East Lansing's police chief is facing calls to resign after saying the city had a “disproportionate number of minorities come into the community and commit crimes.” She has apologized for “unintentionally offending members of the community.”

Watching leaves turn hues of orange and red as temperatures begin to drop is a favorite fall activity for many Michigan residents. But this year’s display could be a little less dazzling due to drought conditions in the lower parts of the state.

It sure looks like AI was used in these #TSTheLifeOfAShowgirl promotional videos, unless Taylor Swift has learned a new alphabet and retroactively redesigned the surprise song piano. (Though, as a caveat, it’s unclear how involved she is in this scavenger hunt and how much of it is Google.)

U.S. Senate candidate @abdulelsayed.bsky.social says his young daughters are front of mind when taking precautions. But they also increase his resolve. “I don’t want them to grow up in a world where people get shot because of their political opinions. That means you have to work toward that world."

Senate candidate @mallorymcmorrow.bsky.social is concerned political violence will deter people from public office. “We all understand when we get into these jobs that we expect a level of scrutiny,” she said. “We don’t expect somebody showing up at your house with a premeditated plan to kill you.”

Sheriff Chris @swanson4mi.bsky.social said he feels safe campaigning for governor, since he always carries his firearm, badge and handcuffs. But his wife has concerns after seeing officials targeted at home. “It’s human nature to think that could have been me, and nobody’s immune from it.”

Democratic candidates for statewide office in Michigan say they are taking additional precautions but won’t back down amid an “escalating pattern of political violence.” My latest for @michiganadvance.com:

Taylor Swift has officially given us Pop Bible 2.0 with #TSTheLifeOfAShowgirl. This is a completely new sound for her, not an iterative evolution or rehash of anything she’s done before. Not a single skip from beginning to end. An instant classic.

Michigan’s state government has been funded for one week, until Oct. 8, after the Senate passed a short-term budget 31-2 and the House passed it 103-4. Constitutional question of whether the governor can direct the government to operate without funding is now mostly moot.

The Michigan Legislature has failed to pass a budget by the constitutional deadline of Oct. 1, joining the federal government. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says via press release that state departments will continue operating, though the mechanics and constitutionality of such a maneuver are unclear.

Lansing City Council President Ryan Kost says he is filing a complaint with Attorney General Dana Nessel after a flyer mailed to Lansing residents by the commission tasked with rewriting the city’s charter used persuasive language about the proposed changes.

Jimmy Kimmel mentions Lansing during his second monologue back on the air. His show is being preempted by the Nexstar-owned affiliate in Michigan’s capital city.

Jimmy Kimmel responds to Donald Trump: “You can’t believe they gave me my job back? I can’t believe we gave you your job back.” “He does know bad ratings,” Kimmel says as he displays Trump’s approval ratings on screen.

Kimmel responds to Trump saying he doesn’t get ratings: “I do tonight!” “You almost feel bad for him,” he says. “He tried to get me canceled, instead he forced millions to watch my show. That backfired bigly.” “He might have to release the Epstein files to distract from this.”

“This show isn’t important,” Kimmel says. “What’s important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.” He says he took it for granted until Colbert’s cancellation and his own suspension, which he calls un-American.

Kimmel: “If you are just joining us, we are preempting your regularly scheduled encore of Celebrity Family Feud to bring you this special report.”

The broadcasters for the MSU football game saying “it’s like a mini car accident” when two players hit helmets and “this is the worst part of football” before reaching the conclusion moments later that “it is required, it is part of the job description.”

Vice President JD Vance in Howell to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: “Gretchen, we are happy to send the National Guard to Detroit, Michigan. All you have to do is ask.”

Vice President JD Vance is visiting Howell, Michigan, on Wednesday to tour a precision metal stamping facility.

Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, a Democratic candidate for governor, says there was a credible bomb threat at his home today. “The purpose of this violence is to silence, intimidate and eliminate people and their voices from our society,” Gilchrist said. “We cannot let this remain our reality.”

Jezebel has now completely retracted the story about paying Etsy witches to curse Charlie Kirk on the recommendation of their lawyers.

A bipartisan 9/11 memorial ceremony in Lansing was moved from the outdoor steps of the Michigan Capitol to the indoor House chamber after yesterday’s assassination of Charlie Kirk.

Taylor Swift mentions @detroitlions.bsky.social quarterback Jared Goff in her appearance on boyfriend Travis Kelce’s podcast, New Heights, where she also unveiled her 12th studio album, #TSTheLifeofaShowgirl.

August 3 in mid-Michigan. 🍁

Today marks ten years since we got the call that my uncle had gone missing. A lot has changed in those ten years. Some things haven’t.

Following a tip from our sister publication @wisconsinexaminer.com, I looked into a set of license plate reader data searches from Grand Rapids PD citing protests as the reason for their inquiry. More on the concerns surrounding these devices @michiganadvance.com. michiganadvance.com/2025/07/22/l...

