MichMash Politics
255 episodes - English - Latest episode: 16 days ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsUnjumble Michigan politics with MichMash. Each week, Cheyna Roth, Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben interview lawmakers and politicos, and unpack the statewide issues that affect you. MichMash is produced by WDET Detroit Public Radio in collaboration with Gongwer News Service. Part of the NPR Network.
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Episodes
Market-tilting Legislation May Soon Benefit Michigan Auto Industry
September 02, 2022 17:15 - 15 minutes - 35.1 MBMichMash’s founding co-host Jake Neher (Automotive News) returns this episode to talk with Cheyna Roth about how two major pieces of legislation, IRA and CHIPS, will affect Michigan’s automakers for years to come.
Tudor Dixon’s Pick for Running Mate Ruffles Feathers Ahead of Nominating Convention
August 26, 2022 18:43 - 22 minutes - 30.8 MBJonathan Oosting of Bridge Michigan joins Cheyna Roth to talk about Tudor Dixon’s pick for lieutenant governor. Dixon chose Trump-backed Shane Hernandez to be her running mate, but opponents argue that Hernandez is not conservative enough. Got election questions? You can have your November election question considered, and possibly answered, on WDET’s podcast, CuriosiD. Just go to WDET.org/curious.
GOP Lawmaker’s Primary Residence Called into Question
August 19, 2022 17:31 - 3 minutes - 5.14 MBAfter the recent redistricting that took place in the state, Michigan lawmakers have had to grapple with living in a new district - in some cases one that isn’t as friendly to their political party as before. Cheyna Roth sits down with The Detroit News’ Beth LeBlanc to talk about one lawmaker, Rep. Graham Filler, who has started renting a house in order to possibly qualify for a different district.
AG Hopeful Matt DePerno Implicated in Alleged Vote Tabulator ‘Conspiracy’
August 12, 2022 19:31 - 12 minutes - 17.3 MBThe Michigan Attorney General’s office has asked for the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate nine individuals for an alleged vote tabulator tampering conspiracy. The accused individuals include Matt DePerno, the Republican presumptive nominee for Attorney General who is challenging AG Dana Nessel in November, and State Rep. Daire Rendon. Craig Mauger of the Detroit News joins WDET’s Cheyna Roth to break it all down.
Money Talks
August 05, 2022 17:50 - 16 minutes - 22.2 MBThis week’s primary race featured high-profile matchups and high-dollar spending. Several candidates received large monetary support from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Plus, the Democratic Party paid to support conservative candidate John Gibbs to defeat moderate incumbent Peter Meijer. How did the influx of cash tip the scales for the candidates? Simon Schuster of MLive joins Cheyna Roth to count the dollars and votes.
Negligence and the Baby Formula Shortage; MI Supreme Court rules on LGBTQ Protections
July 29, 2022 18:17 - 11 minutes - 15.4 MBA baby formula shortage recently rocked the United States, and now we’re starting to figure out what really happened. Cheyna Roth sits down with Detroit News reporter Kayla Ruble to talk about the negligent practices that took place at Abbott Nutrition’s baby formula plant in Sturgis, MI. Plus, Michigan Supreme Court affirms LGBTQ protections under Elliott-Larsen Act, and Detroit officials bolster election security ahead of August primaries.
Negligence and the Baby Formula Shortage; MI Supreme Court rules on LGBTQ Protections
July 29, 2022 18:17 - 11 minutes - 15.4 MBA baby formula shortage recently rocked the United States, and now we’re starting to figure out what really happened. Cheyna Roth sits down with Detroit News reporter Kayla Ruble to talk about the negligent practices that took place at Abbott Nutrition’s baby formula plant in Sturgis, MI. Plus, Michigan Supreme Court affirms LGBTQ protections under Elliott-Larsen Act, and Detroit officials bolster election security ahead of August primaries.
Are Democrats Planning to Vote in the Republican Primary?
July 22, 2022 19:26 - 11 minutes - 15.9 MBWith the Republican primary just a few weeks away, rumors have started to spread that Democrats are planning to vote in the primary in order to sway the results. One such race is between Bill G. Schuette, son of former Attorney General Bill Schuette, and Midland County Clerk Ann Manary, a pro-choice Republican. WDET’s Cheyna Roth sits down with Gongwer’s Alethia Kasben to unpack what’s really happening. Plus, updates on ballot initiatives and GOP candidate Ryan Kelley.
Whitmer Goes Positive with First TV Ad of the Election Season
July 20, 2022 15:52 - 12 minutes - 16.7 MBElection season in Michigan brings a flood of candidate ads, and Governor Whitmer just released her first TV ad ahead of November’s gubernatorial election. Instead of going negative against the GOP, Whitmer took a positive posture. WDET's Cheyna Roth is joined by WWMT reporter Rachel Louise Just to break down what that means for the upcoming election.
