Gretchen Whitmer

But I had to stay and have my meeting after that was done. You know, it is not easy to navigate these times. But one of the things that I've learned is I've got to put the people of Michigan first over my self-interest, over maybe what people assume are going to be my political interests. The people of Michigan come first. I took an oath to them. When I was in the Senate,

But I had to stay and have my meeting after that was done. You know, it is not easy to navigate these times. But one of the things that I've learned is I've got to put the people of Michigan first over my self-interest, over maybe what people assume are going to be my political interests. The people of Michigan come first. I took an oath to them. When I was in the Senate,

You know, we were in the minority. I was the Senate minority leader, and we had Republican control of both chambers of the legislature and in the governor's office. We got our teeth kicked in every day. We, of course, I had colleagues who, when they finally wanted to do Medicaid expansion, a Republican governor wanted to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act to Michiganders.

You know, we were in the minority. I was the Senate minority leader, and we had Republican control of both chambers of the legislature and in the governor's office. We got our teeth kicked in every day. We, of course, I had colleagues who, when they finally wanted to do Medicaid expansion, a Republican governor wanted to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act to Michiganders.

Some of my Democratic colleagues said, hell no, let's not do it. Let's make him beg for it. Let's deliver him a loss, and then they'll have to come back. And I didn't wanna take that risk because I knew hundreds of thousands of Michiganders might get their healthcare from this. And so I went to work to bring my Democratic colleagues along.

Some of my Democratic colleagues said, hell no, let's not do it. Let's make him beg for it. Let's deliver him a loss, and then they'll have to come back. And I didn't wanna take that risk because I knew hundreds of thousands of Michiganders might get their healthcare from this. And so I went to work to bring my Democratic colleagues along.

It wasn't easy, but at the end of the day, that's the job, that is the job that I have. And if we Democrats, want to be successful in future elections, we can't forget that. We got to give each other the grace to fight on the battlefield and lock arms because these are high stakes moments in this country as we think about all the stuff that's just happened in merely 100 days.

It wasn't easy, but at the end of the day, that's the job, that is the job that I have. And if we Democrats, want to be successful in future elections, we can't forget that. We got to give each other the grace to fight on the battlefield and lock arms because these are high stakes moments in this country as we think about all the stuff that's just happened in merely 100 days.

You know, I have talked to the president about tariffs, which obviously we don't agree on. I have talked to the president about Asian carp that pose a real threat to the Great Lakes. I have talked to the president about ice storm victims in northern Michigan, who I'm hoping we can get some help from FEMA to support.

You know, I have talked to the president about tariffs, which obviously we don't agree on. I have talked to the president about Asian carp that pose a real threat to the Great Lakes. I have talked to the president about ice storm victims in northern Michigan, who I'm hoping we can get some help from FEMA to support.

I have not had that direct conversation on this subject yet, but I'm not afraid to do that.

I have not had that direct conversation on this subject yet, but I'm not afraid to do that.

Yeah, whenever I get the opportunity, I use every minute of that to cover a lot of different issues. So this is, I think, a very important one that you're raising. There's no question. And I will continue whenever I have opportunities to make sure that I'm covering as much as I can. No question.

Yeah, whenever I get the opportunity, I use every minute of that to cover a lot of different issues. So this is, I think, a very important one that you're raising. There's no question. And I will continue whenever I have opportunities to make sure that I'm covering as much as I can. No question.

I did not get much of a chance to talk about it on Tuesday, but I did say that the big three and the auto industry is hurting in Michigan because of the uncertainty around tariffs. Certainly, this newest policy might be somewhat helpful on paper, but

I did not get much of a chance to talk about it on Tuesday, but I did say that the big three and the auto industry is hurting in Michigan because of the uncertainty around tariffs. Certainly, this newest policy might be somewhat helpful on paper, but

let's be clear, the uncertainty that has been created by variety of policies without a stated goal and an obvious solution here is what is creating paralysis, what is creating animosity with our northern neighbors. Canada, who is intertwined with the Michigan economy, is all across the country, that's true, but especially in Michigan. And Mexico treating our allies like adversaries.

let's be clear, the uncertainty that has been created by variety of policies without a stated goal and an obvious solution here is what is creating paralysis, what is creating animosity with our northern neighbors. Canada, who is intertwined with the Michigan economy, is all across the country, that's true, but especially in Michigan. And Mexico treating our allies like adversaries.

I mean, there's a big cost to all of this. And it is going to be borne by the American consumer. It is going to be borne by the person who gets laid off because their company doesn't make the investment that they had planned to. It's going to be borne by small businesses. They can't stock up storerooms like some businesses have been able to in preparation for all these ups and downs.

I mean, there's a big cost to all of this. And it is going to be borne by the American consumer. It is going to be borne by the person who gets laid off because their company doesn't make the investment that they had planned to. It's going to be borne by small businesses. They can't stock up storerooms like some businesses have been able to in preparation for all these ups and downs.