Kyle Davidson, Michigan Advance

Michigan House Democrats on Tuesday came out in support of a resolution put forth by state Rep. Sharon MacDonell (D-Troy) aiming to censure Rep. Josh Schriver (R-Oxford) for “racist statements” made on the House Floor earlier this month.

Schriver, who was stripped of his staff, funds and committee assignment by former House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) last year for promoting the racist Great Replacement Theory on social media, spoke out on a set of policies intended to crack down on sanctuary cities and counties during the chamber’s May 1 session.

In his testimony, Schriver quoted former Presidential Advisor Patrick Buchanan’s book, “The Death of the West”, telling fellow lawmakers “The chasm in our country is not one of income, ideology or faith, but of ethnicity and loyalty.” ...

Tariffs weigh heavy on Detroit Chamber’s State of the Region as Trump pledges additional levies

by Kyle Davidson, Michigan Advance
April 1, 2025

While the Detroit Regional Chamber celebrated a resilient economy, low unemployment and a prosperous business environment in the region, President Donald Trump’s trade policies cast a cloud over the state’s future as business and political leaders warned that a trade war with Canada could bring particular harm to metro Detroit. ...

On the heels of former U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) retiring, newly minted Michigan senior U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Twp.) has announced he will not seek reelection in 2026, opening the field for what will likely be another hotly contested Senate race.

In a video posted to YouTube Tuesday, Peters discussed his experiences working in Congress, calling it the honor of his life, but stating he always knew there would come a time to pass the torch to the next generation of public servants.

“Our founding fathers envisioned members of Congress as citizens serving their country for a few terms and then returning to private life. I agree. After three terms in the House and two terms in the Senate, I believe now is time for me to write a few more paragraphs in my current chapter and turn over the reins. I will therefore not seek reelection in 2026,” Peters said. ...

With U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint) announcing last year that he would not seek reelection in 2024, Michigan’s 8th Congressional District is at a critical juncture, as Democrats are seeking to retain control of the seat while Republicans look to flip a battleground district.

Control of the U.S. House also is on the line, with Republicans currently enjoying a slim majority.

In August, state Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet secured the Democratic nomination amid a number of high-profile endorsements including Kildee, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and U.S. Reps. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) and Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor). Former President Donald Trump-endorsed Republican nominee Paul Junge is seeking another shot at the seat, after losing to Kildee by more than 10 points in 2022. ...

Throughout election season, jobs and the economy have been a central issue for both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, each presidential candidate has floated their own proposals for protecting and building up American manufacturing.

While Harris has proposed closing tax loopholes for some large corporations and providing government support for specific areas of the manufacturing sector like clean energy and semiconductors, Trump has pointed to tariffs as a key component of his trade policy, proposing a 10% or 20% tariff on all imported goods and a 60% tariff on goods imported from China.

Trump has also proposed a reciprocal trade policy, where the U.S. would charge countries the same tariff for their goods if they raise tariffs on American goods above what the U.S. has imposed for the same type of products. ...