Michigan
Tlaib denounces, Michigan Republicans back U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites
President Donald Trump’s decision Saturday to have U.S. forces join Israel’s military campaign against Iran by conducting bombing strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites drew conflicting responses from Michigan’s congressional delegation.
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, denounced the attack on Iran, while four Republican lawmakers voiced their support for the strategy.
U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain, a Bruce Township Republican who is part of the House Republican leadership, said Trump was delivering “peace through strength,” one of the slogans the Republican president used on the campaign trail in 2024.
“Today’s successful mission destroyed Iran’s nuclear capabilities, protected American lives, and will make the world safer,” McClain said in a post on social media. “Now, it’s time for peace. God bless America and our warfighters.”
But Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, denounced the Republican president’s decision to intervene in the Israel-Iran conflict.
“The American people do not want another forever war,” Tlaib said in a statement. “We have seen where decades of endless war in the Middle East gets us — all based on the lie of ‘weapons of mass destruction.’
“We are not falling for it again.”
The congresswoman was referring to President George W. Bush’s stated reason for the 2003 U.S.-Iraq war — eliminating Iraq’s nuclear weapons. Despite intelligence reports saying the weapons existed, the U.S. military failed to find any weapons and the war dragged on for nine years before U.S. forces withdrew in 2011.
During the 2024 campaign in Michigan, Trump repeatedly criticized Democratic then-President Joe Biden’s handling of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza following the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. At an event in Detroit in October, Trump vowed that he would “stop the chaos” in the Middle East.
On Saturday night, Trump announced in a post on Truth Social that U.S. forces had completed what he described as a “very successful attack” on nuclear sites in Iran, joining Israel’s ongoing fight against Iran.
“All planes are safely on their way home,” Trump wrote. “Congratulations to our great American warriors. There is not another military in the world that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!”
Trump also addressed the country in a Saturday 10 p.m. televised speech. He warned Iran that “there are many targets left” if the country decides to retaliate against U.S. targets.
Michigan’s senior delegation member, U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, backed Trump’s action.
“Tonight, President @realDonaldTrump displayed decisive action to eliminate the nuclear program of the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism,” Walberg said. “President Trump pursued and exhausted diplomatic options, and to protect the security of our nation, this moment called for strong leadership.”
Likewise, U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Caledonia, said a nuclear Iran posed a threat to the U.S.
“His decision to strike Iran is necessary to keep our nation and our allies safe and ensure the number one sponsor of terrorism does not develop nuclear weapons,” Moolenaar said.
But U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, called Trump’s decision to use military force without congressional authorization unconstitutional and said it escalates the risk of war.
“It’s critical we keep American troops and civilians safe and prevent the U.S. from becoming entangled in another endless war in the Middle East,” Dingell said in a statement.
U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Holland, praised Trump for taking decisive action.
“We must ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon and usher in a new age of nuclear terrorism,” Huizenga wrote in a post on X. “I commend the men and women of our Armed Forces for their performance in this operation to make the world a safer place. It is now time for Iran to come to the table and abandon its nuclear ambitions.”
But state Rep. Josh Schriver, R-Oxford, denounced the move by Trump:
“America is (officially) at war (again) on the other side of the world,” Schriver wrote on X. “This is not in the best interest of my constituents, our youth, nor the people of Michigan as a whole. WWJD #NoWar #Peace #BringOurTroopsHome”
U.S Rep. Tom Barrett, a Republican from Charlotte and an Iraq war veteran, struck a more neutral tone. Barrett ran two campaigns for Congress, blasting the United States involvement in “endless wars” in the Middle East.
“I anticipate a full briefing of our military strike in Iran immediately upon my return to Washington,” Barrett wrote on X. “Tonight, I am praying for wisdom in our decisions, President Trump and his team, and the safety of our troops. God bless the United States of America.”
GOP Rep. Jack Bergman, a Vietnam War veteran and retired Marine Corps aviator, said Saturday’s bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities showcased “truly impressive precision.” The Republican congressman from the Upper Peninsula dismissed the idea of Trump starting another “endless war.””President Trump has long made it clear: Iran must never possess a nuclear weapon — and the American people overwhelmingly agree. The President gave Iran’s leader an opportunity to make a deal, but Iran refused to commit to a nuclear disarmament agreement,” Bergman said in a statement.”By leveraging the unmatched precision of the U.S. military, the President has sent a clear message to the world about what peace through strength truly means. This was not a knee-jerk response, and knowing President Trump, he has no interest in dragging America into another endless war.”
