A Republic, If You Can Keep It

Michigan Citizens for a Better Tomorrow
  • 4.9 (85)
  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

Analysis and commentary on Michigan politics from former Democratic Party chair Mark Brewer and former Republican Party executive director Jeff Timmer.

  1. 2d ago

    Heads We Lose, Tails We Still Lose (Guest: Mike Madrid)

    On our radar this week… Yes, the Donald Trump one-dollar coin is now in circulation. It’s just a matter of time until the faux gold coin is available in a special gold case exclusively on the website More Trump Crap for Sale Dot Com. The fall campaign is underway in Michigan, with ballots going in the mail beginning in just 3 weeks … unless the Supreme Court backs Donald Trump’s clearly unconstitutional plan to have the Post Office decide who votes. Both Abdul El Sayed and Jocelyn Benson have small leads according to the latest polling from EPIC-MRA and MSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. The poll by our longtime podcast supporter Bernie Porn shows both Benson and El-Sayed with four-point leads … at the edge of the poll’s margin of error. Fully two-thirds of voters surveyed give Donald Trump a negative job approval rating, with 63% saying the economy has gotten worse under Trump. MSU’s polling shows Benson with a 9-point lead, and El-Sayed leading by 5. Those numbers come even before the impact of Trump’s temper-tantrum tariffs on Canadian goods kick in, and Canada is united politically behind Prime Minister Mark Carney’s hardball response to a President he calls a bully.  VIDEO – “Blame Canada” (Lincoln Project) The EPIC-MRA poll also shows overwhelming opposition in Michigan to data centers. 73% of Michigan voters oppose “current federal tax breaks and other federal policies that were put in place to encourage and speed up the development of data centers” – including 67% of respondents who had a favorable view of Trump 62% of Michigan voters oppose “the development of data center facilities in Michigan” State Democrats formalized their statewide ticket over the weekend in a convention where the name Donald Trump dominated … and not in a good way. One major concern voiced by Democrats: Trump’s ongoing campaign to create chaos over the voting process. Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist, who is running to be Michigan’s chief elections officer as Secretary of State, made it clear that Michigan will be ready for whatever Trump throws at us. One of the potential voter suppression tactics on the list of potential Trump illegal abuses: sending the military the polls on election day in violation of federal law to intimidate voters or seize ballots. Senator Elissa Slotkin says the Army Chief of Staff has assured her in writing that it won’t happen. Mike Rogers may have added to his woes by backing the Trump war on Canada. In an interview on Fox News, he tap danced around the issue … claiming Trump’s economic battle with our neighbors is actually good for the state, something denied by Democrats and the leaders of the auto industry. John James says he’ll eliminate the state’s flat-rate income tax in phases. There would be two major  impacts: gutting every state agency including road and bridge maintenance, State Police, education, prisons and public health… and giving a huge tax cut to Betsy DeVos and the state’s other wealthiest people.  Republicans will hold a Trump Tribute convention in Dallas this week, with most elected Republicans skipping the event. The highlights: speeches by Trump and J.D. Vance … both speeches being delivered at the same time as week one NFL games. In news of the Trump property management agenda: an announcement that work will begin in two weeks on the Arc D’Trump, still another monument to the real Trump Derangement Syndrome.  A victory for Michigan voters, an unsuccessful petition drive to require every Michigan voter to re-register and prove their citizenship – was back in court. Mark represented opponents of that ballot proposal and once again and won! He fills us in on the details. Another election related case went into court this week over the issue of fusion voting. Jeff is the lead plaintiff in the case, Mark is his attorney which means our listeners get the full inside story. Joining the podcast this week is political strategist and consultant Mike Madrid. Mike is known for his expertise in Latino voting trends. He co-founded the Lincoln Project and has worked with both Republican and Democratic candidates, while also serving as a lecturer at various universities and authoring the book “The Latino Century: How America’s Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy.” He is the host of the weekly podcast “MikeDrop”. Next Monday marks the 144th annual observance of Labor Day. Labor Day began in the late 19th century as a response to the harsh working conditions faced by American laborers. The first unofficial Labor Day celebration took place on September 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by the Central Labor Union. This event featured a parade where thousands of workers marched to advocate for better working conditions and fair wages. Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894, recognizing the contributions of workers to the nation’s strength and prosperity. It’s being celebrated in Detroit with a the traditional parade which begins at 9 a.m. and the final day of the Detroit Jazz Festival in Hart Plaza. Some news about the podcast. We’ll be recording our first-ever podcast with an audience next week. Jeff and I will bring the podcast to the Lakeshore Progressives in Grand Haven on Tuesday,. If you would like to be a part of the audience, send us an email and we’ll get you the details. Our email: ARepublicPodcast@gmail.com.  Perhaps the most iconic of all of Detroit’s Labor Day events was 66 years ago, when then-Senator John Kennedy spoke to a massive crowd in Cadillac Square, immortalized by iconic photos by legendary Detroit Free Press photographer Tony Spina. Link to the text of JFK’s speech. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Republic, If You Can Keep It is supported by

  2. Aug 27

    Canadian Bacon Might Fry Republicans

    On our radar this week… Jeff takes a week off and just like that, Trump starts another war! This time with him smack-ass in the middle of it. Jeff and his bride were in Canada’s Maritimes and was attacked with Canadian kindness, poutine, real beef and not diseased Argentinian horse meat, the best lobsters and oysters in the hemisphere, and the inability of artisans and merchants to ship their goods to their traditional U.S. partners – or even for me to ship purchases home, due to the economically illiterate tariffs and self-destructive imbecilic trade war with our closest cousins. Back here in the U.S.A.: Trump’s war could really cost him, eh? Senate and gubernatorial races in Michigan, Wisconsin, Maine and Ohio are already being impacted by the economic turmoil spinning off Trump’s latest stupidity. Too bad for John James and Mike Rogers, Porky POTUS spent much of the week focused on his issue Number One: naming things after him, including: Another effort to put his name on the Kennedy Center despite a court order, threatening to tear down the Center if he doesn’t get his way; Stripping the name of a World War II hero off a new aircraft carrier, reportedly instead renaming it for him, while ordering the Navy to spend billions on redesigns of carriers so they looked like World War II carriers and revert to outdated steam-powered launch systems; Inscribing a plaque on his under-construction helipad with his signature, clearly delighted that the new granite slab outside the White House will be a great place for cocktail parties. Reportedly deciding to use his $400-million political bankroll to run an advertising blitz on the Greatness of Trump … instead of directly supporting Republican candidates. But Michigan Republicans aren’t joining the Trump Name Game. At their weekend state nominating convention, none of their candidates for state office mentioned Trump even once. Their focus was putting lipstick on the pig that is the GOP record on the economy. I wish them all smashing luck as they contort themselves into cartoonish pretzels in their futile efforts to avoid being fatally tethered to Donald Trump’s venereal disease-level job approval. State Republicans are also reeling from what appears to be a growing Blue Wave. The non-partisan Cook Political Report has moved two Michigan congressional races away from the GOP: in the Macomb County based 10th district, from Leans Republican to Tossup … and in the Saginaw Bay region 8th from “Lean Democratic” to “Likely Democratic.” State Democrats are sharpening their verbal axes as we approach the traditional Labor Day launch of the campaign. The Canada Trade War drew immediate fire from Lt. Governor nominee Winnie Brinks, and 10th district congressional candidate Christina Hines. Senator Elissa Slotkin, in a speech to UAW leadership, said a longer term threat posed by the Trade War is Canada’s growing partnership with China on sales of EV’s … and Trump then allowing those cars across the Gordie Howe Bridge. Abdul El-Sayed is highlighting the obvious challenge facing Mike Rogers in the Senate campaign: does he risk angering Donald Trump breaking with him on issues beginning with the Trump-created Iran war, and the emerging hot-button issue of Data Centers. But the possibly most ominous development of the week came from the very Trumpy Supreme Court, which has started to open the door to a federal takeover of elections. Without ruling on the merits of Trump’s Post Office deciding who gets to vote, Chief Justice John Roberts gave Trump permission to begin implementing his executive order. It was all part of a bizarre week that can probably be summed up in two words: Lake America, Trump’s latest Sharpie-labeled change to world maps. And we have more developments on state ballot proposals for November – both of those stories directly involving Mark. He has been on a winning streak in his election-related battles, and provides an update: what’s in, what’s out. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I Will Always Love You” The feeling is mutual. Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Republic, If You Can Keep It is supported by

  3. Aug 21

    Travels with Natalie (Guest: Representative Debbie Dingell)

    On our radar this week… Another bad week for the 80-year-old President as he gets roasted by Jon Ossoff with a riff that mentioned Natalie and infuriated Trump, setting off a social media frenzy with a​ttacks on the Georgia senator along with CNN and the reporter who asked Trump about the mention of his consta​​nt companion. Trump’s priority issue this week seems to be as construction boss for the White House. He’s ordered his Justice Department to appeal a halt to further construction of his gold-encrusted ballroom; gave the press a guided tour of his granite helicopter pad construction project; used the tour to promote campaign contributor Scotts Turf Builder; attacked still another female reporter for asking him a question; and saw more of his endorsed candidates lose in their primaries. The Democratic Party’s statewide ticket is now complete, with Jocelyn Benson choosing state Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks as her running mate. It’s the first-ever two-woman top-of-the-ticket in Michigan history … running against an all-male Republican ticket. John James choice of state House Oversight Committee chair Jay DeBoyer is drawing heat over his refusal to investigate alleged widespread sexual abuse of children at Interlochen. DeBoyer says it’s a criminal matter and he criticizes Attorney General Nessel for not launching an investigation, overlooking the fact that Nessel has told local law enforcement the resources of her department are available to assist them in any way useful. Our friend Mark the Lawyer had two big wins this week. One could change the outcome of a city election, the other protects voter rights. We know now that there will be two proposals on the November ballot. Proposal one is the constitutionally required vote on whether to rewrite Michigan’s constitution which we discussed last week. Proposal 2 would, if enacted, put tight limits on corporate campaign contributions from state utilities and companies doing $250,000 or more in contracts with the state. The Democratic National Committee has made it official: Michigan will be in the first band of presidential primary elections, fifth on the list of primaries and the first large battleground state in the mix. The parade of wannabe presidents has already begun with a high visibility visit from Gavin Newsom, and the announcement that J.D. Pritzker will headline a major state party fundraiser in September. We can add to the mix the potential candidacy of two Michigan Democrats. (Neither Pete Buttigieg or Elissa Slotkin say they are running, but they are talking and acting like candidates.) Joining the podcast this week is perhaps the best political analyst in the state: Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. She’s in her 5th term representing portions of southeast Michigan. She is a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Natural Resources Committee, where she leads on critical issues including affordable and accessible health care, clean energy and water, domestic manufacturing and supply chain resilience, and protecting our wildlife and natural resources. Debbie Dingell is part of one of the most remarkable stories of a family’s public service in U.S. history. There has been a Dingell in the U.S. House of Representatives for 94 years: John Dingell Senior was first elected in the 1932 Roosevelt landslide and served for 22 years. His son John Jr. is a legend, serving a record 60 years. Upon his retirement in 2015 he was succeeded by his wife Debbie. A hallmark of their service has been a proposal for a national health insurance system, first introduced by John Sr. in 1933 and re-introduced since at every Congress by the father and then the son. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Republic, If You Can Keep It is supported by

  4. Aug 15

    Gaslighting Beats Having Actual Accomplishments (Guests: Con-Con Opponents Mark Fisk and John Sellek)

    On our political radar this week… ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Republican general election strategy has been launched. It’s a 3-legged stool of misdirection: Gaslight voters on the economy, taxes and Trump’s failed war against Iran Accuse any and all Democrats of wanting to bring Communism to America Constantly remind voters that Abdul El-Sayed is a Muslim which makes him a terrorist – the 2026 version of Trump’s claim that Obama was born in Kenya Trump gave Democrats another campaign talking point this week with a bonkers Executive Order urging fewer vaccinations for children, something that doctors are vehemently saying will cause the preventable deaths of children. Trump’s basis for the E.O? Some people have been saying things! By “some people”, he mostly means Bobby Kennedy Jr. and the anti-vax conspiracy cabal. Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel, State Rep. Julie Brixie and Eric Schneidewind of Protect Our Care Michigan State Democrats have kicked off their counter-campaign, focusing on the actual state of the economy, healthcare, abortion rights and Trump’s unprecedented corruption. They’ve labeled their the gubernatorial portion of their campaign “The John James: Out for Himself” tour. (Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) The last few days have shown that every vote, does in fact, matter. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed’s margin over Haley Stevens was 0.95 percent. In Wisconsin, DSA gubernatorial candidate Francesca Wong lost to David Crowley by 0.5 percent, just 3,706 votes. And in Indiana, a recount this last week in a hotly contested Republican state Senate primary was decided by 3 votes. John James has announced he will work to protect Michigan from the half-dozen or so transgender girls participating in high school sports. According to the Michigan High School Athletic Association, every year one or two transgender girls apply for a waiver to join a team. According to the MHSAA, nearly 300-thousand Michigan boys and girls are on their school teams this year. No word yet on what James has planned for the other 299-thousand. In Michigan, we’ll be voting on whether to rewrite the state’s constitution through a constitutional convention.That’s because the current constitution, adopted 62 years ago, requires a vote on a having a Con-Con every 16 years. We’ve voted on the question 3 times over the years, and each time it was defeated overwhelmingly. A new Con-Con would, without doubt, be batshit crazy. Leaders all across the political spectrum have lined up urging a ‘no’ vote. Mark Fisk and John Sellek Joining the conversation: two leaders in the “Vote No” campaign. Mark Fisk is a partner at Byrum-Fisk Advocacy Communications; John Sellek is CEO of Harbor Strategic Communications. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ VIDEO: Meet the Grandparents! Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Republic, If You Can Keep It is supported by

  5. Aug 7

    Progressives Win, Money Loses!

    On our political radar this week… ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ In multiple battles on election day, some candidates won despite being heavily outspent. The list includes Abdul El-Sayed prevailing over Haley Stevens’ $60-million campaign GOP Gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson seeing another $30-million of his personal fortune disappear in his loss to John James Multi-millionaire Congressman Shri Thanedar outspending state Representative Donavan McKinney 17-to-1 … and losing Mid-Michigan activist William Lawrence being outspent 3-to-1 by both of his opponents who split the vote sufficiently to let Lawrence slip through with 44% of the vote. The general election is 89 days away…with early voting beginning in just over a month. The war of words is well underway with Republicans already branding all Democrats as communists, socialists and/or wussie Woke anti-police bed-wetting pro-criminal vegans. Donald Trump took a break from his never-ending golf vacation to launch a couple more grifts – selling insider information through his Truth Social scam, bamboozling two gullible U.S. Senators into voting to confirm his personal criminal defense attorney as Attorney General, reinforcing his one-of-a-kind immunity from paying all the taxes he owes, and issuing still another “two days” prediction for his endless Iran War. Meanwhile, the Trump government continues its manifestly incompetent management of the federal government. The explosive diarrhea is becoming a national epidemic as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. proves once again he doesn’t know what the f**k he’s doing, even as Trump’s apologists in the Senate try to shift blame for the last pandemic onto Dr. Anthony Fauci. One of his onetime favorite former Fox News shouters may get the boot. Jeanine Pirro had to admit in court that Trump screwed up when he gave a no-bid contract to his pool guy for the Reflecting Pool restoration – it wasn’t vandals, it was shoddy work. The master builder is also starting over again on the White House helicopter pad after suddenly discovering that the White House lawn isn’t flat. And he’s unveiled the new gold-leaf encrusted statues at the Lincoln Memorial which just adds to the misery of the diarrhea epidemic.  The most entertaining race of this cycle was the Republican primary in the 8th congressional district. Donald Trump endorsed Amir Hassan, which prompted Thomas Smith to withdraw from the race…but still won overwhelmingly.  We start with the U.S. Senate race. It was much closer than most of the polls predicted. (A tip of the hat, by the way, to EPIC-MRA which correctly showed a very tight contest.) The big question: can Democrats unite, and then attract a majority of independents, to beat an admittedly tough opponent in Mike Rogers? © Clay Jones – https://claytoonz.substack.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Republic, If You Can Keep It is supported by

