Just before the 2020 presidential election, some big news hit Michigan: a plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer from a paramilitary group. A report from the news website The Intercept looked into the FBI records of the case and tells an even more complicated story. The actions of a key informant in the case raises some big questions and points to flaws in about the FBI’s investigation.

GUESTS:

Trevor Aaronson, contributing writer for The Intercept

Eric L. VanDussen, videographer & freelance journalist

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The Oakland County trial of James Crumbley has concluded and the jury found him guilty of manslaughter. Today, we’re looking into what happened during the James Crumbly trial, and we’ll speak to an advocate on what charging parents means in a broader sense.

GUESTS:

Briana Rice, criminal justice reporter for Michigan Public

Tracy Samilton, energy and transportation reporter and producer for Michigan Public

Deborah LaBelle, attorney and advocate

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General Motors and other automakers are playing fast and loose with data gathered from newer-model, internet-connected vehicles. On this episode we look at how this data is collected, and how it’s funneled to insurance companies, sometimes in violation of privacy policies as customers understand them. 

GUEST:

Kashmir Hill, reporter for The New York Times

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The Latinx community in Grand Rapids has over 100 years of history. Delia Fernández-Jones’ new book, “Making the MexiRican City: Migration, Placemaking, and Activism in Grand Rapids, Michigan,” explores that history and community in depth.

GUEST:

Delia Fernández-Jones, author of "Making the MexiRican City: Migration, Placemaking, and Activism in Grand Rapids, Michigan;" professor of history at Michigan State University

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The first over-the-counter birth control pill will be available later this month. The pill, named Opill, comes from a company based in Grand Rapids and Ireland. At $20 a month, Opill is predicted to increase accessibility to birth control, particularly in teen populations.

GUEST:

Julie Maslowsky, associate professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Nursing

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Hilo mur, which translates to “bittersweet," is a bright, magenta-colored Sudanese drink enjoyed during Ramadan. Members of Michigan’s Sudanese community recently gathered at the Arab American National Museum to welcome in the Ramadan season with the preparation of this traditional beverage.

GUESTS:

• Intisar Elseddig, co-owner of Mayrum
• Khadega Mohammed, co-owner of Mayrum 

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Many Palestinians in the U-S feel a deep connection to their ancestral land. That pull has become more poignant with Israel’s bombardment of Gaza that to date has killed more than 30-thousand people. Michigan Public’s Adam Yahya Rayes and Briana Rice talked to four Palestinians living in Michigan about how they’re thinking about their ethnic and national identities right now.

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A new free-standing birthing center is expected to open its doors in April of 2024. Led by midwives, Birth Detroit aims to provide a safe and culturally relevant “full care experience from period-to-period” for expecting families.

GUESTS:

Char'ly Snow, co-founder & chief clinical officer of Birth Detroit

Leseliey Welch, co-founder & CEO of Birth Detroit

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In her new book, “Attack From Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America,” Barb McQuade explores the United States’ long history with misinformation and how we can combat falsehoods in today’s political environment. Today, McQuade talks about First Amendment rights, histories of authoritarianism, and how to find truth in a sea of falsehoods.

GUEST:

Barbara McQuade, professor at Michigan Law, MSNBC legal analyst, and former U.S. attorney in Michigan

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The painful history of chattel slavery in the United States hasn’t left behind much of a paper trail – and what we have is vague and inhumane. The incompleteness itself of this documentation speaks volumes. Which is why Benjamin Hall’s family heirloom — a "manumission" or freedom paper – is such a big deal. Today, we’re talking about the legacy of Frank Demas, also known as Thomas Willis and the freedom paper that tells a larger history of chattel slavery in the U.S.

GUESTS:

Rachel Clark, education specialist at the Archives of Michigan

Benjamin Hall, descendant of Frank Demas, also known as Thomas Willis.

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