The Frank Beckmann Show: Recent Episodes
Cumulus Media Detroit
Frank Beckmann is a long time WJR broadcaster who has spent close to 20 years as host of the popular mid-morning program, “The Frank Beckmann Show.” Beyond his weekday hosting duties, Frank is the University of Michigan football play-by-play announcer, a job he has held since 1981. He was honored with the Top Michigan Sportscaster award numerous times, and in 2014 was awarded the Chris Schenkel Award by the National Football Foundation, making him a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Mr. Beckmann has been named “Best Midday Personality” by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, has been cited as Michigan’s top sportscaster for his work as the only person to broadcast games for all four of Detroit’s major sports teams, and has been inducted into both the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame and the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
March 26, 2021 ~ Michigan PGA Executive Director Kevin Helm and Travel Michigan Vice President Dave Lorenz join Frank’s final broadcast to salute his long-standing support for northern Michigan golf and travel.
March 24, 2021 ~ Paull Mitchell (Dryden), Former (I) Congressman of Michigan’s 10th District, talks with Frank about the gun legislation that’s being considered by the senate that passed the house while he was in office. Does it have a shot at hitting the president’s desk?
March 24, 2021 ~ David Sowerby, Managing Director & Portfolio Manager at Ancora Advisors, answers Frank’s question: Has the federal tax increases diluted stock market returns?
March 24, 2021 ~ Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn), Congresswoman of Michigan’s 12th District, talks with Frank about the possibility of movement with gun control legislation on Capitol hill, and the chance for a President Joe Biden EO on the matter. She also shares her thoughts on the migrant crisis at the southern border.
March 24, 2021 ~ Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake), Michigan Senate Majority Leader, shares his thoughts with Frank about the owner of a Holland restaurant who has been released from jail after she allegedly violated COVID19 orders. He and Frank also discuss the governor’s new directives for high school athletes and means for competition moving forward. The Senate also voted to confirm Elizabeth Hertel as the permanent director of the MDHHS.
March 23, 2021 ~ Jason Hayes, Director of Environmental Policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. He and Frank discuss the possibility of Ohio and Louisiana intervening in the federal Line 5 lawsuit.
March 23, 2021 ~ David Kallman, Senior Legal Counsel at the Kallman Legal Group, talks with Frank about why an Ottawa County high school wrestler wasn’t able to compete in his district wrestling tournament due to COVID-19.
March 23, 2021 ~ Tim Nash, Senior Vice President and Director of the McNair Center for the Advancement of Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at Northwood University, talks with Frank about the U.S. economic outlook as more people receive their COVID-19 vaccinations.
March 22, 2021 ~ Dave Ray, Communications Director for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, talks with Frank about the situation evolving at the southern border. They also discuss the Biden administration OK’ing an $86M ICE contract to book hotel rooms for illegal border crossers.
March 22, 2021 ~ Michelle Gilbert, Vice President Public Relations for Comcast Cable’s Heartland Region, tells Frank how identifying the number of connected devices you have in your home can cut down on cyber threats.
March 22, 2021 ~ Frank talks with John Michels, the brother of Paul Michels, who was one of the eight people gunned down in Atlanta last week
March 22, 2021 ~ Mary Whiteford (R-Casco Township), State Representative of Michigan’s 80th District, talks with Frank about Holland’s Marlena Pavlos-Hackney, who’s being held in jail for violating the MDHHS’ COVID-19 restrictions.
March 19, 2021 ~ Doug Badger, Visiting Fellow in Domestic Policy Studies at the Heritage Foundation talks with Rick Santorum about COVID Guidelines and restrictions.
March 19, 2021 ~ Ken Cuccinelli, former Attorney General of Virginia and Acting Deputy Secretary at DHS under President Trump, talks with Rick Santorum.
March 19, 2021 ~ Author Ryan Anderson, talks with Rick Santorum about Amazon stopping the sales of his books.
March 18, 2021 ~ Paul Mango, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy in the immediate office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, talks with Rick Santorum about what Operation Warp Speed accomplished that Biden is taking credit for.
March 18, 2021 ~ John Hart, Co-founder and Vice President of C3 Solutions, talks with Rick Santorum about the current state of our environment.
March 17, 2021 ~ David DiRita, Owner of The Roxbury Group, joins John James to talk about unfair property taxes.
March 17, 2021 ~ Liza Dawson, Owner of Leeza's Cafe, talks with John James about how the pandemic has impacted her business.
March 17, 2021 ~ The Detroit News' Craig Mauger talks with John James about Sunshine week.
March 17, 2021 ~ Jon Rimanelli, Founder and CEO of Airspace Experience Technologies, Inc., Coleman A. Young International Airport talks with John James about the arsenal of democracy to the arsenal in mobility.
March 17, 2021 ~ Macomb County Public Works Commissioner, Candice Miller, talks with John James about infrastructure.
