Members of the MIRS team come together to discuss the latest updates in Michigan's U.S. Senate and House races. They also dive into how candidates and elected officials did in the debut year of financial disclosure mandates, and some under-the-radar budget proposals that state legislators have put forward (1:23). 

Former Attorney General spokeswoman Andrea Bitely launched her own public relations firm on Monday. She says there's "a little bit of a hole" in Lansing when it comes to crisis communications, which she hopes to fill in the era of reported financial scandals (30:07). 

Retiring president Barry Cargill of the Michigan HomeCare and Hospice Association, as well as incoming President Laura Haynes, joined the podcast today. Barry says his biggest regret is not yet seeing Michigan's 2019 auto law reformed to improve care for catastrophic car crash survivors.  Laura wants to use the power of social media to get voters talking about the care issue for the 2024 elections (52:32).