Left of Lansing Left of Lansing

Here's the Left of Lansing Friday Short for June 21, 2024.

MAGA Republican state Representative Neil Friske of Charlevoix got arrested this week for allegedly chasing a worker at the Deja Vu strip club in Lansing with a gun.

No formal charges have been levied yet, but police are requesting three felony charges against Friske, including sexual assault, assault, and a weapons-related offense. 

Friske is now part of the MAGA crime wave that's spreading throughout Michigan, and the United States. But it's also no surprise how Friske allegedly turned to violence against a female worker since he's shown nothing but contempt for women in his political career.

But make no mistake: resorting to violence is always the MAGA way. 

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Here's Episode 91 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast!

00:00-16:12--Pat congratulates Michigan Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel on a major court victory for those fighting to shut down the Line 5 oil pipeline at the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac. Nessel successfully argued to have the case sent back to the state, giving Line 5 owner, Enbridge, a major setback as it tried to have the case heard in federal court. Here's the thing: it's a states' rights issue! Also, failed MAGA Republican AG candidate, and the criminally indicted, Matt DePerno announces his run for the Michigan Supreme Court. It's a prerequisite nowadays for Republicans to be indicted in order to run for office! But criminal activity is part of the MAGA game as one of Dear Leader Trump's spiritual advisors admitted he molested a 12-year old girl. It doesn't matter to MAGA, though, because gaining complete power is what they crave to enact their MAGA White Christian Nationalist "Project 2025" agenda.

16:42-35:22-- Michigan Democratic State Representative Jason Morgan on his "Make It In Michigan" bill package that would divert millions of dollars from a corporate slush fund into investments in public transit, affordable housing, and community revitalization. He also gives his definition of "pragmatic progressivism."Rep. Morgan's 23rd House District comprises of parts of Ann Arbor, South Lyon, Salem, Plymouth and Northville. 

36:10-42:20--"Last Call" on Democratic Representatives Dylan Wegela and Emily Dievendorf's counter proposal to the Make It Michigan package, which diverts more money from the corporate slush fund to affordable housing. Pat believes this is progressives actually negotiating with some strength. 

42:45-43:44: Ending, including the new weekly Left of Lansing Twitter Poll on whether or not Trump appears at next week's presidential debate against Joe Biden.

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for June 17, 2024

The right-wing White Christian Nationalist activist group Turning Points USA showed-up in Detroit last weekend to spread its hateful and dangerous message to its followers. 

Its leader, millennial wonderboy Charlie Kirk, is becoming the new face of right-wing extremism. But if he and his people are able to capture just a fraction of long-time Democratic voters, then the country is in deep trouble this November. 

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NOTES:

North Dakota Republican Governor Kristi Noem's "call to arms" speech during Turning Points USA speech in Detroit.

"Charlie Kirk once pushed a 'secular worldview.' Now he's fighting to make America Christian again." By Mike Hixenbaugh and Allan Smith of NBC News

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!

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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 Dievendorf to remove more money from SOAR towards housing.

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 need help and are feeling squeezed, which is why a paid family leave bill would help even the playing field in Michigan. However, with cooling inflation and greedflation, and low unemployment, Democrats must remind voters how they once again saved the country from another failed MAGA Republican administration. 

The "Last Call" covers another example of a Michigan MAGA Republican bobbing-and-weaving when cornered on whether or not they'd support a national abortion ban if elected to the U.S. Senate. But make no mistake. Every MAGA Republican wants to ban all abortion care, and contraception, in order to show how government can control and limit the freedom for women.

Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can!

leftoflansing@gmail.com

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Visit the episode page for a full list of the show notes.

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!

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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