If summer nights seem a little brighter in Michigan this year, you’re not imagining it. Favorable weather conditions in recent years have led to an explosion of firefly activity. My first feature-length broadcast story, just in time for my six-month anniversary working with WKAR:

Watching Motown legend Martha Reeves perform for a crowd of maybe 50 people in Detroit while Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein played congas has to be pretty high on the list.

Michigan school districts represented in Congress by Democrats stand to be hit hardest as the White House withholds $6.2 billion of funding for school programs nationwide. Made some visuals for @michiganadvance.com showing which congressional districts would be most affected:

The U.S. House voted 216-213 to claw back $8 billion in already approved foreign aid and $1.1 billion in already approved public media funding. There are currently three vacancies in the U.S. House, all of which are seats that were held by Democrats who died in office.

Legislation introduced by @slotkin.senate.gov would require immigration enforcement officers to display clearly visible identification and prohibit face coverings. She says federal agents have made "arrests that look more like kidnappings in an authoritarian country." More in @michiganadvance.com:

The Michigan Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments next month on whether the state’s anti-hazing law is unconstitutional. An attorney says the law violates the First Amendment’s protection of free association by referencing specific groups, like fraternities and sports teams, and is too vague.

Independent gubernatorial candidate Mike Duggan is calling for a new law to suspend the salaries of state legislators if a budget isn’t adopted by the July 1 deadline after the split #MILeg failed to pass one last week. “If you don’t do your job, you don’t get paid,” he says.

Pleasantly surprised that James Gunn’s #Superman is also an unexpectedly great journalism movie. “You have to say ‘off the record’ beforehand, not after.”

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was on Gaydar last week. She says she went to see “Oh, Mary!” on Broadway, jokes that MLM stands for “Midwest Lesbian Mom,” and lists @chastenbuttigieg.bsky.social before adding @petebuttigieg.bsky.social when asked to name LGBTQ celebrities.

“I find it ironic that America declared its independence from the U.K. via the Boston Tea Party, and here I am with a tea business, similarly frustrated with our federal government,” Chengdu Teahouse owner Elyse Ribbons said after her suppliers stopped exporting to the U.S. due to Trump’s tariffs.

Detroit is officially getting a WNBA team in 2029. While the team hasn’t been given a name yet, some options were discussed during the Mackinac Policy Conference last month:

Not the biggest part of the story, but still worth noting that the method The White House chose to announce an act of war is by screenshotting a post on the social media platform owned by the president.

Thousands turned out for a "No Kings" rally at the Michigan Capitol on Saturday, one of hundreds of such events nationwide that were scheduled to counter a military parade in Washington, D.C., on President Donald Trump's 79th birthday.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer sounds moved discussing her responsibility to represent Michigan to the Trump admin. "I have to try to work with someone I worked really hard not to elect and smile when I'm not real happy about being at a press conference I never planned to be at," she says. #MPC25

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan: "Have we formally announced the Apple store yet?" #MPC25

White House Correspondent @aprildryan.bsky.social on Mike Duggan's independent campaign for governor pulling votes from both Democrats and Republicans: "I mean, what does it say about the system? It says the system is broken." #MPC25

Panelists discussing Detroit's bid for a WNBA team at #MPC25 were asked what they would name the team. Swin Cash-Canal: Shocks Grant Hill: Spirits Sandy Pierce: Pistonettes Arn Tellem: Supremes

"I hope that you're all enjoying everything that Mackinac Island has to offer, from the refreshing lake breeze, to the delicious fudge, and the smell of... bipartisanship," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says to officially kick off #MPC25 programming.

"We want to get him back," Speaker Matt Hall says of former Speaker Joe Tate. "I told him I'd consider coming back if he runs a statewide campaign," Tate, a U.S. Senate candidate, responds to Hall. #MPC25

Arn Tellem says the LCA is starting to feel like home for the Pistons. "At our playoffs, Isaiah Thomas was there, Chauncey Billups, Ben Wallace; they all talked about how this was finally the feel of The Palace in '03 or '04. They were ready to play, they wanted to suit up." #MPC25

Secretary of State @jocelynbenson.bsky.social, a Democratic candidate for governor, called for a light rail network connecting Michigan this morning. "Transit in our state is this massively unsolved issue that is holding us back from attracting some of the best talent," she says. #MPC25

Alright, Lake Huron, we have ARRIVED at the very first bridge of #MPC25. Now, I have a question: Does anyone here know the lyrics to this bridge? Prove it!

U.S. Sen. Gary @peters.senate.gov tours the IQ labs at Michigan State University, learning about the research being conducted there — including locusts that can detect the smell of cancer.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says federal law enforcement is investigating former FBI Director James Comey for posting a photo with the message “86 47” on Instagram. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was criticized in 2020 for displaying an “86 45” emblem during an interview: