MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS recaps the all-nighter state lawmakers pulled to finalize state budget deals before July 4. The end product was $6 billion smaller than the budget created last year. Together, they eliminated more "ghost employees," tapped into stagnant accounts and tried tightening Michigan's Medicaid practices to make ends meet.  But Democrats like state Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) and Senate Appropriat...

Ahead of the United States' 250th anniversary, MIRS sits down with Sandra Clark – the Michigan History Center's director of more than 34 years – and Don Cooper, the Gerald Ford Presidential Foundation's chief operating officer.  Why does it feel like there might be an excitement deficit going into the 250th anniversary? How has the $5 million the state appropriated in 2024 to honor the 250th been...

MIRS sits down with William Lawrence, a Lansing progressive running in the Democratic primary for Michigan's 7th U.S. House district, covering the greater Lansing area and Livingston County communities.  Joining Lawrence is Randy Cantu, a 72 year-old retired General Motors worker residing across the street from where a data center developer plans to build on nearly 400 acres of farmland in the 7th...

The following are clips of a March 1 zoom meeting Rep. Jim DeSana had with the Monroe County Executive Committee that were recorded and shared with Rep. Jamie Thompson by former Monroe GOP chair Todd Gillman.

To kick things off, MIRS podcast host Samantha Shriber does a recap of news and interviews from the past week. News ranges from the delayed opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Canada, to Michigan House Speaker, Republican Matt Hall, floating a four month temporary budget for state government if deals don't start moving.  MIRS also sits down with Dan Papineau, the Mi...

Absentee ballots for the primaries must be ready to be issued to voters on June 25. MIRS interviews U.S. Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow, the Royal Oak state senator running in a high-intensity Democratic primary. How does McMorrow plan to amplify her name ID with absentee voting about to begin soon? Also, she talks about believing folks who pay for their X accounts should disclaim when they're...

This week's episode includes host Samantha Shriber's coverage of the Mackinac Policy Conference, a yearly gathering of government, business and nonprofit leaders hosted by the Detroit Regional Chamber.  MIRS sits down with David Jurcak, president of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. They talk about hiring tourism employees from overseas, concerns around the Shepler's Ferry monopoly and the Unite...

In 2026, is it time to ask Michigan voters to move the nominating process for Attorney General and Secretary of State races away from party-run conventions to public statewide primaries? Republican strategist Jason Cabel Roe and Lon Johnson – a former chair of the Michigan Democratic Party – are teaming up to push legislators to put such a constitutional change on the ballot this year (3:02).  Jas...

MIRS editor Kyle Melinn comments on the confusion created when elected officials can't agree on important economic numbers.  (00:28) And Senator-elect Chedrick Greene of Michigan's 35th district speaks with MIRS' Samantha Shriber about his background and his thoughts about joining the legislature. (4:34)  

MIRS sits down with Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit, Michigan Democrats' endorsed candidate for Attorney General this year.  Savit talks about wanting to go after businesses that use data algorithms to "gouge" prices, charging shoppers different prices based on what technology knows about them. He also talks about how leading Detroit's lawsuits against the opioid industry has contributed to...

Ahead of the Michigan Political Leadership Program fundraising dinner on April 29, MIRS sat down for a one-on-one conversation with keynote speaker Robert Costa, CBS News' chief Washington analyst.  Costa shares his concerns about the aftermath of a gunman who reportedly stormed past security at last month's White House Correspondents Dinner, and the future of civic dialogue in American politics. ...

MIRS hosts a strategists' edition of the Republican-Democratic roundtable, including Holland Democrat Joe Spaulding and Oakland County Republican Brian Szmytke.  Together they discuss the aftermath of Michigan Democrats' endorsement convention in Detroit, as well as the public-facing feud taking place between the U.S. Rep. John James and businessman Perry Johnson's campaigns for governor.  Brian a...

Samantha Shriber does a live recap from the Michigan Democratic Party's April 19 endorsement convention inside Detroit's Huntington Place (1:00).  Also, earlier this month MIRS joined the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) of Southeast Michigan for a ride-along on the QLine, Detroit's 3.3 mile-long streetcar system. Ben Stupka, the RTA's executive director, talks about what's next for public transit...

Today's episode is a Republican-Democratic roundtable edition of MIRS Monday, featuring Mark Ludwig, the "Yellow Dog Democrat" and Allegan Conservation District chair, and Jackson-based Republican media strategist Billie Rajzer.  Together they discuss predictions for the Michigan Democratic Party's April 19 endorsement convention, U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin not ruling out a potential 2028 presidenti...

Ahead of Michigan Democrats' April 19 endorsement convention, MIRS sits down with Suzanna Shkreli, the former state lottery commissioner running for Secretary of State.  Suzanna talks about her "night-and-day" career switch of going from prosecuting crimes against children in Macomb County to handing over checks to Powerball winners. She has a vision of a Department of State with more self-serving...

MIRS Podcast Host Samantha Shriber recaps the Michigan Republican Party's recent endorsement convention, where Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd and Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini won Republicans' endorsements for Attorney General and Secretary of State (1:32).  She shares interview clips from Michigan Republican Party Chair Jim Runestad and state House Speaker Matt Hall.  Also, MIRS catches...

Earlier this month, an intoxicated passenger reportedly assaulted two Amtrak train employees in Eaton County, on a train transporting multiple college students. MIRS sits down with Eric Stanger, the Michigan legislative director with the SMART union – representing rail and transportation employees – and local union representative and Amtrak conductor Nate Hatton.  They are ramping up their calls f...

MIRS sits down with Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd, who's running to become Republicans' pick for Michigan Attorney General. He discusses the recent car ramming attack on Oakland County's Temple Israel, the growing relationship between crime and technology, and what Republican delegates are most eager to talk about this year (1:05).  Also, MIRS hosts a Democratic/Republican roundtable with Kat...

MIRS welcomes Jamie Roe – the Republican consultant based in Macomb Township – and Warren Democrat Joel Rutherford, the former chair of Michigan Democrats' 10th Congressional district caucus.  On this week's Macomb County edition of the Democratic-Republican roundtable, Joel and Jamie discuss how wealthy Republican Perry Johnson has already impacted the Governor's race. Also, is a proposed stricte...

Host Samantha Shriber recaps Governor Gretchen Whitmer's State of the State address on Feb. 25. Reducing housing construction barriers, alleviating medical debt, and tackling post-pandemic reading and learning stagnation were listed as her 2026 priorities.  The episode features reactions from House Appropriations Chair Ann Bollin, the Brighton Republican, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield, and Senate M...