A Republic, If You Can Keep It Michigan Citizens for a Better Tomorrow

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We recorded this week's podcast at 5 p.m. EDT Thursday. Minutes before we hit the ‘record’ button, the New York jury handed down its verdict...so Jeff had to put on his Lincoln Project hat. In his absence Walt Sorg joins Mark on a day that will go down in American history. Clearly the guilty verdict on 34 felony counts is our #1 topic, but there are other talk-worthy stories in our political biosphere:



Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito refuses to follow the ethical standards demanded of all federal judges except him and his colleagues. Flags or no flags, he’s not recusing from January 6-related cases because it’s all about his stubborn wife and has nothing to do with him. Sure.

Chief Justice John Roberts adds to the court’s arrogance by declining an invitation from the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to talk about his court’s ethics.

The movers and shakers of Michigan business and politics are just now ending their annual policy party on Mackinac Island. We’ll review the highlights of a pretty substantive week with Bridge Michigan reporter Lauren Gibbons.

Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel hints he’ll run for Governor in two years … and then says he won’t vote for President Biden. That’s not going to help him much with Democratic voters.

Tudor Dixon’s gift of a half-million-dollars from her losing gubernatorial campaign draws a second look from state regulators.

Democrats Plan $100 Million Push on Abortion Rights to Win House

Michigan voters losing trust in democracy, education and economy, poll finds 

Trump makes sweeping promises to donors on audacious fundraising tour \

Opinion | Detroit sues Census Bureau, claiming vast undercount. It has a point. - The Washington Post

Democrats add five candidates (including Sen. Kristin McDonald-Rivet) to Red to Blue program - Roll Call (including McDonald-Rivet)

Hollier appeals decision to remove him from U.S. House ballot - Detroit News

Rigging Elections: Why the new platform from the Republican Party of Texas matters

Secretary Benson, Detroit Regional Chamber and business leaders launch new coalition to support safe and secure elections - Secretary of State

'New reality': Michigan clerks sued as activists seek voting records

Dana Nessel calls for pork politics reforms amid Clare grant probe



Joining the conversation: Bridge Michigan reporter Lauren Gibbons who has spent the week on Mackinac Island, tracking the many significant policy and political developments that are an annual feature of the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce Policy Conference. Prior to joining Bridge's Capitol team, she worked at MLive where she led coverage of the state Legislature and the redistricting process, and before that covered the state Senate for the MIRS Newsletter.



Lauren has covered the ins and outs of Michigan politics for nearly a decade and has won awards both for her political coverage and her work documenting the Larry Nassar sexual abuse case. She grew up in the Lansing area and graduated from Michigan State University, majoring in journalism and history. She lives in Ferndale, and … according to her official biography … her party tricks include Irish dancing and telling friends what political districts they live in without looking.



Mark Fiore - markfiore.com

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This episode is sponsored in part by EPIC ▪ MRA, 

a full service survey research firm with expertise in:

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• Market Research Studies

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• On-Line and Automated Surveys

• Focus Group Research

• Bond Proposals - Millage Campaigns

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It's the most anticipated verdict since O.J.

Topping the political news as we record:



Majority of Americans wrongly believe US is in recession, and most blame Biden - The Guardian

The planned debate of U.S. Senate candidates fizzles out as GOP frontrunner Mike Rogers pulls out … and Democratic frontrunner Elissa Slotkin responds by saying “me too”

It’s official: congressman Shri Thanedar won’t have to deal with Adam Hollier on the primary ballot

The Biden-Harris campaign continues to focus on Michigan, with Kamala Harris keynoting the state party’s annual dinner

There’s a major disconnect between public perceptions on the economy and reality and that’s bad news for Joe Biden

The U.S. Supreme Court’s ultra-conservatives continue to embarrass the court with a stupid political display at the Alito home, an even dumber explanation ...and a second flag ... from Justice Alito



Democrats begin to focus on warning of a future Supreme Court with a majority appointed byDonald Trump

2 Liberal Groups to Spend $5 Million on State Supreme Court Races - The New York Times

SCOTUS hands another pro-gerrymandering, anti-VRA ruling

Louisiana's Republican legislature labels abortion drugs as dangerous and very illegal

Michigan GOP Leader Matt Hall Apparently Gambled $73,000 in One Month - Rolling Stone

Voters Fear Trump Won’t Leave If He Wins 2024 Presidential Election - Bloomberg

After blaming his 2020 loss on mail balloting, Trump tries to make GOP voters believe it’s OK now - AP News

Vulnerable House Republicans Set the Stage To Challenge 2024 Election Results - DCCC

Michigan redistricting holds public hearings on draft maps -Detroit Free Press

Trump allies face skepticism as they try appealing to disaffected Arab Americans in Michigan - AP News

Student loans: Biden administration announces additional $7.7 billion in debt relief - CNN Politics

The cost of groceries declined in April as inflation continues to cool - TAI News

Schumer Plans Vote on Contraception Access, Teeing Up a Campaign Issue - The New York Times

Trump's online account promotes ‘unified Reich’ video, adding to alarming pattern - Maddow Blog

Biden - Unified Reich? via X

Tudor Dixon dissolves campaign fund after giving $500K to nonprofit. Move questioned - Detroit News



===========================

This episode is sponsored in part by EPIC ▪ MRA, 

a full service survey research firm with expertise in:

• Public Opinion Surveys

• Market Research Studies

• Live Telephone Surveys

• On-Line and Automated Surveys

• Focus Group Research

• Bond Proposals - Millage Campaigns

• Political Campaigns & Consulting

• Ballot Proposals - Issue Advocacy Research

• Community - Media Relations

• Issue - Image Management

• Database Development & List Management

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Let's Get Ready to Rumble...





The Main Event: Battle of the Presidents

Maybe. Maybe not.

Trump’s Peanut Gallery takes over the sliming of the criminal justice system

Robert Kennedy’s running mate demonstrates her major qualification for office: donating another $8-million to prop up the campaign

There’s another ethics embarrassment brewing in Lansing over lobbyist gifts of tickets to sporting events

Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are the A-list of targets for the Biden campaign

Lansing lawmakers file their first financial disclosures. We’ll learn more about that in a moment when we’re joined by award-winning Detroit News investigative reporter Craig Mauger

Crowd shows up to back lawyer, ex-clerk facing charges over voter data breach - Detroit News

Barra says GM will go 'where the talent is' to make software-driven cars - Detroit News

Biden Levies Sweeping Tariffs on China, Intensifying Trade Fight With Trump - Wall Street Journal

Small, well-built Chinese EV called the Seagull poses a big threat to the US auto industry - Detroit News

House Democrats launch probe of Trump’s dinner with oil executives - The Washington Post

Supreme Court orders Louisiana to use congressional map with additional Black district - AP News



Craig Mauger



Lansing has been a cornucopia of corruption, much of it first revealed through the efforts of an excellent band of investigative journalists. One of the best is Craig Mauger of the Detroit News. The Society of Professional Journalists named him Michigan Journalist of the Year in 2022 and this year honored him and Robert Snell for their reporting on a marijuana licensing corruption scandal involving former House Speaker Rick Johnson, Lansing lobbyists and secret payments that flowed to Johnson before he became the state's top cannabis regulator.



Much of his reporting is built on the advice of Watergate’s famed background source for Woodward and Bernstein, known as Deep Throat, whose mantra was “follow the money”.



Craig follows the money … and quite often, what he finds is pretty shocking.

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This episode is sponsored in part by EPIC ▪ MRA, 

a full service survey research firm with expertise in:

• Public Opinion Surveys

• Market Research Studies

• Live Telephone Surveys

• On-Line and Automated Surveys

• Focus Group Research

• Bond Proposals - Millage Campaigns

• Political Campaigns & Consulting

• Ballot Proposals - Issue Advocacy Research

• Community - Media Relations

• Issue - Image Management

• Database Development & List Management

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This week's guest: Mother Jones national voting rights correspondent Ari Berman, author of the new book "Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People—and the Fight to Resist It"



Every week it seems politics gets even more bizarre. A week after Kristi Noem destroys her political career by revealing she’s a puppy killer --



Bobby Kennedy Jr. tells us a brain worm has caused permanent damage to his cognitive ability.

The latest polls show momentum for President Biden as he campaigns in swing states while Donald Trump alternates between naps in a New York courtroom and fundraising at Mar-a-Lago.

Kamala Harris makes a stop in Detroit to highlight the administration’s support for the auto industry electric transformation, and reemphasize the GOP’s drive to outlaw abortion nationwide.

Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Mike Rogers is getting blasted for what opponents call a coverup of Hillary Clinton and Benghazi.

The very Republican former Lt. Governor of Georgia endorses Biden. In an op-ed in the Atlanta Constitution, Geoff Duncan writes “I am voting for a decent person I disagree with on policy over a criminal defendant without a moral compass.” 

Another Georgia Republican, the operations director of the state’s Secretary of State office, is leading a nationwide Republican campaign defending the honesty of elections.

Trump’s court appointees are paying him back for their jobs with Florida Judge Aileen Cannon effectively tanking the Espionage Act trial, while the U.S. Supreme Court dithers on whether the President is effectively above the law.

Give me money, I'll protect your metro dollars: Trump seeks $1 billion from oil CEOs, vows to limit EVs

‘A little bold and gross’: Oil industry writes executive orders for Trump to sign

How ‘History and Tradition’ Rulings Are Changing American Law



Lisa Benson - Counterpoint Media

===========================

This episode is sponsored in part by EPIC ▪ MRA, 

a full service survey research firm with expertise in:

• Public Opinion Surveys

• Market Research Studies

• Live Telephone Surveys

• On-Line and Automated Surveys

• Focus Group Research

• Bond Proposals - Millage Campaigns

• Political Campaigns & Consulting

• Ballot Proposals - Issue Advocacy Research

• Community - Media Relations

• Issue - Image Management

• Database Development & List Management

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It’s been a great week for the late night comics: Trump’s courtroom catnaps, Kristi Noem’s one-person animal control program, and Joe Biden’s week-late contribution to the annual 4-20 marijuana celebration.



