♪WELCOME BACK TO A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS EDITION OF "OFF THE RECORD."

OUR LEAD STORES FOR CRAIG FOR GOVERNOR CAMPAIGN AND IT'S ROLL-OUT.

THE RELATIONSHIP PROGRAMS IN THE # INDEX# HOUSE BECOME A PROBLEM FOR THE SPEAKER.

THIS TIME ON A BI-PARTISAN BASIS.

ON THE OTR PANEL, SIT WITH US AS WE GET THE INSIDE OUT "OFF THE RECORD."

> PRODUCTION OF "OFF-THE-RECORD IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE FOLLOWING: BUSINESS LEADERS FOR MICHIGAN HAS A STRATEGIC PLAN TO MAKE MICHIGAN A TOP-10 STATE FOR A HEALTHY ECONOMY.

LEARN MORE AT MICHIGAN'S.COM.

THIS EDITION.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS BEAUTIFUL MICHIGAN WEEKEND, FIVE STORIES ON THE AGENDA.

THIS IS A RARE NEWSWEEK.

LET'S GET INTO ALL OF THESE GOODIES AND SEE HOW MANY WE CAN GET A BITE OUT WITH OUR PANEL.

LET'S START WITH THE GUY WHO HAS ANNOUNCED TO JAMES, HE ANNOUNCED HE IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

CAN YOU CATCH THAT.

>> WHAT A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT.

THE FLASH MOB MEETS THE POLITICIAN.

THEY RAN HIM OFF OF THE ISLAND LITERALLY IN DETROIT.

>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED ON THE ISLAND AND WE WILL HAVE SOME COMMENTS.

ROLL THE TAPE.

>> THE CRAIG FOR GOVERNOR CAMPAIGN PICKED AN IDYLLIC SETTING FOR THE CHIEF'S ANNOUNCEMENT HE IS INDEED RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

BUT SOME UNINVITED GUESTS SHOWED UP, TOO.

♪ CRAIG HAS GOT GO.

>> THESE ANTI JAMES CRAIG PROTESTERS SURROUNDED THE CHIEF.

YOU CAN HEAR HIM ANNOUNCED FOR GOVERNOR.

>> I HAVE ONE THING TO SAY: I AM RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

>> IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN MODERN HISTORY THAT A MICHIGAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR LAUNCHED HIS OR HER CAMPAIGN WITH PROTESTERS SURROUNDING THE CANDIDATE.

UNDAUNTED, CAMPAIGN FOUND.

>> ANOTHER DETROIT LOCATION, THIS TIME WITHOUT THE UNINVITED GUESTS.

THE CHIEF TOOK CREDIT FOR THAT.

>> THIS IS WHAT CONTINGENCY PLANNING LOOKS LIKE.

>> MR. CRAIG DISMISSED THE DEMONSTRATORS AS PAID PROTESTERS WHO DON'TSPHERIC DETROITERS AND THEN HE MADE IT OFFICIAL.

>> I AM RUNNING TO BE YOUR GOVERNOR.

THE GOVERNOR FOR THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.

>> CRAIG.

CRAIG.

CRAIG >> AS FOR GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WHITMER, HE ARGUES SHE IS NOT A LEADER.

>> THE INCONSISTHE KNEW, INCOMPETENT RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC THAT SO MANY POLITICIANS FURTHER HIGHLIGHT THE NEED FOR NEW LEADERSHIP.

GOVERNOR WHITMER AND SO MANY OTHERS ARE IN A POSITION OF INFLUENCE.

YES, I USE THE TERM "POSITION OF INFLUENCE" INSTEAD OF LEADER DELIBERATELY.

>> FOR MANDATORY SHOTS AND MASKS, THE FORMER CHIEF IS FOR CHOICE.

>> ARE WE BEING SOCIALISTS, COMMUNISTS?

WHAT ABOUT CHOICE?

>> IN ORDER TO FACE THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, THIS REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR HAS NINE OTHER OPPONENTS WHO WANT THE SAME NOMINATION.

HE MUST GET PAST THEM FIRST TO GET TO HER.

>> SO MS. CLARK, YOU WERE LURKING IN THE BACK OF THIS GROUP DOING WHATEVER YOU WERE DOING.

GIVE ME 30 OR 40 SECONDS OF WHAT YOU SAW IN THE FIELD AND WHAT THIS STORY MEANS.

>> SURE.

WELL, ACTUALLY, ALL FOUR OF US, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE ON SCREEN WE WERE THERE AND IT WAS QUITE SOMETHING.

WE SHOWED UP AT ABOUT 9:15 GETTING READY FOR A 10:00 A.M.

ANNOUNCEMENT.

STWOORTDZ TO SPREAD VERY QUICKLY THAT ACROSS THE STREET ON BELL ISLE, DETROIT WILL BREATHE, THE PROTESTERS YOU SAW IN THE CLIP WERE PLANNING ON DISRUPTING THIS EVENT.

RIGHT AROUND 10:00 O'CLOCK, YOU COULD START HEARING CHANTS.

YOU COULD HEAR THE HORNS IN THE BACKGROUND.

THEY MARCHED TO WHERE THE PODIUM HAD BEEN SET UP.

THEY TOOK OVER THE PODIUM.

NO ONE WAS QUITE SURE WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AT THAT POINT.

JAMES CRAIG WAS BASICALLY IN A BIG S.U.V.

THEN, AS YOU COULD SEE, HE STARTS TO WALK UP CLOSER TO THE PODIUM, GET TO THE PODIUM SAID A FEW WORDS SUCH AS I AM RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

I WAS CROSS TO HIM AND COULDN'T HEAR THAT ANNOUNCEMENT.

YOU HAD TO BE IN THE BACK TO HEAR THAT IN THE SPEAKERS.

SECURITY, HIS FOLKS WALKED HIM BACK TO THE SUV.

THE SUV TOOK OFF AND AND THEN WORD WORD STARTED TO SPREAD ABOUT 20 MINUTES, 30 MINUTES LATER AFTER EVERYONE WAS HANGING AROUND THERE WAS GOING TO BE A NEW LOCATION WHICH ENDED UP BEING A LITTLE LESS THAN A MILE OFF OF BELL ISLE.

>> EMILY WE FOUND OUT THIS WEEK AFTER THE FACT THAT JOHN YOB, THE STREIF CHAT GIST, A VETERAN OF MANY OF THESE WARS ACTUALLY PUT THIS SPOT OF BELL ISLE OUT IN THE PUBLIC BECAUSE HE WANTED THE DEMONSTRATORS TO SHOW UP.

WE INTENTIONALLY PICKED THIS LOCATION, AND HE SAID, AS LONG AS IT WAS PEACEFUL, IT WAS GOING TO BE COOL.

WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> YEAH.

AND I THINK THAT HE TWEETED AT LEAST THAT HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD OPTICS FOR, YOU KNOW, THE SORT OF LEFT BRANCH OF PEOPLE TO BE PROTESTING, THE LAUNCH OF A TRUE CONSERVATIVE CAMPAIGN I GUESS BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE WERE A COUPLE OF MISSTEPS NOBODY ELSE THERE.

ANY EVENT YOU HOLD IN THE PUBLIC SPACE IS GOING TO HOLD THE RISK OF OTHER PEOPLE COMING.

RIGHT?

I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME RESERVATIONS.

BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THE BNR HAS ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT CRAIG CAMPAIGN DIDN'T EVEN ACTUALLY RESERVE THE SPACE AND THE HAS PROACTIVELY REACHED OUT TO THEM IS HOW THEY PHRASED IT WHEN THEY SAW REPORTS IN THE NEWS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE AREA WAS NOT REALLY SECURED IN A WAY THAT WAS MEANINGFUL AND THAT BECAME VERY APPARENT WHEN THE PROTESTERS SORT OF CARVED THEIR PATH RIGHT TOWARD HIS PODIUM.

