98: Episode 73: Right Wing Tries To Repeal Law Allowing Renewable Energy Projects On Family Farms
Here's Episode 73 of Michigan's Premier, Progressive Podcast! As we've covered on the show, Michigan Democrats passed a rather robust package of clean energy bills last year. Many of those laws will go into effect later this year, including the 100% clean energy standard by 2040, energy efficient programs, increases in the state's energy reduction program, and removing the power of local gover...
49m Feb 15, 2024
49m
97: Episode 72: New Michigan Gun Safety Laws w/ Dr. April Zeoli
Here's episode 72 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast! In my opening segment this week, I talk about the appalling and Islamophobic Wall Street Journal column declaring Dearborn, MI as the "America's Jihad Capital." Islamophobia within the right wing world never left, and it's putting lives in danger. I then cover some of the many new laws scheduled to go into effect in the state on Febr...
40m Feb 08, 2024
40m
96: Friday Short: How Is Rashida Tlaib Raising Over $3 Million in Campaign Donations? Easy. By Standing Up For People
Here's this week's LoL Friday Short. It's being reported this week that Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has raised nearly $4-million in campaign contributions in the last three months. That's despite House Republicans censuring her last Fall for her stance against Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip. And that's despite being hung-out to dry by some in her own party. But why...
4m Feb 02, 2024
4m
95: Episode 71: Interview w/ Susan Demas of Michigan Advance
Here's episode 71 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast! Please vote on this week's LoL Twitter Poll (https://twitter.com/LeftOfLansing/status/1752711976138977691) : What is the biggest winning issue for Michigan Democrats heading into the November election? If you have others, leave them in replies Susan Demas, Editor-in-Chief of Michigan Advance (https://michiganadvance.com/) , joins Pa...
52m Feb 01, 2024
52m
94: Friday Short: 'Good Guys' Don't Stop Bad Guys With Guns--January 19, 2024
Thanks for listening to this week's LoL Friday Short! The Justice Department released a damning report citing "cascading failures (https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-justice-department-report-police-16b59efa5c5015d685d917c3f0f26256) " in the way authorities handled the Uvaldi school shooting massacre in 2022. Like other school shootings, this was another example where "good guys...
4m Jan 19, 2024
4m
93: Episode 70: The Rich Are O.K With Fascism
Here's episode 70 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast! Please vote on this week's poll question (https://twitter.com/LeftOfLansing/status/1748022630874013950) : Polls show President Biden's losing to Donald Trump in Michigan. How do you feel about these numbers less than 10 months from Election Day? On this week's episode, I cover how Democrats across the country have been given a beaut...
30m Jan 18, 2024
30m
92: Friday Short: Popular Free School Lunches Hard For Republicans To Digest
Here's this week's LoL Friday Short. Michigan Democrats are hoping to make the new and popular free public school breakfast and lunch program a permanent fixture in the education budget. But that's making the right wing furious, not because of their daily abject cruelty, but because they know the program is a big hit with voting age parents. Also, they know a successful programs such as this ...
4m Jan 12, 2024
4m
91: Episode 69: Interview with Democratic State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky
Here's Episode 69 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast! I'm thrilled to have Democratic State Representative, and Speaker Pro Tempore, Laurie Pohutsky back on the show this week! We cover a range of topics including abortion rights, clean energy and climate change, if the Michigan Democratic Party's messaging machine is improving, the establishment and progressive factions of the party, a...
47m Jan 11, 2024
47m
90: The Friday Short: Nikki Haley's Profiles In Courage Moment Failure
My first Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for 2024 deals with GOP Presidential candidate Nikki Haley's failure to flat-out say the American Civil War was fought over the right for Southern states to continue the practice of slavery. But there's a reason why Haley couldn't give a straight answer to that simple question. She, like all of her Republican cohorts, are afraid of angering and losing th...
5m Jan 05, 2024
5m
89: Episode 68: Michigan's Right Wing Is Working To Erase History
Happy New Year, and here's Episode 68 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast! This week, I have lots to say after taking some time-off for the holidays. We have to cover the hypocrisy of Michigan's right wing, in particular the Christian Nationalist Moms For Liberty chapters throughout the state. As you'll hear, while they've been busy banning books, intimidating teachers, and trying to di...
35m Jan 04, 2024
35m
88: Friday Short: Progressive Policies Are Popular Pro-Worker & Pro-Growth Policies
Here's the final LoL "Friday Short" for 2023! To close-out the year, I talk about a story in Michigan Advance (https://michiganadvance.com/2023/11/30/business-groups-band-together-to-counter-risky-economic-proposals-advanced-by-democrats/) which details how business lobbyists formed a coalition in the hopes of stifling bills proposed by Michigan Democrats. These business lobbyists fail to und...
