Created Equal

Today on Created Equal, we share highlights from this week's episodes, including conversations about Michigan’s Election Day turnout, the future of the Democratic Party in the wake of Trump’s victory and more.

Jeremy Hobson, host of the national NPR call-in show "The Middle," returns to Created Equal to reflect on how the American middle class and middle-class issues played a significant role in the 2024 presidential election. 

Democrats were on the blunt end of a very strong message on Election Day, as Donald Trump flipped many parts of the country and some traditionally Democratic constituencies to win another term in the White House. What’s the lesson for the party going forward? Representative Debbie Dingell and political strategist Jamal Simmons join the show to discuss the future of the Democratic party in the wake of a Trump victory.

College-educated voters are moving dramatically into the ranks of the Democratic Party, attracted by the party’s views on subjects like diversity and inclusion. And less educated voters are flocking to the Republican Party, drawn by its skepticism of cultural change. The authors of "Polarized by Degrees: How the Diploma Divide and the Culture War Transformed American Politics," Matt Grossman and David Hopkins, join the show to talk about the ways that higher education status reflects — and influences — the American political landscape.

Although Michigan has historically been a “blue wall” state, we saw several Republican victories here in this week’s elections. Michigan Public Political Director Zoe Clark, Michigan Public Radio Network Capitol Reporter Colin Jackson, and Detroit News Politics Editor Chad Livengood join the show to discuss the results of Michigan election races and what they mean for the future of the state. 

Voters have chosen Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States. But what does the Republican Party look like now, with the many defections that have taken place in the Trump era? Today on Created Equal, Stephen Henderson is joined by Shikha Dalmia, president of the Institute for the Study of Modern Authoritarianism; Andrea Bitely, a political and communications strategist at Bitely Communications; and Fred Upton, a former U.S. Rep from Michigan, to discuss the future of conservative politics and the Republican Party.

Nancy Kaffer of the Detroit Free Press, former Michigan Senator Randall Richardville, and Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne join the show to discuss Donald Trump's reelection, local races in Michigan and in Detroit, and what this election says about voters, their preferences, and the state of the country. 

Election Day is finally here. American democracy has persisted for more than two centuries, and the importance of the results of this year’s election has been touted by both sides of the political aisle. Today on Created Equal, award-winning journalist Desiree Cooper and New York Times columnist Bret Stephens join the show to discuss how they feel about American democracy and what they are keeping in mind as they cast their ballots.

Today on Created Equal, we share highlights from this week's episodes, including new efforts to unionize video game industry workers; the connection between early voting and election distrust and more.

With just a few days left before the 2024 presidential election, many people are feeling at least a little bit stressed – by the deluge of ads and information about the election, by the deep division that is represented in the campaign and on the ballot, or by a sense of fatigue. Psychiatrist Arash Javanbakht and clinical psychologist Rheeda Walker join the show to talk about election-related stress, how much worse it has gotten and how we can manage it a bit better.

David Becker of the Center for Election Innovation & Research and University of Michigan-Dearborn political science professor Dale Thomson join Created Equal to discuss how early voting improves election integrity, despite misinformation saying otherwise.

Video games are a huge part of American culture and a largely profitable industry. But even as the industry booms, many workers have very little job security and work unimaginable hours. These circumstances have led to new efforts to unionize these workers to give them stronger workplace protections. Nicole Carpenter, a senior reporter at Polygon who covers labor issues in the games industry, and Johanna Weststar, an associate professor at Western University, joins Created Equal to discuss the effects of unionization on the video game industry. 

Today on Created Equal, we share highlights from this week's episodes, including the impact of white Christian nationalism on American history and democracy; Michigan’s teacher shortages in K-12 schools and more.

Despite often being a loyal voting bloc for Democrats, Black Americans are politically diverse. Garrison Hayes, a journalist for Mother Jones and the Reveal podcast, has been spending some of this year talking to Black Republicans to determine what draws them to the GOP — and, in many cases, to Donald Trump. He joined Created Equal on Thursday to discuss the motivation behind their votes, and what they hope to gain from this election.

Teachers in classrooms are dealing with an especially tough set of circumstances. Many are dealing with the after effects of the pandemic on student mental health and taking responsibility for keeping kids safe from violence. A panel of educational professionals join Created Equal to discuss the teacher shortage in Michigan, its effect on students, and some possible solutions.

Host of CBC Radio’s The National and Cross Country Checkup Ian Hanomansing, joins Created Equal ahead of his live call-in special broadcasting from WDET on Sunday, Oct. 20, to discuss how Canadian politics are changing and how they mirror those in the United States.

Preacher Jim Wallis, author of “The False White Gospel,” joins the show to talk about why Christian values are at odds with White Christian nationalism in the United States. 

Dennis Darnoi, founder of political consulting firm Densar Consulting, and Michigan Public Political Director Zoe Clark join the show to break down the final debate between Michigan U.S. Senate candidates U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin and former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers.

Today on Created Equal, we share highlights from this week's episodes, including reflections on the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel and the Arab American diaspora; neighborhoods in Detroit starting community land trusts and more.