MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday, October 14, 2024

The MIRS team discusses recent moments in Michigan politics. The Governor's latest appearance with an influencer received backlash, and Democrats quickly condemned former President Donald Trump's comments on Detroit last week (1:25). 

Also, MIRS meets Morgan Foreman, the Democrat running in Michigan's 33rd state House district in the Ann Arbor and York Township area (17:20). 

What would happen if families in poverty conditions had a tax credit to offset their childcare expenses? Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet, a Bay City Democrat, and Executive Director Dave Meador of the Detroit Regional CEO Group talk about the proposed tax credits for children under 6 (38:20). 

MIRS Monday, October 7, 2024

Saginaw County has gone with Michigan's eventual winner in every presidential election since 1992. To discuss fortune-telling counties and cities this election cycle, MIRS sits down with Ed Sarpolus, the political consultant and researcher (1:33). 

What if Michigan didn't have partisan primaries in the summertime? MIRS talked to activist Katie Fahey and Ron Zimmerman of Rank MI Vote, discussing their effort to organize a 2026 ballot proposal bringing ranked-choice voting to the state (19:59). 

MIRS meets Jamie Miller, a Republican political consultant living in Florida. He talks about the potential "no man's land" for governors with presidential prospects. Also, are Democratic investments in Florida worthwhile, or political bluffs? (40:10). 

MIRS Monday, September 30, 2024

One of Lansing's recent policy battles involves new tax exemptions for data centers, the computer system warehouses for storing and processing data. Derrell Slaughter of the Natural Resources Defense Council explains how the topic unexpectedly became one of environmentalists biggest concerns this year (1:27). 

MIRS meets Joseph Erhardt, the acting director of the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association. He says Senate bills updating how drivers pay per-vehicle fees to the association will force insurance costs to skyrocket (24:35). 

Additionally, MIRS talks to high school seniors Saachi Rajgarhia and Garrett Gruner, the two youth governors of the YMCA Youth in Government program. They'll be signing and vetoing bills this year as part of a mock legislative system (45:11). 

MIRS Monday, September 23, 2024

MIRS hosts a West Michigan politics roundtable with progressive Joe Spaulding, a political strategist, and conservative Chair Tom Norton of the America PAC. Together, they discuss Ottawa Impact at the local level, and reports of the 3rd Congressional district not being all that competitive this year (1:20). 

Jamie Clover-Adams of Michigan Asparagus and Hart farmer Nick Oomen explain how mandatory $18.50/hour wages for migrant farm workers is challenging Michigan agriculture (27:04). 

Additionally, MIRS meets Jason Woolford, the Republican running in Michigan's Howell and Hartland-based 50th state House district (50:00). 

MIRS Monday, September 16, 2024

MIRS welcomes state Rep. Joe Aragona, a Clinton Township Republican, and George Chapp, the chair of the Warren Sterling Heights Area Democratic Club. Together, they share what they're seeing in Macomb County ahead of the November election, and their political insights on a competitive Congressional race and several unpredictable state House contests (2:47). 

Former Democratic Gov. James Blanchard and Mike Bishop, a past Republican state Senate majority leader, come together to talk to MIRS. They're serving on the board of directors of the Defend Democracy Project in Michigan, pushing for confidence in Michigan's election systems (34:21). 

Chris White, the Michigan director of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, calls the claims that wait staff will lose tips following the adopt-and-amend ruling "fear mongering and false information" (55:44). 

MIRS Monday, September 9, 2024

MIRS meets Joseph Pavlov, the retired English teacher who won a Republican primary of five candidates for Michigan's 64th state House district, covering Marysville and Port Huron (1:51). 

State assessments show young students struggling to reach proficiency levels in English. Policy Director Jen DeNeal and Government Affairs Director Jeff Cobb of The Education Trust-Midwest discuss what these scores mean, and why students should be screened early for traits of dyslexia (15:44). 

Should it become easier to transform unused commercial space into housing? MIRS talks to Executive Director Brooke Oosterman of Housing Next, who explains why her West Michigan-based group is proposing the "Kent County Corridor Strategy" (37:54). 

MIRS Monday, September 2, 2024

MIRS kicks things off with Katie Jesaitis of Martin Waymire, who formerly did constituent services for U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, and Brad Wurfel of BJW Strategies, a previous Snyder-era state agency spokesperson. Together, they discuss the potential election desires of industrial Michigan and the politics of energy (2:11). 

Alexandra Bailey of The Sentencing Project and past inmate Greg Wines talk about the staffing shortage in Michigan's prison system. They're pushing for reform to lower the incarcerated population, specifically by allowing some inmates to petition for sentence reductions (21:43). 

Additionally, MIRS sits down with Republican campaign consultant Randall Thompson. All five of his candidates secured nominations during August's Republican state convention (42:19). 

MIRS Monday, August 26, 2024

MIRS' Samantha Shriber and Maggie George discuss their top stories from this month's Republican and Democratic state nominating conventions, where party members determined the candidates for multiple statewide races (1:17). 

Kicking off interviews today was Founder Erin Vilardi and State Director Cee Maul of Vote Run Lead, an organization dedicated to expanding woman representation across state legislators. They discuss Michigan's battleground races and the recent Democratic National Convention in Chicago (18:53). 

MIRS interviewed Detroit City Mayor Mike Duggan while he was at the DNC, asking about another mayor's comment that he would make a good governor (39:34). 

Additionally, the team meets Paul Hudson, a Grand Rapids area Republican running against U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten in West Michigan (52:47). 

MIRS Monday, August 19, 2024

MIRS was joined by Dennis Darnoi, a Farmington-based political consultant, and assistant professor Jordan Cash of Michigan State University.  Michiganders can access their absentee voter ballots for the presidential election next month. Together, Dennis and Jordan discuss if Democrats have anything to gain, or lose, from their national convention in Chicago, and what Republicans could do next (2:36). 

After first leaving the Legislature nearly six years ago, former Rep. Tim Kelly -- a Saginaw County Republican -- is running to return in the 93rd state House district's general election (34:38). 

Also MIRS meets Michigan's first poet laureate since the 1950s, Nandi Comer (47:11). 

MIRS Monday, August 12, 2024

Kicking things off this week, MIRS sits down with communications professional Andrea Bitely and Denzel McCampbell of Progress Michigan. Together, they discuss the winners of Michigan's recent primary elections, and what stage-setting themes they see for November (3:07). 

Additionally, MIRS meets Parker Fairbairn, the Emmet County GOP chair who defeated Michigan Freedom Caucus Rep. Neil Friske in Northern Michigan's 107th state House district (35:22). 

State Senator Dayna Polehanki, a Livonia Democrat, describes what it was like to see education groups criticize the school aid budget….as a former teacher (59:22).