MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday, July 30, 2018

What does it mean to be a "Trump Republican?" Meshawn Maddock, a co-founder of the "Trump Republicans," shares her definition during today's podcast. Maddock also calls out by name one Republican state Senate candidate as not being a "Trump Republican." She lists several legislative candidates as being endorsed by the group. Why are they not endorsing Bill Schuette for governor as the President has done? 

Also Craig Mauger of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network goes over Friday's filing with the MIRS team. Gretchen Whitmer is "fundraising like a Republican," state Senate candidate Holly Hughes' $1 million in contributions are deceiving and various highlights from the legislative reports are discussed.

Finally, MIRS mourns the coming departure of one of it's most devoted employees.

Calley Press Conference 7-24-18

Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Calley, Michigan's lieutenant governor, tells reporters that a look into primary opponent Bill Schuette's official schedule as attorney general shows the AG has put in a standard eight hours of work 104 in the roughly 1,950 work days he's been on the job from Jan. 1, 2011-July 8, 2018. The following is raw audio from the press conference. Calley also answers questions on whether he would support the Republican nominee, whoever it is, and his opinion on the Civil Rights Commission blowing off the Schuette's opinion regarding the Elliott-Larson Civil Rights Act.

MIRS Monday, July 23, 2018

He doesn't know what will happen during the Aug. 7 primary, but Ayman Khafagi, vice chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Progressive Caucus vice chair, said he can feel excitement and energy at the doors as he knocks for Steve Friday, a progressive Democrat running in the 7^th Congressional District.

Khafagi talks about his other observations of Michigan's progressive movement as well as his history in politics, which includes a 180-degree turn in his personal view on the issues. 

Also, Michigan gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed makes the front page of the New York Times, opponent Shri Thanedar sends out more anti-Gretchen Whitmer mailers and Whitmer responds to "this crap." The MIRS team comments on these developments and more.

MIRS Monday, July 16, 2018

The breakneck pace of the modern political campaign and the 24-hour news cycle can make it hard for campaigns to get their message out through an understaffed and overwhelmed news media. Stu Sandler of Grand River Strategies talks about this, why we're seeing fewer debates and his predictions in the GOP gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races.

Also, the MIRS team digs into congressional campaign finance reports. Elissa Slotkin and several other Democratic candidates continued their high fundraising numbers. Is this more evidence of a blue wave? Listen to Gretchen Whitmer's short internet ad and impressions from the on-stage rendition of Shri Thanedar's Blue Suitcase.

MIRS Monday, July 9, 2018

For thousands of Michigan voters, the primary election is already over. Close to 30 percent of everyone who is going to vote in the primary elections will do so with an absentee ballot, an increase from the roughly 22 percent who did so in 2002, according to Mark Grebner of Practical Political Consultants. Grebner talks about the rise of absentee voting and how that is impacting political campaigns. He also goes into his process of polling on statewide ballot questions.

Who won the Republican U.S. Senate debate on Friday? The MIRS duo of editor Kyle Melinn and correspondent Jack Spencer share their opinions on that, the impact of a possible independent candidate in the Attorney General's race and where the state Supreme Court will land on the redistricting ballot proposal, Voters Not Politicians.

MIRS Monday, July 2, 2018

Polling data from MIRS and Target Insyght last week didn't come without questions. How were independents factored into the equation? How many cell phones were used? Why were the ballot questions worded the way they were? Ed Sarpolus of Target Insyght answers those questions and talks about how political polling, in general, has been subject to criticism since the 2016 election.

Also, Republican Mary Treder Lang is running for the Republicans' Secretary of State nomination. Listen to her positions on Voters Not Politicians, the Promote the Vote ballot proposal, clearing out voter roles and other issues confronting the office. How does she defeat longtime Republican operative Stan Grot at the convention? Treder Lang answers this and more.

MIRS Monday, June 25, 2018

Shri Thanedar stands by his campaign manager, who is jailed by police for obstruction over the weekend. This follows Thanedar's much better appearance at the televised gubernatorial forum in Flint. How will this impact his campaign in Detroit? Republican Brian Calley has maybe his best week as a gubernatorial candidate last week, but how far does that take him?

Also, any legislator who voted to repeal prevailing wage should be put on notice. Steve Claywell, president of the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council, said his group is engerized and it's making voting out of office those who supported this policy their top priority. Listen to what other steps they are taking in response to this policy and their hesitation about Gov. Rick Snyder's $100 million "Marshall Plan" on Talent.

MIRS Monday, June 18, 2018

Which state House incumbent is in the biggest trouble heading into the August primary? Where are Michigan's most interesting primary races? What factor will Donald Trump play in these races? What about the "Blue Wave"? The MIRS team explores legislative races within the city of Detroit, metro Detroit, rural Michigan, mid-Michigan and elsewhere with Adrian Hemond and Brian Began from Grassroots Midwest. 

MIRS Monday, June 11, 2018

Why does Rep. Tim Kelly really believe he got his U.S. Department of Education appointment nixed in the face of a controversial blog post he made years ago? The term-limited chair of the House Education Committee and the K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee shares his thoughts on the subject. Where is the A-F school grading proposal in the Legislature? The teacher prep bills? Kelly goes though those bills and responds to various pieces of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer's education plan as explained by Whitmer herself at Friday's press conference.

Also, MIRS courts reporter Lisa Roose-Church addresses the key question in the trials on Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon and Chief Medical Executive Eden Wells – Will the preliminary exams be done before the Aug. 7 primary election?

MIRS Monday, June 4, 2018

It's hard to imagine, but U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee will, assuming he wins re-election, enter Congress next year as the member with the most seniority among Michigan Democrats with six years in office at that point. What are his views on a leadership change within the caucus and whether Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi should turn the reins over to someone else? Kildee answers this, his prognosis on Soo Locks funding and much more.

Also, who won the debate on Mackinac Island? MIRS' Jack Spencer and Jacob Kanclarz provide their views. Jim Hines is opening his wallet a little wider. Republicans are looking at holding U.S. Senate primary debates and a discussion on how far Bill Schuette is up in the Republican gubernatorial field.