Justin Onwenu says state government should protect residents from the 'insanity' of national politics

Why Jennifer Granholm says our politics have gotten so much worse today

How much has politics changed in the last 20 years? That was a different time— a time before President Trump and MAGA, before the wealth gap continued expanding, before we were as polarized as we are today, and before algorithmic media took hold. But how different were things, really? What can we learn from that era of politics? And what are the things that we should be happy we’ve left behind? Jennifer Granholm was the governor of Michigan from 2003 to 2011. She was also the energy secretary under the Biden administration. She’s on Mackinac Island, and will be speaking at this year’s policy conference. She spoke with The Metro's Robyn Vincent.

Darryl DeAngelo Terrell's art makes space for Black gay life

Darryl DeAngelo Terrell is a multidisciplinary artist who uses photography, videography, and sound to illustrate Black liberation. Growing up gay in Detroit was, Terrell could not fully express themselves. They use art to envision a world that embraces every part of their being.  Terrell lives in New York now, but they are an extension of the Black LGBTQ+ community of Detroit.   Cary Junior II spoke to Terrell about how their artwork in its many forms is a tool for Black and queer liberation.

Why this program has bipartisan support from all corners of Michigan

Money is getting tighter. The cost of life can be even more daunting if you have a kids. Children are expensive — diapers, food, clothing, and so much more. We don’t have statewide paid family leave in Michigan, but a public-private partnership has tried to ease the cost burden. Rx Kids provides unrestricted cash to mothers who are at least 16 weeks pregnant or to guardians who have a child who is six months or younger. It began in Flint two years ago. Now, Rx Kids has expanded to dozens of communities across Michigan. What have the impacts been for moms and kids? And, why is Rx Kids popular among people and places across the political spectrum? Nushrat Rahman is the Economic Mobility Reporter at the Detroit Free Press [https://www.freep.com/staff/5301447002/nushrat-rahman/] and BridgeDetroit. [https://www.bridgedetroit.com/author/nushrat-rahman/] She spoke with The Metro's Robyn Vincent.

Justin Onwenu says state government should protect residents from the 'insanity' of national politics

Life is becoming less affordable for Michiganders. And in Lansing, despite the constraints they face, many believe lawmakers are not doing enough to change that for residents. With state Senator Erika Geiss term limited out of her seat, two Democrats are now vying to improve life for residents in parts of Detroit and Downriver. Justin Onwenu is running as a Democrat for District 1’s state Senate. He spoke about what he wants to change with The Metro's Robyn Vincent.

Is it me or is it the economy?

Have you ever looked at a grocery receipt and felt your chest tighten? You're not alone. Roughly half of Americans say they struggle to afford rent or a mortgage. Food prices keep climbing. Household debt just hit a record $18.8 trillion [https://www.newyorkfed.org/microeconomics/hhdc]. Financial therapist Lindsay Bryan-Podvin says the affordability crisis isn't your fault — but that doesn't mean you're powerless. She joins Robyn Vincent on The Metro to talk about debt, shame, and what actually helps when the numbers stop working. Bryan-Podvin is based in Ann Arbor. She founded Mind Money Balance [https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/] and is the author of "The Financial Anxiety Solution."