MIRS Monday Podcast

Whitmer, Brewer Discuss Lawsuit

Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer today at a press conference discussed their plans to ask for a rare one-man grand jury to weigh in on what they say was fraud perpetrated by House Speaker Jase Bolger and party-switching Grand Rapids Rep. Roy Schmidt.

MIRS Monday Podcast, Aug. 20 2012

Michigan Republican Party spokesman Matt Frendewey previews the Republican National Convention, the impact of Ron Paul on the state party, and why Michigan got the second best hotel in Tampa. The MIRS crew talks about which ballot proposals are poised for legal action this week, and why the fate of the Protect Our Jobs ballot proposal could be linked to that of the casino ballot proposal.

MIRS Monday, Aug. 13, 2012

MIRS introduces its new House reporter, Craig Mauger, in this week's episode. Also, how will the selection of U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney's running mate impact the Republican ticket in Michigan? And could there be a legal challenge to the proposed two-third ballot proposal before the Board of Canvassers certifies it for the ballot? Gilda Jacobs of the Michigan League of Human Services, who is spearheading the anti-proposal side, talks about the possibility.

MIRS Monday Podcast, Aug. 6, 2012

With the primary only a day away get predictions on some of the most contested races from Joe DiSano of Main Street Strategies and John Truscott of Truscott Rossman. Races covered include the 11th Congressional District, 13th and 14th Congressional Districts, and some of the member-vs-member House races happening in Detroit.

Granholm Robo-call

A robo-call from former Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

MIRS Monday Podcast, July 30, 2012

Polling shows U.S. Rep. John Conyers up comfortably in his first challenged re-election fight in years. How has he successfully fended up the competition up until now? Conyers Campaign Manager Ed Sarpolus talks about what the 23-term incumbent has done right. Also, MIRS Editor Kyle Melinn breaks down the state House campaign filings. Which Democratic challenger do Republicans need to watch out for? Which Republican is blowing away the field in a presumed competitive race? And Clark Durant waited until the last minute to campaign for the U.S. Senate. Is he regretting that decision now?

MIRS Monday Podcast, July 23, 2012

A Kent County Prosecutor report on the Roy Schmidt/Speaker Jase Bolger party switch issue rocks the capitol.  What does it mean for the House Republicans and was Bolger's weekend apology in The Detroit News enough?  Join MIRS' Publisher John Reurink along with MIRS' Susan Demas, Alisha Green and Emily Lawler as they analyze this and the U.S. Senate Republican Primary Race.  Special guest Stu Sandler of Decider Strategies offers up his advice for Clark Durant and provides an analysis of GOP primary Michigan House races to watch.

Robocall

In this robocall, an unidentified female voice says she is relaying a message from the GOP Education Network. The caller then tells voters to contact their state representative and urge House Speaker Jase Bolger to step down in the wake of a prosecutor's report detailing his involvement with an election scheme in the 76th House District.

MIRS Monday Podcast, July 16 2012

Rep. Paul Opsommer (R-Dewitt) talks about restructuring retirement plans for municipal employees, legislation he's worked on with the Michigan Municipal League (MML). Also stick around as the MIRS team talks about the top five competitive Congressional District races, and issues predictions on who's beating who where.

MIRS Monday, July 9, 2012

Michael Vizena, director of the Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards, explains how the Affordable Care Act can save the state General Fund money while also creating a new opportunity to write mental healthy parity policy. Also, MIRS talks about the surprisingly quiet Republican U.S. Senate race and the lingering questions behind Thad McCotter's sudden resignation from Congress.