The two biggest liars in politics had an especially bad week. It’s 5-million dollars for one of the many crimes of Donald Trump followed by a 13-count felony indictment over the Congressman currently known as George Santos. It was topped off by a truly bizarre hour organized and broadcast by CNN, which called it a Town Hall but in reality should have been labeled a Trump campaign rally.

On a much more positive note, Governor Whitmer’s sister is running for Congress. Lynn Whitmer Gereghty is running in a suburban New York City district - for the seat held by new Biden buddy Republican Mike Lawson who upset DCCC chair Sean Patrick Maloney in 2022. And while Congress is in a stalemate over the budget and national debt (threatening an economic disaster), Michigan’s legislature is quietly moving forward on enacting Governor Whitmer’s budget.

Sitting in for the vacationing Jeff Timmer this week is longtime political troublemaker (and this podcast's producer) Walt Sorg. Joining the conversation this week is Chad Livengood, politics editor and a columnist at The Detroit News. Chad was a political reporter in The News' Lansing Bureau from 2012 through 2016 before becoming a reporter and columnist at Crain's Detroit Business. He rejoined The News' politics team in May 2022.

===========================

This week's podcast is underwritten in part by EPIC-MRAEPIC ▪ MRA is a full service survey research firm with expertise in:

• Public Opinion Surveys

• Market Research Studies

• Live Telephone Surveys

• On-Line and Automated Surveys

• Focus Group Research

• Bond Proposals - Millage Campaigns

• Political Campaigns & Consulting

• Ballot Proposals - Issue Advocacy Research

• Community - Media Relations

• Issue - Image Management

• Database Development & List Management

===========================

Stories We’re Following This Week

Michigan Politics and Policy

Michigan House passes $80.1B budget for 2024 fiscal year ⋆ Michigan Advance

House Budget Proposes Record Funding For Education – housedems.com

Michigan Democrats rethink how to fund special projects with competing plans

Michigan’s new roads plan: More money for big counties (that vote Democratic) - Bridge Michigan

Michigan Senate lawmakers spar before passing $21 billion school aid budget - Bridge Michigan

Michigan nears ban on handheld cell phone use while driving - Bridge Michigan

Livengood - 7 areas to watch as Democrats wrangle over Michigan's next state budget - Detroit News

Budget gives Michigan Republicans another opportunity for influence - Detroit News

Livengood: Michigan architects seek reform of rise in 'dark' political money

Livengood: 2024 may feel like Trump-Biden sequel, but wild cards remain

Default Impact on Michigan - White House Fact Sheet

Michigan commission finds ‘misconduct’ by pro-Trump attorneys in 2020 lawsuit - Bridge Michigan

AG Nessel Announces Distribution of $141 Million Settlement to Millions of Low-Income Americans Deceived by TurboTax Owner Intuit

Michigan paid $10M before ‘red flags’ froze ex-House speaker Jason Wentworth’s pet project - Bridge Michigan

GOP Voters Say Trump Has Too Much Baggage. They'll Vote for Him Anyway. - The Atlantic

Whitmer signs bills negotiated in Ford plant spending deal - Detroit Free Press

How Michigan hashes out big money deals with business - Lansing State Journal

Voters Want Clarence Thomas to Resign and Support a Supreme Court Code of Ethics - Data for Progress

Chasten Buttigieg's new book might help young adults - Detroit Free Press

Campaigns and Candidates

Benson urges legislators to support military families overseas, voters with disabilities,