Governor Gretchen Whitmer | TRUE GRETCH with Samantha Bee at GWU Betts

When Gretchen Whitmer was growing up, her beloved grandmother Nino taught her that you can always find something good in other people. "Even the meanest person might have pretty eyes," she would say. Nino's words persuaded Whitmer to look for the good in any person or situation--just one of many colorful personal experiences that have shaped her political vision. (And, as Whitmer writes, one that resonated more than another piece of advice her grandmother offered, to "never part your hair in the middle.")

In this candid and inspiring book, Whitmer reveals the principles and instincts that have shaped her extraordinary career, from her early days as a lawyer and legislator and her 2018 election as governor of Michigan, to her bold and innovative actions as she led the state through a series of unprecedented crises. Her motto in politics, she writes, is to "get shit done."

Whitmer shares the lessons in resilience that steered her through some of the most challenging events in Michigan's history, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, a five-hundred-year flood, the rise of domestic terrorism, and the fierce fight to protect reproductive rights.

Along the way, she tells stories about the outsize characters in her family, her lifelong clumsy streak, the wild comments she's heard on the campaign trail, her self-deprecating social media campaigns (including her star turn as a talking potato with lipstick), and the slyly funny tactics she deploys to neutralize her opponents.

Written with Whitmer's trademark sense of humor and straight-shooting style, True Gretch is not only a compelling account of her remarkable journey, but also a blueprint for anyone who wants to make a difference in their community, their country, or the world. It is a testament to the power of humor, perseverance, and compassion in the face of darkness.

Gretchen Whitmer is the governor of Michigan and a rising figure in US politics. Known for her bold and plainspoken style, Whitmer is a national voice on the rights of women, voters, and the LGBTQ+ community. She rose to national prominence for her leadership in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, when her efforts to save lives in the state earned her the nickname "That Woman from Michigan" from the former president. Later that year, a domestic terrorist cell began planning to kidnap and K*ll her, a plot that was foiled by the FBI and state police. Whitmer is a lifelong Michigander who first ran for office at age twenty-nine, has served in both state houses, and has never lost an election. She is the proud mother of two daughters, a huge Detroit Lions fan, and the subject of the song "Big Gretch" by rapper GMac Cash.

Gov. Whitmer will be in conversation with Comedian and host Samantha Bee. Bee received global recognition from the success of her weekly late-night comedy series, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, which was nominated for 70 awards and ran for seven seasons on TBS. Bee has personally been nominated for 18 Emmy awards, winning for both writing and executive producing the longest running satirical late-night show hosted by a woman.

In 2003, Bee joined Comedy Central's The Daily Show's "Best F#@king News Team." Bee departed The Daily Show in 2015 and currently holds the title for being the longest-serving regular Daily Show correspondent. Bee is the author of the essay collection I Know I Am, But What Are You? and has been featured in TIME 100: The Most Influential People. Bee and her husband Jason Jones also co-created the half-hour comedy series, The Detour, which ran for four seasons on TBS. Bee currently hosts the podcast Choice Words which is distributed by Lemonada Media.

Host or Publisher Politics and Prose