Whitmer 2028: Will Michigan governor run for president?

Added: 2026-05-31

[00:00:07]Thanks for joining us as we take our nightly deep dive into all things people, power, and politics. This is the pulse and I'm Jessica Dupnak. Governor Whitmer breaking some news with pulse anchor Rup Raj. Earlier today, everyone's been asking if she'll run for president. She finally gave a definitive answer. That conversation is coming up.

[00:00:28]Then we're rounding out our Meno Policy Conference coverage with House Speaker Matt Hall discussing data centers, Congresswoman Haley Stevens and Senator Alyssa Slotkin on the fight to keep Chinese vehicles out of the American market. And Senator Gary Peters as he gets ready to leave the upper chamber.

[00:00:48]That is all ahead. But we start with major news involving the war in Iran.

[00:00:53]negotiators for both the US and Iran tentatively agreed to extend that ceasefire for another 60 days and start talks on Iran's nuclear program. The US official, a US official familiar with the matter, confirmed that to the AP, but there's a caveat. Iran didn't immediately confirm any detail and President Trump hasn't signed off on it either. The tenative deal also addresses the straight of Hormuz saying Iran can't impose tolls and all mines must be removed within 30 days. Treasury Secretary Scott Bassant wouldn't confirm the deal while handling the White House briefing today.

[00:01:35]>> It's always a mistake to get out ahead of the president. So, it is all going to be the president's decision. I think that we we can see that the president very clearly stated out stated his his three the open the street highly enriched uranium no nuclear program.

[00:01:56]>> One of the key issues with the nuclear program is what happens to Iran's highlyenriched uranium. They haven't publicly committed to giving it up and it's believed to be buried under three sites badly damaged by US air strikes last year.

[00:02:12]All right, it's a question Governor Whitmer's faced going back to her first term in office. Will she run for president? For years, she said no, that she was focusing on Michigan. But now those calls are growing once again because she's term limited. And she finally gave a definitive answer to Paul Sanker Rup Raj at the Meno Policy Conference as he asked her about that and a number of issues facing our state.

[00:02:37]>> Last Meno Policy Conference as governor.

[00:02:40]What are your takeaways here today?

[00:02:42]>> Oh, it's great to have so many folks here that are championing finding common ground. I mean, it's the only way we solve big problems is by working together. So, I think that's great. You know, our focus in this remaining seven and a half months that I'm governor is continuing to be building out affordable housing, continuing our literacy work, which is so important for our future, and um getting a budget done on time.

[00:03:06]These are are things that we can do, especially in a election year where things tend to get more partisan. Um, but finding common ground wherever we can.

[00:03:15]>> You keep hearing the house is on fire.

[00:03:17]Um, and we need to put this out. Some people called it a slow burning fire.

[00:03:20]Some people say we need to be running from the building. Obviously, you all are running like first responders to the building. Yeah.

[00:03:26]>> What is it that can be done to to kind of ease that divide because it's pretty bad, it seems.

[00:03:30]>> Yeah. Well, you know, I think our example yesterday when I signed the bill around Selfridge, a big investment in this critical fighter mission that we've been able to get done with the Trump administration and we got refuelers with um the Biden administration. This is a lynch pin to manufacturing to aerospace and defense work that we've been growing in Michigan. It is also shores up our other bases and grows our manufacturing economy. It's it's important and we were able to get it done with two different administrations with two different leaders in our legislature and um I think it shows what's possible if we stay focused on what where we can find common ground.

[00:04:11]>> You know, you talk about common ground.

[00:04:12]You got a lot of clapback not from Republicans but from Democrats who couldn't believe that you would go to the Oval Office and uh in their words in some papers curry the favor of the president. That's precisely the job of a governor is to work with a president.

[00:04:25]Right. that, you know, the oath of office I took was to the people of Michigan. And while I worked my tail off um to elect Kal Harris, Donald Trump won the election. And I doesn't mean for two years that I can just put my head in the sand. I got to stay working and I got to work with whomever's there. And you know, during my career, I've worked with a lot of folks that I don't agree with, but I still show up and do the job. And that's that's what the people of Michigan expect out of their governor.

