Daily Detroit

Latest Episodes:

Detroit Wildfire-side Chat: Smoke, Stadium Groundbreaking, and a Hot Senate Primary Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

Today we're coming to you from a very smoky studio in Detroit as Canadian wildfire haze pushes Detroit's air quality off the charts.

Should we Blame Canada? (With all apologies to South Park)

From there, Norris delivers last rites for the "Yzerplan" and we talk through why the Red Wings have now slid to the fifth of five sports team in a city where the Lions, Pistons, Tigers – and now Detroit City FC – are commanding the spotlight.

Speaking of DCFC, I was at the groundbreaking for their new stadium at Michigan and 20th. We unpack what a nearly $200 million means for Corktown, Mexicantown, small businesses, and the club.

We close with an update on the Democratic Senate primary between Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed – digging into new polling, the massive outside money advantage, Obama's importance in the politics of black voters and Detroiters, and the real enthusiasm and messaging gaps shaping this race on the ground.

Full Rundown:

00:39 - Insane Canadian Wildfire Smoke in Detroit

04:22 - The Steve Yzerplan is Dead

08:37 - Detroit City FC Stadium Groundbreaking

16:40 - Stevens vs. El-Sayed Democratic Senate Primary Update

As always, I'd love to hear what you think: DailyDetroit@gmail.com or 313-789-3211.

Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your pods.

Lettuce Is Off The Menu Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

We start with a very cool story about Jack White, "Seven Nation Army," and how seven little notes turned into one of the biggest chants in global sports.

Then we get into something a lot closer to home: A cyclospora outbreak that has Taco Bell locations pulling lettuce and cilantro off the menu, and what that says about cuts to CDC surveillance and how we think about food safety in Michigan.

From there, Norris and I dig into Lansing's proposed "quiet cars" bill aimed at loud exhausts up and down Woodward, why noise is part of living near big thoroughfares, and how enforcement can too easily slide into pretextual stops for Black drivers and folks just trying to get to work with a busted muffler. More: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/2026/07/13/michigan-bills-law-loud-cars-modified-exhaust-woodward/90472088007/

We close with some good news: Concert of Colors kicks off in Midtown, honoring the late Ishmael Ahmed and bringing multi-generational, global sounds to the DIA and surrounding venues — one of those "if you live here, you really should go at least once" Detroit events. https://www.concertofcolors.com/

I encourage listeners to take the Daily Detroit political topology survey at dailydetroit.com/9 and send your topic ideas to dailydetroit@gmail.com.

Full Rundown:

01:33 - Seven Nation Army video and Daily Detroit political topography survey

06:22 - There's a growing Cyclosporiasis outbreak throughout Michigan, including taking lettuce of the menu of a number of restaurants include Taco Bell at some Metro Detroit location

11:43 A bill pushing for quieter cars working it's way through the Michigan legislature

17:10 Concert of Colors is back this week

Downtown Detroit Has Turned Into A True Weekend Destination Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

After the pandemic, downtown Detroit underwent a massive shift. Many left their offices to come back just a couple of times a week, and people looking for dining and entertainment on weekends flooded in. And the data shows they like what they see.

On today's show, I'm sitting down with Sofia Song, Global Cities Lead at the Gensler Research Institute, and Antoine Bryant, Managing Director of Gensler's Detroit office, to unpack their massive 2026 City Pulse study.

The big takeaway? Detroit ranks number one nationally for downtown "stickiness." That means residents aren't just coming down because they have to for work. They're choosing to hang out, eat, and linger at double the national average for discretionary visits.

There's a huge shift from an office-centric commuter hub to an 18-hour destination. And Detroit residents, according to the survey, are into it, too.

If you want to understand how intentional planning, better lighting, and activated spaces are changing our streets into a space with national-level urban design, you won't want to miss this conversation.

Then, we send you out the door with some stories to know around town.

Don't forget our most recent audience survey: https://www.dailydetroit.com/9/

Feedback as always: dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211.

If you don't already, follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get shows.

Fairlane's Uncertain Future, Greektown's New Gateway, and Detroit Brands Head North Jul 11, 2026

Show notes

Fairlane Town Center is back in the headlines, and not for the right reasons.

In this episode, Devon and I dig into the latest on Dearborn's struggling mall. From receivership and a possible sale to what its eventual "second life" could mean for desperately needed housing and better transit.

It's our candid, locally grounded look at what happens when a once‑buzzy regional mall becomes a long‑term liability instead of an asset.

Downtown, we're telling a very different story at Gratiot and Randolph. We walk through Detroit's new pedestrian plaza being billed as a "gateway to Greektown," and talk about how shifting the street, widening sidewalks, and new patios. We hope that a new and thoughtful streetscape can drive more retail and residential life into legacy blocks.

To open, we head north — in spirit (and spirits) to Lexington.

Devon shares what's new in the "First Resort to the North," Detroit City Distillery's outpost inside Foley's Market, and Carlos Parisi's sandwich counter bringing some Eastern Market energy to vacationers.

Rundown:

01:41 - Visiting Lexington, MI

07:55 - Gratiot Randolph Plaza opening - big opportunity for Detroit

12:46 - What should happen next with Fairlane Mall?

Make sure to follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you download shows.

