It's Just Politics from Michigan Radio

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/donateSee 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin talks about her new gun violence prevention bills; plus Governor Whitmer stays low-key on the recent repeal of “Right-to-Work.” ___ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The political roundtable discusses the future of the ‘new' Michigan Republican Party after comparing gun-safety legislation to Nazi Germany.Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The political roundtable digs into the economic impact of Right-to-Work over the past decade. ___ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guns, abortion, civil rights and a tax overhaul were all on the agenda at the state Capitol this week. It's Just Politics breaks down a historic week in Lansing. Plus, new polling on gun safety legislation. ___ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The It's Just Politics political roundtable discusses the week in Michigan politics as lawmakers hold hearings on new gun safety bills and Senators vote to add LGBTQ protections to the state's civil rights act. ___ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The It's Just Politics political roundtable discusses where Michigan lawmakers stand on new gun safety bills and how an election-denier is now running the Michigan Republican Party. ___ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it mean that an election-denier is the new head of the Michigan Republican Party? ___ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A conversation with the head of the Legislative Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention Caucus; plus how Michigan voters feel about gun safety measures. ___ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A conversation with the State's Budget Director Chris Harkins and Republican Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt. ___ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An inside look at the week in Michigan Politics with our It's Just Politics Friday roundtable. ___ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What proposals will lawmakers pass from Governor Gretchen Whitmer's State of the State address?Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A conversation with Democratic and Republican lawmakers on how best to use the state's new $9 billion surplus. ___ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A conversation with our political roundtable of Capitol reporters about the first week in Lansing under Democratic control.  ___ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A conversation with new Democratic state Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and a look at the week's political news with our Friday roundtable. ___ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This new year means a new Legislature in Michigan and there are a lot of new faces. We take a look at who's coming into Lansing for the new legislative term. ___ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Midwestern Democrats who won big in 2022 think their message can help them win nationwide.  ___ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signs an executive directive to make sure state government is ready to comply with the state's new abortion-rights amendment. Michigan's Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission is suing the state Legislature over funding. And the future of the state's minimum wage and paid sick leave laws is argued in the Michigan Court of Appeals. Michigan Public Radio Network's Senior Capitol Correspondent Rick Pluta and Detroit Free Press politics reporter Clara Hendrickson join It's Just Politics host Zoe Clark for a look at the week in political news in Michigan. ___ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan Senator Gary Peters on keeping the U.S. Senate in Democratic hands and the latest on Lansing's lame-duck legislative session. ___ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan's minimum wage is set to go up in 2023 but the exact amount could be up to the courts. That's after a judge found the Republican Legislature's so-called ‘adopt and amend' strategy to be unconstitutional. ___ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A big change could be in store for when Michigan gets to choose a presidential nominee. President Biden comes for another visit to Michigan. A shake-up in the Whitmer Administration before the second term begins. And, lawmakers in Lansing are eyeing the final days of their lame-duck session.  MLive politics reporters Jordyn Hermani and Simon Schuster join It's Just Politics host Zoe Clark for a look at the week in political news in Michigan. ___ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan is trying once again to move in front of Iowa and New Hampshire on the presidential primary calendar. And Republicans and Democrats in Lansing are taking steps to show the Democratic National Committee they're serious about helping to decide the country's next presidential nominees. _ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elizabeth Clement is the new chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. She was chosen this week in a closed-door meeting of the justices. Clement — who was named to the court in 2017 by Republican Governor Rick Snyder — has shown an independent streak. ___ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Second terms as Governor in Michigan are different. There isn't the pressure of knowing you've got to run again for reelection in four years. So how's Governor Gretchen Whitmer thinking about her second term? Today we talk to Gov. Whitmer about what comes next.  ___ 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/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot has been made since last week about redistricting in Michigan and the fact that new, independently drawn maps helped Democrats win both the state House and Senate for the first time in nearly 40 years. We'll take a look at how redistricting is reshaping Lansing on this episode. ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and Attorney General Dana Nessel all cruise to reelection and for the first time in nearly forty years both chambers of the Michigan Legislature - the state House and state Senate - will be controlled by Democrats. Plus voters approve with big margins the addition of abortion rights and voting rights into the state Constitution and change term limits in the state.  