U.S. Rep. John James, a Republican from Shelby Township who also served in Iraq, said in a post on X that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. James, who is running for governor, applauded Trump’s move.
“President Trump is the first president in my lifetime who’s actually willing to use peace through strength, who’s actually willing to put his money where his mouth is to actually support nuclear non-proliferation and making sure that a nuclear Iran is never a thing,” James said in a video late Saturday.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed of Ann Arbor, an Egyptian-American, said Trump was disregarding the Constitution by not seeking the approval of Congress to get involved in the fight.
“I’m praying that this does not escalate,” El-Sayed said in a social media post. “And I’m calling on all Americans of good conscience, especially those in Congress, to condemn this and stand up to the warmongering we’re bound to hear over the next few days.”
Former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, a Republican from Cascade Township, warned that Trump’s actions have put all Americans at risk, especially U.S. troops. He stressed that only Congress has the authority under the Constitution to take the country to war.
“We don’t know if or how this war will escalate, but we do know that we have arrogant, reckless, and shameful leaders in the White House and Congress,” Amash wrote on social media. “They — like many of the officials who came before them — have worked to subvert the system that built the freest, most prosperous country the world has ever known.”
Former U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer, a Republican from Grand Rapids Township who served in the Army Reserves in Iraq, contended in posts on social media that Trump “likely” had authority for the strikes on Iran without signoff from Congress.
“I’m a strong believer that Congress must reclaim war powers (see: most of my legislative initiatives in 117th Congress) but under current statute/interpretation President Trump likely has the authority to conduct tonight’s strikes,” Meijer wrote on X.
The president’s “hard ball” strike on the Iranian sites comes after several days of Israeli attacks on Iran that put the country in a precarious position from a weapons and human capital standpoint, said Javed Ali, associate professor of practice at Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. Ali has worked in a variety of national security and counterterrorism roles over the past 20 years, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where he spent time on the National Security Council during Trump’s first term.
“It looks like they landed on what I’ve been calling either the narrow option or something between narrow and medium,” Ali said of Trump’s actions Saturday. “It’s not a broad campaign. It seems, at least right now, limited to the three facilities.”
The U.S.’s continued involvement or the escalation of events in Iran is dependent on how the country responds going forward, Ali said. But he emphasized that Israel’s attacks over the past several days and the U.S. strikes Saturday are bound to have taken their toll on Iran’s ability to retaliate.
“Perhaps the last thing you want to do is retaliate in a way that draws the U.S. further into this conflict,” Ali said. “Because whatever happened in the last few hours is just scratching the surface of what it can do.
“Iran will retaliate, I think,” Ali added. “But I don’t think they’re going to do something so bold and audacious. There’s no way for them to do something proportional.”
cmauger@detroitnews.com
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Lansing — The Michigan Senate voted unanimously this week in favor of a bill that would prevent the state’s Unemployment Insurance Agency from continuing to try to recoup jobless aid overpayments that were made during the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting as many as 350,000 people.
Many lawmakers have reported receiving a deluge of calls from constituents, in recent weeks, after the agency began sending out letters, wanting money back from people whom state officials believe received more assistance than they should have during the pandemic. The messages came after the settlement of a three-year court battle over the repayment effort, which allowed the agency to resume collections.
Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, contended that the Unemployment Insurance Agency was demanding money back from low-income and gig workers who were simply trying to access a financial support system that was available to them in 2020.
“Somewhere along the line, in the maze of boxes that they have to check every week to stay compliant, there was one box that was unchecked,” Irwin said. “And now, the UIA comes after them alleging fraud, turning their life upside down, sending them threatening letters.”
The Senate bill, which passed Tuesday in a vote of 35-0, would require the agency to waive the recovery of improperly paid benefits if they were distributed more than three years ago. The first cases of COVID-19 in Michigan were identified in March 2020, five years ago. The pandemic and government efforts to combat the spread of the virus spurred a rush of unemployment claims and a wave of fraud.