Lights Out, Bills Up, Everyone's Fed Up Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

Lights were out, bills are up, and a lot of folks around here are just done with it.

On today's Daily Detroit, Norris and I talk through the long Fourth of July weekend that turned into days without power for hundreds of thousands of people across metro Detroit — including me.

As it seems like every year living in a Detroit neighborhood, I deal with 3 to 4 days in a row without electricity.

From there, we zoom out. We talk about DTE's grid, why it seems like storms knock out power every year, and the growing conversation around a ratepayer bill of rights and the Michigan Money Out of Politics (MMOP) petition.

We ask what would it look like if major state contractors couldn't pour money into campaigns? A

We also kick around whether our politics could work differently (although we know the change would be hard legally to pull off): calendar windows for campaigning like other countries have, hard caps on campaign cash, and even making Election Day a holiday.

In the back third of the show, we answer listener questions about what to do with your ballot now that Mallory McMorrow is out of the race, including how and when you can spoil a ballot and get a new one.

As always, I'd love to hear how you're experiencing all of this. The outages, the bills, and the politics around it. Email me at dailydetroit@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at 313‑789‑3211.

And follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get shows.

Michigan's $75 Billion Budget, Explained (with Steve Watson) Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

There's a ton of useful information in today's Daily Detroit, and you'll walk away with a better understanding of how our state works.

I'm joined by longtime budget expert Steve Watson of Watson & Yates to unpack Michigan's new state budget and what it actually means for our lives.

We get into why "flat" funding can feel like a cut once inflation hits, what's in the budget for schools and public transit, and a handful of key earmarks here in Detroit — from the Auto Show to free bus rides for students and Right to Counsel.

We also talk about new and renewed tools to keep people in their homes, including the Pay As You Stay program and a state-level low-income housing tax credit.

Then, our conversation turns to economic development and the transformational brownfield deal that could help reshape the Renaissance Center. Plus, why development math is getting harder to make work, and the hard financial truth about why housing here requires state and local subsidies and incentives to get done.

Finally, Steve and I dig into what real, practical reform around property taxes could look like in the years ahead to help get Michigan's residents back on economic track.

As always, check out his Substack: https://watsonyates.substack.com/

And of course, follow Daily Detroit on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get shows.

McMorrow Drops Out: What's Next in Michigan's Senate Race? Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

Mallory McMorrow just suspended her campaign for the Democratic U.S. Senate primary here in Michigan, and the nation is watching.

We break down why her run felt off from the start, how a messy CNN interview and a fuzzy message alienated both progressive and establishment voters, and why stepping aside now may actually protect her future options.

Then Norris Howard and I get into what comes next: the party's clear preference for Haley Stevens, Abdul El-Sayed's anti-establishment path, harm-reduction voting, generational splits, and why sit-outs (if they happen) from key voters no matter who wins could suddenly give Republican Mike Rogers a real lane.

Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you download podcasts.

Kraftologie and Creativity in Detroit, with Trice Clark Jul 02, 2026

Show notes

Today I'm joined by artist and entrepreneur Trice Clark, the creative force behind Kraftologie, to talk about building a new creative space in Detroit's West Village, life after Joann Fabrics, and how better infrastructure can help more local makers actually make a living here.

You can find a full transcript on our website here.

Make sure to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get shows.

Kalshi Sports Paused in Michigan, Detroit's Housing Advantage, and Big3 Fun at LCA Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

I've got a three‑parter for you today!

First, Norris and I headed down to Little Caesars Arena for Big3. It's a three‑on‑three traveling basketball league. We talk about why it might be one of the more accessible ways to see good hoops in town this summer as they're coming back in about a month.

Then, we unpack why Michigan's Attorney General went to court to pause Kalshi's sports contracts here, and what that says about the blurry line between "prediction markets" and gambling. T

Finally, we dig into new Rocket data showing the Detroit area at the top of the list for how quickly first‑time buyers can save a down payment — and what that means if you already own, or you're trying to get your foot in the door.

As always, it's about making sense of what's happening in and around Detroit — and giving you a couple of ideas for what to do next.

Feedback as always: dailydetroit at gmail dot com, or 313-789-3211.

Rundown:

03:38 Big 3 Basketball

09:48 Kalshi has been issued a temporary restraining order by Michigan judge

15:27 Detroit area among the top of the list of most affordable for home buyers

How Young Detroiters See the Future of Work Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

Detroit Future City CEO Anika Goss joins me to dig into a recent report on career-connected learning and the future of work for young Detroiters.

"Career-Connected Learning: Investing in Detroit's Future Talent," is grounded in the perspectives of almost 200 Detroit youth, along with input from parents, practitioners, employers, and policy makers around where things are working and where improvements need to be made in setting out future up for a bright tomorrow.

We talk about which sectors are most likely to grow and survive automation, how tech and health care show up in kids' real aspirations, and why exposure and role models matter from grade school on.

Anika gets into the regional picture across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb, the stigma around community college, and how employers and community colleges can help build a smarter pipeline from classroom to career.

We also talk about AI — and being clear-eyed on what it will actually change, and why young people are already using it without the fear many adults have.

If you care about Detroit's next generation and the jobs they'll hold, this one's for you.

Full transcript on our website, Daily Detroit. As always, follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get shows.

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