HARBOR MEDIA
2026
The Detroit News - March 10, 2026
On Tuesday, Democracy Defense Project’s Mike Bishop spoke to Oakland University students on the importance of civility and civil discourse in today's political climate.
Michigan Big Show with Michael Patrick Shiels - February 23, 2026
"The Midwest Independent Retailers Association is calling on Governor Whitmer. We're asking her to consider starting that conversation that's needed, that's been needed for a long time, and that's to repeal the fifty year old bottle bill in the state of Michigan. That's the ten cent refunds."
The Independent - February 24, 2026
A retailers group is renewing calls to ditch Michigan’s soda bottle and can deposit scheme, amid claims it is making groceries more expensive.
The Midwest Independent Retailers Association wants Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to back a push for more curbside recycling rather than the current incentive that pays consumers a dime for every bottle or can they return.
ABC 12 News - March 3, 2026
"My (case) workers sent me there because I had no place to go… As soon as I stepped in there, the energy from it was like, this doesn't sit well with me," said Sophia Knoblauch, a former resident of the Vista Maria residential treatment facility in Dearborn Heights.
MIRS - March 2, 2026
What if Michigan tossed its Bottle Deposit Law? MIRS talked to Bill Wild of the Midwest Independent Retailers Association about why he's calling for such a repeal
Gongwer - February 24, 2026
"The state's bottle deposit law should be retired," Bill Wild, President and CEO of the Midwest Independent Retailers Association, told Gongwer News Service Michigan.
Michigan's bottle Bill is outdated and costly, placing an unnecessary burden on Michigan families. It's time for the state to modernize its laws and "start the transition away from this outdated law and move more quickly toward a modern curbside recycling system."
The Alpena News - February 24, 2026
“It’s time to recycle the Bottle Bill… Michigan must accelerate its move toward modern curbside and community-based recycling programs that reflect how Michiganders live, shop, and recycle in 2026,” said Bill Wild, President and CEO of the Midwest Independent Retailers Association.
The Bottle Bill isn’t what it used to be. What began as a way to reduce litter has become an added cost for struggling families, an inconvenience when curbside recycling already exists, and a system that exposes fresh food to dirty cans and containers.
The Detroit News - February 4, 2026
Michigan's four living former governors participated Wednesday in a panel discussion in downtown Lansing, where they spoke out against divisive rhetoric and called on candidates to attend debates in the state's top political races.
Michigan Advance - January 27, 2026
Michigan Advance’s Ben Solis asked John Sellek about the current state of the Democratic combination for governor.
"Sellek said that Benson would normally be feeling like she’s living the dream in the sense that her initial opponents never materialized and started backing off before the race really began. But like Johnson, the independent Duggan presents a serious challenge to the pool of voters she might expect to net in the general election."
The Detroit News - Detroit - January 14, 2026
The Detroit News is out with new polling in Michigan’s US Senate race and they talked with Harbor's John Sellek about what it all means.
“The poll is good news for Rogers, noted John Sellek, CEO of the firm Harbor Strategic Public Affairs.
"We’re looking at a super close, purple state, open-seat election, and there is a long way to go yet. There's a lot of work the Democrats have to do, because none of them have ever been statewide office holders before, and none of them have held especially high-visibility positions."
Detroit Free Press - Detroit - January 13, 2026
The Detroit Free Press talked with Harbor’s John Sellek about the newly contested race for SOS.
“This race started a long time ago, when they started electing precinct delegates," explained Sellek. With the Michigan Democratic Party convention set for April 19, Gilchrist has just three months to rally delegates.
Michigan Public - Lansing - January 9, 2026
"John Sellek said (OFW and Fonda) should leave Michigan’s 2025 law alone. 'To intentionally seek to disrupt a major compromise that was years in the making that took place between Democrats, Republicans, and the governor last February is incredibly selfish and self-serving.'"
Detroit Free Press - Detroit - January 9, 2026
“She isn't hoping she becomes an influencer or has her own media presence. She has already built one. She's already there," said Sellek, Chief Strategist of public relations and affairs agency Harbor Strategic.
MIRS News - Lansing - January 6, 2026
John Sellek, from Harbor Strategic, is featured on MIRS News as a consultant to share his viewpoint on House Speaker Matt Hall’s push for property tax relief in the new year.
The Shelley Irwin Show - Grand Rapids - January 6, 2026
MISTA’s John Sellek met with Shelley Irwin to talk about the Michigan Smart Trade Alliance and how to sign up and join the educational effort on smart, consistent trade policies.
