MichMash Politics

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.

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Most Recent Episode

MichMash Politics
What are earmarks? A breakdown of the 2026 state budget.

Even though Michigan's 2026 state budget was already passed and signed into law, the drama continues as the Senate and House disagree about a bill calling for more transparency with enhancement grants known as "earmarks." This week on MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow explain what earmarks are and what role they play in the recently-passed budget.

Then, they sit down with Budget Director Jen Flood to dig into the details of what was included in the state budget.

00:23:16
Oct 24, 2025 4:0 AM
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More Episodes

MichMash Politics
How are Michigan's 2026 congressional races looking?

With a little more than a year to go until Michigan's next congressional election, we take a look at the current state of affairs for congressional candidates in Michigan. This week on MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben explore who's running in the state's US House and Senate races, and where their fundraising stands.

Later on, Charles Griffith from the Ecology Center stops by to discuss how a recently passed gas tax will impact electric vehicles.

00:23:10
Oct 17, 2025 4:0 AM
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MichMash Politics
Unpacking Michigan's 'Citizen Only' ballot initiative

Although there are already laws barring non-citizens from voting in Michigan elections, a group is pushing a ballot initiative to have voters show proof of citizenship. This week on MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow unpack the issue with supporter Paul Jacob of Americans for Citizen Voting and opponent Melinda Billingsley of Voters Not Politicians.

00:29:00
Oct 10, 2025 4:0 AM
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MichMash Politics
Bonus Episode: Lansing passes the 2026 state budget 3 days late

Michigan lawmakers passed a state budget early Friday morning for the 2026 fiscal year. In this bonus episode of MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben discuss the details of the budget with Crain's Detroit Senior Reporter Dave Eggert.

00:16:43
Oct 3, 2025 3:19 PM
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MichMash Politics
Lansing missed the state budget deadline. Now what?

We are past the October 1 deadline and an official state budget still hasn't been passed. What does this mean for Michigan? This week on MichMash, Cheyna Roth and Alethia Kasben break down whether a budget will pass sooner or later. 

00:07:42
Oct 3, 2025 4:0 AM
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MichMash Politics
Bonus Episode: State Budget Update

There is progress in the state budget and we have the update on the breaking details. As part of the weekly WDET series, Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discuss what is likely in the state budget and how things will look as we approach the October 1st deadline. 

00:12:41
Sep 26, 2025 2:30 PM
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MichMash Politics
Recapping the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference

The Michigan GOP held their biennial leadership conference at Mackinac Island this past weekend. In this episode of MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben sit down with Baldy Bipartisan's John Selleck to discuss whether the conference is still beneficial for the Michigan Republican party.

Plus, Cheyna and Alethia discuss a proposal to move the state’s primary election from early August to May.

00:27:00
Sep 26, 2025 4:0 AM
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MichMash Politics
State budget's October 1st deadline looms

With less than two weeks til the budget deadline, there is still no state budget in sight. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben break down what could be done by October 1st. They sit down with both State Senator Sarah Anthony, the Senate Appropriations chair, and State Representative Ann Bollin, the House Appropriations chair, to hear the gameplan for the remainder of the month.

00:28:50
Sep 19, 2025 4:0 AM
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MichMash Politics
Unpacking the dismissed 2020 case against Michigan electors + how state budget affects local governments

In 2020, 15 Republicans allegedly tried to cast Michigan's electoral votes for President Trump, even through President Biden won the state by 154,000. In this episode of MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow break down how the legal case against these electors unraveled. 

 

Then, Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Counties Steve Currie joins the show to talk about how the state budget affects local governments.

00:24:00
Sep 12, 2025 6:47 AM
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MichMash Politics
State budget countdown to October 1 deadline

As Michigan schools return to classes this week, the uncertainty of the state budget is causing some schools to cut programs just in case there are any issues with funding. In this episode of MichMash, Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discuss what needs to be done in order for the legislature to make the October 1 deadline.

Then, Robert McCann, Executive Director for the K-12 Alliance of Michigan, joins the show to talk about how the uncertainty of the budget is affecting school districts.

00:25:26
Sep 5, 2025 4:0 AM
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MichMash Politics
State budget reaches new phase + Michigan selects new state superintendent

Nearly two months after the original deadline, House Republicans passed a budget giving the legislature a month to negotiate ahead of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1. In this episode of MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben discuss what was included in this version of the budget. 

Then, they’re joined by Gongwer News Service's administration reporter Lily Guiney to talk about the new state superintendent and other issues going on around the state. 

00:26:35
Aug 29, 2025 4:32 AM
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MichMash Politics
Changes ahead for Michigan mental health care

Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s administration is advancing a plan that could reshape how more than 300,000 Michiganders receive behavioral and mental health services. The proposal involves shifting nearly $5 billion in tax dollars, sparking debate across the state.

On this week’s MichMash, hosts Cheyna Roth and Zach Gorchow break down the proposal, exploring why some believe it will improve access and streamline care while others warn it could weaken community-based services. They also discuss the politics behind the plan, how it fits into Michigan’s broader health care landscape, and what it could mean for families who rely on this care.

Listen to the full conversation to hear what’s at stake for providers, patients, and policymakers as Michigan weighs this major change.

00:29:00
Aug 22, 2025 11:41 AM
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MichMash Politics
Abdul El-Sayed shares why he's running for US Senate + other race updates

"In this episode of MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben are joined by the former director of Wayne County's Department of Health, Human, and Veterans Services, Abdul El-Sayed. He discusses why he's running for Michigan's open US Senate seat what he believes qualifies him for the role.

