It's Just Politics

Frustration is boiling over at the state Capitol as the final days of Democrats’ complete control of Lansing in 40 years come to an end. Republicans are continuing to boycott votes in the House, a Democratic lawmaker walked out of the Capitol while voting was underway, and state Representatives are taking to social media to vent their anger. On today’s It’s Just Politics , Zoe Cl...

2025 will be a monumental year in Detroit politics as Mayor Mike Duggan seeks to run for governor, leaving an open seat for the highest office in the state’s largest city next year. On this week’s It’s Just Politics , hosts Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta are joined by Stephen Henderson, host of American Black Journal , and Nancy Kaffer, editorial page editor of the Detroit Free Press t...

On this week’s It’s Just Politics , Zoe Clark is joined by Democrat Felicia Brabec and Republican Graham Filler, two outgoing Michigan state Representatives, to talk about what their time in Lansing was really like: frustrations, surprises and what voters should know about the state Capitol. Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the  It's Just Politics...

On this week’s It’s Just Politics , hosts Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta are joined by Bridge Michigan politics reporters Jordyn Hermani and Simon Schuster to discuss why state House Democrats are failing to deliver their lame-duck legislative agenda. Plus, a conversation with state Democratic Representative Rachel Hood on why she is calling Lansing “toxic.” Want to get political updates from Zoe and Ri...

On this week’s It’s Just Politics , hosts Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta are joined by Democratic Congresswoman-elect Kristen McDonald Rivet, the only incoming Democratic freshman from Michigan. Plus, Chairman of the Oakland County Republican Party Vance Patrick joins the podcast to talk about his strategy of ‘losing less’ in a blue county.  Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See omnystud...

In a special Friday edition of It’s Just Politics , Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta are joined by outgoing Democratic Congressman Dan Kildee and incoming Republican Congressman-elect Tom Barrett. Rep. Kildee is leaving Washington D.C. after a dozen years in Congress and Barrett just won his first Congressional race Tuesday night. Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sig...

In a special day-after Election Day, It’s Just Politics hosts Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta join Stateside host April Baer to dissect what Election 2024 means for Michigan. From Republicans taking the state House to a new 5-2 Democratic-nominee majority on the state Supreme Court, the podcast this week is dedicated to local races and what the results mean for you. Support the show: http://michiganradio...

Two percent of Michigan voters remain undecided in the race for president according to new polling by Glengariff Group for The Detroit News and WDIV. With a race that has consistently shown Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump within the margin of error, two percent could make all the difference in winning Michigan’s 15 electoral votes and the White House. Former Democrat...

On this week’s It’s Just Politics , Elon Musk name checks Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on X, more than a million absentee ballots in Michigan are already sent in and the presidential candidates in Michigan are everywhere all at once. Plus, a surprising endorsement from Supreme Court Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement. Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta are joined on this week’s podcast by Bridge...

If you ask Americans if they are concerned that there will be fraud in this year’s election a majority will say yes. That’s according to new polling from NPR/PBS News and Marist. And if you break it down by party, 86 percent of Republicans say they are concerned while 33 percent of Democrats say they’re concerned. A new bipartisan group, the Democracy Defense Project, is trying to reassure voters’...

Michigan’s open Senate race will help to determine the makeup of the U.S. Senate next year and right now the polling shows it’s a tied race. On this week’s It’s Just Politics, Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta are joined by The Detroit News Politics Editor Chad Livengood and Detroit Free Press Politics Editor Emily Lawler to debrief on this week’s U.S. Senate debate between Democratic Congresswoman Elissa...

On this week’s It’s Just Politics, Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta are joined by WDET’s Stephen Henderson and Bitely Communications Andrea Bitely to dig into the Vice Presidential debate between Ohio Senator JD Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz; plus Interlochen Public Radio’s Ed Ronco breaks down a state House race in Northern Michigan that could have big impact in determining whether Democrats keep...

Absentee ballots go out in mail this week to Michigan voters who have requested them. Chris Thomas, Michigan’s former long-time Elections Director, joins It’s Just Politics hosts Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta to answer your questions about absentee balloting in Michigan; plus what a new nationwide survey of consumers could tell us about November’s presidential election results. Want to get political up...

Michigan’s entire state House of Representatives is up for election this cycle and Democrats are hoping to keep control of the chamber and their control of Lansing. Bridge Michigan Capitol Reporters Jordyn Hermani and Simon Schuster join It’s Just Politics hosts Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta as they take a look at what’s at stake in Lansing in Election 2024.  Want to get political updates from Zoe and...

It’s Just Politics hosts Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta debrief with Michigan Public’s Adam Yahya Rayes about last night’s presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump and ask: do presidential debates actually change voters’ minds? Plus, how the state of Michigan came to own the blueprints for the World Trade Center. Want to get political updates from Zoe an...

A judge ruled this week that Robert F. Kennedy Junior’s name will remain on the Michigan ballot as the presidential candidate for the Natural Law Party. Will RFK Jr., Jill Stein and Cornel West be 2024’s election spoilers? Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta speak with Brooking Institution’s Elaine Kamarck, author of “Primary Politics: Everything You Need to Know About How America Nominates Its Presidential...

A conversation with University of Michigan Ford School Dean Celeste Watkins-Hayes and Professor Jenna Bednar about the 50th anniversary of Gerald R. Ford becoming President of the United States. Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell join It’s Just Politics from Chicago and a look at former President Donald Trump’s trip to Livingston County, MI this week. Sign up for the newsletter ! Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New polling shows voters trust Harris over Trump on the economy. What’s changed? Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A conversation with pollster Richard Czuba about what Michigan’s primary results mean for November. Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new report says Michigan would be hit particularly hard if Congress doesn’t increase the debt ceiling plus, the latest on state budget bills. Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A conversation with a Democratic lawmaker on bills to expand hate-crime laws in Michigan and Governor Gretchen Whtimer is named co-chair of President Biden’s reelection campaign; the political roundtable joins to discuss. ___ Find more from It's Just Politics . If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See omnystudio.com/l...

A new report says Michigan had the highest youth voter turnout numbers in the nation last November. What’s behind the increase? Plus, a repeal of the state’s ban on unmarried men and women living together. ___ Find more from It's Just Politics . If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

More gun safety legislation is passing at the Capitol. The state House passed extreme risk protection order laws, also known as ‘red flag laws.’ But how exactly do they work and who do they protect? ___ Find more from It's Just Politics . If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

The political roundtable discusses the repeal of the state’s 1931 abortion law, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ visit to Michigan, and the charges against a former Republican Speaker of the House. ___ Find more from It's Just Politics . If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...