Full Transcript for Nov. 5, 2026 | The Election Was a Landslide - Now What?

oversight. 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:44.480 Don, I want to start there with you. 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:46.879 You've been covering these things for an awful long time. 00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:59.199 Uh that question of the role of Congress in uh in Washington politics, that's gonna come up again and again as Hakeem Jeffries and his new Democratic majority take over. 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:08.240 Because of the nature of uh the control that Donald Trump exerted over his party. 00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:16.399 That qu excuse me, that question of oversight um has has really been something we haven't talked a lot about. 00:07:16.720 --> 00:07:24.879 Uh certainly the last two years, but even really, you know, a good a good chunk of his uh his first term uh as well. 00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:40.800 But but especially these last two years when uh Donald Trump moved back into the White House, uh he didn't have the learning curve that he had uh his his first go-round uh in 27, starting in the past. 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:42.000 He was way more prepared for that. 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:43.839 He was way more prepared. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:49.759 Uh he staffed the White House with a different kind of person. 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:56.800 Uh there that that first term uh there were guardrails. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:03.199 Uh you know, Ryan Spreebis was the former Republican Party Chair, was the chief of staff. 00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:15.199 And uh and he would put guardrails up, and other chief of staffs to follow uh uh would also try to put the guardrails up and try to actually keep things from the president. 00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:18.560 And none of that existed in this particular term. 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:36.879 Uh and we saw a uh uh a uh Republican leadership in the House and Senate uh basically you know acquiescing to uh whatever the president wanted. 00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:38.000 Well, and Congress. 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:44.960 And and Congress bending over to not bending over backward to not get in his way. 00:08:45.120 --> 00:09:02.799 Uh I you know, I've been been really impressed, in fact, by the first two years of this second presidency, how little the president ever talks about Congress, ever sends anything over for them to do with him or for him, and how he just kind of ignores what they're what they're up to. 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:09.039 The one thing he asked them to do was this big beautiful bill, which I think is gonna get picked apart a bit a bit now. 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:19.519 But but he really has seen himself as uh a sole actor, and I think that that maybe drove a lot of the backlash that we saw this week. 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:22.080 I I I think it absolutely did. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:30.159 Uh he has also operated uh clearly as though this day would never come. 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:30.639 Yeah. 00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:36.799 Uh and it not only came, it it it it it came with the vengeance this week. 00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:45.120 Uh

I I uh uh I was in the uh White House press corps in 2006 when George W. 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:53.759 Bush came out after uh getting uh his uh uh uh rear end handed to him in in in in a midterm election. 00:09:53.919 --> 00:09:55.600 He described it as a thumpin'. 00:09:55.919 --> 00:10:07.679 Uh then we all remember Barack Obama having a similar situation, actually even worse, uh uh in his uh time in the White House, and he called it a shellacking. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:08.080 Yes. 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:13.600 But uh those terms don't begin to describe the impact of this one. 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:14.320 Yeah. 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:28.240 Um Don, what what do you think uh is the the sort of first sort of salvo that I guess will be fired when Democrats get to Washington in in January? 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:30.960 I think you know there are a lot of things on the agenda. 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:34.639 What what's the first thing you do to kind of say it's a new day? 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:41.039 I I I think the thing that will be most visible is the oversight. 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:49.919 Um I I I think it's appropriate that that was uh how you how you open the show with that comment from a listener. 00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:58.320 And uh it will be uh it'll it'll be oversight of everything that the White House does. 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:06.559 It'll be oversight too over what has transpired already in the first two years. 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:32.639 And we will see committees with subpoena power uh bringing cabinet officers and staffers and uh campaign workers and others in to uh to to testify and talk about uh this controversial moment or that controversial moment or this norm broken or that norm broken, and there will be a long list. 00:11:32.879 --> 00:12:02.559 Now the key I think, though, that the uh that that that the that the Democratic leadership is already telegraphing that they want to do is to, on a parallel track from that, also be pursuing a legislative agenda and dealing with uh things that uh will help the economy, will help with the affordability question and uh you know any any any number of things that have that have been front and center during the campaign. 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:03.519 Yeah, yeah. 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:06.720 Uh I want to go back uh to our listeners here. 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:08.879 Uh they're starting to show up in the phones. 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:13.120 And again, you can also email us mietotalk at gmail.com. 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:15.919 Let's start with Daniel in Grand Rapids. 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:18.159 Daniel, welcome to the show. 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:19.600 Hi there. 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:20.879 Uh thanks for having me. 00:12:21.039 --> 00:12:22.559 I've never spoken on air before. 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:24.240 I'm excited to share my perspective. 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:27.120 Well, we're we're excited to hear that perspective, Daniel. 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:28.559 I'm glad you called. 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:29.759 Go ahead. 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:58.639 Yeah, uh I just thought it was important to note that uh amongst people of my age group and just my demographic, I think, in Grand Rapids, and you know, that's the perspective I can offer is that it's gonna be important to see uh some sort of action taken on anti-war, anti-imperialist sorts of action actually happening from these candidates, like uh Abdul El-Sayed, other candidates who are recently elected. 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:00.799 So what what what when you say that? 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:02.240 Be specific. 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:04.720 Tell me what it is you want them to do. 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:13.120 I want some sort of actual, I mean, I I don't know exactly, but war powers resolution, I've heard that was a thing. 