The Metro

President-elect Donald Trump has uttered no shortage of transphobic rhetoric throughout his campaign, leaving many concerned that he’ll roll back federal protections for transgender people once back in office. Detroiter Valerie Jean Blakely, who has a 16-year-old transgender son, shares those same concerns. She joins The Metro to discuss her feelings of anxiety and fear for her family with Trump back in the White House.

Plus, Visit Detroit President and CEO Claude Molinari joins the show to talk about Detroit's new Michelin Green Guide highlighting cultural attractions in the city.

Detroit, writer and travel expert Jessica Nabongo joins The Metro to share her travel experiences and advice after becoming the first Black woman to travel to all 195 countries. Plus, WDET’s Jack Filbrandt speaks with Belle Isle Conservancy CEO Megan Elliott and Amanda Treadwell from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources about the recent renovations at the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, which reopened to the public this week. 

Today on The Metro, we're looking at how intertwined the Black church has been with Black American life in Detroit. We also look at the ways that relationship is evolving. Dr. Jason Shelton, professor of sociology and director of the Center for African American Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington; Rev. Lawrence W. Rodgers, senior pastor at Second Baptist Church of Detroit; and Dr. Deborah Smith Pollard, host of “Sunday Morning Inspiration” on Mix 92.3 and professor emeritus of english literature at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, join the show to discuss.

WDET will join more than 50 other participating locations throughout Midtown Detroit hosting events and activities for the cultural district's 50th annual Noel Night celebration this Saturday. Maureen Stapleton, interim director of Midtown Detroit Inc., joins The Metro along with Source Booksellers owner Janet Jones to talk about what participating businesses and organizations have in store for the event's 50th year. Plus, chef, producer and award-winning director Keith Famie joins the show to discuss his new documentary, "Detroit: The City of Chefs."

The nonprofit Kintsugi Village is working to transform a former school property in Corktown into a community hub that will house an early childhood education program, host artist residencies and more. Co-founders Paul Spiegelman and Hamsa Daher join The Metro to discuss their plans for the site. Plus, we speak with State Rep. Dylan Wegela and Downtown Detroit Partnership CEO Eric Larson about GM and Bedrock's redevelopment plan for the Renaissance Center.

Detroit had the highest preterm birth rate of any U.S. city at over 15% last year, according to a new report from March of Dimes. There are also glaring racial differences in the maternal mortality rate nationally. Today on The Metro, several health care and childcare professionals join the show to discuss the risks facing expectant mothers and what can be done to alleviate them. Plus, the founders of Pingree Detroit — a worker-owned company that reclaims discarded leather from the automotive industry — join the show to talk about all that goes into their business.

The scarcity of affordable housing is compounded by other issues vulnerable people face, like a lack of a strong social safety net, health problems, domestic violence and more. Local philanthropists Veronika Scott and Chad Audi join The Metro to discuss homelessness in Detroit, the social factors that lead to homelessness, and their organizations’ work to support homeless populations. During the second hour of our show, we asked listeners: “How do you interact with your homeless neighbors? And whose responsibility is it to address housing and homelessness?”

Today on The Metro, we speak with Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens about President-elect Donald Trump's plans to deport millions of people in the U.S., and how it might impact Canada. WDET's Quinn Kleinfelter also joins the show to talk about Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan's announcement that he won't be seeking reelection.

Today on The Metro, we talk to metro Detroit attorneys Shereef Akeel and Mohammed Alomari after a ruling that awarded $42 million to three Abu Ghraib prisoners and found they were abused by interrogators. Journalist Salah Al-Ejaili, one of the survivors and plaintiffs in the case, also joins the show. 

Today on The Metro, it's the start of Michigan's firearm deer hunting season. We talk to Black to the Land Co-founder Antonio Cosme and the organization's Global Kids Program Coordinator Andrea Di Cresce about how they're supporting hunters of color during the season. We also talk to City Council Member Angela Whitfield-Calloway about her effort to keep marijuana advertisements out of sight from kids.