Citizens Research Council of Michigan

06/19/2026

⚖️Article VI: The 1963 Michigan Constitution Got the Judiciary Mostly Right
In the eighth episode of our podcast series, previewing what a constitutional convention, or con-con, might address, hosts Guy Gordon and Eric Lupher discuss Article VI – Judicial Branch.

💰They walked through multiple areas of reform that a con-con could address; court funding being the most contentious. The state was always intended to be the primary funder of the unified court system, but currently covers only 2–4% of costs, leaving local governments to fill the gap. This creates stark inequities between wealthy and poor counties, and pushes courts to raise revenue through fees and fines, which can be barriers to justice and have been ruled unconstitutional.

Watch/listen to the full pod here: https://crcmich.org/podcast/article-vi-the-1963-michigan-constitution-got-the-judiciary-mostly-right

06/18/2026

"Hyperscale data centers impose a relatively new type of noise pollution. There is reason to believe that adverse impacts of data center noise—both in terms of annoyance and human health—are not sufficiently addressed by existing noise assessment methods."
Find full report and summary here: https://crcmich.org/publications/data-centers-in-michigan-evaluation-controversies-hyperscale-development

Link to research in bio.

06/18/2026

Excellent, balanced coverage of a report that puts the facts on data centers - and the need to address each one on a case-by-case basis - out there.

The report touches on issues like electricity rates, water use and noise pollution.

06/17/2026

The Research Council has released a comprehensive report on data centers. Take-away: Economic benefits are often overstated, but so are the risks. The most pressing concern is mitigating noise pollution.
https://crcmich.org/publications/data-centers-in-michigan-evaluation-controversies-hyperscale-development

06/12/2026

For the full 6-minute conversation: www.crcmich.org/podcast

06/01/2026

🎙️🎙️🎙️🏴󠁵󠁳󠁭󠁩󠁿📜 The most recent pod in our Con-Con 2026 series, Article V - Executive Branch. The series examines the articles of the Michigan Constitution before voters are asked this November to approve a constitutional convention, a vote that must take place every 16 years.

You can find all past podcasts from this series and more here: https://crcmich.org/podcast
You can find the written series here: https://crcmich.org/publications/2026con-con-2

Our podcast continues to surge, surpassing the industry median by more than 5%. Hosted by Emmy-award-winning broadcast journalist Guy Gordon, each episode breaks down complex policy issues into clear, accessible conversations.

If you appreciate what we do to help make Michigan a better state, please take a moment to show that support here: https://crcmich.org/donate

06/01/2026

💰✏️📝Noteworthy bits & bobs Items from the House, Senate and Governor’s School Aid Budget Proposals

https://crcmich.org/podcast/items-of-note-from-the-house-senate-and-governors-school-aid-budget-proposals

06/01/2026

💰✏️📝 More noteworthy bits & bobs Items from the House, Senate and Governor’s School Aid Budget Proposals

https://crcmich.org/podcast/items-of-note-from-the-house-senate-and-governors-school-aid-budget-proposals

05/22/2026

In honor of Memorial Day, we invite you to join us in taking time to remember and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our country and preserve our freedom.

Please note that our office will be closed on Monday, May 25th, in observance of Memorial Day. We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, May 26th, and will respond to any messages received during the closure as promptly as possible.

Wishing you a respectful and meaningful Memorial Day.