It’s rare these days to see lawmakers from both sides of the aisle agree on an issue so easily. So when it happens, it’s worth keeping an eye on.
Here in Michigan, a bipartisan deal to limit students’ cell phone use during class is moving fast—and could be in place as soon as next school year.
Today, The ’Gander’s Kyle Kaminski breaks down what’s actually in the bill, and what it means for Michigan’s teachers, students, and parents.
Plus: Michigan’s US Senate race has exposed a divide over ICE accountability.
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Michigan AG launches ICE activity tracker (MLive): Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel unveiled a new “Immigration Action Reporting Form” and urged residents to document ICE and Border Patrol activity, saying stepped-up federal enforcement is harming communities and must be legally challenged. At a Detroit roundtable, Nessel and local leaders said aggressive deportation efforts are fueling fear, discouraging crime reporting, and deterring people from seeking care.
Whitmer defends state elections following Trump comments (WLNS): Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Michigan elections will remain state-run, rejecting President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the federal government take control of elections in some states where he believes elections are running poorly. She called any takeover a threat to voting rights.
Michigan gubernatorial candidates set to attend forum Friday (Michigan Advance): Four Michigan gubernatorial candidates—Jocelyn Benson, Chris Swanson, Mike Cox and Mike Duggan—will take part in an education forum hosted by the Michigan Education Association on Friday, with questions focused on school-related issues. Their positions range from Benson’s push for weighted funding and universal early childhood education to Duggan’s $4.5B plan centered on literacy and career training, Swanson’s focus on trades and literacy programs, and Cox’s support for school choice and eliminating DEI in schools.
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Michigan lawmakers just did something they almost never do anymore: They agreed on something.
A bipartisan deal to restrict students’ cell phone use during class is officially moving through Lansing, and it could be in place as soon as next school year.
Here’s the deal: The Michigan House and Senate have now both passed a package of bills that would ban students’ cell phone use during instructional time in public and charter schools.
This isn’t a bell-to-bell ban. Students would not be locked away from their phones all day. Districts could still allow students to use their phones during lunch, recess, passing time, and before or after school. But when class is in session, phones go away. And for the first time, every district in Michigan would be required to adopt a clear, written policy on cell phone use. So, this isn’t just left up to individual teachers to enforce on their own.
The bills are set to land on Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s desk within the next month. The governor’s already made it clear that she wants to sign this package into law. And if all goes as planned, this new statewide policy would take effect before the 2026-27 school year.
At its core, the rule is simple: When class is in session, phones are off and out of sight.
This is where a lot of people get things wrong. This legislation does not ban all devices from the classroom. It doesn’t ban all phones, and it doesn’t ignore safety or accessibility concerns.
Under this legislation, students can still carry “basic” phones that make calls and send texts. They’d also be allowed to carry phones for medical reasons or special education needs. School-issued devices would still be fine for lessons. An emergency use would be explicitly protected, with districts required to update policies that say how phones can be used in a crisis.
Political correspondent Kyle Kaminski has more details on this edition of “so what, Michigan?“
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After two American citizens were killed by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, Michigan’s US Senate candidates are offering different visions for the future of ICE. (Photo Collage/Canva)
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By Kyle Kaminski
What began as federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis has escalated into two deadly shootings of American citizens and a broader national debate over the use of force.
And now, Michigan’s US Senate candidates are split over whether the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is fixable, must be overhauled, or should be dismantled entirely.
At one end of the Democratic primary field, Abdul El-Sayed is calling for ICE to be abolished outright, arguing the federal agency and the 12,000 officers and agents hired within the last year have become irredeemable and now pose a direct threat to Michiganders’ constitutional rights.
Other Democrats in the race told The ‘Gander that ICE must be aggressively reined in, defunded, or overhauled—but stopped short of endorsing abolition—while Republican candidate Mike Rogers did not respond to several questions about the shootings or ICE’s conduct.
The debate comes amid heightened national scrutiny of ICE after three shootings involving federal immigration officers in three weeks, two of which proved fatal. Video footage from Minneapolis and other cities has fueled protests and renewed concerns about masked agents, warrantless actions, and the agency’s growing use of force far from the southern border.
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By Abby Deatrick
Welcome to your weekly roundup of Michigan political events, protests, rallies, advocacy opportunities, and ways to take action statewide.
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📅 Tuesday (Feb. 10)
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan: Dance & Care No Matter What, (Grand Rapids, 6-7:30 p.m.) — Join the “celebration of resistance” at this dance class led by local Afro Latino dance artists and community organizers, with opportunities to support grassroots mutual aid organizations working to protect reproductive justice.
Equality Michigan: Phone Bank for Equality, (Virtual, 5:30-7:30 p.m.) — Receive training, then contact voters in Michigan to identify and mobilize voters in support of LGBTQ+ rights.
Berrien County Democratic Party: Weekly Peaceful Protests, (St. Joseph, 12-12:30 p.m.) — A weekly peaceful protest to stand together, be visible, and show solidarity.
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📅 Wednesday (Feb. 11)
Common Cause: Michigan 2026 Elections – special elections, midterms, and more, (Virtual, 6-7 p.m.) — This month, Common Cause Michigan’s educational series “The State of Our Democracy” is sharing insights on the 2026 elections, from information on voting deadlines and rights, to how to get involved in Michigan elections.
Red Wine & Blue: February Banned Book Club, (Virtual, 7:30 p.m.) — Red Wine & Blue’s February book club will feature the book, “The Color of Law: The Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America.”
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📅 Thursday (Feb. 12)
West Michigan Indivisible: West MI Response Training to ICE, (Grandville, 6:30-8:30 p.m.) — A team is being formed to respond to ICE activity in the West Michigan Indivisible area. The training will cover background on ICE, how to safely observe and respond to ICE actions, and how to offer support through mutual aid efforts in the area.
Planned Parenthood: Black History Month (Repro)cussions Virtual Town Hall, (Virtual 8 p.m.) — Join Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s Black Organizing Program (BOP) and Color of Change to hear from panelists about how legislation passed by the Trump administration to “defund” Planned Parenthood threatens access to health care, bodily autonomy, and reproductive rights for Black communities.
Indivisible: Clarkston PerSisters Weekly Rally for Democracy, (Independence Township, 3:30-5:30 p.m.) — Join the weekly rally to defend democracy and our constitution, opposing government intrusion into private data and bodily autonomy, while calling for the preservation of healthcare, Social Security, and public education, and protecting working families, veterans, LGBTQ+ rights, and celebrating the nation’s identity as a country of immigrants.
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📣 Have an event to add? Email Abigail Deatrick, The ‘Gander’s state organizing coordinator, with details. Please send submissions at least one week before the event.
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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with stories from Kyle Kaminski and Abby Deatrick. It was edited by Paula Solis.
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