>> JIM, GO.

>> YOU AND I ARE THE OLD-TIMERS.

I SAID IN MY REPORT, I HAVE BEEN DOING NEWS IN MICHIGAN FOR 38 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

WAS THIS CLASH PLANNED?

POSSIBLY BECAUSE THE DETROIT WILL BREATHE GROUP TWEETED OUT OVER THE WEEKEND THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE THERE.

CRAIG PUT OUT HIS NOTICE THAT HE IS GOING TO BE THERE DAYS IN ADVANCE.

I DON'T THINK THEY EXPECTED WHAT THEY GOT, AND IF THEY ARE SAYING SO AFTER THE FACT, THAT'S POSSIBLY SOME DAMAGE CONTROL.

GOVERNOR WHITMER WAS DOWN HERE IN METRO DETROIT YESTERDAY TOURING THE FORD PLANT OVER AT DEARBORN.

I ASKED HER ABOUT IT.

SHE SAID SHE SAW THE VIDEO, BUT I HAVE TO FOCUS ON DOING MY JOB.

AND THEN I FOLLOWED UP WITH, SINCE YOU HAVE SEEN THE VIDEO, WHAT RAN THROUGH YOUR MIND?

AND SHE SAID, IT WAS WILD.

>> YEAH.

WHICH IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

CHAD, LOOK.

THE DEBATE IN OUR TOWN IS, DID THAT HELP HIM GIVE HIS MESSAGE OUT AND WAS THAT REALLY THE INTENDED AUDIENCE?

AND I AM GOING TO STIELL YOUR ANSWER BECAUSE YOU THINK THIS WAS DONE FOR FOX NEWS?

RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT WAS DONE FOR FOX NEWS.

IT WAS -- AND INCIDENTALLY, IT CREATED AN IMAGE BY LIKE MIDDAY WITHIN AN HOUR OR SO, THEY HAD SENT OUT A CAMPAIGN PRESS E-MAIL SAYING LEFTISTS HAD STORMED JAMES CRAIG'S EVEN THOUGH THE LEFTISTS WERE STANDING THERE BEFORE HE EVEN GOT THERE.

BUT THEY GOT THE IMAGERY, THEY GOT THE B ROLL FOR FOX NEWS.

8:30 P.M., LIKE CLOCKWORK, JAMES CRAIG IS ON TUCKER CARLSON'S SHOW, A THREE-FRAME, YOU KNOW, TURKER CARLSON, JAMES CRAIG AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT A FOX NEWS VIEWER WOULD BASICALLY VIEW AS ANTIFA OF SOME SORT AS, YOU KNOW, TAKING OVER AND TRYING TO DISRUPT THIS, YOU KNOW, CAMPAIGN EVENT.

I MEAN, I WILL BE THE SIN I CYNIC.

I THINK JOHN YAW WAS WATCHING THIS WHOLE THING FROM ADRONE BECAUSE IT REALLY HAD THIS SORT OF ELEMENT TO ALL THAT, SORT OF THE CHAOS ELEMENT.

THERE WERE CRAN CONSULTANTS IN TOWN WHO THOUGHT THIS WAS RECKLESS, DUMPSTER FIRE STAFFING BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE GOT DANGEROUS.

I MEAN, IT COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS.

AT ONE POINT, THERE WAS -- YOU SEE IN THE VIDEO, THERE IS THIS SHOUTING PROTESTER AND HE IS SORT OF SHAKING HIS FIST IN ONE OF JAMES CRAIG'S 'S BODIMEN.

HE HAD TO KIND OF EXTEND HIS ARM OUT TO GET THAT GUY'S FIST.

I MEAN, IT WAS WITHIN A FOOT OR TWO OF JAMES CRAIG'S FACE.

IT WAS A PRETTY HEATED LITTLE EVENT.

THAT'S WHY THERE WAS A LOT OF CRITICISM WITHIN THE BELTWAY ABOUT HOW THIS WAS HANDLED.

