Talking Michigan Politics

On this week's Talking Michigan Politics, Ed and Jeff discuss competing plans to reduce the federal budget deficit and a compromise on the pension tax proposal in Michigan.

On this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast, Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder talk about state GOP leaders' 90-day update, the federal budget standoff and changes in city of Grand Rapids' garbage policies and incentives to boost recycling.

On this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast, Jeff and Ed discuss: 1. Gov's race. New polls show U.S. Rep. Peter Hoekstra maintaining a lead on the Republican side, with Mike Cox slipping and Mike Bouchard now at 5 percent. On the other side, as Politics Daily put it, "some other candidate" leads the three Democrats in the Rasmussen Reports poll March 24. "It's pathetic we don't have a candidate," Robert Kolt, a Democratic-leaning public relations consultant, told the Detroit News. "We have nobody with any marquee name value." But Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, who drew 8 percent to House Speaker Andy Dillon's 12, says he, too, is a nerd. Another Dem, state Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith notched 10 percent. Still, Dems continue not to inspire, meaning, Jeff posits, that independents will vote in the GOP primary, which would be a good thing for Rick Snyder. 2. Anonymous commenting online The issue was brought to the forefront by a recent situation at cleveland.com. 3. Poll: Dems bear more blame for

Everyone knows two things off limits for casual conversation are politics and religion so on this week's Talking Michigan Politics, Ed and Jeff take on U.S. Rep. Justin Amash's opposition to U.S. military action in Libya, state tax policy and the controversy sparked by the Rev. Rob Bell about whether there is a Hell.

And buzz is building about at Grand Rapids casino.

Collective bargaining's fate in Michigan, the GOP's future resting with Hispanic voters and tweaks in the state budget, on this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast with Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder.

On this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast, state budget director John Nixon answers questions about the bold cuts and tax changes he and Gov. Rick Snyder have proposed. Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder also discuss the legislative proposal that would enable a vote to merge Kent County and Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Public Schools Supt. Bernard Taylor's possible departure for a post in Syracuse.

The future of offshore oil drilling in the wake of the investigation of the BP Gulf spill. Can Grand Rapids and Kent County become one? And President Obama changes directions on gay marriage on this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast.

Gov. Rick Snyder answered some questions about the controversial and ambitious budget he laid out Thursday before lawmakers in Lansing.

Budget matters, both in Michigan and the nation, dominate this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast with Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder.

Congressman Justin Amash's vote against the Patriot Act, the highly anticipated major spending cuts in Michigan government becomes public next week and how the State of the City address provoked debate about what God's name is on this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast.

What cuts to expect in Gov. Rick Snyder’s bold budget, the future of the national health care law, and a Grand Rapids-Kent County metro government proposal on this week’s Talking Michigan Politics podcast with Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder:

In a special Talking Michigan Politics podcast recorded after Gov. Rick Snyder addressed the Michigan Press Association in Detroit, Grand Rapids Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder discuss:

What did we learn from the State of the Union and reaction; examining mental health in the wake of Arizona shootings; and what to expect in a radically different Michigan state budget on this week's Talking Michigan Politics with Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder.

Analysis of Gov. Rick Snyder's first State of the State address, a look at President Obama's approval two years in, and "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" on this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast with Grand Rapids Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder.

President Obama's speech in Tucson is the topic of a special edition of the Talking Michigan Politics podcast.

On this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast, press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder discuss the fallout from the deadly shooting rampage in Arizona, a preview of Gov. Rick Snyder's State of the State address and how development is progressing in downtown Grand Rapids.

Pure Michigan, Gov. Rick Snyder's call for shared sacrifice, media pros disclosing personal information, the Navy commander scandal and more on this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast with Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder.

On this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast, Grand Valley State University's Matt McLogan joins Press political editor Jeff Cranson to talk about Gov. Rick Snyder's bold ambitions, Michele Bachmann's visits to Grand Rapids and Troy and what to expect from Michigan's Congressional delegation in the new session.

On a special edition of the Talking Michigan Politics podcast, Michigan Gov.-elect Rick Snyder talks about his ambitious plans for 2011, his tax restructuring plan and his hope to work with people in the center and not spend time on the extremes.