How Have Trump’s First 100 Days Affected Michigan?

What grade would you give Trump’s first 100 days? Is it even fair to judge any president this early in a term?

Rick Pluta/MPRN

This week marks the end of President Trump’s first 100 days in office. There’s been no shortage of headlines generated from the White House in these hundred days. But what is actually happening?

What has changed politically, socially, and policy-wise across the country since January? And what have the early days of Trump’s presidency meant here in Michigan? What’s been the effect on state politics and the economy here?

To help dig into those questions, WDET’s Jake Neher speaks with Michigan Public Radio Network state Capitol Bureau Chief Rick Pluta, as well as Michigan State University Economist Charles Ballard on Detroit Today.

Given Lt. Gov. Brian Calley’s recent moves to set up an expected run for governor in 2018, Pluta talks about how Trump is affecting Michigan politics.

“We will see if the Republican primary for governor next year becomes a proxy battle between the Trump and the anti-Trump (candidates),” says Pluta.

Ballard says, when it comes to the economy, 100 days may be too short a period of time to judge any president.

“The thing that we’ve learned more than anything else in the first 100 days is that the United States… has a lot of checks and balances,” says Ballard. “The net effect, so far, is rather small.”

Click on the audio player above to hear the full conversation.

Author

  • Detroit Today
    Dynamic and diverse voices. News, politics, community and the issues that define our region. Hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Stephen Henderson, Detroit Today brings you fresh and perceptive views weekdays at 9 am and 7 pm.