Inbox: The Lincoln Project, a PAC formed by Republicans to defeat Donald Trump, is now buying ads against companies that donated to Republicans who voted not to certify the 2020 election in Jan.
Their first target is Toyota.
They said that they were the Republican electors there to cast their vote for president. State police declined to let them enter the building or leave votes offered in a manila envelope
Inbox: The Lincoln Project, a PAC formed by Republicans to defeat Donald Trump, is now buying ads against companies that donated to Republicans who voted not to certify the 2020 election in Jan.
Their first target is Toyota.
Confirmed by DOT: Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg and his husband Chasten are now Michigan residents (Traverse City, Chasten’s hometown) and plan to vote there this fall.
The "you're a Michiganian now" starter pack for
@SecretaryPete
:
- Faygo, Coney dogs, pączki
- The Lions are always bad
- Euchre
- People hate Ohio
- Argue over where 'Up North' begins
- Using your hand as a map
The Senate confirms MSU economist Lisa Cook to the Federal Reserve Board with a 50-50 tie vote broken by Vice President Kamala Harris. She will be the first Black woman on the board.
Michigan Court of Claims rules Sec. of State Jocelyn Benson did have the legal authority to send absentee ballot applications to all 7.7 million registered Michigan voters.
Buttigieg says he started his day with Chasten and his kids at their house in Traverse City.
The "very existence of our household" came about because of one SCOTUS vote, he says, and the Roe leak raises the question of "what appears to be a continued push to roll back rights."
Changes! Today is my last day with the
@detroitnews
. I’m taking a little time off before heading to
@USATODAY
to cover Congress & campaigns. I’m sad to say goodbye to the wonderful team at the News, but pumped for this new opportunity.
Today is my first day covering Congress and campaigns for
@USATODAY
!
I’m so excited to get started. My DMs are open — say hi and let me know what you want to read about.
On my watch, the great American road trip is going to be fully electrified.
And now, through a tax credit, you can get up to $7,500 on a new electric vehicle.
Sec. of State's office says 28,000 people in Michigan have already cast absentee ballots in the 5 days since early voting opened.
2.5 million absentee ballot requests have been received and 2 million have been issued so far.
James campaign just retweeted this. However, ten percent of the state's precincts — mostly in D strongholds like Detroit and Flint — remain to be counted.
On Monday I’m joining the
@detroitnews
as a Washington Correspondent! I’m moving to DC later this year to cover federal politics and auto regulations.
Send me tips — I’m interested in how policy affects consumers, workers, climate and more. So excited for what lies ahead. 🍾
INBOX: Rep. Andy Levin, Rep. Rashida Tlaib and several other progressive members of Congress introduce legislation that would spend $500 billion over the next 10 years to electrify public transportation.
Gibbs seen here talking to former President Donald Trump.
"I'll see you soon. I'm very proud of you, John," Trump could be heard saying through the phone. (h/t John Barnes)
SOS spox says they're hearing reports of live calls (not robocalls) in Flint and Grand Rapids telling voters that they could be arrested at the polls if they have warrants out. This is NOT true. Spox says they're not sure how widespread these calls are.
With about 30 minutes left until Michigan electors cast their vote for Joe Biden, a protest at the state capitol has largely failed to materialize. Only around 8 protesters, most of whom are arguing about legal challenges to the election.
On Progressive Caucus press call, Rep. Pramila Jayapal says "there will be tax increases on corporations and the ultra wealthy" in the Democratic reconciliation package
Four days spent waiting in a truck cab. Bottles of urine left on the ground outside. Fights over attempted cutting in line.
Drivers delivering holiday packages to Metro Detroit face hellish conditions amid a crush of shipments and a thin postal workforce
Per the Sec. of State's office, a Dearborn voter received a text message claiming there's a problem with ballot sensors in tabulators, so to cast your vote for one presidential candidate you actually had to vote for the other. THIS IS NOT TRUE and is being investigated by the AG.
Exclusive: Michigan Reps. Elissa Slotkin and Dan Kildee introduce House bill to suspend the 18.4-cent-per-gallon federal gas tax through the end of the year.
Secretaries Granholm and Buttigieg arrive (in a Ford Mustang Mach-E) at an EV charging station in Maryland to launch a joint office overseeing nationwide EV charging rollout
“Moving to Chasten’s hometown of Traverse City allowed them to be closer to his parents, which became especially important to them after they adopted their twins, often relying on Chasten’s parents for help with child care,” per DOT spox.
The confirmation hearing for former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to the position of Secretary of Energy is about to begin. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) and Rep. Fred Upton (R) will introduce her. She's joined by her husband, Daniel Mulhern.
Lots of smart people don't know things like this! I mention it because it's interesting. Being ashamed of what you don't know is not a great way to keep learning or to help others learn.
New: A federal court dismisses a case from Michigan Republicans seeking to shut down the new redistricting commission, arguing they failed to state a legitimate claim.
Sec. Pete Buttigieg announces funding for the I-375 project in Detroit.
It’s also the morning after they helped broker a deal avoiding a rail strike that would have had big impacts on the economy: “Not a lot of us slept much last night.”
Benson said the protesters outside the TCF Center were there to "cause a lot of distraction" and "if they thought they were going to intimidate or stop anyone from doing their job inside the TCF Center, they don't know Detroit."
