The U.S. Supreme Court's 1974 Milliken v. Bradley decision limited the courts’ ability to address segregation in schools by halting an “interdistrict busing” plan to tackle Detroit’s increasingly segregated classrooms. Legal scholars say the ruling eroded the progress of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, which declared racial segregation in the classroom unconstitutional.

So what would it take to actually integrate metro Detroit’s schools? Legal scholar Michelle Adams, a University of Michigan law professor and author of the new book, "The Containment: Detroit, the Supreme Court, and the Battle for Racial Justice in the North," joined The Metro on Wednesday to share her expertise on the subject.

Hear more stories from The Metro on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.

Tomorrow’s question: "What are you doing to reduce waste?"

Join the conversation by calling 313-577-1019 or leaving us an Open Mic message on the WDET app. 

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

In his first week in office, President Donald Trump issued executive orders aimed to reduce diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. He and many other conservative voices have been critical of the programs. Some have even called them racist.

Supporters of DEI initiatives argue the programming creates environments where all people regardless of their background can thrive.

Today on The Metro, we’re taking a look at the future of DEI initiatives in the U.S.

Guests: 

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Tomorrow’s question: What are you doing to reduce waste?

Join the conversation by calling 313-577-1019 or leaving us an Open Mic message on the WDET app. 

Michigan’s gubernatorial race isn’t until November 2026, but several prominent politicians have already declared their candidacy.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced last week that she'll be running on the Democratic ticket, while Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan — a long time Democrat — has switched parties and will be running for governor as an Independent. Republican state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt was the first Republican to announce their candidacy for the seat. Current Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited and will not be eligible to run. 

Bridge Michigan Reporter Simon Schuster returned to the show on Wednesday to help us breakdown Whitmer’s legacy and accomplishments during her time in office and who could be Michigan’s next governor.

Hear more stories from The Metro on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.

Tomorrow’s question: "What are you doing to reduce waste?"

Join the conversation by calling 313-577-1019 or leaving us an Open Mic message on the WDET app. 

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Detroit has over 300 parks. It’s a community resource that requires community stewards.

The Detroit Parks Coalition is asking groups like block clubs, churches, and nonprofits to become stewards of a city park. Sigal Hemy, executive director of the Detroit Parks Coalition, joined The Metro to discuss the magic of Detroit’s parks and what it means to adopt one.

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Tomorrow’s question: Should the U.S. Government get rid of diversity, equity and inclusion?

Join the conversation by calling 313-577-1019 or leaving us an Open Mic message on the WDET app. 

Many Black Americans moved to Detroit during the Great Migration. But, due to discriminatory housing policies, Detroit's Black Bottom neighborhood was one of only a handful of areas where African Americans could live in the city. While it quickly became a vibrant neighborhood, it was later razed to make way for the construction of the Interstate 75 freeway, forcing residents to relocate.

Marcia Black and Lex Draper Garcia Bey from Black Bottom Archives joined The Metro on Tuesday to discuss the 10-year anniversary of the archive that has documented the history of Detroit’s Black Bottom.

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Tomorrow’s question: Should the U.S. Government get rid of diversity, equity and inclusion?

Join the conversation by calling 313-577-1019 or leaving us an Open Mic message on the WDET app. 

Being from Detroit means a lot of things to a lot of different people — toughness, creativity, resilience. But there are also decades-old stereotypes about Detroit and its people — ones that cast Detroit in a shadow of crime and poverty. 

Still, there’s one thing people know to be true about native Detroiters: They’re proud to be from this city. 

For Detroit native Tonya Mosley, being from Detroit has created a strong foundation for her career to thrive on. The Emmy award-winning journalist and co-host of NPR's Fresh Air joined The Metro on Tuesday to discuss her career in public media and love for her hometown.

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Tomorrow’s question: Should the U.S. Government get rid of diversity, equity and inclusion?

Join the conversation by calling 313-577-1019 or leaving us an Open Mic message on the WDET app. 

American politics has long had too many lobbyists and too much money fueling campaigns. But Donald Trump’s administration breaks records. The total net worth of billionaires involved with it amounts to over $382 billion, which is more than the GDP of 172 different countries.

Today on The Metro, we discussed how wealthy individuals are now influencing our politics, and how much of a change that is from past administrations.

Guests:

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Tomorrow’s question: Should the U.S. Government get rid of diversity, equity and inclusion?

Join the conversation by calling 313-577-1019 or leaving us an Open Mic message on the WDET app. 

Today on The Metro, we discuss a new approach Detroit Public Schools Community District is trying out to curb chronic absenteeism with American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Nat Malkus, Wayne State Professor Sarah Lenhoff, and 482 Forward Communications Lead Imani Foster. 

President Donald Trump signed more executive orders on his first day in office than any president before him, and today on The Metro, we dig into some of these executive orders and discuss the boundaries of presidential power with former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan and author Barbara McQuade. The Metro producer Sam Corey also spoke with Ryan Kelley, a former Republican candidate for governor of Michigan who was pardoned by Trump after serving two months in prison for his involvement in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol attack. 

Today on The Metro, we're joined by Michigan State University professor of information systems Anjana Susarla and Western Michigan University communications professor and creator of "Wonder Media: Ask the Questions!", Sue Ellen Christian, to talk about media literacy in the digital age and ways to fight the flow of misinformation on social media.