My most memorable moments of 2025
Believe it or not, Democrats still hold every lever of power in state government but one – the State House of Representatives. It just didn’t feel that way in 2025. Republican House …
By KYLE MELINN's Latest Articles
Whitmer’s greatest 2025 success? Avoiding the media at all costs
The week before Thanksgiving, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pardoned a pair of turkeys in front of the Capitol. Nearly the entire capitol press corps showed up. The TV people wanted scrumptious video of …
Rarely-used budget move puts zoo, other Lansing projects in limbo
What if Potter Park Zoo lost its accreditation because it couldn’t renovate the home of the big cats and lemurs? Does Lansing’s only zoo become a petting zoo? A scenario that didn’t seem …
Could It Be That She Just Wants To Be With Her Friends?
Could It Be That She Just Wants To Be With Her Friends? Among the many hats I wear is that of “coach.” This year will be my sixth year coaching middle school boys and girls in …
Hall is changing the state House to something we’ve never seen before
Among insiders, the job of state House Speaker is widely considered state government’s toughest job. The Speaker not only oversees 109 other state representatives with competing interests …
Government is performative theater we should take seriously … until we shouldn’t
Last week, President Donald Trump reposted a social media message, “HANG THEM, GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!!” At that moment, U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin experienced “an …
Next up: Building Michigan’s next business tax cut
The governor and lawmakers are done giving a few corporations buckets of cash to come to Michigan. Millions to Gotion, a Chinese-owned company? The public backlash is a little too toasty …
How will Lawrence win a congressional seat?
The standard political response during the nation’s longest federal government shutdown? Your standard rhetorical game. (Insert Democrat here) accused (insert Republican here) of …
Death has come for the AxMiTax ballot initiative
The AxMiTax ballot initiative to put a property tax elimination proposal before voters in 2026 is taking on water. Circulators have run through the 180-day window during which they needed to …
Vultures circling Gilchrist, Swanson campaigns
The race to become the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in 2026 is quickly becoming uncompetitive. This week’s campaign finance reports paint a dire picture for Garlin Gilchrist, …