WJR - AM - Detroit - January 5, 2026
WJR legend Paul W. Smith & Harbor’s John Sellek talked about the many toss-up elections Michigan residents face in 2026. And what the end of the JOA between the Detroit News & Free Press means for citizens.
WWJ 950 AM - February 23, 2026
Do can and bottle returns still make sense for Michigan? That's the question amid a new push to do away with the Michigan Bottle Deposit Law.
The Midwest Independent Retailers Association (MIRA) says the law is costly, outdated, inconvenient and increasing ignored — in addition to health hazards in grocery stores, with overflowing bins and sticky floors and machines.
Fox 2 - February 23, 2026
"We’re asking Gov. Whitmer to consider starting the conversation about repealing the bottle bill in her final state of the state address this week," said Bill Wild, Midwest Independent Retailers Association CEO. "This conversation is going to require a governor to get behind it, and then because it was part of the state constitution it's going to require 2/3 of the legislature to put a new initiative on the ballot."
NBC 25 - March 5, 2026
“I had nowhere else to go. I was in foster care. I, yeah, didn't have a family or home to be placed in, so they just sent me there,” said Sophia Knoblauch, a former resident of the Vista Maria residential treatment facility in Dearborn Heights. “I feel like it was like a never-ending hell, honestly.”
The Steve Gruber Show - February 17, 2026
Steve welcomes Bill Wild, president of the Midwest Independent Retailers Association, to discuss calls to repeal Michigan’s 50-year-old Bottle Bill. Wild argues the deposit system is outdated, costly, and causing health concerns inside grocery stores — while modern curbside recycling continues to expand. The debate centers on affordability, public health, and what’s best for Michigan families.
WXYZ - March 10, 2026
“By the week's end, Denha says they’ll have 10-15 bags of bottle returns in the back, which he says are often dirty, smelly, and could have rodents or pests. “It's more of a nuisance and a burden on us because we're selling fresh meat, fresh produce, and then we have this dirty area for the bottles.”
WILS 1320 - February 24, 2026
The state’s overall recycling rate has increased to 25%, while use of the bottle system continues to decline year after year.
The Bottle Bill raises already high grocery prices, adds unnecessary costs, and brings dirty containers into food stores. That’s why the Midwest Independent Retailers Association (MIRA) is calling on the Governor to start a conversation about repealing the Bottle Bill.
MLive - February 26, 2026
Applause rang out inside the Michigan Capital Building after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer took a moment during her final State of the State address Wednesday night to offer thanks to a pair of law enforcement officers who help in the response to a mass killing at a Grand Blanc Township church.
MIRS Monday Podcast - January 26, 2026
The MIRS Monday pundit panel featured Harbor’s John Sellek:
"First, the attacks confirm that John James is leading the race. Next, we know Johnson has the marketing budget. What we don’t know is if he has the product. And it’s not like this product hasn’t been on the market before.”
Crain's Detroit Business - Detroit - January 16, 2026
“What, you ask, could have been so consequential that these otherwise warring parties came together to get done? It was a fix to a ticking time bomb of a law that, if left unchecked, would have spelled disaster for Michigan’s restaurant industry and harmed both workers as well as owners — not to mention customers.”
The Detroit News - Detroit - January 13, 2026
Harbor talked to the Detroit News about their new polling and President Trump’s visit to Detroit
“Sellek said Trump will be at his best Tuesday if he can acknowledge that things are tough, even if he completely blames President Biden’s time in office, and says, 'I’m working on it.'”
WKAR - Lansing - January 9, 2026
This week’s Off The Record featured commentary by Harbor’s John Sellek on voters “in the middle” who are waiting to be called back to their party, but right now are comfortable telling pollsters they are willing to vote independent.
The Detroit News - Detroit - January 9, 2026
"'They think if this California dark money group brings a millionaire celebrity to Michigan, they win,' Save MI Tips’ John Sellek said.
'I don't know how they're going to get the signatures by March in the middle of the winter.'”
It's Just Politics- Lansing - January 7, 2026
New Year, New Insights! Harbor's John Sellek joins Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta on Michigan Public’s It’s Just Politics, breaking down what’s ahead in this crazy election year.
WLNS - Lansing - January 6, 2026
Harbor’s John Sellek talks to Tim Skubick about rumors revolving around Lt. Gov. Gilchrist’s possible switch out of the race for governor.
WJR - AM - Detroit - January 6, 2026
John Sellek of Harbor Strategic joins Kevin Dietz of WJR Radio to discuss why 2026 will be a pivotal election year for Michigan, with particular focus on the races for Secretary of State and Attorney General.