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Simon D. Schuster

@simon.schuster.press
2.6K followers 203 following 285 posts

Political reporter in Michigan with @bridgemi.com covering the 2026 gubernatorial election, dad to @bridgemialerts.bsky.social Reach me: simon.schuster.press or text me at (517) 247-4949

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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 14/09/2026
Crazy scoop from ProPublica here ⬇️
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 11/09/2026
Can’t help but think of this story on 9/11 — and all the other moments of heroism and sacrifice that defined that day. www.newyorker.com/magazine/200...
newyorker.com
The Courageous Life and Death of Rick Rescorla, a 9/11 Hero
The Vietnam veteran helped save hundreds of lives on September 11th, before he was swallowed by the South Tower collapse. “For Rick Rescorla, this was a natural death,” his best friend said—a hero’s e...
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 09/09/2026
James has been courting their support, rather than the other way around, and I'm told they're mulling an endorsement. bridgemi.com/michigan-gov...
bridgemi.com
John James pitches marijuana tax repeal, courts industry donors - Bridge Michigan
Michigan Republican gubernatorial nominee John James is raising money from marijuana industry donors as he calls to repeal or reduce a new wholesale marijuana tax that raises money for road repairs.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 09/09/2026
New: Weeks before Republican gubernatorial candidate John James announced he wanted to “repeal or sharply reduce” Michigan's new 24% tax on wholesale marijuana, he attended a fundraiser hosted on his behalf by pot industry executives.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 08/09/2026
ICYMI: As recently as Friday, Jocelyn Benson's campaign touted her as "the only candidate not taking utility money in this gov race." But her campaign accepted $3,000 from DTE Energy’s executive chairman, her fundraising disclosure showed. (via @bridgemi.com) bridgemi.com/michigan-gov...
bridgemi.com
Jocelyn Benson outraises John James. See top donors in Michigan governor race - Bridge Michigan
Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Jocelyn Benson got donations from DTE and Blue Cross executives, while the DeVos family continued to contribute to Republican John James.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 04/09/2026
His campaign is blaming it on MITN, the transparency portal which has had a lot of bugs. But last night the department told me they reached out to the campaign to verify the accuracy of James' report before posting and have not hear back. I'm still waiting on an update.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 04/09/2026
About 18 hours ago, GOP gubernatorial candidate John James' campaign finance filing disappeared from the state website and has not returned.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 04/09/2026
After denials at the US and Michigan supreme courts, Americans for Citizen Voting-Michigan say they're going to regroup and try for 2028. Constitutional amendment would've required proof of citizenship to register to vote and photo ID to cast a ballot.
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Bridge MI Campaign Finance Alerts @bridgemialerts.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
💰 New Gubernatorial Filing 💰 Name: 𝗝𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗹𝘆𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻 (D) Status: Won Receipts: $1,791,424 Total Spent: $2,261,777 Debt: $0 Cash On Hand: $5,934,240 All Filings
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 03/09/2026
Good day to follow @bridgemialerts.bsky.social
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 03/09/2026
Can people please stop being murdered on the Lansing river trail? That's my running route
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 02/09/2026
Making a personal resolution to use the term "newsless" more frequently when warranted
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 24/08/2026
Breaking News: The Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to proceed with plans to restrict mail-in voting. The decision clears, for now, an executive order that would create “citizenship lists” and directs the Postal Service to decide who gets a mail-in ballot. nyti.ms/3Ukqoti
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 19/08/2026
Jocelyn Benson picks Winnie Brinks as running mate in Michigan governor race bridgemi.com/uncategorize...
