Daily Detroit – Details, episodes & analysis

Today’s show gets into how Metro Detroit is changing and growing, mixing its car-making history with new developments in technology and hospitality.

On the all-local podcast:

Ford's historic engineering lab from the 1920s has been updated. Jer and Norris took a tour of the facility - it now houses the team working on electric car technology, mixing old and new. We talk about it.

The United Auto Workers union might go on strike against Stellantis. This follows last year's strike and shows ongoing issues in the car industry.

The Shinola Hotel in Detroit won a special award called a Michelin Key. It's now seen widely as a top-notch hotel where the famous people like to stay.

Companies in Detroit and Southeast Michigan are working hard to attract talented workers. They're creating cool workplaces to compete with other tech-heavy cities.

If you don't already, don't forget to follow Daily Detroit on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to shows.

And if there's someone in your life who loves Detroit, or just wants to know more about it, tell them about the show! Word of mouth is best way to push the show forward.

WE       welcomed back Sam Robinson, a seasoned journalist now working at the Detroit Free Press. Sam's new role involves managing a misinformation tracker tool, part of a University of Texas at Austin program. The discussion centered on the pressing issue of misinformation and its impact on society, especially as we approach the next election cycle.

Key points included the pervasive nature of misinformation, with absurd stories gaining traction even on debate stages. Sam highlighted the role of social media algorithms in amplifying false narratives, sharing his personal experiences with platforms like Twitter and Threads. The conversation emphasized the responsibility of journalists to maintain accuracy and integrity in the digital age.

The episode also touched on the upcoming election, discussing Kamala Harris's candidacy and its potential impact. Sam provided insights into the political landscape, including the role of celebrity endorsements in mobilizing voters. The discussion concluded by highlighting underreported stories, particularly around campaign finance and corporate handouts.

Overall, this episode offers valuable insights into the challenges of combating misinformation, the evolving media landscape, and the complexities of political reporting in today's world.

Here’s what’s on today’s all-local podcast agenda:

800 Teamsters Local 283 members at Detroit's Marathon Oil Refinery have gone on strike, demanding better pay and schedules. Despite Marathon's assurances of continued operations, the strike underscores ongoing labor tensions.

Workers at a GM and LG battery plant in Tennessee have joined the UAW, marking the second battery plant in the U.S. to unionize. This move is part of a broader trend of growing union influence in the electric vehicle sector.

Chick-fil-A is expanding in Metro Detroit, adding new locations and creating around 2,500 jobs. Despite controversy, the chain continues to find business success, highlighting the region's complex relationship with fast food brands.

We dive into the Detroit People's Food Co-op in the North End, a project 14 years in the making aimed at promoting Black food security. Despite its mission, many locals are unaware of its existence, raising questions about community engagement and awareness - and how to bridge that gap.

Don't miss this engaging episode as we navigate the intersections of labor, community, and commerce in Detroit.

Share your thoughts with us at [email protected]. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your podcast player of choice.

Devon O'Reilly is in on a Friday and we're talking about what's new and notable around town, with a focus on the tasty.

02:02 - The Astro egg sandwich recipe has been released into the wild. A life-changing sandwich, you can get the recipe here. https://stilllifewithlemon.substack.com/p/astro-egg-sandwich

05:01 - Jer and Devon go to Gilly's and have their first impressions on Detroit's newest sports bar

13:18 - New boardwalk connecting to West Riverfront Park underway

14:58 - Edition Hotel coming to Detroit, Devon's RenCen take

Also, if you're interested in meeting up during the draft send us a note! 

As always, you can find Daily Detroit on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you download your favorite podcasts. On Apple: https://lnk.to/dailydetroitonapple

 On Spotify: https://lnk.to/dailydetroitonspotify

 Thanks to our members on Patreon. Local coverage requires local support: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit

Today's show is a deep-dive into the impact of the Coronavirus on the music industry, musicians, and venues.

First, Sven Gustafson sets the table on what's going on.

Then two feature conversations:

Dan McGowan, the Managing Partner of Crofoot Presents. He owns the Crofoot in downtown Pontiac and does promotions for a number of venues.

Then, Steve Nawara, a longtime Detroit musician with credits that include the Detroit Cobras.

On today's show:

1:02 An update on where we stand on the Coronavirus statewide

6:05 The City of Detroit is greatly expanding testing, finding out some trends and will offer testing to barber shops, salons and dentists when they open

11:05 A protest is planned in the Capitol - again - and this time there would be arrests if people brandish weapons

14:05 The Coronavirus is decimating Michigan's budget, and one of the worst-hit areas could be our schools. Ron French from Bridge Magazine joins us to talk about the possibility of up to a 25% cut which would mean teacher layoffs, increased class sizes, and even possible district closures. Here's his piece: https://www.bridgemi.com/talent-education/gop-leader-25-percent-cuts-michigan-schools-coronavirus

24:25 We update you on some reopenings like Supino and Avalon

26:30 A pair of Detroit non-profits are giving away 10,000 facemasks

Thanks for listening to your Daily Detroit! We're people-powered media. Join us as a member at http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit 

Welcome to your Wednesday Hump Day edition of your Daily Detroit. Today we’re tackling:

• Metro Times is out with a shocking story about violent threats made against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on several private Facebook groups. It comes as an armed rally is once again being planned for the state Capitol building in Lansing on Thursday.
• Some vacant Art Van furniture stores will be reborn as Loves Furniture, with about 1,000 people hired to staff them.
• The Archdiocese of Detroit has set dates for reopening parishes, along with strict social distancing guidelines.
• The New York Times editorial board dings states like Michigan that have relaxed Freedom of Information Act requirements during the coronavirus crisis.
• Eastern Market is redesigning how its annual Flower Day will work.
• And we hear from Cyndi Ross, restoration manager for the nonprofit Friends of the Rouge, about how the group is encouraging people to help the Rouge River this year by doing things at home.

Later in the show, your Daily Detroit team shares the edible things they’re craving that we can’t currently get. Because we’re almost two months into this shutdown business, and we’re all going crazy.

Thanks for listening to Daily Detroit. If you like what you’re hearing, tell a friend about us, leave us a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or support us by becoming a Patreon member.

One of the things the Coronavirus pandemic has meant is that people have had to innovate and adapt to a quickly changing world.

With the aim of keeping people employed, one of those founders and companies doing that is Better Life Bags, based in the enclave of Hamtramck.

The custom bag company has grown over the years using social media and has put people to work in their local community, all the while adding to Detroit’s fabric of fashion businesses and nonprofits.

I also talk with founder Rebecca Smith about doing business at a pace that’s manageable when you have a family, which is part of the focus of her upcoming book, “A Better Life: Slowing Down to Get Ahead.”

Then I’ll update you on a couple things you should know about around town. Including:

• Your power bill is going up
• Former State Senator Morris Hood has died of COVID-19
• And baseball could be coming back July 4th.

What can the past teach us about what we’re dealing with today?

Our conversation today is with Tim Kiska from the Detroit History Podcast. 

They recently put out a great special episode talking about the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic and how it hit Detroit.

History may not repeat itself, but it does rhyme. So it’s uncanny how many echoes there are today that are from a century ago.

We dive into that and more with Tim.

Have a listen in the player at the bottom of your screen and check out the Detroit History Podcast here.

If you want to support us, consider becoming a member.