MLive: Gretchen Whitmer is a national figure now. What you need to know about ‘The woman in Michigan’

A few times each week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers a clear, forceful summary of the changes she’s implementing to keep Michiganders safe from COVID-19 on a state-run livestream. Later, she delivers a similar message on national television.

For Michiganders used to hearing from the governor mostly about how to ‘fix the damn roads,’ it’s not unusual now to flip on the TV and catch her on any of the major news or cable networks. She’s quoted in the New York Times, and appearing on everything from podcasts to bobbleheads.