Daily Detroit

Michigan Politics Isn't Purple, It's Pissed Off: El-Sayed vs. Stevens

I've been watching Michigan politics for a long time, and this Abdul El-Sayed vs. Haley Stevens primary feels like the front line of a bigger national reckoning. With Norris Howard and Devon O'Reilly, we unpack the pissed-off electorate, Whitmer's data-center problem, and how PAC money and billionaire money are backfiring with voters.  Many think that Michigan is a purple state, full of moderate ideas; and we talk about how voters are more angry than anything else. We talk about Trump's underwater numbers, Mike Rogers' vulnerability, and why running against the Democratic establishment might be the only way Democrats win in November. If you're trying to read the Petoskey stones on where American politics goes next, Michigan is a good place to start. Follow the show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-detroit/id1220563942  

Melody Baetens On Detroit's Best Food, Music Venue Struggles, And What's Next

Norris and Jer sit down with Detroit News restaurant critic Melody Baetens to talk about the city's post‑COVID dining boom, why consistency is key to winning, and what's driving all the new global flavors around town.  Then they dig into the Greater Detroit Music Census, how local venues are struggling to keep live shows on the calendar, and what it would take for Detroit to lean into being a music city for working musicians and locales. Read Melody's work here: https://www.detroitnews.com/staff/2647007001/melody-baetens/  

How Transit Could Finally Reach Every Corner of Wayne County

In this episode, I sit down with Transportation Riders United executive director Megan Owens to unpack Wayne County's transit millage and what it could mean for riders in Detroit and the suburbs. We get into how countywide service could end "opt‑out" communities, bring buses and microtransit to places like Livonia, Canton and Plymouth, and better connect rural townships to trunk lines. I also talk with Megan about a new $25 million BUILD grant for Gratiot, Macomb County's renewed interest in SMART, and how to actually find the transit question at the bottom of your ballot. More on TRU: https://www.detroittransit.org/ Our studio open house on Saturday, August 15: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1995592904096?aff=oddtdtcreator Make sure to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get shows.

Quick chats: American Arab Chamber; Plus the future of the Detroit Zoo

Today's Daily Detroit is a little different. I've got two shorter conversations that are too good to leave behind, so we're stitching them together into one episode for you. First up is American Arab Chamber executive director Bilal Hammoud. We talk about just how big Arab American economic power has become in Michigan, with more than 150,000 businesses and an estimated $100 billion in economic contribution over the last decade. We get into how that connects to a more globally minded, relationship‑driven approach to economic development. Bilal makes the case for de‑siloing Michigan's innovation ecosystem, learning from places like Dubai and New York, and treating immigration as a core growth strategy between now and 2030. Then we shift gears to the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center with Detroit Zoological Society executive director and CEO Dr. Hayley Murphy. She walks us through the new Fred and Barbara Erb Discovery Trails, a seven‑acre "outdoor living classroom" with everything from goats to stingrays. Plus, we talk about the zoo's $185 million projected annual economic impact. We also get into free programming at the Belle Isle Nature Center, special evenings for families in shelters and with medically fragile kids, and a millage renewal later this year that keeps the whole operation going. As always, I'd love to know what you think of this format, or anything else about the show. Drop me a line at dailydetroit@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at 313‑789‑3211.

N/A, Yay or Nay; RenCen & the Riverfront; 88% Agreement

On today's Daily Detroit I kick things off in "prime Negroni season," and on the heels of a new zero proof gin debate with Devon whether zero-proof gin and spirits are actually a thing we need or just marketing chasing vibes without the buzz. Then we dive into how different wings of the Demcoratic party actuall agree on about 88% of things, and how junk polls and click-chasing headlines warp our sense of what's really at stake, or who feels what way. Plus, turnout in the city and what it would take for under-40 Detroiters to actually flex the power they have instead of letting politics stay a 60-plus sport. We close on the RenCen and riverfront remake, breaking down the impending double tower demolition, and why losing some concrete might finally mean gaining the riverfront Detroit deserves.