The Metro

Detroiters will elect their next mayor later this year, and the stakes are high. The government should reflect the communities in which it plans to represent, and race is expected to play a role in the election.  Throughout most of the city’s history, Detroit had white mayors. 

Coleman A. Young became Detroit's first Black mayor,which changed the trajectory of the city. Current mayor Mike Duggan, the first white mayor of Detroit since Roman Gribbs 1970-74, inherited a city with bankruptcy and significant leadership instability, being the fourth mayor in five years. During his tenure, Detroit has witnessed noteworthy economic growth, a slight population increase after years of decline, and a reduction in crime rates. 

However, Duggan's leadership also raises concerns about reinforcing the misleading notion that white leadership results in economic prosperity, while Black leadership is associated with turmoil.

Today on The Metro, we want to explore how the race of Detroit’s mayor impacts its citizens and how their efforts could continue to shape the city’s  perception as a whole. 

Guests: 

We also asked listeners: Should Detroit’s next mayor be Black? And how vital is the race for Detroit’s next mayor?

Listener Mama Jo said: “We should want somebody, I don't care if they are purple, with gold and green stripes, we should want somebody that's going to finish the job that Mike Duggan started.”

More headlines from The Metro on Feb. 25, 2025: 

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The Democrats took a lot of hits in November at the national level. Republicans now control both chambers of Congress in addition to the Supreme Court and the White House. 

In Michigan, the bleeding wasn’t as bad, but Democrats did lose the state House. Many claim they missed many opportunities during November’s lame duck session. 

Losses can be painful, but they are also an opportunity to do something differently. 

It’s a chance to win back power, and so far Democrats have been positioning themselves as a party of collaborators. This seems especially true after Governor Gretchen Whitmer went to the White House on Saturday to “find common ground.” 

Building trust with Republicans seems to be part of the plan. 

Curtis Hertel Jr. is the new chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, a former state legislator and congressional candidate. He joins The Metro to discuss Democrats' overall goals and the lessons learned in 2024.

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

Nearly all federal departments and agencies seem to be under the corporate cost-cutting strategy that President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are bringing to the U.S. government: veteran affairs, defense department, department of education to name a few. 

There is one agency that gets less attention, but has a direct impact on Americans’ wallets. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, protects Americans from fraud, scams and unfair business practices.

Earlier this month, over 100 CFPB employees were laid off with many more expected. A federal judge ordered the CFPB to pause its plans for mass layoffs on February 14. A hearing on the issue is scheduled for March 3. 

Angela Hanks is the former Associate Director of External Affairs at the CFPB. She was a Biden-Harris appointee and left the CFPB as part of normal administration transitions. Hanks joins the show to discuss what will happen if the nation’s consumer watchdog agency is gutted by mass layoffs. 

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

Donald Trump’s presidency has been marked by confusion and chaos for tens of thousands of federal workers across the country.

Federal departments are under scrutiny by Trump and Elon Musk, under the guise of making the government more efficient. Although Musk wasn’t elected by anyone, he’s been making sweeping changes and massive cuts to federal agencies — many of which regulate his companies.

His so-called Department of Government Efficiency, approved by Trump, has fired 1,000 National Parks Service employees; 3,400 U.S. Forest Service workers and 2,400 people at the Veterans Affairs department. 

These moves have frustrated many people and sparked some heated moments across the country. In town halls held this past weekend, Republican lawmakers were confronted by angry voters demanding answers. 

Doug Collins, the Trump-appointed Veterans Affairs Secretary, has said the department isn’t cutting critical health care or benefits. 

To discuss these massive cuts to federal agencies, Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell joined The Metro. She represents Michigan’s 6th Congressional District and she’s been sounding the alarm about cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

More stories from The Metro on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2025.

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

Renaissance High School boys and girls basketball teams won the city Public School League championships earlier this month.

It’s the first time in nearly two decades that both teams have swept the league. While both were celebrated, one team received more accolades than the other. 

And as you may have guessed, it was the boy’s team. 

Coach Chris Bass decided the girl’s win should draw the same excitement and congratulatory words the boys team received – both teams had in fact accomplished an amazing feat. 

Bass is one of several coaches and supporters of women's sports who wants to see a shift in sports journalism coverage, with more spotlight on women and girls in sports. He joined The Metro on Monday to talk about the win, coaching the girls team and pushing girls in sports to the front page. 

Hear more stories from The Metro on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025.

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

The Detroit Documenters train and pay residents to attend and cover local government meetings in southeast Michigan, making public information more accessible. Their work amplifies voices that often go unheard and they help us to hold our local leaders accountable.

Highland Park is a city circled by Detroit. The small city’s decline is in sharp contrast to Detroit’s revival. Detroit Documenters have been attending Highland Park City Council meetings to understand exactly what kinds of challenges local leaders are prioritizing. 

The Metro producer Jack Filbrandt sat down with Detroit Documenters Coordinator Noah Kincade and Documenter Sherrie Smith to learn more. 

Hear more stories from The Metro on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025.

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

Education advocates in Michigan have been sounding the alarm about the potential elimination of the U.S. Department of Education. It’s something President Donald Trump has threatened, but doing so would require Congress’s approval. 

Vital programs are funded through the Department of Education and advocates are worried cuts would hit some of Michigan’s most vulnerable students especially hard.

Amber Arellano, executive director of The Education Trust - Midwest, joined The Metro on Monday to discuss the role the department plays and the impacts funding cuts could have. Ed Trust-Midwest is a non-partisan organization working to level the playing field for vulnerable students in Michigan.

Hear more stories from The Metro on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025.

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

While it does not feel like spring, warmer days and Detroit Tigers baseball are on the way. The Tigers started pre-season baseball in Lakeland, Florida this weekend, having two wins in their first two games. 

Today on The Metro, we’re turning back the clock on some favorite Tigers memories and looking ahead to 2025 Major League Baseball Opening Day. 

Guests:

We also asked listeners: "What’s your favorite Tiger’s memory?"

Harold in Detroit said: “I can remember, I think it was 1966 or 1967, my brother took me down to Tiger Stadium. In my first game, I saw the New York Yankees. Tigers won a game and Danny McLean pitched for the Tigers.”

More headlines from The Metro on Feb. 24, 2025: 

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

Today on The Metro, we share highlights from this week's episodes, including the potential for federal funding supporting Detroit’s violence intervention program, Shot Stoppers, to soon run dry; the legacy of Jazz in Detroit and more.

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

Earlier this month, two children from a family facing homelessness — ages 2 and 9 — froze to death in a van parked outside Hollywood Casino in Detroit.

The children’s mother reportedly reached out to Detroit’s homeless response team three times for help before the fatal incident, but no follow up occurred.

In a press conference, Mayor Mike Duggan shared regrets that the incident was not escalated to an emergency, noting that there were shelter beds available in the city the night the children died. Still, many residents and local organizations insist that the incident highlights how many people suffering from homelessness can fall through the cracks.

The nonprofit Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH), first formed in 1991, advocates for a more holistic approach to ending homelessness. By engaging with over 650 homeless service agencies across the state through public awareness activities, policy advocacy at the state and federal level, and other support services, MCAH aims to address the issue at the systemic level.

Today on The Metro, we discuss some of the biggest contributing factors that lead to homelessness and what barriers people experiencing homelessness in Detroit face.

Guests:

More headlines from The Metro on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025:  

On Monday, residents of Southwest Detroit woke up to their cars submerged in water, their basements flooded, and their electricity and furnaces off after a 54-inch steel water transmission main ruptured in the area of Beard and Rowan streets, amid freezing temperatures. To provide more info about the relief efforts and how residents are holding up, WDET’s Bre’Anna Tinsley joined the show. We also spoke with Greg Martin, executive director of Disaster Relief at Work — an organization that’s been on the ground, supporting disaster relief efforts.

A recently announced $346 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded to the city of Detroit aims to improve the community’s climate resilience. Nick Schroeck, professor of environmental law and interim dean of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, joined The Metro on Thursday to discuss why Detroit homes are so vulnerable to flooding and how the new HUD Block Grant can help.

Also, Detroit’s mayoral race is heating up, with a number of announcements at the top of the year expanding the pool of candidates. Eight people have emerged who want a shot at claiming the city’s top job. WDET All Things Considered host Russ McNamara has been keeping a close eye on the race and he’s already spoken to a few candidates. He joined the show to share what he has learned.

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