Left Of Lansing

#podcast #politics #democrats #DemocraticParty #ElonMusk #Fasicsm #MAGA #Republicans #Trump #AOC #BernieSanders #Progressives #Medicare #Medicaid #SocialSecurity #WorkingClass #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #CorporateAuthoritarianism #ElissaSlotkin #leftoflansing Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for March 17, 2025! Senate Democrats, led by New York Senator Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, voted with the entire Republican Senate majority to pass a six-months spending bill, essentially giving Dear Leader Trump and co-President Elon Musk the power to gut essential services for working class Americans while enriching the corporate donor class.  This has led to a fight within the Democratic Party, and it's a fight for very soul of what The Party used to stand for: strong working class values.  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 "‘Absolutely ridicul

#podcast #politics #Michigan #democracy #WorkingClass #populism #GenZ #Democrats #Medicaid #SocialSecurity #Medicare #Indivisible #Republicans #MAGA #ElonMusk #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #CorporateAuthoritarianism #LeftOfLansing #Veterans Here's Episode 124 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast! 00:00-24:54 Gilchrist In Primary/Indivisible Central MI Event Pat begins the show talking about Michigan Lt. Gov Garlin Gilchrist entering the Democratic primary for the 2026 Governor's race. He'll go up against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and Genesee Co. Sheriff Chris Swanson. Then, Pat shares audio from a recent rally held by Indivisible Central Michigan on why safety net programs, like Medicaid, Social Security, and SNAP are vital for millions of working Michiganders. All of those programs are under attack by Presidents Musk and Trump. Contact Indivisible Central MI: indivisiblemp@gmail.com, and visit their Facebook page. And, to find a local Indivisible chapter near you, click here. 24:55

#podcast #politics #19thAmendment #Michigan #Voting #VotingRights #Constitution #WomensRights #Marriage #MAGA #Republicans #Democrats #progressives #leftoflansing Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for March 10, 2025. The MAGA Michigan Republican Party is trying to pass a resolution to reach the state ballot in 2026 that would require proof of citizenship while registering to vote.  While this does nothing to fix a non-existent "voter fraud" problem, it does do one thing Republicans across the country want: to chip away at the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution.  It's the White Christian Nationalist goal of ripping away the rights 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: "Battle lines drawn in fight over Michigan voter citizenship proposal." By Haley Harding of Votebeat (via Bridge Michigan) "Millions of married women vote

#podcast #politics #culturewars #Michigan #Democrats #MAGA #Republicans #HigherEducation #Education #Race #Progressives #Authoritarians #Musk #Trump #LeftOfLansing Here's the Left Of Lansing "Friday Short" for March 7, 2025! Dear Leader Donald Trump issued an executive order this week threatening colleges and universities how they'd lose federal funding if they allowed "illegal" student protests.  Combine that order with the Musk-Trump Regime's attacks on DEI programs in higher education, and more, it's clear to everyone how this regime is trying to emulate other past authoritarians' attacks on higher education.  This affects all Americans, but only the few at the top of the financial and political elite will benefit while the rest of us lose our financial and political power.  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

#podcast #politics #Michigan #Democrats #MAGA #progressives #Education #CorporateGreed #Trump #LeftOfLansing Here's Episode 123 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast! 00:00-12:08: Public Backlash Against MAGA Starts Pat begins this week covering a few stories of extreme MAGA Michigan Republicans choosing to play culture wars rather than helping working families as they go after "Red Flag Laws" that ensures dangerous people can't purchase firearms in the state. Pat highlights how MAGA Michigan Republicans in Congress are ignoring the groundswell of anger growing in the state, and the country, over President Elon Musk & Dear Leader Trump's attacks on our veterans, our farmers, and our working class. 12:09-36:00: Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig Interview Western Michigan University Education Scholar Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig joins the show to discuss how the Musk & Trump are threatening to cut the federal funding for universities across the nation if those institutions don't eliminate their DEI initia

