Left of Lansing

Left of Lansing
  • 5.0 (14)
  • News
  • Updated Semiweekly

An insight into Michigan's progressive political and pop cultural scene. Pat Johnston highlights how the progressive movement is helping shape Michigan's political landscape with opinion and interviews. It's time to make Michigan's political machine work for the people!

  1. 5d ago

    Monday Musing: The REAL Reason Why Former Michigan Dem Chair Opposes Abdul El-Sayed

    Click here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/join Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for October 19, 2026! Former Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lon Johnson, and longtime state party fundraiser and Jewish communal leader David Kramer, co-wrote an op-ed in The Detroit News explaining why they're imploring voters to not vote for the working class progressive Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, Dr. Abul El-Sayed. They claim their main reason is that he's not forceful enough for his support for Israel's corrupt government, but the REAL reason is that candidates like Dr. Abdul threaten their longtime stranglehold of the Michigan Democratic Party.  Not to mention how he's a threat to the constant revolving door of greed, corruption, and criminality of the billionaire Epstein Class.  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! Click here to vote on this week's LOL Poll who should Democrats condemn: AIPAC or Hasan Piker?Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopardClick here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/joinNotes: "Why we’re leaving El-Sayed’s spot on the ballot blank | Opinion." By David Kramer & Lon Johnson of The Detroit News "Jewish Leaders Launch Nonnegotiable Michigan Ahead of Midterm Elections." By Ronelle Grier of The Detroit Jewish Insider "Half of Americans expect the Iran war to continue for at least another year." By Taylor Orth of YouGuv.org "Israeli police arrest suspects over settler attacks on US journalist, European diplomats." By Reuters #podcast #politics #progressives #Michigan #Democrats #Trump #MAGA #Republicans #Election #Primary  #LonJohnson  #DemocraticSocialism #Senate #AbdulElSayed #AOC #WorkingClass  #MikeRogers #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #Israel #AIPAC #IranWar #GovernmentCorruption #Populism #CorporateClass #DemocraticSocialism #Fascism #EpsteinClass #Authoritarianism #Democracy #LeftofLansing

    Monday Musing: The REAL Reason Why Former Michigan Dem Chair Opposes Abdul El-Sayed

  2. Oct 16

    Friday Short: AES & AOC Visit The U.P.

    Click here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/join Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for October 16, 2026! Michigan's progressive Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, and progressive Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, campaigned together in Michigan's Upper Peninsula this week during the final stretch of U.S. Senate race.  LOL's Pat Johnston explains why it's important that they showed up to connect with working class U.P. voters, and why it's criminal that Democrats abandoned the U.P. for far too long.  Again, working class progressives are the ones walking the walk by appearing in rural areas to help connect with all voters.  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! Click here to vote on this week's LOL Poll who should Democrats condemn: AIPAC or Hasan Piker?Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopardClick here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/join#podcast #politics #progressives #Michigan #Democrats #Trump #MAGA #Republicans #Election #Primary  #WorkingFamiliesParty  #DemocraticSocialism #Senate #AbdulElSayed #AOC #WorkingClass #unions #WorkersRights  #MikeRogers  #DataCenters #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #Populism #Rural #RuralVoters #UpperPeninsula #CorporateClass #DemocraticSocialism #Fascism #EpsteinClass #Authoritarianism #Democracy #LeftofLansing

    Friday Short: AES & AOC Visit The U.P.

  3. Oct 15

    Mike & Kristi Rogers' War Profiteering Scheme; Trump's Cratering Economy; Solar Farm Opposition

    Click here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/joinHere's Episode #195 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast! 00:00-18:02: Trump Econ Disaster LOL's Pat Johnston opens this week's show checking-in with a prediction that Michigan MAGA Republican State Rep. Matt Maddock made last Spring in which he declared gas prices would be low, and that Trump would make a deal with Iran. Maddock was proven to be just a tad off-the-mark as inflation keeps rising, the War on Iran marches on, and working class Americans are working more without keeping-up with higher prices. We can thank people like Trump, and MAGA Michigan Congressman Tom Barrett, John Moolenaar, Jack Bergman, Bill Huizenga, and yes, Michigan gubernatorial candidate John James, for giving us this cratering economy! 18:03-35:05: The Rogers' Government Cash Scheme A new story in Drop Site News reveals how Michigan MAGA Republican Senate candidate "Florida" Mike Rogers and his wife seemed to cash-in on government cash while he served as chair of the House Intelligence Committee. Kristi Rogers worked in the private security industry, and her company seemed to get lucky and nab several government contracts during the Iraq War, Afghanistan War, and elsewhere. Who says government creates jobs?! 35:06-41:00: Data Centers & Solar Farms In the "Last Call," Pat wonders why some of the same people opposing hyperscale A.I. data centers also oppose solar farms. 40:37-42:44: Ending Click here to vote on this week's LOL Weekly Poll: Data Centers & Solar Farms 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! Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopardClick here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/joinNOTES: "Mike Rogers’s Wife Raked in Lucrative Government Security Contracts While Rogers Served as Intel Chair." By Ryan Grim & Nancy Skinner of Drop Site News "Unfounded Health Concerns Are Powering a Solar Backlash." By Anna Clark of Pro Publica "AAA: Michigan Gas Prices Reverse Course, Rise 19 Cents in a Week." By AAA Michigan "Rep. Maddock's comments about a civil war aren't just irresponsible – they're dangerous | Opinion." By John Lindstrom of The Detroit Free Press "From ‘illegal invaders’ to $1.85 gas, Trump-loving Matt Maddock keeps missing reality." By Steve Neavling of The Detroit Metro Times "Child marriage is now banned in Michigan." By Anna Liz Nichols of Michigan Advance "If Michigan Cuts Property Taxes, Who Pays?" From "Off The Record with Tim Skubick, WKAR News#podcast #politics #progressives #Michigan #Democrats #Trump #MAGA #Republicans #Election #Voting #WorkingClass #unions #WorkersRights  #MikeRogers  #DataCenters #AbdulElSayed #JocelynBenson #JohnJames #DanaNessel #JonKing #AccessJournalism #NoahArbit #Israel #Gaza #Genocide #IranWar #GovernmentSpending #Media #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #Populism #CorporateClass #Economy #Inflation #KShapeEconomy #Fascism #EpsteinClass #Authoritarianism #Democracy #LeftofLansing

