The annual Mackinac Policy Conference has wrapped up for 2025. In this episode of MichMash, Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben sits down with Gongwer reporter Elena Durnbaugh to discuss what was accomplished at this year's conference, and whether the Michigan legislature will make their July 1 deadline for budget negotiations. Then, the two disc…

This week on MichMash, Democratic House Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton) joins the show to talk about ongoing tensions between parties within the Michigan Legislature. Before that, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow discuss news this week that Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson violated campaign finance laws when announc…

This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben discuss bills introduced both in the Michigan House and Senate aimed at curbing distractions in the classroom by limiting cell phone use in class. Also, former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox stops by to talk about his motivation behind running for governor.…

In this epsiode of MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben and Zach Gorchow sit down with State Senator Mallory McMorrow to discuss why she’s running for Michigan’s open US Senate seat. Plus, people have grown accustomed to remote work since the pandemic, but is it here to stay? We discuss how remote work has affected s…

President Donald Trump marked his 100th day in office on Tuesday by visiting the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County, where he announced a new fighter jet mission at the airbase. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben and Zach Gorchow spoke about the base's history and significance to the re…

The US Senate race is expanding with new candidates announcing recently as well as some potential candidates testing out the waters. As part of the weekly series MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow discuss the current state of the race and who is most likely to come occupy the seat. Then we have Dr. Brittany Tayler of…

As Earth Day approaches, we ask the question: do we recycle correctly? As part of the weekly series MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben sat down with Conan Smith from the Michigan Environmental Council. They discuss how we could recycle better.

Michigan U.S. Rep. John James is the latest major candidate to enter the state's gubernatorial race. As a part of the weekly series, MichMash, Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discuss the Republican candidate's chance of becoming the next governor of Michigan. They also discuss the bombshell news involving Gov. Gretchen Whitme…

State Sen. Mallory McMorrow has become the first major candidate to announce a run for the U.S. Senate seat in Michigan being vacated by Sen. Gary Peters. This week on MichMash, Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben sit down with Politico's Deputy Editor, Zack Stanton, to discuss McMorrow's chances of winning the race.…

It's been more than 100 days since Michigan's 35th district has had representation. When will there be a special election to fill the seat? This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Alethia Kasben sit down with Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks. She discusses the significance of that seat, the current status of the state legislature, …

This week on MichMash, gubernatorial candidate and Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson sits down with Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben to share why he’s running for governor and what he believes the Democratic Party needs moving forward. Plus, Zach and Alethia analyze the recent collaboration — and conflicts — between M…

Medicaid funding has been in the headlines as the Trump administration said they are willing to cut "waste, fraud and abuse" from the program. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow talk with Michigan Health and Hospital Association CEO Brian Peters. Peters shares how important Medicaid is for Michigan. Also…

A voter citizenship proposal that aims to have voters show proof of citizenship in Michigan was presented at a committee hearing in the state House this week. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben discuss the partisan divide this proposal has caused. Plus, Michigan Secretary of State and 2026 gubernatoria…

Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered her second-to-last State of the State address and she urged Michiganders toward unity and togetherness. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben discuss the major elements of her speech and what stood out the most. And later, we have Denise Donohue from the County Road Ass…

After some compromise, the Michigan Legislature passes a revised version of the minimum wage/sick leave laws late Thursday. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben discuss what this means moving forward. Plus, Kasben spoke with Michigan House Oversight Committee Chair Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay Township) abou…

Today's episode of MichMash will be delayed until 4:00pm on February 21st to give you the most up-to-date reporting on what's going on at the state capitol in regards to the minimum wage bill. Tuen in this afternoon to check out the brand new MichMash for the week.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer coined the phrase "Fix the damn roads" while on the campaign trail in 2018. But as she reaches the end of her term, how does the governor plan on getting the job done? This week on MichMash, Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben and Zach Gorchow break down a comprehensive plan introduced by the governor's office this week. Als…

Budget season is here, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer has put forth a $83.5 billion dollar proposal that targets environmental measures, mental health, a tax on vapes and more. MichMash host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben sit down with Bridge Michigan's deputy editor Jonathan Oosting to discuss what is likely to pass as the bu…

Many in Washington and across the state of Michigan were shocked by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters' announcement this week that he will retire from Congress when his term ends in January 2027. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow discuss who could possibly fill the vacant seat. Plus, Detroit Mayor and Michigan gube…

The GOP-led Michigan House passed two bills this week to curb some of the changes to the state's minimum wage and paid sick leave laws set to take effect next month following a Supreme Court ruling. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow talk to Danielle Atkinson of Mothering Justice and state Rep. Bill Schu…

This week on MichMash, Executive Director of The Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association Kimberly Bezy sits down with host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow to discuss the intricacies of auto insurance in the state and the organization's unique relationship to state government.

The state's 103rd Legislative session began on Wednesday, with Republicans taking the majority in the House of Representatives. But Democrats still hold a majority in the state Senate, requiring bipartisan efforts in the Legislature to get bills passed into law. This week, MichMash host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow discuss th…

The race for Detroit's mayor is already underway with some candidates declaring their bid to become the next leader for the Motor City. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow talk with the Detroit Free Press' Michael Elrick about the potential influences on the race.…

It's been a whirlwind of a year for politics in the mitten state. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow review some of the most surprising, most under-the-radar and biggest political stories of 2024. They also take a look ahead at 2024 to see what the year has in store.…

Democratic control of the Michigan Legislature crashed to a halt on Thursday after GOP lawmakers and Democrat Karen Whitsett of Detroit refused to show up to session. MichMash host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow uncover why things went so poorly during these legislative sessions with Gongwer staff writer Elena Durnbaugh. MichMa…

Today's episode of MichMash will be delayed until 4 p.m. on Dec. 20, to give you the most up-to-date reporting on what's going on at the state capitol. Tune in this afternoon to check out the brand new MichMash for the week — just in time for the holidays!

The final days of the current iteration of the Michigan Legislature are upon us as the Republican majority in the House begins in January. Education and the environment are two of the many topics circulating these legislative sessions. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow sit down with Jane McCurry from Cl…

The Michigan Legislature has been stagnant on expanding the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to cover the governor's office, and there isn't a clear explanation as to why. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow sit down with Lisa McGraw, public affairs manager for the Michigan Press Association, to …

On this Thanksgiving episode of MichMash, we take a look at how the Michigan Legislature falls short in their oversight of government. Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow sits down with Jim Townsend, the director of the Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy, to find out why.

A bill introduced last year to encourage the use of "clean fuels" has environmental and animal activists concerned about its potential impacts. Environmentalists say Senate Bill 275 would incentivize reliance on biofuels, which could lead to more Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), also known as "factory farms" in the state. This week o…

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.

President-elect Donald Trump won Michigan this week in what was expected to be a very close presidential election. As part of WDET’s weekly series 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.…

Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump have been making frequent trips to the battle ground 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 foc…

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 th…

As the election season comes to an end, both Democrats and Republicans are ramping up their messaging to reach out to voters. In a LIVE edition of our weekly series, MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discuss these matters at Urban Beat in Lansing, Michigan. They sit down with Andrea Bitely, founde…

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 S…

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 Ka…

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 t…

It's been a while since we discussed campaign finance reform, and that's because there has been no movement in the legislature on the issue, despite several former officials being charged with campaign finance-related crimes. On the latest episode of MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben sit down with Craig Mauger of …

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 Associatio…

Since the pandemic, Michigan public school reading scores have been taking a hit. In this episode of "MichMash," host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow are joined by Peter Spadafore of the Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity to find out why.

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 rulin…

After the 2020 elections, false voter fraud accusations have caused there to be a greater focus on county clerks who oversee the voting process. On this week's episode of "MichMash," Gongwer News Services' Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben sat down with Republican Clerk of Macomb County, Anthony Forlini, and Democratic Clerk of Kalamazoo County, Mere…

In late spring 2024, The Michigan State Housing Development Authority was granted the ability to use state funds to help increase housing in the state. Gongwer News Services Alethia Kasben and Zach Gorchow chat with the government agency's executive director, Amy Hovey, to discuss how this move can help build more housing.…

The federal government is considering rescheduling cannabis as a less dangerous drug, which will impact consumers and businesses alike across the state. "MichMash" host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasban sat down with Brian Hanna, executive director of the Cannabis Regulatory Agency in Michigan. They discuss how there may be a ne…

This week on "MichMash," we dive into the Michigan primary that's happening on Tuesday, Aug. 6, and the races that will have the most impact on the general election come November. Host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow sit down with Gongwer reporters Lily Guiney, Nick Smith, and Elena Durnbaugh to discuss the major races to look o…

It's been another week of major historic political events. President Biden walked away from his race for reelection, and Vice President Kamala Harris came sprinting in to pick up the baton. On the latest episode of "MichMash," host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben sat down with former state Rep. Adam Zemke from Ann Arbor to tal…

Since the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, many are taking a look at our political system to consider whether we are capable of having disagreements while remaining civil. On the latest episode of "MichMash," Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben examine whether that is possible with State Rep. Mike Harris.…

A law that just passed the Michigan Senate would set penalties and potentially revoke liquor licenses for retailers defaulting in electronic payments to wholesalers. "MichMash" host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow are joined by president of the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association Spencer Nevins. They discuss the state…

The Michigan Supreme Court’s term ends on July 31, but what are the cases that will have the greatest impacts? On the latest episode of "MichMash" host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow are joined by Gongwer News Service’s Ben Solis to discuss how the court’s rulings may impact the Legislature.…