During the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference, “Live From Mackinac Brought to You by DTE Energy” showcased live, on-air discussions featuring Michigan legislators and Cabinet members from both parties about current political and economic issues. Sponsored by DTE Energy, this new, three-day programming was hosted throughout the Conference in the Parlor at Grand Hotel, with the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Brad Williams as emcee.
Catch up with May 29’s conversations below.
Opening the final day of “Live From Mackinac,” Glengariff Group’s Richard Czuba talked more data and numbers with Kevin Dietz of ‘All Talk’ on WJR 760 AM, including some more insight from the Chamber’s May 2025 Michigan Voters Poll. They also spoke about the current standings of the gubernatorial, Senate, and midterm elections.
“[The polling number] that caught me goes back to the economy, and that is we’re seeing drastically increased concerns about the recession and inflation,” Czuba said. “This is going to be a referendum on [President] Donald Trump – any midterm is a referendum on the presidency with the exception of ‘22 … How those independents think of the economy is going to determine where this election goes.”
DTE Energy’s Jerry Norcia shared progress on the organization’s power outage duration reduction plans, which have seen a 70% reduction from 2023 to 2024 and another 60% already in 2025. Norcia also shared his perspective on nuclear energy and carbon capture in Michigan during his time with Dietz, which are critical tools in maintaining the energy grid.
“We have very high standards for reliability – we can’t have intermittent resources rule the day,” Norcia said. “I mean, we love solar, we love wind. But we love coal, gas, and nuclear just as much because that keeps the grid alive. Without that, the grid dies.”
Sens. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan) and Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) chatted with The Detroit News’ Chad Livengood about the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which governs the release and handling of public records. Michigan is one of two states that do not have a law where FOIA applies to the legislature and executive office, and the senators shared their dedication to getting their co-sponsored SB 1-2 into law.
“It opens up the regular documents and stuff that [the Executive Branch] are already do,” McBroom said. “They’re accustomed to doing so, it’s an easier hurdle for the executive branch, there are a few exemptions … but otherwise it’s pretty broad. The legislature is a little different … We have constitutional protections for speech and debate, so it’s a bit more nuanced what would open up some of the things.”
“This is something that the only people who make the argument against transparency are the people who are doing something wrong,” Moss said. “So, this is an opportunity in this kind of divided government to put up something that we all can embrace and support.”
Sen. Sarah Anothony (D-Lansing) and Rep. Greg VanWoerkom (R-Norton Shores) also chatted with Livengood about their respective parties’ ideas on the state budget and continuing to work bipartisanly to meet the July 1 budget deadline.
“So all we have to point to are concepts of plans, and I think our people deserve more,” Anthony said. “The business community that we’re here with, they need predictability, they need stability, but when we point to gutting incentives, gutting all of our tools, we cannot disarm in this moment. But again, when there’s uncertainty … that’s a dangerous place to be.”
“There [are] lots of discussions that are happening … lots of points of differences; there [are] things that happening,” VanWoerkom said. “Whether it’s the front and center of having a bill and going piece by piece, that’s another conversation. But we’re still working on a budget and the process that’s moving forward.”
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and WPHM-AM Morning Show’s Paul Miller also took to the “Live From Mackinac” desk to chat about his gubernatorial campaign and his time in the Executive Office. Gilchrist shared his pride about serving with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and having many legislation pieces be “overwhelmingly bipartisan.”
“I will work together to solve problems with people anyone who is serious about solutions,” Gilchrist said. “Solutions are always going to come from the people, and that’s why I’ve spent so much time with them, and that’s how I learned what the priorities should be.”
Closing “Live From Mackinac,” Launch Michigan’s Venessa Keesler and Sen. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia) sat with Miller to discuss ideas to improve Michigan’s K-12 education system, which include making everyone in the state accountable for progress and reassessing how we test our children.
“If we’re going to transform our system, we need a broader reciprocal accountability framework that makes sure all those supports are in place,” Keesler said. “… we could pick some clear goals and name them and then say what’s everybody’s responsibility at every layer of the system.”
“It bothers me when we say our third and fourth graders can’t read. They can read, it’s just they’re tested on, very complex for them, texts,” Polehanki said. “The MSTEP, especially, is a tough test, and it measures proficiency, and you can’t compare kids on that in the same year.”
