Shows
MIRS Monday PodcastMIRS Monday, July 28, 2025MIRS reported last week there are 19 Democrats filed to run in open or Republican incumbent-held state Senate seats ahead of 2026. But for Republicans, there are six of such new challenger candidates. Why is this?
Also, what are the issues motivating liberal and conservative grassroots bases the most right now?
MIRS does an energy-check roundtable with Matthew Wilk of the Northville Republicans Club and Rick Blocker of the Oakland County Democratic Party (1:20).
2025-07-2831 minMIRS Monday PodcastMIRS Monday, July 21, 2025Legislators on appropriations set aside $250 million last year backing a planned semiconductor factory that has now been scrapped. But how many folks around Lansing actually believed this project would happen?
Also, will lawmakers still be negotiating a new state budget for Michigan in September? MIRS sits down with Reps. Tom Kunse, the Clare Republican, and Lansing Democrat Emily Dievendorf to hear their thoughts (2:50).
MIRS additionally sits down with Rep. Natalie Price, the Berkley Democrat. She's crafting bills to withhold state payments to the federal government if courts rule a White House funding cut to be unc...2025-07-2148 minMIRS Monday PodcastMIRS Monday, July 14, 2025Why would school districts someday need to start creating policies for distributing overdose reversal medications to students? How does needing prior authorization from insurers to distribute substance abuse treatment drugs possibly slow down addiction care?
MIRS this week sits down with Dr. Cara Poland, a Grand Rapids addiction medicine physician and head of the state's opioid advisory commission (4:55).
2025-07-1427 minMIRS Monday PodcastMIRS Monday, July 7, 2025Will Michiganders sign a petition to ask voters if wealthy residents should be taxed extra to create more school funding? Rachelle Crow-Hercher of the Michigan Education Justice Coalition talks about the "Invest in MI Kids" ballot effort ahead of 2026 (4:53).
Also, MIRS meets Dan Cherrin, the MI Care Council's executive director. How does the way Michigan itself manages Medicaid dollars possibly create delays and complications? Dan explains why his group wants fewer regional entities overseeing behavioral health benefits (21:59).
2025-07-0742 minMIRS Monday PodcastMIRS Monday, June 30, 2025The month of June for a Republican-led House and Democratic-controlled Senate ends with a game of budget season chicken in the state Capitol. Can the Legislature's pace in creating a K-12 budget impact the Governor's legacy?
Also, how do voters really feel about the U.S. House's new proposed Medicaid eligibility mandates? And does a new road funding plan for Michigan still seem achievable?
On the podcast to discuss these things and more is Lansing-based Andrea Bitely of Bitely Communications and Ann Arbor City Council Member Jen Eyer (5:45).
MIRS sits down with Michigan Ch...2025-06-3050 minMIRS Monday PodcastMIRS Monday, June 23, 2025Why is the Michigan Chamber of Commerce sounding the alarm on a possible corporate income tax increase proposed for road funding? Why do state budget negotiations feel especially different this year, and can a cell phone app someday be used to make lobby gifts more transparent?
Talking about such topics and more are two State Representatives, Jaime Greene, the northern Macomb County Republican, and Ann Arbor Democrat Carrie Rheingans (5:57).
Also, MIRS meets attorney Sharon Almonrode, who's been representing residents impacted by the May 2020 Edenville Dam failure. Nearly 800 business owners and individuals in Midland, Saginaw and Gla...2025-06-2352 minMIRS Monday PodcastMIRS Monday, June 16, 2025House Republicans are beginning to roll out their budget proposals for the next fiscal year, but why are some people around Lansing talking about government shutdowns theories? MIRS' Samantha Shriber and Editor Kyle Melinn talk about their questions amid Senate Democrats and House Republicans' big budget-making differences this summer (3:12).
Multiple labor unions are becoming interested in storing CO2 emissions deep underground in Michigan, saying such projects could create jobs. Robert Joerg of the Michigan Laborers District Council talks about why he's supporting state-run carbon capture permitting (16:43).
A small western U.P. town of around 300 people wa...2025-06-161h 02MIRS Monday PodcastMIRS Monday, June 9, 2025State Senator Mark Huizenga, the Walker Republican, wants to start a PFAS blood-testing pilot for West Michigan children. Also, he feels like there's been "a bit of fear mongering" in Democrats' messaging on the future of Medicaid (1:02).
Where do Oakland and Macomb Counties split over Lansing's road funding debate? Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter says he's way less optimistic than his Macomb County counterpart (16:41).
2025-06-0932 minMIRS Monday PodcastMIRS Monday, June 2, 2025MIRS continues to share interviews from this week's Mackinac Policy Conference hosted by the Detroit Regional Chamber. First, why did U.S. Sen. Gary Peters decide to not seek reelection in the 2026 elections? Also, the Senator explains his thoughts on cryptocurrency, Medicaid's possible future and Michigan's military assets (1:17).
Additionally, MIRS sits down with the U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, the Birmingham Democrat and a 2026 U.S. Senate candidate (11:53).
Also, Airbnb wants Michigan policymakers to know that Airbnb guests in the state spent nearly $1.3 billion on goods and services last year while visiting, based on its new r...2025-06-0243 minMIRS Monday PodcastMIRS Monday at Mackinac, May 29, 2025Welcome to a special midweek edition of the MIRS Monday podcast, direct from the Mackinac Policy Conference on Mackinac Island!
Democratic Senate majority leader Winnie Brinks says road funding legislation in Michigan needs to be bicameral, blasting House Speaker Matt Hall, alleging he’s unwilling to seriously discuss new sources of road funding (1:37).
And Senate minority leader and candidate for Governor, Aric Nesbitt says he’d vote for the recently passed House roads plan and urges a vote now. Nesbitt also laments the lack of discussion about education and literacy at Mackinac (13:45).
2025-05-2933 minMIRS Monday PodcastMIRS Monday, May 26, 2025MIRS’ publisher John Reurink and editor Kyle Melinn sit down with President Bernie Porn of EPIC-MRA. Together they preview the results of the biannual Capitol Insider Survey, revealing who government professionals project to be the biggest winners in policy and politics (6:50).
Also, MIRS sits down with Destiny Wilkins, head of the Jackson County Medical Care Facility. She talks about how long-term care and nursing home facilities feel about the U.S. House GOP’s proposed Medicaid changes (25:07).
2025-05-2648 minMIRS Monday PodcastMIRS Monday, May 19, 2025MIRS gives a news recap on state policy and politics. Updates range from lawmakers being told that forecasted state revenues are down, to an ex-House staffer being charged for allegedly spending state money on gold bars, firearm accessories and silver (1:30).
MIRS sits down with Senate Appropriations Chair Sarah Anthony, the Lansing Democrat. She explains why Senate Democrats proposed a $85.95 billion state budget, her hopes to negotiate a caregiver tax credit and her reaction to calls for state employees to work fully in-person (4:49).
And why has Delta Air Lines been around Lansing calling for tax credits o...2025-05-1943 minMIRS Monday PodcastMIRS Monday, May 12, 2025MIRS gives a news recap on state policy and politics. The state House wants new bans on how Michigan interacts with countries of concern, the Senate wants Trump tariff relief in the new state budget and the Governor wants future deals with President Donald Trump (1:20).
Also, a new EPIC-MRA poll for "Protect MI Care" shows 83% of Michiganders want to see Medicaid spending either raised or maintained. MIRS talks to Bernie Porn of EPIC-MRA about the latest findings (11:33).
Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel catches MIRS up on the Selfridge Air National Guard Base and his thoughts on...2025-05-1251 minMIRS Monday PodcastMIRS Monday, May 5, 2025MIRS kicks things off with MoReno Taylor II, Democrats' former state judicial program director; Adam Bitely of Bellwether Public Relations, and Sterling Heights Republican Michelle Smith. Together they discuss President Donald Trump's Macomb County rally last week, and what residents might be craving most from the state government (1:15).
