Kyle Melinn

1 week ago | lansingcitypulse.com | Kyle Melinn

Back in 1967, a rising star in the national political scene was Michigan’s governor, George Romney. The former auto executive was seriously weighing a presidential bid, and he had support … until … . Romney explained his change of heart on the U.S. involvement in Vietnam, which he had supported, by saying that the generals and diplomatic corps gave him “the greatest brainwashing that anybody could get.” The governor stuck to his guns despite being given every chance to back away from the comment.

2 weeks ago | lansingcitypulse.com | Kyle Melinn

In my previous life, I covered collegiate and high school sports. I’ve been to the games, talked to players, written game previews and sat through the coaches’ press conferences. In 2001, I settled into full-time political reporting, and I found the parallels between politics and sports closer than you may think. In both, you have participants. There’s a winner. There’s a loser. And there’s a lot more to winning than just showing up. People benefit from natural skills.

3 weeks ago | lansingcitypulse.com | Kyle Melinn

Decades from now, when we’ve moved well beyond Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s time in office and presuming I’m still around, this is the image of the governor I’ll have emblazoned in my mind: Gretchen Whitmer wearing a mask. At a lectern. In her press auditorium. Holding another hourlong press conference on COVID. Day after day, Whitmer was our pipeline of information, letting us know what we could do, how we could do it safely, what order she was issuing, and how many were sick.

1 month ago | lansingcitypulse.com | Kyle Melinn

It’s Sunshine Week in Michigan. Again.  The same show, different year. Years of optimism that an expanded Freedom of Information Act would clear the Legislature and be signed by the governor have been replaced by cynicism as supporters slowly become resigned to reality. The Legislature isn’t passing a real FOIA reform bill—not this year, not next year, not until a Watergate-like scandal hits and shakes politicians out of stagnation. Why would they?

1 month ago | lansingcitypulse.com | Kyle Melinn

By this time next week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will likely have broken new ground in having waited more than 74 days to call a special election in a vacant state Senate seat previously held by now-U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet. Rivet had represented the tri-cities area in Saginaw, Midland and Bay City until voters in the 8th Congressional District picked her to succeed now-retired U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee.