Now that the election is over, we are in lame duck session. This week on MichMash, Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow sits down with Detroit News reporter Beth LeBlanc. They discuss how Democrats will move forward after losing the majority in the Michigan House. 

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode:

• Defining a lame duck session and how this one will compare to others
• Democrats’ lame duck priorities
• Mike Duggan’s announcement that he will not seek reelection

The Michigan Legislature returned to the Capitol this week to set their agenda for their “lame duck” session.

The term refers to an outgoing politician or, in this case, the period of time between Election Day and the end of a legislative session, which is at the end of December. Michigan Democrats will have a short window of time to cross items off their to-do list before the 2023-24 session wraps up and Republicans take control of the Michigan House in January.

LeBlanc compared this lame duck session to 2018, saying that there are similarities.

“When Gov. [Rick] Snyder was leaving office and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was coming into office, there were some late night sessions that year and a lot of legislation that got through,” LeBlanc said. “I think people are kind of preparing for something similar, but it depends on if Democrats are able to find some consensus within their caucus.”  

LeBlanc and Gorchow also discussed the 2026 Michigan gubernatorial election and the rumors of a potential run for the office by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who announced this week he would not seek reelection for mayor next year.

Although there hasn’t been any official announcement, LeBlanc says his chances to run are great.

“I think Duggan has built a name for himself, within Detroit. A lot of the state has looked at what he’s done in Detroit, so I think he has a good chance to get through the primary,” she said. “That has a lot to do with who else is in the primary at that point.

-MPRN’s Rick Pluta contributed to this report.

More from WDET:

• Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announces he will not seek reelection
• View Michigan’s 2024 general election results
• Two term-limited GOP lawmakers have very different takes on lame duck

President-elect Donald Trump won Michigan this week in what was expected to be a very close presidential election. In this episode of MichMash, Zach Gorchow of Gongwer News Service speaks with Senior Capitol Correspondent Tim Skubick about how the former President defied the experts and secured a victory in Michigan on election night.

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode:

• Why Donald Trump over-performed in Michigan
• The sea change in the Michigan House of Representatives
• What’s to come in Michigan politics in 2026

Trump made a surprising comeback, handily winning 74 ​counties in Michigan despite losing the state in 2020. Skubick says this shift was largely attributed to high turnout among male voters, especially in regions outside of the typical “Trump country.”

“What ​Mr. ​Trump ​was ​able ​to ​do ​is ​he ​defied ​the ​experts ​who ​didn’t ​think ​he ​could ​get ​enough ​of ​those ​couch ​potatoes, ​men ​mostly, ​off ​of ​the ​couch ​and ​into ​the ​polls. ​And ​that’s ​exactly ​what ​he ​did,” he said. “​He ​overperformed ​by ​500,000 ​votes ​compared ​to ​what ​he ​did ​in ​2016. ​I ​mean, ​game ​over.”

Skubick also noted that Vice President Kamala Harris’ late entry into the race and her focus on critiquing Trump rather than promoting her own platform may have hurt her chances significantly.

“Ms. ​Harris, ​I ​think, ​made ​a ​huge ​mistake,” he said. ​”You ​have ​to ​give ​people ​a ​reason ​to ​vote ​for ​you ​rather ​than ​a ​reason ​not ​to ​vote ​for ​the ​other ​guy ​or ​person. ​How ​they ​missed ​that ​is ​incredible.”

More from WDET:

• MichMash: Jemele Hill on the changing dynamics of the Black vote in Michigan
• Created Equal: Examining the future of conservative politics under Trump
• The Metro: Retired UAW member shares why he proudly supported Donald Trump

Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump have been making frequent trips to the battleground state of Michigan in efforts to increase their voter outreach. There has been a hyper focus on the Black vote in both Detroit (one of the Blackest cities in America) and in the country as a whole. But why is the Black vote so focused on?

This week on MichMash, Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben and Zach Gorchow sit done with renowned journalist and Detroit native, Jemele Hill to discuss the dynamics of the Black vote. 