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:19.200 Something to be done to end the war because I hear a lot about you know, Medicare for all, this sort of thing. 00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:29.919 But I think a chief motivator for voters uh that came out to support Abdul was lowering costs, I know, but I think a major part of that's gonna be ending the war. 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:39.600 And then also a huge thing for uh people in Michigan has been ending the uh Gaza genocide and our support of that. 00:13:40.080 --> 00:14:03.759 And I noticed uh I was telling the person before I got a mayor that even amongst Republican voters, people that I know personally who were uh supportive of Donald Trump in the last election, there was actually excitement about Abdul because of his uh refusal to take money from APAC and be associated with the Israeli lobby. 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:10.080 And I think that that really hurt uh Mike Rogers amongst younger conservatives in particular. 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:10.559 Yeah. 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:11.360 That's interesting. 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:15.519 And you're hearing that in your own social circle, Daniel, is that right? 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:28.480 Yeah, just things I see on social media from people, um, you know, younger people, people younger than me even, but uh people that were supportive of more conservative candidates in the past in the 2024 election. 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:32.639 And then uh yeah, I just saw a lot of more support of Abdul. 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:40.559 And I was gonna say also that I mean, you know, they gotta do something pretty soon because I think that people are gonna flip pretty quickly. 00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:54.639 I a lot of people are not very happy with Democrats, nor was I particularly after I saw what uh you know people like Joe Biden did after I voted for him, and then I was really discouraged about uh support after the Gaza genocide. 00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:56.399 Yeah, so you feel like the clock is ticking. 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:58.320 Don't don't waste time. 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:09.840 No, and you know, I think if you if people see that Abdul and people, you know, candidates like that are

working to end the war, that's gonna be a major factor. 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:10.480 Okay. 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:19.600 As well as well as ending support for uh Israel's military actions in Lebanon and in uh Gaza. 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:24.799 Uh Daniel, I really, I really appreciate uh your call uh and and and your thoughts. 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:30.960 And and I I love that you're talking about what you're hearing among the people that you know, right? 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:32.879 Uh the people in your community. 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:38.080 Uh Don, I'll give you a quick uh second to respond to what Daniel's talking about here. 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:41.600 Uh yeah, and Daniel, uh you mentioned young people. 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:43.279 Uh what's what's your age? 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:44.559 Twenties, thirties? 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:50.000 Well, I am 31, but you know, I'm I I have a lot of friends that are younger. 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:51.840 I'm a skateboarder, so I'm kind of tapped. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:52.639 It keeps you young. 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:53.519 You know, you're tapped. 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:57.120 You end up going skateboarding with like some 15-year-olds even sometimes. 00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:59.519 But yeah, a lot of people in their 20s and stuff, you know. 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:18.639 And I are are are uh the the the folks that you're you're talking with and and hanging out with and skateboarding, is it that they are uh uh coming to this level of political activity from relative inactivity, or are they switching their views from one party to the next? 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:21.039 Or how might you characterize it? 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:34.399 I think that there is a heightened political awareness, uh just people seeing what's been happening in Gaza over the past few years, and then uh, you know, some people are switching. 00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:46.080 I think that there was a lot of promises that Donald Trump made about um, you know, affordability and about uh no wars and that stuff didn't really come through. 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:48.879 So, you know, I think those people have kind of switched over. 00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:52.960 And one thing I wanted to mention too is that uh w what's her name? 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:55.279 Uh not Hillary Schultz. 00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:59.759 You know, uh I didn't vote for Hillary Schultz, she was the representative who had the opportunity to vote for Mr. 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:00.000 Congress. 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:10.480 But she was just right, and she was such a um you know overt and committed uh Zionist that I think that you know really discouraged me from supporting her. 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:13.440 And it's uh well who was I'm Haley Stevens. 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:14.240 That's what I'm trying to say. 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:22.640 Haley Stevens, I think her coming out in support of Mike Rogers actually kind of hurt Mike Rogers amongst the my demographic. 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:23.200 Yeah. 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:28.720 Because she was just it became such a meme, you know, like Israel comes to me in my dreams and all this. 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:51.119 Yeah, uh Daniel, the the the the focus that you have on Israel and APAC and what's going on in Gaza, a lot of people say, look, that's actually kind of a foreign war, a foreign issue, and I want people to to be more focused on domestic things. 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:53.759 Is that how you feel, or do you feel those things are tied? 00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:58.720 I think that uh you can't really separate the two. 00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:10.079 I mean, it's the most obvious connection is like you know, you see us get involved in Iran the way we have, and it's costing people an arm and a leg at the gas pump. 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:15.039 And I see so many people posting on social media all the time on their stories about how much gas costs. 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:16.640 And it's a little disheartening. 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:21.680 Honestly, I you know, I I'll post something like, you know, it costs a lot at the pump. 00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:29.119 Imagine how the horror of the people dying, you know, uh like 10,000 people dead because of our military action. 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:34.400 Daniel, I I really, I really love that you called and shared those insights with us. 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:36.960 Thanks so much uh for being with us here. 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:39.359 Uh we're gonna take a quick break when we come back. 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:44.000 We're gonna hear from some reporters who are covering these campaigns. 