4m Dec 15, 2023
4m
87: Episode 67: Kasey Helton and the Michigan "Dirt Road Democrats"
Here's the 67th, and the final episode for 2023, on Michigan's premier progressive podcast! Livingston County progressive activist Kasey Helton returns to the podcast this week as we discuss how "dirt road" Democrats are trying to move the political needle towards the progressive side in rural Michigan. And we've seen some of that hard work pay-off with Democrats winning some key races in Livi...
50m Dec 14, 2023
50m
86: Friday Short: Michigan Energy "Regulators" Give Big Energy Another Win Over The People
Listen to this week's Left of Lansing "Friday Short." Right after its inexplicable decision to build a tunnel around the Line 5 oil pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac, the Michigan Public Service Commission granted DTE Energy's rate hike request totalling over $360 million. Despite DTE being part of the reason why Michigan has the most expensive energy in the Midwest, and is also one of the ...
4m Dec 08, 2023
4m
85: Episode 66: Pushing The Overton Window w/ Democratic State Rep. Emily Dievendorf
It's Episode 66 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast! This week, I can't hold back my disdain for the Michigan Public Service Commission's decision to green-light an expensive, and short-sighted, tunnel project for the stretch of the 70-year old Line 5 oil pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac. Despite studies showing why the pipeline must stop operating, and that shutting-down the pipeline...
47m Dec 07, 2023
47m
84: Friday Short: UAW Momentum Focuses On Non-Union Automakers
Listen to this week's Left of Lansing "Friday Short," where I highlight a major UAW organizational push to attract thousands of non-union workers with other automakers. Also, notice again how Republicans across the board are AWOL when it comes to standing up for workers' rights. Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! –Pat leftoflansing...
4m Dec 01, 2023
4m
83: Episode 65: Long Overdue (and imperfect) Clean Energy Future Is Michigan Law
Here's episode 65 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast! Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed some long overdue, albeit imperfect, clean energy legislation into law this week. I've covered the path The Clean Energy and Jobs Act had to take in Lansing throughout the year on the podcast. And while I believe Democrats missed an opportunity to pass some meaningful, and stronger, progres...
30m Nov 30, 2023
30m
82: Episode 64: Pro-Publica's Anna Clark on Eliminating Michigan's Emergency Manager Law.
Here's episode 64 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast! It's great to have author and Pro-Publica reporter Anna Clark (https://www.propublica.org/people/anna-clark) back on Left of Lansing this week. Anna's written an insightful article on Michigan's Emergency Manager Law, which allows state government to erase democracy by completely taking-over financially-strapped cities. Anna highligh...
47m Nov 22, 2023
47m
81: Left of Lansing Monday Musing: Mass Transit Needed To Stop Michigan's Mass Exodus
Listen to my "Monday Musing," in which I agree with a Detroit Free Press column by Michael Griffie, who serves as Detroit Metro Leader for AECOM--an American multinational consulting firm. Mr. Griffie is pressing the need for a massive reinvestment in Michigan's lacking mass transit system, particularly in the entire Metro Detroit region. If we're going to stop Michigan's brain and population...
4m Nov 20, 2023
4m
80: Left Of Lansing Friday Short: MI Dems Clean Energy Bills Imperfect, But an Important Step
Listen to my LoL "Friday Short" on while the Michigan Democrats' clean energy bills are indeed imperfect, they mark an important step towards much-needed changes in the state's energy and economic future. Yes, the bills fall short in many areas, like considering natural gas "clean energy," and ignoring environmental justice provisions to help those in low-income areas affected the most by year...
5m Nov 17, 2023
5m
79: Episode 63: No More Waiting For Environmental Justice w/ Roshan Krishnan of The Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition
Here's Episode 63 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast! Michigan Democrats passed a package of clean energy and affordable energy bills last week. While these bills are for sure a step in the right direction in revamping our antiquated energy grid, these bills still fall far short of the aggressive push many progressives were hoping would happen. Joining me this week to talk more about th...
45m Nov 16, 2023
45m
78: Left of Lansing Friday Short: Could Michigan Become a Death with Dignity State?