MIRS also sits down with Christina Hines, the Warren Democrat running in Michigan's 10th Congressional District for the 2026 election cycle (26:25).
What is going on with tariffs? Executive Director Glenn Stevens of MICHAuto walks MIRS through how recent tariff orders are impacting Michigan's overall auto industry (41:50).
2025-05-0558 minMIRS Monday PodcastMIRS Monday, April 28, 2025MIRS' podcast host Samantha Shriber kicks things off with several news updates. For example, the state Senate last week approved bills creating a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB), required to investigate high drug costs and authorized to set price caps (:55).
Moreover, MIRS discussed Michigan politics last week with Dave Wasserman, the Cook Political Report's senior editor and elections analyst (11:10).
He talks about Democrats' progressive U.S. Senate candidates, and how D.C. and Michigan folk differ when it comes to hot takes on U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township) and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
2025-04-2833 minMIRS Monday PodcastMIRS Monday, April 21, 2025It's officially construction cone season in Michigan.
The Governor says a bipartisan road funding deal will soon be reached. But the state Senate has some budget concerns, wanting to avoid "one time gimmicks" when it comes to bankrolling infrastructure.
MIRS sits down with Matthew Resch, the president of Lansing-based Resch Strategies, and Brad Williams of the Detroit Regional Chamber to hear their thoughts on the developing policy debate (6:08).
Also, should physician assistants in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Tennessee be able to practice in Michigan through a shared licensure network, without paying the state's separate fee...2025-04-2145 minMIRS Monday PodcastMIRS Monday, April 14, 2025MIRS kicks things off with Greg Manz – the 2024 communications director for the Michigan House Republican Campaign Committee – and Democratic political consultant Mike Radtke. Together, they discuss statewide campaign rollouts ahead of the '26 elections, as well as the Governor's unusual appearance in the Oval Office (1:51).
The Macomb County Public Works Commission says raw sewage is being dumped into the Red Run Drain by Oakland County's storm water and sewage treatment facility, washing into the Clinton River and Lake St. Clair.
MIRS joins three Macomb state Representatives--two Republicans and a Democrat---who say they're all "pissed." (23:36).
And...2025-04-1446 minMIRS Monday PodcastMIRS Monday, April 7, 2025MIRS talks with Jenell Leonard, the owner of Marketing Resource Group, about recent polling of Michigan voters. Governor Gretchen Whitmer hit her highest approval rating in five years, and 53 percent of respondents support creating a state-level DOGE (2:36).
Also, state Rep. David Prestin, a Cedar River Republican, says the U.P. is "looking at an apocalypse" if Michigan's clean energy policies shut down its RICE generators (15:13).
What happens if the federal government no longer tests personal protective equipment? The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) thinks such government downsizing will put firefighters, construction workers and coal miners in...2025-04-0746 minMIRS Monday PodcastMIRS Monday, March 31, 2025Should Michigan pursue a statewide cash allowance program for pregnant women and babies? MIRS sits down with Dr. Mona Hanna, the Flint-based pediatrician and founder of RX Kids, which offers "cash prescriptions" regardless of a household's income and assets (8:20).
Also, MIRS catches up with Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, a Democrat running for governor in 2026 (22:35).
MIRS podcast host Samantha Shriber opens this edition with an update on Michigan politics and policy news for the week. (1:15)
2025-03-3136 minMIRS Monday PodcastMIRS Monday, March 24, 2025Michigan is in the lowest 10 percent nationally when it comes to state psychiatric hospital beds, confirms the state's health department.
Lauren LaPine of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, Connie O'Malley of the University of Michigan and Republican State Rep. Greg VanWoerkom – chair of the House's Medicaid and Behavioral Health appropriations subcommittee – talk about the impacts of behavioral health management on the state.
They contemplate what is the government's role in keeping behavioral health patients out of already busy emergency departments (6:00).
MIRS podcast host Samantha Shriber opens this edition with a quick update on Mich...2025-03-2435 min