Zoe Clark
Political DirectorZoe Clark is Michigan Public's Political Director. In this role, Clark guides coverage of the state Capitol, elections, and policy debates. Her passion for understanding and explaining politics led Michigan Public to create the position in 2022 for the first time in station history. She offers regular on-air political analysis and hosts the November election-focused edition of Stateside on Fridays.
She co-hosted, with Michigan Public Radio Network's Senior Capitol Correspondent Rick Pluta, It’s Just Politics, a weekly look at Michigan politics. Clark regularly appears on WKAR’s Off the Record, WDIV’s Flashpoint and offers political analysis on NPR, PBS, and CNN.
Clark is an award-winning journalist, including the prestigious Peabody for overseeing the station’s first nationally distributed podcast Believed.
Clark previously was the station’s Program Director and is the founder and former Executive Producer of Stateside. She began at the station by producing Jack Lessenberry’s daily interviews and essays, and producing Michigan Radio’s Morning Edition.
Clark began her collegiate studies at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She holds degrees in Communication Studies and Political Science from the University of Michigan and lives in Ann Arbor, where she was born and raised.
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On this week’s It’s Just Politics, hosts Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta are joined by Bridge Michigan politics reporters Jordyn Hermani and Simon Schuster to discuss why state House Democrats are failing to deliver their lame-duck legislative agenda. Plus, a conversation with state Democratic Representative Rachel Hood on why she is calling Lansing “toxic.” -
In this week’s It’s Just Politics newsletter, Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta dig into the state’s latest unemployment numbers, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s big election announcement and how Governor Gretchen Whitmer plans to work with President-elect Donald Trump. -
On this week’s It’s Just Politics, hosts Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta are joined by Democratic Congresswoman-elect Kristen McDonald Rivet and Chairman of the Oakland County Republican Party Vance Patrick. -
In a special Friday edition of It’s Just Politics, Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta are joined by Democratic Congressman Dan Kildee and Republican Congressman-elect Tom Barrett. -
In this week’s It’s Just Politics newsletter, Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta bring you the results from Michigan’s 2024 elections and what they mean for the lame-duck legislative session and divided government in Lansing in 2025. Plus, conversations with outgoing Democratic Congressman Dan Kildee about the future of his party and Republican Congressman-elect Tom Barrett on the future of the GOP majority in Washington D.C. -
In a special day-after Election Day, It’s Just Politics hosts Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta join Stateside host April Baer to dissect what Election 2024 means for Michigan. From Republicans taking the state House to a new 5-2 Democratic-nominee majority on the state Supreme Court, the podcast this week is dedicated to local races and what the results mean for you. -
In the final It’s Just Politics newsletter before Election Day, Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta bring you a comprehensive list of what to watch for on Election Day - from the race for president, to voter turnout, to down-ballot races and bellwether Saginaw County. -
Two percent of Michigan voters remain undecided in the race for president according to new polling by Glengariff Group for The Detroit News and WDIV. With a race that has consistently shown Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump within the margin of error, two percent could make all the difference in winning Michigan’s 15 electoral votes and the White House. -
On this week’s It’s Just Politics, former Republican members of Congress Liz Cheney and Fred Upton both speak out in Michigan in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris for president; plus Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement makes a surprise endorsement in the race for a seat on the state’s highest court. -
On this week’s It’s Just Politics, Elon Musk name checks Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson on X, more than a million absentee ballots in Michigan are already sent in and the presidential candidates in Michigan are everywhere all at once. Plus, a surprising endorsement from Supreme Court Chief Justice Elizabeth Clement. Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta are joined on this week’s podcast by Bridge Michigan’s Lauren Gibbons and the Detroit Free Press’ Clara Hendrickson.
