Dennis Denno

1/11/19 On his way out the door, ex-Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed two bills that would have enhanced safeguards against infant-abandonment by ashamed new mothers — why? Bridget McCormack is elected Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, making Michigan the only state in the country with women at the helm of the governorship, secretary of […]

1/4/19 Another assessment of how a Blue Wave swept over Oakland Co. in last year’s general election, and why. Explaining it all is former state Senator Marty Knollenberg (R-Troy), who lost re-election to a Democrat, newcomer Mallory McMorrow, even though he ran ahead of virtually every other Republican office-seeker in his district.   Also, Gretchen […]

12/28/18 Historic Lame Duck comes to an end, with One Tough Nerd signing hundreds of bills. Interview with former state Rep. Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham), who ponders ongoing power shift in Oakland Co. from Republican to Democratic and the ascension of another ex-legislator, Andrew “Rocky” Raczkowski, as the next GOP chairman of Michigan’s second largest county. […]

12/21/18 Historic Lame Duck session of Michigan Legislature chugs to conclusion. Interview with state Rep.-elect Greg Markkanen (R-Hancock), who stunned political observers with upset win in Nov. 6 general election for an open seat in the 110th state House district in western Upper Peninsula. Sponsored by Deadline Detroit. https://soundcloud.com/user-595768561/flying-finn-shocks-the-worlddo-capitol-lawmakers-understand-up-k-12-schools/s-Xj9h7

Historic Lame Duck session of Michigan Legislature has already broken records, and lawmakers aren’t done yet. Meanwhile, three incoming top state officials are strangely quiet in their reactions to what is going on. Interview with state Senator-elect Michael MacDonald (R-Sterling Heights), who touts his plan for making Michigan the Cape Canaveral of the Midwest. He […]

12/7/18 History of lame duck sessions of the Michigan Legislature. When did they start? Is this year’s any different from those of the past?   Interview with state Rep.-elect Julie Brixie (D-Meridian Township), an 18-year member of her local government board of trustees and, most recently, its treasurer. Sponsored by Deadline Detroit! https://soundcloud.com/user-595768561/brixie-breaks-fastlame-duck-lollapalooza/s-oFtAq

Lengthy Atlantic magazine article on how Democrats pulled off a major electoral success in Michigan on Nov. 6, including provocative quotes from erstwhile Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Interview with state Rep.-elect John Cherry (D-Flint), who won an open seat in the 49th House district in the general election — he’s the son of former […]

11/23/18 Interview with veteran Macomb County Political Pundit/Journalist Chad Selweski, who sums up the latest campaign hijinx in Michigan’s most turbulent political battleground. Sponsored by Deadline Detroit. https://soundcloud.com/user-595768561/selweski-scoopmacomb-mayhem/s-OSO9b  

Three new caucus leaders are chosen in the Michigan Legislature, plus Jim Ananich (D-Flint) as the only holdover “chief” among Democrats and Republicans in the Michigan House and Senate. Interview with newly-elected state Senator Adam Hollier (D-Detroit), whose background offers some new and refreshing approaches to legislating in the state capital of Lansing.  Another Dennis […]

11/8/18 Michigan Democrats outperform their national counterparts in the 2018 election, winning all of the state’s top Constitutional offices and almost everything else. Democrats also sweep state education board races and another seat on the state Supreme Court, where they may now have a working majority on key litigation. All three ballot proposals are approved […]