When it comes to our federal system, we often don’t have a representative, majoritarian democracy. That means the idea of “one person, one vote” often does not hold. 

Gerrymandering favors one party to be elected in the House of Representatives. The electoral college overrides the popular vote. Money is considered speech, which means that people with more of it have more influence in our politics. 

What would it look like to have a democracy that represents people more than it does geography, and to have a politics that doesn’t favor the rich over those with fewer means?

Osita Nwanevu is a writer at The New Republic and The Guardian and the author of the book, “The Right of the People.” And in it, he argues that if we had a majoritarian democracy, we would collectively be better off. 

Producer Sam Corey spoke to Osita about that prospect, and whether some ballot proposals initiated in Michigan would create a more representative democracy in the state.

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There are several initiatives to get on the 2026 ballot. One of them is to help implement ranked choice voting in the state, which is being run by the group Rank MI Vote. 

Last week, the campaign to implement ranked choice voting took a hit. That’s because the Michigan Association of County Clerks came out against it.

What are clerks’ concerns from around the state? And, how would the work of Michigan clerks change if ranked choice voting were implemented, according to the Rank MI Vote ballot measure?

Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown spoke to Robyn Vincent about this and more.

The Metro contacted the leaders of the Rank MI Vote campaign for comment. They had many things to say about the clerks’ decision to be against their campaign. We have included some of their comments in the interview.

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It’s flu season, and that means public health departments are promoting vaccinations. Over the past few years,  local vaccination rates have been down, and more people have become wary of vaccines. 

Before the pandemic hit, Oakland County’s approach to getting people vaccinated had been to focus on vaccine science and facts. In other words, tell people that vaccines are essential and encourage local pediatricians to maintain high vaccination rates. 

But in the last few years, the county has changed its approach to vaccine hesitance; it’s now trying to be more open, curious and empathetic towards those who have concerns. 

What else is different about Oakland County’s approach? And has it been working?

Oakland County Health Officer Kate Guzman spoke with Robyn Vincent about this and more.

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While much of the media’s attention on November’s elections has been on Detroit’s mayoral race, there are many other political contests happening outside the city. 

One of them is in Madison Heights. That’s where a one-term city council member is running for mayor against the current Eastpointe police chief. 

If elected, the council member would be the city’s first Black mayor. But what’s also interesting about this race is that he — not the police chief — won the endorsement of the Michigan Fraternal Order of Police.

How did City Councilor Quinn Wright do it? And, why does he want to be mayor? 

Last week, Producer Sam Corey spoke with Wright about that and more. 

The Metro reached out multiple times to Wright’s opponent, Chief Corey Haines. We still have not heard back from him.

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Even though violent crime has been falling fast in Detroit over the last decade, the city still has a crime rate that’s one of the highest in the nation.  

Every year, police recover about 6,000 illegal guns in Detroit. Yet legal gun ownership is also common in the city, a reflection of how deeply concerns about safety and self-protection run through daily life.

To try to prevent crime before it happens, Detroit police stop people for nonviolent offenses. A Detroit Free Press investigation found that 20 percent of DPD shootings over the past decade started with those kinds of stops. 

Those findings stress the question: what is the police’s obligation to stop crime before it happens in a place where many don’t feel safe and guns are plentiful?

To explore this, Detroit Free Press investigative reporter Violet Ikonomova spoke with Robyn Vincent about her recent reporting on police shootings that began with stops for nonviolent offenses.

Correction: A former version of this web post stated that 20 percent of police stops for small infractions ended in police shootings. 

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The cost of college isn’t just measured in tuition dollars. For many students, part of the challenge is navigating the maze to get there. This is especially true for young people who are the first in their family to attend college.

Even though college is really expensive, many people are still making the case for it. Economists and educators generally cite the financial and social benefits that come with the experience. 

But getting admitted to a university can be difficult, especially for first generation college students. The price tag is one thing — but so is all the bureaucracy around the application process.

Last month, Wayne State University and Detroit public schools rolled out a plan to ease that burden. The university announced that Detroit juniors with a 3.0 or higher will be automatically enrolled at Wayne State through the Warriors on the Rise program. 

Cyekeia Lee is the Executive Director of the Detroit College Access Network, which helps Detroit public school students get into college. She spoke with Robyn Vincent about the potential benefits of the program.

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The attorneys representing young people in Detroit’s courts say their pay hasn’t kept pace with their purpose.

They haven’t received a raise in more than three decades.

Wayne County juvenile attorneys handle neglect and delinquency cases. They represent kids and families in crisis, but unlike public defenders, they are independent contractors who receive a set fee per hearing and no benefits.

Juvenile attorney Marc Shreeman says the pay is about $500 for a preliminary hearing and pretrial appearance, roughly half of what similar attorneys earn in nearby Oakland County. 

Shreeman says low pay, coupled with rising caseloads, is having an impact. In 2019, roughly 120 attorneys were taking juvenile cases in Wayne County; now, there are fewer than 60. 

