The Laken Riley Act, which puts new restrictions on immigrants without legal status who are accused of committing nonviolent theft, received unexpected support from some Michigan Democrats, passed Congress this week. 

We unpack why they voted the way they did, and what the Act would mean for Michigan's immigrant communities without legal status. 

GUEST:
Michelle Jokisch Polo, producer, Stateside

Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.

Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Peterson, owner and co-founder of Castalia at Sfumato in Detroit, spoke with Stateside about his menu and the growing trend of mocktails in Michigan. The business is a natural botanical perfumery by day, and a bar by night. Each scent is paired on the menu with at least two cocktails - one alcoholic, and one non-alcoholic.

GUEST:

• Kevin Peterson, owner and co-founder of Castalia at Sfumato in Detroit

Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.

Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In his first 24 hours in office, President Trump signed a slurry of Executive Orders having to do with immigration, including a eliminating birthright citizenship, which is protected under the U.S. Constitution. 

GUESTS:

Michelle Jokish Polo, producer, Stateside

Susan Reed, Attorney and Executive Director, Michigan Immigrant Rights Center

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Palisades nuclear plant is in Michigan, right on the shore of Lake Michigan, just south of South Haven. It stopped operations in 2022. The company that was in charge of decommissioning Palisades has decided instead to try to reopen it. The goal is to reopen sometime this fall. But after a meeting last week with the nuclear regulatory commission, that timeline is a little bit in question.

GUEST:

Dustin Dwyer, reporter, Michigan Public

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you feel like you're emotionally frozen this month? Are the endless Michigan gray days weighing on you? Or maybe your misgivings about true love, success and renewal are coming out again.

Whatever the gloomy feeling, it means it's probably time to put on Frontier Ruckus' On the Northline (released in Feb. 2024). 

Today, we're revisiting the in-studio conversation and performance with Michigan’s own Frontier Ruckus.

Matthew Milia, lead vocalist, says the key to art is making it specific.

"It's seen in the best literature in filmmaking," Milia said. "Like the more specific you can be, somehow people out there can do their own like interior translation, and it actually makes the universal amplified within those specifics."

The band isn't always in a hurry to release more albums. That's because they see themselves as friends first. But, as Milia points out, their albums provide both a light into their lives at the time and the music industry of the time.

"[The music industry has] unrecognizably changed, especially post-pandemic," Milia said. "But, like looking back at every record, it came out in a different music industry climate."

GUESTS:

• Matthew Milia, lead vocals and multi-instrumentalist
• David W. Jones, banjo player and vocals

• Zachary Nichols, multi-instrumentalist

Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.

Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fans all over the world have been following the Detroit Lions as they make history. That includes viewers from the UK, including Matthew Turner and Anthony Fitzpatrick.

The two fans, along with five other UK-based co-hosts, produce Roar of the Lions UK, a podcast featuring seven Detroit Lions fans from the UK. They joined Stateside to share how they became fans of American football, and their thoughts on the team's historic season.

GUESTS ON TODAY’S SHOW:

• Matthew Turner, co-host of the Roar of the Lions UK podcast

• Anthony Fitzpatrick, co-host of the Roar of the Lions UK podcast

Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.

Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a series of increases in minimum wages coming for tipped workers in Michigan. Some restaurant owners are worried what will happen to their businesses if they have to raise prices on the menu to cover the increase for their staff.

GUEST:

Gricelda Mata, owner of Lindo Mexico Restaurante in Grand Rapids

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We walk the showroom floor at the Detroit Auto Show, and catch up with the City of Detroit's official historian, Jamon Jordan, about the history of the Auto Show dating back to 1899.

GUEST:

Jamon Jordan, official historian, City of Detroit

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What a time to be a Detroit sports fan! The Lions are on their way in the playoffs. The Pistons just cleared .500. And the Red Wings? It’s been a long time since the team was swigging from the Stanley Cup. But things seem to be looking up, after some changes in the Wings’ coaching staff, and the team has shown much-needed new energy. We talked to Helene St. James, who covers the Red Wings for the Detroit Free Press, about how the team's new coach Todd McClelland seems to be turning things around. 

GUEST: 

Helene St. James, journalist covering the Red Wings for the Detroit Free Press 

Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.

Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you love "The Moth" you'll want to listen to this hour of storytelling from Detroit's StoryFest, recorded at the Detroit Film Theater last Fall. Thanks to StoryFest producers and organizers - Tay Glass, McArdle Hankin, and Ellison Libiran.

STORYTELLERS (in order):

- Laura Weber Davis
- Bryce Huffman
- Samuel L. Jackson with "The Pelican" (Produced in collaboration with KALW's Uncuffed. Edited by Ryan Pagan)
- Shannon Cason
- Dame Wilburn

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.