It's Just Politics

By Michigan Public

What's It's Just Politics about?

Politics can be messy. Politics can be confusing. But, that certainly doesn't mean politics can't be a joy-ride. Join It's Just Politics hosts Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta as they drill down on what’s happening in Michigan politics.

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It's Just Politics episodes:

05.12.2023
Friday Rundown: May 12th, 2023
A new report says Michigan would be hit particularly hard if Congress doesn’t increase the debt ceiling plus, the latest on state budget bills. Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
04.28.2023
Friday Rundown: April 28, 2023
A conversation with a Democratic lawmaker on bills to expand hate-crime laws in Michigan and Governor Gretchen Whtimer is named co-chair of President Biden’s reelection campaign; the political roundtable joins to discuss. ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. If you like what...
04.21.2023
Friday Rundown: April 21, 2023
A new report says Michigan had the highest youth voter turnout numbers in the nation last November. What’s behind the increase? Plus, a repeal of the state’s ban on unmarried men and women living together. ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. If...
04.14.2023
Friday Rundown: April 14, 2023
More gun safety legislation is passing at the Capitol. The state House passed extreme risk protection order laws, also known as ‘red flag laws.’ But how exactly do they work and who do they protect? ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. If...
04.07.2023
Friday Rundown: April 7, 2024
The political roundtable discusses the repeal of the state’s 1931 abortion law, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ visit to Michigan, and the charges against a former Republican Speaker of the House. ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. If you like what you hear...
03.31.2023
Friday Rundown: March 31, 2023
Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin talks about her new gun violence prevention bills; plus Governor Whitmer stays low-key on the recent repeal of “Right-to-Work.” ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our...
03.24.2023
Friday Rundown: March 24, 2023
The political roundtable discusses the future of the ‘new’ Michigan Republican Party after comparing gun-safety legislation to Nazi Germany. Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
03.17.2023
Friday Rundown: March 17, 2023
The political roundtable digs into the economic impact of Right-to-Work over the past decade. ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
03.10.2023
Friday Rundown: March 10, 2023
Guns, abortion, civil rights and a tax overhaul were all on the agenda at the state Capitol this week. It’s Just Politics breaks down a historic week in Lansing. Plus, new polling on gun safety legislation. ___ Find more from It's Just...
03.03.2023
Friday Rundown: March 3, 2023
The It’s Just Politics political roundtable discusses the week in Michigan politics as lawmakers hold hearings on new gun safety bills and Senators vote to add LGBTQ protections to the state’s civil rights act. ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. If you...
02.24.2023
Friday Rundown: February 24, 2023
The It’s Just Politics political roundtable discusses where Michigan lawmakers stand on new gun safety bills and how an election-denier is now running the Michigan Republican Party. ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. If you like what you hear on the pod,...
02.20.2023
A New Leader of the MI GOP
What does it mean that an election-denier is the new head of the Michigan Republican Party? ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for...
02.17.2023
Friday Rundown: February 17, 2023
A conversation with the head of the Legislative Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention Caucus; plus how Michigan voters feel about gun safety measures. ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work....
02.10.2023
Friday Rundown: February 10, 2023
A conversation with the State’s Budget Director Chris Harkins and Republican Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt. ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for...
02.03.2023
Friday Rundown: February 3, 2023
An inside look at the week in Michigan Politics with our It's Just Politics Friday roundtable. ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for...
01.27.2023
Friday Rundown: January 27, 2023
What proposals will lawmakers pass from Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State address? Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01.20.2023
Friday Rundown: January 20, 2023
A conversation with Democratic and Republican lawmakers on how best to use the state’s new $9 billion surplus. ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See...
01.13.2023
Friday Rundown: January 13, 2023
A conversation with our political roundtable of Capitol reporters about the first week in Lansing under Democratic control. ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See...
01.06.2023
Friday Rundown: January 6, 2023
A conversation with new Democratic state Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and a look at the week’s political news with our Friday roundtable. ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work....
01.04.2023
Michigan’s New Legislature
This new year means a new Legislature in Michigan and there are a lot of new faces. We take a look at who’s coming into Lansing for the new legislative term. ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. If you like what you...
12.21.2022
A Winning Midwestern Strategy for Dems
Midwestern Democrats who won big in 2022 think their message can help them win nationwide. ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...
12.16.2022
Friday Rundown: Dec 16, 2022
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signs an executive directive to make sure state government is ready to comply with the state’s new abortion-rights amendment. Michigan’s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission is suing the state Legislature over funding. And the future of the state’s...
12.09.2022
Friday Rundown: December 9, 2022
Michigan Senator Gary Peters on keeping the U.S. Senate in Democratic hands and the latest on Lansing’s lame-duck legislative session. ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Support the show:...
12.07.2022
Michigan's Minimum Wage Will Go Up in 2023. But by How Much?
Michigan’s minimum wage is set to go up in 2023 but the exact amount could be up to the courts. That’s after a judge found the Republican Legislature’s so-called ‘adopt and amend’ strategy to be unconstitutional. ___ Find more from It's Just...
12.02.2022
The Week in Michigan Politics
A big change could be in store for when Michigan gets to choose a presidential nominee. President Biden comes for another visit to Michigan. A shake-up in the Whitmer Administration before the second term begins. And, lawmakers in Lansing are...
11.30.2022
Michigan Senate Moves Up Michigan’s Presidential Primary Date
Michigan is trying once again to move in front of Iowa and New Hampshire on the presidential primary calendar. And Republicans and Democrats in Lansing are taking steps to show the Democratic National Committee they’re serious about helping to decide...
