The Metro
"The Metro" covers local and regional news and current affairs, arts and cultural events and topics, with a commitment to airing perspectives and uncovering stories underreported by mainstream media in Detroit.
Most Recent Episode
'Do we want to continue this experiment?' — why patriotism has declined, and how to change that
This Saturday is the Fourth of July — and it’s a big one. Two hundred and fifty years since the Declaration of Independence. A new Gallup poll finds American pride at its lowest in 25 years. Only a third of Americans say they’re “extremely proud” to be American. And the partisan split is stark: 70% of Republicans, versus 14% of Democrats.
Michael Taylor is the mayor of Sterling Heights. He spoke with The Metro's Robyn about why it's more important now than ever to unite to rediscover our pride in this country.
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American history and youth coaching collide at Motown Lacrosse
Though Clark Park became famous for hosting ice hockey during the winter, they are teaming up alongside Chandler Park with Motown Lacrosse to teach children box lacrosse this summer.
Especially when the United States will be celebrating a 250th birthday, these practices serve as a secret history lesson, as lacrosse began on Native American soil before the country was founded.
Liam McElroy, or Coach Mac, is the founder of Motown Lacrosse leading the next generation through the sport. He joins The Metro to discuss the dynamics of box lacrosse from cost to the indigenous roots behind the game.
Freedom seekers, Canada Day and emancipation
Amherstburg, Ontario was a critical destination for freedom seekers fleeing slavery in the U.S. It's also where freed African Canadians lived.
Lorene Brigden-Lennie is the board director of the Essex County Black Historical Research Society. She joined The Metro to discuss the ways that Canada observes Canada Day and Emancipation Day through the lens of freed slaves.
Canada Day, tariffs, and a history that's repeating
It's Canada Day — and Canadians are marking it under a strange cloud. A year of U.S. tariffs, talk from President Trump of making Canada the "51st state," and a brand-new Detroit-Windsor bridge finished but sitting empty. And today, of all days, the trade deal between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico comes up for review.
Historian Craig Baird, host of Canadian History Ehx, tells host Robyn Vincent we've been here before — back in the 1890s, when the U.S. tried to squeeze Canada with tariffs and it backfired, fueling a wave of Canadian pride. He explains what that history rhymes with now, and where the comparison breaks down.
Have thoughts? Email the show at metro@wdet.org
American car companies are losing billions due to tariffs on Canada
Canadians don’t feel so hot toward the U.S. right now. Thirty-seven percent view the country favorably, and most think even less of President Donald Trump. That’s in part because of a 25% tax the president issued on steel and aluminum, which has cost thousands of jobs for people in Windsor alone. Most of those folks work for auto suppliers.
Today is not only Canada Day, it’s also the day that talks are set to begin to renew the U.S.-Mexico-Canada-Agreement. The Metro’s Sam Corey spoke with Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association President Flavio Volpe about why America’s aggressions toward Canada have led to losses for everyone.
Too exhausted to argue? How to talk across the political divide
Many Americans say political polarization is wearing them out. According to the Listen First Project, 86% feel exhausted by the division, and 87% call it a threat to the country. So how do you actually talk to someone you disagree with? In Washtenaw County, a conservative and a liberal co-lead a chapter of Braver Angels, a group built to replace hostility with curiosity. They join producer Sam Corey to explain how it works — and why healing might start with something as small as grabbing a bagel and walking the dog.
Have thoughts? Email the show at metro@wdet.org
The Senate Theater kicks off summer with 'Hot, Sweaty, and Weird' film series
This weekend is filled with events for film enthusiasts, and The Senate Theater is offering a way to start the summer off.
The theater is launching its “Hot, Sweaty and Weird” summer film series of B-movies to keep audiences engaged this summer.
The series is launching with a Pride-themed event on Saturday, June 27 at 5 p.m. The screening will also feature the documentary “The Cockettes” and John Waters’ “Multiple Maniacs.”
The event is hosted in partnership with the Motor City Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
A Blue Cross Blue Shield change could make therapy harder to get
More people are in therapy than ever, but starting in March, Blue Cross Blue Shield will stop covering some private-practice counselors, and thousands of Michiganders could lose the therapist they see now. Blue Cross says it's protecting patients by paying only for care from fully licensed clinicians.
Therapist David Sniderman joins Robyn Vincent to explain who stands to lose access — especially rural and low-income patients — and to make the case that what heals people most isn't the method, it's the trust between a therapist and client.
Have thoughts? Email the show at metro@wdet.org
Sylvia Moy is the Motown songwriter history almost forgot
Sylvia Moy built a career at Motown as a songwriter and producer on some of the label’s biggest tracks. She also played a role in developing Stevie Wonder’s career as he began to notch multiple hit songs. Moy, however, was not given official credit for any of the songs she wrote and produced, and for many years, the scale of her impact remained unknown.
Dr. Margena Christian joined the program to discuss Moy in her new book “It's No Wonder: The Life and Times of Motown’s Legendary Songwriter Sylvia Moy.” In it, she chronicles Moy’s early life, and her struggle to receive credit for her contributions to Motown and music history.
Devastation from afar feels close for many in Michigan’s Lebanese community
Many residents in metro Detroit — home to the nation’s largest Lebanese community — are mourning as the war between Israel and Hezbollah brings devastation to Lebanon. Since March, relentless fighting has left southern towns and villages in ruins. By May, at least 62,000 buildings were destroyed, more than 1 million people were displaced, and over 4,000 have been killed.
Mirvet Makki is the owner of Divine Dine Detroit, a catering business in Dearborn. She immigrated to Michigan from Lebanon in 1990, and she’s been using earnings from her business to make donations to folks in Lebanon. She joined host Robyn Vincent on The Metro to reflect on the heartbreak unfolding in Lebanon and how it reverberates through metro Detroit’s Lebanese community.
Comedian Sam Tallent headlines June comedy showcase
For comedians, every crowd is different.
Sam Tallent is a comedian, novelist, and host of the Chubby Behemoth Podcast. He's headlining the second What’s So Funny About Detroit comedy showcase of the summer on Thursday, June 25. The event will feature some of the funniest comedians in metro Detroit, including Blaine Hill and Johanna Medranda.
Tallent joined the show ahead of his appearance at What’s so Funny About Detroit to discuss stand-up comedy crowds, his creative process, and his upcoming novel “Brut.”
Why renting costs more than the price you're quoted
America's biggest landlord, Greystar, charges renters a pile of extra fees — for trash, for pest control, even for "managing the boiler." It paid $24 million to settle claims that it hid those fees on top of advertised rent. Greystar says it did nothing wrong.
Investigative reporter Tracie McMillan spent months searching the leases and court records, and joins Robyn Vincent to explain what renters — including thousands across metro Detroit — are really paying, and what to look for on your own lease.
Got thoughts? Email the show at metro@wdet.org
Detroit Youth Choir tackles Alice Walker’s 'The Color Purple'
"The Color Purple" by Alice Walker is a tale that spans 40 years, following a Black woman named Celie living in the early 1900s American South as she searches for her sister.
The story has been adapted for the screen and several live performances. Now the Detroit Youth Choir (DYC) is performing the story at The Hawk Theatre in Farmington Hills. They have four shows planned from June 26-28.
Jala Jackson is the director of theater production for DYC. DJ Whitfield is a recent graduate of Taylor Preparatory Academy; he's playing the lead role of Mister. Sydney Thomas is a rising Junior at Novi High School; she's playing the lead role of Shug Avery.
They joined the show to chat more about upcoming performances and why "The Color Purple" was chosen.
The leading legacies of Gayly Speaking and 'Come Out! In Detroit'
In 1973, the Gay Radio Collective began producing Gayly Speaking through WDET. The Lesbian Radio Collective collaborated with them to shape episodes that resonated with the queer Detroit audience for a decade.
Dr. Tim Retzloff teaches history and queer studies at Michigan State University. He returned to WDET today after celebrating the 40th anniversary of Gayly Speaking on the Craig Fahle Show in 2013.
Isabel Clare Paul is a freelance illustrator who graduated from the College for Creative Studies. She made a comic book called “Come Out! In Detroit” with Dr. Retloff in 2022 during the 50th anniversary of Michigan Pride.
Retzloff joins The Metro to discuss the leadership behind Gayly Speaking and what impact that had on the queer population of Detroit. He and Clare Paul also touch upon how they published “Come Out! In Detroit” as a love letter to the first Pride of Michigan.
Scared Money: Why Michiganders are starting businesses anyway
Consumer confidence just hit a record low — yet Michiganders filed more than 40,000 new business applications in the first months of 2026.
Small business consultant Mark Lee joins Robyn Vincent to explain the paradox: Are these new owners chasing a dream or getting pushed? How many will survive? And who's really behind the boom?
Have thoughts on this story or something else happening in your neighborhood? Email the show at metro@wdet.org
Why homes are built more quickly in West Michigan — and what the rest of the state can learn
Michigan is facing a serious housing shortage, with experts estimating the state needs to build nearly 100,000 homes. Outdated zoning laws hinder the creation of diverse, mixed-use neighborhoods, and lengthy permitting processes slow new developments.
Joe Agostinelli, founder of Miller Johnson Growth Advisors, believes better financing and strong partnerships between local leaders and developers are key to expanding Michigan’s housing supply. The Metro’s Sam Corey spoke with Agostinelli at the annual Mackinac Policy Conference to discuss how his group is trying to build homes quickly in an environment that often moves slow.
How government inefficiency hampers population growth in Michigan
Michigan’s leaders agree that we need to attract more people to our state. Yet one central question remains: how do we make it happen, and who is responsible for leading the way?
Jeff Donofrio is the president and chief executive officer of Business Leaders For Michigan. He’s written about this topic in several reports, and he’s worked for the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan to resolve the problem. He joined host Robyn Vincent on The Metro to explore why government culture needs to change to build more housing, better regional transit, and to attract more people to the state.
'We Tell These Truths' explores culture and community in Mexicantown
The Concert of Colors Neighborhood Series is hosting an event called "All Humans Are Created Equal” at Mercado Plaza in Mexicantown on June 27. It kicks off the Concert of Colors Neighborhood Series “We Tell These Truths," which is also a part of a Smithsonian cultural initiative celebrating 250 years of the U.S.
La Santa Cecilia, a Grammy-winning band, will bring the cosmic barrio to Detroit after releasing their newest album, "Los Años," in May.
Betto Arcos will serve as a moderator after their performance. Arcos is a radio journalist, writer, curator, and music promoter from Los Angeles. Raymond Lozano is the Executive Director of the Mexicantown Community Development Corporation.
They joined The Metro to preview the event with songs and discuss the tenacity of Latin Americans from Detroit who faced displacements and diasporas in Mexicantown.
Detroit chef pop-up turns food into an immersive journey
Longtime chef Tyrrell Hutchins curates meals with a shared purpose: connect ancestral traditions with contemporary technique. His Happy Sunday pop-up event is an immersive multi-course dining experience that takes place every other month. On June 14, the menu will feature Black American cuisine in anticipation of the Juneteenth holiday.
Hutchins joined The Metro to explain what inspired this month's menu and the Happy Sunday format.