“Our great partner, Governor Whitmer isn’t the only one fixing the roads around here,” said Mayor Sheffield yesterday, where she and the Department of Public Works gave an update to their road improvement program.
This $58 million initiative includes 140 individual major road and residential paving and construction projects, as well as bridge removals and streetscape construction.
The mayor said the project will not only fix the infrastructure of Detroit but it will build up the community’s workforce. “We are also putting Detroiters to work while we invest in our neighborhoods… 90% of the individuals that are doing this work are Detroit residents and 100% are unionized. Let’s give that a round of applause.”
Funding for the road projects will come from federal and state transportation funds. This project will begin along West Grand Boulevard.
Additional headlines for Thursday, June 25, 2026
New affordable housing complex for seniors
Earlier this week city leaders joined together for the ribbon cutting of new senior housing in Grandmont Rosedale. The new development Minock Park Place is a mixed use development bringing commercial space as well as affordable housing for seniors. The development includes 36 one bedroom apartments and six two bedroom apartments for low to moderate income seniors.
Mike Randall, executive director of the Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation, says completion of this project brings value to the neighborhood and community. “In the face of doubt, skepticism, a global pandemic, 3 presidential terms, skyrocketing inflation and costs, yet here we stand. Not for the recognition and not to boast but to demonstrate that value exists on our corridor not just on grand river not just on 6 mile…and not just on schoolcraft but throughout all the great city of Detroit.”
Residents are expected to begin moving in in July with commercial spots opening in the first quarter of next year.
Sports
MLB
The Tigers lost to the NY Yankees with the score of 4-2. Their next 3 game series is against the Houston Astros starting tonight at Comerica Park. First pitch is a 6:40pm.
Club soccer
Detroit City FC face Birmingham Legion FC on July 2 at Protective Stadium in Alabama
FIFA And the FIFA group stage continues as TEAM USA faces Türkiye. The U.S. has a 51% chance of winning according to sports analysts. Tonight’s game at the Los Angeles stadium in Inglewood California starts at 10 p.m. EST.
Murder mystery walking tour
And if you are looking for something spooky to get into this weekend, look no further than The Rosary Requiem—Detroit Murder Mystery Walking Tour.
The tour starts at Most Holy Redeemer Church – the church where the film “The Rosary Murders” was filmed. Organizers say the walking tour is blends mystery and intrigue, with the vibrant spice of Detroit’s Mexicantown – that means food!
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On June 25, the Henry Ford Museum will begin its America 250 Years in the Making events. From visiting the home of the Jacksons, to touring historic planes, museumgoers will have new exhibitions to explore until December 31. The first event, a tour of the Jackson Home, will begin on June 25, and will include historical sites of the civil rights movement.
Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) June 26- July 19 $20 adults, $10 senior/ college student (w/ valid ID), $8 youth, free for DIA Members
Since June 18, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) has showcased art from local high schoolers for its 5th year. From textile work to paintings, each student’s art is displayed and viewed by visitors from Metro Detroit. Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for seniors and college students with a valid ID, $8 for youths aged 6-17, and free for DIA members.
Commerce Township Community Library Friday, June 26 | 10:15 a.m- 4:50 p.m. Free
On June 26, the Commerce Township Community Library will host a Toy Story movie marathon to celebrate its newest film and 31st anniversary of the franchise. There will be crafts available during the viewing. Admission is free, but registration is required.
Clark Park Coalition Saturday, June 27| 1-4 p.m. Free
On June 27, the Clark Park Coalition of Detroit will host the Culture & Arts Festival. From 1 to 4 p.m., there will be art, music, and various activities from local residents. Admission is free.
Ann Arbor District Library Tuesday, June 30 | 12-1 p.m. Free
On June 30, the Ann Arbor District Library will host a family friendly karaoke event. From 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., there will be a selection of old and new Disney songs for all to enjoy. Admission is free.
Larry Bohannan (Sister Gichi Gichi Yaya, or Larry the “T-Shirt” guy) and Elena Theresa (Sister Este Lauder, Harder, Faster) joined the show to discuss the series and the history of Motor City Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a leading order of Queer nuns.
Hot Sweaty and Weird schedule
Hear the full conversation using the media player above.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and stream on-demand.
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For years, many of us accepted stigma and avoided therapy. But things are changing. These days, people are seeking therapy more than medication, and the shift is generational — younger people, Gen Z especially, have made therapy ordinary in a way their parents and grandparents never did.
What does that mean for our access to mental health care?