BUT I GUESS THIS HAD -- THIS WAS THE JUST SORT OF TEXTBOOK.

>> MEAN WHILE, I WANT TO NOTE, WE HAVE SPENT MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THE TIK TOK OF THE ROLL-OUT, AN ONE OF THE THINGS THEN THAT SORT OF GETS OVERSEEN AND IT MAY BE THIS IS PART OF THE PLAYBOOK IS HOW ABOUT POLICY?

POLICY?

>> POLICY-SCHMOLICY.

>> I KNOW.

GOD FORBID BUT, TIM, I KNOW YOU TALKED TO HIM EARLIER IN THE WEEK ABOUT WHERE HIS STANCHION IS ON ABORTION OR AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, IN ISSUES OF RACE AND N INCEST.

HE SAID HE IS TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

HE SEEMED BOTCHED ABOUT WHETHER INFRASTRUCTURE IS A TOP PRIORITY OF HIS.

RIGHT?

SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SPENDING TIME TALKING ABOUT THIS ROLL-OUT, WHICH IS BEING USED FOR FUNDING RAISING AND TUCKER CARLSON AND IS BEING USED TO, YOU KNOW, FURTHER DIVIDE THE ELECTORATE BECAUSE YOU WILL SEE WHAT YOU WILL SEE WHEN YOU SEE THAT VIDEOTAPE.

RIGHT?

BUT MEANTIME, YOU KNOW, WHAT GETS TLOST IN THIS IS HE HAS NO NECESSARILY SAT DOWN AND EXPLAINED HIS.

>> HIS ANNOUNCEMENT OF RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR WAS WHAT WE CALL IN THE BIZ, OLD NEWS.

OKAY?

THIS WAS NEWT NEWS FOLKS.

MR. Y POT.

B, I AM SURE WENT INTO HIS CAULDRON OR ROOM AND SAID, WHAT CAN WE DO TO KIND OF SPRUCE THIS UP A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE SURE WE MIGHT LEAD THE EVENING NEWS.

AM I BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE OR NOT?

>> NO.

NO.

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT BECAUSE I WENT OUT THERE THINKING THE SAME THING.

OKAY.

YOU KNOW, AM I GOING TO BE IN THE THIRD SEGMENT OF THE 5:00 O'CLOCK NEWS WITH THIS?

AND THEN ONCE WE HAD THE CLASH, MY PHONE IS BLOWING UP FROM PEOPLE AT THE STATION, AND FORTUNATELY, WE HAD THREE CAMERAS OUT THERE BECAUSE THE MORNING SHOW WAS OUT THERE EARLIER AND SO WE HAD A LOT OF THESE BASES COVERED AND THEY ARE GOING, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GREAT VIDEO.

DO YOU NEED EXTRA TIME TO TELL YOUR STORY NOW?

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> IT BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD UP JUST LIKE THEY WANTED.

>> YOU DON'T THINK MR. YOB KNOWS THAT, THE TELEVISION NEWS IS SORT OF ADDICTED TO STUFF THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO GO SOUTH.

EMILY, PUT A CAP ON THIS.

WAS THERE A LEAD, AS ZOE REFERS TO POLICYWISE.

>> HE STARTED TALKING.

HIS BACKGROUND IS IN LAW EN ENFORCEMENT ENFORCEMENT.

HE TALKED A LOT ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE PROTESTERS, I THINK.

BUT I SEE ASKED HIM AT THE END OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE IF THAT WAS HIS TOP ISSUE AND HE SAID NO.

I WALKED AWAY WONDERING WHAT HIS TOP ISSUE WAS.

YOUR SEGMENT POINTED OUT THAT HE HAD A DIG IN THERE AT GOVERNOR WHITMER OVER COVID HANDLING.

OF COURSE, I EXPECTED THAT TO BE PART OF IT.

