MIRS kicks things off with Vice President Stephanie Van Koevering of Resch Strategies and Mario Morrow, the Southfield-based public relations professional. Together, they discuss the future of budget-making transparency, as well as the state of not-so-competitive Democratic primaries (3:00). Michigan Budget Director Jen Flood talks about the recent…

President Joe Biden announced Sunday he will not seek reelection, endorsing his Vice President, Kamala Harris. Ahead of this BREAKING NEWS, political consultant Mark Grebner and Matt Grossman – a Michigan State University political scientist – discuss the optics of a Biden drop out, and the challenges his replacement could face in Michigan and beyo…

Lon Johnson, the Michigan Democratic Party's past chair, talks about how the shooting at former President Donald Trump will impact this election cycle. Also, he discusses why he called on incumbent President Joe Biden to end his campaign earlier this month (:55). MIRS sits down with deputy directors Michelle Richard and Emily Laidlaw of the Governo…

Tony Zammit – a past Republican communications specialist – and progressive Kent County Commissioner Ivan Diaz discuss how Michiganders are reacting to calls for President Joe Biden to end his campaign (1:07). Public education advocate Peter Spadafore describes the newest school aid budget for Michigan, and how it deals with public school retiremen…

To discuss an $83 billion total budget that legislators approved after 4 a.m. last week, MIRS was joined by President Monique Stanton of the Michigan League for Public Policy and Michael LaFaive, the head of fiscal policy for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. One voice supports financial help for needy Michiganders, another calls for limited g…

MIRS is joined by Brandon Reed – the Michigan Black Business Alliance's external affairs director, and former legislative policy advisor – and Adam Bitely of the Martin Waymire public relations firm. They discuss what might still be on the Legislature's to-do list after they approve a state budget, and leftover or future costs a new budget possibly…

State Senator Jeremy Moss, a Southfield Democrat, shares his insights as a Jewish legislator during a moment of "permeating antisemitism" in Michigan. He says his experiences with antisemitism have been questioned and "word policed." As people react to the Israel-Hamas War from home, Moss believes his own U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib is "contri…

Former Michigan House Speaker Jase Bolger and Co-Founder Adrian Hemond of Grassroots Midwest discuss the chances of Renaissance Center rescue bucks appearing in the upcoming state budget. Additionally, they chat about flippable districts in the 2024 state House elections (1:01). CEO Alicia Guevara Warren of the Early Childhood Investment Corporatio…

Before leaving last week's Mackinac Policy Conference, MIRS was joined by Charlie Langton of WWJ News and Nick Austin of Detroit public radio for a policy and political media roundtable (2:18). Additionally, U.S. Senator Gary Peters explains why he wanted the job of Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chair, and why Democrats are targeting GOP…

The MIRS Monday Podcast presents a special Mackinac Policy Conference edition with updated coverage from the Detroit Regional Chamber’s gathering on Mackinac Island. U.S. Senate hopeful Elissa Slotkin says she’s taking nothing for granted in her primary bid despite encouraging polling data (2:18). And Michigan’s Senate majority leader, Democrat Win…

For today's episode, members of the MIRS team discuss Michigan's U.S. Senate race, and the significance around why upcoming primary debates have been canceled (3:15). Also, Danielle Brown, an urban journalism professor at Michigan State University, explains her research of how the media's coverage of college protests is "more likely to be sensation…

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…

State Senator Sue Shink, a Northfield Township Democrat, discusses her $2.145 billion spending plan for Michigan's prison system. The budget aims to improve corrections officer recruitment by upgrading retirement benefits, and to honor communications between inmates and legislators (1:42). MIRS is also joined by President Spencer Nevins of the Mich…

The MIRS team is joined by Bridge Detroit journalist Malachi Barrett and Adolph Mongo, a Detroit political commentator, to discuss how Detroit voters are feeling about the 2024 election cycle. They zoom in on the Democratic rivalry between U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar and challenger Adam Hollier in the 13th congressional district, as well as how Detroit…

The MIRS team discusses what could be the most competitive primaries, as well as who could be the most vulnerable incumbents, in the 2024 state House elections. More than 100 state representatives are running for reelection, and more than 32 percent of them are facing primary challengers (1:10). Additionally, state Sen. Veronica Klinefelt, an Eastp…

Last week, the Attorney General announced 13 felony charges against former state House Speaker Lee Chatfield in relation to allegedly using state, campaign and non-profit funds for "self-enrichment." Today, MIRS speaks with legal professional Jessica Bartlett on what exactly are 501(c)4 and 527 non-profits, and why it's rare for states to pursue ch…

Founder Cassy Jones-McBryde of the Michigan Chamber for Reproductive Justice and midwife Nicole Marie White – the director of the MI State Of Birth Justice – describe legislation introduced recently by some Senate Democrats to improve how the state investigates, combats and reports on racial disparities in pregnancy and maternal care (1:20). Pamela…

State Representatives Penelope Tsernoglou – an East Lansing Democrat – and Kristian Grant, a Grand Rapids Democrat, join MIRS for a legislative roundtable. They discuss why Democrats are continuing to focus on abortion and reproductive issues this election cycle, although former President Donald Trump has not endorsed a federal abortion ban proposa…

Director Dave Dulio of the Oakland University Center for Civic Engagement and reporter Russ McNamara of Detroit's public radio and NPR station describe the issues Democrats and Republicans are honing in on this spring (2:02). The MIRS team was also joined by Republican commissioners Rhonda Lange and Erin Wagner of the state's citizens redistricting…

When it comes to the Republican primary for Michigan's U.S. Senate race, candidate Mike Rogers – a past chair of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee – says "this thing is done" (1:23). The share of likely GOP primary voters supporting Rogers grows from 27 percent to 67 percent after they learn he is backed by past President Donald Trump, accordin…