March 17, 2021 ~ Chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, Ronna Romney McDaniel, talks with John James about the post Trump era.
March 17, 2021 ~ Bo Cheng, Co-founder of Arx Community, talks with John James about the American opportunity.
March 16, 2021 ~ Macomb County Prosecutor, Pete Lucido, talks with John James about the Attorney General's decision not to look into the COVID nursing home policies.
March 16, 2021 ~ Karl Rove, former Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush, talks with John James about what Republicans need to do to start winning again.
March 16, 2021 ~ Elizabeth James talks with her husband, John James, about raising boys in our current society.
March 16, 2021 ~ Toson Knight, Dean of Detroit Students at Detroit Public Schools, talks with John James about "saving the boys."
March 16, 2021 ~ Amanda Fata, Founder of NuVita talks with John James about how we can empower women.
March 16, 2021 ~ State Representative Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit) talks with John James about how we can work together and talk to each other.
March 16, 2021 ~ Congressman Peter Meijer (R-3) talks with John James about how moderates can move forward following the 2020 election.
March 16, 2021 ~ MLive's Gus Burns talks with John James about the money Mark Zuckerberg spent helping Michigan pay for Elections.
March 15, 2021 ~ Dick Vitale, ESPN College Basketball Analyst and former Head Coach at the University of Detroit and former Head Coach of Detroit Pistons, talks with Frank about the upcoming NCAA tournament. How do Michigan and Michigan State fair?
March 15, 2021 ~ Patrick Anderson, Principal and CEO of the Anderson Economic Group, talks with Frank about the future economic impact of President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 stimulus bill.
March 15, 2021 ~ Mark Hackel, Macomb County Executive, talks with Frank about Macomb Country expanding vaccine eligibility to those who are 16 years old and older with medical conditions or disabilities and their caregivers.
March 12, 2021 ~ Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake), Michigan Senate Majority Leader, talks with Frank about the senate authorizing a lawsuit against Governor Gretchen Whitmer over COVID-19 aid.
March 12, 2021 ~ Matt Hall (R-Marshall), Representative of Michigan’s 63rd District and former Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, tells Frank the Michigan House has approved plans they say would offer clarity to the state’s elections process.
March 12, 2021 ~ Rod Alberts, Executive Director of the Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA), talks with Frank about the North American International Auto Show suing their insurance company over payouts linked to 2020 NAIAS cancellation.
March 12, 2021 ~ Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn), Congresswoman of Michigan’s 12th District, talks with Frank about her new legislation she’s introducing today to earmark $4.5B annually for electrification infrastructure.
March 12, 2021 ~ Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly), Congresswoman of Michigan’s 8th District, talks with Frank about the $1.9T COVID-19 relief plan that President Joe Biden signed yesterday. They also discuss GM halting production at their Lansing plant due to a semiconductor shortage.
March 11, 2021 ~ Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland), Congressman of Michigan’s 2nd District, tells Frank he and other members of the Michigan delegation delivered Chick-fil-A meals, gift cards, and snacks to Michigan National Guard members at U.S. Capitol. He also shares thoughts on the Biden administrations COVID-19 relief bill that’s heading to his desk for a signature.
March 11, 2021 ~ Thomas Albert (R-Grattan Twp.), State Representative of Michigan’s 86th District and Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee – The House voted to send about $650 million in federal COVID relief for jobless aid, small business aid and schools aid that Governor Gretchen Whitmer vetoed earlier this week. He also talks with Frank about his letter to the state budget director, saying they wouldn’t meet to discuss the release of additional federal funds until legislative leaders meet with the governor to negotiate the end of MDHHS’ epidemic powers.
March 10, 2021 ~ Brian Calley, President of the Small Business Association of Michigan – Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed $2.5B in supplemental funding, while vetoing $840M tied to a loss of MDHHS’ epidemic powers. He and Frank discuss if this hurts or helps the business community in Michigan?
March 10, 2021 ~ Ben Frederick (R-Owasso), State Representative of Michigan’s 85th District and House Majority Floor Leader – Today is the one-year anniversary of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s first “two week pause.” Are we in a better position today to deal with our state’s problems because of the actions of the Whitmer administration?
March 10, 2021 ~ Ronna McDaniel, Chair of the Republican National Committee, talks with Frank about what we’ve seen from President Joe Biden and his administration’s agenda. She and Frank also discuss the news of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s separation agreement with former MDHHS Director Robert Gordon and her handling of nursing home deaths.
March 10, 2021 ~ Steve Delie, Director of Labor Policy and Workers for Opportunity at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, talks with Frank about their lawsuit filed against the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, which claims the department has refused to release data connected to nursing home deaths in the state.
March 9, 2021 ~ Pete Lucido, Macomb County Prosecutor and former State Senator, tells Frank Governor Gretchen Whitmer could possibly face criminal charges in connection to COVID-19 nursing home deaths here in the state.
March 9, 2021 ~ Michael Stack, CEO & Exercise Physiologist of Applied Fitness Solutions, tells Frank they’ll be meeting with members of the Michigan Fitness Club Association later this week to discuss the impact that lockdowns and community closures have had on the physical and mental health of Michiganders.
March 9, 2021 ~ Dr. Matthew Sims, Director of Infectious Disease Research with Beaumont Health, talks with Frank about the new CDC guidelines that say those who’ve been fully vaccinated can be in the same room without masks.
March 8, 2021 ~ Zack Smith, Legal Fellow in the Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation – What would it take to make places like Washington D.C. or Puerto Rico states?
March 8, 2021 ~ Stephen Moore, Economist and Former Economic Advisor to President Donald Trump, shares his thoughts with Frank on Congress passing the Joe Biden $1.9 trillion dollar stimulus package.
March 5, 2021 ~ Dennis Lennox, Political Commentator and Public Affairs Consultant, talks with Frank about his opinion piece in The Detroit News: Redistricting confusion pauses Michigan candidates' plans
March 8, 2021 ~ Kristyn Balog, Executive Director of the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society, talks with Frank about the rehab of a 130-year-old ship that’s being restored for display in Northern Michigan.
March 8, 2021 ~ Jack Lessenberry, Author of “The People's Lawyer: The Life and Times of Frank J. Kelley, the Nation's Longest-Serving Attorney General,” talks with Frank about the passing of former Michigan Attorney General Frank Kelley.
March 5, 2021 ~ Ted Nugent, Musician and Michigan Native, talks with Frank about “Fred Bear Day” in Grayling and on the wolf hunting season in Michigan. The also discuss some of the biggest stories of the day.
March 5, 2021 ~ Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland), Congressman of Michigan’s 2nd District, gives Frank the latest from Washington D.C. on H.R. 1 and what it would mean for our elections? He and Frank also talk about the status of Michigan’s National Guard troops in our nation’s capital.
March 5, 2021 ~ Annette Glenn (R-Midland), State Representative of Michigan’s 98th District, talks with Frank about her new plan that would bar the state from entering separation agreements with former department heads in the wake of the NDA between Governor Gretchen Whitmer and former MDHHS Director Robert Gordon.
March 4, 2021 ~ Thomas Albert (R-Grattan Twp.), State Representative of Michigan’s 86th District and Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, talks with Frank about the House’s $4.2 billion dollar COVID spending bill, with $1.2B tied to limiting Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s power.
March 4, 2021 ~ Brian Calley, President of the Small Business Association of Michigan, shares with thoughts with Frank on Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s decision to lower the age for those who qualify to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Will this help people get back to work?
March 4, 2021 ~ Lisa McClain (R-Romeo), Congresswoman of Michigan’s 10th District, talks with Frank about the National Guard service members who have become ill from eating undercooked food. She and the rest of the Michigan delegation have signed a letter requesting the current food vendor be fired for providing bad food. Rep. McClain has been trying to find out why exactly 1,000 Michigan National Guard men and women have been stationed in Washing D.C. in the first place.
March 4, 2021 ~ Mark Hackel, Macomb County Executive – Starting Monday, Michigan will start accepting appointments from Michiganders 50 and older to get their COVID-19 vaccine shots. Hackel tell Frank that he doubts counties will be provided with enough doses to fulfill the demand.
March 3, 2021 ~ Justin Winslow, President and CEO of the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, talks with Frank about Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s decision to allow restaurants to be open at 50% capacity and pushing back the curfew to 11pm. It’s a good thing more patrons will be allowed in, but is it too late for many restaurants?
March 3, 2021 ~ Veronica McNally, serves on the committee for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that voted to approve the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, talks with Frank about what went into the decision to approve the J&J vaccine, and when could we see younger children get vaccinated?
March 3, 2021 ~ Steven Johnson (R-Wayland), State Representative of Michigan’s 72nd District and Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, talks with Frank about the committee launching an investigation and possibly issuing a subpoena to former MDHHS Director Robert Gordon after it was revealed that he and Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed separation deals in connection to his resignation from the department.
March 3, 2021 ~ Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State, tells Frank all of Michigan’s 250 election audits have been completed and show no signs of foul play.
January 20, 2021 ~ Congresswoman Debbie Dingell of Michigan’s 12th District, talks with Frank about the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
January 20, 2021 ~ Victor Avila, national security analyst and retired ICE, HIS and DHS agent, talks with Frank about the National Guard presence in Washington D.C. for the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
January 13, 2021 ~ Frank Beckmann, Host of “The Frank Beckmann Show” on WJR, announces that, after a brilliant 48-year radio career, he’s hanging up his headset.
December 8, 2020 ~ Former NASA Astronaut and Michigan native Jerry Linenger talks to Frank on the "Christmas Star," the upcoming solar eclipse, and the Geminid Meteor Shower. The two also speak on epileptology and COVID-19.