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Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for May 25, 2026.

Some longtime Michigan Democratic Party insiders are suddenly calling for an end to party nominating conventions. 

They'd rather see all statewide office races be primary elections rather than being nominated at these conventions.

It's interesting how many establishment and corporate forces inside the Michigan Democratic Party are calling for this switch in the nominating process after the shallacking their candidates received at last month's convention.

Pat Johnston explains how it's always about gaming the system for the establishment-corporate types inside The Party. 

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for May 22, 2026.

Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan ended his "independent" run to become Michigan's next Governor this week. 

Duggan cited poor polling numbers, the struggle to raise money against the Democratic and MAGA Republican Parties, and strong momentum for the Democrats this year as to why his campaign couldn't catch fire. 

But Pat Johnston explains the real reason Mike Duggan's campaign fell flat.

It might've had something to do with how he refused to show how he'd stick-up for working class Michiganders while ensuring business as usual in Lansing's toxic corporate culture. 

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Here's Episode #179 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast!

00:00-16:51: Campbell Plant/AIPAC & Haley Stevens

Pat Johnston immediately wonders how MAGA Michigan Republicans believe they will win in the midterms as working class Michiganders are heavily disapproving of Dear Leader Trump and the Trump Regime. And, Pat talks about how Democratic Party establishment types keep backing Congresswoman Haley Stevens despite her hearty embrace of corporate donations and AIPAC donations.

16:52-47:40: Joe Spaulding Interview

Ottawa County progressive activist Joe Spaulding returns to the show. They talk about how Michigan isn't part of this gerrymandering battle thanks to the anti-gerrymandering ballot proposal that passed in 2018. Pat and Joe also share their disagreements and concerns regarding the Michigan Democratic Senate Primary Race. Pat's already announced his support for progressive-populist Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, but Joe shares his worries and reservations if El-Sayed wins the primary. 

47:41-55:30: Last Call-Spaulding Interview Reax

In the "Last Call," Pat shares his reaction to his interview with Joe Spaulding.

55:31-57:53: Ending

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Notes:

#podcast #politics #Election #Election2026 #Michigan #Progressive #Democrats #MAGA #Republicans #Trump #Economy #WorkingClass #FossilFuels #Coal #Energy #Affordability #ClimateChange #CleanEnergy #GasPrices #AbdulElSayed #HaleyStevens #MalloryMcMorrow #MikeRogers #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #DataCenters #ArtificialIntelligence #SCOTUS #ExpandThe Court #AIPAC #Gaza #Palestinians #Israel #IranWar #CorporateDonors #Populism #Authoritarianism #Fascism #Democracy #LeftofLansing

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for May 18, 2026.

The "electability" word is being used during the heated Michigan's Democratic U.S. Senate primary race. 

It's a word being used by corporate-establishment Democratic Party officials, who also happen to support AIPAC's choice, Congresswoman Haley Stevens. Establishment types are freaking-out that progressive-populist candidate, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, is leading in the polls over Stevens and state Senator Mallory McMorrow. 

Those backing Stevens say she can win in Michigan, and she's the only one who can defeat the presumptive MAGA Republican nominee, "Florida" Mike Rogers, who lost against Elissa Slotkin in their 2024 Senate showdown. 

Pat Johnston explains why he doesn't fear "Florida" Mike, and neither should you this coming November... as long as Democrats pick the right person.

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for May 15, 2026.

Planned Parenthood of Michigan is asking Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer to use her executive powers by directing much-needed $5 million to fill a funding gap caused by the Trump Regime.

But rather than "fight like Hell," and push-back against the White Christian MAGA Nationalist extremists, Whitmer told Planned Parenthood of Michigan that she can't do anything. 

So much for "That Woman From Michigan."

Pat Johnston examines Whitmer's transformation from a Trump Regime Resister to someone who seems interested in not being governor anymore. 

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Here's Episode #178 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast!

00:00-14:59: Iran War, Ballrooms, and Gas Prices

Pat Johnston opens this week's show highlighting how Dear Leader Trump's price tag for his precious White House ballroom has doubled, and taxpayers will fund it! Meanwhile, thanks to The Trump Regime's and Israel's illegal Iran War, gas prices keep hovering around $5, and fertilizer costs are decimating Michigan farmers. Working class Michiganders continue to suffer thanks to a this war as inflation is outdoing any wage gains, but Dear Leader Trump says he doesn't really think about the financial situations of the working class. 