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:48.480 Uh, we'll also hear again from more of you, our listeners. 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:53.599 Uh Malloran McMorrow, uh, one of the candidates for this Senate seat, will also join us. 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:57.519 734-412-7155 is the number. 00:18:57.599 --> 00:19:02.799 If you want to join, we'll be right back with more Michigan We Need to Talk. 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:09.200 Good Thursday evening. 00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:11.519 Edward Bottomley here on Michigan Public. 00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:14.480 Michigan We Need to Talk is back in just a moment. 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:17.599 And at 9 is the middle with Jeremy Hobson. 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:21.759 Live storytelling from the Moth main stage returns to East Lansing. 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:27.599 Join Michigan Public at the Wharton Center to see the very best of the best storytellers from across the nation. 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:31.440 Live on stage, Friday, November 13 at 7 30 p.m. 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:34.559 And he starts screaming at the top of his lungs. 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:40.480 In a case of the people of the state of Michigan versus Boomer. 00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:42.799 Get tickets now to secure your seats. 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:46.720 For more details, go to MichiganPublic.org slash events. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:52.240 And join Michigan Public for

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00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:06.400 I didn't expect it to be so big. 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:10.319 You know, it felt really good on the ground. 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:29.440 Um, but to see the state house net more than 60 seats for Democrats, I was in Lansing today uh as the incoming senators came in and we all sat together and and I looked around, you know, the the caucus table that we have already in the majority caucus room and realized we need more seats. 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:31.119 Uh so it was it was a good death. 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:32.480 That's a great detail. 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:34.400 There's not enough seats in the room. 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:36.319 Trying to jam them in there. 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:37.839 Um but it it it was really good. 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:47.119 You know, I think this just sent a huge message that it was a strong rebuke of Donald Trump and of the MAGA takeover of the GOP. 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:59.519 And, you know, taking a step back, it felt like every Republican running, no matter where you were on the ticket, was running on scare tactics, fear tactics from the Senate on down. 00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:03.759 But we also saw it against our our candidates for state senate. 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:06.400 Um, and that's not what people were looking for. 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:12.240 You know, there's there's a huge opening with the unpopularity of the president and a lot of his empty promises. 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:14.559 Uh, and now it's Democrats' turn to deliver. 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.119 It's exciting. 00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:15.519 Yeah. 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:21.359 So I I want to have you talk to some about the Democratic Party itself as well. 00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:24.880 This was a pretty ugly campaign during the primary. 00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:31.839 It got uglier, it seems, uh both internally and externally during the general election campaign. 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:45.920 And I think one question that always comes up after a victory, which, you know, everyone likes victory, everyone likes to taste victory, but does that taste wash away the bitterness of the divisions that that come out? 00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:52.640 And there were some real divisions that sh that surfaced in uh the the Democratic Party uh in particular during this. 00:23:52.720 --> 00:24:01.200 I I would love to to get your sense of uh uh what that means and what that looks like as we go forward. 00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:13.359 Yeah, I I mean having lived through the primary personally, this went down as the most expensive Democratic US Senate primary in the nation's history. 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.880 And and we felt it. 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:16.640 I mean, it was brutal. 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:19.839 It was a drag out knuckle fight. 00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:30.400 And one of the things that that I felt was so important, especially having stepped back, you know, I suspended my campaign just about a month before the August election. 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:33.920 And I knew what the stakes were. 00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:50.240 I mean, I got in to beat Mike Rogers and and beat the MAGA version of the GOP, and I wanted to make sure that the divisions of the primary didn't carry over into the general, um, which is why I came out so strongly for Abdul. 00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:59.039 You know, I I endorsed at 2.03 in the morning or as soon as the race was called, and was there at his press conference the next day. 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:09.759 And when I took a step back, you know, for for all of the challenges, what we saw in the primary was that 900,000 people voted on the Republican side of the ticket. 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:14.319 1.5

million people voted on the Democratic side. 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:14.640 Right. 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:24.720 And I attended a number of Unity Canvas kickoffs because when you looked at the entire ticket, we had progressive candidates, we had establishment candidates, we had moderate candidates. 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:32.880 And one of the things that I would say to volunteers is I am a Democrat because we share the same outcome. 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:36.319 We want every Michigander to have healthcare. 00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:46.960 We want every Michigander to have access to clean air and clean water and a great education and job opportunities, and we want to protect, you know, unions and collective bargaining. 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:53.519 We might disagree on how to get there, but I'd rather be us because we agree where we're going. 00:25:54.160 --> 00:26:08.400 And so I want to ask you specifically, though, about about the the uh divisions that that sparked up between African Americans and the Arab American community because Abdul Al-Sayed is a member of that Arab community. 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:16.720 The the the divisions that were highlighted between the Jewish American community and and the Arab American community uh that went on. 00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:19.759 I know that for you, uh that's personal as well. 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:22.640 Your husband is a member of the Jewish community here. 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:30.000 Uh what what happens with all of that after after a victory like this, but but also trying to go forward? 00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:37.039 You know, I think that this is you have to view the election not as the end, but the beginning. 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:42.319 And I currently represent in the state senate the most diverse district in the state. 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:43.920 It's northwest Detroit through Birmingham. 00:26:44.160 --> 00:26:50.319 It's diverse by by every um metric, by by race and religion and and income level. 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:59.119 And everybody wants to feel heard and feel like their voice has an equal place at the table. 00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:15.119 And I think especially under the last 10 years of Donald Trump, uh everybody's dealing with a lot of trauma of being pitted against each other and being made to believe that in the wealthiest country in the world, there's not enough for everybody. 00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:19.599 And we've seen that play out in the divisions between the communities. 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:25.279 You know, I heard from sort from some of my Detroit constituents after the primary. 00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:32.799 Um, you know, it's a hard thing to do in the campaign, but we want somebody who's gonna show up and listen and not necessarily talk. 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:36.480 And that I think is is the work moving forward. 00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:39.839 Um, Abdul and I have built a really good relationship. 00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:46.720 I I was sharing with uh he and his wife that it's kind of a strange way to get to know each other when you're running against each other and then you come out the other side. 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:57.839 Um but but having that open door and dialogue means I can call and I can text and I can say, here's what some of my constituents are saying and and feeling. 00:27:57.920 --> 00:28:05.839 And part of the reason that I felt so comfortable in um campaigning as as hard as I did was he was always receptive to those things. 00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:10.799 And I believe he genuinely wants to be somebody who is going to listen. 00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:28.079 Um and then when you look at our entire ticket between Abdul and Jocelyn and Ellie Savitt and Garland Gilchrist and the, you know, when I was just looking at our incoming caucus today, it's a really diverse group of people. 00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:38.079 So my hope is that everyone can see a little bit of themselves in our party and find a way in and find a seat at the table. 00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:47.279 And if we do that successfully, you know, over the next two years, goddess, we had into a presidential cycle, which I cannot believe that we're already here to do that. 00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:49.839 Um I'm excited about what's going to come next. 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:50.240 Yeah. 00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:52.720 Uh uh Senator, it's Don Gagnier. 00:28:52.880 --> 00:28:54.640 Um good good to talk to you. 00:28:54.880 --> 00:29:07.839 Uh so uh the the the the first caller we put on the air today, uh a uh 31-year-old uh voter, voted Democratic, is very happy with the result. 00:29:08.160 --> 00:29:13.920 But uh he spoke of his impatience already that things might not happen quickly enough. 00:29:14.160 --> 00:29:42.720 And I'd I'd like to uh hear you speak to that, but I think I'd also like you to address it both on the state level with the legislature uh and Democrats controlling everything there, but but also uh I'm wondering if if uh things that the legislature might do uh gives the Congress a little more time to to uh uh do what they need to do, even as uh the President Trump is still in office? 00:29:43.359 --> 00:29:49.839 Yeah, it's a great question and and something that I've been thinking about a lot as I am um getting set to leave the legislature. 00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:56.079 Uh but but I will certainly stay involved, and and I've got a lot of friends both in the federal level and the state level. 00:29:56.240 --> 00:30:08.319 But my hope for um my colleagues in the US House and Senate is recognizing you have control of both chambers, which even six months ago I think nobody would believe would be possible. 00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:15.279 Um send as much to the president's desk as you possibly can and dare him to veto it. 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:32.480 You know, send bills on um eliminating the the income cap on social security so that you can and make it solvent for the next generation, raise the minimum wage, um, pass a version of

universal health care and just dare him to veto it. 00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:43.440 And he will either do it or he'll veto, and that sets you up with a really great narrative heading into the next cycle of here is what the president has blocked and why we need a democratic president. 00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:48.559 Um but on the state level, you know, states are the laboratories of democracy. 00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:56.880 And with a democratic trifecta, you can actually make a real difference on affordability and healthcare. 00:30:57.039 --> 00:31:04.559 We introduced in in the Senate, for example, a package of bills that would be the strongest data center regulations in the entire country. 00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:16.640 And if we could move that, that would be a really strong way to show we heard that you were frustrated with Republicans and were actually listening and we're doing something about it. 00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:32.079 Um, so I, you know, if if you have both the state and federal Democrats working in tandem where the narrative is supporting each other, where you can start to see a little bit of a slice of we can actually get things done on the state level. 00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:48.400 Another example that that I'm really proud of from the state that I actually included in in my my US Senate campaign was Rx Kids, you know, our nation leading program of cash grants for for new moms and babies created by Dr. 00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:52.480 Mona Hannah that I proposed expanding nationwide. 00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:56.880 So if we can expand that program in Michigan, I mean the the results have been phenomenal. 00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:57.279 Yeah. 00:31:57.440 --> 00:32:00.720 Everywhere they're they're doing it, it's it's making everywhere they're doing it. 00:32:01.119 --> 00:32:02.240 It's making a huge difference. 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:10.079 And it's something where even you know Donald Trump has floated the idea of a baby bonus now, it hasn't been as fully thought out as what we did. 00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:21.119 It's you know, but but there's an acknowledgement there that you know, on both sides of the aisle, from people like Donald Trump to JD Vance to Dr. 00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:26.720 Monahanna to all of us, we agree that it is too expensive to start a family. 00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:27.119 Yeah. 00:32:27.359 --> 00:32:32.000 That to me is a massive opening where Michigan can continue to lead. 00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:48.000 We can continue to push on the state level towards universal pre-K and you know, expanding the breakfast and lunch program, all of the things that we've started to build to give our federal counterparts a leg up to say, look at what Michigan is doing. 00:32:48.160 --> 00:32:57.119 You know, they can highlight our state and say, if you elect a Democratic president, we can take this incredible program from Michigan and give it to every American. 00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:58.400 We can do it everywhere, yeah. 00:32:58.880 -->