David Sniderman, a counselor and art therapist with the Willows Edge Counseling and Healing Arts Center, says the change will hit people’s access hard — especially rural and low-income Michiganders.
Sniderman joined host Robyn Vincent on The Metro to break down how insurance shapes therapy, and to make the case that what heals people most isn’t the method — it’s the trust between a therapist and client.
Hear the full conversation using the media player above.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand. Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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The Detroit Red Wings do not have a first round pick in the 2026 National Hockey League draft. They traded it, along with a third round selection, to the St. Louis Blues for defenseman Justin Faulk in March.
At the time, the Wings were in a good position to reach the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs. They thought adding Faulk would bolster their chances of making the postseason for the first time in almost a decade.
Instead, Detroit collapsed, losing 13 of their last 19 games. The team now has the longest playoff drought in the NHL at 10 seasons.
Besides giving up a first round draft pick, the Wings could lose their team captain this offseason. Dylan Larkin has asked for a trade, preferably to a playoff contender. Larkin has played his entire career in Detroit. But he turns 30 in July and wants to win a Stanley Cup while he can still play at a high level.
Helene St. James covers hockey for the Detroit Free Press. She says Larkin’s desire to leave traces back to the Winter Olympics in February, when he and Team USA won the gold medal.
“I was there covering the team, and I’ve never seen him look happier,” she says. “I think it really hit home to him what he has been missing out on in Detroit.”
Helene St. James is an author and Detroit Free Press hockey writer
Larkin has a no-trade clause but can waive it if General Manager Steve Yzerman finds a team willing to acquire Larkin.
Deal or no deal?
St. James says Yzerman doesn’t have to trade Larkin. If he does, he would want a similar player in return.
“He would need to get an established NHL player in his mid-to late-20s who can play center,” she says. “They really need value players now.”
Larkin listed the Florida Panthers as one of his preferred destinations. They won the Stanley Cup in 2025 but missed the postseason in 2026. And they have already made a big roster move that makes a deal for Larkin unlikely.
Florida acquired Larkin’s Olympics teammate Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators on June 21. Like Larkin, Tkachuk was a team captain and their statistics are similar. But Tkachuk is three years younger than Larkin. And the Panthers gave up several draft picks, including two first-rounders in this year’s draft.
St. James says trading Larkin for draft picks would set Detroit’s rebuild back by several years.
“Those guys are not going to materialize into NHL contributors for a few years, especially later in the draft,” she says.
A new leader waits in the wings
If Yzerman refuses to make a trade, then it would be up to Larkin to decide if he wants to play in 2026-27 or sit out the season. Either way, Yzerman and head coach Todd McLellan could pick a new captain to replace Larkin.
St. James says defenseman Moritz Seider would likely be that player.
“He has emerged as a leader in every respect, on the ice and off the ice,” she says. “He shows up all the time.”
Seider, 25, captained Germany’s national team in the 2026 Olympics. He was also the first player Yzerman drafted when he became GM in 2019.
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WDET strives to cover what’s happening in your community. As a public media institution, we maintain our ability to explore the music and culture of our region through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
WDET strives to cover what’s happening in your community. As a public media institution, we maintain our ability to explore the music and culture of our region through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
Michigan has seen 22 confirmed tornadoes 2026, including three in Metro Detroit.
The National Weather Service has issued more than 50 tornado warnings statewide this year. Joel Fritsma has tracked every one of them online.
Fritsma is the chief meteorologist for Michigan Storm Chasers. The website launched in 2022 and hired Fritsma straight out of Central Michigan University, where he studied meteorology. He says their goal is to fill communication gaps between NWS and the public so people watching online have time to take shelter.
“Every time there’s a severe thunderstorm warning or a tornado warning in the state, we’d be covering it live,” he says. “Since 2024, we haven’t missed a single warning.”
It’s “go” time
Fristma says he and his team start live streaming as soon as the weather service issues its first warnings for any severe event. And they don’t stop until the last warning comes out.
“Sometimes, it’s upwards of 10 to 11 hours,” he says. “It just depends on how long the storms want to go.”
Joel Fritsma is the chief meteorologist for Michigan Storm Chasers
And it doesn’t matter what time it is. Fritsma was live streaming when a brief tornado hit Lincoln Park between 2 and 3 a.m. on April 15. He doesn’t mind.
“I kind of like taking the night shift,” he says. “We always have at least one person on call throughout the day.”
Fristma says when the weather is fine, he’s still working full-time.