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode:

• Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump making frequent trips to Michigan
• Why there is a hyper focus on the Black vote and not as much of a focus on the white vote
• How Michigan is viewed on a national scale

Hill brought up the hyper focus on the Black vote in media and how it appears unfair because no other voting group is treated the same.

“Nikole Hannah Jones, dynamite writer for the New York Times who brought the 1619 project, said, ‘Why are Black people the only group expected to have 100% loyalty to one party?’ Why don’t we ever have the conversation about how 50% of white voters haven’t voted for a Democratic presidential nominee since Lyndon B Johnson,” Hill pointed out.  

She also highlighted how Governor Gretchen Whitmer has grown in popularity on a national scale because of her productivity. Hill, a Detroit native currently living in California, says that people aren’t aware of the trifecta in Michigan that has helped her be so impactful. She also said, from the outside looking in, that the Republican party appears fractured now in a surprising fashion.

Lastly, Hill pointed to the importance of the Senate race that she feels isn’t being focused on as much.

“The Senate races are probably 1A in terms of the importance in this national election,” she said.

Jemele Hill will continue to share her takes on politics and sports on her new political podcast, Spolitics.  

More from WDET:

• MichMash: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer shares key points from her State of the State address
• Are Black voters in Detroit embracing Trump?
• Jemele Hill shares her journalistic journey in new memoir, ‘Uphill’

How do candidates feel as they get closer to election day? In this bonus episode from our Live in Lansing MichMash recording, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben talk with former speaker Jase Bolger and former minority leader Christine Greig. They discuss how each party is looking ahead of the election and the best way to connect with voters. 

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode

• Candidates sticking to their plan as they work towards election day.
• The best form of advertising to reach out to candidates.
• The outlook of the Democrats and Republicans on election day.

During this tail end of a race, Greig said the best bet for candidates is to stick to their original plan as much as possible and to deviate only when necessary.

“You have to stick to the plan. And it has to be data driven. You’re getting polling reports. You’re seeing ad spends… And so that’s driving a lot of your decisions. It’s constant data coming in and trying to adjust from that,” she said.  

When it comes to advertisements, Bolger said the best form of advertisement is going door to door.

“I think a lot of people are making a decision on the State or House level because they know somebody, they like somebody or they met somebody, far more than they can quote their position on any single issue,” he said.

Greig added that digital marketing is having a lasting impact as well.

The general election takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. For the latest election information, visit WDET’s Voter Guide at wdet.org/voterguide.

More from WDET:

• MichMash: Live from Lansing
• Metro Detroiters lay out the issues and candidates shaping their vote
• As Michiganders vote for president, many are guided by their concerns about the economy

As the election season comes to an end, both Democrats and Republicans are ramping up their messaging to reach out to voters. In a special LIVE edition of our weekly series, MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discussed these matters at Urban Beat in Lansing. They sat down with Andrea Bitely, founder of Bitely Communications, and Josh Hovey, partner at Martin Waymire, to discuss the strategy from both parties.

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode:

• Political messaging in the last month before the general election
• Republican and Democratic strategies for voter outreach
• Which way voters are leaning coming Election Day

Bitely shared how she has personally been getting inundated with waves of messaging from both sides on the hot topics that take over the national headlines, like the topic of abortion. She expressed her fatigue over the amount of messaging about how the election would affect abortion rights.

“To be frank, I want to know more about what these candidates are saying. I have a uterus and she is lovely but I also have a brain and a pocketbook and I drive a car on our roads. I want to know what else the candidates have to say about the world around us.” Bitely said. 

Hovey explained how that type of political messaging is aimed at trying to sway voters — especially those that are still undecided.

“It is about segmenting that small portion of the electorate that can be motivated. This year margins are expected to be razor thin,” said Hovey. “Every little bit has to count and has to be well targeted.”

The general election is taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. For the latest election information, visit WDET’s Voter Guide at wdet.org/voterguide.

• Worker groups say minimum wage proposal could drive voter turnout
• MichMash: Is the Michigan Democratic Party doing enough to attract Black voters?
• Slotkin, Rogers debate EVs, abortion in first faceoff

Tonight on the Detroit Evening Report, we cover the backlash former President Donald Trump is getting for insulting Detroit during his speech to the Detroit Economic Club Thursday; a chance to see WDET’s MichMash podcast live next week and more.

