Daily Detroit

Latest Episodes:

A few minutes with Mike Tirico — plus stories around Detroit Jan 19, 2024

Show notes

Today's show is a special one as we kick off talking to Mike Tirico, the sports broadcasting legend. Then, Jer and Devon get into some stories to know around Metro Detroit.

01:43 - Mike Tirico joins Jer and Fletcher at Ford Field

12:46 - Ford is reducing production of the Ford Lightning, cutting jobs

16:23 - Detroit Beer Exchange is officially no more in Downtown Detroit. We discuss. Engineer Randy really liked their downtstairs space.

19:34 - Do we put the Big Sean / Emagine theatre in greater downtown Detroit in the dead pool?

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Detroit Development stories to watch in 2024 (ft. Robin Runyan) Jan 18, 2024

Show notes

What is there to look forward to in 2024? Urbanize Detroit's Robin Runyan is in the Daily Detroit studio at Techtown and we discuss that and more.

00:46 - Amazon is buying a stake in Diamond Sports / Bally, which should improve service.

05:15 - In "Where we've been," Robin went and checked out the Oak Parker (in Oak Park) and gives a little update on the new Pie Sci location

07:16 - Is there anywhere to get good King Cake in Metro Detroit? Or does one have to ship from New Orleans?

09:22 - Robin's five move exciting development trends in Detroit in 2024.

More: https://detroit.urbanize.city/post/5-detroit-development-stories-watch-2024

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What the Lions need to win against Tampa Bay in the playoffs Jan 17, 2024

Show notes

We now know our weekend playoff opponent: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So what's next? What do the Detroit Lions need to do? Plus, we talk a little bit about the Pistons trade.

Full rundown:

00:34 - Next opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

04:41 - What are the Vegas odds?

07:29 - What is going on with Cam Sutton (and the difficult job he has to do)

08:56 - Pushing the envelope

10:41 - What do the Lions need to do to Win the playoff game?

13:15 - The wild fan reactions to Matthew Stafford coming back

17:25 - Detroit sports fans need to embrace and bring back some swagger of success

20:39 - We discuss the recent Pistons trade that kinda got overshadowed by the Lions

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Does the Republican Party matter anymore? Or is it all Trump? Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

With the recent drama at the Michigan State Party around who's in charge, finances and more - we got to thinking, in the age of Trump, does a state party matter anymore, or is it just all about whatever Trump does?

After all, he's the focus of attention, resources from voters, and looks to be the clear lock for the nomination. So is the Republican party as we knew it, dead? And means something else now? Does the infighting matter as Trump is going to call all the shots everywhere now anyway, and raise all the money?

News story about the internal divisions: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2024/01/13/separate-michigan-gop-group-votes-to-keep-kristina-karamo-as-chair/72216510007/

The rundown:

01:21 - Norris Howard talks about his dad being hyped for the Lions

02:56 - Is there a Republican Party that matters, or is it all basically whatever Trump wants and decides? Where the apapratus, the fundraising, we're in a diffrent era where it's about one man, as opposed to a party platform? Because it looks like what right leaning voters want is Trump. Not someone with his policies but different, but him. And they definitely don't want someone like a Chris Christie.

14:56 - Norris shares some of his thoughts as African-American voters, especially Black men, are more and more looking to the right as more and more black women increase their power and education, and the difficult conversation that has to be had in his community.

19:41 - And finally, the Auto Show is moving to January. Norris had some strong feelings about it, so now it's official, he's got a couple thoughts.

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BONUS POD: Lions Win!!! Jan 15, 2024

Show notes

The Detroit Lions won their first playoff game in a long, long time against the LA Rams.

How are we feeling about it? Is the "Same Old Lions" curse over? How great was it the Lions spread their offense across multiple tools? How about Goff beating Stafford?

We were going to be off today as it's a Federal Holiday (MLK Day), but because of the unique news this is a bonus edition of the podcast where Fletcher and Jer talk about everything that happened.

This is recorded before the Buccaneers / Eagles game tonight, we'll focus on them and that opponent on a future pod.

Thanks to Scott Millington for the cover photo. https://www.instagram.com/sapmillington/?hl=en

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Can Michigan grow? // People Mover expansion? // Auto show is moving to January Jan 12, 2024

Show notes

We've got a bit of a conference exhaustion after a very busy Thursday, but Devon O'Reilly and Fletcher Sharpe picked up themselves and we digitally got together for a little post-Detroit Policy Conference conversation. And a lot more.

02:08 - Can Michigan grow? Some say that retainment should be the focus over attraction. Do we need a different strategy? Is it realistic to say all areas will grow?

07:47 - Although there were complaints transit wasn't on the agenda, transit was everywhere in the discussion at the Detroit Policy Conference. One speaker, Michael Griffie, talked about expanding the Detroit People Mover, and none other than Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said it's something they're looking at. We discuss!

12:31 - Word is the Detroit Auto Show is moving back to January next year. Will that help bring back the shine and interest? People seem very divided and there's been a lot of feedback. We discuss.

17:00 - Is it generational divide, or cognitive dissonance? Many are very surprised that with the Michigan Growing Together council this is the first many leaders are hearing about issues with the region and state. Yet, people in their 40s and under - this is the air we breathe, seeing friends move off and stay in other regions. Did the conference finally publicly air a pretty big generational divide?

Did you want to see the speaker sessions? Sessions are being posted online. A couple are already up, just go for the latest videos on the Detroit Chamber YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@DetroitRegionalChamber/videos

Thanks so much to our listeners who stopped by and said hello. You're greatly appreciated.

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

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Target says no // Direct Metro Airport bus pilot // Developments get grants Jan 11, 2024

Show notes

Norris Howard is in and we've got stories around Detroit and Metro Detroit to talk about on the podcast.

00:47 - Target is pulling out of the deal for the City Target at Mack and Woodward, but the developer says no way, we have a contract.

06:42 - The Jefferson School will become the HQ of Invest Detroit (among other things) plus a number of other Detroit projects get grants

12:30 - A new direct Metro Airport to downtown Detroit bus service pilot will start this spring.

We have details.

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Mandela and more at The Henry Ford (ft. Cynthia Jones) Jan 10, 2024

Show notes

The Henry Ford is full of trips through history that relate to today, but going on right now until January 15 is Mandela: The Official Exhibition.

Cynthia Jones, their Director of Museum Experiences, Exhibitions & Engagement, joins me on the show to talk about the impact of this exhibition, some of the programs going on at The Henry Ford and Greenfield Village (the most popular tourist attraction in Metro Detroit) and some of the road ahead.

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Michigan wins National Championship // What the Lions need to win against Rams Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

01:19 - The National championship was not even close

02:28 - Michigan's defense did a number on Michael Penix Jr.

05:34 - Washington got dominated

08:41 - When Fletcher got hit so hard he knew he almost didn't want to play football anymore

10:31 - Will Jim Harbaugh stay?

14:39 - Detroit Lions get home playoff game against Rams, how do we do without Sam LaPorta if he's unavailable

17:27 - Stafford vs Goff? Or is it really about any mobile quarterback

19:09 - If it's a revenge game for anyone it's for Jared Goff who got cast aside by the Rams

21:30 - Lions prediction and who needs to step up

24:38 - Have a ton of fun on Sunday night, but when you come to downtown Detroit please remember people live here and respect it like you would your own neighborhood

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The Future of Electric Vehicles and Battery Tech: Where Are We Now? (ft. Gabrielle Coppola) Jan 08, 2024

Show notes

Where is Michigan (and America) at with electric vehicles and battery technology? Gabrielle Coppola, a journalist at Bloomberg, joins me for a conversation on the Daily Detroit podcast.

Coppola wrote a very interesting piece, "America's long, tortured journey to build EV batteries," and it caught my eye because A123 systems — a Michigan company — was bought out of bankruptcy by Chinese investors and their cutting edge tech now is used over there. Over here? Americans are left having to license technology we created.

This conversation is about more than that, though. It's about the immense change happening to the automotive industry, and what the challenges and opportunities really are for American automakers to compete in the EV and battery space.

Follow Gabrielle Coppola on social media:

X: https://twitter.com/gablova?lang=en

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@gablova

Episode rundown:

02:10 - Where are we at with EVs right now in the United States?

05:20 - Is Electric the future technology? What about alternatives?

07:20 - Automakers need to produce a lot of one car to make money

08:21 - Many people in auto industry are very worried about the future and how the changes coming will impact their lives

09:50 - It will take 30% fewer labor hours to make an electric car

11:18 - Carmakers are learning about batteries, and want to bring more in house

13:25 - Challenges for the future of suppliers and the jobs tied to them

14:40 - Michigan's lead with battery tech from A123 Systems that China bought out of bankruptcy and now uses as they speed ahead with EV adoption

25:22 - Why Michigan has to offer so many subsidies to battery plants, it's multiple levels.

26:42 - China does not make for a level playing field

27:41 - Competition with China is not a fair fight, and their government puts in seemingly endless dollars (we really don't know, there's no transparency)

28:26 - Thinking about quarters vs. generations

30:16 - Whatever America and American consumers decide to do, the rest of the world is not waiting on electric vehicles

30:58 - EVs are wrapped in political identity in America, despite any facts on the ground

34:37 - Michigan advantages for the road ahead

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