“Right now, he's about as popular as a skunk at a lawn party,” said EPIC-MRA pollster Bernie Porn, who noted that Trump's level of support has been linked directly with positive favorability ratings for the president that have gotten no higher than 42% and are currently at 41%, compared with 51% for Biden. “I don't see him changing that.” ~Source
This is exactly the rhetoric that has put me, my family, and other government officials’ lives in danger while we try to save the lives of our fellow Americans. It needs to stop. https://t.co/EWkNQx3Ppx
For the second time in a single speech, Trump fans in Michigan direct “lock her up!” chants toward Gretchen Whitmer, who just weeks ago was the target of a kidnapping/assassination plot hatched by Trump supporters pic.twitter.com/wh7ts1Cqf5
Michiganders have a fundamental right to vote freely and safely. Period.
Prohibiting the open-carry of firearms in voting areas ensures they can cast their ballot in person on Election Day without fear of threats, intimidation or harassment. More here: https://t.co/mVNWb9lCwH
Michigan AG Nessel stands with SOS Benson on new new ban of open carry guns at polling places: “Michigan voters have the right to vote in person on Election Day free from threat and intimidation. An armed presence at the polls is inconsistent with our notion of a free democracy.”
Democratic U.S. House candidates in competitive Michigan races had a strong fundraising quarter heading into October, with most of them posting greater hauls than their Republican opponents. https://t.co/OanBQPbUZP
WATCH: John James completely fumbles on @Local4News when pressed on how he'd protect Michiganders with pre-existing conditions. (Hint: it's because he has absolutely no plan to do so) #MISenpic.twitter.com/OA48Pvi4iG
Michigan Republican US Senate candidate John James fundraised at DeVos family home while trying to downplay financial ties https://t.co/lEnBBxFwRV@mipolicast
The presenting underwriter of the Michigan Policast is Progress Michigan providing a strong, credible voice that holds public officials and government accountable and assists in the promotion of progressive ideas.
Joe Biden 00:11
But mishandling the pandemic isn't enough for Trump. On top of that, he's still trying to take away your health care.
Donald Trump 00:19
You got to get your governor to open up your state and get your schools open. Get your schools open. The schools have to be open right.
Donald Trump 00:40
Lock 'em all up.
Walt Sorg 00:52
The campaign for the White House moved into Michigan with Joe Biden and Donald Trump campaigning at opposite ends of the state. with just two weeks until the end of voting. We'll take a look at the latest numbers on the presidential and Senate races in Michigan with EPIC MRA pollster Bernie Porn. This is the Michigan Policast where we have no problem condemning QAnon. We're all about Michigan policy and politics and the national currency impacting our pleasant peninsulas. I’m Walt Sorg.
Christine Barry 01:18
I’m Christine Barry. More than 1 million ballots have already been returned to local clerks across the state more than one fifth of the expected total vote for those planning on voting at their precinct on election day a decision to keep polling places gun free in the efforts to combat the covid 19 pandemic some quick action by the governor and legislature to keep precautions in place. And televisions favorite CIA agents will get together to raise money for the Michigan and Ohio democratic parties.
Walt Sorg 01:49
We begin though Christine with the numbers and we are joined by the president of the state's top polling firm, Bernie Porn of EPIC MRA. Bernie, let's start with the top line in your poll. It seems like there really hasn't been much movement in the race for president in Michigan for the last year.
Bernie Porn 02:05
No. last poll added 48% for Biden 40% for Trump, and this one is 48% to 39. And in that poll, we had Biden leading in Southeast Michigan and Trump leading on most of the outstate areas, including Northern Michigan. This time it has shifted a little bit where Biden is not winning by as much in Southeast Michigan. But he is now leading and other areas other regions, including Central Michigan, and Western Michigan, and Trump is only leading in northern Michigan,
Walt Sorg 02:44
which raises the question about what are the coattail effects for Joe Biden with straight ticket voting in two critical areas, one Oakland County, which is critical if democrats want to flip the State House of Representatives, and then over in West Michigan, where there potentially two congressional seats that could flip does it look like now those are all possibilities, it's not probabilities?
Bernie Porn 03:04
Those are all possibilities. I am also hearing that a lot of polling that's going on in some of the State House races is showing that Democrats are leading and congressional district democrats are in a competitive position as well. So it is entirely possible that Democrats not only will retain the seats they currently have, but potentially pick up one or two other seats, including maybe Upton and, and the seat that the third district in West Michigan.
Walt Sorg 03:39
Yeah. And also in hold on to Slotkin and Stevens in Oakland County, which is increasingly becoming a blue county as the second largest county in Michigan.
Bernie Porn 03:49
And the other area where Trump is leading is specifically in Macomb County,
Walt Sorg 03:56
then we've got the senate race, that too seems to have been pretty constant, with a smaller but consistent lead for Gary Peters over john James, do you see any rapid changes in that?
Bernie Porn 04:08
Well, we had a four-point lead in September and now that is a six point lead. He is running slightly behind what Biden is running in most areas and in most demographics. However, the very aggressive campaign that's being run by both candidates, Peters and James as caused their favorability ratings decline in their unfavorable to increase and so both of them higher and higher unfavorable than favorables. And the attacks on Peters have resulted in a higher negative job rating for him now than a positive job rating. However, he does have higher favorability ratings than James, albeit less than what he had back in September.
Walt Sorg 04:58
The other challenge for the people trailing right now is an awful lot of people have already voted. Probably a quarter of our total vote is already in house right now more than a million people have sent their ballots back. If we have a turnout of 5 million voters will give or take as really hard to close the gap.
Bernie Porn 05:18
Yes, as a matter of fact, we asked whether or not people have already voted in 28%. So you were close. 28% said that they have already voted absentee ballot. And among those voters by Biden is leading that very heavily. And when asked if they're going to vote by absentee ballot or going to the polls, Democrats overwhelmingly by 70% say that they will vote by absentee ballot. And republicans fairly solidly almost by as much say that they will be voting at the polls on election day. And independent voters are kind of a mixed bag.
Walt Sorg 05:55
One thing your poll shows is that the Democrats have the right issue that they've been emphasizing healthcare and COVID of those two issues, seem to overwhelm everything else that voters are worried about.
Bernie Porn 06:06
Yes, they do. And of the issues, the top issue is reopening the economy and getting the jobs back. And then that's 23% 21%, say COVID-19. And then third was violence in the cities. When you look at the breakout by partisan alignment, Democrats overwhelmingly pick COVID-19 as the top issue and then racism. Republicans pick, reopening the academy by 44%, followed by violence in the cities, and then independents that are kind of a mix.
Walt Sorg 06:46
You know, looking at the numbers, though, the two COVID related issues are 23% and 21%. For combined 44 where Trump is weak, whereas controlling violence and crime in the cities, which has been Trump's big issue, along with his not so subtle racism, that's only 12%. I he's stressing the wrong issues, and he's on the wrong side of the major issues.
Bernie Porn 07:07
That's right. Although just the issue of reopening the economy is a leading on that issue, if you separate it from from COVID, although that is something that Biden is talking about in terms of you've got to solve COVID before you can really have a chance of reopening the economy. And it's good that he is making that connection.
Walt Sorg 07:31
Also, you have a one person who's not on the ballot, but who's a big part of the election and people's choices. And it's that woman from Michigan, our governor Gretchen Whitmer. And that's good news for Democrats because people like her and like what she's doing.
Bernie Porn 07:44
55% give her a favorable rating. We did not ask a job rating on this survey, but last month, she had a high job rating, I think 57% and when we tested it before about her handling of the Coronavirus in the 60s, I think it was 63% gave her a positive rating. At the same time they gave Trump a negative rating by almost equal percentages. And at the time, you had Trump attacking Whitmer on not opening up the state's economy enough. And that was a head scratcher why he would attack someone who is as popular as a as Gretchen Whitmer is was behind me.