Subscribe to the Detroit Evening Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Trump insults Detroit

Michigan officials and leaders are reacting to comments former President Donald Trump made about the city of Detroit during a campaign speech to the Detroit Economic Club on Thursday. During the event at MotorCity Casino & Hotel, Trump said that if Kamala Harris becomes president, the whole country will end up like Detroit.

“Our whole country will end up being like Detroit if she’s your president. You’re going to have a mess on your hands,” the Republican presidential nominee said.

Many officials and community members took offense to the comments and responded accordingly. Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield in an Instagram post said she found it “deeply disappointing to hear these uniformed remarks. Detroit is a city of strength….of perseverance…of progress…of grit…and our community has worked so extremely hard to overcome challenges and we’ve seen incredible growth.”

Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Detroit officials are encouraging individuals and businesses to stay safe online. Cybersecurity highlights the growth of individuals and businesses to take important cybersecurity steps every day to secure your information. The city is encouraging all individuals to take the following steps to increase their protection: Use strong passwords, turn on multi-factor authentication, update software, and recognize and report fraudulent activity online.

Cider in the City 

Starting this Saturday, Oct.12 — and for the next two weekends — Cider in the City is back in Detroit’s Beacon Park. There will be fresh hot cider, pumpkins, caramel apples and other fall staples provided by Blake Farms. Visit ciderinthecity.com for more information.

MichMash Live!

Fans of WDET’s MichMash podcast will have the opportunity to see MichMash LIVE on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at Urban Beat in Lansing. The live taping, held in partnership with Gongwer News Service, is also part of WDET’s Smart Politics discussion series about the 2024 election. Come and listen to Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben from Gongwer and Cheyna Roth from WDET share their insights and interview guests about all things politics as the November election nears. Reserve your spot today at wdet.org/events.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

There have been some longstanding issues with staffing at the Michigan Department of Corrections that have been boiling over the last few months — with some calling on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to bring in the National Guard to help serve as a stopgap. MichMash host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben sit down with State Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit) to discuss the state of the department and what needs to be done to make things better. They also discuss voter turnout as we head into the general election.

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode:

• Staffing issues at the Michigan Department of Corrections
• Criminal justice reform in Michigan
• Voter outreach this election cycle

Earlier this year, Michigan’s corrections officers’ union asked Gov. Whitmer to enlist the National Guard to help staff prisons. Sen. Santana disagreed with the notion that the National Guard is necessary, adding that what the state really needs is “innovation.”

“When you think about corrections officers across the country, this career isn’t as attractive as it once was before,” Santana said. “So we have to become innovative with the way we structure our corrections facility in the state.”

The Michigan Department of Corrections acknowledged it has faced staffing challenges in some of its communities, requiring staff to work high levels of both voluntary and mandated overtime.

The Department said it has responded to the situation with an increased focus on advertising positions, holding hiring events, improving working environments, and negotiating raises totaling 18% since October 2020.

Regarding the Nov. 5 general election, Santana said that elections are also not the same as they were before and that both Democrats and Republicans need to do more in order to reach out to voters.

“Nowadays each voter is unique — even to the household itself. You may have someone who’s more conservative leaning in a household, and maybe you have a younger person who’s a new voter who is more liberal leaning,” she said. “I think that each individual voter has to have that attentiveness as we continue to move forward.”

More from WDET:

• State corrections officers union calls for National Guard deployment amid prison staffing shortages
• Metro Detroiters lay out the issues and candidates shaping their vote
• Does Michigan’s new budget unfairly tip the criminal justice scale?

Michigan Democrats currently have a trifecta in state government — with control of the state House of Representatives, Senate and governor’s office. But as November approaches, questions about whether Democrats can maintain their two-seat Majority in the House loom. On this episode of MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben and Zach Gorchow analyze which state House races could potentially tip the scale.

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode:

• Different strategies for winning votes
• Michigan Democrat’s trifecta in state government
• Top House races likely to flip

As Michigan House Democrats work to maintain their 56-54 majority, campaign ads are working overtime to help Republicans win back enough seats to gain control.