THE REPUBLICANS PLATFORM BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT REALLY A MROOLT FORM GOING FORWARD ASSUMING THAT CORONAVIRUS IS SOMEWHAT MORE CONTAINED AND THAT'S THE SITUATION.

IT WILL CHANGE 15 TIMES WITH THAT BEFORE ANYONE ELSE TAKES?

>> CHAD, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

HE TOOK A POSITION WITH ME IN THAT INTERVIEW ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

HOW DO YOU THINK HE CAME DOWN?

I WOULD IMAGINE THAT HE IS MAYBE NOT IN FAVOR OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

>> REALLY?

GOOD.

HOW DID YOU FIGURE THAT OUT?

>> HE -- >> WAIT A MINUTE.

HERE IS A LAW AND ORDER CRIME FIGHTER, THE JACK WEBB, ON DRAGNET AND IT'S NOT FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT?

>> I THINK THERE IS A FEW CLICHES IN THERE, TERM.

>> I AM TRYING.

WORK WITH ME.

>> YEAH, WE TEND TO, IN THE MEDIA, SORT OF ASSUME THAT ALL PROSECUTORS, ALL COPS WANT TO PUT PEOPLE IN ELECTRIC CHAIRS.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

PARTICULARLY SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED IN FOUR DIFFERENT MAJOR CITIES, LA, PORTLAND, MAINE, AND CINCINNATI AS WELL AS DETROIT.

JAMES CRAIG HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO HE IS LITERALLY PROBABLY SEEN IT ALL OF THE MOST COPS I HAVE ENCOUNTERED WITH, THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW GUYS WHO WANT TO PUT PEOPLE IN DEATH CHAMBERS.

>> HE DID SAY WHEN HE STARTED OUT, HE WAS FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, BUT THEN WHEN HE BECAME A REPUBLICAN, HE SAIE HE INVOLVED IS HIS FAVORITE WORD FOR SAYING CHANGED HIS MIND.

WE WOULD CALL IT A FLIP-FLOP.

HE CALLS IT EVOLVING.

HE SAID WHAT IF WE PUT SOMEBODY TO DEATH AND IT'S NOT RIGHT?

BUT HE ACTUALLY TOOK A POSITION ON AN ISSUE.

I ASKED AND SAID, CAN YOU SAY SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS DONE RIGHT?

HE PAUSED FOR ABOUT THREE OR FOUR SECONDS AND HE COULDN'T COME UP WITH ANYTHING.

SO HE -- I WILL DIGRESS AND CONTINUE TO SOMETHING ELSE.

THE CALLS IN THE MICHIGAN HOUSE, MS. CLARK, TWO PEOPLE HAD A RELATIONSHIP, THE SPEAKER TOOK ACTION.

THIS WAS A BAD WEEK FOR SPEAKER WENTWORTH.

HE IS BROOMING PEOPLE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

WHAT'S THE STORY THERE?

>> NOT JUST THIS WEEK.

IT FEELS LIKE THIS TERM THAT HAS BEEN, I WOULD LOOK TO YOU TO KNOW THE INSTITUTIONAL AND HISTORICALN KNOWLEDGE.

HAS THERE BEEN.

I THINK WHAT YOUARE TALKING ABOUT THIS WEEK IS REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE STEVE MORINO RELEASE CAME OUT THAT HE WAS BEING PULLED OFF OF HIS COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP, AND IT TOOK ANOTHER DAY AND REPRESENTATIVE MARIE MANUCHIAN.

WHAT SHE IS SAYING.

IT HAPPENED.

THAT HAPPENED.

THEN WENTWORTH REMOVED EARLIER AS HE SAID, MORINO FROM THE COMMITTEE.

KEITH MORINO PUT OUT A STATEMENT SAYING BASICALLY, THIS IS CHARACTER ASSASSINATION BUT THERE IS A MICHIGAN STATE POLICE INVESTIGATION ALREADY GOING.

AS I TALKED TO MANY FOLKS IN LANSING, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING, YOU DO NOT PULL SOMEONE OFF OF A CHAIR OF A COMMITTEE IF YOU DON'T THINK SOMETHING HAPPENED.

