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…

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 Y…

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…

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 d…

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 …

MIRS welcomes state Rep. Joe Aragona, a Clinton Township Republican, and George Chapp, the chair of the Warren Sterling Heights Area Democratic Club. Together, they share what they're seeing in Macomb County ahead of the November election, and their political insights on a competitive Congressional race and several unpredictable state House contest…

MIRS meets Joseph Pavlov, the retired English teacher who won a Republican primary of five candidates for Michigan's 64th state House district, covering Marysville and Port Huron (1:51). State assessments show young students struggling to reach proficiency levels in English. Policy Director Jen DeNeal and Government Affairs Director Jeff Cobb of Th…

MIRS kicks things off with Katie Jesaitis of Martin Waymire, who formerly did constituent services for U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, and Brad Wurfel of BJW Strategies, a previous Snyder-era state agency spokesperson. Together, they discuss the potential election desires of industrial Michigan and the politics of energy (2:11). Alexandra Bailey of The S…

MIRS' Samantha Shriber and Maggie George discuss their top stories from this month's Republican and Democratic state nominating conventions, where party members determined the candidates for multiple statewide races (1:17). Kicking off interviews today was Founder Erin Vilardi and State Director Cee Maul of Vote Run Lead, an organization dedicated …

MIRS was joined by Dennis Darnoi, a Farmington-based political consultant, and assistant professor Jordan Cash of Michigan State University. Michiganders can access their absentee voter ballots for the presidential election next month. Together, Dennis and Jordan discuss if Democrats have anything to gain, or lose, from their national convention in…

Kicking things off this week, MIRS sits down with communications professional Andrea Bitely and Denzel McCampbell of Progress Michigan. Together, they discuss the winners of Michigan's recent primary elections, and what stage-setting themes they see for November (3:07). Additionally, MIRS meets Parker Fairbairn, the Emmet County GOP chair who defea…

MIRS kicks things off with political strategists and communications professionals John Sellek, of Harbor Strategic, Brandon Dillon of the WinMATT Group, and Karen Dumas of Images and Ideas. The roundtable discusses the changed presidential race in Michigan with Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democrat candidate, and how some key down ballot rac…

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…