While TV and radio ads are effective, they can also be costly, and Gorchow and Kasben shared how one of the strategies to win votes could be good ole door-to-door petitioning.

“If you are a really aggressive door-to-door candidate, you can go to every registered voter’s house two to three times during the course of an election cycle. That’s free. You don’t have to spend a million dollars on television for that,” said Gorchow. “You just need a good pair of shoes. And it’s really effective.”

When the legislature and the governor are controlled by the same party we’ve seen large changes to gun laws, abortion rights, etc. Some Democrats are sharing fears that if they lose the trifecta in state government, all the legislative work they’ve done will go to waste. However, many Republicans criticize that agenda as steamrolling rather than working for bipartisan solutions in legislation.

Whoever wins control, Kasben says, it “completely changes the landscape for the next two years.”

The general election is Nov. 5, 2024.

More from WDET:

• What’s shaping Michigan’s Latino electorate ahead of the elections
• State leaders fight election misinformation with new Democracy Defense Project branch
• How do we navigate the modern political climate peacefully?

More from Gongwer:

• Some stability, some movement in top 10 House races likely to flip

Election integrity has the spotlight as the presidential election takes center stage in these last five weeks of the campaign. MichMash host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben sit down with former Gov. John Engler and former Lt. Gov. John Cherry to discuss the launch of the Democracy Defense Project in Michigan and how they aim to rebuild confidence in our nation’s electoral process. 

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode:

• First Michigan House voting session since the end of June
• The Democracy Defense Project plan to combat election misinformation
• Election integrity and the need to bolster voter confidence

Engler and Cherry have joined a broader effort to combat misinformation and attacks related to election security and ballot-counting in swing states ahead of November’s general election.

If the 2024 election is like the 2020 election, the results most likely won’t be delivered the night of Election Day. Cherry says part of the goal of the new Democracy Defense Project branch is to calm Michigan voters who may be upset about that and to encourage their trust in the process.

“In Michigan, the counting is straight forward. We’re a reactive organization. So I mean, part of our job is to look at what kind of comments are being put in front of Michigan citizens and, and say, ‘Hey, look, that’s just not accurate,’ or, you know, it doesn’t deserve that kind of response,” he said. “You know, it’s not just a matter of being critical or being disappointed.”

In regard to building confidence in the electoral contest all together, Engler said the best solution is to communicate with the public.

“We’re talking to folks like you. You’ve got audiences that are out there. And when you’re hearing from us through your — more importantly, your listeners are hearing from us. I mean, we’re people who’ve been through collectively, a lot of elections.” said Engler.

He said that communication from trusted folks with credible histories can combat against the misinformation we are seeing on social media.  

More from WDET:

• Shortage of local clerk candidates in Michigan raising concerns about election integrity
• May 12, 2022: Trump supporters holding “election integrity” summit
• Democratic org announces $500K investment in Michigan House races

More from Gongwer News Service:

• Legislature moves $125M more to school mental health, safety; makes retirement changes permanent

An increase in Michigan’s minimum wage and required sick leave is set to take effect in February. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow sit down with Chris White, Michigan director of the Restaurant Opportunities Center; and Justin Winslow, president and CEO of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association; to share their positions on the new law.

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode:

• How the new minimum wage law will affect employees and businesses
• How 9/11 influenced the Restaurant Opportunities Center
• Concerns the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association has with the rate of increase

Following the recent Michigan Supreme Court ruling connected to the state’s new minimum wage and sick leave laws, the legislation is slated to take effect early next year.

Michigan’s $10.33 minimum wage will climb above $12 by February 2025 — and to $15 an hour by 2029. Additionally, the law will require all Michigan employers to offer up to 72 hours of paid sick leave per year to their employees, and end the tip credit system.

White says the law changes are necessary for progress.

“They don’t make enough money. They are essential workers. The cost of living is going up, so wages should go up with that cost of living,” he said.

However, not all Michigan residents and business owners agree that the changes will be beneficial to the state, and especially for small businesses.

“I think the rate and the speed by which we increase the minimum wage is important to the industry, like it would be any small business operator,” Winslow said. “But for the restaurant industry specifically, the tip credit really means life or death for a lot of folks; service, restaurants, dine-in restaurants.”  

