Left of Lansing

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for July 17, 2026!

Michigan is the epicenter of the Cyclosporiasis outbreak, where over a thousand Michiganders are sick after ingesting a small parasite that causes explosive diarrhea.

This outbreak has hit over 2,000 people in Michigan and 17 other states.

State and federal health officials are investigating the source of this outbreak, but they're investigating with one hand tied behind their backs.

That's thanks to The Trump Regime's CDC...

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Here's Episode #187 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast!

00:00-16:18: Abdul & Prop Tax; Michigan Accent

LOL's Pat Johnston is befuddled by Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed brought-up the idea of eliminating the property taxes for senior citizens. Pat's also befuddled by the accent of the other Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Haley Stevens. But then, people don't think Pat's got a real Michigan accent either, so...

16:19: 43:00: Ben Ambrose Interview

Democratic...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for July 13, 2026.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer vetoed nine bills that were passed when Democrats held the government trifecta back in 2024. 

But Michigan MAGA Republican House Speaker Matt Hall blocked those bills from reaching Whitmer's desk once Republicans took control of the state House.

However, Democrats took Republicans to court, and won, and those bills finally reached Whitmer's desk this past Friday... only to have Whitmer veto these working c...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for July 10, 2026.

The Trump Regime's ICE Gestapo is hurting Michigan's farming community, which is hurting our state's overall economy. 

And with another incident of ICE killing another person, this time in Texas, it proves ICE offers nothing of value to our democracy. It serves only to terrorize marginalized communities, and that's why it must be abolished!

Click here to vote on LOL Weekly Poll: Will A Candidate's Stance o...

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Here's Episode #186 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast!

00:00-19:44: Sen.Debate/Platner Out

The Dear Leader Trump Sports Curse continues, this time he helped lead to the demise of the U.S. Men's Soccer team in the World Cup. Pat covers a bit of the debate between Abdul El Sayed and Haley Stevens for Michigan's U.S. Senate seat, and how Stevens represents establishment Democrats who count on corporate bribes while refusing to fight for the working class...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for July 6, 2026!

Democratic State Senator Mallory McMorrow announces she's dropping-out of the Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate primary race.

That means it's just a two-person race between the progressive frontrunner, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, and Congresswoman "Ms. AIPAC" Haley Stevens. 

Pat Johnston talks about the ramifications of McMorrow's announcement, and how he's not surprised how some Democratic officeholders, like Attorney General Dana Nessel, are suddenly rushing to support "centrist" S...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for July 3, 2026.

Michigan progressive Democratic state Representative Betsy Coffia from the Traverse City region keeps winning elections in a once-safe Republican district because she demonstrates every day how she's backing the working class while fighting back against the rampant corporate and government corruption in Lansing.

Progressives, like Betsy Coffia, are winning elections because they stand-up to corruption while sticking-up for strong, progressive working class values.

Progressives, like Betsy...

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Here's Episode #185 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast!

00:00-17:55: More DSA Victories/MI Senate Race

LOL's Pat Johnston opens the show highlighting how another young Democratic Socialist defeated another Democratic incumbent in Congress, and this time it was in Denver, CO. Pat explains why progressives and Democratic Socialists are winning in Democratic primaries.

17:56-41:21: Betsy Coffia Interview

Michigan progressive Democratic state Representative Betsy Coffia joins the show to talk about northwest Michigan politics, affordable...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for June 26, 2026.

After three Democratic Socialists from New York City defeated three Democratic corporate-establishment candidates, the so-called "centrist" Democrats are declaring war on MAGA! 

Oh, wait. 

Centrists aren't declaring war on MAGA or the Trump Regime.

They're declaring war on the Democratic Socialist movement that's gaining more and more influence and momentum within the Democratic Party. 

Pat Johnston explains why these "centrists" are fearing a D...

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Here's Episode #184 of Michigan's Progressive Podcast!

00-00-8:44: Mike Rogers & Big Pharma

LOL's Pat Johnston begins the show talking about how Michigan MAGA Republican Senate candidate, "Florida" Mike Rogers, is threatening progressive Democratic candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed with a Cease & Desist suit for saying Rogers is a Big Pharma lobbyist. Records show that while in Congress, "Florida Mike was a stooge for Big Pharma as he also played a role in leading to this country's opioid crisis...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for June 22, 2026.

