“The Future,” a new speculative novel by the Montreal-based writer Catherine Leroux, reimagines what a Francophone Detroit would be like today if the French had never ceded the city to the British in 1760. The novel contends with histories of forced migration, poverty, and environmental degradation, and explores how a city adapts in the face of climate change.

GUEST:

Catherine Leroux, author of "The Future"

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What can AI tell us about public opinions on climate change? Researchers at the University of Michigan are experimenting with new technology to measure public attitudes by using social media posts on X (formerly Twitter.) And their findings may surprise you.

GUEST:

Joshua Newell, professor in the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan 

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In February, the animal we turn to as a nation to tell us about the heralding of spring is the groundhog. But birders know that the real messenger of the changing seasons lives in the sky. Birds that leave our region for the winter will soon return. There's plenty to prepare for now. And more than a few birds to check out while we wait.

GUEST:

• April Campbell, a long-time birder, retired MD and the founder of BIPOC Birders of Michigan

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Yesterday on the podcast we talked to two organizers from the “Vote Uncommitted” campaign among Arab American and other voters in Michigan. Today we’ll get analysis on that movement from Detroit Free Press editorial page editor Nancy Kaffer.

GUEST:

• Nancy Kaffer, editorial page editor, Detroit Free Press

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Listen to Michigan is leveraging political power by casting "uncommitted" votes rather than voting for President Joe Biden in the 2024 Michigan primary.

GUESTS:

Layla Elabed, campaign manager for Listen to Michigan 

Abbas Alawieh, political strategist and spokesman for Listen to Michigan

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Michigan Senator Stephanie Chang and a group of collaborators came up with a plan to fund delinquent water bills and offer more affordable costs to low income households. Today, we’re looking at what this water-affordability plan would do, and we’ll dig into the years of water advocacy in places like Detroit that preceded it. 

GUESTS:

Stephanie Chang,  Michigan Senator representing the 3rd district

Gary Brown, director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department

Jim Nash, Oakland County's Water Resources commissioner

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Isle Royale – Lake Superior’s island National Park – is a naturalist's playground. It’s home to an estimated 30 odd wolves and nearly 1000 moose – all protected from hunting. For decades now, a team of researchers have been surveying the wolf and moose populations, but this winter with record breaking warm weather, the census did not go as planned. 

GUEST:

Rolf Peterson,  research professor in Forest Resources and Environmental Science at Michigan Technological University

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Kristina Karamo was ousted by state committee members last month, but said that she’s not leaving her position as Michigan Republican Party chair. Then, last week the Republican National Committee announced that they are now recognizing former Congressman Pete Hoekstra as MI GOP chair. So what is going on in Michigan’s Republican Party? And how will this all effect the upcoming Republican Convention?

GUESTS:

Craig Mauger, reporter for the Detroit News

Stephen Henderson, host of WDET's Created Equal

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This year, the Kresge Foundation re-introduced us to a prolific metro Detroit artist who connected imaginative abstract motion and ideas with stories and images of Latino and Indigenous people.

Nora Chapa Mendoza is a self-taught painter who established her career in Detroit. She is the 2024 Kresge Eminent Artist, for her life of achievements on the canvas and in advocacy.

GUEST:

Nora Chapa Mendoza - painter, educator and activist

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We have some updates for you from Lansing. Gun reform laws that passed last session came into effect this week, Michigan State Representative Brenda Carter's been feeling the heat from auto no-fault reform activists, and Representative Josh Schriver was recently disciplined for a racist social media post.

GUESTS:

Tracy Samilton, reporter for Michigan Public

Rick Pluta, senior Capitol correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network

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