Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson

The Detroit Lions are going to the second round of the playoffs, and it has a lot of people really excited. Tim Alberta, best-selling author and staff writer for The Atlantic magazine, received national acclaim for his article, “The Thrill of Defeat”, which highlights how his life was shaped by watching the Detroit Lions lose. Tim joins Stephen to talk about what this moment means for them and Michiganders.

A new report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation highlighted a growing opportunity gap between African American students in the state and their white peers. How much of that is simply about poverty? And, how can we help close it? Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti joins Stephen to discuss. Then, Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Jon Valant explores what policies need to be implemented to close the educational opportunity gap.

Amusement taxes are common way for cities to capture revenue from sporting events, but not in Michigan. Could a new tax provide much-needed funding for city services? Eric Lupher, Robin Boyle and Charles Ballard join Stephen to discuss the renewed push for implementing amusement taxes in Detroit.

Why does America still have a problem with homelessness, and why has the issue been getting worse more recently in both the city and our country? Journalist Nushrat Rahman and Tonya Hogan, a formerly homeless individual in Detroit, explore the issue locally. Then, scholar and author Gregg Colburn joins Stephen to discuss why homelessness is fundamentally a housing issue.

Detroit's NAACP President Reverend Wendell Anthony joins Stephen to discuss Dr. Martin Luther King's impact in Detroit as well as his relationship to the NAACP. Then, we take a listen to Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech in Detroit, where he first gave it.

State lawmakers have done a lot to reform its juvenile justice system, but advocates want to see more done to help rehabilitate, rather than simply punish, young people who’ve done harm. Advocates from the ACLU of Michigan, in addition to a state senator and law professor join Stephen to discuss the reforms that have happened in this space, and what more needs to be done.

A court recently ruled that some of Michigan’s state House and Senate maps violated the Voting Rights Act and made it harder for Black Detroiters to achieve proper representation. The Michigan Independent Citizen’s Redistricting Commission -- the body that created the state's maps -- has voted to appeal this decision, but the claim suggests a lot of questions. What do fair political maps look like in Southeast Michigan? And, what should political representation look like? A local representative from Detroit, and those opposing and supporting the court’s decision join Stephen to discuss.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan's Land Value Tax Plan would change the way the city values houses and the land. But is it a good idea? Nick Allen suggested the solution to the mayor and joins Stephen to make the case for the plan. Alex Alsup also joins the show to discuss if it will force land speculators in the city to behave any differently. This episode first aired on WDET on November, 16, 2023.

On Saturday, Michigan Republicans voted to oust party chair Kristina Karamo. While Karamo maintains the removal is invalid, what are the ramifications for the state ahead of the 2024 elections? Vance Patrick, chairman of the Oakland County Republican Party joins Stephen to discuss why he believes the vote occurred and what it means for the party. Next, political consultant Dennis Darnoi discusses the underlying turmoil in the party and the historic nature of the vote. Finally, American Enterprise Institute senior fellow Tim Carney stops by to discuss the significance of the vote and how it fits into the broader political trends occurring in the Republican party.

Stephen talks with David French about the disconnect between conservatism and the Republican Party. Originally published November 22, 2022.