Stakeholders are now urging the Legislature to amend the laws set to take effect in February.

More from WDET:

• How Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling on minimum wage, sick leave will affect workers and businesses
• 2024 bringing boost in state minimum wage to $10.35
• Michigan appeals court ruling reverses minimum wage increase, paid sick leave revision

More from Gongwer:

• Groups push to preserve tipped wage; Singh hopeful for deal

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan public school reading scores have been taking a hit. MichMash host, Cheyna Roth, and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow find out why with Peter Spadafore who’s with the Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity. 

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode:

• The latest Michigan public school reading scores and why they are are so low
• The lasting effects of the pandemic on students
• Policy interventions to help students improve their education

Results from this year’s Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) were released this week, showing that 39.6% of third graders across Michigan passed the state’s English language arts (ELA) test, compared to 40.9% in 2023.

Spadafore, who serves as executive director for the Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity, said the results were concerning but not surprising.  

“I think like every observer around Lansing and across the state, we were disappointed in the numbers, but also not entirely surprised to see the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Spadafore. “The state superintendent talks a lot about the impact of virtual instruction. When we were not able to be in classrooms having an impact on those early learners when we’re trying to get at them, soon and quickly to grasp those early reading skills.”

Lansing is hard at work to pass laws to remedy this issue. But Spadafore said they need to make sure they pass the correct laws to intervene with the reading levels.   

“It’s important that they move the bills when they’re right now. They’re overly prescriptive and change a whole lot of state law when really what we’re seeing is if we would have a better screening tool to identify students reading disabilities and characteristics of dyslexia, I think that’s when, we could be supportive of legislation.” 

Spadafore says it will take collaboration between educators, lawmakers, the union, parents and more to help reading levels improve.

More from WDET:

• Rep. James tries to drum support for federal education tax credit legislation
• Detroit Evening Report: Detroit Education Narrative Collective offering up to $5,000 in grants to craft education stories
• Detroit Evening Report: Gov. Whitmer launches new education-focused department MiLEAP

More from Gongwer News Service:

• M-STEP Scores Show Student Economic Advantage Gap Still Prevalent

Supporters of increasing the state’s minimum wage and earned sick leave received a ruling from the Michigan Supreme Court on Wednesday that’s in their favor. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben sat down with Crain’s Detroit Business senior reporter Dave Eggert to discuss the ramifications of the ruling on the state’s businesses. 

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode:

• The origins of the adopt and amend legislative tactic
• The future of minimum wages in Michigan
• Michigan businesses’ reaction to the increase in minimum wage and earned sick leave

The Michigan Legislature’s controversial “adopt and amend” tactic refers to the legislature adopting a ballot measure before allowing it to go to voters and then amending it significantly during the legislative session.

The Michigan Supreme Court’s 4-3 ruling on Wednesday found that the legislative tactic — used by the Legislature in 2018 to gut a voter-approved ballot initiative to increase the state’s minimum wage — was “unconstitutional” because it circumvented the petition initiative process.

“It was very controversial in the moment. The legislature at the time was controlled by Republicans,” Eggert said. “Ballot initiatives generally are thought to generate extra turnout, particularly on those issues, probably for Democrats; for Republicans and business groups, they feel like the laws were unwieldy.”

The ruling, which will allow for an increase to the state’s minimum wage and tipped minimum wage — as well as an expansion of the state’s earned sick time laws — will have a big impact on local businesses.

Some critics of those changes suggest exemptions for small businesses.

“Do they go and try to go back to exempting all businesses with 50 or fewer employees? That could be a pretty tough lift in the Democratic-led legislature” Eggers said.

The new minimum wage law will take effect in February 2025. 

More from WDET:

• How Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling on minimum wage, sick leave will affect workers and businesses
• Michigan Supreme Court sets stage for minimum wage boost
• Karamo forcibly removed from Michigan GOP convention; party chooses Fink, O’Grady for state Supreme Court

More from Gongwer:

• Impossible Or Inevitable? Adopt-And-Amend Fallout Continues