MIRS Monday Podcast

The day before Thanksgiving, MIRS caught up with Port Huron Republican Andrew Beeler, who served in the state House from 2020 through '24. He talks about his new bid in the Thumb Region's 25th Senate district (:47).

Since leaving the Legislature, he's taken ownership of a small floor covering business. He talks about property taxes being among Republicans' hottest issues going into 2026, boiling debates ar...

MIRS sits down with state Republican House Speaker Matt Hall of Richland Township. He says that property tax reform will be at the center of what House Republicans do in 2026 (2:56).

He also talks about working with the Senate Democrats' floor leader to create a new business tax credit promoting job creation in Michigan. Hall says leaders are coming closer to an economic development deal, but House Republi...

MIRS hosts a former legislator edition of the Republican-Democratic roundtable discussion, welcoming Leslie Love – a former Detroit representative – and previous state Sen. Rick Jones, a Grand Ledge Republican. 

Together, they discuss state Senate personnel recently leaving their posts due to their political side hustles, a bill allowing sergeants at arms to provide security outside of the Capitol and how ...

Today's episode is a "Meet the Candidates" edition of MIRS Monday, a double feature including a Paw Paw Republican and Detroit Democrat, working on different sides of the state to become Michigan senators. 

Republican Chris Moraitis is an attorney and son-in-law of a former Southwest Michigan state senator. He's coming in hot in the race to replace term-limited Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt in the 20...

Today's episode presents a Democratic lawmaker roundtable on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the food assistance program covering low-income folks' groceries. 

Although President Donald Trump was ordered to cover SNAP with $5.25 billion during the federal government shutdown, some Democrats in Michigan still think a state-level emergency food assistance fund is necessary. 

MI...

For today's episode, MIRS is getting caught up on Detroit politics ahead of the city's Nov. 4 general election. If City Council President Mary Sheffield becomes mayor, as projected, how does the Detroit-Lansing relationship change? 

Also, state Reps. Tyrone Carter and Karen Whitsett are both running in competitive city council races. Will they be successful or defeated by their more progressive opponents w...

Today's Democratic-Republican roundtable edition of MIRS Monday features Jim Lower – the former Republican state representative and Sparta village manager – and Eastpointe City Councilmember Cardi DeMonaco Jr., a Democrat (1:26). 

Cardi and Jim share their reactions on Michigan's newest road funding system, lawmakers possibly tackling intoxicating hemp drinks and the future of government-run economic devel...

The Michigan State Police reports that last year, about 40.7% of deadly traffic crashes involved drugs and/or alcohol.

But at the same time, according to Brian Swift of the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving, oral testing devices to detect recent substance use are sitting on shelves, collecting dust and unable to be used because they're not legally binding right now in Michigan.

In a p...

This past week, legislators passed a state budget, giving schools $10,050 per-student, cutting back substantially on economic development spending and reducing government job posts. On this episode of the MIRS Monday Podcast, host Samantha Shriber walks listeners through the day, from Thursday afternoon through after 3 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 3 (1:21). 

Also, $1.85 billion in new yearly money was secured for ...

The budget-making race against the clock is underway in the state Capitol, as legislators have about two days to come together on a state spending plan before the new fiscal year begins.

Also, MIRS continues sharing interviews from the Michigan Republican Leadership Conference. Sterling Heights Robert Lulgjuraj is running in one of Michigan's most competitive U.S. House seats ahead of the '26 elections. He...

This past weekend, MIRS podcast host Samantha Shriber covered the Michigan Republican Leadership Conference on Mackinac Island, where candidates ahead of the '26 elections courted Republican activists and enthusiasts. She recaps what she saw with guests (1:16). 

At the conference, MIRS met up with Republican Amir Hassan, the U.S. Navy veteran and Flint native running in Michigan's competitive 8th U.S. Hous...

After the fatal shooting of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, as well as bomb threats reportedly made against a Michigan lawmaker and Lieutenant Governor, has politics in 2025 become deadly?

Also, should state legislators be embarrassed by talk of a fall government shutdown despite not living under the Great Recession circumstances experienced in the prior shutdowns? 

MIRS discusses all of...

MIRS sits down with Doug Heller, the director of insurance for the Consumer Federation of America. He shares his takes and findings on the state of auto insurance in Michigan (1:10). 

Also, the House's road funding proposal brings Michigan's funding for local buses up to $286.5 million, an all-time high. However, bus service leaders are worried about how the proposal could link the extra dollars to farebox...

When it comes to budget-making in the Michigan Legislature, how big of a problem are phantom employees, or state agency job posts that are funded for but not filled? How large of an issue are work project dollars set aside in the past, but there's been no progress on those projects? 

Also, why do House Republicans instruct the state to follow the federal government's new work obligations for Medicaid recip...

What are the costs and lasting effects of a state government shutdown? MIRS sits down with government policy lawyer Steve Liedel, who was Gov. Jennifer Granholm's legal counsel. The last time the government shutdown was during Granholm's administration (1:00). 

Also, MIRS talks to former state Representative Kurt Heise, a Plymouth Republican backing Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan's independent bid for governor....

How are Democratic and Republican lawmakers reacting to suspicion around Lansing that there might be a looming government shutdown? Also what is the future of Michigan's business development strategy when the Democratic Attorney General suggests pausing funding to the economic development corporation until oversight is improved?

Today's episode is a roundtable edition of MIRS Monday, featuring Sen. Joseph ...

MIRS meets Amanda Treppa, the 35-year-old Royal Oak Democrat running in the new 10th state Senate district. She shares how her early childhood in foster care and adult life in arts and fitness brought her into Michigan politics and policy. (1:00). 

A group of Michigan engineering companies is launching a "direct citizen contact" effort, pushing Michiganders into calling on Senate Democrats to put forward a...