MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday, November 13, 2017

New MIRS polling shows Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan strong in a general election match up with announced GOP gubernatorial candidate Attorney General Bill Schuette while former Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer remains in a strong lead in the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.  This week MIRS sat down with Stu Sandler of Grand River Strategies for his take on the poll numbers and the state of the race. 

(Publisher's Note: Sandler is consulting with a Super PAC backing Schuette's bid).  

Also new polling numbers show Detroit businessman John James in the lead for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate against former Chief Justice Robert Young who's announced and U.S. Rep. Fred Upton who is considering a bid.  Sandler, who is serving James as a consultant talks about those numbers and where he sees his candidate's strengths lining up as the race moves forward.  

MIRS Monday, Nov. 6, 2017

Mayor Mike Duggan is expected to win re-election on Tuesday, but Detroit political consultant Steve Hood said he's more interested to see the results of other races in Detroit outside of Duggan's presumed margin of victory. What are they and what do they mean? Hood explains.

Medical marijuana is on the ballot in Detroit. Is former Sen. Virgil Smith now the frontrunner in Detroit's Second Ward race? Should Duggan run for governor? Will the Republicans win the 109^th House District for the first time since the '50? This and much more on this week's edition.

MIRS Monday, Oct. 30, 2017

What changes could House Speaker Tom Leonard make to his auto insurance proposal that will get the "yes" vote of House Minority Leader Sam Singh? The East Lansing Democrat answers that and whether House Democratic members would face caucus discipline if they vote for a bill that creates consumer choice in personal injury protection.

Also, what are the highlights from last Wednesday's campaign finance documents? Democratic consultant Angela Vasquez-Giroux shares her opinions with the rest of the MIRS team on that and an effort within Dem circles to recruit Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith to run for Attorney General.

Kid Rock On Howard Stern Show 10/24/17

Kid Rock makes it clear he is not running for the U.S Senate while making an appearance on the Howard Stern radio program. Explicit language is used.

MIRS Monday, Oct. 23, 2017

It sounds ominous and scary, but the "Dark Stores" decision by the state Supreme Court on Friday is being described as an "awesome" result for local governments. Chris Hackbarth of the Michigan Municipal League explains why. He'll also talk about why it's important for the legislature to still address the dark stores issue and why his members want the municipal retiree benefits issue tackled by lawmakers by year's end.

At least one Democratic House member is openly supporting the Leonard-Duggan auto insurance bill, but the MIRS team explains why there is likely to be more if House Speaker Tom Leonard puts the bill up for a vote.

And, in June the state nixed an independent "risks" assessment being conducted on Line 5 that was weeks away from release due to an alleged conflict of interest. What was that report going to say and is there anyone who is qualified to do these type of report who haven't been touched by Line 5's owner, Enbridge? A FOIA ordered by MIRS holds some answers.

MIRS Monday, Oct. 16, 2017

Rep. Scott Dianda (D-Calumet) talks about his feelings on auto insurance reform, how 109th District candidate Sara Cambensy will do next month in the special election in the Upper Peninsula and what the folks in the U.P. think about President Donald Trump.

MIRS addresses the issue of car thefts in Detroit. Why hasn't that been a discussion point in talking about lower auto insurance rates in the Motor City? Also, a compromise between Republicans and Democrats on the auto insurance issue could significantly alter Michigan's no-fault system. The MIRS team explains how. This, frog hunting with spears and more in this week's edition.

Sen. Patrick Colbeck On The Steve Gruber Show, 10/11/17

Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton) criticizes Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof for the Leader's decision to remove Colbeck all of his standing committees and his appropriations subcommittees.

Gretchen Whitmer Press Conference 10/10/17

Gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer announces the endorsements of Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, Prosecutor Kym Worthy and Sheriff Benny Napoleon at the Mathis Community Center in Detroit. The following is uneditted audio from the event.

MIRS Monday, Oct. 9, 2017

House Speaker Tom Leonard (R-DeWitt) is running for Attorney General, but when it comes to priorities, which comes first -- being the leader of the state House of Representatives or seeking his next office? What bearing does his interest in being Attorney General have on the decisions he makes as Speaker of the House? MIRS poses these and other questions during a 16-minute interview.

Also, how does Gov. Rick Snyder reconcile the difference between his congressional testimony that he first learned of the legionella issues in Flint in January 2016 when his urban affairs director, Harvey Hollins, told a Genesee County court that he told Snyder in December 2015? MIRS breaks down this issue and the immediate future of the auto insurance reform bill in this week's episode.

MIRS Monday, Oct. 2, 2017

Will Rep. Sheldon Neeley (D-Flint) and the rest of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus be satisfied with anything short of Michigan State Police Director Kriste Kibbey Etue leaving her position? Neeley answers this question along with his feelings on whether Gov. Rick Snyder and his administration are responsive to the African American community, in general. Also, where is he on Speaker Tom Leonard and Mayor Mike Duggan's car insurance reform package?

The MIRS team deduces that Etue's response to her "degenerates" Facebook repost hasn't been executed well and discuss the danger that comes with either her or the Governor not meeting with the Black Caucus on the issue. And could Leonard nab the 55 (or 56 in six weeks) needed yes votes on his auto insurance package by posting the question on the board and putting members on record as voting no on an auto insurance rate cut? This and more in this week's edition.