As we get closer to the midterm elections, races for the Michigan US Senate and House seat prove that Michigan is stepping closer in the national spotlight. This week on MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow discuss Michigan's swing state power with Reid Wilson, founder and editor of Pluribus News in Washington, D.C.
They discuss the current state of the Michigan candidates and how they reflect the national trend in politics. 
But first the state budget drama continues as cancellations in funding disrupts multiple work projects. Cheyna and Zach also discuss the latest in Lansing

Is everyone getting charged the same? This is the question causing members of the Michigan Judicial Council to create a proposal to take the pressure off judges to generate revenue and make the state a more balanced funding partner as well as make sure people are not given debts that they can’t pay. This week on MichMash Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Services' Alethia Kasben discuss the ins and outs of this proposal with former judge and State Court Administrator Tom Boyd.

During this holiday weekend, the MichMash hosts got together to look at issues and stories we should look out for in the month of December. 
This week on MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Services' Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discuss topics such as data centers, the Michigan gubernatorial race, and what items on the legislatures to-do list will get accomplished. 

Michigan lawmakers are working on bipartisan approaches to ensure crimes are accounted for and other bills aiming to increase privacy for lawmakers. This week on MichMash, WDET’s Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben talk with State Senator Stephanie Chang and State Representative Sarah Lightner. They discuss the Violent Crime Clearance Act, shielding of addresses for certain public officials, and more. 

Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall makes his MichMash debut this week to share his take on recent events involving the Michigan legislature. In this episode, he joins hosts Cheyna Roth and Zach Gorchow to talk about funding, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the state budget, Republican candidates for governor and more. 

Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield had a historic win on Tuesday, becoming the first woman to be elected Mayor of Detroit. In this episode of MichMash, Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben are joined by BridgeDetroit reporter Malachi Barrett and Detroit One Million founder Sam Robinson to discuss how Sheffield might govern in her new role.

In this episode, cannabis attorney Lance Boldrey joins the show. He chats with WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben about how the 2026 state budget affects the cannabis industry.

Plus, Republican gubernatorial candidates had their first debate this week. We discuss a notable absence and the major themes of the debate.

Even though Michigan's 2026 state budget was already passed and signed into law, the drama continues as the Senate and House disagree about a bill calling for more transparency with enhancement grants known as "earmarks." This week on MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow explain what earmarks are and what role they play in the recently-passed budget.

Then, they sit down with Budget Director Jen Flood to dig into the details of what was included in the state budget.

With a little more than a year to go until Michigan's next congressional election, we take a look at the current state of affairs for congressional candidates in Michigan. This week on MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben explore who's running in the state's US House and Senate races, and where their fundraising stands.

Later on, Charles Griffith from the Ecology Center stops by to discuss how a recently passed gas tax will impact electric vehicles.

Although there are already laws barring non-citizens from voting in Michigan elections, a group is pushing a ballot initiative to have voters show proof of citizenship. This week on MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow unpack the issue with supporter Paul Jacob of Americans for Citizen Voting and opponent Melinda Billingsley of Voters Not Politicians.