MIRS Monday Podcast

Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich; Jill Alper, political analyst for the Reproductive Freedom for All campaign; political consultant Dave Forsmark, Vassar superintendent Dot Blackwell and ZeroEyes co-founder Mike Lahiff check in during the post-election MIRS Monday podcast.

Bill Ballenger, Michigan's preeminent pundit, joins the MIRS team in making predictions ahead of Tuesday's election, which includes a victory for Gov. Whitmer.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson talks election security the day before the Nov. 8 primary elections and we talk short-term rentals with AirBNB's lead in Michigan, Vincent Frillici.

Who will win control of the Michigan Senate? Sen. Aric Nesbitt, the Senate Republicans' presumed leader, gives his prediction and Sen. Curtis Hertel, a leading Senate Democrat, pushes back on that prediction in a lively exchange.

Also, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton shares some words of wisdom as he leaves Congress after this year after 35 years.

Mark Grebner of Practical Political Consultants says abortion rights-based Proposal 3 was "not written to pass" and may be in trouble (13:32) while NARAL Pro-Choice America Vice President Angela Vasquez-Giroux feels confident in Proposal 3 passing due to the large number of new voters that reproductive freedom is bringing out (32:50).

Supreme Court candidate Paul Hudson is asked under what circumstances he would rule a law is unconstitutional (45:29) and Public Sector Consultants CEO Julie Metty Bennett joins the MIRS team to come up with the questions we would ask at Tuesday's gubernatorial debate.

Mark Totten, the U.S. Attorney of the Western District, talks about his prior job as Gov. Whitmer's chief legal counsel during the height of COVID and his new job overseeing federal prosecutions for about half of Michigan.

 

Hear why Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum says she doubts more than 1 in 10 clerks will bother using the pre-processing legislation and what she thinks about the phrase "chain of custody."

 

Jeff Litten of Secure MI Votes talks about why Proposal 2 isn't necessary, the MIRS team talks about the significance of President Barack Obama returning to Michigan and more.

At age 79, former Emergency Manager Don Weatherspoon came out of retirement to help two more struggling school districts, but this time it's learning failures, not financial failures, that are beginning him back. What does he believe needs to be done to help kids succeed?

 

Rep. Angela Witwer says Republicans are "dreaming" if they believe they can pick up state House seats when the top of the ticket is up 10 points.

 

And Nancy Wang from Voters Not Politicians is asked about the need for Proposal 2 and what she knows about the Sixteen Thirty Fund, the No. 1 contributor to Prop. 2.

Outgoing U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence shares some of her most memorable moments from being in the Congress and Southfield politics from the past 30 years.

Rep. Bryan Posthumus shares why he believes Republicans will retain majority in the state House even if Tudor Dixon loses by 10 points, which he said he doesn't see happening.

And what has voters of Detroit pumped up? Alexis Wiley from Moment Strategies says it's all about "Big Gretch."

Republican SOS nominee Kristina Karamo talks about what she would have done differently in 2020 if she were the Secretary of State.

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin explains her living situation in Lansing.

And John Yob of Strategic National explores the split in the Republican Party between the grassroots and the DeVos family.

Former Speaker Jase Bolger debates Scott Tillman of the anti-Proposal 1 campaign on the ballot question to change the state's legislative term limits and order financial disclosure for state officials.

Also, MI-7 Congressional candidate Tom Barrett speaks about the General Motors vote, vaccinations, abortion and other issues.

And, who is helped more by their respective national figure's visit to Michigan? Gov. Gretchen Whitmer or Republican nominee Tudor Dixon?

Tudor Dixon told the media late last week to do its job. This week, MIRS asks the Republican gubernatorial candidate what she meant by that tweet, among other questions. 

 

Former Gov. Gretchen Whitmer aide Mark Burton, now with the Honigman law firm, gives his insights on the 2022 election cycle and Michigan Health and Hospital Association CEO Brian Peters talks about the challenges in the healthcare industry.
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