MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday Podcast, April 4, 2016

State Board of Education President John Austin asks: does Michigan want to risk a business backlash as a state "legislating sexuality and gender identity?"  He also talks M-STEP and his own political future on this week's MIRS Monday Podcast.  Also tune in as the MIRS team talks Flint, presidential politics and Virgil Smith's pending resignation.  

MIRS Monday, Mar. 28, 2016

The American Federation of Teachers-Michigan stayed neutral on the Senate's Detroit Public School reform package. What would get them to support the bills? Do they think they are going to get anything better in the House, whose starting volley on the DPS bills were not what the teachers' union had in mind? MIRS asks AFT-Michigan President David Hecker these and other questions. 

MIRS talks about the implications of getting rid of the M-STEP test and the Board of Education's LGBTQ policy. MIRS also remembers former Speaker Curtis Hertel, Sr., and Dick Milliman, former press secretary to Gov. George Romney.

MIRS Monday, Mar. 21, 2016

Darwin Jiles, the Ethnic Vice Chair of the Michigan Republican Party, claims his party's historic inability to connect a compassionate conservative philosophy to the needs of urban residents makes it harder for officials like Gov. Rick Snyder and Bill Schuette to be met with anything other than skepticism when it comes to the Flint water crisis.

Jiles, a Flint native, said he doesn't believe the Governor purposely poisoned the city of Flint, but his corporate background is one where he's viewed as not caring about the city's residents until it was too late. Jiles is critical of the MRP's outreach efforts in Detroit and other urban areas.

Also, hear why anyone who relies on the state's General Fund needs to be concerned about the Flint water crisis.

MIRS Monday, Mar. 14, 2016

Genesee County Clerk John Gleason said, "Somebody in Flint needs to go to jail" over the Flint water crisis. Gleason compares the water that came out of the faucets at his offices to a "black and tan." What should happen to those who pulled the trigger on using the Flint River as an interim water source? Gleason gives his answer.

Also, listen to how much money the Skillman Foundation told Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan needed to be put into the Detroit Schools late last year to fund its "Roadmap for Detroit," according to a confidential PowerPoint presentation obtained by MIRS. This and much more on this week's edition.

MIRS Monday, Mar. 7, 2016

Ohio First Lady Karen Waldbillig Kasich said she was proud of how her husband, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, handled himself during Thursday's debate in Detroit. As for the other three?They acted as if they were running for "class clown," she said. Listen to Waldbillig Kasich's thoughts on her husband's "kitchen" comment, what role she sees herself playing as First Lady, what issue he struggled with most as governor of Ohio, what he does to relax and more.

Also, the MIRS crews gives a behind-the-scenes look at the last two presidential debates, the Donald Trump rally in Macomb County and Hillary Clinton's event in Detroit. And Dennis Denno from Denno Research gives his perspectives going into the Tuesday presidential primary.

MIRS Monday, Feb. 29, 2016

On paper, the 1st Congressional District would look like the Democrats' best chance for a pick-up in 2016, but Ed Sarpolus from Target Insyght tells MIRS why history indicates that Lon Johnson's path to victory would be difficult. Sarpolus also breaks down where Michigan House Democrats have the best chance of winning in '16 based on historical data.

Also, Matt Grossman is introduced as the next director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. Hear what he has to say on the presidential sweepstakes and how Donald Trump's popularity is similar to other national political figures.

MIRS Monday, Feb. 22, 2016

Rep. Tom Barrett met with now-former Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency Director Jeff Barnes the day the Auditor General's critical audit of the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans was made known to lawmakers. What was said? Was Barrett, the chair of the House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, surprised by Barnes' resignation the next day?

Also, Denise DeCook of the Sterling Corporation actively worked behind the scenes to help get George H.W. Bush the GOP nomination in 1988. What happened in 2016 with his son, Jeb? DeCook answers this questions and makes the case why Donald Trump needs to make a change in his approach if he wants to avoid a brokered Republican convention.

MIRS Monday, Feb. 15, 2016

How will Hillary Clinton be a different president than former President Bill Clinton? MIRS asks the person who may know them the best, Chelsea Clinton, that question. In a special one-on-one interview, MIRS also asks her how the 2016 presidential race is different than the ones her father was in.

Who does Attorney General Bill Schuette really think will win the Republican nomination? Why does he think so? Schuette defends his prediction in this week's edition. Also, play a round of presidential trivia with the MIRS team. This and more on this week's edition.

MIRS Monday, Feb. 8, 2016

As the bad news keeps dropping, at what point would Gov. Rick Snyder resign over the Flint water crisis? Does he consider moving to Flint? Appoint a Democrat to lead his Department of Environmental Quality? Bob McCann from Cover Two Strategies helps the MIRS team answers these and other questions. Snyder declines to testify in front of Congress this week, but what about down the road?

Also, Adrian Hemond and Brian Began from Grassroots Midwest breaks down their read on the state House races a week after all candidate disclosed what they raised in 2015.

MIRS Monday, Feb. 1, 2016

What does Gov. Rick Snyder need to do to get ahead of the Flint water story? Marketing Resource Group President Tom Shields gives his opinion on this and whether he agrees Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump has a clear path to the nomination if he wins Iowa.

Also, listen to the unique strategy Michigan U.S. Reps. Bill Huizenga and John Moolenaar are using to connect with Iowans as they cross the Hawkeye State for Marco Rubio's campaign.