Plus, now that State Representative Joe Tate has dropped out of the US Senate race, we explore how this affects the rest of the field."

00:28:09
Aug 15, 2025 4:0 AM
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MichMash Politics
Detroit mayoral primary results; Michigan Public Service Commission shake-up

The 2025 Detroit primary election has concluded, and now we have a two-person sprint to November's general election to determine who will be the city's next mayor. In this episode of MichMash, Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow breaks down the results with WDET's Russ McNamara.

 

Plus, Gorchow and host Cheyna Roth discuss a shake-up in the Michigan Public Service Commision.

00:25:41
Aug 8, 2025 5:31 AM
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MichMash Politics
Former State House Speaker Tom Leonard talks gubernatorial run; state budget updates
Michigan's 2026 gubernatorial race is underway, and MichMash is talking to all of the major candidates. In this week's episode, WDET host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben sit down with former house speaker Tom Leonard to learn why he's running and what sets him apart from other candidates.
 
Plus, Cheyna and Alethia explain the current status of Michigan's 2026 fiscal budget.
00:22:23
Aug 1, 2025 6:55 AM
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MichMash Politics
Lt. Gov. Gilchrist talks gubernatorial campaign; fundraising updates from other candidates

This week on MichMash, gubernatorial candidate and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II sat down with WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben to explain why he's running for governor of Michigan and how his engineering background could help.

Plus, we take a look at fundraising progress from the rest of the gubernatorial candidates. 

00:24:24
Jul 25, 2025 6:38 AM
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MichMash Politics
Michigan loses deal for major semiconductor plant; new proposal aims to expand bottle bill
Michigan lost a deal for a massive semiconductor plant this week that was projected to bring about 10,000 jobs to the Flint area.
 
As part of WDET's weekly series, MichMash, Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben break down Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's reaction to this and the new economic plans for the site.
 
Then later, Gorchow and WDET's Cheyna Roth speak with Mike Csapo, general manager of the Resource Recovery and Recycling Authority of Southwest Oakland County, about the proposal to expand Michigan's bottle bill and why he doesn't support it.
00:22:09
Jul 18, 2025 5:24 AM
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MichMash Politics
Unpacking the criminal investigation of Fay Beydoun

An email obtained by The Detroit News revealed this week that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) may have played a larger and earlier role in the grant funding provided to executive committee member Fay Beydoun, who is currently under criminal investigation for allegedly misusing the funds. 

As part of the weekly series, MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow talk with Detroit News reporters Craig Mauger and Beth LeBlanc to break down their coverage of the case.

00:26:03
Jul 11, 2025 4:0 AM
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MichMash Politics
Is ranked choice voting a better system for Michiganders?

Michigan-based nonprofit Rank MI Vote is campaigning for signatures to get ranked choice voting on the November 2026 ballot. 

This week on MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben talk with Rank MI Vote Executive Director Pat Zabawa to learn more about this new voting style and why he says it would be better for Michigan.

00:25:12
Jul 4, 2025 9:53 AM
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MichMash Politics
Attempts to oust MSP director continue; higher ed advocate reacts to recent challenges

Michigan State Police Director Col. James Grady II is expected to testify before the state House Oversight Committee this week after ongoing attempts to oust him from the role. 

This week on MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow explain the brewing tensions surrounding the MSP director. Then later, Michigan Association of State Universities CEO Dan Hurley stops by to discuss the various challenges state universities have faced in the last several months. 

00:22:13
Jun 27, 2025 4:0 AM
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MichMash Politics
MichMash Live (bonus episode): A Michigan politics look ahead

The political leadership in Michigan will go through some major changes with the multiple elections being held in the next couple of years.

This week on WDET's MichMash, Gongwer News Services' Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discuss the future of Michigan politics and who has the best chance to win their respective races in the state. 

Also, Michigan political consultant and co-host of the Baldly Bipartisan podcast, Adrian Hemond, and Resch Strategies VP Anna Heaton joined the conversation.

00:29:08
Jun 23, 2025 7:52 AM
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MichMash Politics
MichMash: Live in Ferndale, a Michigan politics rewind

It has been an eventful year in Michigan politics with the Michigan Legislature dynamically evolving. This week on WDET's MichMash, Gongwer News Services' Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben analyze the major events in a live recording at the Go Comedy! Improv Theater in Ferndale. 

They were joined by Detroit Free Press Politics Editor Emily Lawler and  
politics editor for The Detroit News, Chad Livengood.

00:37:26
Jun 20, 2025 4:0 AM
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MichMash Politics
Former Lt. Gov. Brian Calley talks insurance crisis; House passes K-12 budget

As the July 1 deadline approaches, Michigan House Republicans have unveiled and passed a budget for K-12 schools. In this episode of MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben discuss what's inside the proposal and the next steps.

Then, former Lieutenant Governor of Michigan and President and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan, Brian Calley, joins the show to talk about the state of small businesses in Michigan and the insurance cost crisis.

00:25:40
Jun 13, 2025 7:28 AM
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MichMash Politics
Duggan endorsement shakes up Michigan governor's race; Sen. Camilleri advocates for K-12 budget

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan received a major endorsement that may set him a part from his other gubernatorial candidates. As part of the weekly series MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow discuss how this move influences the rest of the race.

Then, Michigan Sen. and Chair of the Senate K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee, Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton) joins the show to discuss the K-12 budget and what he's willing to negotiate. 

00:27:24
Jun 6, 2025 5:38 AM
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MichMash Politics
Michigan legislature's budget debates surfaces at the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference

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 discuss Governor Gretchen Whitmer's presence at the conference and how it differs from years passed.

00:20:25
May 30, 2025 6:34 AM
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