Michigan Democratic State Senator Erica Geiss of Taylor introduced the "Workplace Employee Boundaries Act," which would block any employer from forcing workers to check work emails, phone calls, or text messages outside of their normal work hours. 

Pat Johnston explains how this one bill in Michigan could provide an extra step in putting power back into the hands of the working class, and out of the hands of t...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for June 19, 2026!

This week, Michigan Democratic State Senate candidate for most of the Upper Peninsula, Kelli Van Ginhoven, talked with me about her her campaign on Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast.

I asked KVG if she thought of herself as a progressive Democrat, and KVG said in today's time, being progressive is "essential."

In this week's "Friday Short," I piggyback off of KVG's statement, and explain why progressivism is...

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Here's Episode #183 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast!

00:00-1:00: Jessica's Show Open
1:01-4:04: New MI Dem Senate Poll
4:05-4:50: McMorrow Upset w/Poll
4:51-6:05: Polls Show Trends Toward Dr. Abdul
6:06-7:20: Stevens Fights For Status Quo
7:21-7:45: KVG Interview Preview
7:46-9:09: MOU Iran War Deal?
9:10-10:25: Trump Has No Choice
10:26-11:00: $300Bil For Iran
11:01-11:41: No Point To Iran War
11:41-13:23: Can't say "war" in MI MAGA House
13:25-14:27...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for June 15, 2026.

Over the weekend, many Establishment Democrats criticized Michigan's progressive and working class Senate candidate, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, for suggesting the Trump Regime practices is two-tiered justice system. 

Dr. Abdul as speaking in response to The Regime's charging of 8 pro-Palestinian protesters on the University of Michigan campus. After denouncing the threatening and vandalism against university officials, businesses, and law enforcement by the protesters, Dr. Abdul mentioned how it's interesting t...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for June 12, 2026.

Michigan continues to be one of the top states for solar installations even as The Trump Regime's been busy gutting solar and wind energy projects.

At a time when the country needs as much energy as possible, and for cheaper prices, The Trump Regime is doing everything in its power to keep forcing fossil fuels on the working class. 

It's just more evidence showing how The R...

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Here's Episode #182 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast!

00:00-16:10: The Establishment Machine

Left of Lansing's Pat Johnston cites another insightful article by Danielle Moody & Jared Yates Sexton from The DAM Digest (we mistakenly gave credit to Sexton's "Dispatches From A Collapsing State," but please visit there, too!), on how the political establishment wants to keep the working class trapped in a cycle of comfort. While The Epstein Class keeps gaining more power and more wealth as it's never...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for June 8, 2026.

Some establishment Michigan Democratic officials, like former Attorney General nominee Karen McDonald, fail to learn why it is they aren't reaching Democratic Party base votes, as well as independent voters.

McDonald suffered are stunning defeat against here progressive opponent, Eli Savit, at the party's nominating convention last month. 

But instead of realizing her message didn't resonate with Democratic and independent working class Michiganders, McDonald is starting w...

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Here's Episode #181 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast!

00:00-9:57: Mike Rogers' Beta Campaign

Pat Johnston opens this week's show pointing-out how feeble MAGA Michigan Republican Senate candidate, "Florida" Mike Rogers', really is as his campaign used Artificial Intelligence to give him a muscular body. These MAGA Republicans claim they're "manly men," but they're really just insecure little Beta men. Pat talks about how whenever he shares social media posts about Michigan progressive Democratic Senate candidate, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for June 1, 2026.

Pat Johnston explains why Democratic Party insiders are doing their best to block progressive-populists, like Michigan's Democratic Senate Primary frontrunner Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, and others across the country, from winning. 

These corporate-Democratic elites would rather fight to keep their cushy jobs in Washington D.C. and Michigan than really fight to represent the working class. 

Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for May 29, 2026.

The Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference is over, and this year proved to be another example of why this corporate-friendly event is useless to working class Michiganders.

Pat Johnston explains how it's main goal is to ensure enough MAGA Republicans and Democrats work in "bipartisan" fashion to ensure corporate interests are highlighted.

