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Selections from Luna Blanca's nouveau flamenco guitar music. Primary Format : New Age Language : en Also Listed as: City : Bocholt State/Province : NRW User Tags: Flamenco New Age Nouveau Flamenco World Music User Votes: RSS Feed Website People found this Podcast Searching for: View this Podcast on a Google Map. Podcast iTunes Link Text Only listing of Luna Blanca's Podcast Podcasts Methings.com listings of Luna Blanca's Podcast Podcasts If you like this podcast, you might also like:

The Lagacy of Eleanor Josaitis Eleanor Josaitis, the co-founder of Focus Hope, died this week. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry knew her, and has some thoughts on the meaning of her life. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Congressmen in Crisis The governor is expected to sign Michigan’s new congressional district maps into law. When he does, Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry says it’s bound to have dramatic effects on a number of  political careers. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Technology's Role in New Fuel Efficiency Standards The government has proclaimed much higher new fuel efficiency standards which some worry will be hard to achieve. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry thinks we are ignoring the lessons of history. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Debt Debate Aftermath The federal debt deal means a new round of budget cuts will affect Michigan residents, on top of the cuts enacted by Govenor Snyder’s budget. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about what this might mean. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Debt Debate Aftermath The federal debt deal means a new round of budget cuts will affect Michigan residents, on top of the cuts enacted by Govenor Snyder’s budget. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about what this might mean. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Debt Debate Aftermath The federal debt deal means a new round of budget cuts will affect Michigan residents, on top of the cuts enacted by Govenor Snyder’s budget. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about what this might mean. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Debt Debate Aftermath The federal debt deal means a new round of budget cuts will affect Michigan residents, on top of the cuts enacted by Govenor Snyder’s budget. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about what this might mean. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Debt Debate Aftermath The federal debt deal means a new round of budget cuts will affect Michigan residents, on top of the cuts enacted by Govenor Snyder’s budget. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about what this might mean. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Is School Accreditation Based on Standardized Test Scores a Good Idea? The Michigan Department of Education wants to more to a system where accreditation is based on standardized test scores. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about that. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Today is Election Day Today is election day in a variety of communities in Michigan. Michigan Radio’s Jack lessen berry has been thinking about one community where the election may matter most of all. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Carrying the Bridge North Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at why Governor Snyder has had difficulty selling his plan to build another span across the Detroit River to Windsor, Ontario. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Education Priorities Yesterday, it was reported that the Michigan Education Association has been spending heavily in an effort to recall the chair of the House Education Committee. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about education. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Detroit Works Project, Mayor Bing's Plan to improve the city Detroit Mayor Dave Bing yesterday unveiled his long-awaited “Detroit Works,”  plan to improve life in the city. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about what he said. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website State Worker Pay Negotiations are now underway between the Snyder administration and state employee unions. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about what’s at stake. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The UAW and the Changing Auto Industry The national labor talks between the Detroit Three automakers and the United Auto Workers union began this week. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry reflects on how much the industry has changed. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Immigrant Problem There’s a lot of talk nationally and in Lansing about the immigration problem. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry thinks the problem is different than you might think. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Building the Future For the last year, politicians and businesspeople in our state have been struggling to cope with the present economy. Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry recently visited one man whose vision is fixed firmly on the future. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Why Borders Mattered Within a few months, the last Borders’ bookstores seem certain to be gone. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about just why that matters. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Election 2012: Pete Hoekstra Is In Former Congressman Pete Hoekstra has decided he will run for the GOP nomination for Senate next year. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has some thoughts about his career. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ohio bill poses threat to Lake Erie While we’ve been consumed with financial issues in Michigan, Ohio’s legislature passed a law that could have posed a huge threat to Lake Erie. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry looks at what’s been happening. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Michigan Congressman Dale Kildee Retires Longtime Flint Congressman Dale Kildee has announced he’ll leave Congress after his current term. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about his career. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Improving Train Travel Though the budget battles have gotten the attention, there is movement behind the scenes to try to improve train travel in our state. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry’s been thinking about this. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Airport City Imagine a vast transportation and distribution network that could create tens of thousands of new jobs in our state. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry says this really could happen. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Can the UAW Survive? Contract negotiations between the Detroit automakers and the United Autoworkers Union begin later this month. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry thinks they may just be the most important in the union’s modern history. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Importance of Betty Ford Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry remembers former First Lady Betty Ford. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website GOP: Primary of Caucus in 2012? Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at the choice state Republicans have for electing their presidential canddiate in 2012. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Seventh District Shenanigans The congressional redistricting map drawn by the legislature is more than lines on a map. As Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry reports, it has a host of intended and unintended consequences. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Rushing to Judgment in the Casey Anthony trial The verdict in the Casey Anthony trial has Michigan Radio’s Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinking about the media in Michigan, and our standards of fairness. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Medical Marijuana There’s been a lot of controversy lately over what to do about reported abuses of Michigan’s Medical marijuana law. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about this. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Glorious Fourth Americans are celebrating the Fourth of July in many different ways today, as they have throughout our history. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry looks back at his favorite Fourth of July story. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Lansing Takes a Breather The state legislature essentially wrapped up for the summer yesterday. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry takes a whimsical look at what was a momentous session. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Selling the Bridge Governor Rick Snyder has had great success getting his program through the legislature, but lawmakers are still resisting his call for a new Detroit River Bridge. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry asked one senator why this is so. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Mess in Detroit Detroit Mayor Dave Bing is threatening to cancel the traditional summer festivals unless council accepts his budget by tomorrow night, Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry thinks there is much bigger story here. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website China Daze Toledo, Ohio has been courting Chinese business investment — and their efforts are paying off. Michigan Radio’s political analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks there are lessons here for our state. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Community College Degrees A controversial bill passed the state house last week authorizing Michigan’s community colleges to award some four-year bachelor’s degrees. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about this issue. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Bumstead for Romney The Presidential election may be more than a year away, but campaigns are already taking shape. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has a little news you may have missed. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Mutual Assured Deterrence A coalition of groups filed a lawsuit yesterday against Michigan’s new Emergency Financial Manager law, claiming it is unconstitutional. Michigan Radio’s political analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks the law could have an unanticipated effect… Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Reinventing Public Schools Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at what Governor Snyder's new school reform proposal would really mean for education in the state. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website All About Jobs Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow is up for reelection next year, and Republicans would dearly like to defeat her. But they’ve been failing to find a top-tier candidate to replace her. Michigan Radio’s political analyst Jack Lessenberry interviewed the senator, and has an idea why. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Redistricting Woes Republicans released their new redistricting maps at the end of last week. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has more... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Decline of the Middle Class The Michigan League for Human Services held a seminar yesterday looking at the decline of our state’s middle class, while the state senate was concerned with something else — sporting swine. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has some thoughts. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website A Bridge Too Far Hearings about whether or not to authorize a new bridge over the Detroit River are underway in the state senate. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry thinks we should be looking out for conflicts of interest.  Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fixing Our Courts Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor came to Wayne State yesterday to urge Michigan to consider appointing rather than electing Supreme Court justices. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about the issue. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Teacher Tenure The Michigan Legislature seems poised to pass a set of bills making sweeping changes in teacher tenure. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has some thoughts about that. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Beyond the Law? The company that owns the Ambassador Bridge was back in court again today. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about the privately owned firm’s behavior . Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website A Bridge Too Far Hearings about whether or not to authorize a new bridge over the Detroit River are underway in the state senate. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry thinks we should be looking out for conflicts of interest.  Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fixing Our Courts Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor came to Wayne State yesterday to urge Michigan to consider appointing rather than electing Supreme Court justices. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about the issue. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website A Bridge Too Far Hearings about whether or not to authorize a new bridge over the Detroit River are underway in the state senate. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry thinks we should be looking out for conflicts of interest.  Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website A Bridge Too Far Hearings about whether or not to authorize a new bridge over the Detroit River are underway in the state senate. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry thinks we should be looking out for conflicts of interest.  Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fixing Our Courts Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor came to Wayne State yesterday to urge Michigan to consider appointing rather than electing Supreme Court justices. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about the issue. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website A Bridge Too Far Hearings about whether or not to authorize a new bridge over the Detroit River are underway in the state senate. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry thinks we should be looking out for conflicts of interest.  Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fixing Our Courts Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor came to Wayne State yesterday to urge Michigan to consider appointing rather than electing Supreme Court justices. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about the issue. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fixing Our Courts Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor came to Wayne State yesterday to urge Michigan to consider appointing rather than electing Supreme Court justices. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about the issue. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fixing Our Courts Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor came to Wayne State yesterday to urge Michigan to consider appointing rather than electing Supreme Court justices. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about the issue. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fixing Our Courts Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor came to Wayne State yesterday to urge Michigan to consider appointing rather than electing Supreme Court justices. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about the issue. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fixing Our Courts Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor came to Wayne State yesterday to urge Michigan to consider appointing rather than electing Supreme Court justices. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about the issue. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fixing Our Courts Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor came to Wayne State yesterday to urge Michigan to consider appointing rather than electing Supreme Court justices. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about the issue. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fixing Our Courts Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor came to Wayne State yesterday to urge Michigan to consider appointing rather than electing Supreme Court justices. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about the issue. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fixing Our Courts Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor came to Wayne State yesterday to urge Michigan to consider appointing rather than electing Supreme Court justices. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about the issue. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Animals The Michigan Humane Society has been engulfed in controversy lately over whether too many animals are being put to sleep. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry visited them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Motorcycle Helmets The Michigan legislature is considering repealing the law that requires motorcyclists to wear helmets. Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry thinks there may be a lot of hidden costs here. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Raising Gas Taxes Much of the nation has been riveted on the social media sex scandal involving New York Congressman Anthony Weiner, but Michigan Radio’s Jack Lessenberry thinks something General Motors chairman said yesterday was far more titillating. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Kevorkian Remembered Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry may have known Jack Kevorkian, who did Friday, better than any other journalist. He has some thoughts about the lasting impact of his assisted suicide crusade. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Now for the Hard Part The Michigan Legislature has passed a budget that makes revolutionary changes — and did so earlier than it has in 30 years. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry wonders what happens now. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Canada and the Bridge Governor Rick Snyder is getting most of what he wanted through the legislature, but the question of a new bridge over the Detroit River is still unresolved. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry went looking for the Canadian perspective. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Canada and the Bridge Governor Rick Snyder is getting most of what he wanted through the legislature, but the question of a new bridge over the Detroit River is still unresolved. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry went looking for the Canadian perspective. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Chrysler Resurgent Chrysler paid off its loans to the U.S. and Canadian governments this morning. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says this feels like d?j? vu all over again. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Not Guilty As Charged How many inmates in Michigan prisons are really innocent — put there, perhaps, by a faulty public defender system? Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry got some surprising answers. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website A Life Remembered Legendary Detroit peace and justice crusader Al Fishman died of a sudden heart attack yesterday. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has some thoughts about a man who spent a lifetime trying to make life more fair. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Film Tax Credits The Michigan film tax credit appears to be on the way out, possibly to be replaced by a smaller incentive program. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about this. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Bring Back the Posthumus Rules Former Governor Jennifer Granholm was back in the news yesterday for denouncing a fellow ex-governor over Twitter. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry wants to bring back an old custom. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Miracle League There are those who follow major league baseball. But there are also those who think that the Miracle League is the hottest ticket in town. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Redistricting Dilemma Besides the constant budget battles, the Michigan Legislature also has the task of drawing new congressional district lines. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry says this is leading to some tough dilemmas. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Now for the hard part Governor Rick Snyder's tax plan passed the legislature yesterday. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry looks back at how he did it — and what now lies ahead. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website What Should Be Private? Robert Bobb, the outgoing Emergency Financial Manager of the Detroit Public Schools, revealed yesterday that he has been fighting cancer. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about public figures and privacy. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fast Train to Somewhere Washington this week awarded Michigan $200 million to improve railroad service between Detroit and Chicago. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says this is even better than it seems. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Life After GM General Motors is once again adding jobs and making money. But Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks there are lessons to be learned from the late Bob Stempel's career. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Hope and Despair Detroit remains both Michigan's largest and most problematic city. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has two stories from that city today, one of hope and one of despair. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Social Agenda The Republicans in the legislature have been attempting to include some controversial social issues in the budget. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks this may be politically risky. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Managing the Mess Governor Snyder named a new emergency manager for the Detroit Public Schools yesterday. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking both about the man and the job. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website May 3rd Election There were a scattering of local elections across the state yesterday. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks many of them have something in common. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website O Canada Yesterday's Canadian election could have a dramatic impact on Michigan in a number of ways... So, Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry is wondering: Where was the media? Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Testing Time A number of Michigan cities have elections tomorrow in which citizens will be asked to raise their own taxes to save city services. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Great and Bloody Sacrifice Though many people know that the Civil War began 150 years ago this month, few know that Michigan played an important role in the fighting. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry talks about a new book that may change that. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Snyder and the Schools There's been a lot of response to the education reform address that Governor Snyder delivered yesterday. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry wonders how many of us really know what the Governor is proposing... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Royal Flush Many Michiganders are setting their alarm clocks so they can get up and watch the royal wedding Friday morning. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks we could profit from some royals of our own... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Decency in Discourse There's a lot of heated debate going on over the governor's budget proposals. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about what is being said, but also how people are saying it. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Education Reform The governor is expected to deliver a speech this week unveiling his education agenda. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about that. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fighting for a Future The Republican landslide last November left Democrats looking for a new generation of statewide leaders. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry talked with one of the most promising candidates. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Scrooge and the Budget The legislature seems likely to go along with the governor's proposal to eliminate the Earned Income Tax Credit for the working poor. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about what the consequences might be. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Recall the Governor? A new group called Citizens' United is launching an effort to recall Governor Snyder. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about whether that is practical — and whether that's a good idea. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Rolling the Dice The governor seems likely to succeed in getting the legislature to agree to a big tax break for business that's designed to lure new jobs. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has been wondering ... what if it doesn't work? Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Drunken Sailors The legislature is in the process of working out the details of next year's budget. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says that if it's hard to understand some of these decisions, you aren't alone. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Soaking the Poor The governor's budget is moving through various committees, and yesterday, one of these voted to severely cut assistance to the poor. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about what that will mean. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Governor Synder: Not a Politician? Businessman Rick Snyder had never been active in politics before he ran for governor last year, and many people still say he's not a politician. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks it's time to reexamine that idea. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Truth in Advertising There's an ad campaign currently on the air-waves to try and stop the building of a new bridge between Detroit and Ontario. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry wonders what the media should do when they are asked to run ads that aren't true. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Rethinking Public Schools There's been speculation that Robert Bobb might possibly stay on as Emergency Financial Manager of Detroit's Public Schools. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about the evolving nature of public education. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website A Talk with Mayor Bing Detroit was hit last month with census numbers worse than anyone expected, which may worsen the city's economic crisis. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry talked with the mayor about where his city now stands. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Why Journalism Matters Detroit's Society of Professional Journalists presented its annual awards last night. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks journalism may never have been harder, or more necessary. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Price of Civilization There are cities, unions, and teachers around the state that are outraged at Governor Snyder's proposal to cut benefits. This has got Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry wondering why nobody's talking about raising taxes... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Detroit Symphony Orchestra Striking musicians with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra reached a tentative agreement to go back to work. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about their historic importance. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Medical Marijuana State voters legalized medical marijuana more than two years ago, but administering the new law has been anything but smooth. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has some thoughts about this. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Doctors With Borders Michigan is facing a medical school boom, with new ones in Oakland County and Kalamazoo on the way. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry wondered how we can get the most out of this. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Thought Police The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is asking for the e-mails of certain Michigan professors who have commented on the labor situation in Wisconsin. Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about this. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Cutting Benefits The governor signed a bill two days ago that extends unemployment benefits for those collecting them now — but which provides for less benefits for jobless workers in the future. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry explains. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website What?s Wrong With the Democrats Yesterday, the Democrats in the Michigan Senate called for a constitutional amendment to protect the School Aid Fund. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks we should ask, "where's the beef?" Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Why Business Leaders Support the Budget Governor Snyder's budget is intended to bring new jobs and business to the state of Michigan. But will it work? Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry talked to some business leaders who think it will... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Defying Age Governor Bill Milliken, who occasionally advises Michigan's current governor, turns 89 tomorrow. That has Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinking about the question of age. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The UAW?s Dilemma The United Auto Workers union is holding its bargaining convention in Detroit this week. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says the labor movement is facing big challenges. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Devastation Yesterday, official U.S. Census Bureau figures showed that Detroit's population had fallen more than anyone had expected. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about what the numbers mean. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Mergers and Acquisitions In Grand Rapids yesterday, Governor Snyder proposed a controversial set of new local government reforms. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks the ones that got less attention could end up being more significant. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Shortchanging the Future A Macomb County Commissioner is leading a petition drive against the governor's proposal to tax pensions. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says there is a little more to the story. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Unpopular Votes A group called National Popular Vote is lobbying the legislature to change the way we elect presidents. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been considering this. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Carping Criticism Remember the concern everyone had last year over the possibility that Asian carp might get into the Great Lakes? Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been wondering what the government has been doing about that. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website You Never Can Tell Some Michigan Democrats are hoping Governor Snyder's controversial budget means he will be a one-term leader. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says history suggests something different. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Glimmers of Hope Many people have been disillusioned by our political polarization and lack of cooperation. But Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry sees some hope in those still too young to vote. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Newspapers Newspapers across the nation have been losing money and circulation, in Detroit more than in other place. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about this. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Wacky Weather This winter has been one to remember, and it isn't over yet. But what causes extreme weather, and does this winter call the whole question of climate change into some doubt? Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been doing some reading. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Emergency Financial Managers A bitterly divided Michigan House and Senate have passed new, tougher Emergency Financial Manager legislation. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has some non-partisan thoughts. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Funding Education Facing budget cuts isn't easy... particularly if the cuts are something important to you. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has been talking to one Superintendent who is concerned about cuts to school funding... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Taxing Credibility Lansing is seeing waves of protestors who are angry about the governor's proposed budget cuts. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says they need to check their arithmetic. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Shared Sacrifice? Governor Rick Snyder's proposed budget would eliminate a tax credit for the working poor. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry went to see some people who worry about the consequences. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Primary Problem The presidential election is still more than a year and a half away, but once again, politicians are already talking about changing the date of the state's primary election. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has some thoughts. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Unpopular Stands Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that laws restricting offensive protests at military funerals are unconstitutional. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about politicians and public opinion. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Glenn Beck and Detroit Detroiters have been in an uproar this week over a commentary in which Glenn Beck compared their city to Hiroshima. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about this. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Why Libraries Matter Libraries are trouble in many places; the Detroit Public Library announced massive layoffs last week. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry wonders if our priorities are in the right place. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website A Natural at the Game Both Governor Rick Snyder's friends and enemies often refer to him as a "non-politician." Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about that. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website General Motors Wins a Star General Motors posted its first yearly profit last year since 2004. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about what that means. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Emergency Financial Managers The Michigan House of Representatives passed legislation making it easier to appoint emergency financial managers yesterday, and the senate is expected to follow. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about this. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website State of Detroit Detroit Mayor Dave Bing gave his state of the city address last night. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks it can all be summed up in the words of an ancient rock n'roll song. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Sins of the Fathers The state of Michigan has ordered Detroit public schools to adopt a deficit-reduction plan that will result in an average class size of more than sixty students. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about what this really means. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Budget Alternatives Governor Rick Snyder's budget proposal has a lot of critics... but few have offered alternatives. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry talked to an expert who does have some different ideas. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Budget Governor Snyder presented his budget today, and people were stunned and surprised. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks they shouldn't be. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Two Plus Two Governor Rick Snyder will formally unveil his projected budget tomorrow morning. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks we need to keep simple arithmetic in mind. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Grappling With The Budget Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been looking at President Obama's proposed federal budget and thinking about how it affects Michigan. The answer is more than you'd think. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Valentine for Michigan It's Valentine's Day, and Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry is thinking about what kind of Valentines our state would like to have — and what it is likely to get. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Michigander: The Backstory A new poll yesterday revealed that most Michigan residents prefer to be called Michiganders. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks you should know the rest of the story. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Agony of the Detroit Public Schools Detroit Public Schools Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb is asking the legislature to guarantee an earlier loan. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks there's a bigger problem here. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website State of Desperation Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry and Detroit News Editorial Page Editor Nolan Finley had a discussion this week on the state of our state — and found themselves in surprising agreement. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Save the Children The annual Kids Count report on the well-being of Michigan's children was released today. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says it sends a clear message about our state's future. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Name Game As the long winter and the state's budget woes drags on, Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says most of us are waiting for things to change — or perhaps, trying to name a possible bridge. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Pay Levels There's been a lot of arguing this week over whether state workers are overpaid or underpaid. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks we need to put the discussion in perspective. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Border Wars President Obama is meeting tomorrow with Canada's prime minister to discuss important changes to border security regulations. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks we haven't been paying enough attention. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Groundhog Day in Lansing Well, it's Groundhog Day, and thanks to the snow, there's neither a woodchuck nor a legislator anywhere in sight. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks it's a good day for a little reflection. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Frightening Realities Government officials in Lansing yesterday presented three separate reports about the state's economic condition. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks they are a good indication of just how deep a hole we are in. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Symphony Worth Saving? The Detroit Symphony Orchestra strike is about to enter its fifth month with no end in sight. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry wonders if we've considered what is really at stake. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Guns in Church State Senator Mike Green of Mayville has introduced a bill to allow concealed weapons to be taken into bars and churches. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at the measure... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Violence Porn There have been a flurry of recent investigations recently into internet sex sites in the state, but Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry is worried about something else: Violence Porn. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Reforming Our Courts Betty Weaver Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at Former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Weaver's time on the bench and her future. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Betty Weaver Speaks Out Former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Betty Weaver was censured by her colleagues for revealing what went on during the court's deliberations. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry talked to her about why. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website John Dingell, Running Again John Dingell, the longest-serving member of the U.S. House in history, announced yesterday that he would run for another term next year. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry reflects on that. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Statesman and the State The governors' annual State of the State speeches, are often forgotten soon after they are delivered. But Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks the one last night may be a little different. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website And as for the Democrats ?? The state's attention will be focused tonight on Governor Snyder's first State of the State address. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks the Democratic response may also be worth attention. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website State of the State History Governor Rick Snyder delivers his first state of the state speech tomorrow night... but who was the first governor to give one? Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry goes in search of a mystery. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Living the Dream Today is the federal holiday honoring the birth of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry wonders how much we really know about the man behind the day. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The UAW and the Transplants United Auto Workers' President Bob King is gearing up for another attempt to organize Japanese transplant factories. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks it could be the union's last stand. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Waiting For the Governor The new legislature met for the first time yesterday. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says the next step will be a signal from the governor. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Governor and the Auto Show Governor Rick Snyder visited the auto show yesterday. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks his visit may provide some clues as to how he might govern. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Rule of Law This is supposed to be a society where everybody lives under the rule of law. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says that three people got that message yesterday, the hard way. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website After the Assassination People all over the nation are talking about the tragic shooting in Arizona. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks we need to reexamine our policies here. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Importance of Being Kelly Michigan now has two state Supreme Court Justices with the name Kelly, and there is a chance there may soon be a third. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at the Kelly escalation. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Attacking Public Employees Michigan is again facing a huge budget deficit -- and some politicians say state workers are vastly overpaid. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry says the reality may be different. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website What Do We Know? It was announced today that University of Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez has been fired. But, yesterday's non-stop speculation about the firing had Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinking about something else... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Between the Cracks Congress agreed last month to continue extended unemployment benefits. But Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says that does nothing for those whose benefits have run out. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Governor Snyder Michigan's new governor began his administration this week with an address that called for new thinking and shared sacrifice. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thought it was a speech worth reading... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Surviving the Year It's pretty fair to say it's been a hard year for our state. But, Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry says we do have a few things to celebrate... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Coming Drama The first census figures are in, and it's clear that these rows of numbers have set the stage for some very intense political melodrama to come. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Time for Sanity The Detroit Water and Sewage Department currently provides water to almost half of the state's population. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks a regional authority is an idea whose time has come. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Early Warning By now, everyone knows all about the federal indictments of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. But Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks they also indicate that none of this had to be. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Beyond Kwame A federal grand jury indicted former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and several associates on numerous corruption charges yesterday. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks the problem goes far beyond him. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Build the Bridge An early winter storm has closed Port Huron's Blue Water Bridge and caused miles-long backups at the Ambassador Bridge. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks its clear that we need another kind of backup. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fixing Our Courts There's been increasing concern about the reputation of the judicial system in this state. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says some very high-powered judges are trying to do something about it. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Cost of the Governor's Spouse On New Year's Day, Michigan will no longer have a First Gentleman, but a First Lady. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry wants to know if it makes sense to have gubernatorial spouses cost the state money. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Rays of Hope Many people have been disillusioned by our political polarization and lack of cooperation. But Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry sees some hope in those still too young to vote. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Michigan Power The Republican takeover of the U.S. House of Representatives means two Michigan Congressmen will be newly powerful for the first time. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry is thinking about that. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website When the Law is an Ass A Wayne County circuit judge this week ruled that the Detroit Schools' Emergency Financial Manager had no authority to set academic standards. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about that decision. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Helen Thomas, Again Wayne State University has ended a historic award named for famous alumna Helen Thomas, after she made what the school called anti-Semitic remarks. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks there are no winners here. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Buying Congress The campaigns are now over, and official reports indicate that our races for Congress were the most expensive in state history. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about this. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Culture of Debt These days, we're accustomed to a world of deficit spending. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry talked to a business expert whose new book suggests we're headed over a cliff. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website You Get What you Pay For The lame duck session of the legislature is winding down, but few of the lawmakers are talking about the enormous elephant in the room: the deficit. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fighting the Good Fight Most experts think there's no chance of getting Senate approval of a new Detroit River bridge project his year. But Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says one state senator isn't giving up. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Lawmakers, Earn Your Pay As of now, Michigan lawmakers plan to stop working for the year once they recess this week. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks they owe us more than that. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Rebuilding Education There's going to be a debate in the legislature next year over the cost and future of education. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry wonders if we've been asking the wrong questions. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Back to Our Farms For the first time in more than a century, someone from Michigan will chair the Senate Agriculture Committee. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about that. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Thanksgiving Day It may be Thanksgiving Day, but there's one place in our state where the turkeys are eating, not being eaten. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry explains. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website In This Together The election is over and the holidays and a new administration are approaching. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks this might be a good time to leave partisanship behind. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Squalor in the Court Five of Michigan's Supreme Court justices took the unusual step last week of censuring one of their colleagues. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks there are no winners here. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Women and Justice There's a lot of focus on what Governor-elect Snyder will do in January, but Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says a former governor is still trying to get Governor Jennifer Granholm to do the right thing before she leaves. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Gentlemen, Start Your Engines The annual Automotive Authors Book Fair gets underway in Detroit tomorrow. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry was mesmerized by a new book about a bad car. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Not Read, All Over Detroit newspaper workers agreed to a contract last week that includes pay cuts and less health benefits. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks we should all be concerned... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Worrying About The General General Motors is on a roll, with an exciting new car and a new stock offering tomorrow expected to rake in billions. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says we might want to be a little cautious. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Sex and Justice A recent horrifying case involving teen suicide has gotten wide attention. The case got Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinking about the state's sex offender registry. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Life of the Party Former Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party Saul Anuzis announced he now wants to be the next Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry talks a look at what that would mean... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Sometimes On Sunday The legislature has approved a bill allowing the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sunday mornings. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about its effects on society. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Gotta Have Art Republicans in the Michigan Senate have been adamantly opposed to even discussing new taxes -- except when it comes to the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Zoo. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry explains. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Bipartisan Success The new governor doesn't take office until January, but Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says there are already signs that he wants to move past the bitter partisan divisions that have paralyzed Lansing. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Redistricting, The War to Come The election is over, but for many congressmen and state representatives, the real battle for survival begins next year. The legislature will draw new districts based on the new census. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Bridge Failure Last week Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop said he had changed his mind, and will not allow a vote on whether to build a new bridge across the Detroit River. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry says a lot of people are very mad. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Sparky Anderson Sparky Anderson, perhaps the most famous manager in Detroit Tigers history, died yesterday. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry says there is more to his memory than just baseball. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Divided We Stand By now everybody knows that Rick Snyder won a landslide victory on Tuesday. But Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry says the shape of the vote is a little different than you might have expected. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Give Them Hope Tomorrow is Election Day, and the candidates are making a last final push. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks there was something missing from this year's campaign. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Does Anyone Believe We're four days from what's being called one of the most important elections in state history. Yet Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks the public is curiously disengaged. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website What do you think? The candidates for governor have been asked questions by reporters... but Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has been looking at what ordinary people might want to know.? Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Burying the Governor They are reburying Michigan's first governor in Detroit today. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks he might have found some of our problems uncannily familiar. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Hope for the Future Michigan State University economist Charles Ballard has a new book out on the state of Michigan's economy. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry says it's not only important; it is actually fun to read. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website They Don?t Trust The People Michigan voters are going to decide next week whether to have a new constitutional convention. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says it's a matter of whether you trust the people. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Real Losers Attention has been so focused on the elections that few have noticed that many workers will lose their unemployment benefits by the end of next month. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Poll Obsession The opinion polls have consistently shown Rick Snyder is ahead in the race for governor. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been wondering whether polls themselves are a good idea at all. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website What We Should Ask Michigan gubernatorial candidates Rick Snyder and Virg Bernero are making a lot of promises, but Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says there's one big question they haven't answered. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Dying On The Trail State Representative Robert Jones of Kalamazoo died in his home Sunday morning. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry wonders why he was running for office this year. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Newspapers in Crisis Newspapers aren't doing well these days, though the companies that own them are still making money. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says the result is being played out in Detroit. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Election Dilemmas We're going to be voting for a lot more candidates than we may realize this year. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry isn't sure that this always makes sense. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Shrinking Government The city of Pontiac plans to disband its police force... and turn to the county for protection. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks this is the beginning of a healthy trend. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Zooming Back General Motors and Chrysler have emerged from bankruptcy and Ford is making money again. But how healthy is the domestic auto industry today? Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry talked with two experts... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Secretary of State The contest for secretary of state has received little attention from the media this year. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says it deserves to get more. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Debatable Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks that after last night's debate between the candidates for governor we might want to look past the conventional wisdom -- and press the candidates for some answers. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Proposal 2 Michigan voters will see a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November. It would ban convicted felons from holding office. Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks this might not be as good an idea as it seems... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website MSU's Mission Michigan and Michigan State clash on the football field this Saturday... but, off the gridiron, the two schools share a lot of the same goals. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry talked with M-S-U President Lou Anna Simon about the future of higher education... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Buying the Pistons The big sports news yesterday was that Mike Ilitch, who already owns the Tigers and the Red Wings, is apparently buying the Detroit Pistons. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry wonders if this is really a good idea. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website An Unlikely Radical One of Michigan's most legendary lawyers has just written his autobiography. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says that at age 86, he's still giving them hell. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Abortion Issue, II State legislatures, including Michigan's, are constantly attempting to set new abortion policy. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry still doesn't think that's an issue that belongs in this year's gubernatorial campaign. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Wounded Warrior Half a century ago, Michigan voters elected one of the youngest governors in history, a war hero who is now almost forgotten. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says there is finally a book on Governor John Swainson. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Budget Deal There won't be another shutdown of state government. The legislature passed a budget last night. But Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says even bigger problems loom ahead. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Youngest Victims As Michigan lawmakers struggled to balance the budget and make cuts in social services, new statistics on child poverty were re Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Adolescent Behavior It looks like the Michigan budget may be complete before Thursday night's deadline, meaning another shutdown will be avoided. But Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says the real problems are still ahead. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Disgrace of a Debate The major party candidates for attorney general had a televised debate last weekend, but Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks we should all be disappointed. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Reinventing the Wheel Tea party supporters and other activists say that government has become remote, elitist, and out of touch with the people. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks they are overlooking an obvious solution. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Silver and the Screen The Senate Fiscal Agency now says that the film tax credit is a net drain on the state budget. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry believes it's more complicated than that. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Try Again The state budget still isn't balanced, the legislature is stuck in gridlock, but most of our leaders are firmly against a constitutional convention. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks we should take another look. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Abortion Issue The major party candidates for governor attacked each other's stand on abortion rights yesterday. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks they need to stop talking about this issue, now. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Starving Local Services The mid-Michigan city of Pontiac soon will have only a third as many policemen as it did five years ago. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks that we all may be facing similar issues soon. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website A Bridge Too Far Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop has reversed himself and now says there probably won't be a vote on a new Detroit River bridge this year. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says that is bad news for business. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Remembrances of Debates Past Over the past week you've probably heard that the candidates running for Governor haven't been able to figure out if, and when, they'll debate. Our political analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look back at debates of the past. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Budget Scandal We're two weeks from the deadline, and the state still doesn't have a balanced budget. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks there's a deeper problem here. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Taking a Toll We're used to seeing grim unemployment numbers, but what are the real human costs of the recession? Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry looks at some numbers that provide a clue. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Not Debatable Talks between the GOP and Democratic nominees for Governor have broken down. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks not having debates between the candidates running for the state's highest office would be a huge mistake... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Detroit's Agony Detroit's fire department had difficulty responding this week to a series of blazes that destroyed or damaged almost a hundred homes. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks there is a solution. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Cheating the Children The state senate voted yesterday to take money out of the school aid fund and give it to community colleges, Michigan Radio's Jack Lssenberry has been thinking about what that really meant. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 'Balanced' Budget Legislative leaders in Lansing say they have reached a deal on a balanced budget. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry doesn't think the deal really gets it done. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website After Labor Day Yesterday was Labor Day... but Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry found that for an increasing number of workers, the day has less meaning... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Good News on the Jobs Front As Labor Day approaches, the good news is that Michigan is finally adding jobs. But Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says we've got a very long way to go. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website In the Numbers We won't start to get official census figures till December. But Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry reports that a new outfit called Data Driven Detroit is already trying to give us the facts about ourselves, and tell us what they mean. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website No Tea, No Party The Michigan Court of Appeals has said the state does not have to grant ballot access to a group calling itself the Tea Party. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says they may want to think twice before appealing to the state supreme court. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Negative Campaiging There was a time when state Attorney General Mike Cox was originally favored to win the Republican nomination for governor. He ended up finishing third in the GOP primary. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry talked to Cox about what went wrong. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website A Clear Choice Both parties completed putting together their slates of candidates at their conventions this weekend. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry sees some good news in this for us all. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Order and the Court Justice Elizabeth Weaver unexpectedly resigned from the Michigan Supreme Court yesterday. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at what went on behind the scenes. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Work Ethic You may have thought balancing the budget was the state legislature's job -- but Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says, it's about vacations -- and the state carrot committee. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Snyder Makes a Choice Republican nominee for Governor Rick Snyder has made a somewhat surprising pick for a running mate. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look back at the state's past lieutenant governors. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website How Will They Fix Things? With ten weeks to go before the November elections, voters will soon know who all the candidates are. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks what really matters is knowing what they would do if they win. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Back to the Future Ever wonder what the underground railroad or Detroit's gangster era were really like? There's a man in Detroit who specializes in taking people there. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Taking Stock General Motors is moving towards again offering stock to free itself from government control. But is it too early? Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry looks at the background. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Smoke and Mirrors Governor Jennifer Granholm unveiled her budget-balancing proposals yesterday. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says they include no new taxes -- and also no needed reforms. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Power of the Purse State lawmakers are coming back to work today, to try and balance two budgets -- this year's and next year's. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry worries they're running out of time... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Lock and Load The Labor Day festival Arts, Beats and Eats is moving from Pontiac to Royal Oak this year ... and some people attending the event want to bring their loaded guns. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Single Issue Madness The governor's race is underway... and some voters will decide on a candidate based on a single issue. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry found one issue that was a little different. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website New Era for the General General Motors announced yesterday that with profits booming, C-E-O Ed Whitacre will step down next month. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at the automaker's turn around... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website U of M and the Future The state of Michigan has severe money problems... and this could, eventually, impact higher education. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry spoke to Mary Sue Coleman, President of the University of Michigan. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Avoiding Reality Michigan educators are celebrating Congress' passage of a bill that will give federal money to support some 47-hundred teaching jobs in the state. But Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks this is a mixed blessing... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Supreme Choices Democrats and Republicans are preparing for their state conventions later this month. The parties will select candidates for office including the Michigan Supreme Court. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry wonders if this is such a good idea... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website That'll Be the Day Two months after reporter Helen Thomas was forced into retirement over her controversial comments about Israel...there are protests over plans for a statue of her at the Arab-American Museum in Dearborn. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks some perspective is needed... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website A Radical Idea The legislature comes back next week to continue trying to balance the budget. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has an idea about how to get the budget done... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Priorities There's a lot of speculation as to what role Right to Life of Michigan may play in the governor's race, now that the candidate they endorsed has been eliminated. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks we'd be better off worrying about something else.... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Voters Speak The election results are in. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks the primary says something positive not only about the candidates... but, also, about the voters who chose them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Over the Line Today's primary election comes after a campaign that featured some of the dirtiest negative advertising in state history. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Crossing the Line Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder's hopes of winning the G-O-P nomination for governor may depend on Democrats and Independents crossing over to vote for him. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry wonders if that's ethical... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Capitalism President Obama is in Michigan today to visit some auto plants that might not be running today, if it hadn't been for the bailout. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry takes a look at what this means. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Interest Groups We don't like to think of our leaders being beholden to interest groups -- but most of them are. And in some cases, Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says, we don't even know which ones. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ethics and Media Two days ago, a new accusation was reported involving the state attorney general and a rumored party long ago. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks the real guilty party is the media. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Endorsement Madness The Michigan primary is a week away, and the candidates are piling up celebrity endorsements. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry is wondering what this all means. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The View From Above The Upper Peninsula is a world away to some people, but it still has the same politicians and many of the same problems those below the bridge do. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry reports. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Voting Smart People in Michigan have been talking about mass transit for years. But the only regional system in metropolitan Detroit could be threatened by a vote on the August 3 primary ballot. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry explains. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fighting the Power Can a man with a Bangladeshi father and a half-Jewish, South Korean wife defeat an incumbent member of Congress? State Senator Hansen Clarke is hoping so. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Reality-based debating The GOP candidates for governor held their only debate in southeast Michigan last night. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry wanted to see a little more for the reality-based community. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Underdog Powerful incumbent congressmen are seldom challenged in their party's primaries. But this isn't a typical year. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry caught up with a man who is wearing out some shoe leather. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Veterans Park There are hundreds of thousands of veterans in Michigan, and for years, they've been trying to build a park that would honor those who served in all of America's wars. But Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says they seem to be pinned down by the city of Detroit. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Long Live Books Michigan libraries are increasingly threatened by budget cuts, and the state library may give up one of its historic functions. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry is worried about this. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Courting Civility Michigan's Supreme Court has been in the news in recent years partly because the justices themselves couldn't seem to get along. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry says that just might be changing. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Wanted: Grownups Everybody knows Michigan is facing a lot of problems...and Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has a solution: the state needs more grownups... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Partisan Justice Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Weaver was originally elected as a Republican... but, now, she is seeking re-election as an Independent. That's got Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinking about how we elect supreme court justices here in the state... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Finding the Governor This week, historians went looking for the body of Stevens T. Mason, Michigan's first governor. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks he's someone we ought to remember. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving the Schools The state legislature agreed on a deal that actually gives the schools a little more money next year. But Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says the schools aren't out of the woods yet. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Road to Nowhere? Mass transit has never really gone anywhere in Michigan. Now, there are bills before the legislature that would establish a regional transit authority. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks it is crucial that the lawmakers move now. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Tragedy of Detroit It's been a rough year for Detroit and its troubled school system. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes us for a look behind the headlines. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Our State Many of the Republican candidates running for governor are promising to cut taxes and balance the state's budget. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry wonders how they really plan to do this... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Courting Environmental Disaster Kennecott Minerals Incorporated now has nearly all of the permits they need to begin digging a huge sulfide mine in the Upper Peninsula. But, as Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains, some are worried about the environmental impact that such a mine would have... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website What Flavor Tea? There's a petition drive underway to put "The Tea Party" on the Michigan ballot. But, Tea Party leaders in the state say they don't want to be on the ballot. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks he has an idea of what is going on... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Still Providing Hope Focus-Hope, a non-profit social welfare organization in Detroit, has been reinventing itself in the face of the down economy. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks there's a lesson here for all of us... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Leadership Gap The race for Governor continues here in the state... but, as Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains, the campaigns have failed to generate excitement.... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Criminal Class State lawmakers have voted to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would ban some felons from serving in government. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about the criminal class... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Car Culture The United Auto Workers Union has a new president, but Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks they need something more: a new marketing strategy. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Agony of the UAW The UAW is holding its national convention in Detroit this week. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about the union, and how much the world has changed. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Immigration It's no secret that Michigan's population has been declining as job-seekers leave the state. But, the state's birthrate is also in a steep decline. Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry has a solution... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Money Talks This week, the Michigan Senate will be debating whether to approve a new bridge over the Detroit River. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks that campaign cash may be playing a role. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Budget Solution Far fewer teachers seem to be retiring than the legislature expected, which is bad news for the bottom line. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks the solution is beer. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Endorsements The candidates running for governor are competing for endorsements from their peers and newspapers. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about what endorsements really mean... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website School Aid Crisis There is a deficit in the current year's state budget... and, now, Republican leaders in the state senate are talking about using money from the school aid fund to fill it. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry shares his thoughts. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Bare Cupboard Crisis Though few candidates have used it lately, Michigan has a law providing for public funding of gubernatorial campaigns. This year, however, some candidates got a nasty shock. The money wasn't there anymore. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry explains. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Helen Thomas's Gaffe Native Detroiter Helen Thomas has covered the White House for half a century, but now after controversial remarks, she announced her retirement. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry explains. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Say It Aint' So Former Congressman Joe Schwarz is abandoning his plans to run as an Independent candidate for governor. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry says it's all about the money. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Mackinac and Education There was a panel discussion on Mackinac this morning about education reform, Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry worries that we are avoiding some of the biggest elephants in the room. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Mackinac and Beyond The Mackinac Policy Conference opens today with a panel discussion to look at what's wrong with our state. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks they need to ask a different question. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Campaign The primary election for Governor is getting closer... Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry things we need to demand something different from the candidates. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Memorial Day Today is Memorial Day, a holiday which has changed quite a bit in recent years. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about its meaning. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Build the Bridge The Michigan House narrowly passed a bill to approve a new bridge over the Detroit River. As Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says, it's now up to the Senate. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Kwame Kilpatrick Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick woke up in state prison this morning. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry is thinking about what this means for Detroit...and all of us. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Licensing the Press State Senator Bruce Patterson has an idea to help people sort out the media. He wants to create a state board to license and regulate reporters. Michigan Radio Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about that. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Environmental Scorecard The Michigan League of Conservation Voters releases its annual Environmental Scorecard tomorrow. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry was struck by the sharp bipartisan contrast. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Still Counting on the Census The deadline to send census forms in was April 1st. But thousands of enumerators are now trying to track down the millions who didn't comply. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry reports that a lot more than numbers are at stake. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Cleaning Up After a Century This week, the federal government announced a massive program to clean up former abandoned and contaminated General Motors sites. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry is wondering... why stop there? Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Starving the Future The passage last week of the school retirement bill means that the state will save some badly needed money. But, Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry wonders if we're thinking about what this will mean for the state's students... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website General Motors Makes Money General Motors announced yesterday that it had made money in the first three months of this year. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at what those numbers really mean... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The High Cost of Low Taxes Nobody wants to pay more in state taxes. But, Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry wonders if we really understand what it will mean if we don't pony up a little more... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Teacher Retirement The Michigan Legislature has reached an agreement on incentives to get veteran teachers to retire. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry wonders if anyone really understands what this bill will actually do... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Call Me Illegal There's a move in Lansing to pass an anti-illegal immigrant law that would be similar to the one recently enacted in Arizona. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about this. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Alma Wheeler Smith Departs Alma Wheeler Smith dropped out of the Democratic race for governor yesterday. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry notes that she had one thing none of her rivals did: A plan. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Roads to Ruin The state is eligible for nearly half a billion dollars in badly needed federal road repair funds. But Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says there's a real threat that we'll needlessly lose them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Getting It Backwards Michigan is, once again, gearing up to try and get some of the federal Race to the Top money. But Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks the legislature may be sabotaging that... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Money, Money Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has discovered something remarkable from reading his emails... People in Michigan want money. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ernie Harwell Famed Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell died last night. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry reminds us that Harwell's life went far beyond baseball. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Frustration for the Schools A plan to entice veteran teachers to retire has been bogged down in the state legislature for weeks. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks that says something about our state government.... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving Our Future The Michigan legislature has been arguing over education budget cuts for months. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry got the perspective from one of Michigan's largest school districts... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Bridging the Gap Canada made an offer yesterday... one Michigan might not be able to refuse. Our neighbors to the North agreed to front Michigan's expenses for a proposed, new bridge from Detroit to Windsor. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has more... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Mass Transit Daily commuter rail service between Detroit and Ann Arbor was supposed to start this fall but, once again, funding fell through. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry looks at the state's mass transit dilemma... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Newspaper Experiment: An Update A year ago, Detroit's two daily newspapers became the first in the nation to drop daily home delivery. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has an update on how the experiment is going... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fieger for Governor? A new poll shows that attorney Geoffrey Fieger would be the instant front-runner if he joins the Democratic race for governor... The question is: will he? Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has some insights.... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Shooting the Messenger A largely negative story about Detroit aired on Dateline NBC last week. City leaders are still angry about the portrayal... Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks they're missing the point... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Double Take HBO is premiering a new movie tomorrow night about Jack Kevorkian. And, Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry plays a role in the film, "You don't know Jack." Jack Lessenberry to explain: Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ignorance Isn't Strength A new National Geographic Society study found some eye-rising facts about the average U-S college students' knowledge. Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry has the details... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Detroit's Agony Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was back in court his week... and, once again, Detroit's image took a hit. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains why Detroit's troubles fall on all of us... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Wanting Higher Taxes It's probably fair to say that not a lot of people like to pay taxes, but a respected new poll found something surprising about taxes here in the state. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has more... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Democrats Endorse First Michigan Democrats chose their nominees for Secretary of State and Attorney General last weekend. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has the details... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Following the Law Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said yesterday that he was suing the state over the new smoking ban... then, within hours, he dropped the suit. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at what's going on. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Michigan's Educational Future Lawmakers are back in session this week. They'll continue to debate how to fund the state's education budgets. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website An American Family The changing economy has left many families in the state struggling. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry met one couple who are looking for a better future. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Losing Clout Three Michigan congressmen have announced that they will not run for re-election this year. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry predicts more changes lie ahead for our state... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Stupak and the Tea Party Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak announced today that he will not run for re-election. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks the reasons for the Democrat's retirement may not be what they seem... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Essay: Con-Con Procrastination Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land has says the Michigan legislature has not done enough to prepare for a possible constitutional convention. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains why he thinks the lawmakers should get prepared... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The New McCarthyism Opponents of health care reform are going after lawmakers who voted for it last month...including Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks some of the behavior is way over the line... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Greedy Geezers? As Tax Day approaches, Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at a fairly large group of Michiganders who don't have to pay state income taxes... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Play Ball The Detroit Tigers open the season this afternoon with a game in Kansas City. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about the parallels between baseball and our state. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Conscientious Objector Jerry terHorst, a Grand Rapids native who served as President Ford's first press secretary, died this week. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry remembers the day he sacrificed his career over a matter of principle. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Vacation Time Despite all the state's problems, Michigan lawmakers are in the middle of a two week vacation. Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry looks at why that's happening... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Militia Groups Federal and state authorities have arrested nine members of a self-styled militia group who are said to have been plotting to kill policemen. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry says the real problem goes far beyond that. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Driving to Distraction State Senators changed their minds last week and passed a law making text messaging while driving a primary offense. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at what went on behind the scenes. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Sic Transit Volvo Ford announced yesterday that it is selling Volvo to a Chinese company. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry wonders what it all means... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Unamerican Activities Since Congress passed health care reform, there have been an outpouring of threats against those who supported it. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry offers some perspective. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Sore Losers There are a number of efforts underway to allow Michigan residents to opt out of the new federal health care law. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry wants to know if that is constitutionally possible... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Our Listeners Senior Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry recently went to learn something about the Great Depression — and ended up learning about Michigan Radio instead. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website One Person's Meat There was a firestorm of reaction last week to the governor's decision to proclaim "meatout day." Senior Political analyst Jack Lessenberry is wondering why all the fuss. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Taxing Concerns Governor Granholm has said that if the legislature is unwilling to vote on her proposal to extend the sales tax to services, there should be a statewide vote of the people on it. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks she is leaving something out. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Political Follies The political season is upon us. Senior Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry remembers that life can sometimes be amusing on the campaign trail. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Detroit's Schools Detroit schools' emergency financial manager announced a sweeping school closing plan today. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about whether schools should be locally controlled. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Sunshine Week This week is annual Sunshine Week, when we remind ourselves that the public has the right to know what governments do. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks that should be equally important to us all. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Still an Optimist Though we usually think of Carl Levin as Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman, he is also a lifetime Detroiter who is concerned about the state's economy. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry got his take on our future. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Resurget Cineribus It's been a week of embarrassment for Detroit, thanks to two former leaders and convicted felons. But Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks we may be looking at this the wrong way. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Do We Really Need a State Bank? Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero is proposing starting a State bank of Michigan. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry believes the idea is at least worth thinking about. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Throwing Out Baby Last year the state launched Pure Michigan, a national advertising campaign to boost tourism. Now the legislature is debating what to do next. Jack Lessenberry looks at the record. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Failure of Term Limits A new study on the effects of term finds that they've been a disaster for the state. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Bring Back the USSR Last week, Michigan's leaders were dismayed when the state failed to win any of the federal "Race to the Top" education money. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry looks at what happened. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Where's the Beef? With Congressman Sander Levin's surprise elevation to the Ways and Means Committee chairmanship... our state suddenly has vast clout in Congress. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at what this means... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Agony of Alfred Sloan For the first time in many years, Ford overtook General Motors last month in total monthly sales. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about how that happened. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Building Bridges Earlier this week, the U.S. Coast Guard rejected the Ambassador Bridge Company's application to build a second bridge across the Detroit River. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at the implications of this decision... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Rigging the Game Candidates are campaigning hard for their parties' nominations for Secretary of State and Attorney General. But, as Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains, YOU won't have much of a say in the process. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Dr. Schwarz?s Dilemma State House Speaker Andy Dillon has thrown his hat into the race for Governor in 2010. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry now wonders if former Congressman Joe Schwarz will jump into the race as well. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Dr. Schwarz?s Dilemma State House Speaker Andy Dillon has thrown his hat into the race for Governor in 2010. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry now wonders if former Congressman Joe Schwarz will jump into the race as well. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Prison Policy There's a big argument underway in Lansing over whether to parole more prison inmates. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks both sides need a reality check, and some common sense. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Toyota Gives Detroit a Chance Toyota's accelerator problems have resulted in a public relations nightmare for the automaker. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry wonders how the Big Three will respond. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Kildee Jumps In Dan Kildee, the former Genesee County treasurer announced he is running for governor yesterday. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks this might be good for the Democrats. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Kilpatrick Again Kwame Kilpatrick is back in the headlines this week. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks we need to consider how this affects everyone in our state. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Keeping On There have been an astonishing number of congressional retirements this year, but the longest-serving member in history isn't planning on leaving. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry looks at the career of John Dingell. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Bridging the Gap MDOT's director took a stand recently over the controversy about a new bridge across the Detroit River. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says that isn't so surprising when you look at the facts. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Do We Want Bad Roads? Michigan roads are in bad shape — and the federal government wants to give us $2 billion to fix them. But Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says there's a real threat we'll lose that money. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Dropping OUt John Cherry, Denise Ilitch and now Bob Bowman all flirted with seeking the Democratic nomination for governor — and then said no. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry takes a look at what's really going on. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Dropping OUt John Cherry, Denise Ilitch and now Bob Bowman all flirted with seeking the Democratic nomination for governor — and then said no. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry takes a look at what's really going on. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Sheltering Under the Dome In a world worried about the future of journalism, Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has discovered a new magazine he thinks does an excellent job of covering the state capital, all online. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Sheltering Under the Dome In a world worried about the future of journalism, Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has discovered a new magazine he thinks does an excellent job of covering the state capital, all online. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Best We Could Do Governor Granholm delivered her final budget proposal for the next year. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry gives us his take on the Governor's plan... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Best We Could Do Governor Granholm delivered her final budget proposal for the next year. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry gives us his take on the Governor's plan... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Farewell to a Free Mind Congressman Vern Ehlers of Grand Rapids announced yesterday that he was retiring at the end of this term. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry looks back at his remarkable career. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Farewell to a Free Mind Congressman Vern Ehlers of Grand Rapids announced yesterday that he was retiring at the end of this term. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry looks back at his remarkable career. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Time for Grownups Governor Granholm unveils her new budget tomorrow and another battle with the Republicans is likely to begin. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks both parties can learn from the example set by a former president of MSU. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Time for Grownups Governor Granholm unveils her new budget tomorrow and another battle with the Republicans is likely to begin. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks both parties can learn from the example set by a former president of MSU. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Politics of Carp Yesterday's so-called Asian carp summit in Washington produced no dramatic solutions. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about politics, and fish. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Politics of Carp Yesterday's so-called Asian carp summit in Washington produced no dramatic solutions. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry has been thinking about politics, and fish. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Spending Money Last night, GOP gubernatorial hopeful Rick Snyder spent more than a million dollars to run a commercial during the Super Bowl. Senior Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has always been fascinated by how people spend money. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Spending Money Last night, GOP gubernatorial hopeful Rick Snyder spent more than a million dollars to run a commercial during the Super Bowl. Senior Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has always been fascinated by how people spend money. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Lawmakers Lifetime Health Care Benefits The Michigan House voted to end lifetime benefits for legislators this week, but Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says the reality isn't at all what it seems. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Lawmakers Lifetime Health Care Benefits The Michigan House voted to end lifetime benefits for legislators this week, but Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says the reality isn't at all what it seems. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Post State of the State Governor Granholm delivered her final State of the State address last night. Her speech focused on education, job-creation and the economy. However, Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks we should pay attention more to what the Governor didn't say in the address. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Post State of the State Governor Granholm delivered her final State of the State address last night. Her speech focused on education, job-creation and the economy. However, Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks we should pay attention more to what the Governor didn't say in the address. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website State of the State Governor Granholm delivers her final State of the State address tonight. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry knows what he'd like to hear. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website State of the State Governor Granholm delivers her final State of the State address tonight. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry knows what he'd like to hear. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Raiding the Kitty This year, a number of gubernatorial candidates are expected to seek state campaign finance funds for the primary election. But, as Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains, the money might not be there... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Raiding the Kitty This year, a number of gubernatorial candidates are expected to seek state campaign finance funds for the primary election. But, as Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains, the money might not be there... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Praise for the Governor Governor Granholm startled many on Friday when she unveiled a tough government reform plan that calls for considerable sacrifice. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a closer look... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Praise for the Governor Governor Granholm startled many on Friday when she unveiled a tough government reform plan that calls for considerable sacrifice. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a closer look... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fixing What's Broken Governor Jennifer Granholm yesterday supported the idea of a new Constitutional Convention. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains why this may be the time for a so-called "Con-Con." Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fixing What's Broken Governor Jennifer Granholm yesterday supported the idea of a new Constitutional Convention. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains why this may be the time for a so-called "Con-Con." Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Still a Bad Idea Michigan Democrats are talking about "pre-selecting" some of their party's candidates at an endorsement convention this spring. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks that's a bad idea... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Still a Bad Idea Michigan Democrats are talking about "pre-selecting" some of their party's candidates at an endorsement convention this spring. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks that's a bad idea... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website One Cheer for Experience Democrats are still scrambling to find candidates in what promises to be the most open race for governor in state history. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry is wondering if experience matters... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website One Cheer for Experience Democrats are still scrambling to find candidates in what promises to be the most open race for governor in state history. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry is wondering if experience matters... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Truth in Advertising This is an election year, and we're all bound to be deluged with political advertising. Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry has already seen one ad that was downright misleading. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Truth in Advertising This is an election year, and we're all bound to be deluged with political advertising. Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry has already seen one ad that was downright misleading. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Zero Tolerance Nightmare Zero tolerance and high-stakes testing policies have been the norm in schools for some years now. So, how are they working out? Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at a new report... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Zero Tolerance Nightmare Zero tolerance and high-stakes testing policies have been the norm in schools for some years now. So, how are they working out? Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at a new report... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Worst of All... It's been a momentous week both politically and judicially. But Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks the most significant news this week may have come from a new study about our nation's children. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Worst of All... It's been a momentous week both politically and judicially. But Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks the most significant news this week may have come from a new study about our nation's children. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website You Never Can Tell The tremendous upset in the Massachusetts special senate election this week sent shock waves throughout the Democratic Party. But, Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry says all may not be what it seems... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website You Never Can Tell The tremendous upset in the Massachusetts special senate election this week sent shock waves throughout the Democratic Party. But, Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry says all may not be what it seems... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fighting the Carp Yesterday, the US Supreme Court refused to close a barrier blocking Asian carp from the Great Lakes. The news came as researchers said they found Asian Carp DNA for the first time in Lake Michigan. But, Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks all may not be lost... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Day After MLK Martin Luther King Day was yesterday. But, Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry suggests that today is the day we think about what Martin Luther King Junior's message really was... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Day After MLK Martin Luther King Day was yesterday. But, Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry suggests that today is the day we think about what Martin Luther King Junior's message really was... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Bridge Wars Billions of dollars worth of trade travels across the Ambassador Bridge each year... Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at the future of the bridge. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Bridge Wars Billions of dollars worth of trade travels across the Ambassador Bridge each year... Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at the future of the bridge. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Carp in the Courtroom The U.S. Supreme Court is meeting today to consider a request to close shipping locks to try and block Asian carp from Lake Michigan. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry looks at why that's so important... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Carp in the Courtroom The U.S. Supreme Court is meeting today to consider a request to close shipping locks to try and block Asian carp from Lake Michigan. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry looks at why that's so important... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Business Leaders, For Michigan The organization Business Leaders for Michigan has a new plan to solve the state budget crisis. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks it deserves a closer look. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Business Leaders, For Michigan The organization Business Leaders for Michigan has a new plan to solve the state budget crisis. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks it deserves a closer look. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Two Worlds Kwame Kilpatrick's court hearing continued yesterday, the same day the annual Kids Count report gave us the latest grim statistics about Michigan and child poverty. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry looks at the contrast between these two stories. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Two Worlds Kwame Kilpatrick's court hearing continued yesterday, the same day the annual Kids Count report gave us the latest grim statistics about Michigan and child poverty. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry looks at the contrast between these two stories. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Reality Bites Due to high levels of unemployment and a shrinking auto-industry, the state is taking in less money than it used to. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at how this is affecting one small city... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Remembering Yama Yamasaki Associates, once Michigan's best-known architectural firm, is closing its world headquarters. Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry remembers its famous founder. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Remembering Yama Yamasaki Associates, once Michigan's best-known architectural firm, is closing its world headquarters. Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry remembers its famous founder. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Can Pontiac Be Saved? The Emergency Financial Manager of Pontiac has an interesting idea to turn around the city. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Can Pontiac Be Saved? The Emergency Financial Manager of Pontiac has an interesting idea to turn around the city. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Magic Truck Christmas arrives tomorrow after what has been a rough year for the auto companies, especially Chrysler. But senior political analyst Jack Lessenberry once knew a man for whom the words Dodge and Detroit were pure magic. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Magic Truck Christmas arrives tomorrow after what has been a rough year for the auto companies, especially Chrysler. But senior political analyst Jack Lessenberry once knew a man for whom the words Dodge and Detroit were pure magic. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Eyes on the Prize As the holidays approach, it's nice to sit back and relax. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry however, has a different idea... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Eyes on the Prize As the holidays approach, it's nice to sit back and relax. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry however, has a different idea... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Upper Peninsula, Under Covers It is present-buying time, and Michigan Radio's senior political analyst thinks he's found the perfect gift for that secret yooper who is nestled in all of our hearts. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Reflections on a Bruising Year It's no secret that this has been a difficult year. But Jack Lessenberry, Michigan Radio's senior political analyst, thinks we may be better off in some ways than we know. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Upper Peninsula, Under Covers It is present-buying time, and Michigan Radio's senior political analyst thinks he's found the perfect gift for that secret yooper who is nestled in all of our hearts. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Reflections on a Bruising Year It's no secret that this has been a difficult year. But Jack Lessenberry, Michigan Radio's senior political analyst, thinks we may be better off in some ways than we know. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Can You Spare A Job? As the state unemployment rate continues to be in the double digits... Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks dealing with job loss may require us to turn to an almost forbidden word... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Can You Spare A Job? As the state unemployment rate continues to be in the double digits... Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks dealing with job loss may require us to turn to an almost forbidden word... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Criminal Defense Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox ruled yesterday that it is, sometimes, illegal for politicians to spend campaign finance money to defend themselves against criminal charges. Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at what exactly this ruling means. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Criminal Defense Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox ruled yesterday that it is, sometimes, illegal for politicians to spend campaign finance money to defend themselves against criminal charges. Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at what exactly this ruling means. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Cherry Picking Lieutenant Governor John Cherry has a proposal to restore the Michigan Promise Scholarship by taxing water that's bottled in the state. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks this idea is interesting for reasons that have nothing to do with water. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Cherry Picking Lieutenant Governor John Cherry has a proposal to restore the Michigan Promise Scholarship by taxing water that's bottled in the state. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks this idea is interesting for reasons that have nothing to do with water. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Making a Difference The legislature passed a workplace smoking ban yesterday. Governor Granholm is expected to sign it into law. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks what went on behind the scenes in Lansing holds some important lessons... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Our Schools, Our Selves Yesterday, we learned that Detroit Public School students had the lowest math scores that have ever been recorded. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks we need to reexamine our priorities... fast. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Carping Politics For years, the Great Lakes have been threatened by the approach of Asian carp coming up the Mississippi. Now, at last, politicians seem to be taking notice. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at the politics of carp. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Stillborn Newspaper Last week, a new paper called the Detroit Daily Press began publishing. It lasted less than a week. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry looks at the troubled newspaper business today. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Holiday Shopping Many people set their alarm clocks for the wee hours of the morning today in order to take advantage of all of those shopping deals. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks he knows why people do it... and it's not necessarily for the sales... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Giving Thanks On this Thanksgiving Day, Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has some things we should be thankful for... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Being Bold Democrat Alma Wheeler Smith is running for governor on an unusual platform. She wants to raise taxes. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry thinks that might not be as politically crazy as it sounds. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Politics As Usual A new poll came out yesterday about what people are looking for in a Governor. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks the poll actually shows us what kind of campaign we should NOT want... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Facing Reality The University of Michigan's annual economic forecast got plenty of attention last week for its job loss predictions. But Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry says the real news from the seminar was largely overlooked... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Getting It Done The legislature is still in session, and U of M's annual economic forecast indicates we've got more hard times ahead. Senior Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has a suggestion as to how we might get beyond this. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Rearranging the Deck Chairs Governor Granholm is asking students to pressure state lawmakers to restore funding to the Michigan Promise Scholarship. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks we need to focus on the long-term problem of school funding... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website China Daze President Obama has just left China... and an increasing number of Michigan leaders have been making trips to that country in an aim to boost trade. Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look behind the scenes... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website China Daze President Obama has just left China... and an increasing number of Michigan leaders have been making trips to that country in an aim to boost trade. Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look behind the scenes... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Mayor and the Attorney General Some Democrats think former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's legal problems may hurt Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry explains... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Pay Back General Motors announced this morning that it intends to start paying its taxpayer loans back early. But Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks there's more to this deal than there seems... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Past Forgetting They say that those who don't know the past are doomed to repeat it. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry worries that today's students know far less than they should. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Time for An Independent Governor? In recent years, Maine and Minnesota have elected independent governors. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry wonders if it could happen here. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Psychoceramics This year's budget was finally passed... but the governor has been urging a last-minute revenue increase to replace cuts to the public schools. Republicans, however, are refusing to consider it. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry looks at what's really going on. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Roads in Ruin A major new study shows that the state's roads are rapidly falling apart. Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at what's going on... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Lest We Forget Veterans Day is Wednesday. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry suggests we think a little more about what the day really means. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website One Cheer for the Governor The state house of representatives passed a bill yesterday that would use the remaining federal stimulus money to restore some of the cuts to public schools... However, it may not pass the senate. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at what's going on. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Political Courage Detroit Mayor Dave Bing romped to an easy re-election victory this week. But Senior Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry note that he did so even after taking some highly unpopular stands. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Voting For Taxes A funny thing happened in yesterday's elections. Voters in Detroit and elsewhere actually voted for higher taxes. Michigan Radio's political analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks he knows why... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ford and the Future Rank-and-file union members at Ford overwhelmingly turned down a new round of contract concessions yesterday. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry says we shouldn't be all that surprised by the news... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Now For the Hard Part Governor Granholm and the state Legislature finally agreed on a budget last week... but it's a document that no one seems happy with. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry looks at what it really means... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Turning to the East Even elementary school children these days know that China is the world's newest economic superpower. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry asks why Michigan has been so slow to build economic ties with this fast-rising region. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Happy New Year Tonight marks the beginning of Rosh Hashanah which is the New Year in the Jewish calendar. This has Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinking about a man and an institution that have truly unique stories. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Mushroom Budget The leaders of Michigan's legislature said last night they had a tentative agreement on a plan that would balance the state budget. Michigan Radio's Political Jack Lessenberry wonders, however, whether the agreement will stand... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Farewell to a Hero Famed broadcaster Ernie Harwell will be at Comerica Park tonight for a farewell. Political analyst Jack Lessenberry has some thoughts on what Harwell has meant to the state. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Where's the Leadership? There are more Democrats than Republicans in the state legislature and, yet, Republicans seem to be driving this year's budget process. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry thinks he knows why. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Balancing the Books We tend to label politicians as either "liberals" or "conservatives." But Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry has been wondering if these labels are really accurate... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Past Forgetting Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry reflects on the 8th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attack... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Things Fall Apart With the clock ticking towards a possible government shutdown, the state's two major Democratic leaders started fighting with each other. Michigan Radio Senior Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry looks at what's happening here. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Saving the Lakes The nation's focus may be on health care, but behind the scenes, the Obama Administration is close to winning passage of a massive bill to clean up the Great Lakes. Michigan Radio's Political Analyst Jack Lessenberry takes a look at why the bill is so important. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Educating Michigan A number of Michigan school districts planned not to let their students watch the president's speech to school kids today. Jack Lessenberry, Michigan Radio's senior political analyst, wonders about this. 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