Walt Sorg 08:32
Now, the one other issue that I found really fascinating was the strong support statewide for some sort of mandatory mask requirement, both indoors and outdoors.
Bernie Porn 08:42
Yes. And not surprisingly, Democrats almost unanimously support that to the tune of 96%, I believe, is more solid than the statewide numbers among independents and Republicans do not support it. But still you have like 30% of Republicans supporting a mass policy. And when we looked at whether or not people were masking our previous survey, 28% of Trump supporters say that they do not always wear a mask. And 32% of Republican men do not always wear a mask. Whereas overwhelmingly, Democrats and independents say they always wear a mask. And so if Trump would wear a mask and encourage his supporters and Republicans to wear a mask, you would have the problem of a lack of wearing mask solved just by that.
Walt Sorg 09:42
And we should point out the survey was all done after Trump became positive for COVID and wonder the hospital.
Bernie Porn 09:50
Yes and the other thing that came out of this is people are unsympathetic to President Trump except for Republicans. And even they are by a significant percentage saying that they do not have sympathy for him that he brought it on himself because of his behavior.
Walt Sorg 10:03
I want to ask you about Election Day. Typically, the network's and AP sponsor, exit polling Is that something you can still do given all the mail in and drop off voting in advance?
Bernie Porn 10:27
Well, you have to do a combination, we used to do exit polling by telephone. And for many years, we're very, very accurate and doing that because you would bring in the absentee ballots. So that is something that they would miss by having people at the election site. So you would have to do it, I think the best thing to do is to have key indicator precincts as a matter of fact, Tim Kiska is going to be doing that for the free press the lab at indicated precincts and I'll be getting the data to just give my two cents worth on what those look like. And he picks 80 that are predictive of what past elections have shown. And so that will be interesting. But that is a good, probably the best way to incorporate not only the absentee balloting, but also what is happening at the polling site.
Walt Sorg 11:30
Have you ever seen an election where the data was so constant where we didn't have the Mad swings? Like we had say last time even with Trump coming out of nowhere and during the last couple of weeks?
Bernie Porn 11:42
No, this this is a very, very consistent Nate Silver with 538 I think points to the consistency of the polling. Everyone with rare exceptions, are all in the same ballpark of numbers, not only nationally, but also in all the key battleground states and Biden has a fairly securely and he has even challenging Trump in some areas like Iowa, Ohio, and surprisingly, Texas.
Walt Sorg 12:19
It's going to be an interesting property week or so. Watching the vote be counted Bernie porn from Epic Mr. Ray, thank you as always for joining us and enlightening us on what Michigan is thinking.
Tom Perez 12:29
AJ,
Christine Barry 12:30
one of the interesting things about Bernie's poll, the epic Mr. poll is that epic MRI is the one that changed the most from last March. If you look at the Real Clear Politics polls, where Gary had this really huge lead and then it tightened up. But now when you look at it, you see that epic MRI polls aren't really changing much. I think they've settled into where they're going to be until the elections over, assuming we don't get a few more October surprises that are, you know, like, I don't know, war with Iran or something.
Walt Sorg 13:03
You know, there was a huge undecided at the senate race, and a lot of people did not know either candidate. But when a combined $100 million is spent on television advertising attacking the other side, people at least know who you are. So that would explain why things are where they are right now with the senate race, but it looks pretty strong for Democrats across the state, possibly, as Bernie said, flipping the State House, possibly flipping one or two congressional districts as well.
Christine Barry 13:26
Yeah. 538 has district number three Hillary Scholten versus Peter Meijer has that slightly leaning toward Peter Meijer. That's all going to be about get out the vote. But overall, I think it looks good for Michigan based on Bernie's numbers there.
Walt Sorg 13:40
Yeah, the campaign is gonna continue in Michigan, isn't it? And we're gonna have a lot of people visiting us.
