It's Just Politics

With exactly four weeks before a possible partial state government shutdown, the question hanging over Lansing remains: where do things stand in state budget negotiations? The chairs of the state House and Senate appropriations committees try to answer that question. Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the It's Just Politics newsletter! Want to support more work like this? Donate now!  Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a huge decision facing Michigan voters in an already huge 2026 election: whether to vote to convene a constitutional convention to rewrite the state’s entire constitution. What to know about the Con-Con. Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the It's Just Politics newsletter! Want to support more work like this? Donate now!Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A live, onstage conversation with Pete Buttigieg, former South Bend mayor, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, and current Michigan resident. The former Democratic presidential candidate discusses the deep divisions in American society, the future of his party, and the enormous - and not necessarily comprehensible - impact of artificial intelligence. Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the It's Just Politics newsletter! Want to support more work like this? Donate now!Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are into week six of seemingly stalled budget negotiations in Lansing. Six weeks since K-12 schools, higher ed, and some local governments started their fiscal years without knowing how much state money they’ll receive. What is going on at the state Capitol? Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the It's Just Politics newsletter! Want to support more work like this? Donate now!Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Detroit voters have chosen City Council President Mary Sheffield and Pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr. to move forward to November’s general election in the race to become the city’s next mayor. Plus, a majority of local Michigan officials think the state is on the wrong track. Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the It's Just Politics newsletter! Want to support more work like this? Donate now!Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eye-raising fundraising numbers are released in Michigan’s 2026 race for governor. Plus, President Trump puts his thumb on Michigan’s political scale in the GOP primary race for U.S. Senate. by Zoe Clark, Rick Pluta Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the It's Just Politics newsletter! Want to support more work like this? Donate now!Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three weeks since the July 1st statutory deadline and there is still no budget deal in Lansing. Two lawmakers discuss where things stand in the negotiations: “the span between our budgets right now is about as big as the Mackinac Bridge.” by Zoe Clark, Rick Pluta Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the It's Just Politics newsletter! Want to support more work like this? Donate now!Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

July 2025. We are now halfway through the year. On today’s It’s Just Politics, a look at the top three Michigan political stories of the year. So far. Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the It's Just Politics newsletter! Want to support more work like this? Donate now!Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It wasn’t just a state budget that the legislature didn’t get done before leaving the Capitol last week, there still isn’t a deal on road funding. What happens next? Plus, a month to go before Detroit’s mayoral primary. Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the It's Just Politics newsletter! Want to support more work like this? Donate now!Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The legal deadline for the Michigan Legislature to pass a budget came and went Tuesday. And the Democratic Senate and Republican House remain miles apart. Plus, a search warrant at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the It's Just Politics newsletter! Want to support more work like this? Donate now!Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a lot of anticipation, waiting and, maybe, negotiating at the state Capitol as the Republican-led House and the Democratic-controlled Senate go down to the wire in budget negotiations with a statutory deadline of July 1st. Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the It's Just Politics newsletter! Want to support more work like this? Donate now!Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom Leonard, former Speaker of the Michigan House, is the latest Republican to jump into Michigan’s open gubernatorial race. He joins It’s Just Politics this week. Plus, Stephen Henderson and Nolan Finley discuss their new book focusing on civility. Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the It's Just Politics newsletter! Want to support more work like this? Donate now!Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns are mounting in Lansing over whether a state budget will get done by a July 1st statutory deadline. On this week’s It’s Just Politics: a frank and honest conversation with four bipartisan lawmakers about what is - or isn’t happening - at the state Capitol. Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the It's Just Politics newsletter! Want to support more work like this? Donate now!Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The DeVos political machine is back after announcing that they are publicly reengaging in Michigan politics. On this week’s It’s Just Politics: what to expect from the DeVos family ahead of Election 2026. Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the It's Just Politics newsletter! Want to support more work like this? Donate now!Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As more than 1,500 business leaders, lawmakers, lobbyists and philanthropists meet on Mackinac Island for the annual Mackinac Policy Conference, new election 2026 polling is released. Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the It's Just Politics newsletter! Want to support more work like this? Donate now!Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson was in the news quite a bit this week - for all the wrong reasons. Plus, the political volleying over economic incentives for big business continues in Michigan. Want to support more work like this? Donate today! Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the It's Just Politics newsletter!Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In new budget transparency in Lansing, nearly 800 earmark requests from state House lawmakers are made public. What’s in the $4 billion dollars? Plus, a new ballot campaign wants to make Michigan a rank choice voting state. Want to support more work like this? Donate today! Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the It's Just Politics newsletter!Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The takeaway from conversations with 100 Michiganders on where things stand politically and Republican state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt joins It’s Just Politics to discuss his run for governor in 2026. Want to support more work like this? Donate today! Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the It's Just Politics newsletter!Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 The complicated relationship between Governor Gretchen Whitmer and President Donald Trump was on full display again this week in Michigan. Whitmer joins It’s Just Politics as the fascinatingly transnational alliance between the governor and the president evolves. Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the It's Just Politics newsletter!Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Michigan ballot campaign that would require residents to show proof of citizenship while registering to vote could start collecting signatures soon. Plus, a conversation with Democratic candidate for governor Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson. Want to get political updates from Zoe and Rick straight to your inbox? Sign up for the It's Just Politics newsletter!Support the show: http://michiganradio.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.