00:33:03.920 Again, again, the number here on the phones is 734-412-7155. 00:33:04.079 --> 00:33:07.200 That's 734-412-7155. 00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:11.519 You can also email us, M-I We Needtotalk at gmail.com. 00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:15.039 Let's go back to the phones with Mary Francis from Lansing. 00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:17.279 Mary Francis, welcome to the show. 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:18.640 Thank you. 00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:24.240 This election for me was all about taking back our democracy. 00:33:25.119 --> 00:33:28.400 It we yes, economic issues, sure. 00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:30.880 But they were far down the line for me. 00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:33.279 It was taking back our democracy. 00:33:33.599 --> 00:33:41.119 We cannot have a president that runs his agenda through every department. 00:33:41.279 --> 00:33:43.119 That's not who we are. 00:33:43.359 --> 00:33:50.240 We've had many long-term great public servants resigned. 00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:53.039 That's a tragedy for me. 00:33:53.359 --> 00:34:00.480 And the second thing is I was really concerned that we would go back with racism. 00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:08.320 I never thought I would see the day in my lifetime where a Muslim was elected to the Senate. 00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:11.199 And I am ever so grateful. 00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:11.760 Yeah. 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:16.960 Mary, Mary Francis, really appreciate uh you calling and and sharing that perspective. 00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:21.760 Uh Mallory, that is one of the milestones that that was reached on Tuesday. 00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:29.920 Abdul uh Abdul winning means that we have are going to send the first uh Muslim to the U.S. 00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:30.400 Senate. 00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:33.760 There were lots of firsts, of course, around the country. 00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:37.840 Uh the number of black governors is up to five in America. 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:39.920 I don't think a lot of people saw that coming. 00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:45.760 Uh we have uh the first black woman uh governor in in the l the state of Georgia. 00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:47.599 Uh chillance bottoms. 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:48.320 Yeah, right. 00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:55.599 I mean talk about those those milestones, I guess, and what they what they mean in in in practical terms to to voters. 00:34:57.199 --> 00:35:02.559 You know, uh just taking a step back, and I think Mary's call was was right on the nose. 00:35:02.719 --> 00:35:13.440 Democracy was all on the line, but also uh just whether or not we would let hate win, which Stephen, you know, this has been a theme of mine for the last few years. 00:35:13.840 --> 00:35:25.840 Um but as I watched particularly the Senate race, Mike Rogers ran one of the most racist, bigoted, Islamophobic campaigns. 00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:29.440 Uh I I could I I couldn't even imagine it. 00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:34.880 You know, I got a mailer sent to my house, which the fact that it came to me said that their targeting was a little bit off. 00:35:35.280 --> 00:35:39.679 Um, but it was a picture of Abdul next to a picture of the Twin Towers. 00:35:40.400 --> 00:35:58.639 And it felt like to me watching it and and the number of mailers that talked about jihadists and Sharia law and showed women in burkas as if that is supposed to be something to be afraid of instead of recognizing, you know, it's it's our neighbors, we're Americans was just stunning. 00:35:59.039 --> 00:36:06.320 And if I could summarize it, it felt like Mike Rogers would come out and say, grocery costs are too high, but that guy's a jihadist. 00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:09.440 And it was it didn't work. 00:36:09.679 --> 00:36:09.840 Yeah. 00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:33.119 I mean, it didn't work, but it was so so the fact that, you know, not only here in Michigan, but across the country, there was such a stunning rebuke of othering and fear and racism to put forward, you know, not only just a route of the GOP for Democrats, but but so many firsts. 00:36:33.679 --> 00:36:39.760 And I think the beautiful thing about it is none of the candidates that I heard of were running on being the first. 00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:40.880 You know, that wasn't the message. 00:36:40.960 --> 00:36:44.639 I never heard Abdul say, I am running to be the first Muslim senator. 00:36:44.719 --> 00:36:48.800 I never heard Keisha Lance Bottom say, I'm running to be the first black woman governor. 00:36:48.880 --> 00:36:53.199 It's I'm running because I'm listening to you and I want to fix the problems that are here. 00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:57.280 And what we got is this beautiful picture of this country. 00:36:57.760 --> 00:37:02.719 Once you go there with an attack ad like that, uh you you can't really step back from it either. 00:37:02.800 --> 00:37:03.360 It's out there. 00:37:04.400 --> 00:37:09.599 And and the goalposts just kept moving and moving and moving to get worse and worse and worse. 00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:19.519 Um and it it it just didn't work because you know I I I spent a lot of time traveling to every corner of the state when when I was in the race. 00:37:19.760 --> 00:37:21.440 And voters are not dumb. 00:37:21.599 --> 00:37:24.719 They're listening to hear, what are you going to do for me? 00:37:24.880 --> 00:37:26.800 How are you going to lower my gas prices? 00:37:26.960 --> 00:37:28.159 My groceries cost too much. 00:37:28.320 --> 00:37:29.519 What are you going to do about it? 00:37:29.679 --> 00:37:35.920 And if all you're doing is saying, Well, look, that guy doesn't look like us, that doesn't answer what people's concerns are. 00:37:36.239 --> 00:37:37.760 I mean, uh that's a really important point. 00:37:37.920 --> 00:37:43.280 I mean, we spent some time uh in the late weeks of the of the campaign traveling around as well. 00:37:43.519 --> 00:37:55.599 And and what I heard from people over and over again was about very specific problems that they had in their lives with their businesses, with their farms, uh,

with all kinds of things. 00:37:55.760 --> 00:38:05.199 And and when I would try to push them to make that political, they would resist and they would go back to talking about, hey, I need I I need this problem solved. 00:38:05.280 --> 00:38:10.480 And I think that's one of the things that is contributing to the volatility that we see in politics, right? 00:38:10.559 --> 00:38:19.280 They go back and forth between Democrats and Republicans who promise them uh change, but but you know, uh at some point someone will have to deliver. 00:38:19.519 --> 00:38:24.559 Mallory McMorrow, it's always great to have you uh with us and to talk about these things. 00:38:24.719 --> 00:38:27.440 Thanks so much uh for being with us. 00:38:27.599 --> 00:38:37.519 Uh we're gonna take another quick break, and when we come back, we are gonna get to the reporters uh that we are gonna talk to who have been covering these races, get their sense of what's next. 00:38:37.679 --> 00:38:48.559 We're gonna continue to hear from you on the phone 734-412-7155 and on email mi We Need to Talk at gmail.com. 00:38:48.719 --> 00:38:52.639 We'll be right back with more Michigan We Need to Talk. 00:39:11.679 --> 00:39:13.280 This Thursday evening. 00:39:13.440 --> 00:39:18.960 We'll be back to Michigan We Need to Talk in a moment, and at 9 is the Middle with Jeremy Hobson. 00:39:19.199 --> 00:39:20.320 I'm Jeremy Hobson. 00:39:20.400 --> 00:39:22.239 What do the election results mean for you? 00:39:22.320 --> 00:39:25.840 What are your hopes and fears for the new political era in America? 