Christine Barry 13:44
Yeah, the Trump campaign is desperate to turn around Michigan sending in a flotilla of surrogates in the last week, including Vice President Mike Pence, Donald Trump, Jr. and Katrina Pierson, who by the way, once called me an idiot on Twitter. Good for you my finer moments. Thank you. Trump held one of his super spreader COVID festivals in Muskegon taking credit for Michigan's economic recovery and falsely claiming that he brought countless manufacturing plants into the state. I'm sorry, that's just laughable. Biden appearing in Southfield focused on the two issues that dominated the EPIC MRA poll, the pandemic and health care.
Joe Biden 14:20
And the reason he lied again, to the American people. Well, he said he didn't want to panic the American people. Americans don't panic. Donald Trump panic. That's who panic. The consequence was overwhelming lying negligence, irresponsible action. How many empty chairs around the kitchen table this morning the dining room table last night.
Walt Sorg 14:51
How many? The focus on healthcare was amplified by Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez, who issued an online greeting to Trump in advance Have that Muskegon rally,
Tom Perez 15:01
you won't hear him talking about the public health and economic crisis crises that he's exacerbated. You won't hear him talking about a plan to protect people with pre existing conditions because he actually doesn't have one or to put it differently. He does have one and it's to do away with coverage. For people with pre existing conditions. Health care is on the ballot November the third and health care is quite literally on the ballot of the Supreme Court A week later, which is why they're trying to ram through a nominee so that they can accomplish in the Supreme Court what they've been unable to do in the United States Senate.
Magic Johnson 15:38
More big names on both sides are campaigning in Michigan basketball legend Magic Johnson helped to get out the vote rally at his alma mater, Lansing, Everett High School, also stressing the messages of health care and the economy. When you think about the the great people who live in the state of Michigan. The Affordable Care Act is important to them, because 700,000 people, if they do away with it will lose their health care. This used to be a boom in town. You know, grew up in Lansing, everybody had a job. You know, it's not like that anymore. And we got to get it back going like that. A lot of young people are unemployed right now. Get involved and vote is going to affect you. You think it's not but it's going to affect you.
Walt Sorg 16:22
And this week, Michigan is a destination for Dr. Joe Biden and Mayor Pete Buttigieg campaigning for Joe Biden, and Ivanka Trump is scheduled to come to Michigan on Monday to campaign for daddy.
Christine Barry 16:34
Donald Trump is always talking about these, you know, car plants that he's thought that he's opened up everywhere. So here's some, here's some quick numbers for you. There have been five plants announced during Trump's presidency and three of those have been in Michigan, that has been one in Alabama, one in Texas, but three in Michigan, and the biggest one is the Fiat Chrysler plant, which looks to be about 3800 jobs. There's Waymo, which is Alphabets company, they make those self driving vehicles. alphabet is like the parent company for Google and all that. So these are the self driving vehicles, they're gonna make those in Detroit, that'll be about 100 employees to start out with could Sunday go to 400. That's the second announced Well, I don't know about time is that's number two, the announcement and the third one is Navya, which produces those cute little driverless shuttles that you see like on college campuses and hospital campuses and stuff. They're all about urban mobility, and those are in Saline. And that's like 50 jobs. There are no new Japanese companies that he brags about telling Japan they have to make them here. The other thing is that adjacent to that is the steel industry. And he imposed those tariffs, and said there would be more demand for steel with investments in roads, bridges infrastructure, that infrastructure plan never came through Walt. And because the steel cost is up, automakers have actually had to shed some jobs. And that includes GM and Ford in Detroit. And that's in addition to the jobs being lost in the steel industry, which had been losing jobs before the pandemic was an issue. And overall, this is about 75,000 job losses in the industries that rely on metal. So this is a ridiculous claim on his part. And there are very simple numbers to back this up.
Walt Sorg 18:27
Yeah, for for him to claim that plants came in he made a statement that I talked to a Prime Minister Abe of Japan, and the next day they announced five plants were coming into the United States. I've worked with auto companies back when I was with the state Commerce Department. They don't make decisions like that overnight because you're talking massive investments. He also of course, continued his war with Gretchen Whitmer at the Muskegon rally. And as we played at the top of the podcast, listen to chance that we heard from 2016 another woman that he wants to walk up to governor was not abused.
Gretchen Whitmer 19:00
You know, it's incredibly disturbing that the President of the United States 10 days after a plot to kidnap put me on trial and execute me 10 days after that was uncovered. The President is at it again and inspiring and incentivizing and inciting this kind of domestic terrorism, it is wrong. It's got to end it is dangerous, not just for me and my family, but for public servants everywhere who are doing their jobs and trying to protect their fellow Americans. people of goodwill on both sides of the aisle need to step up and call this out and bring the heat down.
Walt Sorg 19:42
He also is a part of his attack on Whitmer said she's gonna reopen the stake in the lockdown, and specifically she's got to reopen the schools that she's locked down, which is a total lie. She doesn't like them debt at all. You're on a school board. You're the one who would lock down a school district because that's what the legislature and the governor agreed on. Local choice. Yep.
Christine Barry 20:01
Yep. It's up to the local school boards in, you know, consultation with the public health experts and you know, the local health departments and that kind of thing. It's not the state's not doing that. There are obviously guidelines we have to follow. But it's up to us. And that's good, because that actually, lets us be much more flexible and responsive to our community needs and the, you know, the numbers in our community. He also said, you have to open your churches. I don't think the churches have ever been locked down.
Walt Sorg 20:33
No, they haven't. She specifically exempted them.
Christine Barry 20:36
such a tool, I saw that he said something about if Biden is elected, Michigan's going to turn into a refugee camp. What does that even mean? It's code,
Walt Sorg 20:45
just like he's saying he saved the suburbs, which is his way of saying that I'm keeping black people out of the suburbs, which is both racist and wrong.
Christine Barry 20:53
Well, Biden is going to be elected. So yeah, that's just how it is.
Walt Sorg 20:57
A Joe Biden lead wave in Michigan could, in fact, the state legislature in a big way, the Senate is not up for election. The cycle with the house is and democrats need to flip just four seats to regain control of the State House. Although Democrats have received more votes than Republicans in three of the four elections since the last redistricting, the gerrymandering has been effective at giving Republicans control. So which are the most promising district for flips? Well, it turns out there are four districts in the state house that are republican representatives that were carried by Gretchen Whitmer, and those districts that are looking at first and foremost, let's take a quick look. So the four seats begin with three seats in Oakland County, but there's one on Kalamazoo County, which is really kind of fascinating given the congressional race over there between Fred Upton, the Republican incumbent for the last 35 years, and state representative Jon Hoadley. But over there in Kalamazoo, the seat currently held by Republican incumbent Brandt iden, who is term limited. The Republicans have put up Bronwyn haltom is a longtime GOP operative, who came back to Michigan just a year ago after working in Trump's White House. And democrat Christine Morse is a county commissioner and breast cancer survivor. Her life and family experiences have made her a staunch progressive. That district went for it just 5149 in 2018. And it's supported. What were 5443
Christine Barry 22:24
Yeah. What's interesting about that district Walt is that dems have won decisively every year except 2014. When you're looking at like Senate, the Senate races, these other races, like we have a spreadsheet that you can look at to see what the numbers were 2014, we got totally wiped out. That's when the current incumbent was elected. But this current, the republican running for it right now, who is Trump's ex Pat, also worked for Mitch McConnell, and she's endorsed by the Devos organization, Great Lakes Education Project. She calls herself a conservative warrior. It's really important that we that we defeat her and Christy Morris, aside from defeating the republican Christina is just a great candidate. And if we take a look at the three districts that are in Oakland County, those are 38, 39, and 45. 45 is in the southwest corner of Oakland County. That's Kelly Breen, she she's up against a typical Republican, all three of these are 39, just north of 38 is Julia Pulver another great candidate. And then 45, on the east side of Oakland County is Barb Anness all three of them, you know, activists in their community, just really, really down to earth. good solid candidates.
