Mackinac politics, Mike Duggan’s surprise exit, Muskegon memories, Memorial Day reflections, and why Michigan never stops being complicated.

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ML broadcasts from an unlikely luxury retreat — his mother-in-law’s porch in Muskegon, complete with toast and tea — before heading north to the annual Mackinac Policy Conference, where politics, influence, and ambition collide on Michigan’s most famous island.

The big story: Mike Duggan’s sudden exit from the governor’s race. Real ML's column about it here.

Why Duggan walking away shocked Michigan political insiders

The Detroit Regional Chamber’s heavy investment in Duggan — and whether it leaves them politically exposed
Questions about polling, money, and whether Duggan simply saw numbers he couldn’t overcome
Speculation surrounding federal scrutiny over Detroit demolition programs and whether outside pressures mattered
Why Duggan’s political instincts — and his obsession with numbers — may explain the move better than conspiracy theories

Then comes the question Michigan power brokers are quietly asking: What’s next for Duggan? The conversation explores whether Duggan could become the next president of the University of Michigan — despite lacking the traditional academic résumé. ML argues universities increasingly need operators, fundraisers, and fire-fighters as much as scholars. The episode also wanders — as Soul of Detroit always does — through:

Mackinac Conference politics and Charlie LeDuff’s absence from the island
Why campaign money and influence remain difficult to untangle in Michigan
The Tigers’ struggles and whether fans are approaching frustration or indifference
Muskegon’s transformation from paper-mill town to hidden Michigan gem
Hockey, beaches, and why west Michigan keeps surprising people

Then the tone shifts. A Memorial Day reflection brings the conversation back to sacrifice, loss, and the lasting cost of war. ML shares a personal story connected to a family member lost in Vietnam — a reminder that Memorial Day isn’t about celebration, but remembrance. There’s also time for:

Movie talk (Project Hail Mary)
The strange disappointment of seeing famous landmarks in real life
Theater nostalgia

GEEK OF THE WEEK:
Coachella and it's legal threats against a local animal charity event.

ROOM 7609:
Howard Jones, ‘80s music memories, and the curse of aging New Wave hairstyles.

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