This week's politics begin with a check on Zillow listings...

The man who once claimed a net worth of more than 10-Billion dollars says he can’t come up with a measly half-billion to satisfy a New York court judgment. If he’s so rich, why can’t he simply mortgage one of his many many many amazing properties?

M.Wuerker - Politico

There are more signs of cracks in Trump’s support within the Republican Party as Trump is dissed by former Veep Mike Pence, Indiana Sen. Todd Young, and Nikki Haley donors

On the plus side for the former game-show host, it appears that the judge in his trial for stealing top-secret documents is totally in his hip pocket

Michigan Supreme Court Justice David Viviano says he won’t seek reelection, giving Democrats a chance to solidify their majority on the officially-but-not-really nonpartisan court

Electric-powered cars are taking center-stage in the Michigan presidential campaign

Two anniversaries highlight the week:

The 14th anniversary of the signing of Obamacare: state Democrats are turning up the heat in federal races, going after Republican candidates on healthcare

The 10th anniversary of the first same-sex wedding in Michigan

Also this week:

The UAW makes an endorsement in the Democratic primary race to succeed Dan Kildee

The Legislature ends Michigan’s ban on surrogacy contracts and, in the process, protects In-Vitro Fertilization.

Michigan Democrats are taking on the challenge of reconnecting with rural Michigan.

We talk with the authors of a provocative analysis of the partisan divide between rural and urban/suburban Michigan: “White Rural Rage: The Threat to American Democracy”. Journalist Paul Waldman is a former columnist for The Washington Post, The Week, and TheAmerican Prospect. He is currently an MSNBC columnist, writes The Cross Section newsletter, and co-hosts the Boundary Issues podcast.

Tom Schaller is a professor of political science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. A former columnist for The Baltimore Sun, he has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times. He is the author or co-author of four other books, including Common Enemies, The Stronghold, and Whistling Past Dixie.

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