“We’re looking at the forecast multiple days in advance,” he says. “We host live streams prior to an event so that people can ask questions.”
A lot of people tune in
Fritsma says the website’s staff has grown from a handful of people to about 30 since 2022. And he says its audience has grown, too.
“We have over a million followers between all of our platforms,” he says.
People can watch and interact with the live streams on Facebook and YouTube. And soon, they’ll be able to download a new mobile app.
Fritsma says the app will allow followers to get live streams on their phones and let them report storm damage.
“We have Messenger, we have Discord, there’s so many options,” he says. “And that information will be very crucial when we send it to the National Weather Service.”
The app is set to launch this summer.
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Michigan candidate for governor, John James, says Canadian wildfire smoke needs to be better controlled, as part of a deal to open the Gordie Howe Bridge. James made the comments on a video on Facebook earlier this month.
“You look at wildfire smoke every summer. They’re throwing off 500 million vehicles’ worth of carbon emissions into our air each and every year and doing very little to nothing about it. That’s got to change right now,” said James. “As a part of any deal we do with Gordie Howe Bridge, we have to work in close cooperation with Ottawa to make sure they’re also managing their business, so we can keep our people healthy and we can keep our relationship strong.”
Last summer, James wrote a letter to Canadian officials asking them for action to keep wildfire smoke from drifting into Michigan.
President Donald Trump endorsed James on Monday to become Michigan’s next governor. Other elected officials around the country quickly followed suit. James will face businessman Perry Johnson, and former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox in the Aug. 4 Republican primary.
Additional headlines for Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Detroit police pick up 180 curfew violators during fireworks
The Detroit Police Department is reporting that it detained 180 juveniles on Monday night for curfew violations before the annual Ford fireworks show over the Detroit River. A news release says 171 of those detained were city residents. Nine live elsewhere.
A special curfew was approved for fireworks night. It required everyone under 18 to be accompanied by an adult from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. The police department says 19 adults were arrested for a variety of infractions, including carrying concealed weapons, aggravated assault, and disorderly conduct.
One 18-year-old was shot by a police officer after a short chase, several hours before the fireworks began.
Dearborn schools seek new bond approval
Dearborn residents will see a new millage proposal on their November general election ballot. The city’s Board of Education will ask voters to approve a $1.5 billion bond measure. If passed, the money will fund the construction of six new schools.
The district says the bond would also be used to remodel every remaining school building over the next 20 years. The board approved ballot language for the proposal at Monday’s meeting.
New apartment complex opens on west side
A west-side Detroit neighborhood is getting a new apartment building. The city opened the OSI Art Apartments Tuesday afternoon. The newly constructed four-story complex provides 30 residential units. About half qualify as “affordable housing”.
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield says the project will make a difference along the Grand River corridor. “It is an honor as mayor to welcome this project to our city. A project that combines housing, culture, arts – and to breathe this vibrancy back into our community, which is so needed in our city. So I thank you all so much for investing in Detroit.”
The development, which also includes 5,000 square feet of retail space, will be the gateway to the West End Gallery District. The building located on Grand River near Selden is named for Nigerian-American artist Osi Audu.
Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Many residents in metro Detroit — home to the nation’s largest Lebanese community — are mourning as the war between Israel and Hezbollah brings devastation to Lebanon.
Since March, relentless fighting has left southern towns and villages in ruins. By May, at least 62,000 buildings were destroyed, more than 1 million people were displaced, and over 4,000 have been killed.
In Israel, four civilians have died and 32 soldiers have been killed in the conflict.
There’s a shaky ceasefire now, but it’s only days old, and Israeli forces still occupy parts of southern Lebanon.
For many in metro Detroit, the pain is personal.
What does it look like to be forced from home, only to return to rubble? How does all the violence and instability ricochet among friends and loved ones here in metro Detroit, where many have family and community ties to Lebanon?
Mirvet Makki is the owner of Divine Dine Detroit, a catering business in Dearborn. She immigrated to Michigan from Lebanon in 1990, and she’s been using earnings from her business to make donations to folks in Lebanon. She says she’s constantly reflecting on the devastation in the country where she was born.
“Seeing the rubble on the side of the road, I was thinking to myself, ‘whose son was lost here, whose father was here, whose child died on this road?’” she says.
Makki joined host Robyn Vincent on The Metro to reflect on the heartbreak unfolding in Lebanon and how it reverberates through metro Detroit’s Lebanese community.
Hear the full conversation using the media player above.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand. Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or NPR or wherever you get your podcasts.
