As the holidays approach, it’s nice to sit back and relax. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry however, has a different idea…
It’s two days before Christmas, and nobody wants to think about the hard stuff we’ve got to do [...] 
As the holidays approach, it’s nice to sit back and relax. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry however, has a different idea…
It’s two days before Christmas, and nobody wants to think about the hard stuff we’ve got to do [...] As the Michigan Legislature continues to fight over federal education funding, Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry is wondering why Lansing always seems to be the Grinch…
Christmas is a week from today, and the state is full of haggard people [...] As the state unemployment rate continues to be in the double digits… Michigan Radio’s political analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks dealing with job loss may require us to turn to an almost forbidden word…
Today I want to say something shocking, so [...] Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox ruled yesterday that it is, sometimes, illegal for politicians to spend campaign finance money to defend themselves against criminal charges. Michigan Radio’s political analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at what exactly this ruling means...
[...] Lieutenant Governor John Cherry has a proposal to restore the Michigan Promise Scholarship by taxing water that’s bottled in the state. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks this idea is interesting for reasons that have nothing to do with water...
It’s Monday afternoon, and Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks we should all be sobered up. What’s more, he thinks our legislature should be, too…
Generally speaking, it is better to be sober than drunk, especially on a Monday [...] The legislature passed a workplace smoking ban yesterday. Governor Granholm is expected to sign it into law. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks what went on behind the scenes in Lansing holds some important lessons…
Yesterday, after years of struggle, [...] The state has published the Michigan Manual every two years since the 1830’s.
Now, some want to do away with the reference book. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks that’s a terrible idea.
You may not know this, but the State [...] Yesterday, we learned that Detroit Public School students had the lowest math scores that have ever been recorded. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks we need to reexamine our priorities… fast.
Two things happened yesterday which, taken together, ought to [...] Once again, there seems to be a chance of passing a workplace smoking ban. Michigan Radio’s political analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at the fine art of legislative compromise…
State Senator Ron Jelinek, a Republican from the Southwest corner of [...] For years, the Great Lakes have been threatened by the approach of Asian carp coming up the Mississippi. Now, at last, politicians seem to be taking notice. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at the politics of carp...
Michigan Weekend Update:
Speaker Dillon tells Jack Lessenberry that next year's budget deficit might be as high as $2.8B - much higher than the $1.6B that had been previously mentioned. What happens if BFF Mike Bishop [...]
The legislature will soon be finished for the year, but when they return in January, they will face another budget deficit. Michigan Radio’s political analyst Jack Lessenberry spoke with the Michigan Speaker of the House about what lies ahead…
I talked [...] This week’s sudden ouster of General Motors’ chairman sent shock waves through the auto industry. But Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry remembers something very similar that happened once before...
For those with reasonably long memories, this week’s ouster of [...] The Michigan Supreme Court adopted a new rule last week that is designed to give people more confidence in the integrity of their decision-making. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry explains…
Michigan’s highest court hasn’t been the worst state supreme court in the [...] The Michigan Legislature returns today, and turns its attention to a package of education reforms that could mean $400 million dollars in federal funding. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks they need to move fast.
In the last few months, the politicians [...]
Last week, a new paper called the Detroit Daily Press began publishing. It lasted less than a week. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry looks at the troubled newspaper business today.
Newspapers in this country have been in trouble ever since a thing [...]
Jack Lessenberry wrote last week about how a new poll on the governor's race focused on negatives ... Lessenberry thought it was cooked up by consultants to figure out how to attack people. Today, George Weeks publishes a column on it. People who write about politics say lots [...]
Many people set their alarm clocks for the wee hours of the morning today in order to take advantage of all of those shopping deals. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks he knows why people do it… and it’s not necessarily for the sales…
On this Thanksgiving Day, Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has some things we should be thankful for…
Here’s an arresting statistic: If the Detroit Lions somehow win their traditional Thanksgiving football game today, they will have won as many games [...] Democrat Alma Wheeler Smith is running for governor on an unusual platform. She wants to raise taxes. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry thinks that might not be as politically crazy as it sounds.
Politicians these days survive bankruptcy, extramarital affairs, and drug [...] A new poll came out yesterday about what people are looking for in a Governor. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks the poll actually shows us what kind of campaign we should NOT want…
Years ago, I had to stay [...] The University of Michigan’s annual economic forecast got plenty of attention last week for its job loss predictions. But Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry says the real news from the seminar was largely overlooked.
The University of Michigan unveiled its [...] The legislature is still in session, and U of M's annual
economic forecast indicates we've got more hard times ahead. Senior
Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has a suggestion as to how we might get
beyond this.
Here's the good news. Just in case you [...]
