MichMash Politics

Unjumble 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.

Social links

Website

Follow the podcast

RSS Feed

Episodes

The environmental dilemma of Michigan's 'low carbon fuel standard' bill

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 on MichMash, Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow dives into this under the radar issue with Oakland County physician and activist Dr. Cheryl A. Ruble. Also, Zach sits down with Gongwer staff writer Elena Durnbaugh to discuss a new approach to fixing the roads in Michigan.

Potential 'difficult lame duck session' looms for Democrats

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.

How Donald Trump broke the 'blue wall' in Michigan

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.

Jemele Hill on the changing dynamics of the Black vote in Michigan

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 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. They discuss the dynamic of the black vote.

MichMash Live from Lansing 2024 ft. former speaker Jase Bolger and former minority leader Christine Greig

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.

MICHMASH LIVE IN LANSING ft. Andrea Bitely and Josh Hovey

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, founder of Bitely Communications, and Josh Hovey, partner at Martin Waymire, to discuss the strategy from both parties.

Sen. Sylvia Santana on the staffing shortages at Michigan prisons

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.

Will Michigan Democrats maintain their state House majority?

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.

State leaders fighting misinformation with new Democracy Defense Project branch

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.

Michigan campaign finance reform shows no progress

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 The Detroit News to talk about why campaign finance laws take so long to establish.