On The Line: Recent Episodes
Detroit Free Press
On The Line is a weekly news podcast made in Detroit by the reporters at the Free Press. Twenty minutes a week, every Friday, hosted by Cary Junior II.
You’ve heard tales about the city. But have you heard the whole story? An exploration of the lens through which we should view Detroit’s progress.
A Black Detroiter is set to lead the state Senate. Democrats overtook the Legislature. Is it a salve to the loss of homegrown representation?
Lawmakers tried to limit the use of certain tactics on students in 2016. They’ve been used nearly 94,000 times since then. And mainly on kids with disabilities.
Tough questions from kids, unruly parents, a hose under your suit - there's more to being jolly old St. Nick than a red suit and white beard. With multimedia photo editor Kelly Jordan.
Seven Detroit Free Press journalists take a look at the crystal ball ahead of the new year. With help from Report for America.
After high prices and rising credit card interest rates this year, we turn to the Free Press' financial columnist for advice on how to maintain the holiday cheer without breaking the bank.
School shooting survivors from Oxford and Uvalde find joy in acting like kids again at a party in Texas. With Free Press photojournalist Sarahbeth Maney.
Mitch Albom, who was one of the 100,000-plus in attendance for the 1997 Michigan-Ohio State game at the Big House, joins Andrew Hammond this week. Albom remembers the Wolverines' dominate defense and Charles Woodson's signature moment that sent U-M to the Rose Bowl.
Tony Garcia joins the guys to discuss all things Michigan vs. Ohio State. Later, Carlos & Shawn talk the Lions' win streak and playoff potential.
Tough questions from kids, unruly parents, a hose under your suit - there's more to being jolly old St. Nick than a red suit and white beard. With multimedia photo editor Kelly Jordan.
Do Republicans have any shot at policymaking after Democrats take power in Lansing? Can Democrats really get everything they want? And what about 2024? With Free Press politics reporter Dave Boucher.
False claims already are swirling ahead of the Nov. 8 election in Michigan. So what protects our voting process? With politics reporter Clara Hendrickson.
You’ve heard the rhetoric. But what are the realities of Prop 3? With Free Press reporters Clara Hendrickson and Dave Boucher (Gubernatorial debate audio provided by WOOD TV8 and WXYZ/SCRIPPS)
Should Democrats take power in the state Senate for the first time since the ‘80s, big legislative moves that impact Michiganders could be on the horizon. How likely is it Republicans hold on?
Lawmakers tried to limit the use of certain tactics on students in 2016. They’ve been used nearly 94,000 times since then. And mainly on kids with disabilities.
A fatal police shooting, ShotSpotter and an increase for officer pay have made headlines of recent. What does it all say about Detroit’s approach to policing post-George Floyd and in the future?
Sometimes a tree, a cup, or drinking nearly no water is the best solution for Detroit’s limited public restrooms, those experiencing homelessness in the city say.
Have our favorite sci-fi movies come to life? At the Detroit auto show, vendors say the future is now.
Our show notes can be found here.
Michigan gives people with mental illnesses and other disabilities their own set of rights. Those rights, though, are often not enforced.
Our show notes can be found here
Save the Amazon rainforest? Our northern woods should garner just as much global attention in the climate change fight.
Can you trust the listed THC levels when you buy marijuana products? Is it safe to consume? A new industry faces tough questions on testing and growing pains.
If you got tired of isolating during COVID-19, you really don’t want to get monkeypox. And headed into the fall semester, the risk could be higher.
Calling yourself a Detroiter is more popular than it once was. But is a Detroiter defined by their zipcode, sports team allegiance, or passion for the city?
Tudor Dixon got former President Donald Trump’s thumbs up for the governor’s seat. But is that good for her campaign to unseat Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in November?
Inflations rates in the U.S. are at a 40-year high, and Midwestern grocery store shoppers are feeling particularly low. How bad will it get, and what’s the best way to navigate the aisles?
The FDA plans to propose a ban on menthol cigarettes, but the burning question is why now?
How do the big changes in college athletics affect those not in the spotlight? With Free Press sports columnist Shawn Windsor, assistant editor Andrew Hammond (filling in for sports writer Carlos Monarrez) and Michigan State student Kaleena Kniess, formerly of the MSU women's rowing team.
From swag cams to business grants, the Detroit Pistons have upped their game to support the city since their return from Auburn Hills
Renee Chelian has provided abortions -- and gotten one illegally. She says the fall of Roe v. Wade should scare women, but the fight is not over. With the Free Press’ Nancy Kaffer and Michigan Radio’s Sarah Cwiek.
A temporary injunction is all that keeps a 1931 abortion ban at bay in Michigan after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. And Michiganders have something to say about it.
Dan Gilbert’s company wants another tax break for the old Hudson’s site. What will it mean for Detroiters if he gets it? And if he doesn’t? With reporter JC Reindl.
Juneteenth has gone mainstream after becoming a federal holiday. But in 2022, can we say freedom has been attained?
A new, free comic book recounts Detroit’s first LGBTQ+ march – a precursor to the massive festival that now draws thousands. But the struggle isn’t over, says one author.
Highland Park has one defunct and one burnt high school campus. But a group of school officials are hoping to raise a new one from the ashes of a district’s downfall.
When a tornado hit Gaylord, two people died. Does a twister hitting so unusually far north say something about climate change? And if it does, are we ready?
The Oxford High Class of 2022 has seen the worst. They bore witness to a school shooting, the death of four fellow students, and COVID-19. And yet, at their graduation, they look to the good. With reporter Lily Altavena.
The first known otter in about a century was spotted in the Detroit River in April. After decades of past pollution and sewage dumps, what does that tell us about the health of our water?
A Ramadan festival, an aquarium – metro Detroit malls are finding unique ways to try to stay relevant. With the recent sale of Fairlane Town Center, what does the future hold for these once-flourishing American staples? With business reporter JC Reindl.
Ford is making a big bet on the future of electric vehicles. What does it mean for workers and the auto industry at large? With autos reporter Phoebe Wall Howard
Some activists say a white officer’s fatal shooting of a Congolese refugee was inevitable given Grand Rapids’ history. So what came before? With reporter Arpan Lobo.
An art gallery, the auto industry – former restaurant workers are making big career changes. Where are they landing and what does it mean for the dining experience? With restaurant critic Lyndsay Green.
If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade in an upcoming ruling, a 91-year-old law would block abortions in Michigan. But Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is trying a new tactic to preserve that right. Can she succeed? With columnist Nancy Kaffer and reporters Dave Boucher and Kristen Jordan Shamus.
As Detroiters expel the city’s harbinger of doom at their annual festival, many grapple with an odd feeling. How do we navigate, mentally and physically, being sort of, but not really, done with COVID-19? With health reporter Kristen Jordan Shamus.
The job of passing a marijuana ordinance isn’t all it is puffed up to be. Detroiters are missing out on big money while officials try to get it right. Is it worth the wait? With business reporter Adrienne Roberts.
Gas prices are up, and it’s bringing folks down. How’d we get here and what can we do about it? With financial columnist Susan Tompor.
If your waiter looks a little older, it isn’t just because the pandemic aged us all. Michiganders aged 16-24 are opting out of the traditional workforce. With business reporter Adrienne Roberts.
The Russian invasion is personal for Ukrainian Americans worried about loved ones. But the fallout is also felt across communities of Arab descent and Russian descent, among others. With reporter Niraj Warikoo.
There’s hardly a “Get Out of Jail Free” option, but some Wayne County residents have had to pay a hefty cost due to a backlog with fitting GPS tethers. With investigative reporters Christine MacDonald and Joe Guillen.
A weekly podcast about the Detroit Pistons, hosted by Bryce Simon of Motor City Hoops and Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press. Omari brings insider insights and analysis as a Pistons beat writer and Detroit native combined with Bryce’s in-depth on-court analysis as a former D1 player and current high school coach of 12 years. The Pistons Pulse is your go to Pistons podcast for all the best news, analysis, insights and opinions on the team.
