Left Of Lansing

Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for June 14, 2024 A recent Wallethub survey revealed that Ohio has one of the worst state economies, ranking 42nd in the country which is the 10th worst state! Michigan, meanwhile, is ranks 19th. That far surpasses both Ohio, and Indiana, which ranks 39th.  One would think the further Ohio's government continues to travel down the weird, right-wing MAGA Republican rabbit hole, the better things would most certainly guess! I hope you're getting my sarcasm. Enjoy! Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! leftoflansing@gmail.com Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well! leftoflansing.com NOTES: "Ohio has one of the worst economies in the US, according to recent study." By Mariyam Muhammad of The Columbus Dispatch "Best & Worst State Economies (2024). By Adam McCann of Wallethub.com "Editorial: Ohio economy falling." By The Blade editorial staff Proposal by Michigan Democratic state Reps. Wegela and

It's Episode 90 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast! On this week's show, Pat speaks with Danielle Atkinson, executive director and founder of Mothering Justice, which is an organization working to empower mothers of color through public policy. Mothering Justice is part of a coalition demanding the Democratic majority in the Michigan legislature to vote on paid family leave bills--bills that have yet to receive a hearing even though they were introduced last year! This is a beautiful chance for Democrats to demonstrate how they truly care about the working class, not to mention how passing paid family leave would help them retain their slim majority in Lansing!  Before Danielle joins this week's show, Pat spends the first segment talking about the continued improving economy, and why Biden and the Democrats should celebrate the good news of cooling inflation and corporations scaling-back on their rampant greedflation. It's not to say the economy is perfect. It's not, and millions of working people ne

Here's the Monday Musing for June 10, 2024 Michigan Republicans in the state House introduced a bill making the AR-15 the official state rifle. They introduced it on the week of Gun Violence Awareness Day. And they introduced it for two reasons: To own the libs, and to show the libs how they're ready to take over power through violence, or the threat of violence.  Remember, Democrats passed sensible gun safety measures to save lives. Republicans is more concerned about their donations from gun manufacturers.  And that's "pro-life?" Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! leftoflansing@gmail.com Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well! leftoflansing.com NOTES:   "Michigan Republicans introduce legislation allowing guns in college campuses." By Anna Gustafson of Michigan Advance "Michigan Republicans introduce permitless carry legislation, aim to deregulate gun ownership." By Lily Guiney of Michigan Advance

Here's the Left of Lansing Friday Short for June 7, 2024 The Guardian's Jon Henley wrote about a study conducted by European political scientists, which showed when center-left parties in Europe adopt right-wing policies, the center-left parties suffer at the polls.  These researchers conclude that when center-left parties move further to the center, they end up failing to capture right-wing voters, and they alienate their progressive base voters. This just confirms what many of us have always said here in the United States. It's why Michigan Democrats must run on the popular policies they've made into law, and on the policies they should pass, including paid family leave and polluter pay. Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! leftoflansing@gmail.com Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well! leftoflansing.com NOTES:  "Adopting rightwing policies ‘does not help centre-left win votes.’" By Jon Henley of The Guardian "As youth poverty spikes, Ma

Here's episode 89 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast. Happy Conviction Week! Michigan Republicans continue having a collective meltdown after their Dear Leader was found guilty of committing 34 felonies in New York. Republicans call the trial a "sham," and "un-American," as they keep degrading our judicial system. Pat shares the unhinged statements from many Michigan Republicans in both Congress and the state legislature after the verdict. This is part of a pattern by Michigan Republicans to destroy the institutions of our democratic republic. And he calls-out some of these state Republicans, including Congresspeople Jack Bergman, Tim Walberg, and Lisa McClain for putting their party, and Trump, above country.  Democrats had better quickly come to that conclusion, or else they'll find these Christian Nationalists in charge of our national and state governments.  In the "Last Call," Pat asks congressional Democrats to boycott Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to a joint session of

Here's the Monday Musing for June 3, 2024 Democrats are in trouble of diluting and mixing their campaign messaging when it comes to the serious threat Trump and the Republicans are to democracy. Democrats must be firm and consistent with their messaging in order to ensure Democrats keep not only the Michigan Legislature blue, but to ensure Democrats keep or gain state legislative seats throughout the country! Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! leftoflansing@gmail.com Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well! leftoflansing.com NOTES: "Poll finds ‘jarring’ stats on democracy amid widening gulf of economic misperception." By Jon King of Michigan Advance Democratic Michigan Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin’s first ad for the U.S. Senate Anat Shenker-Osorio tweet on the threat of Republican fascism

Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for May 31, 2024 The entire Michigan Republican Party is revealing its fascist and authoritarianism ways by its reactions to Dear Leader Trump being found GUILTY of all 34 felony counts of falsifying financial records to hide his payoffs to a porn star, which influenced the outcome of the 2016 election. The so-called "Law & Order," family values, and personal responsibility party is rallying behind its Dear Leader, proving once again how Republicans never believed in those "values." Their reactions also serve as a reminder on the grasp the extreme Christian Nationalist "America First" movement has on the party. Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! leftoflansing@gmail.com Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well! leftoflansing.com NOTES: "BREAKING: Trump found guilty on 34 felony counts in NY hush money trial." By Ashley Murray of States Newsroom (via Michigan Advance) “Scenes From a MAGA Meltdown

Welcome to Episode 88 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast! On this week's show, Pat has some fun at the expense of the big oil and land developer-backed group calling itself "Citizens For Local Choice," which announced its hopes of putting a repeal of a renewable energy siting law on this November's ballot FAILED to garner enough signatures! This is a vital victory for our economy, our environment, and our farmers! Lansing Democrats passed a clean energy and jobs act in 2024, and part of that law gave farmers the freedom to allow their land to be used for large wind and solar farm projects. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the law so that extreme local governments could no longer and their own block farmers from participating in joining in these large renewable energy projects. Pat explains why opponents wanted to get this repeal on this year's ballot, and why this is such a blow to their efforts.  In the second segment, Andy Kroll from ProPublica joins the show to discuss an article he wrote on the c

Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musings" for May 27th, 2024. On this Memorial Day, Dear Leader Trump sent-out this disgusting message on his Truth Social account. His message didn't mention anything about remembering those who sacrificed their lives for this country. Dear Leader's message made it all about him, but it's not surprising considering his views on those who died in wars. And it's not surprising considering how "bone spurs" prevented him from fighting in Vietnam. It says a lot about this country that after this guy was found liable for sexual abuse, and then caught for lying to banks on his net worth, he not only became president, but he very well could be president again. Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! leftoflansing@gmail.com Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well! leftoflansing.com NOTES:  "Fact-checking Trump's claims about New York fraud trial." By Nada Tawfik of the BBC. "Trump says he has nearly $500 million in ca

Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for May 24, 2024. Congressional Republicans are trying to pass a new funding scheme that cuts the food stamps program by $30 billion in the next decade.  And the unreal part about all of this is that a significant portion of rural Americans rely on the program!  Michigan Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow says this part of the Republican House Farm Bill will not make it through the U.S. Senate since Democrats are the majority in that chamber. But what happens if Republicans keep the House and win the Senate this November? Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! leftoflansing@gmail.com Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well! leftoflansing.com

Here's episode 87 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast! Dr. Bob Lorinser is running to become the Democratic candidate for Michigan's 1st congressional district, comprising of northern Michigan, and the entire U.P. He is trying to challenge Republican Congressman Jack Bergman for the second straight time after losing to Bergman in '22. But Dr. Lorinser believes this time around, he won't only challenge Bergman, but he believes he'll win thanks to the experiences of his previous run and also due to name recognition. Dr. Lorinser explains how he'll be a true representative for the district because not only does he want to improve the lives of people, but he actually LIVES in the district, unlike Bergman. He also talks about how he'll fight to rebalance the scales once he arrives in Washington D.C., by focusing on expanded health care access, education, and a living wage. Pat celebrates Democrat Kelli van Ginhoven finally getting to take the seat she won in the recall races for the Delta County Commission

#Michigan #Politics #Podcast #PoliticalPodcast #SCOTUS #Law #Democracy #Democrats #Progressives #Fascism #Alito #January6 #Trump #MAGA #MichiganDemocrats #Corruption #ExpandTheCourt #Republicans #GOP #ClarenceThomas #FreeSpeech #LeftOfLansing The Left of Lansing Monday Musing for May 20, 2024. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is once again in the news. This time, Alito is blaming his wife for an upside-down American flag hanging outside their house after the January 6th insurrection. It's another sign that all Democrats must run against this right-wing extreme majority of the Supreme Court this fall just as much as against Trump. And Senate Democrats must run hearings on Justice Clarence Thomas' dealings with a billionaire financier, and on Alito's overt support for destroying our constitutional democracy.  Run against them, Democrats! Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! leftoflansing@gmail.com Left of Lansing is now on YouTube as well! left

#Michigan #MichiganPolitics #Politics #Podcast #Election2024 #Elections #Voting #UpperPeninsula #DeltaCounty #Democrats #MichiganDemocrats #MichiganRepublicans #Republicans #RightWing #MAGA #Democracy #ElectionFraud #Fascism #LeftofLansing #Progressives #Trump #Biden Here's this week's Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for May 17, 2024. Two MAGA Republican Board of Canvassers in Delta County are refusing to certify the recent recall elections where three MAGA Board of Commissioners received a thumping. This prevents the one Democrat, and two independents, from taking their oaths, and serving the people. But this is a pattern by the right-wing in Michigan, and across the United States.  Right-wingers are displaying their outright disdain for democracy, and the democratic process. They're also showing a disdain for the majority of people who simply don't like them, their values, and their policies.  Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! leftoflansing@

#Politics #Michigan #Podcast #MichiganDemocrats #MichiganRepublicans #RuralVoters #Rural #Elections #DeltaCounty #LivingstonCounty #Election2024 #Voting #Democracy #SheriffMikeMurphy #ChristianNationalism #Progressives #ProgressivePodcast #Democrats #MAGA #Republican #Fascism #Abortion #AbortionRights #GovernorGretchenWhitmer #GunViolence #GunSafetyLaws #GunLaws #GunRights #LeftofLansing #Farming #RenewableEnergy  Here's Episode 86 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast! Pat's got much to say about the shenanigans happening in Delta County this week! Just after three MAGA Delta County commissioners suffered humiliating recall election losses, two right-wing Board of Canvassers there refused to certify the elections! It's a pattern we've been seeing when it comes to right-wing Republicans, as we saw here in Michigan after the presidential election. It's part of the Christian Nationalist handbook where they believe God wants them always in power. They despise democracy. Pat also has some words for right-

#Michigan #Politics #Transportation #Taxes #MassTransit #GenerationZ #GenZ #Roads #Environment #PopulationDrain #LeftofLansing #Progressives #Democrats Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musings" for May 13th, 2024! Detroit News Editorial Page Editor Nolan Finley believes all this increased attention on mass transit upgrades in Michigan is a waste of time.  Despite younger voters refusing to drive, and how many younger people continue leaving Michigan for other more vibrant and transit-friendly places, Finley believes we can just stay mired in our economic and transportation a past. And meanwhile, Michigan keeps getting older and older, bot economically and demographically.  --Pat Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! leftoflansing@gmail.com leftoflansing.com NOTES: "A mileage tax for Michigan motorists? Lawmakers want $5M for pilot program." By Lauren Gibbons of Bridge Michigan

#LeftofLansing #Michigan #Politics #Podcast #Environment #ClimateChange #Trump #MAGA #Democrats #Republicans #FossilFuels #Corruption #Economy #Progressives #Biden #DanaNessel #Subsidies #Government Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for May 10, 2024. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is planning to take the Big Oil industry to court over the environmental and economic damages climate change is causing the state of Michigan. This announcement comes on the heels of several tornado touchdowns in the southwestern portion of the state. It also happens after a U.S. Senate report detailed how the American Gas Industry is fighting to weaken energy efficiency rules.  And, we learned how Dear Leader is promising Big Oil if they hand-over a billion dollars to his campaign, then he'll scrap all of President Biden's environmental protections.  Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! leftoflansing@gmail.com leftoflansing.com

Here's Episode 85 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast! They did it! Delta County voters sent pink slips to three extreme Christian Nationalist MAGA county commissioners in recall races this week! This is an area that's recently turned from blue to red, which is why that extreme brand of right-wing politics gained a hold of the county board. But after just one year in power, the people rejected that kind of extremism in their community, and voted for all three recall challengers this week, including good friend of the podcast, Democrat Kelli Van Ginhoven! Congrats, Kelli! But there was another major victory which is equally sending shockwaves across the state of Michigan.  Right-wing Christian Nationalist Lucy Ebel lost her seat in humiliating fashion to Democrat Christian Kleinjans in the Second District of the Ottawa County Board! It was a shot across the bow of the right-wing Ottawa Impact majority, which, like the MAGA majority on the Delta board, created nothing but cruelty and chaos on their c

#Michigan #Politics #Progressives #Law #MichiganRepublicans #Republicans #ChristianNationalism #DanaNessel #MAGA #LeftofLansing #Podcast Here's the Left of Lansing Monday Musing for May 6, 2024 Former Michigan Republican Lee Chatfield, and his wife, Stephanie, pled not guilty to running a criminal enterprise, which includes numerous embezzlement and conspiracy charges.  Yet, despite facing those charges, and also accusations made by his sister-in-law that Lee sexually assaulted her for a decade (starting back when she was 14 or 15 years old), the judge in the case allowed the Chatfields to attend the Kentucky Derby last weekend! They were doing a little vacationing down there while also doing consulting work. It's another example of a two-tiered justice system. And, who wants to do business with those people? Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! leftoflansing@gmail.com leftoflansing.com SHOW NOTES: "Former Speaker Chatfield and his wife plead

#Michigan #Biden #SCOTUS #Politics #Progressives #Podcast #LeftofLansing Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for May 3, 2024. Generation Z voters are protesting at college campuses across the country, showing their dissatisfaction and disdain for the United States' continued backing of the right-wing Israeli government.  And for some, refusing to vote for a second Biden Administration term this November is their way of voicing their ultimate displeasure. For me, I'm equally outraged by the right-wing Israeli government, and I wish the President Biden would change course on our funding of that government.  But as for this November, I will cast my vote for Biden again because the good still outweighs the bad.  I detail my reasonsings in the "Friday Short." Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! leftoflansing@gmail.com leftoflansing.com

Here's Episode 84 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast! One reason I started this venture is that I wanted to help show the importance of local and state politics. For sure, progressives have made some outstanding strides in terms of state politics with Democrats taking the state trifecta last year for the first time in four decades! But on the local political side, the right-wing has enjoyed some victories on that side. However, that appears to be changing, though, because we've got some big time local recalls happening in different parts of Michigan next week! There's a recall election happening where an extreme right-wing Ottawa Impact commissioner on the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners is facing a challenger on May 7th. And in Upper Peninsula's Delta County, the people were able to get recall elections in place for three right-wing county commissioners. Those elections also take place on May 7th. One of those challengers returns on the podcast to talk about race. Kelli Van Ginhoven is taking-o