Daily Detroit

Each Monday until the election we're breaking down politics and what's happening with a local Michigan and Metro Detroit lens with Steve Friess, veteran political journalist who's written for the New York Times, Newsweek, Hour and others - and does the Ann Arbor Observer's weekly newsletter.

On today's podcast:

Election Countdown: Steve and Jer discuss the heightened awareness of the election countdown, influenced by Vice President Harris's entry into the race and the early voting process starting this week in Michigan.

Kamala Harris's Media Presence: The duo talks about Harris's recent CNN appearance, her interview with Oprah, and her rising poll numbers in Michigan, as well as the impact of early voting and absentee ballots.

Celebrity Influence in Politics: The conversation shifts to the role of celebrities in political campaigns, with mentions of Adam Scott, Jane Fonda, and the cast of "Scandal" making appearances to support various candidates.

Endorsements: We dive into recent endorsements, including the Michigan Teamsters backing Harris and the Michigan Farm Bureau's endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers, and discuss the implications of these endorsements.

Local Political Tensions: The episode covers the ongoing friction between Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and US Representative Rashida Tlaib over the prosecution of campus protesters, highlighting the complexities within the Democratic Party.

Shifts in Political Allegiances: They discuss the endorsement of Donald Trump by the Democratic mayor of Hamtramck, Amir Hallab, and its potential implications for future elections.

Michigan Supreme Court Races: These nonpartisan elections (with their candidates decided by delegates at party conventions) have a significant impact on state policies and laws.

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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-detroit/id1220563942

Happy Friday! Devon O'Reilly is in and we're talking about:

West Riverfront Park: Game-changer for Corktown, boosting property values and community vibes.

Belle Isle Driving Range: Did you know about the golf facilities? Plus, it's packed with activities from kayaking to beach outings. More: https://www.belleisle.golf/

Fall events galore: The city's calendar is bursting with business gatherings and cultural festivals.

Leadership Detroit: 45th class kicking off, offering a masterclass in understanding the city.

NeighborHub Grants: Partnering with GM to support small businesses and nonprofits with grants. Apply here: https://www.detroitchamber.com/neighborhub/

TechTown Detroit's "Toast of the Town": Annual fundraiser celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship. https://techtowndetroit.org/toast-of-the-town/

Today's show gets into how Metro Detroit is changing and growing, mixing its car-making history with new developments in technology and hospitality.

On the all-local podcast:

Ford's historic engineering lab from the 1920s has been updated. Jer and Norris took a tour of the facility - it now houses the team working on electric car technology, mixing old and new. We talk about it.

The United Auto Workers union might go on strike against Stellantis. This follows last year's strike and shows ongoing issues in the car industry.

The Shinola Hotel in Detroit won a special award called a Michelin Key. It's now seen widely as a top-notch hotel where the famous people like to stay.

Companies in Detroit and Southeast Michigan are working hard to attract talented workers. They're creating cool workplaces to compete with other tech-heavy cities.

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And if there's someone in your life who loves Detroit, or just wants to know more about it, tell them about the show! Word of mouth is best way to push the show forward.

WE welcomed back Sam Robinson, a seasoned journalist now working at the Detroit Free Press. Sam's new role involves managing a misinformation tracker tool, part of a University of Texas at Austin program. The discussion centered on the pressing issue of misinformation and its impact on society, especially as we approach the next election cycle.

Key points included the pervasive nature of misinformation, with absurd stories gaining traction even on debate stages. Sam highlighted the role of social media algorithms in amplifying false narratives, sharing his personal experiences with platforms like Twitter and Threads. The conversation emphasized the responsibility of journalists to maintain accuracy and integrity in the digital age.

The episode also touched on the upcoming election, discussing Kamala Harris's candidacy and its potential impact. Sam provided insights into the political landscape, including the role of celebrity endorsements in mobilizing voters. The discussion concluded by highlighting underreported stories, particularly around campaign finance and corporate handouts.

Overall, this episode offers valuable insights into the challenges of combating misinformation, the evolving media landscape, and the complexities of political reporting in today's world.

Welcome to Tuesday! Fletcher Sharpe is in and we're talking about:

• Motown Museum Expansion: Jer went to the press event for a 50,000-square-foot project opening in summer 2026, featuring interactive exhibits and recording studios. It's been a long time coming.
• Early Voting in Detroit: 16 days of early voting from October 19 to November 3, with 14 vote centers across the city. We discuss the impact.
• Eastern Market Shooting: Tragic incident sparks discussions on public safety and conflict resolution.
• Detroit Lions Update: Head coach Dan Campbell takes responsibility for recent loss, team faces challenges this season. Fletcher reacts.
• Football Player Safety: Concerns over concussion rates in football, balancing safety with preserving with what people love to watch. Fletcher shares his experience as someone who played QB on a far lower level with multiple concussions.

In the latest episode of Daily Detroit, we talk about Michigan's pivotal role in the upcoming elections. As a swing state, Michigan is constantly under the political microscope, making it a hotbed for campaign activities, ads, and visits from key political figures.

Steve Friess, a seasoned freelance journalist for the New York Times, Newsweek, and the Ann Arbor Observer, provides invaluable insights into this dynamic political landscape. Steve kicks off the discussion by emphasizing Michigan's unique position as a swing state. He points out that residents here experience an inundation of political ads and campaign visits that people in more politically stable states might never see. This front-row seat to the election circus underscores the importance of every single vote in Michigan, making it a battleground state that can tip the scales in either direction. One of the highlights of this episode is we preview the interview between Kamala Harris and Oprah Winfrey. Scheduled for Thursday, September 16, 2024, this conversation is part of Oprah's Unite for America program and will be live-streamed across multiple platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitch.

Steve and Jer discuss the potential impact of this interview, especially in humanizing Kamala Harris and filling in the story gaps that many voters feel exist. The conversation also touches on the flood of political ads that Michiganders are subjected to. Some of these ads, targeting specific communities within Michigan, aim to stir up trouble and sway votes in subtle yet insidious ways. Polling and its impact on voter perception is another critical topic in this episode. Steve explains how polls, despite their frequent inaccuracies and wide margins of error, have become a crutch for both the media and the public. They create narratives that can influence voter behavior, even though they often change and are not always reliable. Jer also shares an interesting anecdote about the presence of political lawn signs and how they can create a false sense of majority opinion. He recounts a listener's experience in a community that voted predominantly for Biden but was visually dominated by Trump signs. This cognitive dissonance highlights the emotional aspect of political campaigning and the loudest voices often getting the most attention.

In our latest episode, we had the privilege of speaking with Xavier Cortada, an artist whose work transcends traditional forms of expression to tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time—climate change and social justice.

As part of the Arthur L. Johnson Urban Perspectives lecture series, Xavier will be speaking at Wayne State University on September 18, 2024. Xavier's journey is a testament to the power of art as a vehicle for change. He recalls his early influences, particularly his father, a Cuban refugee and artist who used his craft to build community and address social issues. This foundational experience shaped Xavier's belief that art must do more than just exist; it must provoke thought, evoke emotion, and inspire action. One of the most compelling aspects of our conversation was Xavier's ability to make the global personal. He emphasized that the climate crisis we face is not an abstract or distant problem but one that affects us all in tangible ways.

"What they are seeing isn't a natural phenomenon. What they're seeing is a human caused catastrophe. And if humans caused it, then humans can uncause it," said Cortada.

This belief is at the core of his work, which aims to engage people who might feel disconnected from the issue of climate change. Xavier's art serves as a bridge, inviting people into a conversation rather than preaching or admonishing. He uses his creative approaches to make complex issues more relatable and understandable.

The event at Wayne State is free, RSVP here: https://events.wayne.edu/2024/09/18/arthur-l-johnson-urban-perspectives-lecture-series-98410/

Hey! We made it! Episode 1,501 of your Daily Detroit! Your all-local daily news podcast.

Norris Howard and Devon O'Reilly join in with Jer at the studio in TechTown. Here's what we get into:

We reflect on 1500 episodes, highlighting the show's impact and the variety of guests we've had over the years. We also get into the changes in the cityscape of Detroit since we started, and the opening of new businesses becoming more common.

Devon crowns a new king of the Maurice salad in the city of Detroit!

Devon called out Norris for his opinion against SUVs, with opinions divided on their necessity and impact⁠. ⁠​ A number of $320 million was floated for state support for demolishing part of the RenCen and investing in light rail. We get into it.

A huge thank you to our listeners, supporters, and sponsors over the years - as well as everyone who has ever helped behind the scenes.

We're not done yet.

Don't forget to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen to shows.

Welcome to Wednesday - Norris Howard is in.

We do a little debate debrief, with an emphasis on the impact on Metro Detroit, particularly regarding immigration and community concerns.

The conversation then shifts to a significant local development project: The transformation of the former Kmart headquarters in Troy into Somerset West, a mixed-use development planned with 750 residential units, office space, retail, and a University of Michigan health facility. They discuss the potential impact on Oakland County and the broader Metro Detroit area.

Additionally, they address the potential departure of Detroit Police Chief James White for a mental health agency role, speculating on the future of the Detroit Police Department and the city's leadership.

Listener feedback agree with Norris on his feelings about pickup trucks, and highlights the importance of branding to raise awareness of nonprofit initiatives.

In this episode of Daily Detroit, Fletcher Sharpe joins and kicks off with a deep discussion on the Detroit Lions' promising start to the NFL season, highlighting key players like David Montgomery, and the team's newfound offensive and defensive competence.

We also touch on the Michigan Wolverines' challenging season, examining their recent game against Texas and the adjustments needed in the NIL era. The conversation shifts to the Detroit Tigers, celebrating their over .500 performance and the potential for a wild card spot as the MLB season wraps up.

Main topics:

• Detroit Lions' season opener and key performances
• Michigan Wolverines' struggles and NIL adjustments
• Detroit Tigers' over .500 season and playoff hopes

Don't miss this engaging episode filled with sports insights and local pride. Share your thoughts with us at [email protected]. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your podcast app of choice.