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Weekly news and analysis of Michigan politics by the professional journalists of MIRSnews.com
Episodes
Sunday Mar 31, 2019
Sunday Mar 31, 2019
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says she won't sign a budget that doesn't include a road-funding fix, she defines which projects Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II will be working on and refutes a rumor regarding the Detroit Medical Center. These comments and more in Whitmer's first MIRS Monday interview as governor (28:15).
Old friends Matt Resch from Resch Strategies and John Sellek from Harbor Strategic Public Affairs recap about President Donald Trump visit and how Michigan's national profile in the presidential race could have implications on the state policy front.
Monday Mar 25, 2019
Monday Mar 25, 2019
Dianne Byrum, chair of the Michigan State University Board of Trustees, talks about John Engler, Attorney General Dana Nessel's investigation, former Trustee George Perles and basketball coach Tom Izzo. What has MSU's enrollment numbers looked like since the Larry Nassar sexual assault affair and what is the top reform Byrum thinks the university has made as a result of that?
Also, Dennis Denno from Denno Research joins the MIRS team to talk about memorable moments from the Senate's advice and consent hearings, the legislative freshmen who are off to fast starts (8:33) and Nessel throwing shade on soon-to-be-former marijuana licensing board member Don Bailey and former AG opponent Pat Miles (15:09). Oh, and of course, MSU basketball and college hockey.
Monday Mar 18, 2019
Monday Mar 18, 2019
Where does the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) fall on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's 45-cent gas tax proposal? New President and former Lt. Gov. Brian Calley answers that question along with others: Was he bothered that his personal friend, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, in her budget proposed a pass-through entity tax that would impact many of his members? What are his thoughts on using the General Fund to pay for road improvements?
Stu Sandler of Grand River Strategies also stops by to talk about President Donald Trump, John James, Mike Bishop, the House Republicans and John Yob's tiki bar in the Virgin Islands.
Monday Mar 11, 2019
Monday Mar 11, 2019
If expanding the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act to the LGBT community went on the board for a House vote, Erin Knott of Equality Michigan said she believes it would pass. What if it went to the Senate? The LGBT advocacy group's interim director also talks about tracking hate crime incidents, among other issues.
Kathy Barks Hoffman of Martin Waymire adds her insight into such questions as: Is the honeymoon over between Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Republican-led Legislature? Which former governor does Gov. Whitmer's budget more closely resemble? Should Whitmer be concerned that her favorability number is only 3 percentage points higher than that of President Donald Trump?
Tuesday Mar 05, 2019
Tuesday Mar 05, 2019
The following is unedited audio of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's budget presentation followed by her comments to the media afterwards. The media Q&A begins at the 1:20:53 mark.
Monday Mar 04, 2019
Monday Mar 04, 2019
How about arming teachers with pepper spray and stun guns? That's the newest bill proposal from Rep. Beau LaFave, but is he willing to get tasered in a House committee in exchange for it moving through the process? Hear what the second-term House member and chair of the House Military, Veterans & Homeland Security Committee has to say about that.
Also, T.J. Bucholz from Vanguard Public Affairs joins the MIRS crew to talk about Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's upcoming budget proposal, a possible U.S. Rep. Justin Amash presidential bid and Gov. Rick Snyder's portrait.
Monday Feb 25, 2019
Monday Feb 25, 2019
New Michigan Republican Party (MRP) Chair Laura Cox, MRP 11th Congressional Chair Meshawn Maddock and former gubernatorial nominee Bill Schuette spend time with MIRS Monday during the post-state Republican convention edition.
Who is the face of the state Republican Party at this point? What did delegates get excited about during the convention? The MIRS team answers these questions along with the perception that the outward promotion of a "Tea Party" contingent within the GOP is long dead. It's been replaced by a "Trump Republican" that has locked arms with "establishment Republicans" by necessity.
Tuesday Feb 19, 2019
Tuesday Feb 19, 2019
The following is unedited audio of House Speaker Lee Chatfield's press conference with his House Republican colleagues on their priorities for the 2019-20 session.
Monday Feb 18, 2019
Monday Feb 18, 2019
Rep. Brandt Iden (R-Oshtemo Twp.) discusses his new Ways & Means Committee, the future of gaming expansion legislation in Michigan and his extensive collection of bowties in this week's edition.
Also, John Truscott of the Truscott Rossman public relations group joins the MIRS team in talking about the State of the State address, the Executive Order rejection and the FOX2 story on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's dress. We also talk about our favorite presidents and Jacob Kanclerz's obscure pick.
Wednesday Feb 13, 2019
Wednesday Feb 13, 2019
The following is full, unedited audio of a reporter roundtable hosted the morning of Feb. 13, 2019, by House Speaker Lee Chatfield and Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey in order to issue a response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's first State of the State address from the night before.