top of page
Research Service Inc.
All Posts


How Are Phone Apps Supposed To Check Users' Ages?
A trade association cautioned about the impact on app developers as states consider laws requiring app stores to verify users’ ages before downloading certain apps.
Feb 123 min read


Funding Medicaid Takes Center Stage in Gov's $88B Budget Proposal
Facing a $1.8 billion budget hole going into Fiscal Year (FY) 2027, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proposed on Wednesday an $88.1 billion spending plan based on roughly $800 million in tax increases, $630 million in cuts and $400 million from the rainy day fund.
Feb 125 min read


Attendees Find Duggan's Interactive Approach Refreshing
“How many of you guys think this plan has merit?” said 2026 gubernatorial candidate Mike Duggan.
Feb 114 min read


Slotkin: Prosecutors Fail To Get Indictment Against Her
U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) said on Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s prosecutors failed to get a grand jury indictment against her for her role in a 90-second social media video reminding Armed Services members they should disobey illegal orders.
Feb 112 min read


Kid Rock, Bumstead Back John James as GOP Governor Race Heats Up
Musician Robert Ritchie, known by his stage name Kid Rock, endorsed John James (R-Shelby Township)' Republican bid to run for governor hours before his performance at a Turning Point USA event for the Super Bowl halftime show.
Feb 101 min read


Trump Seeks To Halt Gordie Howe Bridge, Cites Economic Risks
In a post on Truth Social on Monday, President Donald Trump said Canada has treated the United States unfairly for decades and claimed the Gordie Howe Bridge was built with little U.S. content and that Canada must come to the negotiating table before the project is allowed to open.
Feb 102 min read


Here's Something Nation Agrees On
It's old news that America today is deeply divided along a lot of different fault lines.
Feb 92 min read


AI Use In '26 Election Campaigns Is Plowing New Ground
Artificial intelligence is being used by campaigns in the 2026 election cycle. It is new territory and its usage is plowing new ground.
Feb 94 min read


Johnson Pushes Anti-Bad Bunny Super Bowl Show As Part Of $3M Buy
Republican gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson will urge viewers as part of a $3 million advertising buy to change the channel during halftime of Sunday's Super Bowl to the “Turning Point All American Halftime Show” instead of the NFL's official Bad Bunny halftime show.
Feb 61 min read


Nesbitt On Trump’s Pitch To 'Nationalize' Detroit Elections: Sounds Good!
President Donald Trump's suggestion in the Oval Office Wednesday that federal officials should step in to administer elections in Detroit drew swift, same-day condemnations from top Democratic leaders in Michigan.
Feb 63 min read


AG Launches Immigration Action Reporting Form
Attorney General Dana Nessel launched a new reporting form to collect information from residents regarding immigration action in Michigan.
Feb 52 min read


Prior Governors Urge Civility; Current Officials Say It's Hard In Today's Environment
Michigan's last four governors called for folks to dial back the vitriol in today's politics, with each taking a unique twist on the subject of civility during a special lunchtime panel put on by the Ford Presidential Foundation and Michiganders for Civic Resilience.
Feb 54 min read


Keeping Candidate Addresses Off Petitions Considered In Committee
The objectives of ensuring candidates and elected officials' privacy while also making their areas of residence more transparent to voters might seem to be somewhat in tension. A Rachelle Smit (R-Shelbyville) bill looks to move toward both.
Feb 43 min read


Greene, Tunney Win Special Primaries, Moving On To SD-35 May General Election
Democrat Chedrick Greene, a Saginaw fire captain, and Republican Saginaw attorney Jason Tunney won their respective primaries Tuesday night in the 35th Senate District covering Michigan's competitive tri-cities and advance to the May 5 special General Election.
Feb 45 min read


Thanedar Gets One Donation From Detroit In 4Q; More Congressional News
U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit), the deep-pocketed entrepreneur who has financed his entire political career from his own checkbook, reported raising one $2,500 donation from his own district in the Oct. 1-Dec. 31 reporting quarter.
Feb 35 min read


Competitive State Senate Primaries To Watch Ahead Of Aug. 4
The Aug. 4 primaries are 183 days for Michigan, and MIRS recently looked at some contested primaries to watch in the state Senate, as 18 of the chamber's 38 seats will for certain not have incumbents running for reelection in them.
Feb 34 min read


Slow Signature Filings Raise Questions, But Not Necessarily Red Flags, For 2026 Primary Election
As of Jan. 30, only three congressional candidates have submitted signatures to qualify for Michigan's 2026 primary election, a slowdown that one election compliance professional said is not unusual this far out from the filing deadline.
Feb 23 min read


Benton Harbor Drinking Water Lawsuits Continue After Appeals Court Decision
Lawsuits against the Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE) arising out of elevated lead levels in Benton Harbor water will continue after an appeals panel denied the state’s request to dismiss the cases.
Feb 22 min read


Unwanted Telemarketers Face Bigger Fines Under Senate-Passed Bills
Telemarketers peddling for-profit products to those on the federal do-not-call list with a fake phone number, a pre-recorded caller and no established consumer-business relationship face as much as a $75,000 civil fine under five bills that passed the Senate unanimously on Thursday.
Jan 303 min read


Overflow Crowd Listens To Bills Limiting ICE's Abilities In MI
The hearing room reached its maximum capacity as the Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee continued testimony on bills aimed at limiting immigration enforcement's abilities in Michigan, like by outlawing masked officers and prohibiting public bodies from releasing personal information without court-issued warrants.
Jan 305 min read
bottom of page
