Here’s Episode 107 of Michigan’s Premier Progressive Podcast!
00:00-16:00: Ottawa Impact/Close Election Expected
Ottawa County, Michigan, provides the perfect and poignant case study on how the MAGA ideology is not only destructive, but it’s expensive! Thanks to the outstanding reporting by Sarah Leach, the MAGA Ottawa Impact majority on the county board has spent over $3 million in lawsuits, and other unexpected costs! Now, the OI faction will lose its majority on the board in a few weeks, but the damage is already done. Check-out Sarah Leach’s substack, The Sentinel Leach, to learn more about western Michigan politics, and politics in general. Pat reminds you to help-out those Michigan Democratic State House candidates, who are trying to defeat MAGA across the state. And Pat tells everyone to chill-out about the closeness of the presidential election because no matter what, it was always going to be a close one.
16:01-38:58: Interview w/ Peter Sinclair
Environmental activist, climate change educator, science journalist, and videographer, Peter Sinclair joins the podcast. Peter talks about how Michigan is NOT living in a climate change haven despite all of the destructive storms hitting the southeast portion of the country right now. As we deal with a higher number of severe storms and warmer winters, Mr. Sinclair describes how climate change isn’t just affecting Michigan’s environment and economy, but it’s affecting our culture. Sinclair also explains how the MAGA ideology’s main goals is to discredit the scientific experts, just as they’re working to discredit the experts in other fields.
Check-out Peter Sinclair’s blog called, “This Is Not Cool,” for a daily update on how the climate change crisis is changing our country and world, and why we must act to combat it now!
38:59-44:07: Last Call on Project 2025 Goal To Eliminate NOAA
Pat’s last call highlights an op-ed by Peter Sinclair on the Heritage Foundation’s blueprint to dissolve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Why? Because the fossil fuel industry says the NOAA is part of the climate change “alarm industry.” This is part of the corporatist and Christian Nationalist playbook that could be put into motion if Dear Leader Trump wins the election!
44:08-46:28: Ending
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NOTES:
“Expert Peter Sinclair explains climate change impact on Michigan weather, winter activities, festivals.” By Isabelle Pasciolla of The Midland Daily News
“Trump Says No One Could Have Predicted Hurricane at Peak of Hurricane Season.” By Nikki McCann Ramirez, and Ryan Bort of Rolling Stone
“Legislature OKs final bills giving state regulators authority over renewable energy permits.” By Kyle Davidson of Michigan Advance
“Hurricanes test limits of Trump’s war on experts.” By Zachary Basu of Axios