bridgemi.com
Jocelyn Benson picks Winnie Brinks as running mate in Michigan governor race - Bridge Michigan
Democrat Jocelyn Benson adds an experienced legislator to the Democratic ticket by selecting Senate Majority Leader Leader Winnie Brinks as her running mate.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 09/08/2026
Abdul El-Sayed coming to the podium at Michigan Democrats’ Friday rally. Pete Buttigieg spoke before him, and this was the first Dem event I’ve seen where another politician (El-Sayed) drew more applause from the crowd.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 07/08/2026
Debate update for #MIGOV Jocelyn Benson yesterday: I will attend 2 televised debates John James today: I challenge Benson to 5 debates (and accepted the same two as Benson) James also agreed to the debate organized by the Michigan Debate Commission. It appears Benson has not.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 06/08/2026
Michigan Debate Commission invitations have been sent to candidates: Sept. 15: Abdul El-Sayed + Mike Rogers in #MISEN Sept. 21: Jocelyn Benson + John James in #MIGOV Nice to see these debates would both occur before absentee ballots are mailed to voters.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 05/08/2026
“John James is like a fancy sports car in a Michigan winter,” Whitmer says. “Looks real sharp parked in the driveway, but the second there’s slush on the road, no help at all.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 05/08/2026
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is campaigning for Jocelyn Benson in Lansing
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 05/08/2026
Texted by a staffer from Abdul’s gubernatorial campaign sent
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 05/08/2026
…and the abstract from that (highly-cited) study linked in the story. Much has changed in US politics since 2010, but history offers some pretty strong signals. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
cambridge.org
What Happens When Extremists Win Primaries? | American Political Science Review | Cambridge Core
What Happens When Extremists Win Primaries? - Volume 109 Issue 1
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 05/08/2026
Something to keep in mind from @bridgemi.com’s pre-primary coverage
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 05/08/2026
Abdul El-Sayed has won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, per the Associated Press
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 05/08/2026
Example No. 1 million of ideological labels and policy preferences being largely unrelated
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 05/08/2026
This is a mess in the making for MI-8 Republicans. Thomas Smith dropped out. Reminder: this is Rep. Kristen McDonald-Rivet's seat and was considered highly competitive just two years ago
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Hayley Harding @hayleyharding.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
*smacks the roof of the U-Haul rented by the city of Detroit to ensure ballots arrive safely and securely* you can fit 3500 ballots the entire country is waiting on in this bad boy
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 05/08/2026
after midnight, "too close to call" is journalism speak for "i'm going to bed"
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 05/08/2026
From a campaign office in Frandor to an election night party at The Avenue, Lawrence ran a Lansingmaxxed primary campaign. It+East Lansing are the anchor of Dem support for this district, but won't decide the district in November. MI-7's hinterlands are a whole different beast.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 05/08/2026
Way too much MI-7 discourse has been about @wewill2026.bsky.social's ideology and message. But the reality is Lawrence's ground game and organizing ran circles around Brink and Maasdam, and honestly, those likely had an even larger impact on his rout tonight.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 05/08/2026
NEWS: Surviving a barrage of advertising and attacks from self-funded businessman Perry Johnson, US Rep. John James won the race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination Tuesday evening. (via @bridgemi.com) bridgemi.com/michigan-gov...
bridgemi.com
John James wins Republican primary for Michigan governor over Perry Johnson - Bridge Michigan
John James defeated Perry Johnson in Michigan's Republican gubernatorial primary. He'll face Democrat Jocelyn Benson in November.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 05/08/2026
NEWS: Jocelyn Benson wins Michigan Democratic governor primary (via @bridgemi.com) bridgemi.com/michigan-gov...
bridgemi.com
Jocelyn Benson wins Michigan Democratic governor primary - Bridge Michigan
Jocelyn Benson won Michigan's Democratic gubernatorial primary and will advance to the general election.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 04/08/2026
Two teams of U.S. Department of Justice observers are swinging through polling places in Lansing, MI today. They sit off to the side, jot a few notes and move on. A Michigan Department of State official monitoring the monitors tells me they’ve been uniformly kind and cordial.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 03/08/2026
The state's own $9 million system doesn't record these name changes, only the bot does, so give @bridgemialerts.bsky.social a follow.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 03/08/2026
The story: bridgemi.com/michigan-gov...
bridgemi.com
Sports gambling super PACs place big bets on Michigan legislative races - Bridge Michigan
Sports betting companies pumped nearly $3 million into Michigan legislative races this month. The spending mostly benefited current lawmakers and followed rejection of a proposed gambling tax.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 03/08/2026
Reported on Friday this gaming industry group had spent nearly $3 million running ads under "American Conservative Fund" instead of the name they registered in Michigan, a violation of state campaign finance rules. The bot just caught them changing their name.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 03/08/2026
Lots of palace intrigue-y details in this CNN writeup of Michigan’s U.S. Senate primary edition.cnn.com/2026/08/02/p...
