MIRS Monday Podcast

MIRS hosts a Republican-Democratic roundtable with Democratic Macomb County Commissioner Michael J. Howard II of Warren and Anna Heaton, the vice president of Resch Strategies and former press secretary under Republican Gov. Rick Synder (1:13).  Should lawmakers in Lansing answer some calls to suspend the gas tax at the state level amid high fuel costs? Also, are ties to the movement to get off fo...

MIRS catches up with Robin Schneider of the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association. In the last month, Robin says that two members have committed suicide as the industry struggles to keep up with this year's new 24% wholesale tax on weed.  Previously viewing Democrats as the cannabis industry's "natural allies," the association is now endorsing Republican U.S. Rep. John James for governor (1:53). ...

On Sept. 11, MIRS revisited the 54th state House district, an Oakland County battleground won by a tight 558 votes in 2024.  Democratic U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin won by an even tighter 300 votes.  MIRS meets Sarah Pounds, the Democratic nominee in the 54th House district. Pounds is a Lake Orion paralegal and affordable housing advocate.  She talks about her work to repurpose underused properties fo...

Concerns surrounding large-scale data centers have become a major theme in the 2026 election cycle. But amid opposition to constructing hyperscale facilities, a coalition called Michigan for Responsible Data Centers has taken a supportive position on these projects.  MIRS sits down with Jeff Zilke, the director of Access Michigan – a data center equipment supplier – and Christine Simon, the govern...

MIRS sits down with Rashida Harrison, the Democratic nominee who had a surprise victory in Michigan's 28th Senate district, covering East Lansing, Meridian Township, St. Johns and other Clinton, Ingham and Shiawassee County communities.  Harrison moved to East Lansing two decades ago from New York City, and recently taught on Black Women's political organizing and social movements at Michigan Stat...

On Aug. 14, MIRS Podcast host Samantha Shriber toured Mariners Inn, the substance abuse and mental health treatment provider for men in Detroit. Its history goes back by more than 100 years, once serving as a "safe haven" for sailors along the Detroit River until becoming a place for addiction recovery and addressing homelessness.  Last year, they opened up their supportive housing apartments.  MI...

MIRS catches up with state Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) now that Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Democrats' nominee for governor, has selected Brinks to be her running mate as Lieutenant Governor (2:15).  Podcast host Samantha Shriber was in Mount Pleasant over the weekend covering the Michigan Republican Party's nominating convention. Second-term Representative Bill G....

U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) visited a Troy brunch restaurant with the Republican nominee for Michigan Governor, U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township), along with others. Together, they tried to make the case that the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) shouldn't be used as a dirty acronym in the 2026 elections (1:40).  The morning after it was revealed that State...

To recap the Aug. 4 primary elections, MIRS sits down with Lansing-based Andrea Bitely – a moderate Republican – and Democratic Socialist Jessica Newman, a political operative in Ferndale (1:30).  How will Democrat U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed try to connect with Detroit seniors, Macomb County's pro-Trump autoworkers and "Reagan Democrats", and the pre-Trump Republicans in white collar Oakla...

Recently retired publisher of MIRS, the boss John Reurink, reflects on more than 40 years of monitoring Michigan politics and policy. Before leading the publication, John was intrigued by the idea of offering bill details, news background and more "right there at your fingertips" (1:45). Amid new policy changes in the healthcare world, anesthesia services have seen declines in coverage reimburseme...

MIRS sits down with Livingston County Republican Meghan Reckling, the founder of the Victory Field Operations field operations firm, and Ann Arbor Democrat Robert Joerg. (1:57).  Together they explore how seniors will vote in the 2026 elections and what local election phenomena might rock the boat statewide. Also, how much should people be reading into Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald not...

MIRS sits down with political consultant David Forsmark of Genesee County and Adrian Hemond, head of Grassroots Midwest, the political outreach and advocacy firm.  Together, they discuss why special interest groups might be involving themselves in primaries instead of reserving resources for Michigan's most flipable races. Also, what group of Michigan voters might surprise folks this cycle? (1:45)...

MIRS Monday's Republican-Democratic roundtable returns, featuring Warren City Council Member Angela Rogensues – a Democrat – and political advisor Dennis Darnoi, a Farmington Republican (5:32).  Michiganders are more likely to tell you who got dumped on "Love Island" than who's running for governor, says Dennis on this past week's "Debate Week." Also, Angela doesn't anticipate high progressive tur...

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...