GUESTS ON TODAY'S SHOW: Rick Pluta, co-host of It's Just Politics, and Senior Capitol Correspondent for the MPRN Emily Lawler, politics editor at the Detroit Free Press Tim Alberta, author of "American Carnage" and writer at The Atlantic Jason Roe, former Executive Director of the Michigan Republican Party ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A county clerk explains what happens if your vote is challenged at the polls, and the It's Just Politics panel answers your questions about about election day. GUESTS: Justin Roebuck, Ottawa County Clerk Rick Pluta, co-host of It's Just Politics, and Senior Capitol Correspondent for the MPRN Clara Hendrickson, Politics Reporter, Detroit Free Press Chad Livengood, Politics Editor, The Detroit News ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Zoe Clark sits down with Clara Hendrickson of Detroit Free Press to talk about what could possibly happen at the polls come Nov. 8. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson recently said she and secretaries of state across the country are most worried about, “violence and disruption on election day… and in the days surrounding the election.” On Oct. 25, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Tudor Dixon met on the debate stage one last time before Election Day. Clark talked to a panel about what happened during the debate and whether or not it will have an affect on the outcome of the election. Then the panel dug into what to expect from former President Barack Obama's Saturday rally in Detroit as he campaigns for Whitmer. Then, we discussed a report from CNN about some racist remarks Dixon made back in 2020. Get your 2022 election questions answered here! GUESTS: Clara Hendrickson, politics reporter, Detroit Free Press Rick Pluta, co-host of It's Just Politics and senior capitol correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network Alexis Wiley, founder of Moment Strategies Rich Czuba, founder and pollster of the survey research firm, Glengarriff Group ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we inch closer to the midterms, we turn our focus to key Congressional races happening in Michigan. On today's pod, we talk to with state Sen. Tom Barrett. Then guest host Colin Jackson helms the show to talk about the competitive down-ballot races. GUESTS: Samuel J. Robinson, Detroit local reporter for Axios Alyssa McMurty, reporter at Gongwer News Service Alyssa Burr, political reporter for MLive ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's show we examined the race in Michigan's newly drawn 7th Congressional District. Several money tracking firms have named the race between incumbent Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin and Republican State Sen. Tom Barrett as the most expensive congressional races in the country when it comes to outside spending. Host Zoe Clark talked to Rep. Elissa Slotkin about what it is like to be a representative in a swing district during a time when the country feels more divided than ever. After that, we were joined by a panel of reporters to discuss Thursday night's governor candidates debate between Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Tudor Dixon. We broke down what happened, what was said and what to expect when the two candidates meet next on the debate stage on Tuesday, Oct. 25. There are 24 days until the election. GUESTS ON TODAY'S SHOW: Rep. Elissa Slotkin, Democrat representing the 8th Congressional District and candidate for the newly-drawn 7th Congressional District Laura Weber-Davis, executive producer for Stateside and former Michigan Public Radio Network's capitol reporter Simon Schuster, political reporter for MLive Mara MacDonald, reporter for WDIV Local 4 ___Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With about a month to go in the campaign season, the It's Just Politics crew zooms in on one of the three proposals on the ballot: Proposal 1 on legislature term limits and financial disclosures. GUESTS: Jason Roe, senior advisor for Voters for Transparency and Term Limits Patrick Anderson, CEO of Anderson Economic Group  Dave Boucher, state government and politics reporter, Detroit Free Press Stephen Henderson, host of Detroit Today, WDET Nolan Finley, editorial page editor of The Detroit News --- Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are 39 days away from election day and there's a lot going on in Michigan politics this week. On today's It's Just Politics, we speak with the Ottawa County Clerk about how the absentee voting process is going and get some of your questions answered. We'll also get into news from Lansing. The state legislature was busy this week during what is likely to be their last voting day before the November election. They passed new bipartisan election bills and a billion dollars in new spending. So, where's all that money going?! And finally, we'll talk about former President Donald Trump's upcoming visit. He'll be back in Michigan this Saturday holding a rally in Macomb Count with the Republican candidates he's endorsed for statewide office. GUESTS: Zach Gorchow, executive editor & publisher, Gongwer News Service Clara Hendrickson, politics reporter, Detroit Free Press Jordyn Hermani, politics reporter, MLive Justin Roebuck, Ottawa County Clerk --- Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot SessionsSupport the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tudor Dixon and fellow Republicans give their reaction to the state superintendent advising that teachers do not disclose the gender identity to their students' parents, and old writing from congressional candidate, John Gibbs says he thought women should not be able to vote. GUESTS: Jonathan Oosting, capitol and politics reporter for Bridge Michigan  Samuel J. Robinson, Detroit-based reporter for Axios Nancy Kaffer, columnist for Detroit Free Press Katelyn Buss, assistant editorial page editor for Detroit News —— Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Politics can be messy. Politics can be confusing. But, that certainly doesn't mean politics can't be a joy-ride. Join It's Just Politics host Zoe Clark as she drills down on what's happening in Michigan politics.Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The proposal to change how Michigan draws the lines for congressional and legislative districts is about to go on the ballot. But, will it stay there? The question to create an independent commission to handle the job of redistricting is poised to become Proposal 2 on the November ballot. The group that gives the OK to what questions make it on the ballot meets Wednesday.