00:39:26.000 --> 00:39:27.360 That's next time on the middle. 00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:29.599 That's coming up at 9. 00:39:30.559 --> 00:39:32.400 I'm Gift Officer Krista Quinn. 00:39:32.639 --> 00:39:36.480 As the year comes to a close, you may be thinking about your charitable giving. 00:39:36.719 --> 00:39:38.719 We hope you'll include Michigan Public. 00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:46.400 Your support makes it possible for us to provide trusted news, information, and stories that are free and accessible to everyone. 00:39:46.639 --> 00:39:49.599 No subscription, no login, no algorithm. 00:39:49.760 --> 00:39:54.079 If Michigan Public matters to you, consider making a year-end charitable gift. 00:39:54.239 --> 00:39:58.639 Your generosity helps keep this essential public service strong for the year ahead. 00:39:59.840 --> 00:40:08.639 Support for Michigan Public comes from Kerrytown Market and Shops, located in Ann Arbor's historic market district. 00:40:08.800 --> 00:40:13.599 A collection of specialty stores committed to the experience of neighborhood shopping. 00:40:13.840 --> 00:40:21.039 The Kerrytown gift card is available and can be used in any of the shops.com. 00:40:21.360 --> 00:40:28.639 In Michigan Public Weather, a cloudy, blustery Thursday night across Michigan with showers and lows near 40. 00:40:28.800 --> 00:40:33.679 Friday's coolest still, highs around 50 with a few showers as well. 00:40:33.920 --> 00:40:35.840 This is Michigan Public. 00:40:36.960 --> 00:40:39.840 Support for Michigan We Need to Talk comes from the Charles H. 00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:48.480 Wright Museum in Detroit, presenting the Wright Performances and Conversation series featuring Philodenko Dance Company and Julie Dash this fall. 00:40:48.639 --> 00:40:52.159 More info at there.org slash events. 00:40:59.519 --> 00:41:01.679 This is Michigan We Need to Talk. 00:41:01.760 --> 00:41:12.480 I'm Steven Henderson, and we're looking at what happened in the 2026 midterms, what changed, and what may be harder to change now that uh the dust has settled. 00:41:12.559 --> 00:41:15.440 Don Gan Don Gagne is with me in studio. 00:41:15.679 --> 00:41:20.000 He covered uh national politics for NPR for many years. 00:41:20.079 --> 00:41:24.960 Uh he is here at home in Michigan, and we're getting his insights on what happened. 00:41:25.039 --> 00:41:28.719 Uh, I want to welcome another voice to the conversation as well. 00:41:28.800 --> 00:41:34.159 Uh Lauren Gibbons is a political reporter for Bridge, Michigan. 00:41:34.239 --> 00:41:36.000 Uh Lauren, welcome to Michigan. 00:41:36.079 --> 00:41:36.960 We need to talk. 00:41:37.840 --> 00:41:38.880 Hey, thanks for having me. 00:41:39.199 --> 00:41:39.360 Yeah. 00:41:39.519 --> 00:41:44.480 So uh Lauren, uh, you were covering this very bitter Senate race. 00:41:44.559 --> 00:41:46.079 Uh it is now over. 00:41:46.320 --> 00:41:56.960 I wonder if you can tell us a little about what we might expect from uh the the dynamic that Abdul El-Syed brings to the Senate. 00:41:57.119 --> 00:42:06.960 I got asked this question this week about, you know, his his punchback mentality and whether that would continue once he got to Washington. 00:42:07.119 --> 00:42:09.519 You've been following him for some time. 00:42:09.679 --> 00:42:11.440 I wonder what you make of that. 00:42:12.639 --> 00:42:16.639 I mean, I think we saw in his uh in his victory speech. 00:42:20.159 --> 00:42:22.639 He certainly continued that energy. 00:42:22.800 --> 00:42:28.880 So I would imagine, especially considering he is walking into just his commending victory. 00:42:29.039 --> 00:42:32.559 It wasn't just a tiny Senate majority. 00:42:32.880 --> 00:42:34.480 This is a big Senate majority. 00:42:34.559 --> 00:42:36.719 This is bigger than any Democrats. 00:42:36.880 --> 00:42:40.719 I think he's dreamed into election. 00:42:41.199 --> 00:42:49.280 And so I think especially these candidates from the country, really captivated social media in particular. 00:42:49.440 --> 00:42:50.400 He is one of them. 00:42:55.119 --> 00:43:08.000 So he has leverage to work with if he uh if he goes into the senate uh talking about these big progressive ideals that he has made the centerpiece of his campaign. 00:43:08.320 --> 00:43:13.519 And certainly he has made it clear uh that Trump and uh J.D. 00:43:13.760 --> 00:43:22.960 Vance and every Republican and teams in the country

uh has has really taken a whack at him at some point, and he's fighting fire with fire. 00:43:23.199 --> 00:43:23.599 Yeah. 00:43:23.840 --> 00:43:31.119 Uh do you know what uh one of the questions I have about him is what he will do in the Senate? 00:43:31.199 --> 00:43:34.000 And you know, the Senate is really about committee work. 00:43:34.079 --> 00:43:37.920 Uh that's where most of the the heavy lifting goes on. 00:43:38.159 --> 00:43:45.360 D do you have an idea of where he might hope to land uh once he's once he's there in Washington? 00:43:46.159 --> 00:43:46.480 Sure. 00:43:46.559 --> 00:43:56.320 And I mean it it kind of depends on, you know, where leadership ends up and and what ends up uh, you know, it's what all the other senators who are new are angling for. 00:43:56.480 --> 00:44:07.840 He certainly made clear he's interested in healthcare issues, but There are several issues that I think um he has expressed openness um potentially being uh on a committee. 00:44:08.000 --> 00:44:22.800 Um and and s I th I think clearly though, uh his background as uh as a former public health official makes him perhaps uniquely poised uh to to be a voice on healthcare in the Senate. 00:44:23.119 --> 00:44:23.599 Yeah, yeah. 00:44:23.840 --> 00:44:26.480 Okay, uh Lauren, great to have you with us again. 00:44:26.559 --> 00:44:27.679 Uh thanks a lot. 00:44:27.760 --> 00:44:33.920 And I'm sure you need sleep uh after all this work uh covering this this crazy campaign. 00:44:34.079 --> 00:44:36.400 But uh but thanks for being with us today. 00:44:37.119 --> 00:44:38.320 Hey, thanks for having me. 00:44:38.719 --> 00:44:43.599 Uh I also want to welcome Simon Schuster uh to the conversation really quickly. 00:44:43.760 --> 00:44:53.039 Uh Simon covers politics for Bridge Michigan as well and was uh following the governor's race and the gubernatorial candidates all over the state. 00:44:53.280 --> 00:45:06.880 Simon, uh give us a sense of what we might expect from that that initial uh blitz of of activity in January after Jocelyn Benson uh is sworn in as governor. 00:45:07.760 --> 00:45:18.000 Yeah, uh you know it's I think it's important to sort of frame this election too, as it wasn't too long ago that these midterm elections in Michigan that the governor's race was the marquee race, right? 00:45:18.079 --> 00:45:18.639 And that the U.S. 00:45:18.719 --> 00:45:20.960 Senate race sort of played second fiddle to it. 00:45:21.039 --> 00:45:36.079 That in this election cycle that was completely flipped on its head, the conversations that voters were having were national conversations about national issues, and much of these sort of policy topics that were at the top of mind for voters are things that are largely dealt with at the federal government. 00:45:36.320 --> 00:45:54.480 So the night the Democrats had on Tuesday, the sweeping wins that they achieved at the state level, winning the governorship, attorney general, secretary of state, and then broad democratic majorities in both chambers of the state legislature, they see this as a mandate for an agenda that uh has to do with lowering costs, increasing affordability. 00:45:54.639 --> 00:45:58.719 But I think the challenge for some of these democratic makers, they have a couple of challenges. 00:45:59.280 --> 00:46:13.840 One of them is that they essentially have to translate the policy agenda, the conversations that folks have been having, largely largely federal policy uh uh conversations, to a state level and try to chip away at these issues to the extent that you know a state can. 00:46:13.920 --> 00:46:19.519 The federal government is a budget that's tens of trillions of dollars, ours is something at the range of$80 billion. 00:46:20.079 --> 00:46:24.079 So the the scale in which they can operate is significantly smaller. 00:46:24.159 --> 00:46:27.840 And the other challenge that they face is the evolving fiscal picture here in Michigan. 