The bill still allows the state to seek repayments that were “the result of the claimant’s fraud.”
Both Democratic and Republican senators — Democrats have a majority in the Senate — voted for the measure Tuesday. However, it will have to be approved by the GOP-controlled House and signed by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to become law.
Jason Palmer, the Unemployment Insurance Agency’s director, said in a statement on Sept. 8 that his staff was “legally obligated” to seek the repayments from the pandemic if they were improper. Roughly 350,000 workers with claims in collections dating back to March 2020 would be required to return the unemployment benefits they received, the agency has said.
The value of the overpayments, many of which lawmakers believe were made or sought by accident, has been estimated at $2.7 billion. The Unemployment Insurance Agency faced a tidal wave of claims and fraudulent activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the state’s jobless rate reached as high as 22.7% in April 2020.
Palmer has said the overpayments primarily resulted from claimants not providing the requested or required proof of employment or income, starting a job but continuing to certify for benefits as if they were unemployed and not satisfying the required work search activities.
“In these situations, we have a legal and fiduciary duty to recover the funds,” Palmer previously said. “The unemployment trust fund is taxpayer money, and we must be responsible stewards of it.”
Much of the unemployment money in question flowed through the federal government. Many business groups, like the National Federation of Independent Business, have voiced concerns that the U.S. Department of Labor might try to force the state to reimburse the federal government for the overpayments if they’re specifically forgiven by the Legislature.
“We would still like to see a waiver or waiver language because we don’t want to see the state end up with a budget crisis,” said Amanda Fisher, Michigan state director for the National Federation of Independent Business.
Lawmakers attempted to address that concern in the bill by adding a provision that says the new policy doesn’t obligate the Unemployment Trust Fund for any amount of money.
Brian Calley, president and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan, called the new language an improvement. But Calley said he wants to see a specific statement in the bill that makes it clear that employers will not be assessed any additional liability because of the policy.
Forgiving the overpayments isn’t the problem, Calley said. It’s the potential liability to the small businesses that fund the Unemployment Trust Fund, he said.
“You could inadvertently create a massive obligation for small businesses,” said Calley, a former lieutenant governor.
Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township, who’s running for governor, was among 16 Republicans who voted for the bill Tuesday. He said it was a shame that lawmakers were still dealing with the “ineptitude” of Whitmer’s administration.
From the other side of the aisle, Irwin said the Unemployment Insurance Agency was acting “irresponsibly” in seeking the repayments from the pandemic.
“They bully our residents,” Irwin said. “I’ve had residents … who have paid UIA back money, not because they owed, but because they’re scared. They’re bullied. And they’re harassed by the agency.”
Sen. Darrin Camilleri, D-Trenton, the proposal’s sponsor, called on the House to pass it next week before the holidays.
“They should do the right thing,” Camilleri said Wednesday in an interview.
cmauger@detroitnews.com
JACKSON — The Lumen Christi girls basketball team opened the coaching tenure of Scott Stine by pulling away in the second half to beat Michigan Center 50-28 on Tuesday.
The Titans led by five early in the third after McKynley Gaddy hit a putback and Mayrese Vieau added a pair of free throws for the Cardinals, but Lumen Christi responded with an 11-1 run, then added a 7-0 run in the fourth quarter.
“We worked all off season and are working right now to get to be able to play against Michigan Center,” Lucy Wrozek said. “They’re a good team who likes to push the ball up the floor, but we stopped that tonight.”
Lumen Christi’s stellar sophomores, Wrozek and Kenna Hunt, combined for 38 points, with Hunt leading the way with 20 and Wrozek adding 18.
In the first half, it was Wrozek coming up with key shots, scoring seven of the Titans’ first eight points of the night with a 3-pointer, a spin move in the lane to get a layup, and a drive down the lane.
“She’s a basketball player,” Stine said. “That’s one of the best compliments I can give her. She can shoot the ball, she can get to the hoop, she plays defense. She’s a tough kid who, one game it might be hitting 3s. The next game it might be getting to the hoop and getting to the foul line. But she’s going to make winning basketball plays.”
Hunt scored six points in the first half, limited by Michigan Center’s use of a box-and-one against her.