It's 8 p.m. in most of Michigan (4 counties in the UP are in Central Time), which means polls are closed.
If you're already in line at a polling place, don't leave — you will be allowed to vote.
The Detroit Three had the lowest fuel economy and highest CO2 emissions of major manufacturers' Model Year 2021 vehicles, according to EPA report released today.
GM and Stellantis vehicles have actually INCREASED emissions over the last 5 years.
Very Michigan media niche but: I watched Scream 4 tonight and thought I spotted an extra that looked exactly like
@DevinScillian
. Went back to review his doppelganger and, reader, it WAS DEVIN SCILLIAN
Rep. Fred Upton (R) says he and Reps. Dingell (D), Meijer (R), Slotkin (D) and Stevens (D) will be part of the "Problems Solver Caucus" that first formed in Jan. 2017, a group of moderate members from both parties that work toward bipartisan solutions. Upton is vice chair.
Look out for a set of “End Taxation Without Representation” plates in the central and western UP this week! My co-pilot and I are around doing some reporting for the
@detroitnews
. Come say hi 👋
This is a new one in Election Day mishaps: SOS says someone accidentally drove into a polling place in Coloma Township. There were no injuries.
"The driver said she needed to go speak with her insurance company, and then would return to vote."
Rep. Dan Kildee tells reporters it's a "possibility" they will change the union provision of proposed EV tax credit legislation if there's another way to reward companies w/ very high labor standards.
"It's been a difficult path" to find a compromise "but we're open to it."
@egraceridd
I am so sorry you've had to go through this. I'm a reporter with The Detroit News and would love to hear about your experience if you feel up for it. If not, I 100% understand. My DMs are open. Take care of yourself today
Standing ovation from Democrats over the line that EVs would save consumers money on gas (coming as gas prices are highest they've been in 7+ years). Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, jumped out of her seat to applaud. Sec. Pete Buttigieg was practically beaming.
Rep. Debbie Dingell wearing red for the UAW (+UAW pin) today on the Hill. Also spotted Reps. Rashida Tlaib, AOC and and Ilhan Omar and others in red today
Michigan, why tequila though?
"Multiple alcohol retailers tell MLive there has been a noticeable increase in tequila sales, specifically of high-end tequila or añejo-style tequila" that runs up to $300 a bottle,
@GusBurns
notes.
This is something I’ve heard multiple times from organizers — so far, GOP has been more often campaigning in person while Dems have largely stuck to remote events due to COVID concerns. It may be safer, but also may cause problems for Dems. Seems like they’re changing course
It’s true, I’m leaving Bridge 😭 (I’ll be here through the election — more to come on what’s next!)
In the meantime, consider applying for my job! DMs open, I’m happy to answer any questions about what it’s like
Ok another interesting element: Commercial vehicles that qualify are also eligible for a $7.5k credit.
UNLESS they're more than 14k lbs (think semi-trucks).
Then they qualify for a $40,000 credit or 30% of the cost of the vehicle (whatever is less).
A handful of polling places in Detroit may have opened late this morning because election workers didn't show up last minute. The SOS's office, for the first time ever, sent out 35 workers to supplement.
"I would say this is in direct relation to the pandemic," SOS spox says.
The bipartisan infrastructure bill is out. It includes a requirement that all new vehicles include anti-drunk driving technology beginning 3 years after publication of the new rule (p. 1,067)
We are proud to announce our Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship 2021 class.
Over the course of the year, these fellows will discuss politics and policy with regulators, lawmakers, experts and the best reporters in the business.
Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg schedules an appearance at Grand Rapids's airport on Monday, July 11th to tout $8.7 million in federal $ it will receive for improvements.
More on the funding here:
I chatted with Sec. Buttigieg after his appearance at the Mackinac Policy Conference today: "Really, really important things are at stake here... I don't think it stops at Roe."
Transportation
@SecretaryPete
will attend the Mackinac Policy Conference on Mackinac Island next week — which famously does not allow cars. (Plenty of bikes, though)
Michigan is one of only two states that STILL exempts both the Governor’s office and the Legislature from FOIA requests - laws that can give the public access to crucial information about their leaders.
Live look at status of expanding FOIA to governor's office and Legislature after Senate completed voting action for the term tonight. Translation: It's dead.
Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg still a no on running to succeed Sen. Debbie Stabenow in 2024. (He and husband Chasten live near Traverse City now.)
“I don’t have any plans to do any job besides the one I’ve got,” he says in live convo with
@PunchbowlNews
Absentee voting update from the
@MichSoS
: 744,640 absentee ballots have been sent out so far for the Michigan primary election March 10.
At the same point in the 2016 election cycle, they’d sent out 429,344. That’s a 73% increase.
Traffic from the protest lined up past Sparrow Hospital, where a brand new coronavirus testing unit was set up today. Entrances aren’t blocked, but you’d have to drive in turn lanes to get in.
Huge news: I just got a plot in my community garden and am about to evolve into my final Midwest cottagecore form.
Any gardeners here have tips or resources for a first timer? What do you wish you knew for your first garden?
Michiganians on the South Lawn at the White House chips bill signing this AM: State House D Leader Donna Lasinski, US Rep. Debbie Dingell, state Rep. Mari Manoogian, and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan