MIRS Monday Podcast

Why 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)....

Will 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 de...

The 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? 

O...

Why 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 A...

House 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 em...

State 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...

MIRS 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 Birmin...

Welcome 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 v...

MIRS’ 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 a...

MIRS 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 stat...

MIRS 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...

MIRS 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 runni...

MIRS' 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 analys...

It'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 hea...

MIRS 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 th...

MIRS 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 i...

Should 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...

Michigan 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 behavior...

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, MIRS meets Meghan Kennedy Riordan, president of Irish Network Detroit. Meghan shares details about Michigan's relationship with Ireland, and why there are efforts to create a Michigan-Ireland Trade Commission (3:23). 

Also, the team catches up with outgoing Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Clement. She talks about why she's leaving the state's highest court, and why s...