The Metro

Detroiters celebrated 313 Day on Thursday — a time to reflect on the beauty of Detroit and to celebrate the past, present and future of a city so many of us love.

Artist and educator Sabrina Nelson returned to The Metro to help celebrate the city and encourage listeners to support WDET during the station's Spring Fundraiser. 

Nelson, a native Detroiter born in the wake of the 1967 Rebellion, is a studio art teacher at the Detroit Institute of Arts and on staff at the College for Creative Studies. During her conversation with The Metro hosts Tia Graham and Robyn Vincent on 313 Day, Nelson shared her inspirations behind her work and why she loves Detroit and WDET so much.

Living in Detroit in the '80s, Nelson has memories riding the “Iron Horse” — the Detroit Department of Transportation Grand River Bus — and listening to Ed Love on WDET. 

“When I went to CCS, that's all I listened to,” Nelson said. “Actually, WDET is the first station I heard Me'shell NdegéOcello’s ‘Plantation Lullabies,’ and that was when [former WDET host] Nkenge Zola was here.” 

Detroit touches every part of the world and Nelson is always connecting with people from the city while traveling, she said. 

“Detroit is my home. It is my anchor,” Nelson said. “I fly and yo-yo myself out to Zimbabwe, to Paris. I always come back, because this is home.”

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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

Huel Perkins has left an imprint on Detroit. 

Across more than three decades, the broadcasting icon's work at Fox 2 Detroit helped us understand what was happening in the city and beyond. 

He covered six presidential elections, the 2008 recession, and the COVID-19 pandemic. His interviews with civil rights revolutionaries like Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela and Pope John Paul II showcased his journalistic passion and deep respect for history. 

Before landing in Detroit, Perkins grew up in the segregated South in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His parents, who were among the first African American graduates of Louisiana State University, helped to shape his drive to break barriers and his commitment to social justice and equality.

His retirement in 2022 marked the end of that era of Detroit journalism, but his legacy continues to inspire both viewers and aspiring journalists. 

Perkins joined The Metro on Thursday to reflect on his illustrious career, which he attributes to his parents, calling them the "true heroes" of his life. He also joined the show to sound the alarm about the importance of supporting local, accurate and non-biased news sources like WDET during this unique time in history and in support of the station's Spring Fundraiser.

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

College campuses have long been wellsprings for free speech and social movements. During the Civil Rights era, they were the site of sit-ins and student activism demanding equal rights for Black Americans. During the Iraq war, students marched across campuses nationwide to protest the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of Iraq. 

Those actions had impact.

Years later, after the murder of George Floyd, most students weren’t on campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But some college administrators showed their approval of the protests sweeping the nation. They held virtual vigils and declared Juneteenth a holiday. 

Today, as students protest in support of Palestinian rights amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, things look different. Since the war began in October 2023, hundreds of students demanding a ceasefire have been arrested.

At the University of Michigan and Wayne State University, police detained or disbursed dozens of student protesters and alumni. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is pursuing criminal charges against some University of Michigan protesters for several alleged actions they took during the protests. The charges represent "a pattern of excessive response by law enforcement to the campus protests," according to the ACLU of Michigan, which filed suit against the university in February for banning protesters from campus.

Now, a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University, who led pro-Palestine protests there, is facing deportation. Mahmoud Khalil was arrested without due process and detained by ICE for allegedly supporting Hamas. Khalil is a legal permanent resident and is married to an American who is eight months pregnant. 

This week, a federal judge blocked Khalil’s deportation but has not yet ruled whether he will be released from custody. President Donald Trump has said Khalil’s arrest represents the beginning of many more.

Shikha Dalmia joined The Metro on Wednesday to discuss this. She is the president of the Institute for the Study of Modern Authoritarianism and the editor-in-chief of The UnPopulist, a free Substack publication devoted to defending liberal democracies from the rising forces of populist nationalism.

Hear the full conversation, beginning at the 06:50 mark.

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

Gas and electricity just seem to be getting more and more expensive, and they could keep going up because of President Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs. 

Last month, Trump announced 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Then he raised tariffs on China. He then excused tariffs on U.S. automakers, plus some other Canadian and Mexican goods.

But that’s not the end of the story, because our trading partners are still retaliating. China announced retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agriculture exports that will hurt farmers in Michigan.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford also announced that the province will charge 25% more for its electricity, which 1.5 million Americans use, including here in Michigan.

Dan Scripps, chair of the Michigan Public Service Commission — which regulates utilities including gas and electricity — joined The Metro on Tuesday to help us understand how much gas and electricity prices might increase as a result of the tariffs. 

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

The Department of Education plays a vital role in supporting some of Michigan’s most vulnerable students. 

That’s one reason education advocates are concerned that President Trump has vowed to shut down the Department of Education. 

It’s one of many federal agencies he’s targeting. Last week, Trump was reportedly gearing up to sign an executive order to end the department. While this hasn’t happened yet, newly appointed Education Secretary Linda McMahon confirmed to Fox News that the department’s fate hangs in the balance. 

But the Department of Education doesn’t play the kind of role that McMahon has described. K-12 education in America is already controlled at the state and local level. Some of the things it does include supporting low-income kids and ensuring students with disabilities don’t face discrimination. 

Ed Trust Midwest Director of Policy and Research Jen DeNeal joins The Metro to explain the important work of the Department of Education.

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

You’ve probably heard the saying “small businesses are the backbone of the economy.” 

It’s true, and they’re also so much more, including places to connect with the community.

Locally-owned businesses can only succeed if people shop local. Nowadays, that often means choosing not to shop for convenience or bottom dollar bargains from mega-stores and companies like Amazon, Walmart or Target.

With all this in mind, some people are using their wallets to show where they stand. The grassroots group The People’s Union USA urged people to participate in an “economic blackout” last week, with the goal of uniting Americans to ​​regain control of the economy, the government and the country's future, according to its website.

Today on The Metro, we’re talking to local small business owners about the importance of supporting local economies and independently owned stores. 

Guests: 

We also asked listeners: "How often do you shop at locally-owned businesses? Is it a question of cost, convenience, or something else?"

Alberta in Detroit said: “My first priority is to shop Detroit and to shop Black Detroit. Anything else is akin to cutting my nose to spite my face. We must support where we live.”

Also on The Metro, we revisited conversations with local businesses in Detroit: 

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

In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, many supporters of then candidate Donald Trump wanted a change to American foreign policy. 

Since President Trump has been in power, there have been massive changes to America’s stance on the global stage.

In the Middle East, his election is at least partially credited with ushering in a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. Since being in office, Trump has also suggested America take over Gaza and relocate Palestinians. 

He’s also suggested that America take over Greenland, the Panama Canal and Canada. In that same vein, the administration has changed its orientation toward our historical allies. 

Many Arab Americans in Michigan voted for Trump, or voted for a third-party candidate, to bring about changes to American foreign policy. Many of them wanted America to be tougher on Israel, and to get Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire. 

Prior to voting for President Trump, CEO of the MENA American Chamber of Commerce Faye Nemer always voted for Democrats. She’s a Dearborn resident who supported Trump primarily because she thought he would create peace between Israelis and Palestinians. 

One and a half months into Trump’s presidency, Metro Producer Sam Corey spoke with Nemer to get a sense of how she’s feeling about the Trump administration now. 

If you are nervous about flying right now, you’re likely not alone.

The last two months have been marked by a string of airplane crashes and incidents. In January, an American Airlines aircraft collided with a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter at Reagan Washington National Airport. All 67 people on both aircrafts died. 

It was the first time in 15 years that a U.S. airline had a fatal crash. 

Two days later, a MEDEVAC jet nosedived onto a busy Philadelphia street. The plane exploded and seven people died. 

Then, in Toronto, a Delta aircraft crashed and flipped. It skidded down the tarmac upside down before coming to a stop. There were no fatalities, but the crash left 21 people injured. 

These are just some recent high-profile incidents that have captured headlines and heightened people’s anxieties about flying. 

According to data from the National Transportation Safety Board, there have been 19 fatal accidents in the skies this year. Those numbers are lower than those for the same time periods in 2024 and 2023. 

But, it’s hard not to feel some apprehension after hearing about the Washington D.C. mid-air collision of a commercial plane and a U.S. army helicopter.

These recent incidents have renewed calls for fixing staffing and outdated technology issues in aviation. During a congressional hearing on Tuesday, leaders of aviation safety and air traffic control associations urged Congress to help fix the staffing issues. 

They also pointed to Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) firing around 400 Federal Aviation Administration employees. David Spero, president of Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, said the firings demoralize the workforce and jeopardize airline safety.

So today on The Metro, we’re looking at the state of American aviation — what needs to improve and how.

Guests:

More headlines from The Metro on March 5, 2025:  

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

There’s power in writing. Whether it's to jot down a few notes on the back of an old receipt, or writing a dissertation — there’s something revealing about seeing your thoughts written down in front of you. 

For almost 30 years InsideOut Literary Arts has helped countless Detroiters  find a love and passion for creative writing. Founded by Dr. Terry Blackhawk, a Detroit Public Schools teacher, it was a goal to inspire young people through the written and spoken word. 

InsideOut Literary Arts Executive Director Suma Karaman and Citywide Poets Coordinator Justin Rogers joined The Metro on Wednesday to discuss the third annual Detroit Youth Poetry Con — a day-long event where teen poets can participate in writing workshops, community-building activities and share their work with industry experts and peers. The free event will take place on Saturday, March 15. Teens interested in participating must register by March 9.

Hear more stories from The Metro on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

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

On Tuesday night, President Donald Trump gave a speech to Congress. It was the longest address to a joint session of Congress in modern history.

Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin gave the Democratic response following Trump’s address, during which she criticized Trump for prioritizing helping wealthy people and raising prices. Sen. Slotkin also invited Andrew Lennox, a veteran who was recently fired from the Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs office, to join her. Before that announcement, The Metro spoke with Lennox to explore the consequences of his firing and what he makes of Trump’s actions thus far.

Hear more stories from The Metro on March 5, 2025.

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