Editor-in-chief & columnist at @MichiganAdvance, views are my own. Fmr. Inside Michigan Politics publisher. Mom, spouse, hiker, wanderer, feminist. HCIC.
Dec 4, 2023 • 12 tweets • 5 min read
LGBTQ+ equality, abortion rights, climate change policy, voting rights, education investment, gun reforms, unions on the march — the Mitten State has it all.
My @MichiganAdvance column on how Michigan became the progressive powerhouse of the Midwest. michiganadvance.com/2023/12/04/sus…
For years, Michigan was a national laughingstock, with a bruised auto industry that tanked the economy, which Republicans used as an excuse to enact Right to Work, followed by austerity measures that culminated in the Flint water crisis. @MichiganAdvance michiganadvance.com/2023/12/04/sus…
Nov 14, 2022 • 22 tweets • 9 min read
We were breathlessly told by pundits and reporters that the Whitmer-Dixon race was a nail-biter. But those of us who didn't imbibe the Republican "red wave" Kool-Aid weren't surprised by the blue blowout in Michigan Tuesday. Me, in the @MichiganAdvance. michiganadvance.com/2022/11/14/sus…
Let's start four weeks out, when a story appeared in the Detroit News trumpeting that it was a “pivotal week” in the race, even tough Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was 17 points up in polls, with Republican Tudor Dixon announcing she’ll “prove them all wrong.” michiganadvance.com/2022/11/14/sus…
Nov 12, 2022 • 6 tweets • 3 min read
MPA: Shutting media out of campaign events is ‘counterintuitive,’ ‘anti-democratic'
Three outlets were barred from covering GOP election night events — the Detroit Free Press, Michigan Advance and WMUK — part of a national trend. michiganadvance.com/2022/11/12/mpa… via @MichiganAdvance
Lisa McGraw of the @MichiganPress said she'd like the practice of shutting out press to end "immediately."
“Barring journalists from events like this seems counterintuitive and anti-democratic (little d). Reporters are the watchdog for the people." michiganadvance.com/2022/11/12/mpa…
Nov 11, 2022 • 7 tweets • 3 min read
Michigan GOP finger-pointing underway following Tuesday’s historic loss at the polls
Dixon publicly posts party memo blaming her for Tuesday, attacks MIGOP officials michiganadvance.com/2022/11/11/mic… via @michiganadvance
Michigan Republican Party Chief of Staff Paul Cordes released a memo Thursday to party members, noting that gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon came out of the August primary as an “untested candidate” who was “relatively unknown” and low name recognition. michiganadvance.com/2022/11/11/mic…
Nov 11, 2022 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
In Michigan, ‘red wave’ spin gives way to a blue ‘blowout’
Experts point to abortion rights support, nonpartisan redistricting for Democratic wins up and down the ballot michiganadvance.com/2022/11/11/in-… via @michiganadvance
“This is absolutely historic, an epic landslide for pro-democracy Michiganders.”
That was the assessment of Jeff Timmer, a former Michigan GOP executive director now with the anti-Trump Lincoln Party, after seeing the midterm election results. michiganadvance.com/2022/11/11/in-…
Nov 11, 2022 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
I am really proud that the @MichiganAdvance never lost sight of the impact of anti-LGBTQ+ proposals that dominated the last leg of Michigan's 2022 campaign on LGBTQ+ people, and especially children. michiganadvance.com/2022/09/23/as-…
Parents say gender-affirming health care is ‘life-affirming care’ for their trans children
Republicans’ predictions of a “red wave” in Michigan were dashed after Democrats enjoyed a higher-than-expected turnout on Tuesday — propelled in part by a large youth presence at the polls, with some lines at universities being more than five hours long. michiganadvance.com/2022/11/10/bra…
“I was willing to wait however long I needed to” to vote for Proposal 3, said Hailey MacDonald, 21, an MSU senior who for nearly five hours. “I think I would have waited all night if I needed to. I mean, I can’t really put a timeframe on my rights." michiganadvance.com/2022/11/10/bra…
Nov 10, 2022 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Despite a strong push from Republicans to make the State Board of Education (BOE) races a referendum on LGBTQ+ issues, how racism is taught and past COVD-19 health policies, the party failed on Tuesday to pick up either seat on the Democratic-led board. michiganadvance.com/2022/11/10/gop…
Republicans also tried to make education — funding for vouchers and banning books — a key 2022 election issue, with gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon leading the charge. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer won in a rout with a 10.5% margin of victory. michiganadvance.com/2022/11/10/gop…
Nov 7, 2022 • 9 tweets • 4 min read
This has been the weirdest election I've covered in 22 years — conspiracy theories, outre comments and more. Here's what's stuck out to me, starting with the fact that GOP AG nominee Matt DePerno is under criminal investigation, which is a pretty big deal. michiganadvance.com/2022/10/12/und…
As a history major, I have to admit I was stunned listening to GOP gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon's mangled, fake version of U.S. history and racism with some bizarre COVID conspiracies thrown in. She would have flunked third-grade social studies. michiganadvance.com/2022/11/04/dix…
Nov 6, 2022 • 5 tweets • 3 min read
Former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election. to President Joe Biden. But top Republicans running in Michigan — including Tudor Dixon, Kristina Karamo and Matt DePerno — have spread conspiracy theories. Here's the @MichiganAdvance's reporting. michiganadvance.com/2022/10/09/her…
“Repeated false claims about 2020 have made election denial a key issue in many races this year, including for offices that will play a role in running or certifying the 2024 elections." - Ian Vandewalker of the Brennan Center. michiganadvance.com/2022/10/09/her…
Oct 15, 2022 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
If you've been watching the Michigan gov. race, it's clear that Fridays are when Republican Tudor Dixon, who's never run for office, goes off-message.