11.22.2022
Michigan's New Supreme Court Chief Justice: Beth Clement
Elizabeth Clement is the new chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. She was chosen this week in a closed-door meeting of the justices. Clement — who was named to the court in 2017 by Republican Governor Rick Snyder — has...
11.18.2022
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's "Liberating" Second Term
Second terms as Governor in Michigan are different. There isn’t the pressure of knowing you’ve got to run again for reelection in four years. So how’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer thinking about her second term? Today we talk to Gov. Whitmer...
11.16.2022
The End of Michigan Gerrymandering
A lot has been made since last week about redistricting in Michigan and the fact that new, independently drawn maps helped Democrats win both the state House and Senate for the first time in nearly 40 years. We’ll take a...
11.11.2022
A Historic Election in Michigan
Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and Attorney General Dana Nessel all cruise to reelection and for the first time in nearly forty years both chambers of the Michigan Legislature - the state House and state Senate -...
11.04.2022
Your Election Questions
A county clerk explains what happens if your vote is challenged at the polls, and the It's Just Politics panel answers your questions about about election day. GUESTS: Justin Roebuck, Ottawa County Clerk Rick Pluta, co-host of It’s Just Politics, and Senior...
10.28.2022
Election Expectations - and Worries
Host Zoe Clark sits down with Clara Hendrickson of Detroit Free Press to talk about what could possibly happen at the polls come Nov. 8. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson recently said she and secretaries of state across the...
10.21.2022
Michigan's Congressional Races to Watch
As we inch closer to the midterms, we turn our focus to key Congressional races happening in Michigan. On today's pod, we talk to with state Sen. Tom Barrett. Then guest host Colin Jackson helms the show to talk about...
10.14.2022
Whitmer & Dixon First Debate
On today’s show we examined the race in Michigan’s newly drawn 7th Congressional District. Several money tracking firms have named the race between incumbent Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin and Republican State Sen. Tom Barrett as the most expensive congressional races...
10.07.2022
Proposal 1 and the Future of Term Limits
With about a month to go in the campaign season, the It’s Just Politics crew zooms in on one of the three proposals on the ballot: Proposal 1 on legislature term limits and financial disclosures. GUESTS: Jason Roe, senior advisor for Voters...
09.30.2022
Legislative Surprises
We are 39 days away from election day and there's a lot going on in Michigan politics this week. On today's It's Just Politics, we speak with the Ottawa County Clerk about how the absentee voting process is going and get...
09.23.2022
The Michigan Culture Wars
Tudor Dixon and fellow Republicans give their reaction to the state superintendent advising that teachers do not disclose the gender identity to their students’ parents, and old writing from congressional candidate, John Gibbs says he thought women should not be...
09.15.2022
Dig into Michigan politics with Zoe Clark
Politics can be messy. Politics can be confusing. But, that certainly doesn't mean politics can't be a joy-ride. Join It's Just Politics host Zoe Clark as she drills down on what’s happening in Michigan politics. Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See...
06.18.2018
State board to take up redistricting ballot question this week
The proposal to change how Michigan draws the lines for congressional and legislative districts is about to go on the ballot. But, will it stay there? The question to create an independent commission to handle the job of redistricting is...
06.13.2018
Update: Group opposed to redistricting ballot asks MI Supreme Court for ruling
Update, June 13 at 10:30 a.m.: The group Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Constitution has filed an appeal with the state Supreme Court and asked the justices to put an immediate hold on the lower court decision that would place the question...
06.11.2018
MI Supreme Court to decide on redistricting ballot question
The Michigan Supreme Court is about to have a political hot mess dumped on its lap. The court will decide whether voters will vote on an overhaul of how Michigan draws legislative and congressional districts .
06.04.2018
After 8 years of GOP control, Schuette wants Michiganders to re-visit Granholm's legacy
Jennifer Granholm has been out of Michigan's gubernatorial office for over seven years. But, this year, her name is back in the spotlight. With Republicans running the show in Lansing for the past eight years, it has been especially hard...
05.21.2018
A Libertarian primary for the first time in Michigan history
This year, Libertarians will join Republicans and Democrats with candidates on the August primary ballot in Michigan. This is something that doesn’t happen very often. In fact, the last time a third party qualified to hold a primary in Michigan...
05.14.2018
Democratic candidates shun Nancy Pelosi amid hopes of "blue wave"
Democrats like their chances in Election 2018 as they hope President Trump’s unfavorables will help them win the House in November. But Republicans have their own emblematic figure they are using to paint a dark picture of the ramifications of...
05.07.2018
Do you have a legal right to have your signature counted on a petition?
Do you have a right to have your name counted when you sign a petition? Or, can it be thrown out on a technicality that has nothing to do with you? There are two recent instances in Michigan where, although...
04.30.2018
President Trump visits MI and gives Bill Schuette a shout-out
Republican gubernatorial candidates wanted to get next to President Donald Trump this weekend but only one got the presidential shout-out in Washington Township, MI. “A really great friend of mine, a great attorney general, the next governor of Michigan, Bill...
04.23.2018
Can he or can’t he? Judge will decide whether El-Sayed is a legal candidate for governor
There is a legal question about whether Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is eligible to run for governor. But one thing that is not a question is the fact that the question is not settled, no matter how much the El-Sayed campaign...
04.16.2018
Republicans eye getting in front of marijuana legalization
Update, Friday, April 27 at 10:40 a.m.: On Thursday, Michigan Board of Canvassers approved the petition to place the marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot. House Speaker Tom Leonard says he doesn't foresee the Legislature adopting the measure in...
04.09.2018
Can Democrats heal after bitter fight over attorney general race
The fight for the Democratic nod for state attorney general has gotten nasty with less than a week to go before Michigan Democrats decide on a candidate.
03.26.2018
Election 2018: Democrats are confident but there are plenty of stumbling blocks
Democrats are practically giddy about their prospects for taking control of Congress. They see a blue wave on the horizon, and the next 225 days until November 6th cannot come soon enough for them.