RIGHT?

AND SO WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE INVESTIGATION, BUT IT IS -- IT IS SERIOUS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALSO -- WE WILL TALK ABOUT REPRESENTATIVE JOEL JONES THIS WEEK.

BUT IT WASN'T A GREAT READ.

NOT JUST SPEAKER WENTWORTH.

I THINK FOR FOLKS WHO ARE REPRESENTED.

RIGHT?

BY REPRESENTATIVES, TAXPAYERS AND YOU HAVE HAD JUST THIS WEEK, LIKE I SAID, TWO REPRESENTATIVES.

JONES AND MOREEN ON REMOVED FROM THEIR COMMITTEE.

>> EMILY, YOUR TAKE ON THIS STORY.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN I THINK MORE WILL COME OUT ESPECIALLY I IS AGREE.

IT HAS TO BE PRETTY SERIOUS FOR THE SPEAKER TO ACT, YOU KNOW, EFFECTIVELY AGAINST A MEMBER OF HIS OWN PARTY AND REMOVING THAT MEMBER FROM THE COMMITTEE.

I THINK THAT SPEAKER WENTWORTH HAS HAD SOME TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE IN THE PAST FEW DAYS.

I SORT OF QUESTIONED ONCE JONES AND THE COMMITTEE CAME UP IN SORT OF RAPID SUCCESSION.

I DID THINK SPEAKER WENTWORTH WAS TRYING TO SET A BAR HERE AND SORT OF MAKE A POINT THAT THERE IS A LEVEL OF BEHAVIOR THAT ISN'T TOLERATED FROM LEADERS IN THE HOUSE.

>> CHAD?

>> YEAH.

TIM IS A NEW RESIDENT AT THE LIVINGSTON DAILY HERE TO JOEL JONES JAIL FOR VIOLATING HIS BOND OVER HIS DRUNK DRIVING ARREST BECAUSE HE WAS APPARENTLY TRYING TO MANIPULATE HIS TETHER AND THEN, ALSO, A HAND CUFF KEEP GO JAIL IN LIVINGSTON COUNTY JAIL IN ORDER TO TRY TO ESCAPE FROM JAIL.

THAT'S PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY TO SAY THE LEAST.

SO, IT'S NOT BEEN A VERY GOOD WEEK FOR THE YOUNGER MEKSZ OF THE STATE HOUSE.

WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE.

WE HAVE SEEN THIS FROM SESSION TO SESSION.

A DIFFERENCE IN MATURE TEE IN SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES GET ELECTED IN THEIR EARLY 20S.

JOEL JONES CAME IN, LIKE, AT 21 BARELY OR SO AND HE WAS REALLY YOUNG GUY.

AND TO ME, HE IS IN HIS THIRDLY TERM AND IN HIS MID-20S.

THAT'S JUST WHAT HAPPENS NOW THE IN TERM LIMITS.

AND I THINK WE ARE STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THE EFFECTS OF THAT THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, AS MAT TORE AS WE MIGHT WANT THEM TO BE WHEN THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT A $65 BILLION ENTERPRISE IN STATE GOVERNMENT JAMES YOUR TAKE, PLEASE.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE MORINO MANUCIAN AND CHAD CAN SPEAK TO THIS BETTER THAN ANYBODY.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS.

I THINK EMILY OR EURO SAID THAT A FEW WEEKS ON THIS PROGRAMZOE A FEW WEEKS ON THIS PROGRAM.

DO WE KNOW THE ACTION TENT OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP?

I AM ONLY BRINGING THAT UP BECAUSE I AM LOOKING AT MANUCIANN'S STATEMENT WHERE SHE SAYS WE ARE NOT IMMUNE TO A VOLUME VOLATILE VOLATILE RELATIONSHIP REGARDLESS OF OUR CAREER.

