Ben Solis

I've updated the story with a comment from Rep. Alabas Farhat.

Part of the quote includes: "I’ve asked my office to prepare the voicemail and forward all calls during the Matt Hall Government Shutdown to his office."

@michiganadvance.com

Whitmer signs executive order to examine impact of Trump tariffs on Michigan’s economy • Michigan Advance The impact on Michigan’s economy of tariffs enacted by President Donald Trump will be assessed via an executive order signed Thursday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a day before Trump’s Aug. 1 tariff deadl...

The impact on Michigan’s economy of tariffs enacted by President Donald Trump will be assessed via an executive order signed Thursday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a day before Trump’s Aug. 1 tariff deadline.

Story from @bensolis1.bsky.social

Group launches ‘decline to sign’ campaign against citizen-only voting measures • Michigan Advance A digital ad campaign promoted by Common Cause Michigan is asking voters to reject citizen-only voting measures that, if enacted, could affect the voting rights of citizens. The campaign targets two i...

A digital ad campaign promoted by Common Cause Michigan is asking voters to reject citizen-only voting measures that, if enacted, could affect the voting rights of citizens.

Story from @bensolis1.bsky.social

Polehanki: There was no deal with House GOP on competing school cell phone bans • Michigan Advance The battle of wills between the Democratic-led Michigan Senate and the Republican-controlled House of Representatives was on full display again Thursday, this time surrounding competing school cell ph...

The battle of wills between the Democratic-led Michigan Senate and the GOP-controlled House of Representatives was on full display again Thursday, this time surrounding competing school cell phone ban bills that caused headaches for the lower chamber last week.

Story from @bensolis1.bsky.social

Democratic candidates hold Medicaid townhalls with Barrett, James absent • Michigan Advance Michigan residents living in the 7th and 10th Congressional Districts had choice words for Republicans U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett and U.S. Rep. John James during two townhalls held this week focused on the...

Residents in the 7th and 10th Congressional Districts had choice words for Republican U.S. Reps. Tom Barrett and John James during two townhalls held this week focused on the impact of federal Medicaid cuts – but neither of the congressmen were there to hear them.

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Michigan AG joins lawsuit to block attacks on medically necessary care for transgender youth • Michigan Advance Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Friday that she’s joined a multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s effort to restrict access to medically-necessary care for transgend...

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Friday that she’s joined a multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s effort to restrict access to medically-necessary care for transgender, intersex and nonbinary youth.

Story from @bensolis1.bsky.social

Nessel adds lawsuit against termination of EV funding to legal salvo against Trump administration • Michigan Advance The administration of President Donald Trump is illegally terminating billions of dollars in congressionally-approved funding for electric vehicle infrastructure, Attorney General Dana Nessel alleged ...

The administration of President Donald Trump is illegally terminating billions of dollars in congressionally-approved funding for electric vehicle infrastructure, Attorney General Dana Nessel alleged in a new joint lawsuit filed Friday.

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AGs from 15 states sue to block attacks on medically necessary care for transgender youth • Wisconsin Examiner Attorneys general of 15 states and DC are suing to block federal actions that would punish gender-affirming care for people younger than 19.

Attorneys general of 15 states and DC are suing to block federal actions that would punish gender-affirming care for people younger than 19. Combined reporting from @bensolis1.bsky.social of @MichiganAdvance.com & @wisconsinexaminer.com buff.ly/KR5sBgd

Cowen nets 7th District endorsement from public education group opposed to charter schools, vouchers • Michigan Advance Michigan 7th Congressional candidate Josh Cowen recently gained the endorsement of the Network for Public Education Action, a national advocacy group opposed to charter schools and voucher programs, w...

Michigan 7th Congressional candidate Josh Cowen recently gained the endorsement of the Network for Public Education Action, a national advocacy group opposed to charter schools and voucher programs.

Story from @bensolis1.bsky.social

AGs from 15 states sue to block attacks on medically necessary care for transgender youth | Alabama Reflector The lawsuit challenges recent federal action to deter doctors and medical providers from offering gender affirming care to youth under the age of 19 years old.