What's It's Just Politics about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

It's Just Politics episodes:

Friday Rundown: May 12th, 2023

Friday Rundown: April 28, 2023

Friday Rundown: April 21, 2023

Friday Rundown: April 14, 2023

Friday Rundown: April 7, 2024

Friday Rundown: March 31, 2023

Friday Rundown: March 24, 2023

Friday Rundown: March 17, 2023

Friday Rundown: March 10, 2023

Friday Rundown: March 3, 2023

Friday Rundown: February 24, 2023

A New Leader of the MI GOP

Friday Rundown: February 17, 2023

Friday Rundown: February 10, 2023

Friday Rundown: February 3, 2023

Friday Rundown: January 27, 2023

Friday Rundown: January 20, 2023

Friday Rundown: January 13, 2023

Friday Rundown: January 6, 2023

Michigan’s New Legislature

A Winning Midwestern Strategy for Dems

Friday Rundown: Dec 16, 2022

Friday Rundown: December 9, 2022

Michigan's Minimum Wage Will Go Up in 2023. But by How Much?

The Week in Michigan Politics

Michigan Senate Moves Up Michigan’s Presidential Primary Date

Michigan's New Supreme Court Chief Justice: Beth Clement

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's "Liberating" Second Term

The End of Michigan Gerrymandering

A Historic Election in Michigan

Your Election Questions

Election Expectations - and Worries

Michigan's Congressional Races to Watch

Whitmer & Dixon First Debate

Proposal 1 and the Future of Term Limits

Legislative Surprises

The Michigan Culture Wars

Dig into Michigan politics with Zoe Clark

State board to take up redistricting ballot question this week

Update: Group opposed to redistricting ballot asks MI Supreme Court for ruling

MI Supreme Court to decide on redistricting ballot question

After 8 years of GOP control, Schuette wants Michiganders to re-visit Granholm's legacy

A Libertarian primary for the first time in Michigan history

Democratic candidates shun Nancy Pelosi amid hopes of "blue wave"

Do you have a legal right to have your signature counted on a petition?

President Trump visits MI and gives Bill Schuette a shout-out

Can he or can’t he? Judge will decide whether El-Sayed is a legal candidate for governor

Republicans eye getting in front of marijuana legalization

Can Democrats heal after bitter fight over attorney general race

Election 2018: Democrats are confident but there are plenty of stumbling blocks