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While Michigan Democrats continue to enact legislation focused on making lives better for working families, democracy is under assault from MAGA Republicans across the nation. The leader of the Republican Party has called for defunding the FBI and Justice Department even as their congressional leaders call for across-the-board cuts that defund police nationwide. MAGA Republicans continue attacks on fair-and-open elections, the civil rights of the trans community, the reproductive healthcare rights of women, and even on drag queens.
On this week’s podcast, MDP chair Lavora Barnes discusses
- The expulsion of two Democratic legislators from the Tennessee House of Representatives
- Still more criminal problems for Michigan Republicans
- Attacks on the rights of transgender Americans by MAGA-dominated legislatures
- Michigan’s new marketing campaigns for businesses, professionals and visitors: the un-Florida!
- The big win for fair elections and reproductive healthcare rights in Wisconsin
Stories We’re Following This Week
Reproductive Healthcare Rights
- Governor Whitmer Repeals Michigan’s Extreme 1931 Abortion Ban
- Texas judge suspends FDA approval of abortion pill mifepristone – The Washington Post
- Statement from President Joe Biden on Decision in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA – The White House
- Statement from Vice President Harris on Decision in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA – The White House
- Opinion | The Abortion Ban Backlash Is Starting to Freak Out Republicans – The New York Times
Marketing Michigan
- Gov. Whitmer Launches New Bold Approach to Marketing the State as Home of Opportunity for All
- Lt. Gov. Gilchrist Announces Innovative Partnership to Attract and Retain Investment Professionals in Michigan
- Gov. Whitmer Announces Hemlock Semiconductor Joins State Partnership to Lower Cost of Child Care for Employees
Gun Safety and the Tennessee House Expulsions
- Tennessee lawmakers expelled by House GOP: Reps. Pearson, Jones ousted – The Tennessean
- Tennessee lawmakers’ removal part of a GOP effort to tamp down dissent – The Washington Post
- Vice President Harris travels to Tennessee to meet with expelled lawmakers – The Washington Post
- What top Republican lawmakers said about the Nashville school shooting – The Washington Post
- White House calls Ron DeSantis ‘shameful’ for signing Florida gun bill – The Washington Post
- Michigan Democrats have more ideas on gun safety, labor, civil rights – Detroit Free Press
State Government
- Former House Speaker Rick Johnson, others charged in marijuana bribery case ⋆ Michigan Advance
- Benson in wake of Johnson scandal: Lobbying law rewrite overdue – Detroit News
- Michigan insurers will cover preventive screenings during ACA appeals – Detroit Free Press
- Gilchrist touts Democrats’ policies as party nears 100 days in control
Wisconsin Supreme Court
- Democrats’ choice wins key Wisconsin Supreme Court race – AP News
- Janet Protasiewicz defeats Dan Kelly in Wisconsin Supreme Court race – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
- (3) Judge Janet Protasiewicz on how to pronounce her name – Twitter
GOP Attacks on LGBTQ Rights
- Indiana governor signs ban on gender-affirming health care – AP News
- GOP lawmakers override veto of transgender bill in Kentucky – AP News
- Florida Senate approves ban on transgender treatments for kids – POLITICO
- North Dakota advances suite of restrictions on trans rights – AP News
- West Virginia governor signs ban on gender-affirming care – AP News
- Kansas passes trans bathroom bill; Arkansas OKs own version – AP News
- Utah Is “Protecting” LGBTQ+ Kids by Letting Their Parents Read All Their Messages – Mother Jones
- High court: Trans girl can run girls track in West Virginia – AP News