Listen every Tuesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts beginning March 1st.
Food may be a way to the heart, but the Free Press restaurant critic was looking for heart in her food for the 2022 Restaurant of the Year.
Inflations rates in the U.S. are at a 40-year high, and Midwestern grocery store shoppers are feeling particularly low. How bad will it get, and what’s the best way to navigate the aisles?
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gave her last State of the State address as a first-term governor. Will she give another and what’s in her way?
From swag cams to business grants, the Detroit Pistons have upped their game to support the city since their return from Auburn Hills.
Whoever takes Mark Schlissel’s spot as University of Michigan president is walking into a firestorm swirling with misconduct scandals.
A wife beater. An outside business. A perjury claim. A so-called double-agent. It all rings of freedom to attorneys defending clients in the plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
How bad is the omicron variant, really? Should you just get it, to get it over with? Michigan’s top doctor and and the Free Press’ health reporter answer burning questions as cases spike.
Carlos and Shawn catch up with Mick McCabe, who has covered high school sports for the Free Press for 51 years. Mick recounts his most gripping stories, discusses why he enjoys covering prep sports so much, and gets in a few digs on our guys.
Christmas-themed attractions got innovative in 2020 because of indoor restrictions and social distancing guidelines. This Owosso, Michigan, family wouldn’t let anything stop them from keeping the Christmas magic alive.
The Free Press and other media organizations took the state's redistricting commission to court in an effort to provide greater transparency. The ultimate cost could be more than legal fees.
Two student survivors, a father and a principal talk about their healing in hopes it might aid the Oxford High community
'I've always believed that part of the role of what we do as journalists is to watch out for children.'
The nation’s deadliest school shooting in three years took place in Michigan. Students tell us what that day was like and the community tries to pick up the pieces.
Jamon Jordan is an expert on Detroit, Black history and their shared stories. Now, he’s a part of that narrative as the city’s first appointed historian.
After speed bumps, $1.2 trillion is on its way. But why the wild ride, and how soon will our potholes be patched?
Healthcare workers say they’ve gone from last year’s heroes to this year’s zeroes as workloads spike, and they need aid to treat the wound.
With ballots cast and election victory speeches made, what comes next for metro Detroit?
A tactic under national scrutiny helped land Juwan Deering behind bars. He’s been declaring his innocence ever since.
A decades-old muffin mystery haunts a once-swanky Detroit building now up for redevelopment in District Detroit.
A Detroit police accountability board could heed calls for reform. But some say its bickering drowns them out.
Maps are being drawn for new voting districts in Michigan. And having a prison nearby could change the lines.
The last Kmart in Michigan is closing. But the Mitten is where it all began, back in 1899.
After major outbreaks during spring school sports, experts, officials and parents weigh the current game plan for when COVID-19 takes the field.
Rockin’ Robin Seymour pulled the top acts in town. Now his story is one at the Freep Film Festival.
Twenty years is a long time for an apology tour, especially for something you didn’t do. In metro Detroit, the nation’s largest Muslim community, a mom and daughter are tired of feeling like they have to defend their faith post-9/11.
The FBI raided the homes of Detroit city council members and city hall in late August. But residents and the federal prosecutor who took down Kwame Kilpatrick say it's Detroiters who will pay.
The Taliban takeover amid U.S. troop withdrawal has rocked the whole world, down to a little Lansing street.
The FDA plans to propose a ban on menthol cigarettes, but the burning question is why now?
A Detroit nightclub served up a new rule on vaccines, but it didn't go down easy. A business owner and law expert pour over ideas of privacy, vaccine mandates, and what we owe each other.
If Detroiters are tired of one thing this summer, it’s flooding. As they keep up the cleanup, what can be done to stop the next wave from crashing?
Decades of concerns preceded the false 2020 election allegations. Now Detroit’s city clerk candidates have their work cut out for them.
Introducing "On The Line", a weekly news podcast made in Detroit by the Free Press. Coming to you on Fridays.