15:00-37:25: MI Senate Race Polls/AIPAC & Stevens

New polling shows progressive Dr. Abdul El-Sayed leading by NINE-POINTS over Democratic establishment choice (and Ms. AIPAC) Congresswoman Haley Stevens, and a 10-Point lead over State Senator Mallory McMorrow in the Democratic Primary for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat. And with poll numbers showing progressive William Lawrence going toe-to-toe with Democratic establishment candidates in the state's 7th Congressional District, it's leading some observers to conclude the electoral energy right now is with Michigan progressives. 

37:26-45:00: Last Call...Data Center Rejection

A new Gallup Poll reveals 7 of 10 Americans are against Artificial Intelligence Data Centers, and Pat explains why this is the case. 

44:01-48:42: Ending

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for May 11, 2026.

According to Michigan Advance, Michigan MAGA Republican State Rep. Angela Rigas of Kent County complained on Facebook as to how Marine veteran and retired Saginaw Fire Chief, Chedrick Greene, could serve this country while also being a Democrat.

Greene trounced his MAGA Republican opponent in that special election for the state Senate race in the 35th District, which comprises of Saginaw, Bay, and Midland Counties. 

Even more, Rep. Rigas liked a response to her comment which read, "“Or claim to be Christian and be demoncrat.”

These comments reveal a true intellectual void within the MAGA movement and ideology, which really doesn't hold any true ideology except to show loyalty to Dear Leader Trump, and inflicting harm on marginalized Americans. 

But as Pat explains, the evidence is clear as day as to why Chedrick Greene's politics and commitment to community are more in-line with Christianity than the extreme White Christian Nationalist cult that makes up MAGA Republicanism. 

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for May 8, 2026.

The recent Supreme Court decision to gut the Voting Rights Act, and the subsequent moves in southern states, like Tennessee, Louisiana, and Texas, proves how dismantling any efforts at racial equality in this country has been the main motivating factor of MAGA Republicanism, and especially for the billionaire oligarchy class, or better known now as The Epstein Class. 

Pat Johnston gives his two cents. 

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Here's Episode #177 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast!

00:00-21:52: Trump Ballroom/AIPAC Backs Haley Stevens

Pat Johnston's sinus infection may have knocked him down, but he's not out this week! It turns out the working class will indeed pay for The Trump Regime's $1billion ballroom at the White House. Surprised? Also this week, AIPAC announced it's doubling-down on Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens in the Democratic Primary Race for the state's open Senate seat. AIPAC is holding a fundraiser for Stevens because it views progressive-populist candidate, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, to be a threat to the U.S.-Israel "relationship." 

22:53-31:24: State Senate Reax

Michigan Democrats earned a blowout victory in a crucial race for an open state Senate seat this week. Saginaw firefighter Chedrick Greene earned 60% of the vote over the MAGA Republican candidate for the 35th state senate district, which includes Bay, Midland, and Saginaw Counties. It was another race where Democrats outperformed their 2024 numbers, and Pat explains what that could mean for the primary and general election races later this year. 

31:25-39:00: Last Call--We're In a Populist Mood

In this week's "Last Call," Pat comments on some statements and conclusions made by pollster Richard Czuba during a recent edition of "Off The Record with Tim Skubick" on WKAR in Lansing. 

39:01-41:56: Ending

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NOTES:
Mop Up Michigan Ballot Initiative: https://mopupmichigan.org/

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for May 1, 2026!

Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Kristen McDonald-Rivet from the 8th District in Bay, Midland, Saginaw, and Genesee Counties won her election despite Trump winning her district in 2024.

But despite Trump's falling poll numbers, and a majority of working class Democratic base voters begging congressional Democrats to grow a spine and oppose the Trump Regime's constant corruption, McDonald-Rivet keeps making some puzzling votes in her first term in office. 

She's voted in favor of giving the regime broad surveillance powers, of passing a pro-corporate farm bill, and for MAGA anti-immigration and pro-ICE bills. And McDonald-Rivet released a statement critical of how delegates acted and voted at the Michigan Democratic Party Convention, in which her sister lost party's attorney general nominating race. 

Pat Johnston talks about McDonald-Rivet's record, and why it's a stark example of what working class voters don't want from their representatives in this day of The Trump Regime. 

In this week's "Last Call," Pat shares his thoughts on the Supreme Court's MAGA majority's decision to essentially eradicate the Voting Rights Act. 

48:38-50:46: Ending

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NOTES: