Detroit sits under two major migratory flyways, making it one of the best places in North America to see birds on the move. Gretchen Abrams from the Detroit Bird Alliance joins us to preview the first Pheasant Flock Party coming up this weekend, talk spark birds (the birds that first get you into birding), and share how vacant lots turned meadows are helping wildlife across the city.

Detroit Bird Alliance: https://www.detroitbirdalliance.org

Pheasant Flock Party event listing (Eventbrite): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pheasant-flock-party-tickets-1987392430258

As always, feedback is welcome - dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211.

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Daily Detroit is on the porch at the Mackinac Policy Conference, and Jer and Devon have a wide‑ranging conversation about Michigan's political future and Detroit's urgency problem.

From Governor Gretchen Whitmer's emphatic "no" on a presidential run to the very real possibility she ends up as the top choice for vice president, they unpack what her popularity says about the broader electoral landscape and 2024's lessons for Democrats in a swing state.

(That said, after we recorded, she hedged her bets later in the day).

On the island, the 2026 governor's race was present (but not in a debate), and we talk about it.

Then, they zoom in on one of the most revealing moments of the week: A years‑long legislative delay on the RenCen brownfield deal, even with a billion‑dollar offer on the table and no profit motive. What does it say about how Michigan makes decisions, and we talk about why "maybe" is often worse than "no."

The conversation closes with a look at the dysfunction of elected university boards in Michigan in the wake of the resignation of the MSU president, the talent pipeline, and the physical glow‑up on Mackinac Island — from the Grand Hotel to Lake View and Mission Point — as Michigan lives up to its billing as a top national destination.

Today we talk about how Michigan slipped from a top‑tier state into the bottom 10 on key measures like education, income and population — and why acknowledging the crisis is the first step to fixing it.

Today's conversation is with Detroit Regional Chamber president and CEO Sandy Baruah gets into this year's urgent theme at the Mackinac Policy Conference: "The house is on fire."

Sandy explains why he thinks more common ground between business and policymakers, and between Democrats and Republicans, is the only way to reverse those long‑term trends.

We get into how constant partisan whiplash on policy, from electric vehicles to economic development, makes it nearly impossible for Michigan's signature industries to plan long term.

They close on what success at Mackinac would look like over the next one to five years — from educating a whole new wave of elected officials to locking in 70‑percent solutions instead of all‑or‑nothing showdowns.

And, despite the alarms, Sandy lays out why Michigan's quality of life, workforce, and higher‑ed system still give the state a real chance to win.

Feedback as always, dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or leave a voicemail, 313-789-3211.

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Transit in Metro Detroit is at an inflection point.

We talk with Transportation Riders United executive director Megan Owens about the new Wayne County‑wide transit millage, what an extra eight bucks a month could unlock, and how our region invests less in buses than almost any big metro in America.

The vote is crucial for the future of transit as it would finally opt-in all communites in Wayne County to transit, similar to how most places nationall work. If it fails, we could lose what service we do have.

They dig into Lansing's latest budget "switcheroo," how Oakland County's all‑in vote reshaped service, and TRU's upcoming Round‑the‑Mitten tour to prove you really can ride public transit from Detroit to Marquette.

On today's Daily Detroit, we start the week with a conversation with State Senator — and Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful — Mallory McMorrow.

It's the third in our series of Democratic Senate candidate interviews, and we're focused squarely on what federal power could actually mean for Detroit, Metro Detroit, and Michigan.

McMorrow talks about why she first Googled "how to run for office" after the 2016 election, and why she frames governing as a design challenge to build policy that improves people's lives.

She talked about an approach to ieconomic development that feels less like "Lucy and the football" and more like real, ground‑up regional growth — including transit as economic development, and keeping young people from leaving the state.

From there, the conversation moves to the auto industry and EVs, competition from China, and why she wants incentives that grow talent and clusters of jobs instead of focusing on chasing megaprojects.

We also touch on affordability: gas prices, housing, childcare, and McMorrow's push to scale ideas like universal pre‑K, free school meals, more housing production, paid leave, and cracking down on scammy online ads.

You'll also hear her vision on healthcare access, expanding Michigan's red flag law approach to the federal level, and supporting Detroit‑grown community violence intervention.

And because this is Daily Detroit, they close with some city love — from classic Michigan license plates helping fix roads to her favorite spots around town.

We'll be at the Mackinac Policy Conference all week, so be sure to check your podcast feeds and inboxes for updates.

Constructive feedback as always: 313-789-3211 or dailydetroit -at- gmail -dot- com. And make sure to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get shows.

Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has abruptly ended his independent run for governor, blowing up Michigan's 2026 race less than six months before voters head to the polls.

In this emergency episode of Daily Detroit, Jer, Devon and Norris break down why Duggan says "the numbers just aren't there," how national headwinds shifted after Trump's second-term agenda, and why independents are stampeding away from the GOP this cycle.

We get into what Duggan's exit means for Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's path to the governor's office, the clown car situation on the Republican side, and how this all reshapes the map heading into the Mackinac Policy Conference.

We also kick around some speculation on Duggan's next move — including strong rumors about the presidency of the University of Michigan — and why his "fixer" skill set might be headed from city hall to collegiate head.

As always, be sure to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to shows.

The Pistons' playoff run ends in heartbreak. A teen takeover shooting in downtown Detroit forces hard conversations about blame and perspective — as well as holding multiple thngs to be true at the same time. Plus, the Business of Food Summit reveals how Metro Detroit's food scene really works.

And we ask the question - what counts as metro Detroit? When it comes to dining out, in reality, it's a really big map.

Feedback on the podcast as always - dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot com or leave a voicemail, 313-789-3211. And follow the show on Apple Podcasts to wherever you get shows!

In this episode, Jer and Norris sit down with Ian John Solomon, better known as Ian Outside, an outdoor reporter, artist, and one of the Midwest's most powerful voices for environmental storytelling.

Ian has become a champion for Black outdoor recreation in Detroit and MIchigan through his work, involved in everything from policy to organization to journalism — on top of a great social media presence.

We get into the 300+ parks in the city, the fact that Detroit is a maritime city, and so, so, so much more.

Ian John Solomon is an interdisciplinary artist-journalist and organizer.

He holds a B.A. in broadcast journalism from the Walter Cronkite School with a minor in political science. After a stint as a congressional reporter in D.C., Ian returned to Detroit to combine his journalism background with his passion for the outdoors.

• Amplify Outside - Founder of this Detroit-based organization dedicated to amplifying Black outdoor recreation, increasing representation, access, and infrastructure for Black Michiganders seeking outdoor experiences. The organization recently launched as a podcast on the Authentically Detroit Podcast Network in April 2026.

• Detroit Parks Coalition - Communications & Engagement Manager, where he works to highlight the city's 300+ parks and green spaces.

• PBS Great Lakes Now - Emmy Award-winning host of the "Ian Outside" segment. He has received two Emmy nominations and one Emmy Award, plus a First Place award from the Society of Professional Journalists.

• Planet Detroit - He has a series of reports you can find on their website.

If you love this conversation, be sure to follow Daily Detroit wherever you get shows - on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, YouTube, or anywhere else.

Also, we're supported by our members on Patreon.

Detroit has posted population gains for the third consecutive year, adding more than 5,000 residents and leading the entire state in growth.

Two city residents and a former resident discuss the Census Bureau data showing Detroit now has nearly 650,000 people.

The conversation explores what's driving the comeback — from intentional investments in housing and small businesses to the city's unique culture and identity that makes people want to stay.

They also discuss retention strategies, the importance of building diverse housing stock, and predictions for Detroit's future growth, including the possibility of climate migration bringing even more new residents to the Great Lakes region.

As always, feedback - [email protected] or 313-789-3211.

Make sure to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

A black bear near Flat Rock, a massive water main break in northern Oakland County, and one of Detroit's most talked‑about restaurants changing course all add up to a busy epsiode.

We start with Norris History Month updates and a few fun picks, from Deluxx Fluxx and SPKRBOX to a Mother's Day dinner at Bar Pigalle in Brush Park.

Then we dig into reports of a possible black bear sighting in southern Wayne County, what the DNR says to do if you see it, and why "you cannot knock out a bear" no matter what social media tries to tell you.

There's a days‑long water outage and boil advisories after a 42‑inch main ruptured in Oakland County, what it says about aging infrastructure across Metro Detroit — and why sprawl is making the bill for repairs so steep for a region that hasn't actually grown in population since the 1970s.

And finally, news that Marrow is consolidating into its Eastern Market location and leaving West Village and Birmingham, what that means for the restaurant scene, and the business reason why some "regional play" concepts end up gravitating to greater downtown.

If you're dealing with the outage, seeing the development shifts up close, or just have thoughts on where this region grows next, let's hear from you! Leave a voicemail at 313‑789‑3211 or send a note, [email protected].

Ferndale Pride executive director Julia Music joins us to preview this year's mile-long joyous celebration on West Nine Mile – from a new creamsicle Pride beer to drag, street waffles, stages, and a sensory-friendly zone.

Find out where all the fun and connections are for this free festival on 5/30/26.

And be sure to say hey at our Pride arch and get a special edition sticker!

More: https://ferndalepride.com/