Daily Detroit

On today's Daily Detroit I kick things off in "prime Negroni season," and on the heels of a new zero proof gin debate with Devon whether zero-proof gin and spirits are actually a thing we need or just marketing chasing vibes without the buzz.

Then we dive into how different wings of the Demcoratic party actuall agree on about 88% of things, and how junk polls and click-chasing headlines warp our sense of what's really at stake, or who feels what way. Plus, turnout in the city and what it would take for under-40 Detroiters to actually flex the power they have instead of letting politics stay a 60-plus sport.

We close on the RenCen and riverfront remake, breaking down the impending double tower demolition, and why losing some concrete might finally mean gaining the riverfront Detroit deserves.

In today's episode, Norris and I hit pause on the doomscroll and talk about simple joys and summer adventures around Detroit.

We talk about everything from Belle Isle walks and Southwest soccer nights to Chinatown block parties, rooftop bars, and getting lost on the scenic route instead of the freeway.

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If you've got feedback, including what you plan on doing this summer, let us know - [email protected] or 313-789-3211

I sit down with communications pro Matt Friedman to talk about what happens when the basic stuff in media breaks — from lettuce recalls and weather alerts to non-partisan, important voting information.

We get into algorithms, broken trust, and why it's harder than ever to get simple, accurate information. And that information is crucial for a stronger local Detroit community.

If you care about how you actually find out what matters, this one's worth a listen.

Matt Friedman's latest post: https://tannerfriedman.com/blog/ive-done-food-recall-crisis-communications-the-parasite-situation-is-a-mess/

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Today, I sit down with Highland Park mayoral candidate and Avalon Village founder Shamayim "Mama Shu" Harris.

We dig into how she's turned one of the city's most notorious blocks into a grassroots hub with streetlights, a homework house, basketball courts, and shipping-container retail.

We also talk about what that experience taught her about transforming blight into beauty, rebuilding housing and neighborhood businesses, and why she believes Highland Park can stand strong as its own city.

More information: https://www.mamashuformayor.com/

As always, if you've got feedback - 313-789-3211 or email us, dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com.

For a full transcript, visit the Daily Detroit website.

As always, thanks to our members on Patreon for supporting work like this.

Today we're coming to you from a very smoky studio in Detroit as Canadian wildfire haze pushes Detroit's air quality off the charts.

Should we Blame Canada? (With all apologies to South Park)

From there, Norris delivers last rites for the "Yzerplan" and we talk through why the Red Wings have now slid to the fifth of five sports team in a city where the Lions, Pistons, Tigers – and now Detroit City FC – are commanding the spotlight.

Speaking of DCFC, I was at the groundbreaking for their new stadium at Michigan and 20th. We unpack what a nearly $200 million means for Corktown, Mexicantown, small businesses, and the club.

We close with an update on the Democratic Senate primary between Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed – digging into new polling, the massive outside money advantage, Obama's importance in the politics of black voters and Detroiters, and the real enthusiasm and messaging gaps shaping this race on the ground.

Full Rundown:

00:39 - Insane Canadian Wildfire Smoke in Detroit

04:22 - The Steve Yzerplan is Dead

08:37 - Detroit City FC Stadium Groundbreaking

16:40 - Stevens vs. El-Sayed Democratic Senate Primary Update

As always, I'd love to hear what you think: [email protected] or 313-789-3211.

Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.

We start with a very cool story about Jack White, "Seven Nation Army," and how seven little notes turned into one of the biggest chants in global sports.

Then we get into something a lot closer to home: A cyclospora outbreak that has Taco Bell locations pulling lettuce and cilantro off the menu, and what that says about cuts to CDC surveillance and how we think about food safety in Michigan.

From there, Norris and I dig into Lansing's proposed "quiet cars" bill aimed at loud exhausts up and down Woodward, why noise is part of living near big thoroughfares, and how enforcement can too easily slide into pretextual stops for Black drivers and folks just trying to get to work with a busted muffler. More: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/2026/07/13/michigan-bills-law-loud-cars-modified-exhaust-woodward/90472088007/

We close with some good news: Concert of Colors kicks off in Midtown, honoring the late Ishmael Ahmed and bringing multi-generational, global sounds to the DIA and surrounding venues — one of those "if you live here, you really should go at least once" Detroit events. https://www.concertofcolors.com/

I encourage listeners to take the Daily Detroit political topology survey at dailydetroit.com/9 and send your topic ideas to [email protected].