[00:04:50]and whomever comes next, I hope that they continue to go to the White House no matter who's in that chair.

[00:04:57]>> Speaker Hall and you have forged a relationship even if so primarily through that those bills that you're talking about. I mean, it was the Asian carp and it was Selfridge. You were there side by side at the White House together. I think that picture told a thousand words, didn't it?

[00:05:12]>> Well, you know, there are a number of pictures from that day at the White House that told a thousand words, but um yeah, you know what? Like I said, whether it is Joe Biden in the White House or it is Donald Trump in the White House, the governor of Michigan needs to show up and fight to get everything that we can for our state. That's what this job is. And um I I hope and believe that the people of Michigan know that by making tough calls in a pandemic is to keep them safe. If I'm showing up at the White House with Donald Trump administration, it's because there's an important need for Michigan. I'm always going to put Michiganers first. what's being done and what do you think needs to be done about education? You can't get every single job done in the years that you're you're here as governor, but what are some things that you wish uh to see done, especially when it comes to education?

[00:05:58]>> Well, I'm really proud of the fact that we finally see that we've closed the gap when it comes to how we educate our kids in different districts. We've added in additional resources to help our teachers find a path into into teaching.

[00:06:12]We've now revamped how we are teaching literacy. So through the science of reading and the letters training, these are important strategy for us for long-term success here. It's understandable parents are are not patient when it comes to good outcomes for their kids. I'm I feel the same way.

[00:06:30]And yet for too long we have gone back and forth between strategies and that is a recipe for disaster. So we finally have this. It's bipartisan by design.

[00:06:40]It's informed by experts. This is how we change it, but we've got to stay committed to this. And I'm going to talk a little bit about that today. But also that's what the work for the next administration is going to be to to not fall to that temptation to change path just because you don't have immediate results. This is working. We've got to stay committed to it.

[00:07:00]>> There's been a lot of people asking about the the women in prison and the mold issue uh and the director. What's being done to to really address that situation from your level down? Well, first of all, you know, there were two deaths that happened in close succession. There is an investigation that is going to be thorough. It is moving swiftly and it will be transparent. Takes takes time to get the autopsy results. In the meantime, I can tell you that director Washington is working out of Hiron Valley that she is surging u medical support, but we have done the testing. The attorney general has the, you know, all the reports.

[00:07:37]We've not found, you know, the allegations that have been waged there.

[00:07:40]So, what is the what is the reason? We we don't know yet. When we do know, it will be it will be made public and we will make whatever decisions need to be made. But I can tell you that Director Washington is an exceptional leader. She cares about the health of all the people that are are housed in our prisons across the state of Michigan. I know that we're all committed to resolving whatever we find, but we need to get the facts first.

[00:08:04]>> What's next? And I I wonder if anything shifted or changed in the last since the last time we talked in terms of your future plans. 7 months left. Yeah.

[00:08:12]>> If I had 7 months left in my job, I have my eyes out. I mean, do you have your eyes on on things?

[00:08:16]>> You know, I I do think about it a bit.

[00:08:18]I've got a lot of energy. I will be 55 when I leave office. So, um it is, you know, I I want to have impact. I want to do good work. Um, but I'm also looking forward to taking a little bit of a break and and thinking about it, not jumping right into something as I've gotten counsel from people who've made the transition, whether it was my friend Gina Roondo, who I sat with last night for a little bit, Pete Buddha Judge, or Paul Ryan, who I have chatted with a fair amount. Um, that's the the advice everyone says, take a little bit of time. And so that's what I'm going to do.

[00:08:51]>> There's time until 2028. Yes, >> there of course there's time. Uh, but I think there will be a robust group of people running for president. I will not be one of them in 2028. I can tell you that.

[00:09:04]>> Well, if you think that is the final answer, think again. Governor Whitmer backtracked just hours later while speaking at the policy conference. We want you to take a look.

[00:09:14]>> You made headlines this morning. You started talking about 2028. So, tell us what's happening with that.

[00:09:21]>> Okay. I need to correct the record on a couple of fronts. I didn't start talking about 2028. I got uh the hundth question of the morning about it and I said, "I'm not making plans." And I saw all the headlines. You know, I never thought I would run for governor. Um so I guess I should know better to say never say never. Um but I don't want any distractions as I wrap up my my eight years as governor. It's been an honor to be governor. we still have really important things to do and I find all this talk about my future such a distraction from what I want to get done today. So, I thank you for the question.

[00:09:58]Um, but you know, at this juncture, I've got nothing to announce. So, I guess um I'll I'll just smile and and say I'm going to stay focused and leave it at that for now.

[00:10:09]So, after all of that, we're back to square one. Will she run? Won't she run?

[00:10:13]I guess the only answer right now is stay tuned.

[00:10:17]We're turning to those controversial Chinese vehicles after the break. Two Michigan lawmakers, they're teaming up to keep them out of the market. Group talks to them about it all next on the pulse.

[00:10:49]Back now on the pulse, looking at all things people, power, and politics and heading back up to Meno Island where Congresswoman Haley Stevens and Senator Alyssa Slotkin are talking about their push to keep Chinese cars out of the American market. And they say despite the fact they're both Democrats, the issue is bipartisan.

[00:11:09]a a kind of a joint effort in many ways to say we have to make sure that we're preventing damage from happening here uh for our economy in Michigan and America.

[00:11:18]What is it that that's being proposed in this ban?

[00:11:21]>> Yeah, I mean it it literally is very simple. It's just banning Chinese cars from coming over our bridges and tunnels from Canada and over our southern border. Um, we know that, um, Trump poked the Canadians in the eye, you know, or punched them in the teeth, and the Canadians have decided, well, fine, we're going to reverse course and allow Chinese cars, tens of thousands of Chinese cars to be bought and sold in Canada. And, uh, those cars could easily just roll across our borders once they get here. And I think for me as a national security person, it was really important to say these things are just collecting video, geoloccation, LAR. They could go to our military bases, our infrastructure sites, but you know, Haley and I have worked together for a very long time since we were both freshmen and she does more the economic side of the auto industry. The we are just seeing the Chinese industry purposely floods countries like Mexico, like Germany and completely destroy the local industry and we're just not going to do that as an economic.

[00:12:19]>> They're not playing by our trade rules, which is the biggest problem. You know, this is a quarter of a century of China being in the World Trade Organization and exploiting open free market capitalism to the gain of their Chinese Communist Party. They have vertical supply chains. We have a robust, you know, thousands of thousands of companies that exist here in uh Michigan that supply into the auto industry.

[00:12:45]That's also at threat here. And the national security interests are really quite profound as our good senator knows. Well, I think it's important to note that, you know, these these cars these days aren't vehicles per se. There are computers on wheels and get into a little bit of that. Then perhaps Senator, you can touch on the the security concerns. These are computers on cars and they have cameras and if you drive by a place of of sensitive intelligence, it can pick stuff up, right? I mean, look, just imagine someone comes across a bridge. They come across the Ambassador Bridge or hopefully the new GordyHow Bridge and they drive and they're in a Chinese vehicle. They are in a BYYD vehicle.

[00:13:24]They drive right up to Selfridge Air Force Base. They drive around it. They take all kinds of video. They take all kinds of sensing. Do you know what kind of information we would that how much we would love to have that on Chinese bases? Right. Um, and as someone who comes from the Pentagon, the more fidelity and on the ground fidelity you have, the more able you are to do things like cyber attacks, to do things like physical attacks. So, it's a very real problem. And now everyone says like American cars collect the same information. Yes, but they're also American companies that are subject to American law. The Chinese Communist Party is not. Um, and again, they cheat.

[00:14:00]They subsidize their cars so that they're super cheap. They come into a market like Michigan. They underell everybody and destroy the local industry. We've got 500,000 jobs here in Michigan with the auto industry.

[00:14:12]>> Congresswoman, talk about the viability of this bill right now in the House. I mean, what are you what are you looking at? What are you truly forecasting given the tenor and temperature of Congress?

[00:14:20]>> Well, we need to be as aggressive as possible and the select committee on strategic competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party has long been very bipartisan. You know, our senator just led bipartisan legislation. Last year, I actually introduced the NoChinese Cars Act, uh, which was to utilize our trade rules and our structure to implement 100% tariffs.

[00:14:42]Now, we've got to push on these bills and wake up our colleagues across the country to the needs of the industrial Midwest, to the Michigan manufacturing moment that we find ourselves in. So goes Michigan, so goes the country. And so I I feel very optimistic about driving in this point. No, look, the president has failed us. He has failed us. He campaigned on saying that he was going to take on China, that he was going to be tough on China, and instead, as uh Senator Slaken just mentioned, he started a trade war with Canada. We in Michigan have all paid the price for that. We saw that begin, frankly, with the small businesses, you know, in retail and in the services industry. or you know up here in the great Meno Island 40% down revenues are because Canadians aren't coming in because he started a trade war with Canada. Now that is going to impact our structure for US MCA. We need that framework and we need to be aggressive on China, their bad practices, their currency manipulation, their illegal dumping and what they do to American industries at the expense of not just their country's gain but as a with a single party's gain.

[00:15:55]>> Well, we see with Representative Molinar and Representative Dingle, you representative Stevens that there is obviously great support and there are is support by in a bipartisan way. However, is that enough to move things forward?

[00:16:06]Because what people at home are seeing is that hey, these are great ideas and they seem like they make sense, but you're talking about people who are loyalists to President Trump who are sitting in that house. Can this get done?

[00:16:16]>> Well, you've seen um multiple times over this Congress, actually the the most in history uh the minority party issuing what we call discharge petitions to move legislation uh to the House floor and get it passed. You've seen that on the Epstein files, labor laws, uh, healthc care, of course, we're going to now see that, uh, with war powers resolution coming back up when we return to the Congress. Senator Slot passed that through her chamber. And I will tell you, when it comes to American industrial competitiveness, take it from someone who's been recognized as the most effective Democrat for science and tech issues in the entire House of Representatives on these issues. I know how to pass bipartisan legislation. We know how to bring colleagues along.

[00:16:59]Senator Slacken has certainly been doing that in in droves in this moment. We can't stop.

[00:17:04]>> Do you think this moment will be met with the bipartisan support?

[00:17:07]>> I do. You know, it's interesting. We've had a um there's definitely different opinions um about whether to let in Chinese vehicles into the country. But u frankly, a number of Republicans approached us on these issues and said, "Look, we've got to do something." And we have a big u transportation bill that's going to happen by the end of the year. It has to pass. and that that's the place where we're going to try and shove some of these bans in. So, I actually think the there's a bipartisan agreement. Um Haley works with Congressman Molinar who is the head of the China committee in the House. Um they're the strong members on um auto issues there and it just it I think we have all the and I work with Senator Bernie Moreno from Ohio. So there's the people who know how to work bipartisan across the aisle understand that these issues are bigger than any one party.

[00:17:56]Another key issue for people in Michigan and across the country are those data centers, the AI data centers. State House Speaker Matt Hall had this to say.

[00:18:06]>> Very transparent. Uh that the communities want them. Uh and that uh and that they're um that they're not taking power from the people. The people shouldn't be subsidizing the data centers. It should be the other way around. the the data centers should be paying our bills, not the other way around because they take so much energy.

[00:18:29]>> Another familiar face, Senator Gary Peters, also taking on those AI data centers. You'll hear from him coming up next on the pulse.

[00:18:47]It's people, power, and politics.

[00:18:49]Welcome back to Detroit's only nightly political talk show, The Pulse. And we're rounding out our coverage of the Meno Policy Conference with Senator Gary Peters. He talked about AI data centers as well as his advice for whoever wins the race to replace him. Take a look.

[00:19:07]>> What's your message for Republicans and Democrats about how to get work done?

