Daily Detroit

Daily Detroit
  • 4.8 (182)
  • Daily News
  • Updated Daily

What to know and where to go in Metro Detroit! We have conversations that push Detroit forward and share local stories about restaurants, business, development, local government, policy, technology, things to do, transit and more. All in about 22 minutes a day.

  1. 2h ago

    Norris Moved Back to Detroit. Here's Why.

    On today's episode, I talked to Norris Howard about why he moved back to Detroit. We wanted to take a minute and talk honestly about why he did it — and what we both would tell anyone else thinking about doing the same. Norris was nominated by his fellow residents and named a Move Detroit ambassador, and so we figured this was a good time to share a bit of the backstory. That said, his opinions are his own and don't necessarily represent everyone else or the organization itself. This episode is part personal reflection, part practical advice. We get into the reasons people come back to Detroit, what to know before you move here, and how to think about neighborhoods, culture, and building a life in the city. If you're considering a move to Detroit, or just curious about what it takes to make it work here, I think you'll get something out of this one.  More on Move Detroit: https://www.movedetroit.com/ Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-detroit/id1220563942

    Norris Moved Back to Detroit. Here's Why.

  2. 1d ago

    A Question of Class and Classrooms: Should All Detroit's Public Schools Have Equal Programs and Opportunities?

    In this episode, I sit down with parent Brandi "BrandiTheeMillennialManager" McGill and sociologist Dr. Aya Waller‑Bey — along with my regular co-host Norris Howard — to talk about what started when one parent trying to get a soccer program at Denby that has snowballed into a saga that has started a lot of conversations around the Detroit Public Schools Community District. We dig into class, charter flight, black flight to the suburbs, exam schools versus neighborhood schools, and much more. It's one of the most important conversations to be had in the city of Detroit, as it's going to be very difficult to make Detroit's comeback stick without open conversations about the schools. The Detroit Public Schools Community District has undoubtedly made progress. For instance, a recent Chalkbeat Detroit report says DPSCD's high school graduation rate of 83% is now almost on par with the state average, and the highest since 2008. But a number of parents feel frustrated with what they see: a lack of equity of programs, facilities, and outcomes across the district's schools. That there feels to be a wide gap between the district's elite schools that you test into, and those in the neighborhoods for everyone else. Complicating all of this? Less than half of Detroit's children go to the Detroit Public Schools Community District. According to a Detroit PEER report in 2025, a group out of Wayne State University, only about 78,000 of the 106,000 public school students who live in Detroit (about 73%) go to school in the city. Of those, about 48,000 attend school in the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) and about 30,000 attend a Detroit charter school. The remaining 29,000 students or so (that's about 27%) go to school outside of the city, attending either a traditional public school in the suburbs through inter-district choice or a charter school located in the suburbs. There's a lot of talk about Detroit's comeback, but in order to make it stick, schools are crucial. This real conversation also includes Norris sharing his own experience with Detroit schools as a graduate, and what he's seen as an adult. We also get into the upcoming DPSCD school board election and candidates, upcoming meetings, and how showing up in person can change the direction of the district. Feedback as always - dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211.  Make sure to follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

    A Question of Class and Classrooms: Should All Detroit's Public Schools Have Equal Programs and Opportunities?

  3. 3d ago

    Michigan Politics Isn't Purple, It's Pissed Off: El-Sayed vs. Stevens

    I've been watching Michigan politics for a long time, and this Abdul El-Sayed vs. Haley Stevens primary feels like the front line of a bigger national reckoning. With Norris Howard and Devon O'Reilly, we unpack the pissed-off electorate, Whitmer's data-center problem, and how PAC money and billionaire money are backfiring with voters.  Many think that Michigan is a purple state, full of moderate ideas; and we talk about how voters are more angry than anything else. We talk about Trump's underwater numbers, Mike Rogers' vulnerability, and why running against the Democratic establishment might be the only way Democrats win in November. If you're trying to read the Petoskey stones on where American politics goes next, Michigan is a good place to start. Follow the show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-detroit/id1220563942

    Michigan Politics Isn't Purple, It's Pissed Off: El-Sayed vs. Stevens

  4. 6d ago

    Melody Baetens On Detroit's Best Food, Music Venue Struggles, And What's Next

    Norris and Jer sit down with Detroit News restaurant critic Melody Baetens to talk about the city's post‑COVID dining boom, why consistency is key to winning, and what's driving all the new global flavors around town.  Then they dig into the Greater Detroit Music Census, how local venues are struggling to keep live shows on the calendar, and what it would take for Detroit to lean into being a music city for working musicians and locales. Read Melody's work here: https://www.detroitnews.com/staff/2647007001/melody-baetens/

    Melody Baetens On Detroit's Best Food, Music Venue Struggles, And What's Next

  5. 6d ago

    How Transit Could Finally Reach Every Corner of Wayne County

    In this episode, I sit down with Transportation Riders United executive director Megan Owens to unpack Wayne County's transit millage and what it could mean for riders in Detroit and the suburbs. We get into how countywide service could end "opt‑out" communities, bring buses and microtransit to places like Livonia, Canton and Plymouth, and better connect rural townships to trunk lines. I also talk with Megan about a new $25 million BUILD grant for Gratiot, Macomb County's renewal interest in SMART, and how to actually find the transit question at the bottom of your ballot. More on TRU: https://www.detroittransit.org/ Our studio open house on Saturday, August 15: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1995592904096?aff=oddtdtcreator Make sure to follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get shows.

    How Transit Could Finally Reach Every Corner of Wayne County

  6. Jul 27

    Quick chats: American Arab Chamber; Plus the future of the Detroit Zoo

    Today's Daily Detroit is a little different. I've got two shorter conversations that are too good to leave behind, so we're stitching them together into one episode for you. First up is American Arab Chamber executive director Bilal Hammoud. We talk about just how big Arab American economic power has become in Michigan, with more than 150,000 businesses and an estimated $100 billion in economic contribution over the last decade. We get into how that connects to a more globally minded, relationship‑driven approach to economic development. Bilal makes the case for de‑siloing Michigan's innovation ecosystem, learning from places like Dubai and New York, and treating immigration as a core growth strategy between now and 2030. Then we shift gears to the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center with Detroit Zoological Society executive director and CEO Dr. Hayley Murphy. She walks us through the new Fred and Barbara Erb Discovery Trails, a seven‑acre "outdoor living classroom" with everything from goats to stingrays. Plus, we talk about the zoo's $185 million projected annual economic impact. We also get into free programming at the Belle Isle Nature Center, special evenings for families in shelters and with medically fragile kids, and a millage renewal later this year that keeps the whole operation going. As always, I'd love to know what you think of this format, or anything else about the show. Drop me a line at dailydetroit@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at 313‑789‑3211.

  7. Jul 23

    N/A, Yay or Nay; RenCen & the Riverfront; 88% Agreement

    On today's Daily Detroit I kick things off in "prime Negroni season," and on the heels of a new zero proof gin debate with Devon whether zero-proof gin and spirits are actually a thing we need or just marketing chasing vibes without the buzz. Then we dive into how different wings of the Demcoratic party actuall agree on about 88% of things, and how junk polls and click-chasing headlines warp our sense of what's really at stake, or who feels what way. Plus, turnout in the city and what it would take for under-40 Detroiters to actually flex the power they have instead of letting politics stay a 60-plus sport. We close on the RenCen and riverfront remake, breaking down the impending double tower demolition, and why losing some concrete might finally mean gaining the riverfront Detroit deserves.

  8. Jul 22

    Put Down Your Phone and Pick Up Detroit

    In today's episode, Norris and I hit pause on the doomscroll and talk about simple joys and summer adventures around Detroit. We talk about everything from Belle Isle walks and Southwest soccer nights to Chinatown block parties, rooftop bars, and getting lost on the scenic route instead of the freeway. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get shows! If you've got feedback, including what you plan on doing this summer, let us know - dailydetroit@gmail.com or 313-789-3211

See All (1.9K)

4.8
out of 5
182 Ratings

About

What to know and where to go in Metro Detroit! We have conversations that push Detroit forward and share local stories about restaurants, business, development, local government, policy, technology, things to do, transit and more. All in about 22 minutes a day.

Information

  • Creator
    Daily Detroit
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.9K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) Daily Detroit
  • Show Website
    Daily Detroit

You Might Also Like