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The Grow Hamtramck program in the city of Hamtramck is hoping to plant a thousand trees in four years.
Community and Economic Development Director for the City of Hamtramck Isabel Allaway says it’s a part of a grant-funded urban forestry project to increase the city’s tree canopy and increase shade in the densest city in Michigan.
“We did some inventory in 2019 to determine what available public planting spaces there were in our city, and we pursued this grant funding and were awarded it after we found over 1,200 available planting spaces at that time,” she says.
Allaway says the funding will focus on generating requests from residents to determine where to plant 1,000 trees in the city.
Contractors, which include an arborist team and people who plant and maintain the trees in their first year of life, take care of the rest.
“We’re about a year and a half into what is a four year program, and we’ve planted about 400 trees so far of that 1,000 trees,” she shares.
Careful planning
Allaway says the city works with an arborist team and the Davey Resource Group, the urban forestry program coordinator for this project, to determine which trees should or should not be planted in the city.
“We want to make sure that we’re maintaining species diversity and that we’re not planting too many trees of the same variety in close proximity to each other to maintain the health of the urban tree canopy,” she says.
Allaway says they the city is planting trees on the public right of way that are 3 feet to 5 feet wide, between sidewalks and streets. That’s to minimize cracks, sidewalk disruption or from trees not going too far over people’s homes.
“So we’re planning about 70% small trees in those spaces, and the residential right of ways on those residential streets are really our highest priority for generating requests,” she expresses.
Growing benefits
She says along with increasing the tree canopy, planting more trees reduces the heat index, provides shade and increases the feeling of safety for pedestrians and cars.
“A tree-lined street reduces the speed at which someone will drive a vehicle down that street, because it narrows the sight line,” she explains.
Allaway says it also increases property values for homeowners.
“We’re really conscious that our residents live in a city that’s surrounded by sort of a collar of industrial properties, and so trying to make sure that we’re mitigating those impacts for our residents is really important to us,” she says.
Allaway says the trees should also help with absorbing stormwater and groundwater, due to the flooding in Hamtramck.
People can sign up for a tree or call the Community and Economic Development Department at 313-800-5233 extension 818 for an over-the-phone intake. They can also email treerequests@hamtramckcity.gov or fill out a survey.
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Sam Tallent is a comedian, novelist, and host of the Chubby Behemoth Podcast. After touring comedy clubs across the country and internationally, he has learned that each crowd responds in unique and surprising ways.
Tallent, known for his comedy specials “Waiting for Death to Claim Us” and “The Toad’s Morale,” has built a career with a distinct comedic voice which caters to his audiences.
He’s headlining the second What’s So Funny About Detroit comedy showcase of the summer on Thursday, June 25. The event will feature some of the funniest comedians in metro Detroit, including Blaine Hill and Johanna Medranda, with Tallent closing it out.
Tallent joined the show ahead of his What’s So Funny About Detroit appearance to discuss stand-up comedy crowds, his creative process, and his upcoming novel “Brut.”
Hear the full conversation using the media player above.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and stream on-demand.
One-of-a-kind podcasts from WDET bring you engaging conversations, news you need to know and stories you love to hear. Keep the conversations coming. Please make a gift today.
Have you ever rented an apartment and noticed extra fees tacked onto the rent? A fee for the trash. A fee for pest control. How about a fee for “managing the boiler.”
Those are among the allegations against Greystar, the biggest landlord in America. It paid $24 million to settle a lawsuit claiming it hid fees like these on top of the rent it advertised. Greystar says it did nothing wrong — and the settlement lets it keep charging the fees. It just has to list them now.
This one hits close to home. Greystar runs more than 3,000 apartments in metro Detroit, and nearly 2,000 more in Ann Arbor and Lansing. The fees can add hundreds of dollars a month. And if you miss them, many leases say you can be evicted.
Investigative reporter and author Tracie McMillan spent months digging through leases and court records for her new investigation in The Guardian. She joined Robyn Vincent on The Metro to explain why renting can cost so much more than the advertised price.
Hear the full conversation using the media player above.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and stream on-demand.Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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The race for the Democratic nomination in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race has been one of the most fascinating in the country. It drew national attention when controversial political commentator Hasan Piker rallied with Abdul El-Sayed on college campuses.
Piker has millions of followers on social media, largely made up of people under the age of 30.
The move was immediately met with condemnation from El-Sayed’s opponents – Congresswoman Haley Stevens, and State Senator Mallory McMorrow.