Ballot Proposal Breakdown
July 09, 2022 14:41 - 14 minutes - 10.5 MBWDET’s Cheyna Roth is joined by Detroit News reporter Craig Mauger to take a closer look at the proposals to enshrine a right to an abortion in the state constitution and expand voting access.
Attorney General Dana Nessel Hits Roadblock in Flint Water Crisis Case
July 01, 2022 22:45 - 18 minutes - 10.1 MBThe Michigan Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the office could not use a one-judge grand jury to indict Flint defendants, including former Gov. Rick Snyder. WDET’s Cheyna Roth and The Detroit News’ Beth LeBlanc discuss pressing concerns in the case. Plus, changes in the state’s no-fault insurance law and the main takeaways from the newly-passed $77 billion state budget.
Michigan Lawmakers Try To Meet State Budget Deadline
June 27, 2022 19:20 - 12 minutes - 11 MBMichigan legislators are working on the state budget. The question is: “will they complete a deal by their July 1st deadline?” WDET’s Cheyna Roth is joined by Gongwer Managing Editor Alethia Kasban to talk about key issues that lawmakers are trying to resolve in the next few days.
Michigan Republicans Shut Down Resolution to Commemorate Pride Month
June 17, 2022 16:17 - 11 minutes - 16.4 MBA resolution to commemorate Pride Month was squashed in the state House and Senate this week. Cheyna Roth and Gongwer managing editor Alethia Kasben talk about why Republicans shut down the non-binding measure. Plus, new developments with crime victim bills, and what to expect as the Legislature works on the budget ahead of summer break.
Trouble With the Law in Michigan GOP
June 10, 2022 19:08 - 14 minutes - 19.3 MBA Barry County sheriff investigating false claims that the 2020 election was stolen is now under investigation himself. WDET’s Cheyna Roth talks with Detroit News reporter Craig Mauger about the claims. Plus, Cheyna and Craig break down what’s going on with the GOP primary race for governor, including the arrest of gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley for his involvement with the January 6 insurrection.
Highlights from the Mackinac Policy Conference
June 03, 2022 17:56 - 16 minutes - 23.3 MBLawmakers and lobbyists flocked to Mackinac Island this week for the annual policy conference. Cheyna Roth talks with first time conference goer Stella Yu of Bridge Michigan to unpack the highlights and get an update on Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s roads promise.
Five Republican Gubernatorial Candidates Kicked Off Primary Ballot
May 27, 2022 19:19 - 13 minutes - 12.3 MBThe Board of State Canvassers has ruled that five Republican gubernatorial candidates don’t have enough valid petition signatures to make it onto Michigan’s August primary ballot. Craig Mauger from the Detroit News joins Cheyna Roth to talk about problem signatures, forgeries, and the ongoing battle to get on the ballot.
Michigan’s Abortion Ban was Suspended. Now What?
May 20, 2022 18:27 - 11 minutes - 16.4 MBA judge says Michigan cannot enforce its 1931 abortion ban. The dormant law is being challenged as it looks like the Supreme Court case ensuring abortion rights in the United States is about to fall. Lauren Gibbons of Bridge Michigan joins Cheyna Roth to talk about what the court decision means and what happens next.
MichMash Says Farewell to Jake Neher
May 13, 2022 19:53 - 16 minutes - 22.4 MBMichMash is making some changes as co-host Jake Neher heads to a new job. In this episode, Jake says goodbye, and members of the Capitol press corps join Cheyna in wishing him well. Even though Jake is moving on from MichMash, Cheyna will continue to unjumble state politics every week, with some new voices in the mix, too.
Roe reactions; Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson
May 06, 2022 20:05 - 20 minutes - 27.5 MBMichigan’s 1931 abortion ban would automatically take effect if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe versus Wade. MichMash hosts Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk about how law enforcement officials might enforce that ban if it goes into effect. And a conversation with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
State Sen. Mallory McMorrow
April 29, 2022 17:53 - 16 minutes - 22 MBJake Neher talks with state Sen. Mallory McMorrow about her viral floor speech that has been viewed more than 14.5 million times, and about what it means to be an ally in 2022.
The Republicans running for governor
April 22, 2022 19:22 - 24 minutes - 33 MBThe deadline has passed for candidates running for governor this year to turn in their signatures and paperwork. Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth talk about who’s in and who’s out on the Republican side. Bridge Michigan's Jonathan Oosting talks about the GOP primary for governor, this weekend’s statewide Republican convention, and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow's blistering rebuke of state Sen. Lana Theis' flagrant fundraising email.
