#podcast #progressive #politics #news #Michigan #Democrats #Republicans #MAGA #Trump #ICE #Voting #Civility #RickSnyder #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #Fascism #Authoritarianism #JenniferGranholm ##Line5 #WorkingClass #Epstein #WealthInequality #Democracy #LeftofLansing

Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for February 6, 2026.

Four of Michigan's former governors appeared at some "civility" conference to long for the good old days of civility where back room deals were made to screw over the working class. I think those are the days they're clamoring for.

While they lecture all of us on the need to tone down the political tone in this country, we have white nationalist corporate authoritarianism marching all over the working class. 

The most ludicrous part about this call for "civility," is that each of these four past governors had no solutions on how this so-called civility can really defeat fascism. 

Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can!

[email protected]

Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well!

https://www.patreon.com/cw/LeftofLansing
Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopard

NOTES:

#podcast #progressive #politics #Democrats #Republicans #MAGA #Trump #MikeRogers #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #AbdulElSayed #MalloryMcMorrow #HaleyStevens #Senate #Election #Epstein #EpsteinFiles #Gaza #Israel #WorkingClass #Unions #AIPAC #MedicareForAll #DataCenters #BigTech #Oligarchy #DonorClass #ICE #PoliticalViolence #Immigration #KidRock #Fascism #Authoritarianism #Democracy #LeftofLansing

Here's Episode #165 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast!

00:00-25:40: Epstein Files & Billionaire Class

Pat opens-up the episode sharing some of the newly released Jeffrey Epstein files that show how interconnected the billionaire and political oligarchy are around the world, and how they continued to remain in contact with Epstein even AFTER he was a convicted pedophile and registered sex offender. Yet, not one person in this cabal had any idea of Epstein's child sex trafficking? The reason why the Trump Regime fought to block the Epstein Files from being released was to protect this powerful cabal. That's why it's up to progressive movements to force change rather than waiting for corporate Democrats to do anything substantial.

25:41-39:11: Pat on Senate Primary Race

Pat breaks-down the Michigan Democratic Party Senate Primary race between progressive Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, State Senator Mallory McMorrow, and corporate Democrat Haley Stevens, and he explains why he's deciding to back one of them.

39:12-44:30: Last Call on Has-Been Kid Rock

Kid Rock is "headlining" a MAGA alternative halftime show in reaction to Bad Bunny hosting the Bowl That Is Super's Halftime Show. 

44:31-46:31: Ending

Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can!

[email protected]

Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well!

https://www.patreon.com/cw/LeftofLansing
Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopard

NOTES:

#politics #progressive #Michigan #Democrats #Republicans #MAGA #Trump #ElonMusk #Israel #ChuckSchumer #MikeRogers #CorporateCorruption #CorporateGreed #GovermentCorruption #BillClinton #JeffreyEpstein #EpsteinFiles #SexAbuse #WorkingClass #PoliticalPower #Authoritarianism #oligarchy #Democracy #LeftofLansing

Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for February 2, 2026.

The release of 3 million pages from The Epstein Files reveals how there's a powerful billionaire oligarchy and political party bosses cabal that work hand-in-hand with one another at the expense of the working class. 

Even worse, it shows how little disdain this cabal had for Jeffrey Epstein, who was a convicted of sexual prostitution with an underage girl, and who had to register as a sex offender. 

It reveals that if we, the working class, want to regain the power, we have to defeat this cabal of billionaire and political party bosses. 

Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can!

[email protected]

Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well!

leftoflansing.com

Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopard

NOTES:

#podcast #politics #progressives #Democrats #Michigan #MAGA #MikeDuggan #Republicans #Election2026 #GovernorRace #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #Trump #ICE #Immigration #WhiteChristianNationalism #WorkingClass #Race #CharterSchoolCorruption #Authoritarianism #FreeSpeech #LGBTQ+ #Fascism #Democracy #Left of Lansing

Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" on January 30, 2026.

Pat Johnston shares details on how former Detroit Mayor, and current "Independent" Michigan gubernatorial candidate, Mike Duggan, is proudly dipping into the MAGA playbook to attack progressives while simultaneously collecting large amounts of campaign $$ from MAGA donors. 