A short thread ...
In August, after winning the primary, Dixon gave an interview to FOX-2 when she was asked again about her position that 14-year-old rape victims shouldn't be able to get abortions. She said there can be "healing through that baby." michiganadvance.com/2022/08/21/dix…
Oct 15, 2022 • 7 tweets • 3 min read
GOP gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon told a crowd Friday afternoon that single working women in Michigan are living a “lonely life” — and that’s exactly what Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants, Dixon said. via @MichiganAdvancemichiganadvance.com/2022/10/15/dix…
“Families look all different ways. They’re the ones telling me that on a regular basis. ...This state, we don’t have support from the governor for families unless they look exactly the way she wants.” -Tudor Dixon @MichiganAdvancemichiganadvance.com/2022/10/15/dix…
Oct 15, 2022 • 5 tweets • 3 min read
West Michigan health care worker Anna VanderLaan got COVID in April 2020 and couldn't return back to work until Nov. 2021. She's one of an estimated 16.3 million working age Americans who reportedly have had Long COVID. @MichiganAdvancemichiganadvance.com/2022/10/15/as-…
“It was quite a journey to learn to walk again,” VanderLaan recalled.
Republicans are running on a parents' rights agenda, where government shouldn't tell parents what to do.
Except parents of trans kids. Michigan Republicans this week introduced legislation to throw them in prison for life. michiganadvance.com/2022/10/13/par…
GOP Rep. Ryan Berman on Tuesday introduced House Bill 6454, which would amend the definition of first degree child abuse to include anyone who “knowingly or intentionally consents to, obtains, or assists with a gender transition procedure for a child.” michiganadvance.com/2022/10/13/par…
Oct 8, 2022 • 7 tweets • 3 min read
GOP Secretary of State nominee Kristina Karamo says abortion is the foundational reason for her entry into politics:
“I’m pro-life from conception to natural death and that’s the reason I got into politics is to fight against abortion." @MichiganAdvancemichiganadvance.com/2022/10/08/kar…
It’s an unusual approach when seeking a post that includes “administering election law and voter registration, licensing drivers, registering and titling vehicles, regulating auto dealerships and repair facilities, licensing auto mechanics" and more. michiganadvance.com/2022/10/08/kar…
Oct 4, 2022 • 12 tweets • 5 min read
Perhaps more than any politician in the country, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has read this political moment right on abortion — and relished this fight in a key swing state. My latest column in the @MichiganAdvance. michiganadvance.com/2022/10/04/sus…
A turning point came in May, when Whitmer opted not to play it safe in her speech to CEOs, lobbyists and legislators at the Mackinac Policy Conference. She didn't just toss out a few platitudes about growing Michigan’s economy and call it a day. michiganadvance.com/2022/10/04/sus…
Oct 3, 2022 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Dixon hasn’t offered much when asked repeatedly about specifics about her proposals like banning “pornographic” books, as well as if she’d sign related bills pending in the Legislature on grooming, transgender athletes and expanding ELCRA. michiganadvance.com/2022/10/03/dix…
A Dixon spokesperson did not respond to the @MichiganAdvance's specific questions about whether she would sign bills that have been introduced related to her agenda or provide a list of specific books she wants banned from schools. michiganadvance.com/2022/10/03/dix…
Oct 3, 2022 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
In the 2020 presidential election, there were upwards of 150 poll workers in Detroit. Then came the right-wing conspiracy theories and lies that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump – and heavily Democratic Detroit had played a starring role. michiganadvance.com/2022/10/03/con…
In the wake of these lies, more than 400 Republican poll workers from throughout the state descended upon Michigan’s largest city, which is majority Black, for the August primary. @MichiganAdvance
Sep 27, 2022 • 9 tweets • 4 min read
Since Tudor Dixon has been running for the highest office in Michigan, she’s never come close to demonstrating mastery over any policy issue at the level she can unleash twisted quips about Gov. Whitmer getting kidnapped. Me, in the @MichiganAdvance. michiganadvance.com/2022/09/27/sus…
Let's start with Donald Trump, who endorsed Dixon and the entire Michigan GOP ticket, and has gone full QAnon since being under DOJ investigation for possible Espionage Act and obstruction of justice violations, among other legal problems. michiganadvance.com/2022/09/27/sus…
Sep 25, 2022 • 9 tweets • 5 min read
Despite the majority of people backing legal abortion, a right-wing Supreme Court – with five justices appointed by two Republican presidents who did not win the popular vote – has ended the right to abortion care nationwide. @MichiganAdvancemichiganadvance.com/2022/09/25/why…
“One thing I’ve been trying to highlight is the anti-abortion movement is not a new thing,” said Sen. Mallory McMorrow. “This has been years in the making; they started as soon as Roe was decided. It’s about control and about power. @MichiganAdvancemichiganadvance.com/2022/09/25/why…
Sep 24, 2022 • 16 tweets • 6 min read
I hope you'll take time to read this story, which includes Tudor Dixon's many comments Friday ridiculing Whitmer over the 2020 kidnapping plot against her, but also details the long history of Republicans dismissing the violence and spreading conspiracies. michiganadvance.com/2022/09/24/dix…
Dixon’s repeated comments on Friday mocking the foiled plot to kidnap and assassinate Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer have drawn widespread condemnation. She started in the morning when she was criticizing Whitmer's record on business. michiganadvance.com/2022/09/24/dix…