That's otherwise known as business as usual in Lansing. 

It's time t...

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Here's Episode #180 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast!

00:00-14:47: AIPAC & Haley Stevens

Pat Johnston shares even more stories revealing how AIPAC is using loopholes to funnel campaign bribes, or "donations," towards the corporate-establishment Democratic Party's pick for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat: Haley Stevens. Pat also talks about how, when the working class is suffering in The Trump Economy and when this nation's national debt keeps rising, the United States keeps shoveling more money and arms to...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for May 25, 2026.

Some longtime Michigan Democratic Party insiders are suddenly calling for an end to party nominating conventions. 

They'd rather see all statewide office races be primary elections rather than being nominated at these conventions.

It's interesting how many establishment and corporate forces inside the Michigan Democratic Party are calling for this switch in the nominating process after the shallacking their candidates received at last month's convention.

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for May 22, 2026.

Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan ended his "independent" run to become Michigan's next Governor this week. 

Duggan cited poor polling numbers, the struggle to raise money against the Democratic and MAGA Republican Parties, and strong momentum for the Democrats this year as to why his campaign couldn't catch fire. 

But Pat Johnston explains the real reason Mike Duggan's campaign fell flat.

It might've had so...

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Here's Episode #179 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast!

00:00-16:51: Campbell Plant/AIPAC & Haley Stevens

Pat Johnston immediately wonders how MAGA Michigan Republicans believe they will win in the midterms as working class Michiganders are heavily disapproving of Dear Leader Trump and the Trump Regime. And, Pat talks about how Democratic Party establishment types keep backing Congresswoman Haley Stevens despite her hearty embrace of corporate donations and AIPAC donations.

16:52-47:40: Joe Spaulding Interview

Ottawa County...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for May 18, 2026.

The "electability" word is being used during the heated Michigan's Democratic U.S. Senate primary race. 

It's a word being used by corporate-establishment Democratic Party officials, who also happen to support AIPAC's choice, Congresswoman Haley Stevens. Establishment types are freaking-out that progressive-populist candidate, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, is leading in the polls over Stevens and state Senator Mallory McMorrow. 

Those backing Stevens say she can win in Mi...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for May 15, 2026.

Planned Parenthood of Michigan is asking Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer to use her executive powers by directing much-needed $5 million to fill a funding gap caused by the Trump Regime.

But rather than "fight like Hell," and push-back against the White Christian MAGA Nationalist extremists, Whitmer told Planned Parenthood of Michigan that she can't do anything. 

So much for "That Woman From Michigan."

Pat J...

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Here's Episode #178 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast!

00:00-14:59: Iran War, Ballrooms, and Gas Prices

Pat Johnston opens this week's show highlighting how Dear Leader Trump's price tag for his precious White House ballroom has doubled, and taxpayers will fund it! Meanwhile, thanks to The Trump Regime's and Israel's illegal Iran War, gas prices keep hovering around $5, and fertilizer costs are decimating Michigan farmers. Working class Michiganders continue to suffer thanks to a this war as inflation is...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for May 11, 2026.

According to Michigan Advance, Michigan MAGA Republican State Rep. Angela Rigas of Kent County complained on Facebook as to how Marine veteran and retired Saginaw Fire Chief, Chedrick Greene, could serve this country while also being a Democrat.

Greene trounced his MAGA Republican opponent in that special election for the state Senate race in the 35th District, which comprises of Saginaw, Bay, and Midland Counties. 

Even m...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for May 8, 2026.

The recent Supreme Court decision to gut the Voting Rights Act, and the subsequent moves in southern states, like Tennessee, Louisiana, and Texas, proves how dismantling any efforts at racial equality in this country has been the main motivating factor of MAGA Republicanism, and especially for the billionaire oligarchy class, or better known now as The Epstein Class. 

Pat Johnston gives his two cents. 

Please, subscribe to...

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Here's Episode #177 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast!

00:00-21:52: Trump Ballroom/AIPAC Backs Haley Stevens

Pat Johnston's sinus infection may have knocked him down, but he's not out this week! It turns out the working class will indeed pay for The Trump Regime's $1billion ballroom at the White House. Surprised? Also this week, AIPAC announced it's doubling-down on Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens in the Democratic Primary Race for the state's open Senate seat. AIPAC is holding a...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for May 1, 2026!

Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Kristen McDonald-Rivet from the 8th District in Bay, Midland, Saginaw, and Genesee Counties won her election despite Trump winning her district in 2024.

But despite Trump's falling poll numbers, and a majority of working class Democratic base voters begging congressional Democrats to grow a spine and oppose the Trump Regime's constant corruption, McDonald-Rivet keeps making some puzzling votes in her first term in office. 

S...

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Here's Episode #176 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast

00:00-17:05: MI Senate Race/Gas Prices & Ballrooms

Pat Johnston opens the show talking about The Trump Regime's push to make taxpayers fund Dear Leader's precious little ballroom. The economy is cratering for the working class, gas prices are nearing record highs, we've spent around $50 Billion so far for Trump's & Israel's unconstitutional War on Iran, inflation is getting worse, and we can't afford health insurance, but we have to pay for...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for April 27, 2026.

LOL's Pat Johnston shares why he, and so many millions of Americans, couldn't react normally to the alleged assassination attempt on Dear Leader Trump during the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington, D.C.

The Regime makes it impossible for Americans to take anything at face value. And thanks to how The Regime used the incident to push for its billionaire Epstein Class-backed White House ballroom, as well...

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Here's Episode #175 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast!

00:00-18:03: MSU & RxKids/Tone Deaf Dems

Pat Johnston covers how MAGA Michigan Republican House Speaker Matt Hall, along with MAGA House Republicans, are proposing a 62% cut to MSU & UofM in their 2027 budget. One reason Hall is attacking MSU is because the university is a sponsor to the popular Rx Kids program, which is a direct cash for parents program throughou the state. Then, establishment Michigan Democrats brought New Jersey Senator...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for April 20, 2026.

Progressives scored some major victories at the Michigan Democratic Party's nominating convention over the weekend, including the upset of the weekend where progressive Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit defeated the establishment's choice of Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald to be the party's Attorney General nominee. 

Progressives also ousted a sitting member on the University of Michigan's Board of Regents, who attacked pro-Palestinian protesters on UofM's campus, and who a...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for April 17, 2026.

We've got some big Democratic Party Primary races coming up in August that'll give America a good idea of where Michigan wants to go.

We've got the crucial Democratic U.S. Senate primary where the progressive Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is leading the two other establishment candidates.

And we've got progressive working class activist, community-fighter, and pro-democracy congressional candidate William Lawrence, who's running against an establishment party...

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Here's Episode #174 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast!

00:00-19:17: Joke John James/Trump Tax Cuts/Bridget Brink

MAGA Republican Michigan Congressman John James not only refuses to campaign in his run for Governor, or show-up to do his job in Congress, but he couldn't even be bothered to co-sponsor a resolution celebrating UofM's basketball team's national championship? We're in the Trump Regime's second year, and the economy is cratering for working class Americans. And, Pat highlights how the...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for April 13, 2026.

The Centers For Disease Control reports that birth rates in the United States continued to drop for another year.

There's a few reasons why this is the case, including women wanting to focus on careers and have kids later on, and that less teenagers are getting pregnant (thankfully!).

But one MAIN reason why adults are choosing to have fewer kids, or no kids at all, is...

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Here's the Left of Lansing "Friday Short" for April 10, 2026.

The Consumer Price Index rose by almost a full percentage point, making the annual inflation rise to 3.3%, the largest in a few years. 

Most of it is due to surging gas prices, thanks to The Trump Regime's and the Israeli right wing government's illegal war on Iran. 

Combine this with the harm and damage The Regime, and its MAGA Republican Congress, have perpetrated on the working cl...

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Here's Episode #173 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast.

00:00-16:45: Trump-Israel Iran War Disaster/Where's John James?

LOL's Pat Johnston shares his theory as to why The Trump Regime created its dangerous Iran War "deadline" on Tuesday night instead of Monday Night. Pat shares how Israel's right-wing government has quite the influence inside The Trump Regime. He wonders where is MAGA Michigan Congressman John James, who's also running for Michigan's open Governor's seat? Seems like most MAGA Michigan Republicans...