Mike Duggan is no independent. 

He's taking MAGA money, and adopting MAGA language, which means he's fine with the Trump Regime's authoritarianism. 

Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can!

[email protected]

Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well!

leftoflansing.com

Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopard

NOTES:

#podcast #politics #progressives #Democrats #Michigan #JuliaPulver #Protesting #PoliticalViolence #MAGA #Trump #Republicans #ICE #Immigration #ElissaSlotkin #MAGAMurderBudget #Race #Racism #WorkingClass #Oligarchy #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #Tyranny #Authoritarianism #WhiteChristianNationalism #Democracy #LeftofLansing

00:00-13:53: ICE Funding, ICE in MI, Duggan & ICE

Pat Johnston devotes his entire monologue on how ICE recruiting seems geared towards radical white supremacists while ICE received a mammoth boost in funding thanks to the Republican MAGA Murder Budget. But makes it clear that some Democrats refuse to our demands to Abolish ICE, including current Independent Michigan gubernatorial candidate Mike Duggan, who promised to work with The Trump Regime's ICE Gestapo while mayor of Detroit.

13:54-44:26: Julia Pulver on Protesting Matters

Michigan progressive voice & activist, and RN, Julia Pulver, talks with Pat about why protesting matters in these times of Trump, ICE, data centers, and more. Julia says protesting is Democracy in Action, and the more we make our voices heard, the better a chance we have at forcing real political change. We're seeing that already in Minneapolis as protesting helped shine a spotlight on the brutal invasion of ICE in American cities.
Visit Julia Pulver on BlueSkye.

44:27-48:50: Last Call MI MAGA Attacks Courts

In this week's "Last Call," the MAGA Republican majority in the Michigan House is threatening the state Supreme Court by saying it would cut judiciary funding if The Court rules in favor of a rule prohibiting ICE from arresting people in courthouses. 

48:51-51:05: Ending

Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can!

[email protected]

Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well!

leftoflansing.com

Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopard

NOTES:

Julia Pulver "Why Should We Continue Peacefully Protesting" speech at the Birmingham Unitary Church from January 25, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaYFYqIXFHg

#politics #progressives #Michigan #Minnesota #ICE #Authoritarianism #Fascism #PoliticalViolence #GunRights #MAGA #Trump #Republicans #Democrats #CorporateGreed #GovernmentCorruption #LisaMcClain #AricNesbitt #BillHuizenga #WhiteChristianNationalist #WhiteChristianNationalism #WorkingClass #Immigration #Minorities #Democracy #Freedom #LeftOfLansing

Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for January 26, 2026.

The execution of Minnesota nurse Alex Pretti by the Trump Regime's ICE Gestapo, and the MAGA Republican defense of the shooting, proves the main goal about MAGA Republicanism is to destroy, and kill, those it views as the enemies within. 

MAGA's never been about gun rights, freedom of speech rights, or economic rights for the working class. 

It's been about making this a whiter America, and if white Americans get in their way, they'll be disappeared, too.

Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can!

[email protected]

Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well!

leftoflansing.com

Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopard

NOTES:

#podcast #progressive #Democrats #Michigan #ElissaSlotkin #Slotkin #Republicans #MAGA #Trump #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #ICE #Immigration #HenryCuellar #WorkingClass #Authoritarianism #Fascism #Election2026 #Democracy #LeftofLansing

Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for January 23, 2026.

Seven corporate Democrats (or Democratic "Centrists) in the U.S. House voted with the autocratic MAGA majority to shovel more money to the Trump Regime's ICE Gestapo in a spending bill this week. That bill now moves onto the Senate where other "centrists" Democrats, like Michigan's Elissa Slotkin, says she will never back a push to Abolish ICE.

Thanks to some excellent reporting, we now know that those pushing Democrats to say "reform ICE," rather than to abolish it are lobbyists for the defense and surveillance industries. 

There's a big election coming up in 10 months, and working class Americans are hoping there'll be a true opposition party to Trump's MAGA, but some Democrats would rather play along with authoritarianism than fight against it. 

Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can!

[email protected]

Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well!

leftoflansing.com

Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopard

NOTES:

#podcast #progressives #politics #michigan #Democrats #MAGA #Republicans #Trump #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #Greenland #AmericaFirst #WorkingClass #RxKids #MattHall #Whitmer #Election2026 #Inequality #WealthInequality #ICE #AbolishICE #Authoritarianism #Mothers #Immigration #ChildCare #WhiteChristianNationalism #TechBros #CBSNews #BariWeiss #Economy #Race #Racism #Democracy #LeftOfLansing

00:00:15:37: Greenland? Attacks on RxKids

Left of Lansing's Pat Johnston doesn't understand how spending around a trillion dollars to acquire Greenland to please billionaire Tech Bros helps working class Americans, who are struggling with high costs of food, electricity, child care, health care, and car insurance. And it took awhile, but MAGA Michigan Republicans are finally beginning to attack the successful RxKids program. Pat explains why. Because, it works!

15:38-43:35: Jennifer Schulze Interview

Longtime Chicago journalist and media critic Jennifer Schulze joins the show to talk about MAGA media propaganda machine. On her Substack, Indistinct Chatter, Jennifer wrote an article on the MAGA political operative Nick Shirley, and how his propaganda videos on so-called "fraud" in child care facilities in Minnesota, led to the Trump Regime's Ice Gestapo invasion in Minneapolis. And Jennifer and Pat discuss the devolving of CBS News, which is becoming a Trump Propaganda News Network by the billionaire-picked News Director, Bari Weiss. 

42:01-51:25: Last Call-Whitmer's Silence

In this week's "Last Call," Pat criticizes Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer's continued refusal to stand-up for working class Michiganders, and all Americans, while the Trump Regime causes pain in a myriad of ways. 

51:26-53:35: Ending

Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can!

[email protected]

Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well!

leftoflansing.com

Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopard

NOTES:

#podcast #progressives #politics #Michigan #Democrats #Republicans #MAGA #Trump #InsiderTrading #WorkingClass #Oligarchy #Palantir #PeterTheil #ElonMusk #AI #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #LisaMcclain #Corruption #Congress #Election2026 #Authoritarianism #Democracy #LeftOfLansing

Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for January 19, 2026.

It appears Michigan Congresswoman Lisa McClain from the 9th congressional district is dealing with some more insider trading allegations. 

After being late on disclosing how she and her husband plugged-in around $900,000 in trades last year which included Peter Theil's Palantir, Lisa & her husband are in the news once again for more insider trading shenanigans. 

Just days before the Trump Regime's Pentagon announced plans to expand Elon Musk's xAI in the military, Lisa's husband apparently purchased between $100,000-$250,000 of the private xAI stock.

I'm sure it was just dumb luck.

Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can!

[email protected]

Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well!

leftoflansing.com

Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopard

NOTES:
"House Republican Conference chairwoman Lisa McClain disclosed the purchase made just days before the Pentagon announced a major integration with xAI." By David Shaw of Sludge

#podcast #progressives #Michigan #politics #Democrats #Republicans #MAGA #Trump #ICE #ICEViolence #Authoritarianism #PoliticalViolence #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #Immigrants #Race #WhiteSupremacy #WhiteChristianNationalism #Tryranny #MikeRogers #Election2026 #WorkingClass #Oligarchy #Democracy #LeftOfLansing

Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for January 16, 2026.

Polls are showing Americans are fed-up with the Trump Regime's Ice Gestapo, and polls show a split for those believing in abolishing, or preserving, ICE. There is heavy support to restrict ICE activities. 

Left of Lansing's Pat Johnston says now is the time for Progressive Democrats to push a bold and strong message to abolish ICE since it's against everything we value in our country and our democratic society. 

And we must say "No," to those corporate Democratic Party groups who say Democrats should push incremental changes to ICE this election year. 

Incrementalism is what got us here in the first place!

Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can!

[email protected]

Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well!

leftoflansing.com

Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopard

NOTES:
YouGov Survey on ICE and Its Practices