Follow the Money (Guests: Lisa Gilbert & Gabe Lezra)



Virtually all political scandals involve either seeking greater power, or money. This week’s discussion focuses on the latter. We are joined in the podcast by two national leaders in the drive to disrupt the political money machine: Gabe Lezra from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics (better known as CREW), and Lisa Gilbert from Public Citizen. … Continue reading Follow the Money (Guests: Lisa Gilbert & Gabe Lezra)


#MichiganGrit (Guest: Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks)



Topping the political news this week: the Governor delivers a populist State of the State message, with Democrats in the Legislature cheering repeatedly and Republican members sitting on their hands – even to the point of not cheering a proposal to help young children, or throwing shade at Ohio and Indiana. Mark and Jeff analyze the … Continue reading #MichiganGrit (Guest: Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks)


MAGA Mania (Guest: Denver Riggleman)



We’ve got a MAGA alert agenda this week: Michigan Republicans have a battle of election deniers for chair of their party.  Some top Michigan Republicans want to draft charisma-challenged Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to lead the 2024 ticket.  In Ottawa County, the MAGA takeover of the Republican Party is on full display with a purge … Continue reading MAGA Mania (Guest: Denver Riggleman)


The Domino Effect



The Michigan Legislature’s 2023 session has officially started. Democrats, now controlling both chambers for the first time in 40 years, have already introduced a raft of high-priority bills. And the 2024 game of political musical chairs is underway. We update the race to succeed Debbie Stabenow in the Senate, and the likely domino effect of … Continue reading The Domino Effect


The Stabenow Surprise



In Washington D.C., Republicans are a hot mess – with two former Michigan congressmen waiting in the wings as a possible solution. In Michigan – a political shocker. Even as Democrats take full control of state government, Senator Debbie Stabenow drops a political bombshell. Michigan politics has been upended by the decision of Senator Stabenow to … Continue reading The Stabenow Surprise


Holiday Special – Corruption Dejá Vu



More than 100 years ago, George Satayana wrote “those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.” When it comes to political scandals it is especially true. So today, some Michigan political history that may foreshadow one of the first big stories of 2023. And that is the investigation of former state House Speaker Lee … Continue reading Holiday Special – Corruption Dejá Vu


Who Will Go to Jail?



The recounts show what we all knew: Michigan’s elections were fair, and the vote counts accurate. Michigan has a major supporting role in the January 6 final report – with evidence that could put some state Republicans in jail as it details efforts by Donald Trump to overturn Joe Biden’s Michigan victory. And two of … Continue reading Who Will Go to Jail?


And the (pointless) Recounts Keep on Coming!



Jeff and Mark are traveling this week as we record the “pre-criminal-referrals” episode of the podcast. Jeff is getting the better end of the deal! He’s in Nashville where leaders of the Lincoln Project are holding their post-midterm victory lap…beginning planning for 2024..and sampling the hospitality of America’s country music capitol. Mark is coming up … Continue reading And the (pointless) Recounts Keep on Coming!


Recount Tinfoil Hats and Other Insanities



Lame ducks, federal subpoenas re: Michigan’s 2020 election, a Supreme Court hearing on ending democratic elections, another court hearing on the lawyers who pushed the BIg Lie in Michigan, a bizarre farewell speech from the top Republican in state government, and a new wrinkle in the Democratic Party’s plans to shift the presidential primary schedule … Continue reading Recount Tinfoil Hats and Other Insanities


Keep Building – Or Fail! (Guests: Amy Chapman, Jon Hoadley)



Donald Trump may be drawing a lot of heat for his Ye-Dinner with white nationalist Nick Fuentes at his Mar-A-Lago crime scene, but his acolytes in Michigan appear to be firmly in control of the state’s Republican Party. Potential criminal defendant Matt DePerno appears poised to become the new state Republican chair, but he now … Continue reading Keep Building – Or Fail! (Guests: Amy Chapman, Jon Hoadley)