I was recently made aware of a Jackson TV segment in which @SenMikeShirkey inaccurately characterized his remarks to me about herd immunity. I stand by my reporting. A thread: https://jtv.tv/senator-shirkey-on-herd-immunity-masks-guns-in-capitol/

First off, @SenMikeShirkey, you talked to me, not @emilyjanelawler. We've spoken in person many times. My byline is on the article. I've been covering Michigan politics full time since 2014.

. @SenMikeShirkey was the one who brought herd immunity up in our brief conversation while responding to an unrelated question. Here is a full transcription of the question I asked and his answer.

Here is how I summarized those comments in the article: https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2020/10/michigan-needs-an-element-of-herd-immunity-to-recover-from-coronavirus-senate-leader-says.html

In the article, I explained what herd immunity is and what experts have said about it, which is that it should be reached slowly over time and with the help of a vaccine. Here's an in-depth look at the issue from my colleague Julie Mack:
https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2020/10/6-reasons-experts-think-a-herd-immunity-strategy-for-coronavirus-is-a-terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad-idea.html

If someone has a legitimate problem with my reporting, my door is always open. The article has been up for more than a week, and @SenMikeShirkey and his staff know how to contact me. This is the first I'm hearing about any concerns.

I typically shy away from inserting myself into the story. I'm not an elected official, I just cover them. But I'm not going to stand by and let my reporting be turned into a "he said, she said" scenario. @SenMikeShirkey, you said it. I reported it. That's my job.