MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday, July 19, 2021

What's Majority Leader Mike Shirkey's definition of "RINO" now that he's being called a Republican in Name Only for sticking up for the Sen. Ed McBroom report that found no evidence of widespread fraud? Rep. Alex Garza (D-Taylor) talks about why voter interest is high in his city this summer.

And Tori Sachs from the Freedom Fund talks with the MIRS team about the Redistricting Commission failing to get a quorum, Unlock Michigan 2 and the future of the Fair and Equal Michigan ballot question.

MIRS Monday, July 12, 2021

Rep. Andrew Fink talks on limiting executive branch powers and being approached to run for House GOP leader next term. Rep. Joe Tate talks about the 1,000-year flood in his Detroit/Pointes district and former MIGOP Chair Susy Avery from the Michigan Political Leadership Program talks with the MIRS team on former President Donald Trump's recent swipe at the Senate Republicans as being "RINOs."

MIRS Monday, July 5, 2021

U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer talks candidly about the two parts of the Republican Party. Detroit native and author Aaron Foley breaks down with the MIRS team the unimpressive legislative career of Rep. Jewell Jones, a tenure that could end with him serving time behind bars.

MIRS talks about the Legislature breaking state statute. Lance Binoniemi of the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA) talks about the role of underground infrastructure in the Detroit floods.

MIRS Monday, June 28, 2021

Senate Oversight Committee Chair Ed McBroom explains why he pushed forward on his report that found no fraud in the 2020 election despite the blowback he's received from his district and from across the country. He also talks about his new support for counting absentee ballots earlier.

Also, Andrea Bitely of Truscott Rossman talks about James Craig, John Engler, the Pillow Guy Mike Lindell as South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem came to Oakland County this weekend. And Mitch Bean of Great Lakes Economic Consulting talks about the uniqueness of the Republican House and Democratic Governor agreeing to a budget without the Republican Senate.

MIRS Monday, June 21, 2021

Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons argues why she doesn't believe the 2020 election was "stolen." Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Jim Stamas describes the chief reason on why striking a final budget deal this week would be a "long shot."

Also, Adrian Hemond of Grassroots Midwest and Jeff Timmer of Two River Strategies talk about the redistricting of the state Senate and what Democrats need to hope for in a redraw.

Voice Mail left at Sylvia Santana's office, 6-16-21

The following is an edited version of the voice mail left for Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit) on June 16, 2021 after her arguments on the Michigan Senate floor against legislation that tightens Michigan's voter identification laws.

LISTENER WARNING: The N-word and C-word were struck from the audio, but the clip still contains offensive language.

MIRS Monday, June 14, 2021

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson talks branch services, election reforms and how the redistricting commission's final maps survive judicial scrutiny. Former Speaker Tom Leonard and Tom Judd of the Michigan Brain Injury Provider Council talk about auto insurance reform among other subjects.

MIRS Monday, June 7, 2021

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson could face political consequences if drivers are stuck illegally driving new cars without plates for months at a time because they can't get into a branch office for a title transfer. MIRS kicks around this topic and the politics of accepting the results with the old Friday Morning podcast duo of Bill Ballenger and Dennis Denno.

Also, 2020-21 Michigan Teacher of the Year Owen Bondono talks about his journey in educating students and the wider community about transgender acceptance.

MIRS Monday, May 31, 2021

Sen. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) is asked if there's a public health benefit to revealing if a person has had the COVID vaccine. Sen. Adam Hollier (D-Detroit) is asked if the destructive protests in Portland is hurting the Black Lives Matter movement, among other subjects. The MIRS biennial survey, voting reforms, the state of the military also discussed.

MIRS Monday, May 24, 2021

Say hello to the new spokesperson for the Michigan Democratic Party, Rodericka Applewhaite. Hear how she handles questions about the impact of the Governor sitting at an over-capacity table at the Landshark, the Republican gubernatorial field and more.

Norm Hess, executive directive director of the Michigan Association for Local Public Health, talks about the impact of the 43% of those who aren't getting vaccinated, and Sen. Curtis Hertel (D-East Lansing) talks about his decision not to wear a mask anymore in the Capitol, among other topics.