Today on Stateside, how two new major US Supreme Court decisions will impact Michigan. Plus, with the anniversary of the Stonewall riots this Friday, we look at the history of the gay rights movement in Michigan.
Listen to the full show above or find individual segments below.
Sec of State says Michigan voters more protected against partisan gerrymandering
- In a 5-4 decision Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal courts should stay out of disputes over partisan gerrymandering. This follows a recent successful ballot initiative in Michigan that supported an independent redistricting commission. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson discusses what the court ruling means for the country as a whole, and whether it will affect Michigan’s redistricting process.
Supreme Court rules a citizenship question can’t be added to the 2020 census … for now
- The U.S. Supreme Court also ruled Thursday the Trump administration can not add a citizenship question to the 2020 census, “for now.” That’s until the administration comes up with a better explanation for putting the question on the census. Kurt Metzger is an expert demographer and the mayor of Pleasant Ridge. He joins Stateside to discuss what this means for Michigan and for the country as a whole.
AG Nessel takes first legal step to shut down Line 5, Enbridge says they plan to operate it for “decades to come”
- On Thursday State Attorney General Dana Nessel announced she’s taking legal action to try and shut down Enbridge Energy’s Line 5 pipeline. This follows an unsuccessful negotiation attempt between Enbridge and Governor Gretchen Whitmer, which Enbridge walked away from. Jonathan Oosting, a reporter at the Detroit News, explains what this means for the future of Line 5.
Howes: Is the auto industry due for an economic downturn?
- A profit desert could be in store for the auto industry. That’s according to a recent column by Detroit News Business Columinist Daniel Howes. He shares his views on the future of the industry, including whether auto companies will need to merge with technology industries or go it alone in order to stay afloat in the near future.
Detroit is center of new short story collection from writer Lisa Lenzo
- Author Keith Taylor reviews Lisa Lenzo’s Unblinking, a book of short stories based primarily in Detroit that reflect a city with “vibrant friendships among neighbors.”
Stonewall’s legacy on gay rights in Michigan
- It’s been 50 years since the Stonewall uprising, an event that became a catalyst for gay activism across the country. Tim Retzloff is a professor of history and LGBTQ studies at Michigan State University, and he’s nearing completion on a book about the history of the gay rights movement in Detroit. He discusses what progress has been made by the gay community since the Stonewall riots, and what the country looks like today for LGBTQ individuals.
The political cost of expanding gay rights in Michigan
- In Michigan you can legally be denied housing or a job for being gay. This is because the state’s civil rights act, known as the Elliott-Larsen act, does not extend to LGBTQ individuals. Five years ago Frank Foster, who was then a Republican state legislator, tried to add LGBTQ protection to the act, but failed. He joins Stateside along with Richard Czuba, a pollster and former Republican operative, to talk about the need for LGBTQ protections and the future of the Elliott-Larsen act.
Radio Campfire highlighting quality Detroit-based podcasters and storytellers
- This weekend the Detroit Podcast Festival returns for its second year, featuring up-and-coming Detroit-based podcasters and storytellers. Juliet Hinely and Brenna York are the co-hosts of Radio Campfire, a listening event series happening at the festival this Friday at Music Town (located on the second floor of the Hockeytown Cafe). They tell us what to expect from the event and share a few samples of the podcasts they’ll be featuring.
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