Walt Sorg 23:43
Apparently, your dogs not happy with any of this, though.
Christine Barry 23:45
No, no, my dog once I, I mean, we start the podcast. Abby wants to be part of it. Well, you always say no, there's no room for her what she's got to get in the show somehow, like Lucy always wants to be in the show.
Walt Sorg 23:59
Bad dog Bad dog.
Christine Barry 24:01
And you know what? We've talked a few times about governor Whitmer having a national profile. And this has really helped her bring in money to help these state races too. So I I know that, you know, you think she's running for president. I don't care if she is or not, but this has definitely helped bring national money into the state to help these races. So I certainly hope it pays off.
Walt Sorg 24:23
Okay, a couple of developments relating to the actual election, first of all, the court decision, which allowed ballots to be counted that were received 14 days after the election, but were postmarked by November 2, Court of Appeals has overturned that. Three republican appointed judges said no way if they are not in the clerk's hands. By the end of voting on November 3, you can count them. So people need to be really cognizant of that. If you haven't voted yet, but you want to vote absentee. drop off your ballot in the dropbox because you can't trust the post office. And then there's the issue of voter intimidation, specifically guns and This could get very interesting, Christine.
Christine Barry 25:02
This is such a stupid argument. It's so Secretary Benson said there put a ban on open carry at polling places. This well should not be an issue because when you look at the context of what's happening here, which is Trump calling for an army of people to watch the polls for him, a recent terrorist plots thwarted all of the energy and passion and and toxic politics right now should not be an issue to just say, look, within 100 feet of the polling places, you can't carry a firearm openly. That's just all there is to it. But of course, the NRA, the Sheriffs Association, Mike Shirkey, everybody's got to get their little faces in there and say, Oh, this is unconstitutional. You can't do that. Well, Secretary Benson is the one who is in charge of the polling places. So she says there's a ban on the firearms. That's how it's going to be, period. So we'll see what happens. But you know, what, if you're concerned about there being firearms at the polling places, right now, you can vote right now, you can do that. Now, that doesn't help the poor election workers and the other people who are going to have to vote in person, but you can vote right now. And you should vote right now. And I'm going to tell you something else. While this pisses me off. Because what a lot of people are saying are some of these polling places are churches, and schools, but they're not gun free zones on Election Day, because at that time, it turns into a polling location. I don't know about in your area. In my area, we have schools that are in session that are also polling places, like in their gym or something. And that's not unusual. So don't go saying you can carry your firearm in there, because it's an election place. Because it's actually a school that's in session,
Walt Sorg 26:50
most of the problem is going to be in the Detroit area, because it's basically designed to intimidate people of color. And that's where the vast majority of people of color will be voting. The irony, though, is if people get intimidated, most Democrats, but the vast majority of Democrats, as Bernie pointed out, are voting absentee. So bring your AK into the polling place on Election Day is not gonna intimidate because they will have already voted.
Christine Barry 27:15
Yeah, I don't even think that. I don't know how many Democratic voters would be intimidated by it. But you know, the combination of Trump's army and firearms, put intimidate the poll watchers who would normally be there, or the people like me who go into make sure that there aren't any violations like photo ID violations and so on. Why can't we just have a decent human response to a situation where we said, you know, probably isn't a good idea, even though the constitution doesn't prohibit it? Let's just say on this one day, keep your firearm 100 feet away from the polling place. Why can't we just have this human response to this and not be so busy freaking out over? Why can't I have my pistol? It's It's frustrating to me.
Christine Barry 28:07
Okay. Last week, the state Supreme Court ruled that the emergency Powers Act was unconstitutional. That wiped out governor Whitmer his phalanx of executive orders attacking the pandemic. The governor quickly reinstated most of those orders through directives from the state health department and MIOSHA. And the legislature did step up to quickly convert other executive orders into new laws.
