MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday, Mar. 26, 2018

From freedom-loving West Michigan, Rep. Steve Johnson (R-Wayland) shares his opinions on why voters in his district are frustrated with their Republican-led government and how that could impact the 2018 elections. Johnson also talks about school safety reform and whether Michigan already gives police officers the power to take away the weapons of those a court has found to be mentally unstable and a danger to themselves and others.

Also, why is Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Schuette already going negative against primary opponent Brian Calley? What are the pluses and minuses of either one picking from the following field of potential running mates -- Candice Miller, Terri Lynn Land and Laura Cox? This and much more in this week's edition.

MIRS Monday, Mar. 19, 2018

Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Gretchen Whitmer receives the endorsement of the UAW at the union's Solidarity House in downtown Detroit. Hear the press conference and short interviews with Whitmer and UAW President Dennis Williams. 

Also, what is Rep. Klint Kesto's (R-Commerce Twp.) reaction to the Senate's post-Larry Nassar reaction legislation. What are his plans to prevent similar instances of sexual assault from happening at Michigan State University and other public universities? How is that 11th Congressional race going? This and more conversation with the chair of the House Law and Justice Committee.

MIRS Monday, Mar. 12, 2018

Inside Michigan Politics has a new owner/publisher/editor. It's Jake Davison from Advantage Associates and he's on the podcast to share how the purchase of the bimonthly publication went down and what his vision for the publication is going forward.

Also, MIRS has new polling in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Two candidates' numbers are down since November. One's is up big. Who is it and how big? The poll also asked about Democratic primary voters' opinions of an-all female ticket and what issue is the most important to them. All this and more in this week's edition of MIRS Monday.

MIRS Monday, Mar. 5, 2018

Rep. Gary Glenn (R-Williams Twp.) suggested an "all of the above" strategy when it comes to promoting school safety. What does that mean and how does arming teachers factor into that? The conservative Midland area lawmaker also talks about how taking God out of the classroom, violent video games and a society that allows for abortions creates an atmosphere where gun violence can be more prevalent.

Will Democrats finally use gun control as a campaign issue in 2018? The MIRS team talks about this, new polling showing marijuana legalization at 60 percent and how marijuana may be used in the race for the Republican Attorney General nomination.

MIRS Monday, Feb. 26, 2016

Why does it seem like Shri Thanedar is having such a good time running for governor? Because he says he is. "This is fun. I wish I had done this sooner!" the first-time candidate says on this week's podcast. How does he defend the claim that he's the field's most progressive candidate? What does he say about the various lawsuits he's had to fend off over the years? And how can an Indian-born immigrant win a statewide race. Thanedar answers all of these questions on this week's podcast.

Also, what is Bill Schuette's path to the Republican gubernatorial nomination? What is Brian Calley's? Patrick Colbeck's? Jim Hines'? The MIRS trio of John Reurink, Kyle Melinn and Jack Spencer explore those different avenues in this week's edition.

MIRS Monday, Feb. 19, 2018

Former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele talks about our President on this President's Day. What is Steele's opinion on Donald Trump's attitude toward minorities and other races? Does Steele believe the President will face a Republican primary in 2020? Does he believe there will be a "blue wave" this year? The former Maryland Lieutenant Governor and the first statewide elected African American in that state's history answers all of these questions and more.

Also, Adrian Hemond of Grassroots Midwest and MIRS Editor Kyle Melinn look ahead to the Michigan Democratic Party's April 15 endorsement convention. What is going on in the race for the Attorney General, Secretary of State and Supreme Court nomination? How is gubernatorial frontrunner Gretchen Whitmer doing? Shri Thanedar is starting to spend a lot of money. 

MIRS Monday, Feb. 12, 2018

Democrat Suneel Gupta comes into the 11th Congressional District race with little name ID, but does enter with more donations than any other candidate -- Republican or Democrat -- in this Oakland County/Western Wayne County District. How does the 38-year-old technology start-up entrepreneur shake off a likely "carpetbagger tag" and a history of only candidates with European last names winning this district? It's called hustle and Gupta tells MIRS Monday he has a lot of that.

Also, it's possible as many as eight statewide ballot questions will be presented before voters in 2018. What are they? What are the chances they will make the ballot? The MIRS team ranks the ballot questions and provides some insight about where they are at in the process.

MIRS Monday, Feb. 5, 2018

Shri Thanedar, Sandy Pensler, Bill Schuette, John James, Making Michigan Government Accountable or Jim Hines. Who released the best video ad during Super Bowl weekend? MIRS invites Josh Pugh and Brian Began from Grassroots Midwest to help answer that question. Also will Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed get on the ballot?

What was the headline from the 2017 year-end campaign finance reports last Wednesday? And finally, MIRS has finality in the case of the scratching rodent who had taken up residency in MIRS World Headquarters.

MIRS Monday, Jan. 29, 2018

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Cobbs says Attorney General Bill Schuette and former Ingham County Prosecutor Gretchen Whitmer should have acted sooner looking into how Michigan State University handled the Larry Nassar sexual assault claims. Cobbs also says after watching the State of the State that it's clear to him that Gov. Rick Snyder has moved on mentally and is not completely focused on the job at hand. What else does Cobbs have to say?

Also, what did Gov. Rick Snyder do during his Flint water crisis controversy that former MSU President Lou Anna Simon and the Board of Trustees didn't do during their Nassar controvery? How closely will Schuette look into the MSU police, the entity that helped him put Nassar away?

MIRS Monday, Jan. 22, 2018

Tuesday's State of the State will be Gov. Rick Snyder's last, but Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich (D-Flint) doesn't expect it to be the best of the bunch. In fact, he tells MIRS that he's mentally moving on to the next governor on issues like public infrastructure. That said, what does the Senate's lead Democrat want to hear from the Snyder?

Also, can you run for Michigan State University's Board of Trustees and be supportive of President Lou Anna K. Simon? MIRS Publisher John Reurink predicts Simon will survive the current year, but what about next year? And, finally, gubernatorial hopeful Gretchen Whitmer was the star of the show at Sunday's women's march. Why was Abdul El-Sayed in Las Vegas?