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August 21, 2025 56 mins
#politics #podcast #Michigan #progressives #Democrats #Lansing #KellivanGinhoven #Republicans #MAGA #GovernmentCorruption #CorporateCorruption #CorporateGreed #RuralVoters #DirtRoadDems #Escanaba #Democracy #WorkingClass #MikeDuggan #Detroit #GavinNewsom #MAGAMurderBudget #PublicSchools #unions #Voting #RankedChoiceVoting #LeftofLansing

00:00-16:46: Detroit Politics/Gavin Newsom/MI MAGA Defunding Schools

Pat Johnston opens the show discussing some Detroit politics, and he wonders if corporate "independent" gubernatorial candidate Mike Duggan will back Democratic Socialist Denzel McCampbell's campaign to win Detroit's 7th District on the City Council. Don't hold your breath! Pat takes Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to task for refusing to call an election for a state senate opening. And Pat explains how Michigan MAGA House Republicans are working to defund public schools.

16:47-46:52: Kelli van Ginhoven Interview

Democratic state Senate candidate Kelli van Ginhoven talks with Pat about her decision to run for the open seat in 2026. Ms. van Ginhoven's currently the Delta County Commission's vice-chair after she helped spearhead an effort to defeat the commission's MAGA majority. Kelli's a former preschool teacher and a former small business owner. She's been involved in several governmental boards and charities both in Escanaba and Delta County, and now wants to use her experience, expertise, and passion to push a working class agenda for the 38th Senate District. If you'd like to help Kelli van Ginhoven out, visit her Act Blue page.

46:53-52:00: Last Call on Corporate Mike Duggan

The "Last Call" continues highlighting how Detroit Mayor, and "independent" gubernatorial candidate Mike Duggan, is a pure corporatist politician. He has no working class agenda, and that's why he's receiving lots of MAGA donor support.

52:01-56:31: Ending/Betsy Coffia

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NOTES:

"Entering The Race: Escanaba Woman Runs For State Senate." By Daily Mining Gazette

"They Can't See What I See." By Jess Piper in The View From Rural Missouri

"Fentanyl came to a tiny UP town. Then the funerals began." By Ron French in Bridge Michigan

"Republicans push ranked choice voting through Michigan House along party lines." By Ben Solis of Michigan Advance

"Is Denzel McCampbell Detroit’s Zohran Mamdani?" By Malachi Barrett of Bridge Detroit

"Republican megadonors are bankrolling Mike Duggan’s independent Michigan gubernatorial race." By Richard Eberwein of Heartland Signal

"Michigan residents sue Whitmer for failing to call special election in state Senate district." By Kyle Davidson of Michigan Advance

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