Oakland), among other topics (29:01). And Steve Dulan, board member of the Michigan Coalition of Responsible Gun Owners gives his response to the Oxford shooting and a question about the reason for the love for guns among many of the country's citizens (43:08).

MIRS Monday, Nov. 29, 2021

House Education Committee Chair Pamela Hornberger calls for a redo of K-12 graduation standards and teacher evaluation standards. (21:30) The GOP governor field is wide open. Josh Pugh, senior director of public affairs at Truscott Rossman, and Gus Portela, communications director of the Michigan Republican Party, talk about this and congressional redistricting.

Also, which state House, Senate incumbents got screwed under the collaborative redistricting maps (37:04)?

MIRS Monday, Nov. 22, 2021

Kevin Rinke officially enters the GOP gubernatorial field. Former President Donald Trump wants a new Legislature. Is Rep. Matt Maddock creating a leadership bid farm team? Former House Speaker Jase Bolger and former Gov. Rick Snyder Press Secretary Anna Heaton analyze these developments.

Are any local health directors thinking restrictions with the new COVID numbers going sky high? Norm Hess, executive director of the Michigan Association of Local Public Health, reacts.

And Jessica AcMoody, from the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM) talks short-term rentals, payday lending and a proposed $350 million in federal COVID relief money for low-income housing.

MIRS Monday, Nov. 15, 2021

Redistricting Commissioners Anthony Eid, Steven Lett and M.C. Rothhorn speak about the redistricting process up to now and what things look like going forward.

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin talks about Build Back Better, the new OSHA requirements and looking for property in the Lansing area.

MIRS Monday, Nov. 8, 2021

Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit) (00:41) on running for Congress against, presumably, U.S. Rashida Tlaib, Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Detroit) (25:09) and John Mozena, president of the Center for Economic Accountability (41:12), talk about economic development and incentives among other topics in separate interviews.

Editor Kyle Melinn rants on the latest national media report that mischaracterizes a Michigan political story. Also, the Michigan Independent Redistricting Commission will be viewed as a success if ...

MIRS Monday, Nov. 1, 2021

Voters hit the polls in Detroit and other cities across Michigan. Darci McConnell of McConnell Communications, communications consultant Karen Dumas and Dennis Denno from Denno Research break down the key races with MIRS Editor Kyle Melinn.

Also, Tony Daunt, executive director of Fair Maps, shares which subject the first lawsuits against the redistricting commission will be over, among other subjects.

MIRS Monday, Oct. 25, 2021

Michigan enters a "very precarious" position with COVID-19, according to DHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel, who also addresses the state's response to the lead in Benton Harbor's water supply (25:29). Launch Michigan introduces a $350 million teacher shortage plan (36:30)

Mark Grebner of Practical Political Consultants takes listeners behind the scenes to the creation of Proposal 2 of 2018, Voters Not Politicians (00:49). And a longtime voice on MIRS Monday says goodbye.

MIRS Monday, Oct. 18, 2021

On the first day of his new job, Budget Director Chris Harkins talks about his transition into the new role and the spending of roughly $11 billion in unallocated money (42:23).

Steve Linder of the Michigan Cannabis Manufacturers Association tries to keep the focus on the issue of regulating medical caregivers and not on death threats he said he's received (24:07).

Ed Sarpolus of Target Insyght says the Black community has a legitimate legal case against the Citizens Redistricting Commission for arguably not creating proper majority minority districts (7:21).

And is Benton Harbor Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Flint?  Andrea Bitely of Truscott Rosssman, who has experience on lead water issues, answers that (00:42).

MIRS Monday, Oct. 11, 2021

Former Sen. Buzz Thomas of Thomas Group Consulting talks about a serious issue he sees with the state House and Senate redistricting maps (17:39). Sen. Jeff Irwin talks medical marijuana, voting, dyslexia and more (35:17).

And the heir apparent owners at Martin Waymire -- Andie Poole, Josh Hovey and Angela Minicuci talk about medical marijuana caregivers' messaging mishap and the challenge of reaching those last 30% of non-COVID vaccinated residents.

MIRS Monday, Oct. 4, 2021

Rep. Ryan Berman makes the case as to why he's the Republican best suited to defeat Attorney General Dana Nessel next year. Emily Mellits from the Michigan Parent Alliance for Safe Schools talks about her organization's efforts.

The Governor vetoes election-related legislation and MIRS discusses the slowly budding field of GOP Secretary of State candidates in this week's edition.