Via @bensolis1.bsky.social & @michiganadvance.com & @wisconsinexaminer.com: A coalition of 15 state attorneys general have filed a multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s effort to restrict access to medically-necessary care for transgender, intersex and nonbinary youth.

Michigan House speaker refuses to reinstate Democratic legislator to Appropriations Committee • Michigan Advance The leader of the Michigan House Democratic caucus asked Republican leadership to reinstate state Rep. Alabas Farhat of Dearborn to the chamber’s appropriations committee after a political falling out...

The leader of the Michigan House Democratic caucus asked Republican leadership to reinstate state Rep. Alabas Farhat of Dearborn to the chamber’s appropriations committee, but in a letter sent Monday, House Speaker Matt Hall said that was out of the question.

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Citizen-only voting initiative launches in Oakland County with GOP rally for support • Michigan Advance Republican activists and officials from across Michigan gathered Wednesday to launch a controversial ballot initiative to ensure that only American citizens are voting in local, statewide and national...

Republican activists and officials from across Michigan gathered Wednesday to launch a controversial ballot initiative to ensure that only American citizens are voting in local, statewide and national elections.

Story by @bensolis1.bsky.social

Greetings from the Oakland County GOP headquarters. The Americans for Citizen Voting initiative is kicking off its signature drive today, and we'll have coverage on it later in @michiganadvance.com

Citizens Research Council: Trump tax, spending plan will mean $1.1B hit to Michigan budget • Michigan Advance A federal shift in cost-sharing with the states outlined in President Donald Trump’s controversial One Big Beautiful Bill Act will create a billion-dollar budget hole for Michigan, the Citizens Resear...

A federal shift in cost-sharing with the states outlined in President Donald Trump’s controversial One Big Beautiful Bill Act will create a billion-dollar budget hole for Michigan, the Citizens Research Council of Michigan said in a new report.

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Veterans group backs Brink in 7th Congressional District bid • Michigan Advance Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink on Monday gained support from a pro-democracy veterans organization in her bid to take Michigan’s 7th Congressional District seat. The group, Veterans f...

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink gained support from a pro-democracy veterans organization in her bid for Michigan’s 7th Congressional District seat. Veterans for Responsible Leadership said Brink was “tailor-made for this moment and this district.”

Story by @bensolis1.bsky.social

Nessel joins New York, California AGs in lawsuit against Trump over SNAP data overreach • Michigan Advance A lawsuit filed against the Trump administration by a coalition of attorneys general, including Michigan’s Dana Nessel, alleges that personal data mined from federal agencies could be used illegally t...

The suit, filed Monday, alleges that the president’s U.S. Department of Agriculture is illegally demanding states turn over personal and sensitive information about millions of SNAP recipients.

Story by @bensolis1.bsky.social
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Michigan EV ownership trend grew since 2020, state data shows • Michigan Advance The number of Michigan residents who own electric or alternative fuel-source vehicles has grown in the last five years, state officials told a House panel on Tuesday, which they say has made up for fu...

The number of Michigan residents who own electric or alternative fuel-source vehicles has grown in the last five years, state officials said Tuesday, which they say has made up for fuel tax losses in state revenue by way of special vehicle registration fees.

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Education leaders to Michigan Legislature: Do your jobs, pass a budget • Michigan Advance Michigan’s education leaders care little about which party or which chamber of the Legislature is to blame for the state’s stalled budget negotiations – they just want it finalized so schools can soun...

Michigan’s education leaders care little about which party or which chamber of the Legislature is to blame for the state’s stalled budget negotiations – they just want it finalized so schools can make sound financial decisions in the coming year.

Story from @bensolis1.bsky.social

When you've had a crazy stressful day at work and your wife makes a Caprese salad sandwich for dinner.

This woman, I'll tell ya.

