This Week’s “Party on the Peninsulas” ✹ Chairperson Hertel Trump’s Politicized DOJ Attack on ActBlue ✹ Dr. Abdul El-Sayed U.S. Senate Candidate In the News Nessel vs. Trump et. al.: Federal Actions Tracker – Attorney General’s Office Trump orders Justice to investigate Democratic fundraising platform – AP News Trump Plans to Direct DOJ to Investigate ActBlue, a Democratic Fundraising Platform – Wall Street Journal Michigan Politics and Policy Michigan donors — and Gotion — pumped millions into Trump inauguration – Bridge Michigan Rogers campaign suggests Gotion should have given more to Trump inauguration – Detroit News Prescription price cap plan passes Michigan Senate as Dems decry ‘exploitation’ – Bridge Michigan Big Ten university faculties push for defense compact against Trump – The Washington Post Trump budget cuts target Great Lakes science – Detroit Free Press University of Michigan shifts DEI money to low-income students – Detroit Free Press Lansing town hall hosted by union, NAACP targets Rep. Tom Barrett – Lansing State Journal Haley Stevens runs for US Senate, vowing to fight ‘Trump-Musk chaos agenda’ – Bridge Michigan VIDEO – Haley Stevens: Fighting For Michigan – Stevens for U.S. Senate Opinion – How many has Trump deported so far? Enough[...]

This Week’s “Party on the Peninsulas” ✹ Chairperson Hertel Trump’s Tariffs Punish Michigan Farmers, Michigan Tourism ✹ Representative Phil Skaggs Our Universities Join the Resistance In the News Cognitive Decline? Trump Goes on Bizarre Rant About His Enemies The New Republic Egg Prices Continued to Rise in March The New York Times Michigan Politics and Policy MSU faculty join call for Big Ten ‘mutual defense compact’ against Trump administration – MSU State News MSU president pushes back on Trump administration’s student visa revocations – The State News Harvard pushes back against Trump administration’s demands for changes – The Washington Post MSU student suing Trump administration to restore visa record – The State News Elissa Slotkin: How Democrats Can Play Offense Against Trump – TIME AG Nessel Supports Challenge to Trump Administration’s Unconstitutional Ideological Deportation Policy – Attorney General AG Nessel Joins Multistate Effort to Protect Affordable Health Coverage from Federal Attack – Attorney General AG Nessel Joins Multistate Coalition Opposing Drastic Staffing Cuts to Social Security Administration – Attorney General Thanedar calls for Trump impeachment over immigration saga – Detroit News Trump’s anti-trans push changes Michigan’s transgender community – Detroit Free Press Longtime House Republican weighs run to flip Dem-held[...]

This Week’s “Party on the Peninsulas” ✹ Chairperson Hertel Trump’s one-person Economic Meltdown The non-citizens-are-voting myth Reaching out to rural Michigan ✹ Senator Mallory McMorrow Candidate for United States Senate In the News We Are All Living in George Orwell’s World Now – The New York Times Michigan Politics and Policy Non-citizens voting in Michigan: 0.00028% of the total vote – Michigan Secretary of State Peters blasts ‘crazy’ daily cost of detaining migrants at Guantanamo Bay – Detroit News Michigan’s top court says police can’t search cars solely because of marijuana odor – AP News Two laws in 90 days: Michigan’s new divided Legislature off to slow start – Bridge Michigan ‘Slap in the face’: Black legislators condemn University of Michigan’s DEI cuts – mlive.com Michigan Democrats vow to focus on ‘results’ in bid to bounce back – Detroit News Democrat Mallory McMorrow jumps into Michigan’s open U.S. Senate race – Detroit News Trump’s Economic Meltdown Trump Stomps Workers – The American Prospect U.S. Stocks Post Worst Quarter Since 2022 on Threat of Trade War – Wall Street Journal Stellantis idling some plants in Canada, Mexico; impact on US, too – Detroit Free Press Trump’s pitch on tariffs was built[...]

This Week’s “Party on the Peninsulas” ✹ Chairperson Hertel     The Macomb County Town Hall: Frustration, Anger, John James MIA ✹ Representative Matt Koleszar    The Inane House Elections Integrity Committee In the News Trump says he ‘couldn’t care less’ if auto prices rise because of his tariffs – The Washington Post Michigan Politics and Policy Wooden, Koleszar Denounce Republican Weaponization of House Elections Integrity Committee – housedems.com Why many Americans don’t have documents to prove citizenship to vote – The Washington Post Tariffs threaten to cut US auto sales by 700,000 in 2025 – Detroit Free Press Trump’s Tariffs Leave Automakers With Tough, Expensive Choices – The New York Times Trump Warned U.S. Automakers Not to Raise Prices in Response to Tariffs – Wall Street Journal Fact check: Donald Trump’s tariff claims on auto industry – Detroit Free Press Travel from Canada to Michigan dips 10% amid boycotts, border security fears – Bridge Michigan Michigan farmers facing ‘uncertain future’ amid funding freezes, tariff tensions – Bridge Michigan Increased unemployment benefits and added weeks go into effect April 2 – DLEG DOGE lays out $394M in Michigan health cuts. But what does it mean? – Bridge Michigan USDA cancels[...]

This Week’s “Party on the Peninsulas” ✹ Chairperson Hertel     Contest Every Race ✹ Representatives Erin Byrnes, Julie Brixie and Jason Morgan    Exposing Dark Money in Politics In the News Michigan Politics and Policy Michigan Sets New Record for Food, Ag and Forestry Exports – Michigan Department of Agriculture House Dems Re-Introduce Government Transparency Bills – House Democrats Voters Agree K-12 Education Is Off Track, Oppose Eliminating the Department of Education – Data for Progress Lawmaker targeting voter fraud ran in different precinct than wife – Detroit News Mitchell Poll: Gubernatorial race – MIRS People Are “Terrified.” Mallory McMorrow Has a Democratic Blueprint for Hope – Vanity Fair The list: The 26 House Dems the NRCC is targeting – Punchbowl News DCCC announces 26 vulnerable members for Frontline program in 2026 – Roll Call How Elissa Slotkin, a Moderate Michigan Democrat, Is Fighting Trump Tooth and Nail – Vanity Fair Trump/Musk’s Assault on Government and the Constitution Trump Goes to DOJ for Bonkers Rant Berating his ‘Illegal’ Media Enemies – The Daily Beast Memo details Trump plan to sabotage the Social Security Administration – Judd Legum/Popular Information Substack Musk group offers $100 to Wisconsin voters ahead of pivotal[...]

This Week’s “Party on the Peninsulas” ✹ Chairperson Hertel  Republicans Hide from the Voters ✹ Representative Penelope Tsernoglou Another GOP Voter-Suppression Proposal In the News Republicans in Hiding Town hall takes place without Bergman – Escanaba Daily Press Protesters again demand in-person town hall from Rep. Huizenga – Fox 17 Grand Rapids Barrett stays silent as pressure mounts for a town hall – Lansing City Pulse More than two-thirds of Rep. Barrett town hall attendees say they don’t support DOGE – WKAR Public Media Technical difficulties plague Barrett’s telephone town hall – Lansing City Pulse North Carolina GOP town hall gets rowdy as attendees hurl scathing questions on Trump – AP News Michigan Politics and Policy Senator Peters Statement on Vote to Prevent Government Shutdown Whitmer blasts Trump’s tariffs, education department cuts – Detroit Free Press Republican Medicaid cuts could shutter rural hospitals, maternity care – Detroit News What Trump’s pledge to repeal EV, climate regulations mean to Michigan – Bridge Michigan Buttigieg won’t run for Michigan US senator or governor in 2026 – Detroit Free Press Garlin Gilchrist, who’d be Michigan’s first Black governor, launches bid – The DownBallot Substack Poll: Jocelyn Benson Dominates Mike Duggan in Governor’s Race[...]

Welcome to version 2.0 of our podcast: “Party on the Peninsulas with Curtis Hertel”! This Week’s “Party on the Peninsulas” ✹ Chairperson Hertel  Dangerous GOP Budget Games in Lansing ✹ Representative Jason Morgan Protecting marriage equality ✹ Senator Elissa Slotkin Full video: where Trump got it wrong In the News Elissa Slotkin Trolls Donald Trump From First Line of Democratic Rebuttal Speech – The Daily Beast Michigan Politics and Policy Gary Peters: Trump’s Latest Tariffs Are Bad for Michigan – Wall Street Journal Trump Tariffs Set to Send Car Prices Soaring Up to $12,000 Higher – The Daily Beast Tariffs: Trump’s trade wars threaten US auto industry – AP News VIDEO: AG Nessel Files Suit Against Trump, Federal Agencies to Stop Mass Firings 318,000 inactive voter registrations to be removed in Michigan – Detroit News Morgan Introduces House Joint Resolution to Repeal Michigan’s Same-Sex Marriage Ban – Representative Jason Morgan Far-right campaign to overturn gay marriage ruling hits statehouses – The Washington Post Dozens fired from Michigan veteran care facilities as Trump cuts continue – Bridge Michigan Trump cuts hit Forest Service in Michigan; critics fear ‘catastrophic’ loss – Bridge Michigan Republican lawmakers hold telephone town halls as protesters demand[...]

Governor Whitmer delivered her 7th annual update on Michigan’s progress and needs this last week. We have extended highlights of her presentation. But there’s also important work from the 2024 session hanging over Lansing: the refusal, to date, of newly elected Republican Speaker Matt Hall to send 9 bills enacted by the Legislature to the Governor for signing or vetoing. The state Senate has taken the unusual step of suing the state House and Speaker Hall to force the Speaker to comply with the state constitution’s requirement that the bills go down the hall to the Governor’s office for final action. The lead attorney for the state Senate is former MDP chair Mark Brewer, commenting on the ruling this past week by Court of Claims judge Sima Patel: “We had a great decision from the judge. People should understand the context of this lawsuit. It’s very difficult for legislators to bring lawsuits. particularly against the other house. There’s always questions where they have what’s called standing to even be in court. And then people always throw up, well, this is just a political fight, political dispute, court doesn’t have any business doing that. And so we had to cut through[...]

This Week’s “Party on the Peninsulas” ✹ Chairperson Barnes      — Trump puts the nation and world at risk — Moving on… ✹ Lt. Governor Garland Gilchrist — Danger: Musk takeover of federal computer systems Chairperson Curtis Hertel Jr.      — Building on Lavora Barne’s Six Years of Success In the News Hertel to lead Michigan Democratic Party into pivotal 2026 elections – Detroit News Trump Friends-and-Family Corruption One-third of Trump’s first month spent playing golf – The Washington Post Inside Trump’s Million-Dollar Dinners With Healthcare Executives – Wall Street Journal A look at Trump’s crypto-related ventures – AP News Memecoin Scandal Threatens Argentine President Javier Milei – WIRED Here’s How Much Money Trump Has Made Off the Presidency So Far – The New Republic Can Jared Kushner’s investment firm connect Gulf money to Trump’s Gaza plan? – Middle East Eye Michigan Politics and Policy VIDEO – AG Nessel Touts CFPB, Cautions Residents Will Miss Their Efforts if White House Shuts Down Bureau – YouTube VIDEO – Elissa Slotkin on MSNBC – Ukraine How Michigan would be affected by closing the U.S. Education Department – Detroit News Research grant cuts would ‘devastate’ Michigan hospitals, universities – Detroit Free[...]

This Week’s “Party on the Peninsulas” ✹ Chairperson Barnes Trump policies a direct threat to Michigan’s economy ✹ Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson Candidate for Governor of Michigan ✹ This week’s Trump/GOP outrages Corruption is now legal if Trump likes you In the News 2025 State Convention – Michigan Democratic Party Trump Friends-and-Family Corruption Editorial | Trump shows tolerance for corruption with executive order and pardon – The Washington Post How Trump Is Gutting Regulatory Agencies Like the SEC, CFPB and EEOC – The New York Times Trump and Bondi are breaking America’s anti-corruption safeguards – MSNBC What to Know About the Trump Family’s Deals in the Middle East – The New York Times How the Trumps Turned an Election Victory Into a Cash Bonanza – Wall Street Journal Early Crypto Traders Had Speedy Profit on Trump Coin as Others Suffered Losses – The New York Times Here’s How Much Money Trump Has Made Off the Presidency So Far – The New Republic Jared Kushner builds a business empire off his father-in-law’s back – Financial Review Can Jared Kushner’s investment firm connect Gulf money to Trump’s Gaza plan? – Middle East Eye Jared Kushner defends his equity firm getting $2[...]