Daily Detroit

The show for everyone who chooses Detroit! Every day, we share what to know and where to go in Southeast Michigan. Keep up on what matters, who's interesting, and what's happening around town. What's that new thing being built? What's the best food in town? Who are the most interesting people? What are the best stories? Our all-local independent podcast talks about what pushes Detroit and Southeast Michigan forward. Produced by your neighbors in the city of Detroit, serving the region. Posts every weekday in time for your commute home.

Rebuilding Michigan's Economy from the Neighborhood Up w/ Justin Onwenu 02/03/2026

Detroit’s Last Stop to Freedom, First Step to What’s Next: Second Baptist Church in Greektown 02/02/2026

Lunch Spots; Wayne County Transit; Downtown Tax? (Live from the Detroit Policy Conference) 01/29/2026

Michigan Grows; Amazon Fresh Fizzles; MOCAD Reopening Soon 01/28/2026

Detroit News To Be Bought By Freep Owner; and Let's Talk About Minneapolis 01/26/2026

Remembering 2016 Detroit 01/22/2026

Your People Mover Dreams! Plus, China & Canada Car Industry Concerns (and more) 01/21/2026

A Last Lunch At The RenCen, Medusa Review, And Detroit Food News 01/20/2026

A Last Lunch At The RenCen, Medusa Review, And Detroit Food News 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 Southwest Detroit is in receivership after loan defaults and building issues, putting the longtime corned beef spot’s future in doubt. We unpack why some well-regarded restaurants like Carajillo in Ferndale close within a year, from price perception to competition and capital. Randy talks about how Port in Ferndale shifted from laid-back rum haven to trendier, simpler drinks and how that changed the vibe.... plus where serious rum fans should go now, from Tocororo to Mutiny, and tease a future Daily Detroit happy hour. A new Pizza Cat on East Jefferson shows promise for downtown lunches even as the surrounding Jefferson/Ren Cen area struggles. We preview Burns Night with Acroyd Scottish Bakery at Urbanrest, complete with haggis, neeps and tatties, bagpipers, and the “stabbing of the haggis.” Are you for or against laptops at coffeeshops? Roost Detroit’s no-laptop policy sparks a bigger conversation about coffee shop etiquette, remote work, and who these spaces are really for. We had a “last lunch” at the Ren Cen Burger King and reflect on the eerie, post-pandemic decline of the complex, and how demolishing two Ren Cen towers and opening the site to the riverfront could match reality better than nostalgia. And finally, Randy gives a first-look review of Medusa in Midtown, from standout lamb and cocktails to price point, vibe, and whether it’s worth a special night out. 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: /episode/index/show/dailydetroitnewsbyte/id/39798080

People Mover Expansion Paths, The Fake CEO, and Where's Whitmer on Hot Issues? 01/15/2026

Politics, Pints Pausing, and a Park Rebrand 01/14/2026

Joanna Whaley on Faith, Putting People First, and Downriver’s Future 01/13/2026

2026 Detroit Auto Show Preview (w/ Sam Klemet) 01/12/2026

Logging Off Social Media (And Meeting Up In Person) 01/10/2026

Who Pays for Local News Now? Detroit Papers Split, PBS, and Live Sports 01/09/2026

Who Pays for Local News Now? Detroit Papers Split, PBS, and Live Sports Local media across America is in its most tumultuous moment in decades, and Detroit is at the center of it. From the end of the joint operating agreement between the Free Press and the News, to shifts in public media funding, to the chaos around how you watch the Tigers, Pistons, and Red Wings, there’s a lot to sort through. I talk with longtime PR pro and media watcher Matt Friedman of about what’s really happening, what’s at stake for Metro Detroiters, and why your media subscriptions matter more than ever. The Rundown: 01:56 - People are confused in today's fast-changing media landscape. 02:58 Detroit's JOA (Joint Operating Agreement) is dissolved and the Detroit News and Free Press are separate now. What does that mean? Matt walks through how joint operating agreements emerged in the 1980s to keep multiple daily papers alive, and how Detroit’s JOA kept the News and Freep tied together on the business side while competing in the newsroom for decades. He explains why their recent split into fully separate business and news operations is such a big deal in a market many don’t think is “big enough” to support two robust metro newsrooms. We also get into the financial pressures facing local media, how Pittsburgh has lost two papers recently, how the New York Times makes more money and more profit than all of the USAToday/Gannett papers combined, and more. 18:08 The state of PBS and Public Media today: In short, it's not dead. With federal funding clawed back through a budget rescission and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting dissolved, local stations now have to replace that money through philanthropy and memberships, which Detroit has managed so far — but smaller markets may not. 22:57 The local sports TV rights business is a mess right now. There’s real uncertainty about how fans will watch first‑place teams if the parent of the regional sports network can’t find a buyer, and that contingency planning is already underway. Plus, might we see some games on free TV? This was a conversation as a media nerd I was glad to have with someone who has a 360 degree view of the landscape, and I hope you get some value out of it. If you've got feedback, email me - dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com, , or leave a voicemail at 313-789-3211. Support the show on Patreon: Follow us on Apple Podcasts: Or Spotify: /episode/index/show/dailydetroitnewsbyte/id/39675375

Recent Favorite Food Spots; Bus Love (and more) 01/07/2026

Recent Favorite Food Spots; Bus Love (and more) Jer and Norris talk Detroit nightlife nostalgia and a viral TGI Fridays “club” promo, a wild DDOT discipline case, where auto trends are really heading in 2026, and Jer’s feature in Hour Detroit on Michigan politics and social media. Topic list: The last TGI Fridays in Michigan in Southfield turning into “the club” with paid booth service on a Wednesday; memories of Fridays, Club Blue, and early‑2000s happy hour culture. “The club is dead” argument; bottle‑service pricing, booths vs dancing, and how nightlife has shifted. Case for bringing back happy hour instead: coffee hangs at the studio, listener suggestions for meetups, and shout‑outs to Zuzu, Ema’s Izakaya happy hour, Bastille bar, and Marrow in Eastern Market (including Jer’s steak eview). DDOT discipline story: Office of Inspector General report on a supervisor and driver whose on‑the‑clock romantic hookup caused a 115‑minute service delay and further issues after abandoning a running bus. Transit talk for “bus nerds”: SMART’s FAST Woodward and Gratiot routes moving to 20‑minute headways between Detroit and the suburbs, plus 30‑minute headways on Nine Mile and why that actually makes the bus useful for commutes and events. Auto talk: GM becoming the number‑two EV seller in the U.S.; Cadillac Lyriq and new EV SUVs, Ford Maverick’s popularity and pricing, Lightning discontinuation, and why hybrids are quietly winning. Are EVs “failing”? Pushback on the narrative that “people don’t want EVs,” with Norris talking about living with an EV and never wanting to go back to gas. Jer in Hour Detroit/Hour Magazine: being featured alongside other Detroit voices on 2026 political outlooks, including concerns about Michigan’s governor’s race, U.S. Senate race, and Democrats’ name ID. Why medium‑form, edited work (magazines, newsletters, podcasts) matters more than hot‑take social media for political and civic coverage. Rethinking social media in 2026: Daily Detroit shifting emphasis to newsletter, podcast, and live streams; gaining followers even while posting less; frustration with junky, “engagement first” content. Norris talks about the viral fake DoorDash “backend engineer” post as an AI‑generated hoax; term “enshittification,” and why platforms stay quiet even when misinformation blows up. Community over algorithms: We're using in‑person events to build local connection instead of chasing feeds. Mark your calendars for Saturday morning the 17th of January. Support the show on Patreon: Follow us on Apple Podcasts: Or Spotify: /episode/index/show/dailydetroitnewsbyte/id/39649295

Designing Dignity: How a Coat from Detroit Became a Lifeline (w/Veronika Scott) 01/06/2026

Back From Break: 5 Things To Catch Up On In Metro Detroit 01/05/2026

Back From Break: 5 Things To Catch Up On In Metro Detroit Detroit has a new mayor making moves, school funding is on the line over attendance rules, Highland Park is pushing back on a possible ICE site, Sheetz keeps expanding, and there’s a very cool archaeology event you can actually go to. On this episode of Your Daily Detroit, ive stories to kick off 2026: Detroit makes history as Mary Sheffield becomes the city’s first woman mayor, steps into office after a landslide win, and immediately signs on to the RX Kids program that delivers cash assistance to pregnant and new moms. Detroit’s main school district is staring down more than $2.2 million in state penalties because daily attendance has fallen below the 75% threshold, putting a spotlight on how the rules land hardest in high‑poverty communities. In Highland Park, local leaders say they’ll fight any move to put an ICE detention and processing center in the city after it appeared on an internal federal shortlist. It’s still in rumor‑and‑draft territory, but the conversation raises bigger questions about local control. You’ll also hear about Sheetz opening a new Warren location on the old Pampa Lanes site. And to close, I give you the details on Wayne State’s Public Archaeology Day at Old Main, a free, all‑ages Saturday event with artifacts, shipwreck finds, and more. 01:23 Detroit has a new Mayor, RX Kids, and new City Council officers 03:04 Detroit Schools fined millions for low attendance 04:34 An ICE Detention facility for Highland Park? 06:12 More Sheetz, This Time In Warren 07:38 Public Archeaology Day at Wayne State Coming attractions: Live stream tomorrow (Tuesday) with Norris Howard; in-depth conversation on 100,000 coats from Detroit keeping peopel warm; and check out Hour Detroit this month (January) in print. Support the show on Patreon: Follow us on Apple Podcasts: Or Spotify: /episode/index/show/dailydetroitnewsbyte/id/39619190

How To Find Great Sandwiches (and New Friends) in Detroit 12/22/2025

How To Find Great Sandwiches (and New Friends) in Detroit Today’s episode is all about Detroit sandwich culture, community, and the power of sharing good food with good people. I’m joined in studio by the mind behind Sandwich Week, for a wide-ranging conversation on where to find great sandwiches across the region – and how those places help you make real-life connections, not just grab lunch and go. 02:24 - Honoring Greg Mudge We start by remembering the late Greg Mudge of Mudgie’s, whose new honorary street sign that went up over the weekend recognizes just how much he did to shape Detroit’s modern restaurant and bar scene. Carlos shares personal stories about Greg as a mentor, community builder, and straight shooter who helped countless businesses get off the ground and pushed people to be better. 05:55 - 10 Rapid-fire sandwich takes Then I put Carlos through 10 rapid-fire sandwich questions, starting with the eternal “Is a hot dog a sandwich?” (he says no, emphatically). We get into toasted vs. untoasted bread, mayo vs. mustard, pickles, diagonal vs. straight cuts, fries and chips on the sandwich, bologna nostalgia, and why texture, temperature, and proper “shredduce” (shredded lettuce) make or break a great bite. 15:37 - Sandwich Week 2025 preview and schedule From there, we dig into Sandwich Week 2025, running December 26–31 in its 12th year. Carlos walks through the schedule: Friday, Dec. 26 – Mudgie’s (12–3 p.m.): Kicking things off where so much started, with the Uncle Carlos sandwich back on the menu. Saturday – Vesper Books & Wine (12-3 p.m.): A first-ever Sandwich Week pop-up with Ayiti Spaghetti Sunday – Ladder 4 (12-3 p.m.): Wild, creative sandwiches from one of the top spots in the country, plus that off-the-beaten-path wine-bar vibe. Sunday night – Dakota Inn Ratskeller (ticketed dinner, 6 p.m.): A 15-foot sandwich built on a giant table in the newly revived basement German wine bar! Plus sides, Aunt Nee’s chips and salsa, and two drinks with your ticket. Monday – Rocco’s (12-3 p.m.): A must-visit Italian market stop with art between two slices of bread. Tuesday lunch (12–3 p.m.) – Tall Trees: Ferndale’s small-but-mighty cafe, with obsessive attention to thoughtful sandwiches. Finale – Batch Brewing (6 p.m.): Closing things out under the big tent with a special smoked-meats sandwich lineup and a big community raffle with concert tickets, gift cards, and more from businesses across Metro Detroit. There are also a number of sidequests with deals at Gonella's, Pietrzyk Pierogi, JP's Makes and Bakes, Last Chance Saloon, Bev's Bagels. Support the show on Patreon: Follow us on Apple Podcasts: Or Spotify: /episode/index/show/dailydetroitnewsbyte/id/39496090

Predictions! For Detroit (and Michigan) in 2026 12/18/2025

Street Soccer as Sunday Service: Inside Detroit’s Urban Football League with Maxwell Murray 12/17/2025

Innovate or Be Left Behind: Michigan’s Auto Crossroads ft. Glenn Stevens 12/16/2025

Michigan Just Broke $645 Million in Promises 12/15/2025

Leland Loses Power, Sherrone Moore Sacked, Kronk Gym Returns 12/11/2025

Basement Bar, Vegan Bites, Defense HQ on the Riverfront, + 9 Stories 12/10/2025

Your Packard Plant Feedback + More 12/09/2025

Our Spotify Wrapped: What Shows Do You Listen To? 12/08/2025

The Inside Story Of Detroit's RoboCop Statue 12/04/2025

The Inside Story Of Detroit's RoboCop Statue Detroit has a RoboCop statue. I watched it go in myself on Wednesday. It's a real thing. An amazingly detailed, 10-foot tall, 2.5 ton bronze behemoth will be greeting future generations coming to Eastern Market. For more of the story, I sat down with three of the key people who refused to let this long-running project die: Filmmaker and original organizer Brandon Walley Producer and Free Age co-owner Jim Toscano Omni Consumer Products’ “defictionalizer-in-chief” Pete Hottelet Together, we unpack how a jokey tweet comparing Detroit to Philadelphia’s Rocky statue turned into a nearly decade and a half odyssey that pulled in Hollywood effects legends, local foundry artisans, a major studio, and countless twists and turns. Brandon explains how the idea leapt from a viral Facebook page into a real public art commission through the old Imagination Station, and why the team was adamant that the statue be made in Detroit. He walks through the early missteps, the learning curve on how you actually build a 10-foot bronze figure, and the multi-year collaboration with Venus Bronze Works, the shop behind many of Detroit’s landmark sculptures. Pete gets into the legal and technical hurdles: getting MGM on board, putting up his own money to show good faith, and insisting on screen-accurate detail by restoring Peter Weller’s original armor from a warehouse in Houston with artist Mark Dubois and the legendary Tippett Studio. One of the most interesting points for me, from a community perspective, is that he talks about “defictionalizing” Robocop’s Directive One — serve the public trust — by turning the statue’s plaque itself into a QR code that can connect visitors to community causes, donating straight from their phones. Jim shares how Free Age became Robocop’s eventual “roommate” after other locations, including the Science Center, fell through during the pandemic. He and Walley talk about the symbolism of placing Robocop on the edge of Eastern Market as a welcoming figure, arm extended, and how they’re bracing — in a good way — for fans who donated years ago, people honoring loved ones, and visitors from around the world to show up on their Russell Street patio. Throughout, the group reflects on the grind of seeing a wild idea through nearly 15 years, the friendships and collaboration that kept it alive, and what it means for Detroit to finally have a pop-culture monument that is both deeply nerdy and deeply rooted in the city’s perseverance and generosity. You're not going to want to miss this conversation, or your chance to see a bit of movie history right here in the Motor City. More on Eastern Market's website: More on Omni Consumer Products: Free Age: Brandon Walley: 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: Daily Detroit is made possible by our members on Patreon: /episode/index/show/dailydetroitnewsbyte/id/39267455

From Divey to Divine: Exploring Detroit’s New Bar Scene with Mickey Lyons 12/02/2025

Future Of The Packard Plant Site Looks Bright (While The Leland Shuts Down) 12/01/2025

Future Of The Packard Plant Site Looks Bright (While The Leland Shuts Down) Detroit’s Packard Plant finally has a realistic reuse plan — and downtown’s historic Leland is abruptly shutting its doors. On today’s Daily Detroit, Jer Staes is joined by producer Shianne Nocerini and reporter Luciano Marcon to unpack two very different development stories that say a lot about where the city is headed. Packard Plant reboot Jer and Shianne break down the newly announced 28‑acre redevelopment of the southern half of the Packard Plant site along East Grand Boulevard, after going to the announcement on the city's east side. The plan, led by Packard Development Partners in a public‑private‑philanthropic partnership with the city and groups including the Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation, calls for a new 393,000‑square‑foot Class A industrial building and an estimated 300 permanent manufacturing jobs They outline what’s envisioned for the historic Albert Kahn building: 42 affordable live‑make units, a skate park, the Museum of Detroit Electronic Music (MODEM) and more than two acres of indoor‑outdoor public and recreation space, with completion targeted for 2029. The team talks about why keeping the 1903‑era frontage on East Grand matters to the neighborhood and the city’s psyche, and why this feels like a grounded, “doable” project instead of yet another Packard pipe dream. They also speculate, based on the more than 50 loading docks and rail/freeway access, that the site is more likely headed toward logistics or shipping than a data center. Leland House shutdown In the second half, Luciano joins Jer and Shianne after a very cold visit to the Leland House, the nearly century‑old former Leland Hotel downtown that’s now telling remaining residents they must leave with less than a week’s notice. Management letters delivered over the holiday weekend say the building will close by Wednesday, December 3, amid bankruptcy complications and stalled redevelopment efforts following the death of owner Michael Higgins. Luciano describes what he saw inside: Residents relying on space heaters Visible water damage Tarps tacked to ceilings and years of deferred maintenance The crew talks about the scramble by the city to help people relocate, the potential loss of jobs tied to longtime nightlife fixture City Club and the scale of money it would take to save the property. 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: /episode/index/show/dailydetroitnewsbyte/id/39227560

Gilbert and Duggan Talk About The Future; Plus Small Business Saturday Is Here 11/26/2025

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