    Mike & Kristi Rogers' War Profiteering Scheme; Trump's Cratering Economy; Solar Farm Opposition

  4. Oct 13

    Monday Musing: As Election Nears, MAGA's Islamophobia Goes Into Hyperdrive

    Click here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/joinHere's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for October 12, 2026! Dear Leader Trump, and "Florida" Mike Rogers, are resorting to base racism and Islamophobia to attack Dr. Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan's U.S. Senate race.  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! Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopardClick here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/joinNOTES: "Fact check: No evidence Abdul El-Sayed ‘pledged support’ to Muslim Brotherhood." By Lauren Gibbons of Bridge Michigan #podcast #politics #progressives #Michigan #Democrats #Trump #MAGA #Republicans #Election #Voting #WorkingClass #MikeRogers #AbdulElSayed #JocelynBenson #JohnJames #Israel #Gaza #Genocide #IranWar #GovernmentSpending #Economy #GasPrices #War #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #Populism #CorporateClass #Fascism #EpsteinClass #Authoritarianism #Democracy #LeftofLansing

    Monday Musing: As Election Nears, MAGA's Islamophobia Goes Into Hyperdrive

  5. Oct 5

    Monday Musing: John James & Mike Rogers Always Backed Trump's War On Iran

    Click here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/join Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for October 5, 2026! Thanks to some excellent reporting by Bridge Michigan, Michigan MAGA Republicans John James & "Florida" Mike Rogers are betting on working class Michiganders forgetting how much they supported The Trump Regime's War on Iran just a few short months ago. But we aren't forgetting, as LOL's Pat Johnston notes.  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! Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopardClick here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/joinNOTES: "Fact check: Mike Rogers, John James shift positions on Iran war." By Miles MacClure for Bridge Michigan #podcast #politics #progressives #Michigan #Democrats #Trump #MAGA #Republicans #Election #Voting #WorkingClass #MikeRogers #AbdulElSayed #JocelynBenson #JohnJames #Israel #Gaza #Genocide #IranWar #GovernmentSpending #Economy #GasPrices #War #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #Populism #CorporateClass #Fascism #EpsteinClass #Authoritarianism #Democracy #LeftofLansing

