Whitmer Signals Bipartisanship at Mackinac Policy Conference Amid Shifting Political Alliances

May 30, 2025 | By Rich Herl, 1320 WILS News

Governor Gretchen Whitmer may be signaling a shift toward bipartisan collaboration following her keynote address Thursday at the Mackinac Policy Conference. The address came in the wake of recent meetings with Republican House Speaker Matt Hall and former President Donald Trump, drawing attention from both sides of the political aisle.

Andrea Beitle of Beitle Communications joined 1320 WILS to share insights on the governor's evolving political strategy. "She's working with Speaker Hall more than she's working with the Democratic leader in the Senate, Winnie Brinks," Beitle noted. "We're seeing her and the speaker work together significantly more than I've seen her work with Republican speakers in the past."

In other news, a federal appeals court has temporarily reinstated President Trump’s tariffs after overturning a lower court ruling that claimed Trump had relied on the wrong law to impose them. Cooley Law School Professor Tanya Kraus-Phelan joined WILS to break down the implications. "It’s a ruling that’s pretty common," she explained. "If we compare it to a criminal case, prosecutors must charge the correct crime. This is sort of a similar situation."

Meanwhile, Delta Township officials in Eaton County are asking for public patience as they renegotiate a police services contract. The call for calm follows the failure of a countywide millage proposal earlier this month. The current police contract is set to expire at the end of September.

Drivers should prepare for multiple road closures this weekend and into next week. M-99 will be closed in both directions between Bailey and Waverly Roads from 3 a.m. Saturday until 8 p.m. Sunday to allow for drainage pipe installation. Mount Hope Avenue at U.S. 127 will also be closed from 6 a.m. Monday through 5 p.m. Tuesday for partial bridge reconstruction.

And for those heading north this weekend, be advised: an air quality advisory is in effect for the western Upper Peninsula due to smoke from Canadian wildfires. Travelers are encouraged to monitor local air quality reports before hitting the road.

Stay tuned to 1320 WILS for updates on these and other developing stories.

 

Keywords: Gretchen Whitmer bipartisan, Mackinac Policy Conference 2025, Michigan politics, Trump tariffs reinstated, Delta Township police contract, Lansing road closures, Michigan air quality advisory, wildfires in Canada Michigan