Episodios

  • 276: Friday Short: Michigan Proposal To Tax Rich And Fund Schools Is A Slam Dunk Win

    276: Friday Short: Michigan Proposal To Tax Rich And Fund Schools Is A Slam Dunk Win
    Jun 27 2025
    #podcast #politics #Michigan #WorkingClass #Education #Oligarchy #WealthInequality #Corruption #Taxes #FlatTax #Billionaires #Election2026 #LeftOfLansing

    Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for June 27, 2025.

    A progressive coalition known as Invest In MI Kids is pushing a proposal to appear on the 2026 Michigan ballot that would end the Michigan's regressive flat tax, and replace it with a 5% surcharge on couples earning $1 million.

    The money would be used to help replenish the state's dwindling education funding, which has been hurt significantly thanks to tax cuts for the rich and elite in the state.

    And at a time when the working class is suffocating while the oligarchy gains more wealth and power, this kind of a progressive proposal is what the working class needs now more than ever.

    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!

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    NOTES:

    "Group launches ballot initiative to fund public schools by taxing wealthy Michiganders." By Ben Solis of Michigan Advance "Michigan proposal to tax the rich, fund schools raises questions with business groups." By Anna Liz Nichols of Michigan Advance "MSU study: Michigan public schools face nation's sharpest decline in state funding." By Virginia Gordon of Michigan Public Radio
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    5 m
  • 275: Mamdani Victory; NRDC's Derrell Slaughter On Trump Forcing Power Plants To Stay Open

    275: Mamdani Victory; NRDC's Derrell Slaughter On Trump Forcing Power Plants To Stay Open
    Jun 26 2025
    #podcast #politics #Michigan #EnvironmentalJustice #Economics #WorkingClass #MAGAMurderBudget #MAGA #Democrats #Progressives #Mamdani #NYC #CorporateCorruption #CorporateGreed #GovernmentCorruption #Democracy #FossilFuel #NRDC #Environment #TedNugent #LeftOfLansing Here's Episode 139 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast! 00:00-20:28: Nugent In Lansing/Mamdani NYC Victory Pat Johnston opens the show highlighting how Michigan MAGA Republicans welcomed old age rocker, Ted Nugent, to the State House this week to complain about things. Pat explains how Nugent and Dear Leader Trump are very much alike, and not in flattering ways. Pat then talks about how nearly half of Detroit's apartment complexes are without air conditioning, and Michigan's high unemployment rate. He concludes by underlining the big time victory of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani in the NYC mayoral race, and how it's yet another example of how progressive economic populism is not only popular, but it WINS elections! 20:29-42:23: Derrell Slaughter of NRDC-Michigan Interview Derrell Slaughter is the Michigan Policy Director for Climate & Energy at the Natural Resources Defense Council. Slaughter co-wrote a blog post on the NRDC site called, "Trump Administration's DOE Is Forcing Coal Plants To Remain Open. Michigan Is The First Target." Pat and Derrell discuss how Trump's Energy Dept. is forcing an old Consumer's Energy plant in Ottawa County to remain open even though the plant was scheduled to shut-down last month. Slaughter explains why this unprecedented move will cost Michiganders both economically and environmentally. 42:24-48:04: Last Call on Unhinged Democrats The "Last Call" this week spotlights those Democrats who view progressive Democrats, like Zohran Mamdani, as more of an enemy than they view MAGA Republicans as the real opposition to the working class, to liberty, and to democracy. 48:05-50:30: Ending 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: "Trump Administration’s DOE Is Forcing Coal Plants to Stay Open. Michigan Is the First Target." By Derrell Slaughter and Casey Roberts of the NRDC of Michigan "New Detroit mayoral poll signals Sheffield, Kinloch, Craig are top contenders." By Malachi Barrett of Bridge Detroit "Failing air conditioners, extreme heat have City Council concerned." By Malachi Barrett of Bridge Detroit "The Doublespeak of Energy Secretary Chris Wright." By Abraham Lustgarten of Pro Publica "Nessel challenges order to keep J.H. Campbell Plant open as energy experts predict price hikes." By Sarah Leach of The Ottawa News Network "We can have nice things." By Marisa Kabas of The Handbasket "As Ted Nugent rails against Michigan wildlife regulations, Dems call hearing ‘absurd’ and ‘shameful.’" By Ben Solis of Michigan Advance "Don't Forget Who They Are: Political Amnesia in Times of Crisis." By Jared Yates Sexton in Dispatches From A Collapsing State
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    51 m
  • 274: Monday Musing: Nessel Takes-On Trump's Move To Block West Michigan Power Plant's Closing

    274: Monday Musing: Nessel Takes-On Trump's Move To Block West Michigan Power Plant's Closing
    Jun 23 2025
    #podcast #Politics #Michigan #Progressives #Trump #OttawaCounty #PowerPlant #Campbell #Wright #FossilFuels #Pollution #Environment #CorporateCorruption #HealthCare #GovernmentCorruption #WorkingClass #CleanEnergy #DanaNessel #Trump #LeftOfLansing

    Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for June 23, 2025.

    Michigan's Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel is fighting-back on the Trump Regime's move to block the scheduled closing of a West Michigan Power Plant.

    How is The Regime's action to stop a company from closing down its own fossil fuel plants an example of small government?

    Answer: Look who runs The Regime's energy department.

    To learn more about the struggle to close the J.H. Campbell Power Plant in Ottawa County, Michigan, please check-out Sarah Leach's story in The Ottawa News Network.

    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: "The Doublespeak of Energy Secretary Chris Wright." By Abrahm Lustgarten of ProPublica
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    4 m
  • 273: Friday Short: Why Donovan McKinney's Primary Challenge To 70-Year Old Congressman Matters

    273: Friday Short: Why Donovan McKinney's Primary Challenge To 70-Year Old Congressman Matters
    Jun 20 2025
    #podcast #politics #progressives #workingclass #Michigan #Democrats #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #DonovanMcKinney #Fascism #Democracy #ShriThanedar #Primary #2026Election #LeftOfLansing

    Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for June 20, 2025.

    Michigan Democratic State Rep. Donovan McKinney is challenging incumbent Democratic Congressman Shri Thanedar in Michigan's 13 Congressional District primary next year.

    McKinney's challenge is part of the overall fight for the future of the Democratic Party. Some 62% of Democrats in a recent poll said the party needs new leaders.

    Donovan McKinney is trying to do just that by pushing a true, populist, progressive, working class agenda against Thanedar's agenda of just enriching himself.

    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: "Donavan McKinney gets endorsement of Bernie Sanders in effort to primary Shri Thanedar." By Jon King of Michigan Advance "Progressive Democrats target 70-year-old incumbent with a primary challenge." By Russell Payne of Salon
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    5 m
  • 272: Fighting For The Working Class & Democracy w/ Michigan Democratic State Rep. Carrie Rheingans

    272: Fighting For The Working Class & Democracy w/ Michigan Democratic State Rep. Carrie Rheingans
    Jun 19 2025
    #podcast #politics #progressives #Democrats #NoKinds #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #Democracy #WorkingClass #Michigan #Medicaid #Immigration #ICE #CarrieRheingans #Whitmer #MattHall #Trump #MAGA #Republicans #Authoritarianism #LeftOfLansing

    Here's Episode 138 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast!

    00:00-15:11: No Kings Success/Where Were Dem Leaders?

    Pat Johnston applauds the No Kings rallies, but wonders if some Democratic Party "leaders" on both the state and national level are rising to the occasion of the moment. He also covers the hypocrisy of MAGA Michigan Republicans who push for Medicaid & SNAP work requirements while they left Lansing for a field trip to visit the Trump Regime this week. And Michigan Republicans are not backing down from their support of the MAGA Murder Bill.

    15:12-46:13: Democratic State Rep. Carrie Rheingans

    Michigan progressive Democratic State Rep. Carrie Rheingans from 47th House District joins the show. Rep. Rheingans is a staunch advocate for the working class, and a staunch advocate to pass a Medicare For All bill in Michigan. And she provides ideas on how to both oppose MAGA while pushing progressive, common sense, working class policies. Rep. Rheingans talks about her MICare plan, as well as the uptick in political violence in the country, the failed leadership of MAGA Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall, the inspiration she saw at the "No Kings" rallies, and which direction Democrats must go in order to effectively fight back against the MAGA movement.

    46:14-50:53: Last Call-Baldwin ICE Prison

    Pat's "Last Call" focuses on the reopening of an ICE detention facility in Baldwin, MI.

    50:54-53:11: Ending

    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:
    "Rheingans Reintroduces MiCare." From Michigan House Democrats "House GOP K-12 budget targets DEI, wraps school meals, other programs into per-pupil funding." By Ben Solis of Michigan Advance "Back from DC, Michigan GOP leader backs Medicaid, food assistance cuts." By Jordan Hermani of Bridge Michigan "As resistance grows, Michigan Dems disagree on path to ‘take back our country.’" By Simon D. Shuster of Bridge Michigan "As ICE plans to move into Baldwin prison, residents hope jobs will stay." By Claire Keegan-Kugam IPR, Maxwell Howard of Bridge Michigan "ACLU Opposes Opening of North Lake Correctional Facility, the Largest Immigrant Detention Center in the Midwest." By ACLU of Michigan "State Rep. Carrie Rheingans holds coffee hour, decries “authoritarianism,“ calls on people to “march.'" By Fritz Swanson of The Manchester Mirror
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    53 m
  • 271: Monday Musing: "No Kings" Demonstrated A Repudiation Of Fascism

    271: Monday Musing: "No Kings" Demonstrated A Repudiation Of Fascism
    Jun 16 2025
    #podcast #politics #progressives #NoKings #Democrats #Republicans #MAGA #Trump #LeftOfLansing

    Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for June 16, 2025.

    Pat Johnston explains how the highly successful, and peaceful, "No Kings" rallies in Michigan and across the nation illustrated a stark difference between the two sides of the political spectrum.

    One side is standing up for freedom, and standing up for the entire working class.

    What does the other side really stand for other than "owning the libs?"

    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:

    "Michiganders show up across the state to oppose Trump policies and say ‘No Kings.’" By Erick Díaz Veliz and Jon King of Michigan Advance
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    4 m
  • 270: Friday Short: Do Slotkin & McDonald-Rivet Understand The Fight We're In?

    270: Friday Short: Do Slotkin & McDonald-Rivet Understand The Fight We're In?
    Jun 13 2025
    #podcast #politics #progressive #Democrats #Michigan #Authoritarianism #MAGA #Republicans #Trump #Immigration #WorkingClass #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #ElissaSlotkin #KristenMcDonaldRivet #Centrism #LeftOfLansing

    Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for June 13, 2025.

    Does Michigan Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin, and Congresswoman Kristen McDonald-Rivet understand the fight we're in right now?

    The Trump Regime's authoritarianism must be challenged on all fronts, particularly after California Senator Alex Padilla was thrown-down and arrested by federal officials after he tried asking Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem a question.

    Yet, Slotkin and McDonald-Rivet repeatedly vote ALONG with Dear Leader on a range of issues, as Pat Johnston explains this week.

    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:

    "Democrats Help Push Crypto Industry Reward Bill To Finish Line." By Arthur Delaney and Igor Bobic of The Huffington Post "Senate OKs arms sales to Qatar and UAE despite deals that benefit Trump." By Jeff Gould of Politico
    Video of Trump praising Slotkin on California EV Car vote via Aaron Rupar
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    6 m
  • 269: Upcoming "No Kings" Rallies To Oppose Trump Regime's Authoritarianism

    269: Upcoming "No Kings" Rallies To Oppose Trump Regime's Authoritarianism
    Jun 12 2025
    #podcast #politics #Michigan #Progressives #Democrats #Republicans #MAGA #Trump #CorporateCorruption #CorporateGreed #GovernmentCorruption #WhiteChristianNationalism #WhiteNationalism #Immigration #Racism #Authoritarianism #Masculinity #Education #PublicSchools #MattHall

    Here's Episode 137 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast!

    00:00-24:44: Trump Authoritarianism On Steroids/Centrism's Failures

    Pat Johnston talks about how the Trump Regime's White Nationalism is on overdrive as it sends ICE to terrorize and rip-apart families of undocumented citizens. While this is the kind of authoritarianism most Americans are rejecting, it's also harming our nation's economy. Pat also explains how so-called "centrist" Democrats not only helped give us Donald Trump (twice!), but how they have no new ideas on capturing the working class vote. And Pat concludes by talking about masculinity, and how to win back some of the male vote.

    24:45-34:16: No Kings Rallies on 6/14/25

    There are hundreds of "No Kings" rallies taking place this Saturday, June 14, 2025, and over 70 such rallies are happening across Michigan. These rallies will be a repudiation of the Trump Regime's authoritarianism, and also of his wasteful and North Korean-style military parade in Washington, D.C.
    Click here for a map of all of the scheduled rallies, and find out where there's one happening close to you!

    34:17-38:40: MI Repubs Unveil Public School Cuts

    The "Last Call" focuses on the MAGA Michigan House Republican plan to gut public school funding, and funneling that money to private institutions.

    38:01-40:21: Ending

    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:

    Click Here For a Map of "No Kings" Rallies happening on June 14, 2025!

    "What Is Centrism?" By Hamilton Nolan of How Things Work "Trump wants a concentration camp nation." By LOL GOP in The Farce "House GOP K-12 budget targets DEI, wraps school meals, other programs into per-pupil funding." By Ben Solis of Michigan Advance "Michigan lawmakers decry federal deployments in California, urge non-violent ‘No Kings’ protest." By Ben Solis of Michigan Advance "Immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than U.S.-born Americans, studies find." By Jasmine Garsd of NPR "There Are No 'Distractions' In A War, Only Fronts." By Oliver Willis in Oliver Willis Explains Michigan State Senator Roger Hauck's tweet on upcoming "No Kings" rallies
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    40 m