Full Rundown:

01:33 - Seven Nation Army video and Daily Detroit political topography survey

06:22 - There's a growing Cyclosporiasis outbreak throughout Michigan, including taking lettuce of the menu of a number of restaurants include Taco Bell at some Metro Detroit location

11:43 A bill pushing for quieter cars working it's way through the Michigan legislature

17:10 Concert of Colors is back this week

After the pandemic, downtown Detroit underwent a massive shift. Many left their offices to come back just a couple of times a week, and people looking for dining and entertainment on weekends flooded in. And the data shows they like what they see.

On today's show, I'm sitting down with Sofia Song, Global Cities Lead at the Gensler Research Institute, and Antoine Bryant, Managing Director of Gensler's Detroit office, to unpack their massive 2026 City Pulse study.

The big takeaway? Detroit ranks number one nationally for downtown "stickiness." That means residents aren't just coming down because they have to for work. They're choosing to hang out, eat, and linger at double the national average for discretionary visits.

There's a huge shift from an office-centric commuter hub to an 18-hour destination. And Detroit residents, according to the survey, are into it, too.

If you want to understand how intentional planning, better lighting, and activated spaces are changing our streets into a space with national-level urban design, you won't want to miss this conversation.

Then, we send you out the door with some stories to know around town.

Don't forget our most recent audience survey: https://www.dailydetroit.com/9/

Feedback as always: dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211.

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Fairlane Town Center is back in the headlines, and not for the right reasons.

In this episode, Devon and I dig into the latest on Dearborn's struggling mall. From receivership and a possible sale to what its eventual "second life" could mean for desperately needed housing and better transit.

It's our candid, locally grounded look at what happens when a once‑buzzy regional mall becomes a long‑term liability instead of an asset.

Downtown, we're telling a very different story at Gratiot and Randolph. We walk through Detroit's new pedestrian plaza being billed as a "gateway to Greektown," and talk about how shifting the street, widening sidewalks, and new patios. We hope that a new and thoughtful streetscape can drive more retail and residential life into legacy blocks.

To open, we head north — in spirit (and spirits) to Lexington.

Devon shares what's new in the "First Resort to the North," Detroit City Distillery's outpost inside Foley's Market, and Carlos Parisi's sandwich counter bringing some Eastern Market energy to vacationers.

Rundown:

01:41 - Visiting Lexington, MI

07:55 - Gratiot Randolph Plaza opening - big opportunity for Detroit

12:46 - What should happen next with Fairlane Mall?

Make sure to follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you download shows.

Lights were out, bills are up, and a lot of folks around here are just done with it.

On today's Daily Detroit, Norris and I talk through the long Fourth of July weekend that turned into days without power for hundreds of thousands of people across metro Detroit — including me.

As it seems like every year living in a Detroit neighborhood, I deal with 3 to 4 days in a row without electricity.

From there, we zoom out. We talk about DTE's grid, why it seems like storms knock out power every year, and the growing conversation around a ratepayer bill of rights and the Michigan Money Out of Politics (MMOP) petition.

We ask what would it look like if major state contractors couldn't pour money into campaigns? A

We also kick around whether our politics could work differently (although we know the change would be hard legally to pull off): calendar windows for campaigning like other countries have, hard caps on campaign cash, and even making Election Day a holiday.

In the back third of the show, we answer listener questions about what to do with your ballot now that Mallory McMorrow is out of the race, including how and when you can spoil a ballot and get a new one.

As always, I'd love to hear how you're experiencing all of this. The outages, the bills, and the politics around it. Email me at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 313‑789‑3211.

And follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get shows.

There's a ton of useful information in today's Daily Detroit, and you'll walk away with a better understanding of how our state works.

I'm joined by longtime budget expert Steve Watson of Watson & Yates to unpack Michigan's new state budget and what it actually means for our lives.

We get into why "flat" funding can feel like a cut once inflation hits, what's in the budget for schools and public transit, and a handful of key earmarks here in Detroit — from the Auto Show to free bus rides for students and Right to Counsel.

We also talk about new and renewed tools to keep people in their homes, including the Pay As You Stay program and a state-level low-income housing tax credit.

Then, our conversation turns to economic development and the transformational brownfield deal that could help reshape the Renaissance Center. Plus, why development math is getting harder to make work, and the hard financial truth about why housing here requires state and local subsidies and incentives to get done.

Finally, Steve and I dig into what real, practical reform around property taxes could look like in the years ahead to help get Michigan's residents back on economic track.

As always, check out his Substack: https://watsonyates.substack.com/

And of course, follow Daily Detroit on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get shows.