Michigan’s Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, faced questions about Michigan’s COVID-19 restrictions during a conversation on Caleb Hammer’s “Financial Audit” show while they discussed the state’s finances.
“I was a bit frustrated coming home for Christmas two years running. It felt like we had to dine outside, yet we were in indoor pods outdoors. It was a bit strange; then, upon returning here, I could simply do as I pleased,” Hammer shared with Whitmer.
Hammer, boasting over 2.6 million YouTube subscribers, engages in straightforward financial discussions with guests on “Financial Audit.” Whitmer marked his first political guest, according to his social media. Hammer has extended invitations to other governors and federal officials to join the show.
Whitmer concurred, acknowledging it was odd, and added, “Consider the temperature at the time. Here [in Texas], you can comfortably spend the day outside, right? But back home in Michigan, during winter, we’re all indoors, breathing the same air.”
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“But if I was permitted to be inside outside, why couldn’t I simply be inside inside?” Hammer inquired.
Whitmer clarified that he was “inside outside” with a limited group, though Hammer noted the presence of servers and busers as well.
“Look, Caleb, none of us are eager to revisit that period. We were doing our utmost with limited or inaccurate information,” Whitmer stated.
Republicans have criticized the Michigan governor for her lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2021, the governor issued an apology after a photo surfaced showing her with a large group at The Landshark Bar & Grill in East Lansing, Mich., seemingly violating the state’s COVID policies, which still mandated social distancing at restaurants, with a maximum of six people per table, at the time.
Hammer also questioned Whitmer about other policies, including cash bail and the modern era of political extremism.
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“We recognize that individuals with three to ten violent crime convictions constitute only 0.9% of the total population yet account for nearly 50% of violent crime. Furthermore, approximately 70% of those released from prison are rearrested within three years. Are these no-cash bail systems, prevalent in places like New York, New Jersey, Illinois, D.C., and, as we discussed, Michigan, truly benefiting people, or are we failing to ensure public safety as desired?” Hammer questioned.
Whitmer responded, “Regarding no-cash bail, we observe a situation where individuals lacking resources face a significantly greater penalty than those who possess them.”
She noted Michigan’s low recidivism rate but acknowledged that there would invariably be an “extreme case” that deviates from the “general trend.”
Whitmer is frequently mentioned as a potential presidential candidate, given her two terms as governor of a significant swing state. In a recent interview, she suggested she would not be running for the White House in 2028.