Abortion laws continue to torment elected Republicans

South Dakota abortion rights groups collect enough signatures to advance ballot measure - NBC News

Joe Biden has an epiphany with a reclassification of weed

Trump opens up to Time magazine about his 2nd term plans – and it’s dystopian preview

Donald Trump on What His Second Term Would Look Like - TIME

And the Trump stage show drops into Michigan to heap insults on state Democrats, judges and prosecutors

‘Everything’s bad,’ Trump tells Michigan rally, offering policy solutions - mlive.com

Trump warns of tax hikes, EV doom in Michigan rally. Here are the facts - Bridge Michigan

Trump backs surveillance and prosecution of women to enforce abortion bans - Judd Legum/Popular Information

Alleged Republican leaders who loudly proclaim Donald Trump is a threat to the nation say that’s not as bad as Joe Biden

Peter Meijer concedes the obvious: he can’t win the GOP Senate nomination

GOP frontrunner Mike Rogers has a residency problem - his alleged Michigan home has been torn down

Two top-level Michigan congressional candidates face challenges on their petitions. We hear from the state’s top election lawyer … that would be Mark Brewer!



===========================

This episode is sponsored in part by EPIC ▪ MRA, 

a full service survey research firm with expertise in:

• Public Opinion Surveys

• Market Research Studies

• Live Telephone Surveys

• On-Line and Automated Surveys

• Focus Group Research

• Bond Proposals - Millage Campaigns

• Political Campaigns & Consulting

• Ballot Proposals - Issue Advocacy Research

• Community - Media Relations

• Issue - Image Management

• Database Development & List Management

===========================





 

Matt Davies - Washington Post



Another week, still more insanity...



It’s O.J. without the white Bronco as the first-ever criminal trial of a former President gets underway with the former publisher of National Enquirer throwing Trump under the bus. “Catch and Kill” was a strategy for keeping Trump out of political trouble. Now it describes his legal predicament: he got caught, and it could kill his candidacy, his company and possibly his freedom.

New York law enforcement and corrections officials are reportedly conferring with the Secret Service on what to do if Trump is sent to jail for contempt of court.

Arizona joins Michigan, Georgia and Nevada in criminally indicting fake electors … with Trump named an unindicted co-conspirator in both Michigan and Arizona, and facing criminal charges in Georgia.

The U.S. Supreme Court hears Trump's argument that, as President, he is above the law - free to kill, stage an insurrection, accept bribes and ignore parking tickets.

Two more polls show a tightening presidential race, with one showing Biden in the lead among likely voters

Marist Poll 4-22-24

NBC April 2024 Poll

Sexual predator Larry Nasser is now a $1-BILLION disaster with a $138-million settlement from the FBI to victims for slow-walking the investigation. This is on top of $500-million being paid out by Michigan State University and $380-million from USA Gymnastics.

Another draconian anti-abortion law reaches the U.S. Supreme Court as Democrats focus on women’s reproductive freedom as Issue Number One.

We recorded this week’s podcast on Thursday (April 25): the 10th Anniversary of the day the Flint water supply was switched from Lake Huron to the Flint River. What lessons have we learned, and what lessons should we have learned?



Also in the news this week:



Republicans are starting to worry about RFK Jr. - POLITICO

RNC Ditches Recently-Launched ‘Bank Your Vote,’ Vows New Program | Conservative America Today - Conservative America Today

Republican false electors in presidential election misled by leaders, attorneys say - mlive.com

Millions more salaried US workers are set to be eligible for overtime pay starting July 1 - AP News

Biden Unveils $7 Billion “Solar for All” Investment for Earth Day – Mother Jones

Biden administration issues new rules on airline fees and refunds - AP News

Tennessee passes bill to allow armed teachers in public schools - AP News

One-third of sitting Michigan House lawmakers to see primary challenge - Detroit News

Opinion | Mike Pence: Donald Trump Has Betrayed the Pro-Life Movement - The New York Times



Our guest this week is the likely Democratic nominee for an open seat on the Michigan Supreme Court, University of Michigan professor Kimberly Thomas. The Michigan Democratic Party’s executive committee has formally endorsed Thomas for the open seat created when Republican nominee David Viviano decided against running for reelection. Thomas is a clinical professor of law, and the director and co-founder of the Juvenile Justice Clinic at Michigan Law and also teaches in the Civil-Criminal Litigation Clinic. She specializes in trial and appellate practice, youth justice, and criminal sentencing law. In 2017, Thomas served as a US Fulbright Scholar at the University College Cork School of Law in Cork, Ireland and is a former editorial board member of the Clinical Law Review. Before joining the Law School faculty in 2003, Thomas served as a trial attorney with Defender Association of Philadelphia.

===========================

This episode is sponsored in part by EPIC ▪ MRA, 

a full service survey research firm with expertise in:

• Public Opinion Surveys

• Market Research Studies

• Live Telephone Surveys