Gretchen Whitmer

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.

This chaos with this tariff policy has undermined the American economy and has taken money out of people's pockets, and that's the worst part of it. So a couple of tweaks every few days doesn't fix the problem. It actually perpetuates the pain.

This chaos with this tariff policy has undermined the American economy and has taken money out of people's pockets, and that's the worst part of it. So a couple of tweaks every few days doesn't fix the problem. It actually perpetuates the pain.