  6. Jul 31

    The Home Stretch

    On our political radar this week… Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed are in the center of the national political spotlight We’re in the final days of a primary campaign that’s being watched by the nation: will the Democratic Socialist wing of the Democratic Party upset the centrist leadership? It’s the top political story of the week nationwide. Donald Trump’s approval rating is now officially in the deep freeze: 32-percent approval in the latest Quinnipiac poll. So Trump and his allies are rolling out more distractions:  a just-for-Fox-News Senate interrogation of Dr. Anthony Fauci, with Fauci refusing to take Rand Paul’s bait by taking the 5th more than 100 times © Clay Jones – https://claytoonz.substack.com still another Trump construction project (this time, $22-billion for renovations at Dulles International Airport, which he’ll probably try to get renamed Trump International),  an announcement that the feds will buy 250 armored Cadillac Escalades, with a sticker price of around 300-thousand-dollars, instead of the usual Chevy Suburbans;   and a meandering monologue from Trump at a taxpayer-funded campaign rally in southeast Michigan which included a long litany of Trump distortions, lies and name-calling Democrats are openly celebrating Trump’s Michigan campaign appearance. It gave them still another opportunity to focus on Trump’s core failures. Party chair Curtis Hertel led the party’s “Welcome to Michigan, Donald” news conference  In the background, Democrats are assuming that Trump will use all of the federal government to interfere with a fair-and-open election in November. Trump with his faithful supplicants Mike Rogers and John James In Lansing, legislative Democrats have reintroduced the 9 bills that passed both chambers 18 months ago … then were effectively stalled by House Speaker MAGA Matt Hall. t’s strictly a messaging exercise. Chances for enactment of those bills a second time: zero.  © Clay Jones – https://claytoonz.substack.com ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Republic, If You Can Keep It is supported by

  7. Jul 25

    Another War With Canada, Eh?

    On our political radar this week… Canadian officials cut the ribbon today to herald Monday’s scheduled opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge. Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford spoke directly of the latest Trump assault on America’s number one trading partner, saying “ Ontario will be ready to respond in any new American tariffs, will not back down, and will negotiate from a position of strength as a top trading partner, more than half of the United States.” Because of Trump’s latest tariff tantrum no Americans were invited to the event. At recording time the Bridge is set to open for vehicular traffic on Monday. Instead of presiding at a joint ribbon cutting which had been planned for next Monday midway between Detroit and Windsor, Trump will be a few miles north for a campaign rally. His campaign visit: an admission that Michigan Democrats could flip 3 Republican-held seats in Congress. For Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, it could be a political nightmare. He’ll have no choice but to join hands with a President whose approval rating is a pathetic 33 percent…and falling. On the Democratic side of the Senate race, Governor Whitmer has endorsed Haley Stevens. Polls show Stevens with a slight lead over Abdul El-Sayed … and El-Sayed drawing large crowds this last week at rallies featuring Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. But the endorsement comes with nearly 700-thousand absentee ballots already been received by local clerks, and another 1.2-million absentee ballots have been issued but not yet returned. Early in-person voting begins on tomorrow. Defense Secretary (and former Fox & Friends B-Team talker) Pete Hegseth took a trip to Capitol Hill. The hostile reception he got from the Senate Appropriations Committee was enough to drive a man to drink. Hegseth wants another $90-billion to continue Trump’s War of Choice in Iran … and Senators made it clear they weren’t buying what he was selling. The normally soft-spoken Senator Gary Peters pulled no punches in lambasting the former Fox News weekend couch talker. Hegseth claims the Iran War has cost around $37-billion so far. Of course, with Trump’s massive budget deficit estimated at 2-trillion dollars, the entire cost of the war goes on the federal credit card to be paid by future generations. And Senator Elissa Slotkin says the real cost is more … 200-billion dollars or more.  The State Board of Canvassers voted to put the Money out of Politics proposal on the November ballot. If approved by voters and if it gets past a court challenge, the proposal would ban political spending by regulated utilities and companies with state contracts. Organizers got some major messaging help in the latest campaign finance reports which showed that CMS Energy has spent more than a quarter-million-dollars in a Republican primary targeting the chair of a House subcommittee who opposes construction of new data centers in Michigan. The number is huge. In 2024, there were a total of 13,491 votes cast in the district’s Republican primary (it’s a very red district so the primary is the real election). With a similar turnout this year, the spending equals $20 per vote. VIDEO: Confessions of the Dear Leader – The Lincoln Project ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Republic, If You Can Keep It is supported by

