Podcast
Daily Detroit
Hosted by Daily Detroit · EN
What to know and where to go in Metro Detroit! We have conversations that push Detroit forward and share local stories about restaurants, business, development, local government, policy, technology, things to do, transit and more. All in about 22 minutes a day.
50episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Lights Out, Bills Up, Everyone's Fed Up
2d ago00:22:03Tap to summarizeLights 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.
Transcribe →Michigan's $75 Billion Budget, Explained (with Steve Watson)
3d ago00:25:49Tap to summarizeThere'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.
Transcribe →McMorrow Drops Out: What's Next in Michigan's Senate Race?
5d ago00:25:06Tap to summarizeMallory 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.
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Kraftologie and Creativity in Detroit, with Trice Clark
1w ago00:14:06Tap to summarizeToday 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.
Transcribe →Kalshi Sports Paused in Michigan, Detroit's Housing Advantage, and Big3 Fun at LCA
1w ago00:25:31Tap to summarizeI'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
Transcribe →How Young Detroiters See the Future of Work
2w ago00:18:33Tap to summarizeDetroit 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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District Detroit Disappointment and Michigan's Senate Primary Heats Up
2w ago00:42:32Tap to summarizeOn today's Daily Detroit, we start with why District Detroit still looks like a sea of parking lots instead of the neighborhoods we were promised — and why that matters for the city's "front lawn" everyone in Michigan sees. We talk about our thoughts on this article in the Freep: https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/2026/06/25/district-detroit-construction-slow-pace/90594507007/ Then we dig into the Democratic U.S. Senate primary: Haley Stevens, Mallory McMorrow, and Abdul El-Sayed, their strengths, their blind spots, and what a "change election" could mean for Michigan and Detroiters on the ground. Along the way, we hit some lighter notes: summer lunches at old favorites like Tony V's, Checker Bar, and pho at Pho Lucky, plus a nod to Jobbie Nooner and a goodbye from the Pistons to Beef Stew. As always, follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get shows.
Transcribe →Office Hours: World Cup, Detroit‑Style Pizza & Your Hot Local Questions
2w ago00:21:45Tap to summarizeOn today's Daily Detroit, we're doing a listener "office hours" — answering your questions about life in the city, from fireworks and politics to the World Cup and where to get a proper Detroit style pie. The Rundown: 00:38 Where Norris has been: Tigris 03:56 Why are no parks open along the riverfront when for the Ford Fireworks? 08:03 Norris and Jer's most surprising personal political takes 14:19 Where to watch the World Cup matches around town 16:48 Top three Detroit style pizza picks, each from Jer and Norris
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Geeks, Freaks and Weirdos: The Future of Detroit's Economy
3w ago00:21:21Tap to summarizeI'm joined by Khalilah Burt Gaston of the Song Foundation to talk about who actually builds a tech economy — and why it's often the "geeks, freaks, and weirdos" who drive the biggest change. We get into the recent Tech for Tomorrow report, what it would take to add 20,000 tech and innovation jobs for Detroiters and $6.3 billion in wages, and how cities like Indianapolis and Columbus are pulling ahead of Detroit, Metro Detroit, and Michigan. We also connect the dots between tax policy, education, nonprofits, and how Detroit can really seize this moment. As always, follow Daily Detroit on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get shows. Feedback as always - dailydetroit@gmail.com or 313-789-3211, leave a voicemail. You can find a full transcript on our Daily Detroit website.
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Downtown Energy, Cannabis Business Pains and the Elephant Buried on Belle Isle
3w ago00:21:43Tap to summarizeOn today's Daily Detroit, Devon O'Reilly is back at the table after a family vacation in South Haven, so we start with some "Pure Michigan" talk about why that beach town has become a go‑to spot. Back in Detroit, I share a new Campus Martius retail experiment: a 20‑foot shipping container turned into a niche merch shop with Michigannia‑themed designs, custom Pewabic tile, and all the Camp Martius‑centric gear you could want. We also get into the lunchtime crowds, food trucks in Cadillac Square, and why it really feels like "IRL is back" in the city. Then we open the mailbag for smart note from a listener on exactly why Michigan's cannabis business is under serious stress. We wrap with a grab bag of very Detroit stories: Devon remembers swimming in the Detroit River off Belle Isle, I share the tale of Sheba the elephant buried near the island's giant slide (thanks Historic Detroit dot org!), and we kick around what a new Detroit City FC stadium needs to host beyond soccer. There's also a shout to a summer solstice member event at Henry and Clara Ford's Fairlane Estate, where Jens Jensen literally designed the great meadow to frame the solstice sunset. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever shows are found. Feedback as always - 313-789-3211 or dailydetroit@gmail.com is where you can shoot us a note.
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