edition.cnn.com
The fight for Michigan: How a marquee Senate primary became the Democrats’ latest proxy war | CNN Politics
Tuesday’s Michigan Senate primary between Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed has become a bitter referendum on many of the fights Democrats are having nationally.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 31/07/2026
NEWS: A super PAC funded by two major online sportsbooks has dumped nearly $3 million into 15 Michigan state legislative primaries. It may seem small relative to the US Senate spending, but for these races, that much money is a big deal. (via @bridgemi.com) bridgemi.com/michigan-gov...
bridgemi.com
Sports gambling super PACs place big bets on Michigan legislative races - Bridge Michigan
Sports betting companies pumped nearly $3 million into Michigan legislative races this month. The spending mostly benefited current lawmakers and followed rejection of a proposed gambling tax.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 31/07/2026
Michigan Department of State data: app.powerbigov.us/view?r=eyJrI...
app.powerbigov.us
Power BI Report
Report powered by Power BI
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 31/07/2026
Michigan voters have now cast, for this election, more than 50% of all the ballots cast in the 2024 August primary. That's more than 1 million absentee and early votes.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 30/07/2026
Saw the film there. Worth the drive.
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Bridge Michigan @bridgemi.com · 30/07/2026
bridgemi.com
Fact checks: Jocelyn Benson, Chris Swanson on data centers, energy and more
Two Democrats vying for election Tuesday have some contrasts on tax subsidies for data centers, abortion and some other issues. Here are the facts.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 27/07/2026
Three of Michigan's four gubernatorial candidates pledged to @bridgemi.com to open up their offices to FOIA — even if the legislature fails to act. US Rep. John James said he supports expanding FOIA, but didn't promise to act unilaterally. bridgemi.com/michigan-gov...
bridgemi.com
Bridge Listens: How Michigan's next governor would change elections, transparency - Bridge Michigan
From voter ID to government transparency reforms, Michigan gubernatorial candidates told Bridge how they’d like to change rules related to the democratic process.
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Joanne Hammond @joannehammond.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Canada on fire. Top notch data visualization by CBC graphics.
A map of Canada where land is very light grey on white, and wildfire numbers and intensity are shown in red circles that get bigger as things get worse. There is a band of red circles (blood red to dried blood red) stretching NW to SE from northern Yukon to the top of the Great Lakes.

The text Wildfires in Canada
Out of control
Being held
Under control
Hectares
300K
100K
30K
Data last checked on July 24, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
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Bridge MI Campaign Finance Alerts @bridgemialerts.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
💰 New Gubernatorial Filing 💰 John James (R) Status: Candidate Receipts: $3,108,356 Total Spent: $4,165,127 Debt: $0 Cash On Hand: $1,391,944 Link to all filings on profile.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 24/07/2026
Wow. Expected, but still wow.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 24/07/2026
Well @bridgemialerts.bsky.social was down for the last ~hour because X started blocking my code from making posts, and I couldn't fathom why. Turns out we sent too many campaign finance updates in the past 24 hours and hit their post limit. I had to buy premium for the damn bot.
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 24/07/2026
If you value this free public service, consider donating to @bridgemi.com or sign up for our newsletters: bridgemi.com/signup/
bridgemi.com
Sign Up - Bridge Michigan
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 24/07/2026
Almost 700 committees being tracked today, including Michigan's gubernatorial candidates. Follow along with me.
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Bridge MI Campaign Finance Alerts @bridgemialerts.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
💰New Pre-Primary Congressional Filing💰 Abdul El-Sayed (D-nan) Received: $2,305,929 Spent: $2,483,296 Debt: $0 Cash on Hand: $2,552,763 Filing URL Itemized donation maps: By state | By MI ZIP
FEC filing contribution breakdown infographic
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Simon D. Schuster @simon.schuster.press · 23/07/2026
Independent spending in Michigan's Dem US Senate primary since July 1, per FEC filings: Abdul El-Sayed: $1.4 million Haley Stevens: $23.9 million
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