Research shows social media activates the same dopamine-driven reward pathways in the brain as addictive substances — and the average American teen spends nearly five hours a day on these platforms. The U.S. Surgeon General has warned that teens who use social media for more than three hours a day face double the risk of depression and anxiety.

Now the courts are getting involved: in Los Angeles, a jury is hearing claims that Meta and YouTube deliberately designed their platforms to addict children.  In New Mexico, the state AG is suing Meta for allegedly failing to protect minors from sexual exploitation.

Michigan just banned smartphones in the classroom — a law that takes effect this fall. The lawmaker who wrote the bill, Republican State Representative Mark Tisdel of Rochester Hills, joins host Robyn Vincent to discuss what it takes to protect kids from platforms built to hook them.

In 2022, food prices increased by almost 10% — the largest increase since 1979. And while they haven’t increased as much since then, fruits and vegetables are still becoming pricier. Lettuce, for example, is up over 7% since last year. Why? And how much have prices changed because of President Donald Trump’s tariffs and immigration policies?

Bill Loupée is the COO of Ben B. Schwartz & Sons wholesaler, which operates out of Detroit. He spoke with The Metro's Robyn Vincent.

Part of the affordability crisis hitting American families is happening on our plates. Tariffs, labor shortages, and trucking problems are driving food prices up — and in Detroit, many households face food insecurity, Congress just gutted the federal safety net millions of families depend on.

Natosha Tallman of the Northend Christian Community Development Corporation says the answer isn't more charity. It is infrastructure: commercial kitchens, cold storage, distribution, and ownership. She joined host Robyn Vincent to discuss the system her team is building, where Detroiters grow food, process it, sell it, and keep the money.

"As I Die and Wheeze" is a melodramatic comedy following the impact a death has on the family. Southern twin sisters, complete opposites, thought the sky was the limit until the death of their daddy. Now, the twins face debt, scheming suitors and a spicy, sharp tongued aunty. 

"As I Die and Wheeze" is showing at Planet Ant theater in Hamtramck through the end of the month. It is written by Katie McGraw and Maggie O’Reilly and directed by Bryan Lark. 

Maggie and Bryan joined us on The Metro to talk more about the play and the importance of theater and laughter right now. 

On Wednesday, the Great Lakes Water Authority will vote on a nearly 7% water rate increase and a 6% sewer increase. Last year, GLWA proposed an even bigger hike — close to 8% for water — but public testimony at the hearing pushed the board to lower it.

Wednesday’s hearing is another chance for residents to weigh in. What's driving these increases — and why does water keep getting more expensive?

Suzanne Coffey is CEO of the Great Lakes Water Authority or GLWA. She spoke with The Metro's Robyn Vincent.

It was a remarkable week for Michigan utilities. A federal judge fined DTE Energy $100 million for Clean Air Act violations at its Zug Island facility — then state regulators approved another $242.4 million rate hike for DTE, which posted over $1.5 billion in operating earnings.

So today we ask: who's in charge of utility costs and safety in Michigan — and when things go wrong, who's accountable? To get some answers, Nick Schroeck, Dean of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and a former special assistant prosecutor during the Flint Water Crisis, joins Robyn Vincent on The Metro.

Detroit's police chief vowed to fire two officers who called U.S. Border Patrol during traffic stops, violating department policy and leading to federal detentions. Eight days later, he backed down.

Ahead of the Board of Police Commissioners' vote on the officers' misconduct, Robyn Vincent spoke with Noah Kincade from Outlier Media's Documenters program, which trains community members to attend public meetings and hold city leaders accountable. Their documentation helped reveal the problem goes beyond two officers.

Food is a connection to the past and a living memory.  It has a way of reminding the senses that love existed. 

But it’s never just about the food.

It’s about who taught you. It's about who was there to help you stir the pot and give you the spoon to lick the cake batter. It's about the traditions passed down on purpose and by accident. And sometimes it's about learning the hardships that put the food on the table. 

Ifayomi Christine is a writer, director, and lens-based artist. She recently directed the film "Until It Feels Like Worship", which untangles generational grief and trauma through remembrance and release. 

Cornetta Lane-Smith is a Detroit-based filmmaker, writer and producer. She is the founder of Studio 8278. She wrote and executive produced the docu-series "Recipes of Resistance." The series explores how food and conversation help unpack human complexity. 

They both joined The Metro’s Tia Graham to talk more about the film and docu-series. 

Across metro Detroit, some leaders’ stances against ICE have gotten firmer. 

The Detroit police chief is not allowing his officers to work with ICE. Last week, Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor spoke with The Metro about his criticisms of the institution. Now, in Southfield, federal and state lawmakers are trying to stop ICE from opening an administrative office.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, who is running to be Michigan’s Attorney General, has expressed concerns about ICE enforcement, and the presence of ICE agents in her jurisdiction. She spoke with The Metro's Robyn Vincent about that and more.

The Metro reached out to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They did not get back to us with a comment in time for this conversation.

This past weekend, the Iranian diaspora and others — amounting to hundreds of thousands of people around the world — protested the Iranian government. The demonstrations occurred in Germany and Los Angeles and Toronto and across the river, in Windsor.

One of the people participating the ongoing protests is Mahshid Soleimani. She’s a PhD student at the University of Windsor and leads an Iranian student group on campus. She spoke about her perspective as part of the Iranian diaspora with The Metro's Robyn Vincent.