Gretchen Whitmer

I mean, there are a lot of people that aren't doing their jobs to protect the foundations of this country. And many of us are fighting the fights that we can. But ultimately, the courts have got to be able to have the last word. And this undermines, I think, the foundations of our country on every level when this happens.

I mean, there are a lot of people that aren't doing their jobs to protect the foundations of this country. And many of us are fighting the fights that we can. But ultimately, the courts have got to be able to have the last word. And this undermines, I think, the foundations of our country on every level when this happens.

Well, as Lovett said, there are no corners in the Oval Office, right? I was brought in for what I thought was going to be a one-on-one meeting. It became very clear as soon as I walked in the room that that was not the case. I grabbed one of his staff people. I said, what is happening here? And he said... He's just going to sign executive order and then you're going to have your meeting.

Well, as Lovett said, there are no corners in the Oval Office, right? I was brought in for what I thought was going to be a one-on-one meeting. It became very clear as soon as I walked in the room that that was not the case. I grabbed one of his staff people. I said, what is happening here? And he said... He's just going to sign executive order and then you're going to have your meeting.

And then all of that transpired. And I gravitated from the front of the room to the back of the room. And that's when that picture was taken. But I also left the room. No one reported that. I left the room to go talk to my staff person and said, we got to get word out because the stuff that's going on in there, I cannot be associated with that. I do not endorse that. I'm not here for that.

And then all of that transpired. And I gravitated from the front of the room to the back of the room. And that's when that picture was taken. But I also left the room. No one reported that. I left the room to go talk to my staff person and said, we got to get word out because the stuff that's going on in there, I cannot be associated with that. I do not endorse that. I'm not here for that.

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.