Happy Sunday! ☃️ With Christmas just hours away, here’s a special edition of the newsletter:
- After you catch up on political news, we have four tips on how to handle political conversations at your family’s holiday gathering.
⚖️ Two former aides of ex-House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R) face felony charges for embezzlement while working for him.
- Anné and Rob Minard, says Attorney General Dana Nessel, misappropriated at least $525,000 from 2018-2020.
- Rob Minard was Chatfield’s chief of staff, and Anné Minard was a political consultant.
📐 Thirteen legislative districts must be redrawn, a federal court told Michigan’s redistricting commission.
- These Democrat-leaning Metro Detroit districts unfairly reduced the power of Black voters, judges ruled.
- The redrawing must happen before the primary on Aug. 6.
🗳️ Former President Donald Trump pressured Wayne County Republicans not to certify the 2020 election, according to phone recordings reviewed by The Detroit News.
- Those two GOP members of Wayne’s canvasser board initially voted not to certify but reversed the next day.
- Trump’s call came before the reversal, and in it he pushed false claims of a stolen election.
🚸 Road and bridge improvements are getting $234 million after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a funding bill.
- Five school districts will also get $114 million to relieve debt.
🏭 Manufacturers are concerned about upcoming Democratic legislative efforts that include requiring paid family and medical leave.
- But, the Michigan Manufacturers Association also said, it’s encouraged by efforts to approve a research and development tax credit.
Do you dread Christmas dinner – or any holiday gathering – because politics always comes up?
- Andrew Jason Cohen, a professor who directs Georgia State University’s Philosophy, Politics and Economics program, has advice for a civil discussion.
👇 Below are some highlights from my interview with Cohen we published last December.
Tip 1: Engage
It’s disrespectful to refuse to engage with a family member, Cohen says, despite the adage that politics doesn’t belong in polite conversation.
📖 Term to know: Americans suffer from “affective polarization” when we don’t talk because of a perceived disagreement.
- In reality, we’re not as different as we think.
A 2022 study from civil discourse group More in Common found significant common ground in the debate over race and history teachings in schools.
- 83% of Republicans believe students should learn about slavery, Jim Crow and segregation.
- 83% of Democrats believe students shouldn’t be made to feel guilty or responsible for ancestors’ errors.
🗣️ “Recognize that the disagreements are not as deep or significant as people think,” Cohen said.
Tip 2: ‘Rational and reasonable’
Start your discussion by defining the disagreement.
- Be calm, actively listen, give the other person the benefit of the doubt, and don’t let past tension affect the conversation.
🗣️ “That’s really hard,” Cohen knows, but “being rational and reasonable means that you have to concentrate on whatever the topic is at hand and not go off into these other things.”
If you feel offended, don’t end the discussion, he adds.
- Instead, we should look for reasons why we feel the way we do.
Tip 3: What to avoid
Name calling is obvious, but also don’t assume the other person comes by their views selfishly.
Example: An immigration opponent may not be selfishly concerned about losing their job.
- And an immigration supporter may not be trying to disrespect American-born workers.
Neither side has a monopoly on patriotism nor care for their community, Cohen says.
🧠 Keep in mind: Not all issues are one-sided, he adds, as there may be “third views or fourth views or fifth views” you’re leaving out.
Tip 4: What you can gain
Improving empathy and discourse happens through curious discussion with a goal in mind to move things forward.
🗣️ “Oftentimes there’s a middle ground that’s better than either of the sides,” Cohen said, “and you miss that if you don’t engage in the dialogue.”
Research shows that diverse discussions improve outcomes, he adds.
🗣️ “To get the better outcome, you have to have the discussion, and you have to be willing to have the discussion with people you disagree with,” Cohen said.
5 more stories from MLive:
⚖️ Efforts to extend Michigan’s sex assault statute of limitations are stalling
📵 Michigan drivers picking phones back up 5 months after new law
🪪 Michigan bringing back vintage green plate, changing driver’s license
🏛️ Michigan man injured in jump from U.S. Capitol during Jan. 6 riot, FBI says
🔋 Michigan could offer up to $2,500 rebates for new cars under Whitmer plan
