MIRS Monday Podcast MIRSnews.com

MIRS is joined by Brandon Reed – the Michigan Black Business Alliance's external affairs director, and former legislative policy advisor – and Adam Bitely of the Martin Waymire public relations firm. 
They discuss what might still be on the Legislature's to-do list after they approve a state budget, and leftover or future costs a new budget possibly won't cover (2:50). 
Also, MIRS sits down with Detroit City Councilmember Mary Waters, who's running against U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar in the 13th Congressional District (27:39). 
Director Tim Boring of the state's agriculture department explains efforts to block an influenza virus affecting dairy cows from mutating into something more severe (49:31). 

State Senator Jeremy Moss, a Southfield Democrat, shares his insights as a Jewish legislator during a moment of "permeating antisemitism" in Michigan. He says his experiences with antisemitism have been questioned and "word policed." 
As people react to the Israel-Hamas War from home, Moss believes his own U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib is "contributing to the divisiveness," and he says he can't vote for her (1:09). 
Also, MIRS meets up with Mary Draves, the former Dow Chemical Company executive who's running in Michigan's competitive 8th Congressional district (37:03). 
Additionally, Steve Norris – a harm reduction and recovery support director in Oakland County – is concerned about different opioid remediation efforts becoming less collaborative (52:07). 

Former Michigan House Speaker Jase Bolger and Co-Founder Adrian Hemond of Grassroots Midwest discuss the chances of Renaissance Center rescue bucks appearing in the upcoming state budget. 
Additionally, they chat about flippable districts in the 2024 state House elections (1:01). 
CEO Alicia Guevara Warren of the Early Childhood Investment Corporation is concerned about how the preschool spending proposals could negatively impact local childcare centers and their business models (25:08). 
MIRS sits down with Kimberly Thomas, the University of Michigan Law School professor looking to run for the Michigan Supreme Court as a Democratic nominee (47:33). 

Before leaving last week's Mackinac Policy Conference, MIRS was joined by Charlie Langton of WWJ News and Nick Austin of Detroit public radio for a policy and political media roundtable (2:18).
Additionally, U.S. Senator Gary Peters explains why he wanted the job of Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chair, and why Democrats are targeting GOP strongholds Texas and Florida (27:12).
Also, GOP U.S. Senate hopeful Sandy Pensler says Mike Rogers' debate cancellations have become "par for the course," calling him "so disingenuous" (35:14).

The MIRS Monday Podcast presents a special Mackinac Policy Conference edition with updated coverage from the Detroit Regional Chamber’s gathering on Mackinac Island.    
U.S. Senate hopeful Elissa Slotkin says she’s taking nothing for granted in her primary bid despite encouraging polling data (2:18).
And Michigan’s Senate majority leader, Democrat Winnie Brinks, tells MIRS she’s confident her caucus will get its concerns and questions addressed to pave the way for  FOIA reform in the state (18:39).

For today's episode, members of the MIRS team discuss Michigan's U.S. Senate race, and the significance around why upcoming primary debates have been canceled (3:15).
Also, Danielle Brown, an urban journalism professor at Michigan State University, explains her research of how the media's coverage of college protests is "more likely to be sensationalized" than not. Her latest studies hone in on recent campus protests concerning the Israel-Hamas war (14:30).