Paying Taxes Without Representation: A Mid-Michigan Wake-Up Call w/ Jason Tunney | #70

This episode hits differently if you care about representation, education, and the future of Michigan.
Jason Tunney shares the why behind his campaign.
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Logan sits down with Jason Tunney, a first-time candidate running for Michigan State Senate in the 35th District, to talk about what actually pushed him into public service.

Jason shares the moment he realized hundreds of thousands of residents were paying state taxes without representation, why that felt fundamentally wrong, and how it became the catalyst for his campaign. From there, the conversation expands into energy costs, AI deep fakes in elections, data centers, education reform, and the real-world challenges facing Michigan’s workforce.

Jason also reflects on his background in law, manufacturing, and family business, including the story of how his grandfather took massive personal risk to build Duralast — a lesson that still shapes how he thinks about leadership, accountability, and decision-making today.

This episode isn’t about soundbites. It’s about process over results, understanding how systems actually work, and what responsible leadership looks like at the local and state level.

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CHAPTERS:

00:00 – Process Over Results
Why campaigns focus on controllables, not outcomes

02:30 – The “No Representation” Moment
Paying taxes without a state senator and why it mattered

07:00 – Why Jason Decided to Run
From frustration to filing paperwork

11:45 – Line 5 and Common-Sense Infrastructure Solutions
Why unresolved issues create bigger risks

17:30 – COVID and the Power of the State
How pandemic decisions reshaped Jason’s views on government authority

22:40 – Energy Costs & Cost of Living
What voters are consistently bringing up on the campaign trail

27:15 – Data Centers and Community Buy-In
Why local voices matter before major projects move forward

32:30 – AI Deep Fakes in Political Campaigns
How misinformation directly affected this race

38:45 – The Risks of Unchecked AI
Why regulation and structure matter

44:20 – Michigan’s Education Crisis
Fourth-grade literacy, workforce readiness, and why it’s a tipping point

51:10 – The “Mississippi Miracle”
What Michigan can learn from another state’s turnaround

58:30 – Trades, Manufacturing, and Workforce Gaps
Why vocational paths matter more than ever

1:05:00 – Family, Manufacturing, and Risk
The Duralast story and lessons in leadership

1:12:30 – Experience and Public Service
How Jason’s background shapes his approach to leadership

KEYWORDS:

Jason Tunney, Talk Midland Podcast, Michigan State Senate, 35th District Michigan, No taxation without representation, Michigan politics, Local leadership, AI deep fakes, Artificial intelligence elections, Energy costs Michigan, Data centers Michigan, Michigan education crisis, Fourth grade literacy, Skilled trades, Manufacturing leadership