The dwindling number of juvenile attorneys and stagnant pay come as Detroit faces a rise in youth violence compared with last year, and a higher number of teens being caught with firearms. City officials have responded by strengthening curfew enforcement and raising fines for parents of minors found out after hours. 

WDET contacted multiple county officials for comment.

The Wayne County Executive’s Office did not respond.

A representative for the Wayne County Court Administration, which distributes pay to juvenile attorneys, said in an earlier statement that the department is “working closely with Wayne County to address potential funding options” and that staff have met with the Ways and Means Committee to discuss the issue.

WDET also contacted Commissioner Jonathan Kinloch, who chairs that committee, but did not receive a response.

Juvenile attorney Shreeman joined Robyn Vincent on The Metro to discuss the work of public defenders in a time when young people are facing more danger.

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There are about 2,200 urban gardens across Detroit. In a place with a lot of empty tracts,  that can be a great use of land. 

And, over the past few years, the city has done things to assist the people who tend to it. There’s now an entire department dedicated to the inner workings of urban farmers. 

Recently, the city alongside the Eastern Market Partnership are collaborating to offer $225,000 in grant funding to Detroit-based farmers.

But even with the new dollars being made available, preserving and expanding farms can be challenging because upkeep can be costly and labor-intensive. With Mayor Mike Duggan leaving office, there will likely be turnover and questions about the priorities of the new administration.

Amanda Brezzell is the creative director and co-founder of Fennigan’s Farms in Detroit, a board member for the Detroit Food Policy Council, and a policy and engagement specialist for the Groundwork Center.

They spoke with Cary Junior II about the challenges and joys of farming in Detroit.

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In metro Detroit, we’re accustomed to highways. They’re everywhere. They get us to where we’re going quite quickly. But they also have drawbacks, creating noise and air pollution and keeping potential businesses and neighbors further from each other. 

A Detroit-based organization and the state are working to change that. The project to cap I-75 could allow pedestrians to stroll between downtown Detroit and certain parts of the city. 

Eric Larson, Chief Executive Officer of the Downtown Detroit Partnership, spoke with Robyn Vincent about what’s included in the plan and more.

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“Don’t tell me what you value. Show me your budget, and I’ll tell you what you value,” former President Joe Biden used to say. 

What he meant was that budgets aren’t just numbers on a page. They represent the things that we prioritize, the stuff we want expanded, and the work we want to shrink. 

The 2026 Michigan state budget took some time to sort out, but late last week a $75.9 billion budget was finally passed. 

Robyn Vincent spoke with Zach Gorchow, the president of Gongwer News Service Michigan to learn more about what the state budget reveals.

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A few years out of the pandemic, overdose deaths continue to drop. 

A new report found that overdose deaths declined by 37 percent from 2023 to 2024. Local EMS calls related to drug overdoses dropped as well.

What are Southeast Michigan government officials doing to try to continue lowering addiction and overdose rates since the numbers hit all-time highs?

Narcan availability is a big reason for this drop. But local governments are making more investments in physical and mental health care too. Oakland County just opened its 360 Care Center, which offers same-day services for non-emergency medical needs. 

Why is addiction a big problem for so many people in the first place? And what can health professionals and everyday folks do to try to stop it from ruining peoples’ lives? Producer Sam Corey spoke with Deputy County Executive for Oakland County Madiha Tariq to learn more.

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Detroit is known for its cars, but it’s also known for creating a lot of space for those cars. 

Wide roads with many lanes cross the city and its suburbs.

But there’s a real push from Detroit planners to change that — to make our streets more compatible and safer for pedestrians and cyclists, and to slow down motorists. 

Three years ago, Detroit published a “Streets for People” report about how to improve its streets. 

And earlier this week, a city official told The Metro that Detroit plans to make a series of truck route restrictions in Southwest. That regulation is meant to prevent big trucks from navigating neighborhood blocks. 

Producer Sam Corey spoke with Wayne State Urban Planner Eric Bettis about why Detroit has wide roads, and whether the city is trying to durably change that.

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On Sunday, a place of worship was turned into a scene of violence. 

In Grand Blanc, a former Marine and Iraq war veteran shot and killed at least four people at a Mormon church and allegedly set the building on fire. Officials say it was an act of targeted violence, though the motive remains unclear. Some victims are being treated at a local hospital. 

It’s no secret that gun violence is a big part of our culture here in the U.S. Gun deaths have increased over the last decade by 33 percent.

The United States is the rare wealthy nation with more guns than people.

Less than 14 hours before the attack in Michigan, another former Marine, Iraq war veteran and Purple Heart recipient killed three people and wounded five others in North Carolina. 

These stories are about guns and access, but they’re also about veterans reentering civilian life, about isolation, grievance, trauma, and how people respond—or don’t—to warning signs. 

Erin Comartin is a social work professor at Wayne State University. She spoke with Robyn Vincent about the roots of gun violence and how people can try to help prevent the next possible shooting.

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In Southwest Detroit, 18-wheeled vehicles frequently rumble through streets that aren’t made for them. Heavy truck traffic has been more than just an inconvenience here. 

For years, it’s meant noise, pollution, and danger for neighbors. And the problem is significant. 

Detroit is one of the country’s busiest freight hubs. Per Outlier Media reporting, about 128,000 loaded containers entered the city in July alone. 

To improve the situation, the city of Detroit is creating new truck restrictions on certain streets. Samuel Krassenstein is the Chief of Infrastructure and the Deputy Director for Public Works for the City of Detroit. He tells The Metro that next week the city plans to make some of the biggest series of truck route restrictions yet.

Krassenstein spoke with Robyn Vincent about truck traffic in Detroit, the problems it causes, and how the city is working to alleviate the problem for residents who live near it.

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When the Great Recession hit, homeownership in Detroit took a dive. Between 2011 and 2015, about 10,000 residents lost their homes due to illegal tax foreclosures following the city’s bankruptcy. 

Many foreclosed homes have ended up on the Wayne County auction list over the last decade. The good news is that the overall number of those homes has been shrinking, but it remains to be seen if this signals a trend. 

In this conversation, Metro producer Sam Corey spoke with Alex Alsup. He’s the author of the substack, “The Chargeback.” The two discussed what accounts for the increase in homes up for auction this year, and what can be done to stop or slow foreclosures.

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What does it feel like to be a small business owner in southeast Michigan right now?

It’s hard to get a firm picture of that, but we do have some numbers to put some paint on the canvas. Right now, the broad story is that the economy is doing well despite uncertainty from high tariffs. 

Corporate profits are strong, the jobless rate is 4.3 percent, and wages are going up. 

In Detroit specifically, the unemployment rate fell to below 10 percent, dropping from 11 percent in 2024. And a new report says that gains are expected to be had here in the finance, leisure, hospitality and public administration sectors. 

But, as noted, difficulty is looming. An effective US tariff rate at almost 16 percent is expected to hamper auto-related jobs. Many have companies stockpiled goods to counteract the tariffs, and some businesses anticipate raising prices. What’s more, companies are hiring much fewer people than they were four years ago.

What does all this mean for small businesses in our area? What does it look like to own a coffee shop, a clothing store, or a small construction company in Metro Detroit?  

Mark Lee is the president and CEO of The Lee Group, where he consults for small businesses. He spoke with Robyn Vincent.

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In an effort to reduce the high case load, Wayne County has recommended that City of Detroit attorneys prosecute misdemeanor offenses. Earlier this month, Detroit city council voted 8-1 to do just that beginning in July of next year. 

What kinds of cases will the city oversee? What kind of burden might this place on Detroit?

Conrad Mallett, Jr. is the corporation counsel for the City of Detroit. He spoke with Robyn Vincent.

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Political violence has been in the news so much, it can sometimes feel exhausting. Last week, the conservative activist, Charlie Kirk, was killed.

But there’s good reason the incident has gotten so much coverage. It’s an indicator of something much bigger and more devastating than the act alone — it’s a signal that our democracy is in a fragile state. 

That’s in part because political violence has been on the rise.

President Donald Trump was shot while on the campaign trail in 2024. An arsonist set fire to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion in April. In June, a former Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband were assassinated. An insurrection took place at the capitol well before all that. 

And that’s all outside of Michigan. 

Here, a capital riot took place in 2020. A kidnapping was attempted on our governor, Gretchen Whitmer, that same year, in part with hopes of starting a civil war. Just last week, vandalism hit a mosque in Warren. 

But what’s troubling experts about this violence is not just these events. It’s also the reactions to them. 

Comments about Charlie Kirk’s death on social media were often ferocious. Conservatives were calling for war against liberals. Liberals were happy with Kirk’s death. 

To be sure, these are the loudest voices. That’s the way social media algorithms work. The most extreme voices get the most attention because they translate to more advertising revenue. 

But people are still choosing to express views of hate and vitriol. 

How did we get here? And how do we get to a place where our democracy is stronger — where disagreement, and the bodies that contain those various perspectives, can live side by side?

Shikha Dalmia studies authoritarianism in an effort to stop it, and make us a freer society. She’s the president of the Institute for the Study of Modern Authoritarianism, and the Founder and Editor of the Substack, The UnPopulist. She spoke with Robyn Vincent.

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When who we are and what we believe in conflicts with the traditions that we’re raised in, life broadly leaves us three choices: we can change who we are to fit the tradition, we can leave the tradition behind, or we can try to change the tradition to fit our ideals.

That last choice requires courage. Change is not easy, and when it comes to a tradition like religion, many become upset when people start tinkering with how things are done. 

But that’s exactly what Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie has been doing. The rabbi who runs an alternative Jewish synagogue in New York City grew up in Israel under a lineage of orthodox rabbis. But Rabbi Lau-Lavie and his congregation at Lab/Shul don’t practice orthodox Judaism, they’re doing something unique and experimental. 

The new documentary, “Sabbath Queen” explores the life of Rabbi Lau-Lavie and more. Tomorrow, the rabbi will be at an event at the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue in Detroit. The film will be screening Sunday at the DIA. 

Sandi DuBowski is the filmmaker. He spoke with Cary Junior II.

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