“I thought we played great defense,” Cardinals coach Greg Vieau said. “I thought we had a really good game plan to really squeeze in on Kenna. And I thought Mayrese did a really nice job defensively on her that first half. And then they got us into some switches that second half and really caused us some problems. They made some nice adjustments at halftime to get other girls on Kenna, and she was just more effective than that second half.”
But in the second half she scored six points in the third and eight more in the fourth. Hunt had a series of third-quarter layups, one in transition off of a steal, to extend the Titans’ lead to 33-18 after three. She then opened the fourth with another layup before Wrozek drained a 3-pointer off a drive-and-kick from Lily Ganton.
That 3-pointer answered one at the other end moments earlier from Gaddy off of a Mayrese Vieau assist. That bucket, and a Karsyn Smith floater in the lane moments earlier, helped the Cardinals briefly keep pace with Lumen Christi, but the Titan defense clamped down from there, getting defensive stops on the next eight Michigan Center possessions before a transition layup ended that string, that basket coming off a Gaddy steal, with the Michigan Center junior guard then feeding a behind-the-back pass to Mayrese Vieau for the layup.
Mayrese Vieau led the Cardinals with 12 points and Gaddy added eight.
“They’ve played together forever with AAU and now with high school,” Greg Vieau said. “They know each other really well. They missed some shots I think that they would like to get back, but they played really well off each other. They seem to know where the other one is going at all times. So while their shots were off tonight, I expect them to be two of the better guards in the state.”
But the Titans also kept coming up with defensive stops. Michigan Center turned the ball over 20 times in the game and Lumen Christi held the Cardinals to 11 points in the first half.
“I’m really proud of the way we played defense for four quarters,” Stine said. “To hold that team to 11 points at halftime, even with our offensive struggles, it’s impressive.”
Both teams struggled with cold spells shooting the ball at times. Michigan Center, after an Ella Best 3-pointer in the first quarter, did not connect from long range again until Gaddy’s 3-pointer early in the fourth. The Cardinals shot 10-for-41 overall from the field.
“Offensively, we looked like we had three girls with experience and five girls without,” Greg Vieau said.
But Lumen Christi also suffered through shooting woes, going 6-of-32 from the field in the first half before knocking down 12-of-35 in the second half.
Part of that surge came from adjusting to what Michigan Center was doing on defense.
“When they came out in the box-and-one, we had a little issue with it,” Stine said. “At halftime, we drew up some stuff where we could just put our shooter in the corner and put Kenna in a situation where if they were switching the high screen, she could attack the mismatch. And they had to pick their poison at that point.”
Helping limit the Titan shooters was Kara Straub, who swatted away a pair of shots in the paint in the first half.
“Kara has a knack for blocking shots,” Greg Vieau said. “She’s big, she’s long, she’s athletic, so we expect her to block a lot of shots. She’s very active in the post, so defensively she really anchored us. She really makes up for some of those mistakes that we might make on the perimeter.”
Representatives of Michigan’s cannabis industry plan to appeal a Michigan Court of Claims decision to leave in place a pending 24% wholesale tax on cannabis.
“We don’t believe the Court of Claims made the right call,” said Rose Tantraphol, spokesperson for the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association. “While we are deeply frustrated by this ruling, I can tell you this: The fight is far from over.”
The association represents more than 400 cannabis producers across the state.
Michigan’s retail cannabis industry boomed in the years after voters approved a ballot issue in 2018 allowing recreational use among adults age 21 and older. Local cities and townships can restrict or prohibit the establishment of cannabis businesses within their jurisdiction, and many did just that as the laws took effect. In the communities where retail cannabis business is allowed, the market can be competitive.
The new tax, set to take effect on Jan. 1, was part of Michigan’s fiscal year 2026 state budget, which passed in October. The wholesale tax of 24% on marijuana sales as growers and processors ship to distributors is meant to help fund road repairs, generating an estimated $420 million in new revenue toward an annual $1.8 billion road budget.
Less than 24 hours after Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the pending tax into law, the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association filed its lawsuit. The legal action hoped to strike the tax in its entirety.
While the pending tax is not directed at retail sales, dispensary customers already pay a 6% sales tax, along with a 10% excise tax on marijuana products.
The above video first aired on Oct. 9, 2025.
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