MichMash Politics – Details, episodes & analysis

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. 

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.

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 out for during Tuesday’s primary election.

Gun reform has been a hot topic in Michigan and across the nation for years, but without a lot of change. Cheyna Roth is joined by Yue Stella Yu of Bridge Michigan to talk about how this issue will get different treatment next year.

More and more state GOP names like Dixon, Karamo, Soldano, and more, are coming forward to say they should be the next leader of the Republican Party in Michigan. Cheyna Roth talks with Michigan Public Radio Network reporter Colin Jackson about the potential candidates. Plus, the results of a new follow-up audit of the state’s Department of Corrections and possible changes to primary voting dates in Michigan.

Michigan Democrats will take control of the state House and Senate next year and Governor Whitmer will return for a second term. Incoming Senate Majority leader Winnie Brinks joins Cheyna Roth to discuss how the Senate will work with the House and Governor’s office, ruling with a slim majority, and Senator Brinks’ path to becoming the first female Senate Majority Leader in Michigan history.

The school board for Dearborn Public Schools has banned two books, weeks after the controversy over books on school shelves reached a fever pitch. Cheyna Roth talks with Bridge Michigan’s Isabel Lohman about the school board meeting that went from 600 participants last month, down to 60.

The midterms may be over but the analysis has just begun. Sarah Rahal of the Detroit News joins Cheyna Roth to unpack this week’s record-setting election where 4.4 million Michiganders voted. Plus, what could be on Governor Whitmer’s agenda now that Michigan has a Democrat-controlled government for the first time in 40 years.

Michigan’s midterm election is next week, and the typically quiet school board races have become very active across the state. Cheyna Roth sits down with The Advance’s Allison Donahue to talk about what happens when politics come into play in non-partisan school board races.

The midterm elections are less than a week and a half away and Democrats are hoping to take control of the state Legislature. Bridge Michigan’s Lauren Gibbons joins Cheyna Roth to talk about where things stand in Michigan as a result of the redistricting process. Plus, Cheyna and Lauren break down what happened during the final gubernatorial debate between Gretchen Whitmer and Tudor Dixon.