Walt Sorg 28:32
I think it's pretty remarkable with all the rhetoric that we've received from Mike Shirkey, especially aimed at the governor and from the governor named Mike shirkey. They were able to work a lot of this stuff out pretty quickly, result, a lot of noise. But still, they got the job done.
Christine Barry 28:47
A lot of what they did was codify what she already had in place. They added some money so that they could get unemployment offices open, which is something that they've said that they've wanted, and I guess it just couldn't happen. But they added added funding for the protective gear and everything and the Plexiglas that they wanted. So that was an easy compromise. And then they just had to work out a difference on limited liability for businesses, they were able to do that to where the governor was satisfied. And so she signed off on it. So I was going to say, though, I think a lot of this is strong leadership from the governor, that the people of Michigan really liked. They know that she had favorable numbers on this. So they just went along with it and just tweaked it a little bit and got a couple things they wanted, which I think they could have done well, at any time. They say they were in session this whole time. Why not do this and come to her and work with her. They were the ones who decided not to. But at any rate, we still got a lot of what we had before. The only problem is that we don't know for sure Certain that we're going to keep these protections.
Walt Sorg 30:02
You know, one of the things that expires in December, which is important to a lot of people in Michigan and serve on local governmental bodies, even the smallest governmental bodies are amendments to the Open Meetings Act so they can continue to meet online meet virtually rather than have live in person public meetings. These Independent Redistricting Commission had to cancel one of its meetings, and then held a second meeting over the weekend in person in Lansing. Not that they wanted to get together, but because they weren't sure that it was legal for them to be online, and it would have impacted them. I know here in Lansing city council council meeting. I'm on a local public service board, we had to cancel our meeting, because we simply didn't want to get together. I'm sure your school board feels the same way.
Christine Barry 30:45
Yeah, our legal counsel told us as long as there was a quorum on site. We could have members zoom in, which is what I'm going to do in our board meeting tomorrow. I really think that if that does expire, while I'm curious to see how that impacts the makeup of the boards that the Open Meeting Act applies to because a lot of people you know, we rely on senior citizens and retired people, or homemakers or whatever, we rely on a lot of people to serve on these boards. And if they can't do it virtually, and they have to come in in person and they feel vulnerable. I just wonder how it will affect the boards. I would have probably just resigned the board if I couldn't continue virtually right now. Now I only have a couple months left on my term.
Christine Barry 31:43
All right time for political notes. First up good news for people released from prison who committed nonviolent crimes. The Clean Slate law will expunge misdemeanors, seven years after sentencing and felonies 10 years after sentencing or when they're released from incarceration. This is something that was recently signed into law. Under the new law, well, this is really cool, people will be able to get up to two felonies and four misdemeanors, misdemeanors automatically cleared. That is if those felonies and misdemeanors actually are eligible for this because crimes punishable by more than 10 years in prison or violent crimes, or forgery, human trafficking, some of these serious crimes aren't eligible.
Walt Sorg 32:28
This is actually an anti crime measure to which sounds counterintuitive, but the reality is for people that are released from prison and then have to say on job application, just have a felony conviction. It's hard for them to find work. And if you're desperate and need money and can't find work, there's gonna be a temptation to go back into crime. Now, it's not perfect, but it's certainly a step forward.
Christine Barry 32:52
Yes, yes. It's wonderful.
Walt Sorg 32:54
Also, good news. That proposal one of the 2022 ballot is moving forward. That is the proposal from Fair and Equal Michigan to expand the coverage of the Elliot Larson civil rights act to cover LGBTQ people in the state of Michigan. And they came up with a ton of signatures despite all the obstacles, they needed just over 340,000 valid signatures to qualify for this initiative. And they turned in 483,000 plus signatures, they should not have a problem because there's no organized opposition, there will be challenging the signatures of the Department of State will be checking them. Now, depending on when this is, is certified by the State Board of canvassers that they get enough signatures, then it goes to the legislature, which has 40 days to just enact the law. From the standpoint of Fair and Equal Michigan it would they're better off if it waits, because they've got a possibility if the house flips to get this thing enacted by the legislature during the opening days of the 2021 session, but with the current House of Representatives, there's not a prayer. The speakers said I no way am I even gonna bring this up for a vote.