Chaos at county conventions
April 15, 2022 19:12 - 17 minutes - 23.4 MBIt has been a bumpy road for Michigan Republicans as they decide which candidates to put up for Attorney General, Secretary of State, and other statewide positions. MichMash hosts Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth talk with Detroit News reporter Craig Mauger about the GOP’s raucous county conventions.
Multiple efforts to keep abortion legal in Michigan
April 08, 2022 17:39 - 17 minutes - 24 MBCheyna Roth and Jake Neher breaks down several different efforts to maintain abortion rights in Michigan if Roe v. Wade is overturned this year.
Elections officials plead for help from state leaders
April 01, 2022 16:00 - 22 minutes - 30.2 MBLocal clerks in Michigan are calling on state leaders to change election laws ahead of the 2022 midterms. Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth talk about why clerks say they need help, and fast.
Michigan Supreme Court declines to swat 'union bug'
March 25, 2022 20:13 - 16 minutes - 22 MBMichMash hosts Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk with Bridge Michigan's Jonathan Oosting about a tiny detail on a minimum wage petition that could have caused big problems for elections.
The good and bad of auto insurance changes
March 18, 2022 16:45 - 12 minutes - 16.5 MBMichigan drivers will soon get a refund on their auto insurance payments. MichMash hosts Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth talk about why that is, and why not everyone is happy about changes to Michigan’s auto insurance laws. And Chad Livengood of Crain's Detroit Business talks with Stephen Henderson about these issues.
It's speechifying season in Michigan
March 11, 2022 21:16 - 21 minutes - 28.8 MBTis the season of "State of the _______" speeches in Michigan. Why do so many public officials feel the need to give them, and why is it worth tuning in? Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk with consultant Jim Martinez, who has worked on many of these speeches over the years.
New effort to change term limits in Michigan
March 04, 2022 19:14 - 18 minutes - 24.7 MBCheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk with Gongwer's Zach Gorchow about a new initiative to change Michigan's legislative term limits.
New maps mean new dilemmas for incumbents
February 25, 2022 20:03 - 16 minutes - 22.7 MBMichMash hosts Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk about some of the ways redistricting is shaking up this year’s elections. And a conversation with Gongwer Michigan's Ben Solis.
Petition circulators can lie to you. These bills would change that.
February 18, 2022 19:00 - 21 minutes - 28.8 MBBills at the state Capitol would crack down on petition circulators who lie to get people to sign. MichMash hosts Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth talk with state Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield), who is one of the bill sponsors.
Whitmer's budget makes waves
February 11, 2022 21:48 - 15 minutes - 20.6 MBGov. Gretchen Whitmer is asking state lawmakers to significantly boost state spending and approve some targeted tax cuts. That’s amid a $7 billion budget surplus. MichMash hosts Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth talk with MLive state politics reporter Lauren Gibbons about what’s in the budget proposal and why it’s raising eyebrows.
Political Storylines We're Watching in 2022
February 04, 2022 16:55 - 3 minutes - 5.27 MBThis year’s elections could reshape state government in ways we haven’t seen in our lifetimes. MichMash hosts Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk about some of the biggest storylines they’re watching between now and the August and November elections.
Whitmer calls on schools return to in-person learning
January 28, 2022 19:01 - 17 minutes - 24 MBGov. Gretchen Whitmer is calling on schools that have gone virtual to return to in-person instruction. MichMash hosts Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth talk about the implications of Whitmer’s tougher language about getting kids back in classrooms. And Stephen Henderson's interview with the governor the day after her fourth State of the State address.
New Crop of Petition Drives Gets Off the Ground
January 21, 2022 20:03 - 3 minutes - 5.27 MBMichigan voters could see a number of statewide ballot questions this November. That’s if several groups gather enough valid signatures. MichMash hosts Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk about ones to enshrine abortion rights in Michigan's constitution, change our process of auditing elections, and raise the minimum wage.
Michigan Chief Medical Executive Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian
January 14, 2022 19:29 - 12 minutes - 16.5 MBMichMash hosts Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth talk with the state’s top doctor Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian about the omicron surge, which is pushing Michigan’s healthcare systems to their limits.
Reactions to New Districts Are All Over the Map
January 07, 2022 21:06 - 25 minutes - 34.3 MBMichigan’s redistricting commission has approved new legislative and congressional district maps. But that’s just the beginning of a new chapter of court battles and political maneuvering. MichMash hosts Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk about what happens next. Plus, a conversation with two members of the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.
Biggest Political Blunders in Michigan in 2021
December 31, 2021 17:00 - 21 minutes - 28.8 MBMichigan politics and state government had its ups and downs in 2021. MichMash hosts Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth talk with Jordyn of Gongwer Michigan Hermani about her new list of some of the low-points.