Since then, El-Sayed has steadily risen in the polls.
In a conversation this week, WDET’s Russ McNamara asked Piker what he seeks in an ideal candidate.
The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Hasan Piker: A candidate self-identifying as a socialist would be great, but in the absence of that, I care about where their primary focus is. Are they going to center the needs of the working class in their agenda, or are they malleable to corporate interests? And those are the things that I pay attention to.
I think some of the telltale markers of a candidate’s responsiveness to the masses is oftentimes their attitude on the issue of Israel, which is a 90-10 issue on the side of the voters within the Democratic Party, but a 10-90 issue seemingly when it comes to Congress.
Another one is Medicare for all. The private healthcare provider industry is a multi-billion-dollar industry, and they spend a great deal of money to ensure that Medicare for all is not implemented, and I think that’s another great litmus test to see if a candidate will actually put the needs and the interests of the working class first over their interest in farming campaign contributions from these moneyed interests.
Ed. Note – Piker recorded this interview while in New York City to support the Democratic Socialist candidates in their primary election. All won.
Russ McNamara, WDET: Then it sounds like Abdul El-Sayed checks a lot of those boxes.
Piker: Yes, absolutely.
McNamara: Was it all part of that that got you to come out onto the campaign trail for him earlier this year?
Piker: Yeah, Abdul El-Sayed doesn’t call himself a socialist, but I still like him quite a bit because I think he’s a fighter, and that’s what Americans need right now. Americans need fighters in the Senate, they need fighters in the House of Representatives, fighters that will put their interests first, fighters that won’t even shy away from sometimes telling the rest of the Democratic Party—not just the Republicans—that the path that they’re heading down is wrong.
Abdul obviously demonstrated that interest, and he has been a fighter for Medicare for all for a very long time, I mean, he wrote a book about it. His gubernatorial run was around the implementation of Medicare for all, so he has established a lot of trust in these communities, and I trust them as well.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed speaks to UAW-represented public defenders during an informational picket on June 17, 2026.
McNamara: Kind of along those lines, when you came to Michigan in the spring, there was tremendous outcry in some circles. Congresswoman Haley Stevens said you were ‘divisive.’ Mallory McMorrow compared you to the white supremacist Nick Fuentes. What is your response to things like that? Because you seem to hear it a lot.
Piker: Unfortunately, this is the way that politics is conducted in this country. In most circumstances, people rely on the rest of the electorate not really knowing anything about me, and in the past this might have actually worked, because mainstream media and local institutions were capable of successfully gatekeeping outsider candidates and also outsider media figures.
Nowadays it’s a little bit different, especially because there’s so much diversity of choice in where people can get their news from, so people can come to me directly and figure out what I’m actually about, so that was one of the reasons why that smear campaign failed spectacularly, because people could just tune into my broadcast, or people were maybe somewhat familiar with what I represented, and they understood that these smears were simply being thrown in my direction, not because of any serious anti-Semitism that I’ve ever displayed.
I have not; I’ve actually combated anti-Semitism my entire professional media career and will continue to do so. I find it repugnant. It’s an odious form of bigotry, just like every other form of bigotry, including Islamophobia.
But the other reason why this smear campaign did not work is because a lot of people intrinsically now understand in the aftermath of three years of genocide, and a lot of establishment Democrats, and certainly the entirety of the Republicans, criticizing those who speak out against this genocide with these heinous accusations, a lot of people understand that this is not a person that is actually bigoted in any way, shape or form. As a matter of fact, it’s quite the opposite. This is an anti-genocide advocate, and that’s part of the reason why he’s being called an anti-Semite.
Now, that dangerous conflation actually foments more anti-Semitism, which is, ironically, something that I’ve discussed quite a bit as well, for many, many years prior to October 7, and continue to do so now. But that’s why it didn’t work. It demonstrably failed, right? It fell flat on its face.
People started looking at Abdul’s campaign, people started hearing what he was saying, and they liked it… He was in third place before this smear campaign started, and now he’s comfortably in first place.
Abdul El-Sayed is a wonderful candidate. He has solid fundamentals. He’s probably one of the best candidates in the Democratic primary cycle this midterm season. Rhodes scholar, doctor, worked for Detroit Public Health, spent his entire professional life trying to heal people, and on top of that, he is against the genocide that Israel has committed, and that’s consistent with his values, consistent with my values as well, and yet he was not receiving a lot of media attention, that race in and of itself was not receiving a lot of media attention… and I guess Haley Stevens and Mallory McMorrow stepped on a landmine there and accidentally nationalized and publicized this (Michigan Senate) primary, and people actually started tuning in.
