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Flashpoint: Debbie Stabenow discusses her decision to not run for re-election; Heat is on for Detroit Lions

Watch Flashpoint every Sunday at 10 a.m. on Local 4 News and Local 4+

DETROIT – In a week of historic turmoil in the United States House, news comes from the other side of the Capitol. Senator Debbie Stabenow is on Flashpoint talking about her decision not to run again. And Lions fans have begged for the team to play in big, meaningful games late in the season.

We’ll only be waiting until the late afternoon for the game between the Rams and the Seahawks, and every Lions fan is a Rams fan today.

We invite you to be with us later today -- Bernie Smilowitz and Jamie Edmonds will be coming to us from Lambeau Field as we get you set for kickoff in a game that could have it all on the line.

Mike Tirico joined me to talk about the old school showdown between the Lions and Packers. It is about to be a very dramatic week in the NFL.

More: Detroit Lions would make playoffs with win over Packers if NFL decides to add 8th team

Also, just a few weeks ago a rumor was running around that Senator Debbie Stabenow might not run for re-election in 2024. If you didn’t hear that rumor, it’s because it really didn’t feel to have much truth to it. A source assured me in the know that she fully intended to run for another term. But then, pretty much out of nowhere on Thursday, Michigan’s senior senator said yes, her fourth term will be her last. She was the first woman to win a senate seat in Michigan and she has become a very strong voice in the senate, third in the chain of command, and particularly influential on agriculture. So Michigan will lose another prominent leader in Washington. But back here, the scramble is on. There really isn’t much time to play hard to get given the kind of money it takes to wage a senate campaign in this day and age.

WATCH: Reflecting on Debbie Stabenow’s legacy as Michigan first female US Senator

Democrats like Debbie Dingell, Elissa Slotkin and Jocelyn Benson got immediate talk -- so did new Michigander Pete Buttigieg. And certainly, republicans would love to swing that seat their way and names like Peter Meijer, John James, Perry Johnson and Kevin Rinke surfaced pretty quickly.

Related: Debbie Stabenow talks about decision to not run for re-election in 2024


You can view the January 8, 2023, episode of Flashpoint in the video player above.