Michigan At 'Breakthrough Moment' for Access to Justice
December 23, 2021 20:06 - 18 minutes - 24.7 MBMichigan may be reaching a breakthrough moment when it comes to access to justice. That’s according to Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack. She speaks with MichMash hosts Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher about why that is.
News Organizations Sue Redistricting Commission
December 17, 2021 19:34 - 14 minutes - 19.2 MBThe Michigan Supreme Court is considering the first major lawsuit against the state’s new redistricting commission. MichMash hosts Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth talk with MLive reporter Lauren Gibbons about why several news organizations are suing the commission.
Democrats Continue Push to Address Gun Violence
December 10, 2021 20:22 - 22 minutes - 30.2 MBThere’s new legislation at the state Capitol that would tighten Michigan’s gun laws. MichMash hosts Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth say efforts to address gun violence are getting a lot of attention in the wake of the attack at Oxford high school. And state Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D-Beverly Hills), whose district includes Oxford, talks about her new legislation to address gun violence.
SCOTUS Abortion Case Could Have Big Impact on Michigan
December 03, 2021 20:29 - 17 minutes - 23.4 MBThe U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on a Mississippi abortion law could have a big impact in Michigan. MichMash hosts Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk about what the landscape for abortion services would look like if Roe v. Wade is overturned. And Slate's Dahlia Lithwick talks about this week's oral arguments in the case.
Race For Governor Gets $10 Million Shake-Up
November 25, 2021 00:14 - 29 minutes - 39.8 MBThe landscape of the Republican primary for governor looks a lot different than it did just a week ago. MichMash hosts Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk with GOP strategist Dennis Darnoi about businessman Kevin Rinke’s entrance into the race.
Audit Says Michigan Unemployment Agency Misappropriated $3.9 Billion
November 19, 2021 20:50 - 3 minutes - 5.27 MBA new state audit says Michigan’s unemployment insurance agency paid out $3.9 billion in improper benefits during the pandemic. MichMash hosts Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk about what went wrong and what comes next.
What the Federal Infrastructure Package Means for Michigan
November 12, 2021 21:49 - 22 minutes - 30.2 MBMichigan will get about $10 billion from the bipartisan federal infrastructure package. MichMash hosts Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth talk with Gongwer Michigan’s Zach Gorchow about what that will mean for our roads, bridges, and underground infrastructure.
The Push for Tax Breaks for Private School Education
November 05, 2021 20:47 - 13 minutes - 18.5 MBThere’s an effort to create tax breaks for private school education in Michigan. MichMash hosts Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk with Michigan Public Radio Network reporter Colin Jackson about how supporters of the effort hope to get around Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s veto pen.
An Unusually Exciting, Revealing Campaign Finance Deadline
October 29, 2021 20:22 - 26 minutes - 35.7 MBCandidates for statewide office in 2022 recently had to make their fundraising numbers public. MichMash hosts Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth talk with Detroit News reporter Craig Mauger about what we’re learning about how next years’ elections might shape up.
Billions At Stake for EVs, Auto Industry in Federal Spending Bills
October 22, 2021 18:58 - 16 minutes - 22.7 MBThe infrastructure and "Build Back Better" packages in Congress include billions of dollars for electric vehicles. MichMash hosts Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk with state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) about what passage of that legislation would mean for the auto industry in Michigan.
Redistricting Commission Releases Ten Draft Maps, Opens Up Public Comment
October 15, 2021 20:31 - 21 minutes - 18.1 MBMichigan residents will soon get a chance to weigh in on new draft maps that could define our state legislative and Congressional districts for the next decade. MichMash hosts Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth talk with Bridge Michigan's Sergio Martínez-Beltrán who has been covering the redistricting process about the new maps and how you can get involved.
A Big Week for Line 5 Controversy
October 08, 2021 20:03 - 16 minutes - 13.8 MBEfforts to shut down Enbridge Energy’s Line 5 oil and gas pipeline are becoming more complicated. MichMash hosts Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth look at the Canadian government’s latest move to block Michigan’s attempts to stop the flow of oil in the Straits of Mackinac. And Crain's Detroit Business' Chad Livengood talks about President Biden's silence on the issue during his trip to Michigan this week.
Benton Harbor's Water Crisis
October 01, 2021 19:04 - 13 minutes - 11.2 MBState environmental officials are stepping up efforts to assist Benton Harbor residents who have had their drinking water contaminated. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) says it will provide bottled water, filters, and blood testing for children. Reporter Eric Lutz of The Guardian talks about his reporting on yet another water crisis in Michigan.