#podcast #politics #Democrats #Republicans #MAGA #ElissaSlotkin #Progressives #CorporateCorruption #Trump #Congress #Oligarchy #LeftOfLansing Here's the Left Of Lansing "Monday Musing" for March 3, 2025. Democrats have picked Michigan Democratic U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin to speak for the Party after Trump's Joint Address to Congress this week. Pat explains why a firebreather is needed for this speech, and Senator Slotkin isn't up to that task.  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

#podcast #politics #GenZ #Michigan #Whitmer #MAGA #WhiteChristianNationalism #Republicans #Democrats #progressives #womensissues #toxicmasculinity #economy #education #leftoflansing Here's the Left Of Lansing "Friday Short" for February 28, 2025. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer carved-out a section of this week's State of the State address to highlight the need to get young men back in colleges and universities where women outnumber men.  But rather than accept blame for falling behind women on the job front, some Gen Z men are being taught to play victim by blaming feminism or woke-ism for their problems.  It's a message that's hurting these young men, but it's unfortunately a message that's resonating with many young men.  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

#podcast #politics #democrats #republicans #progressives #MAGA #Trump #ElonMusk #Oligarchy #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #Michigan #MichiganNews #news #Whitmer #WorkingClass #Medicaid #LeftOfLansing Here's Episode 122 of Michigan's Progressive Podcast! 00:00-18:56: Musk-Trump-MAGA Attacking Medicaid Pat Johnston begins this week's show highlighting how MAGA Republicans are going along with the Musk-Trump Regime's moves to gut Medicaid, Social Security, Food Stamps, and the entire working class so they can funnel money back-up to the rich donor base, otherwise known as the tech oligarchy.  18:56-34:00: Whitmer's Missed Opportunity A talk on how Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer wasted a chance to paint a clear contrast between Democrats, who should be working around the clock for the state's working class, and MAGA Republicans, who are plainly working to appease the corporate donor base and authoritarianism. You can't do bipartisanship with a political movement bent on destroying our go

#podcast #progressive #politics #GretchenWhitmer #Whitmer #Michigan #MichiganPolitics #MAGA #Trump #Musk  #leftoflansing Here's the Left Of Lansing "Monday Musing" for February 24, 2025. This week, Pat Johnston wonders what happened to the Big Gretch of old? Governor Gretchen Whitmer appears to be journeying towards the nebulous political "center" at a time when the Democratic and progressive base is in need of true leaders to defend against the autocratic takeover caused by co-Presidents Elon Musk and Donald Trump.  In her first term, Whitmer touted being, "That woman from Michigan." Now, she's touting on finding common ground with Dear Leader Trump. And this illustrates why Democratic Party leaders are failing to lead.  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 "Gretchen Whitmer: I want to find ‘common ground’ with Donald Trump." By Simon D. Schuster of Bridg

#podcast #politics #news #progressives #Democrats #Musk #DOGE #Trump #MAGA #CorporateGreed #Farmers #SocialSecurity #Corruption #Project2025 #LeftOfLansing Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for Feb. 21, 2025! Poll numbers are already crashing for Dear Leader Trump just one month back in office, but the numbers are even worse for President Elon Musk! It turns-out Americans are quickly seeing what The Swamp really, and truly looks like.  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

#podcast #politics #Democrats #MAGA #Republicans #Michigan #MichiganPolitics #Trump #ElonMusk #MinimumWage #PatrioticMillionaires #WorkingClass #CorporateCorruption #PaidSickLeave #Lobbying #LeftOfLansing Here's Episode 121 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast! 00:00-15:15: Democrats Attacking Their Side Pat Johnston shares big news regarding the Michigan State Supreme Court as Democrats will soon increase their majority. Pat gives an update on how MAGA Michigan Republicans are close to gutting the wages of thousands of service workers in the state. But some Democrats in Lansing are helping MAGA get these bills across the finish line. Then, Pat has words for certain state Democrats who decided to show more fight in attacking progressives than MAGA this week. 15:16-42:44: Erica Payne-Patriotic Millionaires Interview Erica Payne--Founder and CEO of Patriotic Millionaires--joins the show to talk about the major mistake some Michigan Democrats are making by helping MAGA water-down minimum wage and paid

