When the headline tells the story

A tale of two endorsements:

Following Democrat Chedrick Greene’s win in the 35th Michigan Senate special election, Republican state Rep. Angela Rigas of Caledonia posts on Facebook: “It's weird to me that one could serve our country and be a democrat.” Greene is a former US Marine.

BREAKING: Republican Jason Tunney has conceded the Special Election for Michigan’s 35th Senate District, leaving Democrat Chedrick Greene as the winner, and keeping Democrats in control of the chamber through 2026.

Republican Jason Tunney has conceded the Special Election for Michigan’s 35th Senate District, leaving Democrat Chedrick Greene as the winner, and keeping Democrats in control of the chamber through 2026.

A tale of two realities: Michigan elections vs. GOP misinformation michiganadvance.com/2026/05/05/a... Commentary from Michigan Advance Editor-in-Chief Jon King @jonkingnews.bsky.social

In a world of Bari Weiss’ - be Sharyn Alfonsi

Downtown Lansing

Throughout the @michleague.bsky.social policy forum, @kdavidsonjrn.bsky.social reports speakers grappled with the United States’ long history of systemic exclusion, and how individuals barred from exercising the same power as the men who founded the U.S. can reshape that system for the good of all.

GM investing another $300M in Romulus plant as part of $6B nationwide plan  michiganadvance.com/briefs/gm-in... From @jonkingnews.bsky.social

Gathered for the Michigan United Coalition’s annual Capitol Day and Mothering Justice Action Fund’s annual Mamas March, advocates from around the state met in Lansing on Wednesday to demand state legislators pass policies addressing illness, voter disenfranchisement, data center impacts and poverty.

11 am: America goes back to 1964 7 pm: America goes back to 1944

A major shout to the Michigan Advance team, which won 26 Michigan Press Association awards, including eight 1st place nods for Spot News, Government/Political News, Business News, Agriculture News, Best Opinion, News Photo, Best Photo and Best Digital Presentation. michiganpress.org/wp-content/u...

Ahmad Alnajdawi of Jordan stated that language barriers prevent many detainees from communicating with staff or immigration officials. “They cannot talk to anyone. The food here is pitiful. I want the people outside to know, they’re treating us like animals.” By @jonkingnews.bsky.social

The Advance’s @bensolis1.bsky.social reports that Michigan’s Republican-led House and Democratic-led Senate have put new fiscal year K-12 funding bills in play michiganadvance.com/2026/04/21/m...

No lies detected

Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit wins the Michigan Democratic Party endorsement for attorney general in a win for the party's progressive wing.

Lt. Gov. @garlingilchrist.bsky.social has won the Michigan Democratic Party's endorsement for secretary of state on the first ballot.

"That's what you get when you don't have a message," U.S. Senate candidate @abdulelsayed.bsky.social says as the band passes by his media availability.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has arrived for the MDP Legacy Dinner and lots of folks immediately lined up for photos. The theme of tonight's fundraiser is "celebrating a legacy of getting the job done," honoring Whitmer. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear will speak later.

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, who is running for governor, is invited to read the Pledge of Allegiance at the MDP's Legacy Dinner with very brief remarks. Unclear if other candidates will be appearing at tonight's fundraiser.

"The thing I feel positive about is that we will get through any difficult moment in our country's history with two things: engaged citizens and principled leaders," Sen. @elissaslotkin.bsky.social says at the MDP Legacy Dinner.

The voices missing from the ceasefire table michiganadvance.com/2026/04/17/t... Commentary from Dr. Mitra Aliabouzar, an Iranian dissident, who serves as a Research Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Radiology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Great panels at the Council on Foreign Relations workshop, but also a wonderful chance to connect with fellow journalists and other State Newsroom editors. Always glad to see such an investment in local journalism.

The drama pitted an incumbent, Jordan Acker, against a challenger, Amir Makeld, in a war of words, attack ads that landed in party members’ mailboxes and text messages, and the excavation of old social media posts — some dealing with Israel’s war in Gaza. Story by @roththereporter.bsky.social

The Department of Justice’s stated reason for obtaining sensitive personal data on millions of voters masks the Trump administration’s true intention for obtaining state voter lists, Michigan’s top election official asserted in federal appeals court Monday. Story by @jonshorman.bsky.social

Seems fine. “NOTUS found that at least twice in 2025, the agency redirected money to ICE that was originally intended for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office: one lump of money for training and another for a national biosurveillance center.” www.notus.org/immigration/...

Fluoride in drinking water has no effect on IQ or brain function, a long-term study shows. The new research is the first to measure community water fluoridation exposure during childhood and any potential impact on cognition up to age 80. The results contradict RFK Jr. statements.

My god. Essential, horrifying reporting here.

Alongside U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett, Rollins joined reporters at the university’s Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center to announce the opening of applications for the department’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative, as well as the Specialty Crop Block Grant. Story by @kdavidsonjrn.bsky.social

Heading to New York City to represent @michiganadvance.com and @statesnewsroom.com at the Council on Foreign Relations Local Journalists Workshop. ✏️📓 aka DTW to LGA to rep MA and SN at CFR

The Founders provided multiple mechanisms to deal with an unfit president. What they could not provide was the courage to use them.

Current status of the Strait of Hormuz dispute

For those keeping score at home: ☑️ First he demanded the strait be opened ☑️ Then didn’t care if it was open ☑️ Then demanded again it be opened ☑️ Now says U.S. will "begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz" 🤓🤪😭

first in my bloodline to see someone get excommunicated by a community note

Are sovereign Tribal lands the next target for AI companies?

Greetings from the campus of Michigan State University. There is a line wrapping around two buildings to see @abdulelsayed.bsky.social and Hasan Piker, so this room is about to be FULL. There is an overflow room, but that might also fill up, and they might turn some away. Wild times.

Blue Cross wants to pay less, my son may pay the price michiganadvance.com/2026/04/06/b... Commentary in today’s @michiganadvance.com

Waiting now on the longitude and latitude coordinates

“The decisions here … absolutely seem to be preemptive in order to save face and not cause any disturbances,” the second former staffer said, adding there was concern about “engaging in conversations that might take the participant out of the context of Europe, 1933 to 1945, and into present day.”

It’s going great

Have they tried swearing at it? That always worked for me.

Sen. Wyden has something to say…

On today’s episode of “How’s that war going?” www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Our bonkers story of the day Christy Gillenwater was introduced as a “retired senior management consultant” at a Michigan House committee to discuss AI and data centers. One problem: Gillenwater is a meditation instructor. michiganadvance.com/2026/03/27/c... Story from @kdailey.bsky.social

The White House has weighed in on No Kings

Think voting doesn’t matter? 766 votes.

I lost my jobs, my kids have measles, I can't afford steak, and gas is $5 a gallon. But at least now there's a statue of Christopher Columbus on the White House grounds.

Which is exactly why we need MORE data centers 🤪