MichMash Politics

2021 has been a difficult year to navigate so far for American auto companies. MichMash hosts Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth talk with Detroit News Washington Correspondent Riley Beggin about how the auto industry is dealing with parts shortages and a toxic political environment.

COVID-19 vaccines appear to be working well in Michigan to prevent people from getting sick or dying.

But some news consumers might be getting the wrong impression about how safe the vaccines really are. MichMash hosts Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth talk with Wayne State University journalism professor Fred Vultee about the consequences of misleading headlines.

Votes are being counted in the effort to unionize Amazon’s warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama. MichMash hosts Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth talk with Congressman Andy Levin (D-Bloomfield Twp.), who says the vote has big implications here in Michigan.

The new focus on a massive infrastructure spending plan in Washington D.C. has big implications here in Michigan.

MichMash hosts Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk about what members of our Congressional delegation are saying about what it would mean for inequality in Michigan.

Michigan’s Legislature is coming under new scrutiny for its own family leave policies for lawmakers and staffers.

MichMash hosts Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth talk with WKAR’s Abigail Censky about her reporting on this issue and why it matters to all Michiganders.

Throughout the pandemic, one of the biggest challenges for public health officials has been our toxic political environment.

MichMash hosts Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk about efforts to politicize this health crisis and why they could have lasting impacts on public health and policymaking. And a conversation with Michigan Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun.

Recent comments by male Republican lawmakers at the state Capitol have renewed conversations about misogyny in state government. MichMash hosts Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk with MLive reporter Lauren Gibbons about how voters are reacting to sexist language from legislators, and what it means for policymaking in Michigan.

There’s movement at the state Capitol toward putting limits on the Legislature’s lame duck session. That’s the time just after an even-year election that often sees hundreds of bills passed, sometimes in the dead of night. MichMash hosts Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth talk about why transparency activists are excited about curbing the chaos of lame duck, and they speak with Voters Not Politicians Executive Director Nancy Wang.

More than $5 billion in federal money for COVID relief for Michigan is in limbo as lawmakers in Lansing fight over how to spend it. MichMash hosts Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk with Craig Mauger of the Detroit News about what is causing the delay and why it matters.

Some Democrats are calling on state Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey to resign or give up his leadership position. That’s after he called the January 6th insurrection a hoax and made sexist comments about Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on tape.

MichMash hosts Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth talk about whether Shirkey is likely to face any real repercussions. And a conversation with state Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor).