Left Of Lansing

Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for November 8, 2024 Democrats are busy picking-up the pieces after getting trounced in this presidential election year, and that includes Michigan Democrats losing their majority in the state House.  While there's much to be said about how and why we got here, the Democratic majority in Lansing still has six weeks to pass important laws in the lame duck session. Pat lists-off those laws which must pass because not only will those laws help the state, but we're not sure when Democrats will have this chance again. 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! leftoflansing.com

#Election2024 #Politcs #Progressives #Michigan #Republicans #Democrats Here's Episode 110 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast. Pat gives his insights into America choosing four more years of Donald Trump and MAGA politics, and Michiganders giving the state House majority to MAGA Republicans as well. Where do progressives and the Democratic Party go from here? Pat shares thoughts. 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! leftoflansing.com

Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for November 4, 2024. The final "Monday Musing" before Election Day 2024. Pat explains why he's voting for Harris. Not only is Harris pushing a progressive domestic agenda (which includes abortion rights, manufacturing here at home, in-home care for seniors), but she's fighting to preserve democracy and decency.  It's really a slam-dunk kind of a case that doesn't have to be made.  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! leftoflansing.com

#Election2024 Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for November 1, 2024. The final EPIC-MRA-Detroit Free Press poll shows Kamala Harris leading Trump by three-percentage points.  Harris has seen improved numbers within the African American community, and with women voters, in general.  Meanwhile, Democrat Elissa Slotkin has opened-up a 5% lead over MAGA Republican "Florida" Mike Rogers for Michigan's U.S. Senate race.  If these numbers are true, then Democrats could have a very good night in Michigan. But there's only one way to know for sure, and that is voting! Visit MichiganVoting.org for additional voting information. 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! leftoflansing.com NOTES: "Kamala Harris leads Donald Trump in Michigan by 3 points in final Detroit Free Press poll." By Todd Spangler of The Detroit Free Press "Rubin: How many trans girl athletes does it take to

Here's Episode 109 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast! 00:00-21:06: Democracy vs. Fascism   We're just a few days away from the biggest and most consequential election since Abraham Lincoln's victory in 1860. It's amazing how the United States is close to installing a true fascist movement into the White House. But Pat gives some optimism and puts his faith in the American people to do the right thing, and trounce Dear Leader Trump and his White Christian Nationalist MAGA cult which is bankrolled by billionaire donors. Pat refuses to downplay the threat Trump and MAGA are to this country, unlike Ana Kasparian on The Young Turks. This election is about saving democracy while finding solutions to help hard-working Americans gain opportunities to better their lives. It's about The People vs. The Billionaires. It's about Sanity and Normalcy vs. Insanity and Corruption. It's about Freedom vs. the fascist Christian Nationalist "Project 2025" playbook. It's about the future.  21:07-38:13: Keep Michigan Hou

Here's the Left Of Lansing "Monday Musing" for October 28, 2024! Nearly 2-million Michiganders have already voted. As predicted, making it easier for people to vote is not only getting more people involved in our democracy or making it easier for county clerks across the state, but it's extremely popular! Thanks to progressive activism in the last decade, and a Democratic Party majority in Lansing, voting rights in Michigan have expanded. Michigan has now broken voting turnouts in 2020 and 2022.  These new voting laws are working as intended. But remember, it could've always been this way had Michigan Republicans, like MAGA Republican U.S. Senate candidate "Florida" Mike Rogers, not worked tirelessly for years to make voting harder, especially for younger Michiganders. Voting rights is also on the ballot! Remember who's fought for those rights, and who's fought against them.  Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! leftoflansing@gmail.com Left of

Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for October 25, 2024. As some polls suggest that Trump and MAGA Republicans are making some inroads with Generation Z men, Pat wonders what can be done to dissuade these young men from going down the White Christian Nationalist Dude-bro MAGA Republican path.  Maybe it's what Paul Waldman writes this week when he says they will suffer from the same grift as many rural Americans suffered after throwing their hopes and dreams into Trump.  They'll realize how he played into their dude-bro culture belief that "The Others" are to blame in society, and not how he and his billionaire friends enriched their lives and outcomes while the rest of us continued fighting with each other.  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! leftoflansing.com

Here's Episode 108 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast! Visit MichiganVoting.org for voting information. 00:00-19:07: Trump's Fascism/Rick Snyder's Sad Pat Johnston begins the episode talking about how Dear Leader Trump's former Chief Of Staff, John Kelly, called his former boss a fascist. And even though Trump has praised Hitler, the MAGA Republican Party continue to rush to his defense. That's why the story of Trump calling deceased U.S. Army soldier Vanessa Guillen an "F-ing Mexican," is celebrated within MAGA circles rather than reviled. Pat also talks about former Michigan Republican Governor Rick Snyder's crusade to help MAGA Republicans take control of the state house. Snyder, who spent years painting himself as a moderate "nerd," is proving there's no difference between he and MAGA. That's what Pat's always been saying! 19:08-36:55: Sam Inglot of Progress Michigan Sam Inglot, Executive Director of Progress Michigan, joins the show to talk about the importance of getting people to the polls

Here's the Left Of Lansing "Monday Musing" for October 21, 2024! Michigan MAGA Republican candidates are real quiet this year when it comes to abortion rights, or in their case, banning abortion rights.  Despite spending years fighting to ban abortion care altogether, these same people are suddenly telling voters that abortion bans are not on their radar this year.  Of course, the Michigan Right To Life doesn't exactly believe them since the group is proudly and enthusiastically endorsing these same anti-choice and anti-freedom candiates. And we don't believe them either.  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! leftoflansing.com NOTES: "On abortion, some Michigan candidate claims conflict with records." By Jordyn Hermani of Bridge Michigan "Opinion: Michigan Republican candidates are suddenly chill about abortion this election." By Nancy Kaffer of The Detroit Free Press "Trump

Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for October 18, 2024! Dear Leader Trump doubled-down on trashing the City of Detroit this week, saying if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the election, the entire country will look like Detroit. And then there's former New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie attacking our beloved Detroit Lions, especially Head Coach Dan Campbell, for beating-up on his poor, little Dallas Cowboys in front of nation last week. With all of this Detroit-bashing, it's no wonder why a new poll shows 50% of Michiganders saying they are less likely to vote for Trump. I'm not sure of the Republican strategy to attack Detroit when Michigan is a key battleground state in the election, but I say... keep doing it, Trump and the rest of MAGA!  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! leftoflansing.com

Here's Episode 107 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast! 00:00-16:00: Ottawa Impact/Close Election Expected Ottawa County, Michigan, provides the perfect and poignant case study on how the MAGA ideology is not only destructive, but it's expensive! Thanks to the outstanding reporting by Sarah Leach, the MAGA Ottawa Impact majority on the county board has spent over $3 million in lawsuits, and other unexpected costs! Now, the OI faction will lose its majority on the board in a few weeks, but the damage is already done. Check-out Sarah Leach's substack, The Sentinel Leach, to learn more about western Michigan politics, and politics in general. Pat reminds you to help-out those Michigan Democratic State House candidates, who are trying to defeat MAGA across the state. And Pat tells everyone to chill-out about the closeness of the presidential election because no matter what, it was always going to be a close one.  16:01-38:58: Interview w/ Peter Sinclair Environmental activist, climate change educator, s

Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" on October 14, 2024 Vice President Kamala Harris unveiled a new plan where Medicare would cover the costs for in-home elder care, and also for people with disabilities.  Nine in 10 Americans say they're unable to cover the costs to care for a senior family member, which is why Harris introduced her proposal.  Yet, for all of the pearl-clutching by the corporate political media over how Harris must release detailed policy plans, whenever she does introduce said policies, there media loses interests.  Of course, it never makes the same demands on their Dear Leader Trump, and I think we know why.  And so do you. 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! leftoflansing.com

Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for October 11, 2024. The "Abandon Harris" campaign this week officially endorsed Green Party presidential nominee, Jill Stein, in Dearborn, MI.  But one of the co-founder's of the campaign clearly explained the point of the movement: to hand the state of Michigan to Dear Leader Trump this November. This is despite the fact that Trump throws all of his support to Israel's continued destruction of Gaza, while also promising to expand another Muslim ban in the country, and to deport millions of immigrants.  It's also another example of how Jill Stein's Green Party movement's real goal is to damage Democrats. And it's noteworthy to mention how she and Trump are both admirers of Vladimir Putin, whom Stein refuses to call a war criminal. 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! leftoflansing.com NOTES: Mehdi Hassan's "Mehdi Unfiltered" episode

Here's Episode 106 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast. 00:00-30:45: Harris Leads Trump in MI/Slotkin-Rogers Senate Debate Pat's got lots to say this week about the presidential race in Michigan, and why Harris is now leading Trump in the Michigan polls. He talks about Trump-Vance's anti-EV Car stance, which is also another anti-union stance. But it's also an anti-Michigan stance. Pat also brings-up how Dear Leader Trump tried to steal the 2020 election in Michigan, and will try it again. He also talks about how climate change is causing these violent hurricanes this season, and how Republicans worked hard to defund FEMA only to blame it's not working like it should. And Pat concludes by recapping the U.S. Senate seat debate between Democrat Elissa Slotkin and MAGA Republican "Florida" Mike Rogers, and did Rogers commit voter fraud? 30:46-35:21:Last Call: Go Dirt Road Dems! In this week's "Last Call" segment, Pat puts a spotlight on those rural Democrats who are putting their names on ballots in dis

Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for October 7, 2024. Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign has been playing a bit prevent defense for my taste of late, but she seems to be getting back on the offense in a smart and calculated way. Along with making appearances on CBS's "60 Minutes" this week, Harris is also appearing on Alexandra Cooper's "Call Her Daddy" podcast, as well as on Howard Stern's show. By bypassing the broken traditional corporate media world, Harris is finding a way to engage with millions of potential new voters. She's not going to change many minds on CNN, Fox News, or MSNBC.  But she could by visiting non-traditional media platforms. It's not only the right strategy, but it's the smart strategy.  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! leftoflansing.com

Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for October 4, 2024. Yet another solid jobs report for the American people, and it's due in-part to smart economic policies put in motion by a Democratic administration in The White House. After Dear Leader left the country in economic ruin, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris passed strong and sensible job and economic growth bills, such as The Chips Act, the infrastructure bill, and the Inflation Reduction Act.  And we're feeling those benefits in Michigan, too, thanks in-part to a Democratic Governor, and a Democratic majority in the state legislature. How many more times do we have to learn the lesson of watching Republicans destroy the economy, and then voting for Democrats to clean-up the Republican mess.  It's already happened three times in my lifetime! 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! leftoflansing.com NOTES: "Employers added 254

Here's Episode 105 of Michigan's premier progressive podcast. 00:00-18:17: VEEP Recap/MAGA Attacks Immigrants & Abortion Rights The first segment features Pat Johnston giving his review of the Vice Presidential Debate between Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and MAGA Republican Dude-Bro J.D. Vance. Pat highlights where Walz scored some major points, and where he fell short, in his debate against Vance. Pat also talks about how the Dear Leader Trump/Vance attacks on immigrants is leading to violent threats.  18:18-40:48: Interview w/ Amanda Mazur on Abortion Rights Our guest this week is Amanda Mazur, who's an abortion rights activist as well as the Vice President of Northwest Michigan For Reproductive Freedom. Amanda gives her takes on how abortion was covered during the Veep debate, and she shares thoughts on how MAGA Republicans are definitely not "pro-family," and how progressives and Democrats should talk about abortion rights this election year.  40:49-46:11: Last Call: Mike Rogers Wants Highe

Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for September 30, 2024. MAGA Michigan GOP Chair Pete Hoekstra is telling Republican voters that Democrats "will steal some votes" this election. Of course, like Dear Leader Trump, and several other of his failed cult member, there's absolutely ZERO evidence that Democrats are stealing votes.  It's just the MAGA way of letting their people know that voters aren't gravitating towards their weird and warped campaign "policies."  Instead, they'd rather sew doubts in this country's democratic institutions, and free election system.  And we wonder why MAGA resorts to violence, or at least violent rhetoric. 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! leftoflansing.com NOTES: "Top Michigan Republican already warns of a stolen election." By Craig Mauger and Hannay Mackay of The Detroit News "MIGOP chair accuses Democrats of stealing votes ahead of

Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for September 27, 2024. A new NBC Poll shows Vice President Kamala Harris enjoying a whopping 21% lead over Dear Leader Trump with women. Why? Because women aren't backing the weird and warped Christian Nationalist philosophy that believes men are the bosses of women. 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! leftoflansing.com NOTES:  NBC's Steve Kornacki tweet on Kamala Harris's lead over Trump with women. "Donald Trump and Bernie Moreno rage at "crazy" female voters who refuse to fall in line." By Amanda Marcotte of Salon "The 15 most offensive things that have come out of Trump’s mouth." By Nick Gass of Politico "Read every horrible thing Donald Trump has said about women and tell me he's not a sexist." By Dylan Matthews of Vox "Sarah Huckabee Sanders Takes Dig at Kamala Harris for Not Having Children." By Anna Commander of Newsweek

Here's Episode 104 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast! 00:00-19:15: MAGA Plans To Destroy Economy & Women's Freedoms The award-winning Pat Johnston highlights Project 2025's goals to destroy unions if Dear Leader Trump gets back into office. He also stresses the importance of the Michigan Supreme Court races, and to vote for Kyra Harris Bolden and Kimberly Thomas. Pat shows how MAGA Michigan Republican attacks on immigrants will hurt our state economy. And he closes the segment showing how Michigan Democrats keep producing results that actually helps the people and the state. 19:16-35:40: The Smearing of Rashida Tlaib This week's elongated "Last Call" has Pat talking about the disgusting smear attacks against Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. Tlaib criticized Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel for charging pro-Palestine protesters on the University of Michigan campus. She gave an interview with The Detroit Metro Times' Steve Nealing in which Tlaib continued her criticisms of N