  8. Jul 17

    Party Like It’s 2020! (Guest: Jack Cocchiarella)

    On our political radar this week… America was treated to still another delusional rant from Donald Trump Thursday night about the issue that’s his singular fixation: imaginary election fraud six years ago. The speech came in a week of bad news from the mad man in the Oval Office:  Iran continues to dog-walk Trump and make the U.S. a laughing stock for the world, while the idiotic war continues to drive prices for American voters higher and higher.  Trump was finally forced to pay millions of dollars in damages to a woman he sexually assaulted, and once upon a time, this would have been major news. His nominees for Attorney General and Director of National Intelligence embarrass themselves in Senate confirmation hearings – and threaten our national security and the rule of law if confirmed. And the reflecting pool in Washington, D.C., continues to be a perfect metaphor for Trump’s presidency: his lack-of-self-awareness delusional hubris meeting the real-world reality of his total incompetence and stupidity. Hey, did anyone know dumb has a B in it? Trump’s speech about the 2020 election is both idiotic and alarming at the same time. Voters are locked in on the cost-of-living, while Trump, his administration, and all the Republicans are locked in using the fictional tropes about the 2020 election being rigged to deliberately rig the 2026 election. We should be far more alarmed than we are about the prospect of a free and fair election this November. Trump and the Republicans have settled in on the messaging we predicted here on this podcast several weeks ago – manufactured culture wars and racial scare tactics about violent crime – but with an unexpected blast from the past – COMMUNISM. That’s right. It’s Red Scare 3.0 for the GOP as they look to spend the rest of 2026 campaigning like it’s 1956. The political eyes of the nation are focused on Michigan’s race for the U.S. Senate, where there is also a significant new endorsement. Senator Gary Peters, whose retirement launched the battle for nomination, reversed his earlier neutrality decision to back Haley Stevens, saying the Senate isn’t the place for on-the-job training. The latest Detroit News polling, from well-respected pollster Richard Czuba, shows Stevens with a lead over Abdul El Sayed…and that Democratic voters are focused on two issues: the economy and fighting Trump. (It appears nobody mentioned the 2020 election.) Yesterday saw the latest federal fundraising reports from candidates and PACs across the country. And news flash: money still matters more than the terminally online chatter around campaigns. And Democrats overall continue to outperform Republicans here in Michigan and across the country. Democratic candidates for Senate and Congress are racking up massive hauls, and while the Republicans aren’t complete slouches, at least with their fundraising, they lag in most key races. Screenshot The political focus is on Michigan and the Democratic battle for the U.S. Senate nomination. Joining the conversation is someone watching especially closely, online political guru Jack Cocchiarella. His YouTube political updates are seen by more than 1-and-a-half million subscribers, and more than 2 million followers across social media platforms. Jeff first came to know Jack while he interned for the Lincoln Project during 2020 while he was still in high school. Now, after a political science path through Columbia University, he positions himself at the intersection of media virality and civic engagement—highlighting how today’s platforms shape electoral conversations. His commentary covers everything from algorithmic media dynamics to youth voter mobilization, and his channels regularly break down political stories, offering context, critique, and a call to action. Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Republic, If You Can Keep It is sponsored in part by

See All (280)

4.9
out of 5
85 Ratings

About

Analysis and commentary on Michigan politics from former Democratic Party chair Mark Brewer and former Republican Party executive director Jeff Timmer.

Information

  • Creator
    Michigan Citizens for a Better Tomorrow
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    280
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Michigan Citizens for a Better Tomorrow, a non-profit social welfare corporation
  • Show Website
    A Republic, If You Can Keep It

You Might Also Like