Top Secrets Go Better with Coke™

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We now have an audio tape of Donald Trump committing a felony: sharing classified military information that he stole from the White House and giving the details to people with no security clearance. Despite that, Oakland Republicans hand him a certificate for a made-up award as “Man of the Decade” which Trump immediately “humbly” included in a fundraising email.

Back in the real world, the administration launches an all-out campaign promoting Bidenomics … with some snark aimed at Republicans who “voted no but take the dough.” The Supreme Court wraps up this term with positive results on voting rights, and reversing precedent on affirmative action in college admissions.

In Michigan, a new state budget is now on the Governor’s desk — on time and balanced, with major new funding for education, and tax cuts for millions of Michiganders.The Legislature also sends a tranche of bills on everything from expanded civil rights to allowing beer at college football games. 

And while the Michigan Legislature is passing laws to improve our elections process, there are warning signs about the potential for increased political violence. A new comprehensive national survey warns of an increasing appetite and tolerance for violence as a part of our political process. We talk with the onetime Mitch McConnell staffer who led the study … along with a collaborator on that report, the honorable and esteemed Mr. Jeff Timmer.

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This week’s podcast is underwritten in part by EPIC-MRA
EPIC ▪ MRA is 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 news links

Michigan Politics and Policy

• Lincoln Democracy Project Full Study

• Lincoln Democracy Project Summary

• Supreme Court ruling on online harassment angers victims, advocates – The Washington Post

• Michigan Legislature sends $81.7B state budget to Whitmer’s desk – Detroit Free Press

• Michigan lawmakers approve record $82B budget plan – Detroit News

• Michigan passes $21.5B school budget with boost for at-risk students | Bridge Michigan

• Michigan budget has $950M in no-bid pork projects, some transparency reforms – Bridge Michigan

• Early voting, beer in college stadiums await Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s signature – Bridge Michigan

• Michigan set to become 22nd state to ban conversion therapy for LGBTQ youths – Bridge Michigan

• Michigan bill repeals Snyder-era law limiting state regulations – Detroit Free Press

• High-speed internet is a necessity, President Biden says, pledging all US will have access by 2030 – AP News

• Michigan to receive $1.5B to extend internet to 210,000 in rural areas – Bridge Michigan

• Dana Nessel: $10B PFAS settlement with 3M doesn’t resolve Michigan’s claims – Bridge Michigan

• Trump said EVs will ‘decimate’ Michigan. Bridge fact-checks his claims – Bridge Michigan

• A return to the familiar as Trump kicks off Michigan campaigning for ’24 – Detroit Free Press

• USS Carl M. Levin commissioned, going on active duty in US Navy – Detroit Free Press

Across the nation

• Bidonomics – White House

• Embracing “Bidenomics,” Biden seeks to turn an insult into a strength – The Washington Post

• White House touts legislative wins on the road, in GOP strongholds – POLITICO

• The public still has negative views of the national economy – AP-NORC

• Supreme Court rejects GOP in North Carolina case that could have reshaped elections beyond the state | AP News

• Supreme Court unfreezes Louisiana redistricting case that could boost Black voting power before 2024 – AP News

• Supreme Court rules against NC Republican theory in election law dispute – The Washington Post

• Supreme Court restricts affirmative action in college admissions – The Washington Post
• Opinion | Why do colleges need affirmative action? America’s past and present. – The Washington Post

• Gary Peters’ staff details failures before Jan. 6 attack on Capitol – Detroit Free Press

• Peters Report Finds Significant Intelligence Failures by FBI and DHS in Lead-Up to January 6th Capitol Attack – Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs

• McCarthy confronts a spending mess that will test his speakership – POLITICO

• Ron DeSantis Used Texas Taxpayer Resources on Campaign Trip – Daily Beast

• What makes a social studies textbook “woke” in Ron DeSantis’ Florida – Popular Information

• RFK Jr. is surging only in polls among Republicans – The Washington Post