Update, June 13 at 10:30 a.m.: The group Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Constitution has filed an appeal with the state Supreme Court and asked the justices to put an immediate hold on the lower court decision that would place the question on the November ballot. The court asked the Supreme Court to act before the Board of State Canvassers schedules its next meeting to comply with the order. Now, it’s up to the Supreme Court justices to decide whether to grant the motion while they decide whether to take the case, or let the question go to the ballot. Original post, June 11 at 9:00 a.m.: The Michigan Supreme Court is about to have a political hot mess dumped on its lap. The court will decide whether voters will vote on an overhaul of how Michigan draws legislative and congressional districts . The group Voters Not Politicians has submitted some 425,000 petition signatures to get the question about amending the state constitution before voters in November. Currently, in Michigan,

Jennifer Granholm has been out of Michigan's gubernatorial office for over seven years. But, this year, her name is back in the spotlight. With Republicans running the show in Lansing for the past eight years, it has been especially hard for GOP gubernatorial candidates to run on the basis of change. This election is expected to be a referendum on Donald Trump and the way Republicans are managing things in Washington D.C., or the legacy of Rick Snyder.

This year, Libertarians will join Republicans and Democrats with candidates on the August primary ballot in Michigan. This is something that doesn’t happen very often. In fact, the last time a third party qualified to hold a primary in Michigan was 1998.

Democrats like their chances in Election 2018 as they hope President Trump’s unfavorables will help them win the House in November. But Republicans have their own emblematic figure they are using to paint a dark picture of the ramifications of a “blue wave.” As much as Democrats expect and hope people are ready to get out and vote against Donald Trump, Republicans think and hope the same may be true for the House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi.

Do you have a right to have your name counted when you sign a petition? Or, can it be thrown out on a technicality that has nothing to do with you? There are two recent instances in Michigan where, although signatures on a petition were collected, it’s unclear whether those signatures will actually be counted.

Republican gubernatorial candidates wanted to get next to President Donald Trump this weekend but only one got the presidential shout-out in Washington Township, MI. “A really great friend of mine, a great attorney general, the next governor of Michigan, Bill Schuette. Where’s Bill? Bill? Where? Alright, wherever the hell he is…”

There is a legal question about whether Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is eligible to run for governor. But one thing that is not a question is the fact that the question is not settled, no matter how much the El-Sayed campaign might want to believe that’s the case.

Update, Friday, April 27 at 10:40 a.m.: On Thursday, Michigan Board of Canvassers approved the petition to place the marijuana legalization initiative on the November ballot. House Speaker Tom Leonard says he doesn't foresee the Legislature adopting the measure in the next 40 days. "There is not much support it in the caucus," he said. "I do not personally support it, so I think this something that ultimately voters are going to have to decide.” Original story from Monday, April 23: Sensing that legalizing marijuana in Michigan might be inevitable, some Republicans want to get in front of the issue to try to avoid political catastrophe in November. A petition campaign to legalize marijuana in Michigan has cleared a bunch of hurdles. The group pushing the initiative says they have turned in enough signatures to get on the ballot in November. Recent surveys show that Michiganders are growing more accepting of the idea of legalizing marijuana in the state. Four years ago an EPIC-MRA poll

The fight for the Democratic nod for state attorney general has gotten nasty with less than a week to go before Michigan Democrats decide on a candidate.

Democrats are practically giddy about their prospects for taking control of Congress. They see a blue wave on the horizon, and the next 225 days until November 6th cannot come soon enough for them.

People who remember, remember Republican John Engler as a blunt, pugnacious governor. And, before that, the same as state Senate majority leader.

The legalization of marijuana in Michigan is emerging as an issue in the race for the state's next attorney general. Attorney General candidate Patrick Miles , an Obama-appointed official who served six and a half years as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, has taken a position on legalization of marijuana in Michigan. He said last week, upon further reflection, he’s for it.