People started looking at Abdul’s campaign, people started hearing what he was saying, and they liked it. And lo and behold, he was in third place before this smear campaign started, and now he’s comfortably in first place.
McNamara: It seems like many within the Democratic Party still haven’t fully accepted the role Israel’s genocide in Gaza played in the 2024 election. I recently talked with pollster Adam Carlson about a recent Zenith research survey he did, and it had showed that Haley Stevens would lose a significant portion of people who identify as progressives in the general election, should she make it through the primary, less so for El-Sayed and McMorrow. Do you think this country’s views have shifted enough, and now unconditional support for Israel is seen as a political liability?
Piker: Absolutely, and that’s precisely the reason why AIPAC and AIPAC subsidiaries never actually reveal that the candidates that they’re fundraising for are pro-Israel. None of those ads, whether they be attack ads against their opponents or the ads in favor of their hand-selected candidates, ever mention this candidate’s point of view on Israel. If Israel was such a popular position, then they would proudly declare it. AIPAC wouldn’t need to use this opaque funding structure and find shell corporations to funnel money into by way of their donor network under the guise of United Democracy Fund, or Elect Women Fund, that was the one they used in Illinois in the Chicago primaries.
They do that because I think everyone understands that pro-Israel politics is demonstrably unpopular, and it’s only going to get less popular from this point on. I often throughout the genocide would say: going forward, today is the most popular Israel will be. Tomorrow, Israel will be less popular than it was today, and yesterday Israel was more popular than it is today. And that has been resilient.
There are constant demands for censorship against prominent critics of Israel.
That (pro Israel) attitude has shifted, and it will continue to shift as more and more people not only come to terms with Israel playing a destabilizing role in the region, but also the unbelievable amount of arrogance in display by those who are defenders of Israel and defenders of Israeli foreign policy.
I think that is oftentimes a less discussed aspect of the reason as to why Americans are frustrated with Israel, and it’s because there are constant demands for censorship against prominent critics of Israel. Some of those censorship attempts are actually successful, de-platforming initiatives that take place. I myself was banned from traveling to the United Kingdom only last month, and it was directly a consequence of my criticisms of Israel.
This kind of censorious attitude, especially when it’s the overwhelming majority’s position, is going to be unbelievably frustrating, and it’s only going to breed more enmity and hostility against the State of Israel. And outside of that there is this level of entitlement to unlimited funds coming from the United States of America, funds and weapons that Israel deploys on Palestinian civilians, on Lebanese civilians, as they’re doing currently, as they’re in the process of trying to disrupt the memorandum of understanding in a longstanding ceasefire negotiation that we might actually finally implement with Iran.
These kinds of destabilizing initiatives paired up with hubris, unbelievable entitlement and arrogance come across as very frustrating to the average American who is maybe uninitiated with the actions of Israel.
McNamara: Influencers are often brought up as a way for people to connect with younger voters. As you know, Democrats tried to do this to very mixed success at the DNC two years ago, but to you, what is the best way to gain the attention and the vote of the mythical younger voter?
Piker: I think it’s policies, ironically enough. In the post 2024 autopsy that was being conducted in public, a lot of Democrats went to mainstream media and decided the reason why Donald Trump won was because of Joe Rogan—and Joe Rogan was obviously the catch-all term for the podcast circuit, the manosphere.
Now, is the podcast circuit of the manosphere influential, especially in terms of converting young men to voters? Certainly, but ironically enough, they chose me as the left version of Joe Rogan because of my audience, because of the success I’ve seen in the independent sphere as the largest left content creator in these spaces that are inundated with far right and right-wing messaging.
The most significant issue is that the Democratic Party is not defined by a policy prescription for the problems that the working class faces in this country.
I told them over and over again, this is not an issue that you can podcast your way out of, that I myself am not the Joe Rogan of the left, and that Joe Rogan could potentially be the Joe Rogan of the left, and was the Joe Rogan of the left at some point when he endorsed Bernie Sanders. And that ultimately the problems that the Democratic Party are facing do not revolve around their lack of funding in messaging initiatives. That’s one element of the issue, but it’s not the most significant one.
The most significant issue is that the Democratic Party is not defined by a policy prescription for the problems that the working class faces in this country, and when they’re not defining themselves on those terms with left populous economic solutions: Medicare for all, an initiative in the direction of publicly funded housing, federal jobs guarantee, free college, these bold and somewhat radical agenda items that I think a lot of Americans are on board with.
Instead of doing that, the Democratic Party is constantly finding itself in a defensive posture against Republican culture war agenda items, and by not having a vision in the affirmative, they are allowing the Republican party to define the Democratic party, and that’s the reason why they keep losing. So it comes back to policies at the end of the day, because that’s the fundamental principle of theoretical democracy. We are going to vote an elected representative to represent our interests.
“What will you offer me?” This is the question that I think a lot of people understandably ask their elected representatives in the Democratic party, and their answers have so far been insufficient. I hope that this sequence of electoral defeats will light a fire under the Democratic Party, so that they don’t shy away from a more bold agenda, a more bold vision for change, especially because there’s tremendous appetite in the base of support for said bold agenda of change that centers the needs of the working class first and does not get bogged down with unnecessary culture war distractions.
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Today’s playlist features artists like Wire, Buzzcocks, Devo, U2, The Marías, Cleo Sol, Labi Siffre, and IDLES, bridging decades of music from influential classics to emerging artists. Along the way, remixes from Nicolas Jaar,John Beltran, and Prins Thomas add an electronic touch.
Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.
In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for June 24, 2026
“Why Can’t I Touch It? (2001 Remastered Version)” – Buzzcocks
“Geneva Strangemod” – Glyders
“I Want Some” – The Make-Up
“The Day My Baby Gave Me a Surprize” – Devo
“I’LL BE YOUR FRIEND” – Ruti
“Hush” – The Marías
“Hit My Head All Day” – Dry Cleaning
“I Will Follow” – U2
“Cough / Cool” – The Misfits
“Ghost Rider (2019 Remaster)” – Suicide
“State Trooper” – Bruce Springsteen
“POP POP POP” – IDLES
Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.
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Researchers are using digital technology to improve forest management strategies.
Michigan State University scientists have employed a 3-D mapping technology called LIDAR—which stands for light detection and ranging—to make a digital model of a pine plantation.
Dave Carter is an assistant professor of Silviculture at MSU. He says LIDAR can survey areas faster than foresters.
“In terms of area, that person may only cover like 1% to 5% of the total stand, whereas a LIDAR measurement would conceivably cover like the whole stand aerially, and maybe accurately count and measure 90% to 95% of the trees in some cases.”
After LIDAR scans are uploaded, an AI model simulates different management strategies and finds the most effective ways to remove or apply treatments to trees, or even predict the effects of tree thinning.
“And we were just trying to demonstrate that that workflow was possible, where you could take that simulated thinning, pass it off to a model, have it project what the future yield would be as a result of your thinning, and then do that a number of times and figure out which method is best.”
Carter says AI can be faster and more precise than traditional methods of thinning, saving time and money. He says this technology could eventually be used by tree farmers as well as conservationists
WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
On this week’s show, I revealed the lineup for the 2026 Sounds Like Detroit Showcase, as voted on by WDET listeners!
This is WDET’s version of NPR’s annual Tiny Desk Contest, where we present 10 local artists who submitted to the national program and let YOU decide which ones you’d like to see perform live at our showcase happening at Batch Brewing on Aug. 13. Tickets are available NOW.
On the show, I sampled songs from each of the winning artists, including modern jazz from KTCHEN, a blend of jazz and neo-soul from Aisha Ellis, passionate and poetic hip-hop, R&B and soul from Jubilee Jackson, and then the special MI Local pick, the storytelling folk ballads from singer-songwriter Michelle Held!
This is the fourth annual Sounds Like Detroit Showcase, and my third time serving as your official emcee, so take my word for it when I tell you: you don’t wanna miss this! It’s a special night with incredible vibes where YOU can discover your new favorite local artist! Or, if you cast a vote, then join us to cheer on your favorite! It’s a celebration of local music, brought to you by WDET! Stay tuned for more featurettes on MI Local in the weeks ahead, and make sure you get your tickets now!
Meanwhile, we also had a ton of premieres this week on the show, including a new single from Hamtramck-based singer-songwriter John Salvage, who has a new album out in July, along with Ricochet The Kid, The Quitters, Ani Mari, and more!
My in-studio guests were organizers of a special film screening event happening at the Outer Limits Lounge this weekend, where they’ll be showing a rarely-seen music documentary that captures the scene around Detroit in 1979, titled Face The 80s. We talked about the legacy of bands from that era, including The Romantics and Destroy All Monsters, and sampled songs by bands featured in the film, like Algebra Mothers, Sonics Rendezvous Band, and more.
Listen to the full show above for up to two weeks after it airs.
Support the shows you love.
WDET’s unique music programs are dedicated to exploring the music and culture of our region and the world. Keep the music going. Please make a gift today. Give now »
This week on The Shake Out: the origins of an iconic 50s classic, a rare Michigan rock’n’roll record from Little Mac and the Bravadoes, early tunes by the Marvelettes and Martha and the Vandellas (when they were stilled called the Del-Phi’s), the session where Bob Dylan met Robbie Robertson (featuring Rolling Stone bassist Bill Wyman) plus songs from Outrageous Cherry, The Nerves, Bonnie Raitt and much more. All on vinyl with host Dave Lawson.
The Shake Out playlist for June 23, 2026
“I’m on My Way” – Mahalia Jackson
“Old Time Love” – The Rivingtons
“Twistin’ Fever” – The Marcels
“Billy’s Blues” – Billy Stewart
“Love Is Strange” – Bo Diddley
“No Good Lover” – Mickey and Sylvia
“Steam Roller” – Mickey Baker
“He Don’t Love You (And He’ll Break Your Heart)” – Levon and the Hawks
“I Wish You Would” – John Hammond
“Juicy” – Willie Bobo
“Nobody Loves Me Like My Baby” – Jimmy Gilford
“Dance Baby (with Me)” – Little Mac and the Bravadoes
“Out of the Blue” – Tommy James
“Soul Sauce” – Cal Tjader
“Stay Right Here for a Little While” – Outrageous Cherry
“When You Find Out” – The Nerves
“The Ox” – The Who
“Too Many Tears” – Miles Stone
“Movin’ Too Slow” – The Exciters
“Marsanova” – Hank Marr
“Tossin and Turnin” – Bobby Lewis
“Twistin’ Postman” – Marvelettes
“The White House Twist” – Twistin’ Kings
“I’ll Let You Know” – The Del Phis
“You’ve Been in Love Too Long” – Bonnie Raitt
“Payback (instrumental)” – Johnny Good
Support the shows you love.
WDET’s unique music programs are dedicated to exploring the music and culture of our region and the world. Keep the music going. Please make a gift today. Give now »
Rest in rhythm to the avant garde blues-funk guitarist James Blood Ulmer, plus new music from Kurt Vile ahead of his show on Thursday at St. Andrew’s Hall and fresh selections from the wonderful voice of Sabina McCalla.
Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.
In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for June 23, 2026
Are You Glad to Be In America? – James Blood Ulmer
Zoom 97 – Kurt Vile
Wild – Molly Burch
Summer Girl (Bonus Track) – HAIM
Meu Amor – Julio Secchin & Maria Luiza Jobim
Bye Bye Papaye (Lexx Mix) – Antena
Pata Pata (Stereo Version) – Miriam Makeba
Home to You – Cate Le Bon
That’s Us/Wild Combination – Arthur Russell
Strange Overtones – David Byrne & Brian Eno
Sunshine Kisses – Sabine McCalla
First World Problem – Unknown Mortal Orchestra
I Wanna Know If It’s Good To You – Funkadelic
Nabed Nade Ei Piny Ka (Rework) – Owiny Sigoma Band
Dirty Money – Antibalas
Ouroboros – Goat
St. James Infirmary – Allen Toussaint
Evening Breeze – Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
Family – Brenda
Girl You Need a Change of Mind – Eddie Kendricks
Tell Me – Clive From Accounts
Tart Tart (The Reflex Revision) – Happy Mondays
Train In Vain – The Clash
Hit the North, Pt. 1 – The Fall
Let Forever Be – The Chemical Brothers
Dos Gardenias – Buena Vista Social Club
Me Gustas Tú – Manu Chao
Where I’m From (Tom Misch Remix) – Kiko Bun
Love and Happiness – Monty Alexander
African Skies – Lars Bartkuhn
Listen to In The Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.
Support the shows you love.
WDET’s unique music programs are dedicated to exploring the music and culture of our region and the world. Keep the music going. Please make a gift today. Give now »
One-of-a-kind podcasts from WDET bring you engaging conversations, news you need to know and stories you love to hear. Keep the conversations coming. Please make a gift today.
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Henry Ford Museum
June 18- Dec 31
$30-39
Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA)
June 26- July 19
$20 adults, $10 senior/ college student (w/ valid ID), $8 youth, free for DIA Members
