MIRS Monday Podcast

Concerns surrounding large-scale data centers have become a major theme in the 2026 election cycle. But amid opposition to constructing hyperscale facilities, a coalition called Michigan for Responsible Data Centers has taken a supportive position on these projects.  MIRS sits down with Jeff Zilke, the director of Access Michigan – a data center equipment supplier – and Christine Simon, the government affairs vice president at the Grand Rapids Chamber.  As the son of a United Auto Workers' member, Zilke wants to play a part of the "economic driver of the future," although he admits the scope and size of data center projects are definitely changing. Meanwhile, Simon says that even if artificial intelligence was reined in, the need for today's new data center projects would still exist (1:10). 

MIRS sits down with Rashida Harrison, the Democratic nominee who had a surprise victory in Michigan's 28th Senate district, covering East Lansing, Meridian Township, St. Johns and other Clinton, Ingham and Shiawassee County communities.  Harrison moved to East Lansing two decades ago from New York City, and recently taught on Black Women's political organizing and social movements at Michigan State University (2:03).  Also, MIRS catches up with the Republican nominee in one of Oakland County's political battlegrounds, 23-year-old Roman Gaskey in the 54th House district. In 2024, President Donald Trump won the House district with around 49% of the vote.  Gaskey talks about his life working for an artificial intelligence startup, and the role Flock cameras and property taxes can play this fall (27:05). 

On Aug. 14, MIRS Podcast host Samantha Shriber toured Mariners Inn, the substance abuse and mental health treatment provider for men in Detroit. Its history goes back by more than 100 years, once serving as a "safe haven" for sailors along the Detroit River until becoming a place for addiction recovery and addressing homelessness.  Last year, they opened up their supportive housing apartments.  MIRS speaks with Mariners Inn's Chief Operating Officer Carina Jackson (1:14) and Chief Executive Officer David Sampson (15:45). 

MIRS catches up with state Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) now that Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Democrats' nominee for governor, has selected Brinks to be her running mate as Lieutenant Governor (2:15).  Podcast host Samantha Shriber was in Mount Pleasant over the weekend covering the Michigan Republican Party's nominating convention. Second-term Representative Bill G. Schuette (R-Midland) gives updates as chair emeritus of the House Republican Campaign Committee (HRCC) (11:20).  MIRS also brings listeners into scrums with Republicans' Secretary of State and Attorney General nominees, Anthony Forlini and Doug Lloyd (19:55).  However, three miles outside of the convention, Mount Pleasant City Commissioner Ryon Skalitzky was recruiting locals to join the Isabella County Democratic Socialists of America (25:50)

U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) visited a Troy brunch restaurant with the Republican nominee for Michigan Governor, U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township), along with others. Together, they tried to make the case that the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) shouldn't be used as a dirty acronym in the 2026 elections (1:40).  The morning after it was revealed that State House Oversight Chair Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay) was James' pick for Lieutenant Governor, his ex-committee member, Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing) started making the media rounds. She wants Michiganders to know that DeBoyer rejected her public push to hold a hearing on alleged sexual abuse inside a Northern Michigan arts camp (10:35). Furthermore, what does Democratic nominee for Governor, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, want to do to further economic development in Michigan? (20:50)