IT CAN HAPPEN RIGHT HERE, ABUSE OF POWER THREATS TO RUIN A COLLEAGUE'S REPUTATION AS WELL AS THREATS OF PUBLIC SHAMING CAN BE USED.

SO, YOU KNOW, THIS COULD BE THE GOING A LOT DEEPER THAN WE KNOW.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE JUELL JONES IS BEFORE OUR EYES DRUNK DRIVING IN SPRING, VIOLATED TERMS OF HIS RELEASE, PLEADED GUILTY TO THAT AND NOW, YOU KNOW, THIS, REALLY?

YOU TAPED A HANDCUFFEE TO YOUR FOOT SO YOU COULD USE IT ONCE YOU GOT IN SIGHT?

KNOWING HE WAS PROBABLY GOING TO BE LOCKED UP.

THAT'S THE JUST BEYOND COMPREHENSION.

>> HOW DOES THIS PLAY IN THE HINTERLAND WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THIS STUFF.

>> CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN WANING FOR SOME TIME.

YOU KNOW, IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE -- YOU KNOW, YOU ARE LIVING.

YOU SEE A LOT OF SIMPLE PATHY IN SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT JOELLE JEENDZ WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HIM, WHETHER HE HAS SOME TYPE OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE OR SOME TYPE OF SORT OF PROBLEM AT HOME OR NOT A GOOD SPORT SYSTEM.

OF COURSE, IT'S PLAYED DIFFERENTLY UP HERE IN LIVINGSTON COUNTY THAN IT DOES BACK IN DETROIT.

SO SEGMENT FOR THE RISK OF GETTING TOO FAR INTO THE TODD COREYS, CINDY GAMRAN STORY.

THESE ARE DIFFERENT STORIES GREAT RENTS TO CONCEAL THEBURNS STORY WHERE HE TRIED TO MAKE UP A SEPARATE STORY ABOUT HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH A MAN.

>> DON'T FORGET THE INNOC LATE THE HERD.

>> WE WON'T GO BACK INTO OUR 2015 BINGO CARD, BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT STORY YOU THE WE SHOULD TREAT IT DIFFERENT.

>> AGREED.

>> DIFFERENT RESPECT AND DIFFERENCE TO REPRESENTATIVE MANUKIAN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> I SPOKE TO A MEMBER OF THE MICHIGAN HOUSE WHO IS A REFORMED ALCOHOLIC AND WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CLEARLY THE REPRESENTATIVE MADE SOME MISS JUDGMENTS.

OKAY?

I AM SURPRISED THE ATTORNEY HAS NOT ASKED FOR SOME SORT OF MOVING THIS OUT OF -- IT'S GOING TEEN OUT OF THE CRIMINAL SYSTEM.

OKAY?

WITH HE HAVE PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE LIKE THIS, THE LAWMAKER SAID.

WE HAVE PROGRAMS FOR THIS.

>> YOU APOLOGIZE.

MAYBE ONE OF THE MORE IMPORTANT STORIES HERE IS THE BUDGET DEAL BEING LAST ON OUR LIST.

ZOE, THE FACT THAT IF WE GO BACK TO LAST FEBRUARY, THIS IS REALLY A GOOD NEWS STORY.

I THINK ALL OF THE PLAYERS AT THIS JUNCTURE OUGHT TO TACK A BOW.

WHEN WE STARTED THIS, IT WAS UGLY.

THE REPUBLICANS WERE AFTER THE GOVERNOR'S POWER.

SHE WAS AFTER THEM.

LO AND BEHOLD, WE HAVE A KUMBYA MOMENT IN WHAT THIS WEEK.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT LOOKS LIKE AN OMNIBUS BUDGET OR AN HONEST BUDGET.

>> LET'S DO THEM BOTH.

>>.

>> WE KNOW THE K THROUGH 12 SCHOOL BUDGET WAS DONE EARLIER THIS SUMMER.

RIGHT?

BECAUSE SCHOOLS ARE ON, ON THIS DIFFERENT CALENDAR.

