MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday, July 1, 2024

To discuss an $83 billion total budget that legislators approved after 4 a.m. last week, MIRS was joined by President Monique Stanton of the Michigan League for Public Policy and Michael LaFaive, the head of fiscal policy for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. 

One voice supports financial help for needy Michiganders, another calls for limited government. Together, they share their different "Winners and Losers" of the budget (1:13). 

Also, the budget gives direct care workers serving disabled residents a 20-cents-per-hour raise. But direct care worker service providers fear this won't be enough to alleviate staff shortages (24:10). 

Additionally, MIRS was joined by Political Director Max Docksey of the Republican State Leadership Committee, to talk about why his national group has launched an absentee and early voting program in Michigan (42:27). 

MIRS Monday, June 24, 2024

MIRS is joined by Brandon Reed – the Michigan Black Business Alliance's external affairs director, and former legislative policy advisor – and Adam Bitely of the Martin Waymire public relations firm. 

They discuss what might still be on the Legislature's to-do list after they approve a state budget, and leftover or future costs a new budget possibly won't cover (2:50). 

Also, MIRS sits down with Detroit City Councilmember Mary Waters, who's running against U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar in the 13th Congressional District (27:39). 

Director Tim Boring of the state's agriculture department explains efforts to block an influenza virus affecting dairy cows from mutating into something more severe (49:31). 

MIRS Monday, June 17, 2024

State Senator Jeremy Moss, a Southfield Democrat, shares his insights as a Jewish legislator during a moment of "permeating antisemitism" in Michigan. He says his experiences with antisemitism have been questioned and "word policed." 

As people react to the Israel-Hamas War from home, Moss believes his own U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib is "contributing to the divisiveness," and he says he can't vote for her (1:09). 

Also, MIRS meets up with Mary Draves, the former Dow Chemical Company executive who's running in Michigan's competitive 8th Congressional district (37:03). 

Additionally, Steve Norris – a harm reduction and recovery support director in Oakland County – is concerned about different opioid remediation efforts becoming less collaborative (52:07). 

MIRS Monday, June 10, 2024

Former Michigan House Speaker Jase Bolger and Co-Founder Adrian Hemond of Grassroots Midwest discuss the chances of Renaissance Center rescue bucks appearing in the upcoming state budget. 

Additionally, they chat about flippable districts in the 2024 state House elections (1:01). 

CEO Alicia Guevara Warren of the Early Childhood Investment Corporation is concerned about how the preschool spending proposals could negatively impact local childcare centers and their business models (25:08). 

MIRS sits down with Kimberly Thomas, the University of Michigan Law School professor looking to run for the Michigan Supreme Court as a Democratic nominee (47:33). 

MIRS Monday, June 3, 2024

Before leaving last week's Mackinac Policy Conference, MIRS was joined by Charlie Langton of WWJ News and Nick Austin of Detroit public radio for a policy and political media roundtable (2:18).

Additionally, U.S. Senator Gary Peters explains why he wanted the job of Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chair, and why Democrats are targeting GOP strongholds Texas and Florida (27:12).

Also, GOP U.S. Senate hopeful Sandy Pensler says Mike Rogers' debate cancellations have become "par for the course," calling him "so disingenuous" (35:14).

MIRS Monday, SPECIAL Mackinac Policy Conf. Edition, May 30, 2024

The MIRS Monday Podcast presents a special Mackinac Policy Conference edition with updated coverage from the Detroit Regional Chamber’s gathering on Mackinac Island.    

U.S. Senate hopeful Elissa Slotkin says she’s taking nothing for granted in her primary bid despite encouraging polling data (2:18).

And Michigan’s Senate majority leader, Democrat Winnie Brinks, tells MIRS she’s confident her caucus will get its concerns and questions addressed to pave the way for  FOIA reform in the state (18:39).

MIRS Monday, May 27, 2024

For today's episode, members of the MIRS team discuss Michigan's U.S. Senate race, and the significance around why upcoming primary debates have been canceled (3:15).

Also, Danielle Brown, an urban journalism professor at Michigan State University, explains her research of how the media's coverage of college protests is "more likely to be sensationalized" than not. Her latest studies hone in on recent campus protests concerning the Israel-Hamas war (14:30).

MIRS Monday, May 20, 2024

Members of the MIRS team come together to discuss the latest updates in Michigan's U.S. Senate and House races. They also dive into how candidates and elected officials did in the debut year of financial disclosure mandates, and some under-the-radar budget proposals that state legislators have put forward (1:23). 

Former Attorney General spokeswoman Andrea Bitely launched her own public relations firm on Monday. She says there's "a little bit of a hole" in Lansing when it comes to crisis communications, which she hopes to fill in the era of reported financial scandals (30:07). 

Retiring president Barry Cargill of the Michigan HomeCare and Hospice Association, as well as incoming President Laura Haynes, joined the podcast today. Barry says his biggest regret is not yet seeing Michigan's 2019 auto law reformed to improve care for catastrophic car crash survivors.  Laura wants to use the power of social media to get voters talking about the care issue for the 2024 elections (52:32). 

MIRS Monday, May 13, 2024

State Senator Sue Shink, a Northfield Township Democrat, discusses her $2.145 billion spending plan for Michigan's prison system. The budget aims to improve corrections officer recruitment by upgrading retirement benefits, and to honor communications between inmates and legislators (1:42). 

MIRS is also joined by President Spencer Nevins of the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association. He explains why his association wants to keep the spiked SunnyD seltzers away from the normal SunnyD orange juice inside liquor stores (25:12). 

The Governor and the Senate are looking to decrease the per-pupil foundation allowance for stand-alone cyber schools in Michigan. Family Engagement Director Amy Dunlap of the Michigan International Prep School, as well as Flint mother Chambria Mack and Milford high schooler Anna Dietderich explain why they're troubled about how the proposal could impact their learning experence. (47:07). 

MIRS Monday, May 6, 2024

The MIRS team is joined by Bridge Detroit journalist Malachi Barrett and Adolph Mongo, a Detroit political commentator, to discuss how Detroit voters are feeling about the 2024 election cycle. 

They zoom in on the Democratic rivalry between U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar and challenger Adam Hollier in the 13th congressional district, as well as how Detroiters are reacting to the U.S. Senate and presidential races (1:20). 

Additionally, state House Majority Floor Leader Abraham Aiyash, a Hamtramck Democrat, explains his decision to not pursue reelection as a state representative. He also illustrates his experiences while attending several university protests for a cease-fire in the Middle East (26:39). 

Furthermore, MIRS speaks with state Sen. Thomas Albert, a Lowell Republican and past House Appropriations chair. He describes his top three biggest concerns with the developing state budget (44:44).