[00:19:11]>> Well, we have to come together. We have to find common ground. We've got some huge issues that we're going to be dealing with. And I think you I'll just take one thing that I think is creating a lot of anxiety with folks and that's artificial intelligence and what is that going to mean for folks that you know we they talk about AI populism that people are pushing back. We're seeing that when it comes to the data centers that no one wants a data center in their community and it's not so much about just the data center although there's issues in terms of cost and and whether or not the water is clean. All those things are real issues but it's also about the unease as to what this means going forward. And it's not a surprise because even our AI companies are saying, you know, we're going to have a lot less jobs because AI can do all of these things. There's going to be fewer jobs. And they make that pitch to Wall Street because they're trying to attract investment.

[00:19:55]And so they're saying, look at we're going to increase productivity. There'll be fewer employees. You'll make more money. But you're also scaring everyday people who are saying, "Wait a minute, those are my jobs. And what am I going to do if that job goes away?" And that's why there's a important role for government to figure out what are those guard rails necessary to allow the technology to flourish and do great things, but also protect people's lives and make sure that everybody benefits from AI, not just a select few.

[00:20:20]>> Senator, I have to wonder uh whether you look at inauguration, you say, who's in the first five rows of an inauguration?

[00:20:26]That's who's controlling a lot of your country. Big tech seems to be uh they have a second home in Washington. Uh and not for the right reasons. They don't I don't feel like they're being held to account. to you.

[00:20:36]>> No, I it's uh it's too much power and and we just saw this demonstrated just really yesterday, the day before. So, we have a a new development came out a few weeks ago, a new AI program. It's called Nethos. Uh and it's anthropic. This is a AI system that could basically hack anything cyber. This is a cyber attack.

[00:20:56]They found that this AI system could change. is an example. They had a piece of software that was attacked 50 million times over a number of years and this mythos basically hacked it in a matter of a few minutes. Uh it is frightening to think that's there. Uh so Anthropic did not put out Mythos. They said we're going to hold it until we figure out where the vulnerabilities are and allow people to patch it because the problem is this uh this system this mythos is it's the first one but it's not the last. We're going to see a lot more of these coming. And so we need to think how do we slow that down and make sure this stuff doesn't get released. Uh I was uh recently in Europe with the EU.

[00:21:34]They've been working on some of this legislation. And while I was there actually the Trump administration came out and said, you know, maybe we need to have some sort of uh pre-screening before these types of systems go out, which was a positive move. It looked like that was going to happen. The president said he was going to sign an EO to do that. And just a couple days ago, he said, "I'm not going to sign it.

[00:21:53]We're not going to do it." Uh basically the word is the big tech company said we don't want that don't allow that to go forward.

[00:22:01]>> Should that worry us?

[00:22:02]>> It should worry us a great deal. So I'm very worried about that that the tech company the excuse was well the that we will not be competitive with the Chinese if we put this kind of regulation in place putting this kind of in place and it was voluntary actually the EO was not it was a voluntary program so it wasn't a huge step but it just said before you release software AI system uh frontier model that could be poss possibly a huge threat to our cyber security and that means our bank accounts all of our private information I mean just go down the list of what is vulnerable. We should slow that down a little bit. It's not going to make us less competitive, but it's going to actually help our our really our national security.

[00:22:43]>> What advice would you have for any of the Senate candidates, including Mike Rogers, who are running for your job?

[00:22:48]>> Well, I'd say to all the Senate candidates, and I think it it'll be the Senate candidate that ultimately wins this state, uh, is that you do have to say, "I want to find common ground and try to solve problems." Michigan is a is a purple state. We're a pure we are there aren't too many purple states in the country. They're either really red or really blue. We're purple. Uh I know that when I represent Michigan, I represent every political kind of uh viewpoint there is. We have great diversity. Uh and I have to represent all the people in Michigan, not just the people who voted for me. And understand that because of that split that you're probably not going to win a general election. You can win a primary.

[00:23:24]Unfortunately, we have primaries that the most extreme candidates sometimes win a primary. But if you want to win a general election, you should be someone who folks can see that you're going to be willing to work and find common ground and and talk about that in a in a real authentic way.

[00:23:40]>> Great work up there, RP Raj. That is the pulse for tonight. Thank you so much for joining us. I'm Jessica Dupnak. Have a good night.