00:46:28.000 --> 00:46:33.360 The last time Democrats had a majority three years ago, they had almost$10 billion in surplus to deal with the government. 00:46:33.679 --> 00:46:36.480 The Biden administration was really helping them out, right? 00:46:36.559 --> 00:46:37.039 Yeah. 00:46:37.440 --> 00:46:43.039 Yes, there was a huge windfall of surplus money from COVID, all that a federal an influx of federal dollars. 00:46:43.280 --> 00:46:50.480 And this time around, it's possible that we could be entering 2027 facing you know significant cuts that need to be made in the state budget. 00:46:50.639 --> 00:46:57.039 And so this fiscal picture, I think, is gonna shape what Democrats see as achievable and also the composition of this legislature. 00:46:57.280 --> 00:47:00.400 It's the introduction of more progressive state lawmakers. 00:47:00.559 --> 00:47:11.840 And I think that you're gonna hear a more vocal um that they're gonna become a more vocal contingent of these bodies and pushing for a more ambitious agenda than what we saw the last time Democrats are trifected. 00:47:12.559 --> 00:47:14.239 Simon, it's Don Gagnier. 00:47:14.639 --> 00:47:22.239 Uh it it feels like uh the governor-elect's uh reputation is is is as an administrator, right? 00:47:22.400 --> 00:47:34.960 Somebody who can take a department and figure out how to work it uh and and and make the, you know, whatever it is, Secretary of State offices more efficient or or make sure an election runs smoothly. 00:47:35.199 --> 00:47:44.000 How does that translate to the executive office as as you see it and and and to to the act of actually legislating? 00:47:45.039 --> 00:47:52.239 Yeah, I think it's an important question because her predecessor, the current governor Dredging Whitmer, uh, you know, she was a creature of the legislature. 00:47:52.320 --> 00:47:59.840 She spent more than a decade there, and she loved to wheel and deal and cut a deal on a bipartisan basis where she could with policymakers. 00:48:00.079 --> 00:48:10.639 Definitely

Jocelyn Benson is is ran and advertised herself as sort of a competent technocrat, someone who could take bureaucracies, make them more efficient and more responsive to the people. 00:48:10.800 --> 00:48:16.239 Uh, and certainly executives uh in Michigan State government have broad latitude to do that. 00:48:16.559 --> 00:48:25.519 Under our state constitution, you can reorder the executive branch and reorganize it unilaterally, create new departments, merge and separate different ones. 00:48:25.679 --> 00:48:27.679 Gretchen Whitmer did this to a certain extent. 00:48:27.840 --> 00:48:31.760 And I wouldn't be surprised to see Justin Benson wielding that power as well. 00:48:31.920 --> 00:48:42.960 But a lot of the sort of regulatory overhaul, some of the a lot of what she wants to get accomplished uh in terms of her policy agenda is gonna require the legislature working hand in hand with her. 00:48:43.199 --> 00:48:52.639 Like the last Democratic trifle, where there was one vote to spare among Democrats in the House and two in the Senate, there's gonna be much broader majorities this time. 00:48:52.800 --> 00:48:56.880 63 out of 110 seats are not Democratic in the state house, for example. 00:48:57.119 --> 00:49:04.079 And so it's gonna give her more wiggle room to work with, but ensuring that her priorities are aligned with the state legislature is gonna be a challenge. 00:49:04.320 --> 00:49:04.719 Yeah, yeah. 00:49:04.880 --> 00:49:10.719 Uh Simon Schuster, a political reporter for Bridge Michigan, covered the governor's race. 00:49:11.039 --> 00:49:14.639 Thanks very much for joining us here on Michigan We Need to Talk. 00:49:15.280 --> 00:49:16.079 Thanks for having me. 00:49:16.320 --> 00:49:16.559 Yeah. 00:49:16.719 --> 00:49:22.480 Uh I want to go back to the phones here and uh get some more voices from around the state. 00:49:22.559 --> 00:49:24.239 And Allie in Gross Point. 00:49:24.400 --> 00:49:25.920 Allie, what's on your mind? 00:49:26.800 --> 00:49:27.440 Hello. 00:49:27.840 --> 00:49:29.360 Uh what's in my mind? 00:49:29.519 --> 00:49:33.199 First, I'd like to say uh congratulations to Dr. 00:49:33.360 --> 00:49:35.760 Abdul for winning the race. 00:49:36.000 --> 00:49:40.480 You didn't run a hateful uh race like Mr. 00:49:40.719 --> 00:49:41.360 Roger. 00:49:41.519 --> 00:49:43.360 Really, I'm very proud of him. 00:49:43.599 --> 00:49:51.199 Secondly, as a physician myself, I'm very worried about the cuts to the Medicaid that's coming in January. 00:49:51.519 --> 00:50:01.199 It should be restored as soon as possible, which is one of the first things that they should do in legislation, both nationwide and uh statewide. 00:50:01.440 --> 00:50:10.400 Because with the loss of Medicaid for so many patients and immigrants, it will be a disaster in healthcare and public health in Michigan. 00:50:11.360 --> 00:50:15.280 Ali, uh thank you very much for that that call and that comment. 00:50:15.360 --> 00:50:30.559 I hear I'm hearing a lot about uh Medicaid cuts as well as the subsidy cuts to the American Care Act that uh Affordable Care Act that uh were enacted and people being very concerned about those uh being restored as well. 00:50:30.719 --> 00:50:32.159 Thanks so much uh for your call. 00:50:32.320 --> 00:50:34.559 Let's go to Bob in Clausen. 00:50:34.800 --> 00:50:36.639 Bob, what's on your mind? 00:50:37.840 --> 00:50:40.159 Hey Stephen, really good to talk to you again. 00:50:40.559 --> 00:50:46.639 I called in once before on January 7th, 2021, the day after the insurrection at the Capitol. 00:50:47.440 --> 00:50:50.800 That was on the show in Detroit, not this show, but yes, go ahead. 00:50:51.199 --> 00:50:51.679 That's right. 00:50:51.840 --> 00:50:54.400 Senator, then Senator Stavano was a guest. 00:50:54.480 --> 00:51:06.480 Um and at the time I had uh we had a baby on the way who's now five and a half, and I was just that that seemed like the start of an era in our country where actions did not seem to have consequences. 00:51:06.639 --> 00:51:20.079 And it's been, I think, very frustrating for a lot of us over the course of the past, you know, five or so years of this this constant feeling of um there not really being a floor and and you know, there's being no accountability. 00:51:20.320 --> 00:51:28.480 So over the past few days, I've been very hopeful that that is turned around and that we have a better world to now raise our kids in and examples to point to. 00:51:28.719 --> 00:51:31.280 I guess am I being overly optimistic? 00:51:31.360 --> 00:51:32.960 Is this a one-time blip? 00:51:33.119 --> 00:51:38.880 Um, I don't know, really curious how you and the listeners are feeling about this kind of vibe change that we're seeing. 00:51:39.199 --> 00:51:47.199 Well, I mean, I think uh, you know, one of the things that's been true since 2016 is that we have gone back and forth over and over, right? 00:51:47.280 --> 00:52:01.679 Uh the Republicans sweep in 2016, Democrats come back in 2018, uh uh, and then uh Joe Biden is elected in 2020, and then Republicans snatch a lot of it back in 2022. 00:52:01.760 --> 00:52:08.639 And and I think that volatility makes it hard to chart much of a uh a path forward. 00:52:08.800 --> 00:52:12.719 I mean it it it seems like we're going back and forth and can't ever really make progress. 00:52:13.039 --> 00:52:16.639 Don, I wonder w if you if you can help uh Bob with that as well. 00:52:17.199 --> 00:52:20.079 Uh uh Bob, I will not tamp down your optimism. 00:52:20.320 --> 00:52:24.159 And that's that is not a uh a political statement on my part. 00:52:24.400 --> 00:52:32.239 Uh but look, there's so much to be pessimistic about in the world, and the election is less than what 48 hours uh old. 00:52:32.800 --> 00:52:38.239 So now is the time to be dreaming of all the things that you're hoping will be accomplished. 00:52:38.320 --> 00:52:42.239 Uh uh I I I will throw a little cold water on it. 00:52:42.400 --> 00:52:43.599 They

