MIRS Monday Podcast

It is officially Lame Duck season in Lansing, and the MIRS team has some questions. Could the Governor veto something from her own party later this year? Do Democrats go progressive or uncontroversially moderate for their final days of a Democratic trifecta in the Capitol? (1:00). 

Also, MIRS meets Cody Venzke, the ACLU's senior policy counsel on surveillance, privacy and technology. He discusses a bill to keep certain websites and apps from processing reproductive and sexual health data without a user's specific consent (20:00). 

State Sen. Michael Webber, a Rochester Hills Republican, talks about how calling for improved oversight of state-run psychiatric hospitals became one of his main issues this term (36:40). 

Beginning today's episode, MIRS Editor Kyle Melinn and MIRS Monday podcast host Samantha Shriber lead a conservative-progressive roundtable discussion recapping the 2024 election results, featuring Republican operative Scott Hagerstrom and progressive community advocate David Sanchez (3:15). 

Why did Democrats struggle to connect with working class voters? Did Democrats court more anti-Trump Republicans than low-propensity voters on the left? 

Also, MIRS sits down with Charlotte Republican Tom Barrett, who won in mid-Michigan's 7th Congressional district (26:25). 

State Rep. Bill G. Schuette – chair of the House Republican Campaign Committee – talks about candidates, Republicans' "checks-and-balances" vision for next term and door-knocking dog bites (46:00).

Kicking off today's episode, MIRS editor Kyle Melinn and Samantha Shriber talk about this election cycle's noteworthy themes ahead of Tuesday's election day (2:43). 

MIRS meets Julie Stavelend of Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, which has started rolling out a $210 million rebate program to ramp up homes' energy efficiency (17:49).

Also, Hendrina Cupery of the Michigan Association of School Nurses discusses why some education and healthcare professionals want larger investment in hiring nurses for school districts (33:16). 

MIRS sits down with Republican campaign strategist John Yob and Alexis Wiley, the Detroit communications professional. Together, they are asked about election predictions, and what they see as the year's most unclear races (3:00). 

Dessa Cosma, Detroit Disability Power's executive director, believes Metro Detroit's polling locations can become more accessible at low costs. But last election cycle, her group found "only 16%" of the region's voting locations had no barriers to disabled Michiganders (28:28). 

Business leaders aren't against the Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) because of the promised 72 hours of paid time off, but because of the act's technical challenges. David Worthams of the Michigan Manufacturers Association and Joshua Lunger of the Grand Rapids Chamber detail their worries (47:03). 

The following clip was a conversation Donni Steele with someone at the Mission for Michigan event with special guest former Gov. Rick Snyder. The questions have to do with whether Rep. Steele would support Donald Trump if he were re-elected president and pardoned those who were convicted of criminal charges for their role in the Jan. 6 riots.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson spent the weekend in Michigan's competitive Congressional races. In Macomb County, he thinks Republican U.S. Rep. John James can secure his seat if the election is "based on fact and not fantasy" (3:35). 

Also, State Sen. Darrin Camilleri, a Trenton Democrat, talks to MIRS about Downriver politics, and how some voters might pick former President Donald Trump at the top but a Democratic legislator below (6:58). 

As for policy, elder justice attorney Emily Miller talks about proposed restraining orders designed to distance vulnerable adults and seniors from possibly abusive caretakers (27:07).

Additionally, should the state's school funding feature fewer competitive grants? MIRS speaks with Tina Kerr of the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators and Venessa Keesler of Launch Michigan (42:17). 

The MIRS team discusses recent moments in Michigan politics. The Governor's latest appearance with an influencer received backlash, and Democrats quickly condemned former President Donald Trump's comments on Detroit last week (1:25). 

Also, MIRS meets Morgan Foreman, the Democrat running in Michigan's 33rd state House district in the Ann Arbor and York Township area (17:20). 

What would happen if families in poverty conditions had a tax credit to offset their childcare expenses? Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet, a Bay City Democrat, and Executive Director Dave Meador of the Detroit Regional CEO Group talk about the proposed tax credits for children under 6 (38:20). 

Saginaw County has gone with Michigan's eventual winner in every presidential election since 1992. To discuss fortune-telling counties and cities this election cycle, MIRS sits down with Ed Sarpolus, the political consultant and researcher (1:33). 

What if Michigan didn't have partisan primaries in the summertime? MIRS talked to activist Katie Fahey and Ron Zimmerman of Rank MI Vote, discussing their effort to organize a 2026 ballot proposal bringing ranked-choice voting to the state (19:59). 

MIRS meets Jamie Miller, a Republican political consultant living in Florida. He talks about the potential "no man's land" for governors with presidential prospects. Also, are Democratic investments in Florida worthwhile, or political bluffs? (40:10). 

One of Lansing's recent policy battles involves new tax exemptions for data centers, the computer system warehouses for storing and processing data. Derrell Slaughter of the Natural Resources Defense Council explains how the topic unexpectedly became one of environmentalists biggest concerns this year (1:27). 

MIRS meets Joseph Erhardt, the acting director of the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association. He says Senate bills updating how drivers pay per-vehicle fees to the association will force insurance costs to skyrocket (24:35). 

Additionally, MIRS talks to high school seniors Saachi Rajgarhia and Garrett Gruner, the two youth governors of the YMCA Youth in Government program. They'll be signing and vetoing bills this year as part of a mock legislative system (45:11). 

MIRS hosts a West Michigan politics roundtable with progressive Joe Spaulding, a political strategist, and conservative Chair Tom Norton of the America PAC. Together, they discuss Ottawa Impact at the local level, and reports of the 3rd Congressional district not being all that competitive this year (1:20). 

Jamie Clover-Adams of Michigan Asparagus and Hart farmer Nick Oomen explain how mandatory $18.50/hour wages for migrant farm workers is challenging Michigan agriculture (27:04). 

Additionally, MIRS meets Jason Woolford, the Republican running in Michigan's Howell and Hartland-based 50th state House district (50:00).