MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday, Sept. 5, 2016

AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber warned lawmakers that attempting to tackle a repeal of the state's prevailing wage law during the lame duck session will "poke a hole in the hornet's nest the likes of which you've never seen." In this week's podcast, Bieber talks about the state of organized labor in Michigan, Donald Trump's appeal to union members, which Democratic congressional candidate have the best shot at winning Nov. 8, and more.

Also, will Michigan general election ballots have a straight ticket voting oval in 2018 or 2020? The MIRS team looks ahead to the merits of the case against the legislation that banned the oval from ballots and how that could be decided in the months ahead. And who would have thought running as an "insider" was a winning strategy, yet some state legislative candidates have found success highlighting their experience with Lansing.

MIRS Monday, Aug. 29, 2016

Why does Donald Trump like Michigan so much? The Republican presidential nominee is scheduled to be in Detroit this weekend, his third visit to the Mitten State in a month. The MIRS team gives their take on why he sees Michigan as being important. Also, what was the takeaway from this past weekend's party conventions in Grand Rapids and Lansing? What were the highlights? The lowlights?

And what is on the minds of some of the ticket's top Democrats going into the November election? Ishmael Ahmed, John Austin, Deb Thomas, Brandon Dillon and Ian Conyers are among those with whom we spoke.

MIRS Monday, Aug. 22, 2016

Does Mark Schauer wake up every morning feeling relieved he didn't win the 2014 gubernatorial race so he wouldn't have the Flint water crisis to worry about? What does he feel about Donald Trump? Will there be a ballot proposal in 2018 or 2020 to change the state's redistricting law? The former Democratic nominee answers these questions and more. 

Also, is the media biased against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump? The MIRS team takes turn debating that point and why the media isn't making more of a fuss about Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton not being accessible for press interviews.

MIRS Monday, Aug. 15, 2016

She doesn't care why you vote for Donald Trump, Michigan Republican Party Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel said in today's podcast that she just hopes that you do. With the MRP being the extent of Trump campaign field operation in Michigan, listen to McDaniel's take on the race and why he's a better alternative than the Democratic nominee

The MIRS team also debates whether Michigan is a battleground state. Is Michigan in play? Was it ever in play?

Also, what does the MIRS team think of Lt. Gov. Brian Calley's Facebook post that registered 1,400 likes over the course of a weekend?

Hillary Clinton Speech In Warren, 8/11/16

The following is Hillary Clinton's speech today at the Futuramic plant in Warren. The speech is in its entirety.

MIRS Monday, Aug. 8, 2016

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump makes his economic policy front in front of more than 1,500 listeners at the Detroit Economic Club. Listen to his speech and the introduction from Trump running mate Mike Pence in its entirety.

Also, Stu Sandler of Grand River Strategies talks about what went right for his candidate, Paul Mitchell, in the 10^th Congressional Republican primary and how Jack Bergman was able to claim victory in the 1^st Congressional GOP race.

 

MIRS Monday, Aug. 1, 2016

Which Aug. 2 primary race are you most interested to see the results in? The 1st Congressional? 10th Congressional? How about U.S. Rep. John Conyers in the 13th or his great nephew, Ian Conyers, in 4th state senate district?

Dennis Denno from Denno Research and Matt Resch from Resch Strategies helps the MIRS team break down these and several state House district primaries in this pre-primary election edition of MIRS Monday.

MIRS Monday Podcast, July 25, 2016

This week the MIRS team dissects the highs and lows of campaign finance filings by Michigan House candidates.  Also, MIRS Publisher John Reurink sits down with Steve Mitchell, the President & CEO of Mitchell Research & Communications, to talk about his latest Michigan presidential polling results and last week's GOP convention.  Then, MIRS Editor Kyle Melinn sits down with Rep. Robert Kosowski (D-Westland) to talk about legislation ranging from a ban on "occupying the left hand lane" on freeways to using sports betting to better fund Michigan cities and towns. 

MIRS Monday, July 18, 2016

The Republican Party this week is adopting the most conservative platform in recent memory and Michigan delegate Meshawn Maddock is proud of it. This week, Maddock talks about why the Republican Party has swung further right. Why is the term "Tea Party" falling out out of usage among conservative activists? Does she feel there is any similarity between likely nominee Donald Trump and Rick Snyder in 2010.

Also, how does the Republican Party get its rank and file excited about Trump's candidacy? And MIRS hunts down a must-hear mock tourism spot for the city of Cleveland, the host of the National Republican Convention.

MIRS Monday, July 11, 2016

On a scale of 1-100, what are the chances the Republican delegates at the Cleveland convention will be unbound? Scott Hagerstrom, the head of presidential candidate Donald Trump's Michigan operation answers this, among other questions. What type of ground game does Trump have in Michigan? Why is he confident disenfranchised GOP voters will back Trump in the fall?

Also a MIRS staffer talks about video evidence showing protestors pounding on the door of Attorney General Bill Schuette's Midland house last week. Should have been ticketed for trespassing? Does their demonstration hurt them or just their cause? This and more in this week's podcast.