Michigan House bill banning cell phones in schools will see a rewrite after failing to pass • Michigan Advance The Republican sponsor behind the Michigan House of Representatives’ plan to ban cell phones in all K-12 schools said Monday that he is going back to the drawing board to rewrite the legislation – whi...

The GOP sponsor behind the House of Representatives’ plan to ban cell phones in all K-12 schools said Monday that he is going back to the drawing board to rewrite the legislation – which died on the chamber’s floor last week.

Story by @bensolis1.bsky.social

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Statewide libraries petition calls for Whitmer, legislature to reject censorship • Michigan Advance A petition announced Monday would help push back against censorship in Michigan libraries and calls for increased legislative support to statewide catalogs. The Michigan Library Association is behind ...

A petition announced Monday would help push back against censorship in Michigan libraries and calls for increased legislative support to statewide catalogs.

Story by @bensolis1.bsky.social

michiganadvance.com/briefs/state...

That is a big number for this early on. I interviewed Mayor Duggan for this story on what that means for his campaign as an independent going forward.

Trump endorses Michigan’s Rogers in U.S. Senate race, gives nod to Huizenga for backing out • Michigan Advance President Donald Trump chimed in on the race to replace Michigan’s retiring U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, endorsing Republican Mike Rogers days after it became clear that he was the lone Republican seeking t...

Trump previously endorsed Rogers in his 2024 bid for the U.S. Senate, which he lost to current U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly). For the 2026 contest, Trump again said Rogers had his “complete and total endorsement.”

Story by @bensolis1.bsky.social

michiganadvance.com/briefs/trump...

Farhat ousted from key budget post amid GOP standoff and failed Michigan House votes • Michigan Advance State Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) was removed as the minority vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday evening after a political standoff on the chamber floor ended with two Re...

State Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) said the Capitol was “a f****** mess” after he was removed as the minority vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee by House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township) following a political standoff on the chamber floor.

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Michigan Court of Claims orders mediation in House v. Benson subpoena lawsuit • Michigan Advance Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Republican leaders of the Michigan House of Representatives were ordered to enter mediation and hash out their differences in an ongoing lawsuit related to the ch...

The development continues the legal battle between Benson and the House Oversight Committee, which in April requested election training materials.

Story by @bensolis1.bsky.social

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Benson raises massive $3.5M gubernatorial war chest since launching campaign • Michigan Advance Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is rolling in campaign cash, she says to the tune of $3.5 million, since launching her campaign seeking the Michigan Democratic Party nomination for governor in 2026 ...

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson says she has raised $3.5 million since launching her campaign seeking the Michigan Democratic Party nomination for governor in 2026 – doubling what Gov. Whitmer raised in the first six months of her 2018 gubernatorial bid.

Story from @bensolis1.bsky.social

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is rolling in campaign cash to the tune of $3.5 million since launching her campaign seeking the Michigan Democratic Party nomination for governor in 2026, her campaign announced.

Michigan Supreme Court: Online gamblers can bring common-law suits against gaming licensees • Michigan Advance A legal dispute over large online betting winnings can move forward after the Michigan Supreme Court ruled unanimously Tuesday that a patron of an online gambling venue can sue the holder of a gamblin...

A legal dispute over large online betting winnings can move forward after the Michigan Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a patron of an online gambling venue can sue the holder of a gambling license on common-law claims for breach of contract, conversion and fraud.

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Trump approves major disaster declaration for Michigan following March ice storms • Michigan Advance The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Wednesday that it would be providing public assistance to 13 Michigan counties and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians to supplement ongoin...

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Wednesday that it would be providing public assistance to 13 Michigan counties and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians to supplement recovery efforts after the state was rocked by ice storms in March.

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McDonald Rivet bill focused on Great Lakes icebreaking plan passes through U.S. House • Michigan Advance A bill with bipartisan support instructing the U.S. Coast Guard to develop a plan for the design and building of a new Great Lakes icebreaker was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives this month...

A bipartisan bill instructing the U.S. Coast Guard to develop a plan for the design and building of a new Great Lakes icebreaker has been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives – a key legislative priority for U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City).

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