    Monday Musing: John James & Mike Rogers Always Backed Trump's War On Iran

  6. Oct 1

    Media & Political & Data Center Coverage w/ Michigan Advance's Jon King

    Click here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/join Here's Episode #195 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast! 00:00-16:30: Latest MI Election Polls LOL's Pat Johnston opens the show highlighting some recent polls showing progressive Dr. Abdul El-Sayed leading MAGA Republican "Florida" Mike Rogers in the pivotal U.S. Senate race in Michigan. The trend in many polls are shifting towards Dr. Abdul, and perhaps that's why "Florida" Mike is sounding more like Dr. Abdul on the campaign trail! Suddenly, Rogers says Trump's & Israel's War on Iran must end, and that we also need a moratorium on new A.I. data centers! Polls are also showing Democrat Jocelyn Benson with a huge lead over MAGA Republican Congressman John James. 16:45-45:00: Jon King of Michigan Advance Interview Jon King is the Editor-in-Chief of Michigan Advance, our favorite source for Michigan news and politics, joins the show to talk about how corporate media is failing the country in these tumultuous times. They talk about The Trump Regime's effort to ban certain news organizations from covering The White House, but they wonder why it took so long for them to finally stand together and fight back. This is why "access journalism" sometimes does more damage than good. They also talk about how paywalls are preventing citizens from learning what's happening in their government, and Michigan Advance's weekly data center coverage as that issue will be a crucial issue in next month's election. Follow Jon King on Twitter: https://x.com/JonKingNews 45:01-53:30: MI Democrat Refuses To Back Dr. Abdul In this week's "Last Call," Pat covers how Michigan Democratic State Rep. Noah Arbit refuses to endorse and support progressive Democrat, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, for Michigan's Senate race. Why won't Arbit back Dr. Abdul? Because Dr. Abdul rightly criticized Israel's extreme and corrupt government. 53:31-56:08: 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! Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopardClick here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/joinNOTES: "As an American Jew, my first political loyalty is to American democracy." By Jon King of Michigan Advance "Three licks and a question: Who is Gretchen Whitmer governing for?" By Jon King of Michigan Advance "A Public Flat Earth." By Sarah Kendzior of Sarah Kendzior's Newsletter "Sanders, El-Sayed vow to improve healthcare work environments if Democrats take back U.S. Senate." By Ben Solis of Michigan Advance "Report says Trump Medicaid work requirements won't lead to more employment." By Kevin Meerschaert of WEMU News "Mike Rogers wants a job in the US Senate. What’d he do in the House?" By Lauren Gibbons of Bridge Michigan"Abdul El-Sayed or Mike Rogers? Freep's pick in U.S. Senate race | Endorsement." By Detroit Free Press Editorial Board "Fox News Poll: Michigan voters split between El-Sayed and Rogers." By Dana Blanton of Fox News #podcast #politics #progressives #Michigan #Democrats #Trump #MAGA #Republicans #Election #Voting #WorkingClass #unions #WorkersRights  #MikeRogers  #DataCenters #AbdulElSayed #JocelynBenson #JohnJames #DanaNessel #JonKing #AccessJournalism #NoahArbit #Israel #Gaza #Genocide #IranWar #GovernmentSpending #Media #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #Populism #CorporateClass #Fascism #EpsteinClass #Authoritarianism #Democracy #LeftofLansing

    Media & Political & Data Center Coverage w/ Michigan Advance's Jon King

  7. Sep 21

    Monday Musing: Mike Rogers Was For Data Centers Before He Was Against Them

    Click here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/join Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for September 21, 2026! It appears MAGA Michigan Republican U.S. Senate candidate "Florida" Mike Rogers is suddenly against the Big Tech Bro data centers, which is strange considering how just a few short months ago, Florida Mike was full steam ahead when it came to building and forcing more data centers across Michigan communities.  LOL"s Pat Johnston explains why, unlike the progressive Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who actually has policy ideas to enact safefguards and regulations on data center development (as well as a moratorium on data centers), Florida Mike Rogers is simply trying to pull another fast one on working class Michiganders.  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! Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopardClick here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/joinNOTES: "Mike Rogers loved data centers until voters didn’t." By Steve Neavling of The Detroit Metro Times "After data center investments revealed, Rogers backs statewide moratorium." By Freddy Brewster of The Lever (via Michigan Advance) "In Senate race, Mallory McMorrow pitches plan to do data centers ‘right’" By Lauren Gibbons of Bridge Michigan #podcast #politics #progressives #Michigan #Democrats #Trump #JDVance #MAGA #Republicans #Election  #WorkingClass #unions #WorkersRights  #MikeRogers  #DataCenters #BigTech #AI #AbdulElSayed #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #Populism  #CorporateClass  #Fascism #EpsteinClass #Authoritarianism #Democracy #LeftofLansing

    Monday Musing: Mike Rogers Was For Data Centers Before He Was Against Them

  8. Sep 14

    Monday Musing: "Florida" Mike Rogers' Football Attacks On Abdul El-Sayed Are An Incomplete Pass

    Click here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/join Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for September 14, 2026. In a last-ditch "Hail Mary Pass" to help save his fledgling campaign, MAGA Republican Michigan U.S. Senate candidate, "Florida" Mike Rogers, is attacking the Democratic frontrunner in the race, progressive Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, for not being a real man, or a real American, because Dr. Abdul had the temerity to criticize American football's history of toxic masculinity.  No, you read that right. "Florida" Mike Rogers wants you to ignore his record of catering to the Billionaire Big Tech Bros, the Surveillance State, Big Pharma, Defense contractors, Israel's corrupt government, and the entire Epstein Class, and instead focus on... football.  LOL's Pat Johnston tackles this issue of football, and why "Florida" Mike Rogers is hoping you'll talk about it rather than his own record.  And by the way, Dr. Abdul was the Captain of his high school football team. Just saying. 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! Click here to vote on this week's LOL Poll who should Democrats condemn: AIPAC or Hasan Piker?Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopardClick here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/join#podcast #politics #progressives #Michigan #Democrats #Trump #JDVance #MAGA #Republicans #Election #Primary  #VotingRights #Voting #WorkingClass #unions #WorkersRights  #MikeRogers  #DataCenters  #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #Populism  #CorporateClass  #Fascism #EpsteinClass #Authoritarianism #Democracy #LeftofLansing

    Monday Musing: "Florida" Mike Rogers' Football Attacks On Abdul El-Sayed Are An Incomplete Pass
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

An insight into Michigan's progressive political and pop cultural scene. Pat Johnston highlights how the progressive movement is helping shape Michigan's political landscape with opinion and interviews. It's time to make Michigan's political machine work for the people!

Information

  • Creator
    Left of Lansing
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    452
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Left of Lansing

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