MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday, Oct. 17, 2016

What does former Gov. Jennifer Granholm think about Republicans trying to campaign off the possibility she may be appointed to a Hillary Clinton administration and bring back the "lost decade?" She answers that question and shares her thoughts on Donald Trump, her "bifurcated" existence as a policy wonk and "blabberer" for the Clinton campaign, and Clinton's email flap.

Also, Donald Trump's sinking popularity and some strong fundraising numbers now have Democrats giving the 8th Congressional District a stronger look. The Democrats' candidate, Suzanna Shkreli, shares her thoughts on the race and her response to incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop saying he's done talking about Trump.

This and much more on this week's edition.

MIRS Monday, Oct. 10, 2016

Is the presidential race over? The MIRS team opines on whether Donald Trump's "hot mic" comments from Friday essentially end the presidential race and what impact that has for Congress and other lower ticket races.

Jeff Timmer, a Republican political consultant with Two Rivers Public Affairs, says it's time for the Republicans to kick Trump off the ticket if they have any desire to win the race now that the Trump campaign a "smoking crater."

Also, what happened with the state Supreme Court races? This and more in this week's edition.

MIRS Monday, Oct. 3, 2016

Ingham County Prosecutor Gretchen Whitmer questions whether Attorney General Bill Schuette is violating prosecutorial ethics with his approach to the Flint water crisis criminal investigation, opines on Gov. Rick Snyder's decision not to pay for his own legal team and wonders aloud, "What would Jennifer Granholm or John Engler had done" if they were governor during the Flint water crisis.

Also, Greg McNeilly, the chair of the Michigan Freedom Fund, lays into Progress Michigan and the Detroit Free Press for insinuating Dick DeVos and his family are using high-dollar influence to get the education policy they want out of the Michigan Legislature. This and more in this week's edition.

MIRS Monday, Sept. 26, 2015

Why is T.J. Bucholz of Vanguard Public Affairs having a hard time calling the event between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump a "debate?" Is this presidential election good for the country? And why are some not trusting the polls? Bucholz and Tom Shields, president of the Marketing Resource Group answers these and other questions.

Also, what is Enbridge's plan if Line 5 bursts underneath the Mackinac Straits in the winter? Does the company have plans to close the pipeline in 10 years? What's wrong with using Line 6 around Lake Michigan instead of Line 5. Ryan Duffy of Enbridge answers these and other questions in this week's edition.

MIRS Monday, Sept. 19, 2016

The Michigan Environmental Council and the environmental group For Love of Water (FLOW) are asking the state today to shutdown Line 5, the light crude pipeline that runs under the Straits of Mackinac, for the winter to prevent an environmental catastrophe if the line should burst when the Straits are iced over. MIRS talks with FLOW Executive Director Liz Kirkwood and MEC's Kate Madigan about this and other issues connected with the pipeline.

Also, why should pro-marijuana advocates be happy about the regulation package set to be signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder, even if they are less than giddy immediately about the prospect of a large corporate structure and bureaucracy overseeing their business? Also, listen to Gov. Snyder's first TV ads for House candidates in 2016.

Gary Johnson speaks to reporters in Detroit 9/14/16

Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson answered questions from the press corps after his question-and answer-type presentation in front of the Detroit Economic Club. During the exchange, Johnson gives his opinion on the Flint water crisis, the auto bailout and his personal belief that he has a 10 percent shot of winning the presidency.

MIRS Monday, Sept. 12, 2016

Hillary Clinton needs help getting into a vehicle after a 9-11 ceremony. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters reacts, as does members of the MIRS team. Will revelations by 24th House District candidate Steve Marino's comments about picking up the wedding tab, as lobbyist, for a lawmaker's daughter's wedding impact his race? And MIRS explores a story published Friday on why the Snyder administration has yet to put a price tag on the Flint water crisis.

This week, MIRS speaks with Ida Chinois of Grand Blanc, whose 7-year-old daughter has benefited from medical marijuana. We also speak with Darwin Jiles, the ethnic vice chair of the Michigan Republican Party, on his perceptions of Flint Mayor Karen Weaver.

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.