The Left of Lansing Friday Short this week applauds a trio of state Senate Democrats (Mary Cavenagh of Redford Twp. (https://senatedems.com/cavanagh/bio/) , Kevin Hertel of St. Clair Shores (https://senatedems.com/hertel/bio/) , and Veronica Klinefelt of Eastpoint (https://senatedems.com/klinefelt/bio/) ) for introducing the Death with Dignity Act (https://senatedems.com/cavanagh/2023/11/09/ref...
4m Nov 10, 2023
4m
77: Episode 62: MAGA Keeps Losing On Abortion Rights, and My Defense of Rashida Tlaib
It's episode 62 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast! MAGA Republicans suffered another beatdown at the polls this past Election Day, and once again, abortion rights proved to be the key reason. Abortion rights scored a major victory in Ohio, and played a major role in Democrats retaining the Virginia state legislature. Yet, MAGA is doubling-down on putting government in-between a woman a...
38m Nov 09, 2023
38m
76: Left of Lansing "Monday Musing." MAGA Fights For Statues, But Not Books
In this week's "Monday Musing," I discuss an amendment introduced by Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor-Green would block the removal of monuments. MTG and her MAGA allies are outraged Charlottesville, Virginia decided to remove a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. That statue was the focus of what led to the killing of a protester by a right wing terrorist in Charlottesville b...
6m Nov 06, 2023
6m
75: LOL Friday Short: No Justice In Flint Water Crisis
My Left of Lansing "Friday Short" covers a sad ending to the Flint Water Crisis, in which not one public official will face prosecution for their role in one of the greatest man-made disasters the state of Michigan, and the country, has ever experienced. Former Michigan Republican Gov. Rick Snyder won't have to face any kind of punishment for the crisis he and his administration caused. Meanwh...
5m Nov 03, 2023
5m
74: Episode 61: UAW Win; Michigan Dems Strengthen Abortion Rights; Arab Americans Leaving Biden
Welcome to Episode 61 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Politics! This week, I breakdown how the right wing Republican Party has always worked on behalf of the elite class to eliminate government assistance for working Americans. They've done it by whittling-down the New Deal and Great Society programs through the years, and they've done it using racist tropes, like the mythic "welfare queen."...
38m Nov 02, 2023
38m
73: LoL Friday Short: A Victory For Tolerance & Education
The Left of Lansing Friday Short this week celebrates a judge's ruling in which he dismissed a lawsuit over so-called "pornographic" books in Kent County's Rockford Public Schools District. A right-wing Christian Nationalist group wanted to ban 14 books, most of which dealt with LGBTQ+ stories. The judge ruled the books as a whole have literary value. It was a harsh defeat for those seeking t...
4m Oct 27, 2023
4m
72: Left of Lansing Ep. 60: Update on Michigan Climate Bills with NRDC's Derrell Slaughter
It's episode #60 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast! Michigan Democrats continue working on clean and affordable energy bills in the state legislature. They must get some of these bills passed before the November adjournment date, or else everything will get pushed back until next year. The main goals of these bills are to make Michigan caborn-free by 2035 or 2040, pushing for strong en...
45m Oct 26, 2023
45m
71: Left of Lansing's "Monday Musings." MI Democrats' plan to stop local MAGA governments from blocking clean energy farms
Listen to my inaugural Left of Lansing "Monday Musings!" I talk about how local Maga governments throughout Michigan are fighting against solar and wind farms in their areas. Democrats have proposed one solution to remedy this problem: put the state in control of large scale clean energy projects, which overrides a local government's powers. Democrats want to put the power of allowing farmers...
4m Oct 23, 2023
4m
70: LoL Friday Short: Democrats working to abolish Snyder's "Polluter Panels"
Here's the LoL Friday Short on this October 20th, of 2023 Democrats in the Michigan Legislature have introduced bills to abolish former Republican Gov. Rick Snyder's "Polluter Panels." (https://michiganadvance.com/2023/10/19/enviros-testify-in-favor-of-eliminating-ineffective-environmental-review-boards/?emci=9156ed9a-236f-ee11-b004-00224832eb73&emdi=4dd36f72-2f6f-ee11-b004-00224832eb73&ceid=...
4m Oct 20, 2023
4m
69: Episode 59: Taking On Corporate Greed, And Fighting FOR The People w/ State Rep. Dylan Wegela
It's the 59th episode of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast! My returning guest this week is Michigan Democratic State Rep. Dylan Wegela (https://housedems.com/dylan-wegela/) from the 26th House District. We talk about his plans to thwart the state's two main utility companies--DTE & Consumers Energy--from using dark money to influence Lansing, especially at a time when Michiganders want o...
44m Oct 19, 2023
44m
68: LoL Friday Short: UAW's Fain Shows The Power of Messaging
The Left of Lansing "Friday Short" this week puts a spotlight on UAW President Shawn Fain's effective messaging campaign during the union's strike against the Big Three Detroit automakers. Fain isn't allowing right wing forces, including the Republican Party or Donald Trump, to pit worker against worker, or the union against environmentalists. He's clearly defining who the real opponent is in...
5m Oct 13, 2023
5m
67: Episode 58: The UAW & Workers' Rights w/ Sarah Lazare of Workers Magazine
Episode 58 of Michigan's Premier Podcast is posted! In my opening segment, I discuss the lunacy of Livingston County Republicans, and why some GOP state representatives voted against a bill delivering clean water to schools and day care centers. Seems like an odd strategy, but let's see how it'll work out for them! Plus, I talk about the need for Michigan Democrats to keep pressing for passage...
42m Oct 12, 2023
42m
66: Friday Left of Lansing Short: Rep. Dylan Wegela Wants To Stop DTE & Consumers Energy Dark Money In Lansing
My Friday Left of Lansing Short is on Democratic State Representative Dylan Wegela's (https://housedems.com/dylan-wegela/) efforts on stopping the dark money influence DTE and Consumers Energy utilizes in Lansing. Rep. Wegela outlined (https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/contributors/2023/10/02/dte-power-outages-michigan-campaign/70983149007/) how he intends to do that by introducing a bill pr...
4m Oct 06, 2023
4m
65: Episode 57: Michigan Democrats Showing Government Works With Good Governance!
Here's episode 57 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast! I tackle The Fall of Kevin McCarthy, and why House Democrats made the right move by refusing to give him a life line. McCarthy voted against certifying the 2020 election, he called for impeachment hearings into President Biden despite a lack of evidence, and he did the bidding of Donald Trump. So, so long, Kev! As 2024 nears, I have...
44m Oct 05, 2023
44m
64: Friday Left of Lansing Short: What if Biden's poll numbers remain low?
My Friday LOL Short this week deals with the uncomfortable subject of what will Democrats do if President Biden's poll numbers keep struggling in early 2024? As someone who believes the Biden Administration has exceeded my expectations, the facts are that Biden remains neck-and-neck with Trump in several polls. Which is why I don't think it's wrong for Democrats to strategize a Plan B in case...
5m Sep 29, 2023
5m
63: Episode 56: Former Radio Host and Now Reporter Jon King from Michigan Advance
It’s the 56th episode of Michigan’s Premier Progressive Podcast! I’ve been looking forward to this episode because I’ve wanted to talk with Michigan Advance reporter Jon King for quite awhile. Jon’s been busy covering MAGA right wing Millennial presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy speech at the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference, Mike Rogers’ steep chances at winning the Republican no...
54m Sep 28, 2023
54m
62: Left of Lansing Short: State House Democrat Might Stop The Reproductive Health Act
This week's Left of Lansing Short deals with how Democratic State House Rep. Karen Whitsett (https://local.michigandems.com/people/michigan-state-house-district-4/Karen-Whitsett/) from the 4th district in Detroit not only voted against the Reproductive Health Act in House Health Policy Committee this week, but she's signaling she's vote against the RHA when it comes to a vote on the House floor...
4m Sep 22, 2023
4m
61: Episode 55: Paid Family Leave w/ Danielle Atkinson of Mothering Justice
Here's Episode 55 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast! Paid Family and Medical Leave is one of the important policies Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer mentioned in her "What's Next" speech last month. If Michigan's Democratic majority in the legislature can pass State Sen. Erika Geiss's paid family and medical leave bills, Michigan would join 11 other states which have alrea...
48m Sep 21, 2023
48m
60: Left of Lansing Short: UAW's 4-day work week request makes sense
The Left of Lansing Short on this Friday September 15, 2023 deals with the UAW's request for a 32-hour work week for its members. It's not that crazy of an idea, and the data shows that workers are happier and more productive when they work four days a week. If that's the case, then why aren't we doing it! The UAW officially started its "Stand Up Strike" against the Big Three automakers late...
4m Sep 15, 2023
4m
59: Episode 54: GOP absent for workers & clean, affordable energy; My response to Mitch Albom on respect for elderly
It's episode 54 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast! It's a solo episode this week as I spend time taking the Michigan GOP to task for being absent on supporting the UAW (and unions, in general) in its fight for fair wages, pensions, and paid time-off against the Big Three automakers. Progressives always support unions. Michigan progressive lawmakers and activists support unions, but not...
43m Sep 14, 2023
43m
58: The Friday Short: Democrats Reversing Draconian GOP Abortion Access Laws
The "Friday Short" highlights the Reproductive Freedom Act, which Democratic State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky formally introduced this week. The RFA would reverse many hurtful abortion access restrictions put in place by Republicans through the years as they tried to enact their view of Christian Nationalism on the rest of the state. Please, listen to this week's Left of Lansing episode with Ashlea ...
5m Sep 08, 2023
5m
57: Episode 53: Reproductive Health Act w/ Ashlea Phenicie from Planned Parenthood of Michigan
It's the 53rd installment of Michigan's premier progressive podcast! I start out mocking the right wing Michigan Republican Party for claiming to care about working Michiganders on this past Labor Day. Then, I talk about the latest from the nutty right wing Ottawa Impact faction, which is working to defund the Ottawa County health department all because it took steps to protect its citizens du...
49m Sep 07, 2023
49m
56: Friday Left of Lansing Short: Let Michigan Join Winner-Take-All National Vote Compact
It's the Friday Left of Lansing Short! I discuss my support to have Michigan join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. This would allow states to award their electoral college votes to the presidential candidate who won the national majority vote. Right now, states allocate their electoral college votes to the candidate who won their state. Democratic State Representative Carrie Rhe...
4m Sep 01, 2023
4m
55: Episode 52: Democratic State Rep. Carrie Rheingans and Universal Health Care in Michigan
Episode 52 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast is a little longer than normal, but well worth the listen! I take DTE Energy and Consumers Energy to task for failing to keep the lights on after storms rolled through the state. Despite keeping hundreds of thousands of customers in the dark, both energy companies are asking government officials to give the green light on more rate hikes! Pe...
51m Aug 31, 2023
51m
54: Friday Left of Lansing Short: Right Wing's Dream Of Silencing Gen Z
My Left of Lansing "Short" this Friday is about Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy's proposal to ban anyone under 25 from voting, unless they fulfil specific requirements, including passing a citizenship test. Generation Z is not only a politically active voting bloc, especially in Michigan, but it's also a highly progressive voting bloc. Rather than fight for their vote based o...
5m Aug 25, 2023
5m
53: Episode 51: Gina Keller from Distill Social, and Playing The New Offense
Here's another exciting and informative episode of Michigan's premier progressive podcast! The Christian Nationalism that has overtaken the Michigan Republican Party is trying to take control of the entire state. While Democrats have control of state government for the first time in 40 years, and progressive values have achieved some major victories, right wing Christian Nationalist are taking...
41m Aug 24, 2023
41m
52: Friday Left of Lansing Short: John Moolenaar's Gotion Hypocrisy
The "Friday Short" puts a spotlight on Michigan Republican Congressman John Moolenaar's hypocrisy when it comes to the proposed Gotion electric battery plant in Big Rapids. Moolenaar hopped-aboard the right wing xenophobia bandwagon since Gotion's parent company is from China (https://michiganadvance.com/2023/06/25/a-proposed-gotion-plant-has-turned-neighbors-and-friends-into-enemies/) . Yet, ...
5m Aug 18, 2023
5m
51: Episode 50: Mi Right To Read w/ Debbie Mikula of Michigan Libraries Association
Here it is! The 50th episode of Michigan's premier progressive podcast! I love that I've made it to 50 episodes, and I'd love to thank everyone who helped me get this little project off-the-ground. And, I'd love to thank you for listening, and to helping spread the word of this podcast. In this episode, I put a spotlight on the extreme right-wing Christian Nationalist movement, which is spread...
48m Aug 17, 2023
48m
50: Episode 49: Fighting To Close Line 5 w/ Sean McBrearty of Oil & Water Don't Mix
It's the 49th episode of Michigan's premier progressive podcast! I celebrate Ohio's decision to hand the state Republican party a humiliating defeat at the polls this week, when voters rejected the GOP's efforts to raise the threshold to pass a state referendum from 50-to-60%. Ohio Republicans were hoping to hurt the chances of enshrining abortion rights into Ohio's constitution in November. B...
45m Aug 10, 2023
45m
49: Friday Left of Lansing Short: GOP Wants TikTok Ban To Hurt Gen Z
This week's "Short" deals with the Republican effort to ban TikTok in the United States. Ostensibly, they argue it's to protect our privacy since TikTok is a Chinese company. But the main reason Republicans are fighting for a ban is to take-away a major communication tool from Generation Z voters, who are by far the most progressive voting bloc in the country. Generation Z played a key role i...
5m Aug 04, 2023
5m