Daily Detroit

Today on Daily Detroit, we're back into our series of candidate discussions as Dr. Abdul El‑Sayed, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Michigan joins me.

We get into why he's getting back into the political arena, his case for Medicare for All (and his case to people who worry they'll lose their current benefits), and what he thinks a U.S. Senator can really do on healthcare with a Republican in the White House.

We also talk about Michigan's sputtering economic numbers, how to keep and grow good‑paying jobs here at home, and his ideas for reining in Wall Street short‑termism, banning stock buybacks, and using targeted tariffs to bring high‑growth manufacturing back to the state.

Then we focus on Detroit: Federal support for Detroit's big lifts around affordable housing, transportation, and water infrastructure — from a national housing bill and renter protections to real investment in light rail and fixing our pipes.

And because this is Daily Detroit, we wrap with some fun: Abdul's go‑to coffee shops, pizza spots, bagels, and his favorite places in town.

As always, we're not making endorsements in this race, but we are making space for locally focused conversations that matter. My idea with these conversations for our hyper-local audience is hit on some of the topics national outlets may not.

I've already talked to one candidate in this race; and the third is scheduled.

If you've got thoughts, keep it respectful and hit the inbox at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 313‑789‑3211. And if you value episodes like this — consider supporting our work at patreon.com/dailydetroit. We basically can't run ads on political content nowadays. So your support matters more than ever.

Detroit is having a week full of newness — and we've got all of it. PWHL Detroit is officially happening: the city's new Professional Women's Hockey League franchise will play at Little Caesar's Arena starting in the 2026–2027 season, in black, silver, and a hint of Red Wings red.

The PWHL Awards and entry draft are coming to Detroit on June 16th and 17th, and roster building kicks off May 28th.

Norris Howard weighs in on the collapse of Spirit Airlines — plus, the case for trains over short-haul flights.

Downtown development: The historic 1908 Ford Building on Griswold — a Daniel Burnham Chicago-style gem — is headed to auction at just 14% occupancy, raising questions about what it takes to bring Detroit's financial district back to life. [Crain's Detroit]

Jer and Norris dream big: 100,000 people in 7.2 square miles, a Trader Joe's in the State Savings Bank, and density done right.

Bedrock's Belle — a 1926 Beaux Arts building on Broadway — is now accepting pre-lease tours on its 42 newly finished units.

And coming soon to Southwest Detroit at 2545 Bagley: Tigris, a hi-fi listening bar with a custom Bing Audio sound system, vinyl DJ sets, Middle Eastern-inspired cocktails, and a daytime café to boot.

Finally, Jer is moderating a panel at the free Business of Food Summit on May 18th at the Marrow in the Market — all about what it takes to make Michigan a true culinary destination, and what Michelin recognition could mean for the state.

Filmmaker Hannah Fahoome of Now Listen Here Young Lady LLC joins Jer Staes and Norris Howard to talk about Arab Film Fest After Dark — an interactive afterparty she's been building around the Arab Film Festival for over three years.

The Arab Film Festival runs Tuesday, May 5th through Sunday, May 10th at the Arab American National Museum in East Dearborn. It's been going for over 20 years and features films from across the Arab world and Arab America.

On Saturday, May 9th, Hannah is also hosting a screenwriting workshop at 10 a.m. in the museum library — open to anyone who has a story and wants to learn how to put it on screen.

That evening, Arab Film Fest After Dark brings together DJs, interactive lighting demos, and screenwriting games. Buy a ticket to any single festival screening and the afterparty is free.

Find Hannah on Instagram Arab Film Festival tickets and passes: aanmfilmfest.eventive.org

Gas is suddenly a lot more expensive in Michigan — and Spirit Airlines just shut down for good.

Jer talks with GasBuddy head of petroleum analysis Patrick De Haan about Great Lakes refinery outages, record diesel and jet fuel prices, how a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz is pushing costs higher, and why that fuel shock helped finish off Metro Detroit–founded Spirit Airlines.

After, Jer digs into some details about Spirit's demise and we're looking for your Spirit experiences.

Feedback as always — dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or leave a voicemail, 313-789-3211.

We break down fresh polling data from the Detroit Regional Chamber and Glengariff on Michigan's August 2026 primaries.

With 36% of Democratic voters still undecided in the Senate race, this election is anyone's game.

Plus, we get into the Republican and Democratic primary landscapes, examining Donald Trump's 85.9% favorability among GOP voters, Jocelyn Benson's commanding 58-point lead in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, and the tight three-way Senate race between Abdul El-Sayed, Haley Stevens, and Mallory McMorrow with a huge universe of undecided voters.

The conversation also explores Gretchen Whitmer's potential role in the 2028 presidential race, as she's got immense popularity in the state and is the leading candidate here for president — or be the person that chooses who would win on the Democratic side.