#podcast #Politics #Michigan #Line5 #ShutdownLine5 #MAGA #Trump #ElonMusk #FossilFuels #ClimateChange #OilandGas #Environment #RuralMichigan #CorporateGreed #Tariff #LeftOfLansing Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for February 17, 2025. Chad Livingood of The Detroit News published a piece detailing how Dear Leader Trump's plan to place a 10% tariff on Canadian oil imported into the U.S. would harm many of the Trump-voters living in rural Michigan.  But to Pat Johnston's surprise, it seems many of those MAGA voters are not only backing this proposed tariff, but are also saying they can do without Canadian oil! Which means there truly is no need to keep the Line 5 oil pipeline that pumps fossil fuels under the Straits of Mackinac running!  In some strange way, MAGA is joining the rest of us declaring that the 70-year old pipeline is insignificant.  Well, ok then! Let's Shut Down Line 5! Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! leftoflansing@

#podcast #Michigan #Politics #news #DanaNessel #ProgressivePolitics #Progressives #Democrats #Agriculture #Farming #Economics #WorkingClass #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #ElonMusk #Trump #Republicans #MAGA #USAID #LeftOfLansing Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for February 14, 2025. President Elon Musk and Dear Leader Trump are selling-out America's farmers, and all of rural America. With Dear Leader's crippling tariffs, and President Musk's gutting of government agencies, such as USAID, America's farmers are feeling the pain caused by this unelected billionaire and the puppet President.  They're doing all of this out in the open for everyone to see, but it's up to all of us to open our eyes to see it happening. 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: "With Trump and Musk driving U.S. policy, Kansas farmers have been played for suckers."

#podcast #politics #Michigan #Democrats #progressives #MAGA #Republicans #Trump#Musk #ElonMusk #WorkingClass #Fasicsm #Autocracy #Democracy #TechBros #CorporateGreed #LBGTQ+ #Transgender #CorporateWelfare #Environment #News #LeftOfLansing Here's Episode 120 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast! 00:00-12:42: Dems Acting MAGA-Lite Pat highlights Michigan and national Democrats acting MAGA-Lite, which only hurts the working class while enriching the corporate class including the Tech Bros, who are busy destroying Democracy. Michigan Democrats joined MAGA Republicans in passing expensive tax exemptions so Google and Microsoft could build environmentally-damaging data centers in the state. Some Michigan Dems are sounding MAGA-Lite while trying to water-down scheduled minimum wage and paid sick leave increases. 12:43-38:00: Interview w/ Julia Pulver Progressive activist, former Democratic state House candidate, a registered nurse, and Peace activist and organizer Julia Pulver joins the show. Julia explai

#podcast #politics #Michigan #CFPB #ElonMusk #Trump #MAGA #CorporateGreed #WorkingClass #Democrats #Progressives #Economy #LeftOfLansing Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for February 10, 2025. The Musk-Trump Regime have put the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on the chopping block, as they continue to dismantle and destroy the institutions protecting hard-working families from corporate abuse.  The CFPB has collected $20 billion for consumers.  Naturally, MAGA Republicans are celebrating this latest move by Musk-Trump because they favor their precious corporate donor base over the working 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! leftoflansing.com

#podcast #politics #Michigan #Progressives #Democrats #Republicans #Detroit #MichelleAdams #RacialJustice #SocialJustice #Race #Education #SupremeCourt #History #Voting #WorkingClass #ElonMusk #Democracy #Fascism #News #MAGA #Gaza #LeftOfLansing Here's Episode 119 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast 00:00-12:12: Elon Taking Over USA Pat opens the show sharing stories of how Elon Musk is conducting, or attempting to conduct, a coup in real-time, and MAGA Republicans across the country are fine with it. But it appears grassroots progressives are organizing and galvanizing a movement to fight-back against this oligarchical and White Christian Nationalist takeover. 12:13-38:14: Michelle Adams Interview Pat interviews University of Michigan Constitutional Law Professor Michelle Adams on her new book, "The Containment: Detroit, The Supreme Court, and the Battle For Racial Justice In The North." Her book focuses on the consequential Milliken v. Bradley case, in which the Supreme Court issued a ruling tha

#podcast #Tariff #WorkingClass #Trump #Musk #Progressive #Michigan #MichiganDemocrats #Republicans #Taxes #Politics #LeftOfLansing Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for February 3, 2025 It's absolutely hilarious to watch MAGA Michigan Republicans celebrate and high-five one another after Dear Leader Trump announced across the board tariffs for Canada and Mexico over the weekend. (Not surprisingly, Trump did rescind on his tariff threat on Mexico on Monday.) These same people who complained about grocery store prices, and gas prices, argued that their Dear Leader would lower those prices on Day One of his presidency.  Now, he's saying these tariffs could cause some Americans "some pain." Don't forget, while Musk-Trump are raising working class taxes due to these tariffs, Michigan Democrats a couple of years ago passed a bill that put money in the hands of hundreds of thousands of Michiganders! Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can! leftofl

#podcast #politics #religion #Michigan #GrandRapids #MichiganPolitics #Diversity #Hate #Race #MAGA #ElonMusk #Trump #LeftOfLansing Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for January 31, 2025. A Grand Rapids priest was removed from his position with the Anglican Catholic Church for appearing to mimic Elon Musk's recent "salute," which appeared to many critics to look similar to a Nazi salute. Calvin Robinson lost his position, but still defended his "salute" which he says was in response to "hysterical liberals" who took Musk's salute out of context. Robinson is no stranger to right-wing politics, which is why he proudly aligns himself with Musk, Trump, and the MAGA Cult.  Robinson is a perfect illustration of what MAGA Republicanism is all about, but is that what Christianity is all about? 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: "Grand Rapids priest

#podcast #politics #News #Michigan #MichiganPolitics #Environment #SolarFarm #BigOil #FossilFuels #CorporateCorruption #CorporateGreed #ClimateChange #Democrats #Republicans #MAGA #Progressives #PeterSinclair #FarmingRights #Trump #Immigration #Economy #WorkingClass #LeftOfLansing Here's Episode 118 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast! 00:00-14:16: Peters Not Running/MAGA Misinformation Machine Pat starts out of the gate lamenting about Michigan Democrats joining MAGA Republicans on watering-down minimum wage and paid sick leave in the state. He next turns his attention to Michigan Democrats in Congress, like Congresswoman Kristin McDonald-Rivet of Bay City, who still defends her vote on the Lakin Riley Act, which removes basic due process rights for migrants accused of crimes. Michigan Democratic Senators Elissa Slotkin and Gary Peters also voted for the bill in Senate. Pat wonders how being MAGA-Lite, and refusing to protect the vulnerable in society, will benefit Democrats. And that's why Pat expl

#Podcast #Politics #WorkingClass #Workers CorporateGreed #CorprorateCorruption #CorporateLobby #TippedWorkers #Michigan #Democrats #Republicans #Economy #RestaurantLobby #RestaurantWorkers #Progressive #MichiganPolitics #LeftOfLansing Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for January 27, 2025. The Michigan MAGA Republicans majority in the state House passed bills that roll-back minimum wage increases, a phasing-out of the tipped wage law, and paid sick leave.  The state Supreme Court ruled last year that Michigan Republicans back in 2018 acted unconstitutionally when they blocked minimum wage and paid sick leave increases from reaching the ballot, and then weakening the laws during Lame Duck. The Court said the original intent of these laws must go into effect in February of 2025. But once again, right-wing MAGA Michigan Republicans are working to weaken those laws! However, they're getting support from some Michigan Democrats in hurting workers to appease the restaurant lobby. Pat explains how the