CONSTITUTIONALLY, IT NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE OCTOBER 1ST AND ALAS, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE.

THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO OVERLAP DURING THE MACKINAW, BUT IT COULD BE AS EARLY AS TUESDAY, POSSIBLY WEDNESDAY.

AND IT IS.

IT IS PRETTY SURPRISING, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AMOUNT HOW MUCH THE POLITICS OVER COVID AND THE GOVERNOR'S HANDLING OF COVID PLAYED INTO REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AND THEIR WILLINGNESS , BUT YOU HAD A STATEMENT FROM AM 1 WHO WILL BE WORKING FOR THE GOVERNOR.

IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A HANDSHAKE ON IT.

>> HE SAID WE HAD A RAPPORT.

I ALMOST FELL OFF OF MY CHAIR.

>> IT IS PRETTY FASCINATING AND DIFFERENT.

>> IT'S NOT MY DEPARTMENT AND DEPARTMENTS.

FOLKS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DIG INTO THIS, YOU KNOW, ONE BIG BUDGET AND THE HIGHER EDUCATION BUDGET WHICH THERE HAD BEEN LOTS OF CONTROVERSY TYING THAT WITH THE UNIVERSITY'S VACCINE MANDATE.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH NEXT WEEK AND SEE HOW IT COMES DOWN.

IT LOOKS LIKE THIS COULD BE A WIN FOR THE GOVERNOR AND THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS.

>> AND NO SHUTDOWN OF GOVERNMENT.

BUT EMILY LURKING IN THE BACKGROUND IS A HUGE PILE OF FEDERAL MONEY WHICH THEY HAVE NOT SPENT YET.

>> YES.

>> C.A.R.E.S.

ACT II, WHICH COULD BE UGLY OR COULD SAY HERE IS A LITTLE FOR YOU.

HERE IS A LITTLE FOR ME.

LET'S GO HOME.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I WAS FLOORED THE ON-THE-BUS OR OMNIBUS, HOW EVER YOU WANT TO PUT IT.

THE WHITMER ADMINISTRATION HAD THE DEPARTMENT PUTTING IN PLACE THEIR CONTIGHEENCY PLANS FOR A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

THAT LOOKS TO BE SORT OF OFF OF THE TABLE NOW AND EVERYONE WILL COME TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY WELL BEFORE THAT OCTOBER 1ST DEADLINE WHICH I DON'T THINK I WAS EXPECTING POS USUALLY THE PLAYERS WERE COOL HEADED.

THAT FEDERAL MONEY IS GOING TO BE A FIGHT.

>> $6 MILLION -- $6,000,000,000.

>> ALWAYS A FIGHT OVER MOAN.

WE TAPED THIS ON FRIDAY.

WE LEARNED ABOUT A BUDGET DEAL LATE WEDNESDAY AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT'S IN THE BIG.

>> EXACTLY.

>> THIS IS NOT HOW THIS SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.

THESE BUDGET DEALS GET HAMMERED OUT AFTER CLOSED DOORS AND ROLL OUT HUNDREDS OF PAGES OF A BILL ON TUESDAY AND VOTE ON IT, AND GO HOME AND SPEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

I THINK THAT THAT IS INSTITUTIONALLY ARE, WE ARE HEADED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPARENTS.

>> ON THAT OMINOUS NOTE, WE THANK THE FOUR OF YOU.

GREAT PROGRAM, MY FRIENDS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

EVERYBODY, HAVE A NICE WEEKEND.

WE WILL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE FOR MORE "OFF THE RECORD" COME BACK.

>> PRODUCTION OF "OFF THE RECORD" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING: BUSINESS LEADERS FOR MICHIGAN HAS A TRATTEGIC PLAN TO MAKE MICHIGAN A TOP IF 10 STATE.

LEARN MORE AT # INDEX#'S ROAD TO TOP 10.COM VISIT WKAR.ORG.

MICHIGAN PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PRODUCTION COSTS OF "OFF THE RECORD" WITH TIM SKUBICK.