Topics covered:

• Detroit Regional Chamber/Glengariff Group poll methodology (500 respondents per party, ±4.4% margin of error)

• Republican primary: John James vs. Perry Johnson for governor

• Democratic Senate primary breakdown by region and demographics

• Youth voter impact on both parties

• Presidential preference polling for 2028

• The disconnect between progressive policies and progressive candidates

• Why showing up matters

Ferndale is bucking the trend. While most of Detroit's inner-ring suburbs are losing people, Ferndale has grown 1.3% since 2020 — outpacing every municipality that touches Detroit's city limits.

We dig into new population data highlighted by the Detroit Free Press and ask what makes Ferndale different: walkable neighborhoods, a real downtown at Woodward and Nine Mile, a strong LGBTQ community, and a place where people say they feel safe because neighbors have their back.

Here's a link to the piece we discussed: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2026/04/28/ferndale-is-growing-while-detroits-other-inner-ring-suburbs-shrink/89644896007/

We contrast Ferndale's urbanist-friendly density and sense of belonging with the population losses in places like Warren, Redford, Dearborn Heights, and River Rouge, and talk about how Gen Z, dual-income-no-kids households, and the Woodward corridor are reshaping where Metro Detroiters choose to live.

In this two-parter, we start with Detroit's birds and end with Detroiters eating dessert. Science and snacks, basically.

First up, we talk with University of Michigan alum and Defenders of Wildlife science and policy analyst Natalie Madden about a new meta-analysis on how urban noise affects birds. They get into what a "study of studies" actually is, why everyday city sounds can mess with bird communication, nesting, growth and reproduction, and what planners and policymakers can do to turn down the volume so common species like robins and sparrows can actually thrive in metro Detroit.

Then we head back to the studio for a taste test: producer Shianne Nocerini and Big Lucci Marcon join me at the table to try Hudsonville's new Little Debbie-inspired ice cream sandwiches — Cosmic Brownie and Oatmeal Cream Pie. They rate, debate and rank which one deserves freezer space, with plenty of sugar, carbs and opinions along the way.

As always, send your feedback or guest ideas to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 313-789-3211.

Detroit's Friday crew is back!

We kick things off a hidden "speakeasy of coffee" called Sml Wrld Cafe on Gratiot in Detroit, and why now is the time to get your yard and urban garden in order.

Plus, the historic Detroit Boat Club is on getting on track for a major revival into a public-facing hub with restaurants, events, and rowing education.

Jer also checked out the new Cadillac Arts Center near Waterworks Park, with In Thicket Books, Take Me Home, and Bowerbird Home anchoring a growing Little Village arts district on the east side.

On the west side, the guys mourn the end of nearly 70 years of Daly's Restaurant, swapping memories of steam-bun burgers, cherry fudge shakes, and midcentury drive-in diner culture as the last Livonia location prepares to close.

Then a serious note: DTE's proposed $474 million electric rate hike has listeners worrying about affordability.

Finally, meet our Spring logo, featuring Phezzy - a pheasant because quintessentially Detroit and they're in every corner of the city.

Detroit's downtown housing study is back, and the headline is clear: there's still a lot of runway to grow.

Norris and I dig into what so many potential new units really means and how incentives, red tape, and construction costs shape what actually gets built. Then we get into lessons from Ann Arbor's plan to turn a parking lot into a library-and-housing hub, and what real urban density could look like in Michigan and Metro Detroit. After all, Norris hates surface parking lots in cities. Plus, we end on some joy with the Michigan Science Center's adults-only Aurora Space Party this Friday night and a call to bring back a sense of wonder. https://www.mi-sci.org/after-dark-auroras-space-party/

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Eastern Market is best known as a Saturday tradition and Flower Day selfie spot. But it's also one of the beating hearts of Michigan's food system.

In this episode, I sit down with Eastern Market Partnership president and CEO Katy Trudeau at TechTown to unpack how this 120-year-old market is adapting for 2026 and beyond.

Katy explains how the historic sheds anchor a 24/7 neighborhood where live animal processing, wholesale distribution, breweries, restaurants, and nightlife all coexist — and why keeping the core of the district focused on food is key to its future.

You'll hear about Shed 7, a new 40,000-square-foot indoor wholesale facility opening this year, and plans for an indoor, two-story Shed 4 with teaching kitchens and community space.

We talk about Detroit's urban farming movement, including a program with a cooperative of Detroit growers to distribute thousands of free produce boxes.

Katy also shares how Eastern Market connects rural Michigan farmers and generations‑old family farms to Detroiters, and why Flower Day, Tuesday wellness markets, Sunday artisan markets, and Eastern Market After Dark matter for both residents and small businesses.

If you care about Detroit's future, local food, or how cities can connect urban and rural communities, this episode will give you a deeper appreciation for what's really happening behind the scenes at Eastern Market, and why it's still worth getting up early on a Saturday to experience it yourself.

More info: https://easternmarket.org/

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