Christine Barry 33:59
Well, last week we talked about the cast reunion of VEEP, which raised more than $500,000 for the Wisconsin Democratic Party. On Wednesday, another reunion, the fictional spooks of the CIA actors Claire Danes and Mandy Pantinkin will join with real life former Homeland Security director Jeh Johnson in a virtual fundraiser for the Michigan and Ohio parties. And I'm wondering if another real life former CIA operative Michigan Congresswoman Elyssa Slotkin will join in on the fun.
Walt Sorg 34:29
It was funny during the campaign I asked Elyssa about the Claire Danes character who is bipolar, among other things on homeland and she just kind of laughed and said, Yeah, there's some reality to it, but and it just kind of left it there. Republican Senate candidate john James continues to hide from Michigan media. And last week really typified his campaign, James who's trying desperately to close that gap with his challenge to Gary Peters turned to Fox News twice on the same day with air reviews. on both the morning fox and friends program and Laura Ingram's program on prime time, but he continued to avoid most Michigan media. In fact, the same day, he turned down an interview request from CNN as well. Giving up all this free media is an unusual strategy for any statewide candidate. They usually love the free exposure. He did, in fact, do one TV interview though with the ABC station in Kalamazoo, and he did a 180 degree reversal on the Trump back lawsuit to overturn Obamacare.
John James 35:28
I've said and will continue to say that I do not believe that you should pull the rug out from under people. And I don't support this move without a plan in place. We have to protect people with pre existing conditions and keep our promises to our seniors. I don't think the ACA is perfect and needs improvement. We have protect people with pre existing conditions and keep our promises to seniors. And I don't support this move without a plan in place.
Walt Sorg 35:52
And when he met the Free Press editorial board, James was unable to say how he would protect pre existing conditions if the lawsuit is successful, saying, quote, I'm not a healthcare expert. And you'd leave the details up to others. What would your United States Senate you are others. The Free Press note is something that we've been saying for weeks that James is running an issues free campaign. On issue after issue, it's
Christine Barry 36:26
time for the attack ad of the week. Our runner up is from vote vets.org telling the story of an American family Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Goodman and his wife Rachel.
VoteVets Ad 36:38
Here's the one call no military spouse ever wants to get. And for me that call came in October 2004. When I heard a voice telling me Alex have been injured by a roadside bomb. The last time you saw me was here, Dad, do not worry. I will be fine for telling the truth. The first time I felt threatened was just after Alex's testimony. The colonel did many I'm not going to focus or comment on a former Junior employee. Well, I'm not happy with it. We'll see. We'll see what happens. The most powerful man in the world came after our family. But what happened to us could happen to anyone. We receive thousands of letters of support. America is so much better than Donald Trump. But he can cost this nation so much more with four more years. This is America is the country I've served and defended here. Right. matters, VoteVets American project are responsible for the content of this advertising.
Walt Sorg 37:37
And our winner this week is not an attack ad but a closing argument of unity. And it comes from the Joe Biden campaign.
Joe Biden 37:44
The days of divisivness will will soon be over. We can build a more perfect union. Let's get back up. We can believe again.
Christine Barry 38:13
And that's a wrap for this week's pandemic pod. Wow and fast. Head on over to our website, MichiganPolicast.com for more information on this week's topics, we'll have links, tweets, photos, you know, we just have everything over there. Check it out.
Walt Sorg 38:29
And you can email us at mipolicast@gmil.com, feedback, or reach out through our pages on Facebook or the Twitter feed. We will be back in a week. In the meantime, make sure you have voted Make sure your neighbors have voted in the Dropbox.
Donald Trump 38:44
suburban women. Would you please like me? I saved your damn neighborhood. Okay.
5 38:55
No, no way. Come on. No, no, no, no. No.
Walt Sorg 39:08
Michigan Policast is a production of Michigan citizens for a better tomorrow.
