Michigan governor will use her State of the State address to propose limits on cellphone use in schools ‘to improve student mental health and outcomes.’
Simon D. Schuster
Simon D. Schuster is a Capitol Reporter for Bridge Michigan. Simon joined Bridge Michigan in 2024 after working as MLive's senior political reporter and later covering politics on their investigative team. He spent three years tracking the influence of political money in Michigan as executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, a nonpartisan nonprofit. A Michigan native, Simon received a bachelor's and a master of public policy from Michigan State University, where he was a policy fellow at the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. Outside of work you'll find him in Detroit, backpacking northern Michigan or visiting his fiancée in Scandinavia. He lives in Lansing.
Posted inMichigan Government
Gretchen Whitmer: I want to find ‘common ground’ with Donald Trump
The Michigan governor talks tariffs with Trump this weekend and offers praise for Republican House Speaker Matt Hall, saying he has the ‘guts and brains’ to propose a plan to fix Michigan’s roads.
Posted inMichigan Government
Hertel, Runestad win chair races as Michigan Republicans reject Trump pick
State Sen. Jim Runestad will serve as Michigan GOP chair after beating Trump-endorsed Meshawn Maddock at convention. Democrats pick Curtis Hertel Jr. to lead the state party headed into 2026 elections.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan lawmakers overhaul paid leave, wage laws in last-minute deal
With less than an hour before paid sick leave and wage increase were set to take effect, Michigan lawmakers took final votes on a bipartisan deal to change them.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Democrats, GOP to pick new leaders as battle for 2026 begins
With huge races looming in 2026, Michigan’s major parties will select new leaders on Saturday. Frontrunners include a ‘fake elector’ still battling criminal charges and a recently failed congressional candidate.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Beth Clement stepping down
Clement’s departure means Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will be able to appoint a replacement for the Republican nominee.
Posted inMichigan Government
With ‘emergency deadline’ near, Michigan House approves tipped wage deal
Plan to scale back tipped wage increase is heading to Gov. Whitmer, but ‘chaos is coming’ without deal on paid sick leave by Friday, says GOP leader.
Posted inMichigan Government
Top lawmaker wants to close Michigan ‘revolving door’ to lobbyist jobs
Every two years, a new crop of term-limited Michigan lawmakers quickly become lobbyists. A new plan would create a two-year cooling-off period.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan House, Senate at odds as minimum wage and sick leave laws loom
Michigan minimum wage and paid sick leave laws take effect Feb. 21 — unless the Legislature changes them first.
Posted inMichigan Government
Whitmer's $3B plan to fix Michigan roads calls for more corporate, marijuana taxes
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants the Legislature to work with her on a plan to increase road fixes by $3 billion a year. Her plan seeks $1.7 billion in new corporate taxes and $470 million from a marijuana wholesale tax.