Beyond the Headlines: Dearborn's Real Story & Detroit's Holiday Highlights
Release Date: 11/21/2025
Rebuilding Michigan's Economy from the Neighborhood Up w/ Justin Onwenu
Daily Detroit
Justin Onwenu is a Detroit-born organizer, environmental justice advocate, and attorney who is now running for State Senate in Michigan’s newly redrawn District 1, which stretches from neighborhoods on Detroit’s west side through downtown and into a number of downriver Metro communities. He’s worked in environmental justice, in labor and minimum wage campaigns, and in economic development at the city level, giving him a rare view that connects workers, small businesses, and neighborhood health. In our conversation, we get into why he chose to jump into this insane time in politics,...
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Detroit’s Last Stop to Freedom, First Step to What’s Next: Second Baptist Church in Greektown
Daily Detroit
Today, we’re taking you inside the Second Baptist Church of Detroit — the oldest historically Black church in Michigan, a former last stop on the Underground Railroad, and now a hub for human trafficking awareness and free STEAM education for Detroit kids. I’m joined by Pastor Lawrence Rodgers to talk about nearly 190 years of history, how Greektown is transforming, and what it means to build a beloved community in Detroit right now. At the start of Black History Month and in a moment when it’s tempting to gloss over or sanitize our past (or even preferred, by many) it feels especially...
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Lunch Spots; Wayne County Transit; Downtown Tax? (Live from the Detroit Policy Conference)
Daily Detroit
Devon, Norris, and Jer tackle three topics live at the Detroit Policy Conference. First, we get into lunch spots we like and are disappointed by recently. Then, there's a proposal to provide transit to all of the cities in Wayne County, as currently a number of communities have no connecting service. We talk about hwo this is the base layer to the cake of transit. Then, there's some ideas around overhauling the city of Detroit's tax structure, including a possible excise tax in greater downtown to provide more money for the neighborhoods. Today's show was recorded live at the Detroit Policy...
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Michigan Grows; Amazon Fresh Fizzles; MOCAD Reopening Soon
Daily Detroit
The rundown: 02:07 - Michigan's population is growing, we discuss 05:13 - Amazon Fresh fizzles out in Metro Detroit, leaving a number of empty potential storefronts 09:11 - MOCAD is reopening in April after renovation Feedback as always, dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or leave a voicemail, 313-789-3211. Follow Daily Detroit on Apple Podcasts: Or sign up for our newsletter:
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Detroit News To Be Bought By Freep Owner; and Let's Talk About Minneapolis
Daily Detroit
Today's conversation is in two parts. First, we dig into USA Today (formerly Gannett) buying the Detroit News - just a month after a joint operating agreement ended between the two papers and bringing the Detroit Free Press and news under the same ownership umbrella. They say they'll continue as separate publications, but based on the track record of those involved, we have our personal skepticism. We also get into the precarious state of local news in America. Then, a personal conversation on the events over the weekend in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We get into the aftermath, the Orwellian...
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Remembering 2016 Detroit
Daily Detroit
What was Detroit like 10 years ago? On today’s Daily Detroit, inspired by the trend on social media, we’re taking a warm walk through a very specific era: Detroit in 2016 and how it stacks up to 2026. Jer, Norris, and Devon remember a city that still felt like a secret to everyone else. When it felt like the creative class was driving the narrative, loft parties were happening in half-abandoned buildings, and you could still find a decent apartment for under $1000. We talk about how that energy shifted as big development showed up faster than expected, squeezing some creatives...
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Your People Mover Dreams! Plus, China & Canada Car Industry Concerns (and more)
Daily Detroit
On today's show: 00:28 - Dittrich Furs ran out, but found more furs: Is fur a cultural garb of Detroit? 03:20 -China is about to break into the Canadian car market, that hurts Detroit 11:02 - Michigan canabis market shrinking 14:34 - MAILBAG: Expand People Mover to Grand Boulevard? Feedback as always - dailydetroit -at- gmail -dot- com or leave a voicemail 313-789-3211. Follow Daily Detroit on Apple Podcasts: Or sign up for our newsletter:
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A Last Lunch At The RenCen, Medusa Review, And Detroit Food News
Daily Detroit
Coming to you from the studio at TechTown after a long weekend, today’s show is all about what’s happening in Detroit’s food and drink world — the good, the bad, and the “wait, that closed already?” I’m joined by our engineer of both audio and alcohol, Randy Walker, to dig into some big changes at longtime favorites, why some promising spots didn’t make it, and where you should actually spend your money right now. We’ll talk rum bars, laptop bans at coffee shops, the future of the Ren Cen, and Randy’s first impressions of Medusa in Midtown. The topics: Hygrade Deli in...
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People Mover Expansion Paths, The Fake CEO, and Where's Whitmer on Hot Issues?
Daily Detroit
Today's show is a trifecta where we get Norris, Devon, and Jer all in the studio at once talking local stuff. Here's the rundown: 01:43 - Shout out to Northern Lights 02:35 - There are some maybe possible Detroit People Mover expansion routes shared with the public. Where would you want to see it go? 11:17 - A fake CEO fools some in the media 19:00 - Responding to listener questions: Where is Gov. Whitmer on hot issues? She seems oddly silent lately. Feedback as always: dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211. Saturday coffee and conversation event: Support the show...
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Politics, Pints Pausing, and a Park Rebrand
Daily Detroit
Show notes to come. Support the show on Patreon: Follow us on Apple Podcasts: Or Spotify:
info_outlineThis episode of Daily Detroit with Jer Staes and Devon O'Reilly covers:
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Thanksgiving vibes: Jer and Devon kick off with light banter on their favorite Thanksgiving sides
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Where we've been: Devon shares his experience at the new Ford World Headquarters grand opening in Dearborn, highlighting the innovative "glass spaceship" campus, family legacy, and downtown impact. This includes the historic Dearborn Inn and its newly redone literary-themed cottages.
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Where we've been, pt 2, holiday happenings: Jer describes the festive transformation of Michigan Central Station for "Winter at the Station," complete with interactive video walls and seasonal events, making it a must-visit holiday destination in Corktown.
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Community and connection: We encourage listeners to explore diverse neighborhoods and businesses across Metro Detroit! Get to know your neighbors!
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Facing serious news: The conversation shifts to recent protests in Dearborn, debunking harmful myths (notably, the false “Sharia law” narrative) and reflecting on the robust, peaceful, and united local response. Devon, recently elected to City Council, shares some hsitory and context about Dearborn’s resilience and diversity — as outsiders coming around with factually false ideas is nothing new.
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We end with calls for stores from listeners in communities across the region. After all, Daily Detroit has the core value of localism.
Feedback as always - dailydetroit -at- gmail -dot- com or leave a voicemail 313-789-3211.
Follow Daily Detroit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-detroit/id1220563942
Or sign up for our newsletter: https://www.dailydetroit.com/newsletter/