MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS Monday, July 21, 2014

Attorney General Bill Schuette says state Sen. John Moolenaar's record needs to be set straight in the Republican 4th Congressional District primary. A former member of Congress himself, Schuette talks about polling in his re-election bid, the Aramark prison food contract, the Detroit pension vote and Mitt Romney in this week's edition (5:10). 

Also, both Republicans in the open 8th Congressional District primary join the podcast. State Rep. Tom McMillin talks about his past praise for former Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (23:55) while Bishop talks about his role in the creation of the Michigan Business Tax (15:17).

MIRS Monday, July 14, 2014

Does Wayne County Executive candidate Warren Evans believe incumbent Bob Ficano is corrupt? The former Wayne County Sheriff answers this and other questions about the international bridge and the county's budget, among other subjects. Also, Michael Sargeant, executive director of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, handicaps the D's shot at taking control of the Michigan House.

Also, will Michigan have debates in the gubernatorial and US Senate races? Congressional campaign finance numbers come out Tuesday. Who needs a big showing?

MIRS Monday, July 7, 2014

Third Congressional District candidate Brian Ellis says incumbent U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (R-Kentwood) is only thinking of himself, not his constituents, when he casts his perceived odd congressional votes. Amash's desire to be the next Ron Paul is out of step with where majority of Republican voters are, Ellis says this in this week's podcast.

Also, Ron Olson, chief of the DNR's Parks and Recreation Division talks about the uptick in traffic to the park this Fourth of July weekend and the improved recreation passport adoption numbers in neighborhoods surrounding Belle Isle.

MIRS Monday, June 30, 2014

On today's show, Dennis Denno of Denno Research breaks down the results of a recent poll of MIRS subscribers. Which gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races do insiders see as running the best campaigns? The worst?

Our second guest is Matt Gillard of Michigan's Children, talking about education funding and a new party in town -- the Michigan Sandbox Party. Also, what kind of marks did the recently signed education funding bill get?

Also, how big of a boost will candidates like David Trott and Bill Schuette get by having Mitt Romney at their events this week? The MIRS team discusses it. 

MIRS Monday, June 23, 2014

Tune in with the MIRS crew as we look at ads in the U.S. Senate, Gubernatorial and 11th Congressional District races. Guests are Vanguard Public Affairs President T.J. Bucholz and Capitol Confidential Correspondent Jack Spencer.

MIRS Monday, June 16, 2014

When U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor lost his primary election last week, former Congressman Pete Hoekstra, now with Hoekstra Global Strategies, had flashbacks to his own shocking primary win in 1992. What similarities does he see? How will this impact Michigan's Congressional primaries? Hoekstra also opines on the developing insurgency in Iraq.

Also, did the President make the right decision trading the freedom of Sgt. Bergdahl for five terrorists? Get the reaction of an expert in terrorist activities, 11th Congressional hopeful Bobby McKenzie, who also shares his thoughts on whether Edward Snowden is a traitor or a patriot.

Finally, Rick Snyder for president? The Washington Post floated the idea over the weekend. The MIRS team reacts.

MIRS Monday, June 9, 2014

How is state Sen. John Moolenaar (R-Midland) going to counter against the significant personal resources Paul Mitchell is bringing to the open 4th District Congressional race? The first-term senator also gives his opinion on the future of putting a penny sales tax on the ballot for additional road funding, among other issues.

Also, the MIRS team gives its reaction to last week's Glamour-gate controversy. Could the Twitter posting of the three male lawmakers reading women's magazines make journalists' job harder on the House floor?

MIRS Monday, June 2, 2014

Michigan Republican Party Chair Bobby Schostak (19:18) and Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lon Johnson (8:20) talk Michigan politics at the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce's Mackinac Policy Conference in separate one-on-one interviews. Also, MIRS recaps the two most newsworthy events from the island -- Gov. Snyder being OK with a discussion on adding gays and lesbians to the Elliott Larsen Civil Right Act and three minutes Terri Lynn Land wishes she could have back.

First Land/Peters Event

The first event featuring both U.S. Senate candidates -- Democrat Gary Peters and Republican Terri Lynn Land -- took place at the Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference today. 

Miss it? Here's the audio of the candidates' speeches and Q&A as well as a scrum with Land afterward. 

Some helpful timestamps: 

0:00 Peters gives his opening remarks

7:30 Peters answers audience questions

28:30 Land gives opening remarks

39:45 Land answers audience questions

50:45 scrum with Land 

MIRS Monday, May 26, 2014

If Sen. John Pappageorge had not run in 13th state Senate District in 2006, would the Democrats had controlled both legislative chambers in the first part of Gov. Jennifer Granholm's second term? The argument can be made and Pappageorge, as this week's guest, is here to make it. He also talks about the Senate Majority Leader's road funding plan, among other issues in this Memorial Day weekend podcast.