won't all come true. 00:52:43.920 --> 00:52:53.360 But I think uh I think you're entitled for a moment to I mean congressional majorities matter, but unless you have 60 votes in the Senate, it's really hard to do much of anything. 00:52:53.519 --> 00:52:57.440 And then of course you need a uh a president who's at least somewhat willing to go along. 00:52:57.519 --> 00:52:59.840 And those will be the stumbling blocks, I think, Bob. 00:53:00.000 --> 00:53:10.800 But but I really love that that you called, and I love that you called uh five years ago and and were less optimistic and are thinking uh a little more brightly uh today. 00:53:11.039 --> 00:53:18.480 Okay, let's uh go next to Alicia Chandler, who is someone I talked to during the campaign. 00:53:18.719 --> 00:53:40.880 She was part of a group of uh members of the Jewish uh community here in Southeast Michigan who were meeting pretty frequently to talk about uh their support for Abdul El-Sayed and to try to convince other members of the Jewish community who had reservations about them, about uh Abdul, that uh they should set them aside and and vote for him. 00:53:41.039 --> 00:53:45.360 Uh Alicia, it's great to have you here a few days after the election. 00:53:45.519 --> 00:53:50.400 Uh my first question to you is uh what what is your reaction to what happened? 00:53:50.559 --> 00:53:55.679 I I I know uh you worked real hard to try to convince folks over to this side. 00:53:55.760 --> 00:54:01.679 It seems like uh uh not only were you probably successful, but lots of other people were too. 00:54:03.280 --> 00:54:06.559 Thank you so much for having me today, Stephen. 00:54:06.880 --> 00:54:09.840 I was just overjoyed on Tuesday night. 00:54:09.920 --> 00:54:17.760 I have to admit, I I didn't quite make it up late enough to see um Senator elect El Sayed's acceptance speech. 00:54:18.159 --> 00:54:36.400 But I think one of the things that we showed on Tuesday night and in some of the polling that has come out since is Jewish Americans who we were talking to care about the things that other Americans care about, which is protecting our liberal democracy. 00:54:36.800 --> 00:54:48.239 And partly for Jews, we know that the thing that keeps us safe, the thing that helps fight anti-Semitism, is living in a vibrant democracy. 00:54:49.039 --> 00:55:05.840 And Jews overwhelmingly, regardless of what false narratives we were told ahead of time, ended up coming to the conclusion that Abdul al-Sayad was the best candidate for most of their interests uh for most of their interests. 00:55:06.079 --> 00:55:20.719 And even if they might have had some disagreements with him, those are disagreements that we would rather continue to discuss with him and advocate for as he's our senator, um, rather than putting someone else in that open seat. 00:55:20.960 --> 00:55:24.079 So me and the folks I were working with, we're just overjoyed. 00:55:24.960 --> 00:55:38.559 This is a question I've asked a few people tonight, but there were some real divisions that that were surfaced in in this campaign and in the efforts uh to try to move people one way or another during this campaign. 00:55:38.639 --> 00:55:46.559 And and my question always is, well, once the campaign's over and the votes are counted, do those divisions go away? 00:55:46.719 --> 00:55:49.840 Uh and and if not, what do you do about them? 00:55:50.000 --> 00:56:02.719 What what what would you say about the Jewish community's uh role in in trying to to to sort of heal what got broken here uh now that we're done with the voting? 00:56:03.920 --> 00:56:08.639 I think there are two different conversations that we need to have as a Jewish community. 00:56:08.880 --> 00:56:32.880 The first, which has already started and to be honest, started before election day, is that we need a conversation amongst ourselves about how to engage in civility, a topic I know that you care very much about, Stephen, about how to talk to each other, about what forces might have come into play in this election that was trying to pit us against our neighbors. 00:56:33.039 --> 00:56:52.159 And I will tell you, this morning I happened to be at a learning session where I embraced friends of mine who I know voted in all different ways, and we are starting the process of coming together in our communal spaces where we can all be together and talk to each other honestly. 00:56:52.320 --> 00:56:57.440 And I really hope that work continues for us in a meaningful, thoughtful way. 00:56:57.840 --> 00:57:23.440 I also think that there was repair work that will have to be done between the Jewish communities and other communities because of the false narratives that were told to people about how we were not standing beside other communities and we were acting only in our own self-interest um relating to Israel and foreign policy rather than standing together with a group. 00:57:24.000 --> 00:57:24.159 Yeah. 00:57:24.320 --> 00:57:26.239 Thinking about here, thinking about America. 00:57:26.400 --> 00:57:26.719 Yeah. 00:57:26.960 --> 00:57:27.679 Uh Alicia. 00:57:28.159 --> 00:57:29.599 And so Yeah, go ahead. 00:57:29.840 --> 00:57:40.880 I I I I wanted I I I wanted to thank you very much for for joining us and and for all that you did for us during the the campaign and and really showing us uh what those efforts were like. 00:57:40.960 --> 00:57:42.480 Uh thanks for being here. 00:57:42.639 --> 00:57:50.239 Uh I want to quickly get to one more caller, uh, Luanna, who is uh on the border between Michigan and Ohio. 00:57:50.320 --> 00:57:51.360 She works here in Michigan. 00:57:51.440 --> 00:57:52.960 Luanna, go ahead. 00:57:54.239 --> 00:57:56.880 Um I just wanted to make a comment, actually. 00:57:57.679 --> 00:58:04.800 I'm listening to politicians throughout all this election stuff, and everybody's fighting for this, and they're fighting for that, and fight, fight, fight, fight, fight. 00:58:05.039 --> 00:58:05.760 And you know

what? 00:58:05.920 --> 00:58:07.519 We're really tired of the fighting. 00:58:08.159 --> 00:58:16.000 I think I think we have an opportunity right now where Democrats can say, let's stop fighting and let's start working together. 00:58:16.239 --> 00:58:20.000 Let's let's do something positive because words matter. 00:58:20.239 --> 00:58:24.639 And as long as we're in this fight, fight, fight, that's a win-lose situation. 00:58:25.199 --> 00:58:28.559 And what we need to start creating is more win-win situations. 00:58:28.960 --> 00:58:29.679 Uh Luetta. 00:58:29.920 --> 00:58:30.800 That is just my opinion. 00:58:31.119 --> 00:58:33.119 Yeah, I I really love that sentiment. 00:58:33.280 --> 00:58:35.519 It's a great way to close the show. 00:58:35.679 --> 00:58:41.760 I hope you'll call in the future and I can talk to you more about the difference between what's going on in Ohio and what's going on in Michigan. 00:58:41.840 --> 00:58:46.320 I think that we can have a really interesting exchange about that as well. 00:58:46.480 --> 00:58:49.920 Uh I want to thank Don Gagne for being here with us. 00:58:50.079 --> 00:58:53.840 That was a really great addition to a post-election show. 00:58:54.000 --> 00:58:59.440 Uh, Michigan We Need to Talk is produced in collaboration with the Center for Michigan and with Michigan Public. 00:58:59.599 --> 00:59:02.000 Our producers are Jake Meer and Lisa Pollock. 00:59:02.239 --> 00:59:04.960 We'll talk again next week. 00:59:08.320 --> 00:59:11.039 This is Edward Bottomley with Michigan Public. 00:59:11.199 --> 00:59:15.199 We are approaching the top of the hour and the middle with Jeremy Hobson. 00:59:15.519 --> 00:59:16.480 It's coming right up. 00:59:16.960 --> 00:59:19.360 I'm Mary Louise Kelly and I'm Stephen Speaker. 00:59:19.679 --> 00:59:24.320 A donation to this station can take many forms, including that vehicle you no longer need. 00:59:24.639 --> 00:59:26.719 If you don't need it, donate it. 00:59:27.199 --> 00:59:30.079 It could be worth hundreds of dollars or even more in support. 00:59:30.559 --> 00:59:30.960 Think about it. 00:59:32.480 --> 00:59:37.280 You can donate your used car, truck, boat, or motorcycle to support Michigan Public. 00:59:37.519 --> 00:59:41.199 Find out more at MichiganPublic.org slash cars. 00:59:42.000 --> 00:59:46.320 If you haven't already found us online, MichiganPublic.org is worth a bookmark. 00:59:46.480 --> 00:59:49.199 Latest news, longer reads, and a live dream. 00:59:49.440 --> 00:59:52.719 If you'd rather listen online than hunt over the dial. 00:59:53.039 --> 00:59:57.760 The app, while it does much the same thing on your phone, whether you're on iPhone or Android. 00:59:58.079 --> 01:00:03.840 And if you've got an Elector or a Google home gathering dust in the corner, why not put it to work? 01:00:04.159 --> 01:00:07.519 Just say play Michigan Public from NPR. 01:00:10.960 --> 01:00:16.159 Michigan Public is WUOM 91.7 Ann Arbor, Detroit. 01:00:16.400 --> 01:00:18.960 WFUM 91.1 Flynn.