MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday, Mar. 13, 2017

If Michigan's congressional map had to be drawn with 13 districts, what would it look like? Ed Sarpolus of Target Insyght shares his statewide and Southeast Michigan map along with his analysis on how Republicans can keep all nine of their seats. His map has Rep. Sandy Levin getting drawn into Rep. Mike Bishop's 8th District.

Former Michigan Republican Party Chair Saul Anuzis argues why Michigan Republicans and Republicans in general should support electing the country's president through a National Popular Vote compact.

Also, reporter Simon Schuster talks about getting a medical marijuana card from a doctor he met for 30 seconds in the back of an appliance wholesaler. And how badly is Enbridge losing the public relations battle on its Line 5 pipeline? More importantly, why it should care?

MIRS Monday, Mar. 6, 2017

If Gov. Rick Snyder is passionate about wrapping up the budget by June 1, he'll need the help of a conservative House caucus that is passionate about seeing an income tax cut, says Rep. Gary Glenn (R-Larkin Twp.). Could the two subjects be linked? Glenn talks about that, why House Speaker Tom Leonard (R-DeWitt) earned respect during the failed income tax vote among conservative circles, President Donald Trump and other subjects.

Also, Mona Hanna-Attisha is the Flint pediatrician known for flagging the Flint water crisis, but her speech in front of the progressive summit this past weekend touched on numerous other political topics. Could a future run for office be in her future? The MIRS team talks about this, fallout from Trump's telephone wire tapping claims and a media whose credibility is under assault.

MIRS Monday, Feb. 27, 2017

Former Detroit public health director Abdul El-Sayed talks to MIRS about his decision to run for governor in 2018. MIRS' Simon Schuster was at El-Sayed's announcement and shares his thoughts and observations about the event at Detroit's Eastern Market. 

Also, MIRS breaks down more fall out from last week's income tax vote in which House Speaker Tom Leonard and his conservative Republican caucus friends go down swinging. What does this mean for Gov. Rick Snyder? A conservative agenda going forward? 

And who managed to draw more than 200 people at a Berkley restaurant Sunday?

MIRS Monday, Feb. 20, 2017

Grassroots Midwest's team of Brian Began and Josh Pugh give some early analysis on how they view the congressional, state Senate and state House districts in the 2018 election. Which seats should Democrats and Republicans pay attention to?

What congressional district do they see going away after the 2020 U.S. Census likely cuts Michigan's congressional delegation to 13 members?

Legislative Democrats' UIA Press Conference

House and Senate Democrats gathered at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 14, 2017 to discuss with the media their plans to reform the state's Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA). The following is unedited audio of that press conference.

MIRS Monday, Feb. 13, 2017

If Brian Banks attempts to re-seek the House seat he gave up as part of a criminal plea deal, can he win? Rep. Fred Durhal III (D-Detroit) says yes. The Democrats' new ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee, Durhal also gives his thoughts on Gov. Rick Snyder's budget and the impact a Detroit public school closure would have on the community.

Also, how does Ron Weiser becoming the next Michigan Republican Party chair set up the R's to field the most competitive challenger possible against U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow? What are the Republicans looking for in a U.S. Senate candidate? And at the Democratic convention, who was the most active and who was surprisingly not overly visible? All this and more.

MIRS Monday, Feb. 6, 2017

What does a U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos mean policywise for Michigan? How much impact can she have as the chief administrator of federal policy? The MIRS team takes a crack at this question, as does Steve Cook, president of the Michigan Education Association.

Cook also updates MIRS on the MEA's membership numbers and if he believes national Right to Work is on the horizon. Also, listen for proposed solutions to the state's school accountability law and suggested names to replace Jarrod Agen as Gov. Rick Snyder's chief of staff in this week's edition.

MIRS Monday, Jan. 30, 2017

The media need not worry about Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive) pandering to them after openly acknowledgeing he's on the opposite end of the Michigan Press Association on two major policy initiatives. Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, meanwhile, announced that he's looking at expanding public disclosure. MIRS talks to both elected leaders on these issues. 

Also, how does the President Trump executive order on immigration impact Michigan Republicans? Should Gov. Rick Snyder react? And is U.S. Rep. Fred Upton the best U.S. Senate candidate the GOP could hope to find against incumbent U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow in 2018?

MIRS Monday, Jan. 23, 2017

Both sides of the political spectrum gathered this weekend as the fallout to the President Donald Trump inauguration continues to chug well past Election Day. Gretchen Whitmer addressed the Woman's March in Lansing while Sen. Patrick Colbeck talked to conservative activists at the Battle Cry event in Mt. Pleasant.

Hear what both prominent Michigan figures had to say about their political events, as well as the MIRS' team's take on the inauguration, the Women's rallies, Battle Cry and the presumed new chair of the Michigan Party, Ron Weiser.

MIRS Monday, Jan. 16, 2017

Where should the state spend its $478 million surplus? Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich has an idea and shares it on this week's podcast. Also, Ananich says if Republican push forward with an income tax, it will help bring about another lost decade. How so? Ananich explains.

The MIRS team breaks down what Gov. Rick Snyder is likely to talk about during his State of the State address and how much the city of Flint's condition should be a part of that discussion. These topics and more in this week's edition.