Michigan has a sizable Lebanese-American population, many of whom have friends and family living in Lebanon. The community is reeling as tensions with Israel have spilled into an escalation of violence and civilian deaths. Documentarian Razi Jafri talks about reactions from the community in Michigan, and the political organizing coalescing among Arab Americans here.

GUEST:
Razi Jafri, journalist and documentarian  

Michigan has a sizable Lebanese-American population, many of whom have friends and family living in Lebanon. The community is reeling as tensions with Israel have spilled into an escalation of violence and civilian deaths. Documentarian Razi Jafri talks about reactions from the community in Michigan, and the political organizing coalescing among Arab Americans here.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>Razi Jafri, journalist and documentarian  </li>
</ul>

Conversations that matter to Michigan. Each weekday, host April Baer will bring you stories from people across the state—from policymakers in Lansing, to entrepreneurs in Detroit, to artists in Grand Rapids.

To access full episodes and individual story segments, please visit michiganpublic.org.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganradio.org/podfund

Conversations that matter to Michigan. Each weekday, host April Baer will bring you stories from people across the state—from policymakers in Lansing, to entrepreneurs in Detroit, to artists in Grand Rapids.
To access full episodes and individual story segments, please visit <a href="https://www.michiganradio.org/stateside">michiganpublic.org</a>.
If you like what you hear on the pod, consider <a href="http://michiganpublic.org/podfund">supporting our work</a>: michiganradio.org/podfund

Stateside

Conversations that matter to Michigan. Each weekday, host April Baer will bring you stories from people across the state—from policymakers in Lansing, to entrepreneurs in Detroit, to artists in Grand Rapids.

To access full episodes and individual story segments, please visit michiganpublic.org.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganradio.org/podfund

Conversations that matter to Michigan. Each weekday, host April Baer will bring you stories from people across the state—from policymakers in Lansing, to entrepreneurs in Detroit, to artists in Grand Rapids.
To access full episodes and individual story segments, please visit <a href="https://www.michiganradio.org/programs/stateside">michiganpublic.org</a>.
If you like what you hear on the pod, consider <a href="https://bit.ly/3RJN5Ul">supporting our work</a>: michiganradio.org/podfund

Lebanese Michiganders Reel With Israeli Escalation

It's Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish holiday marking the New Year. And this year, it falls at a time when Israel has just invaded Lebanon, and is approaching the one-year mark of Hamas' attack on Israel. Events of the past year have left many Jews, here in Michigan, in the US – and certainly in Israel - as uncertain of the future as they’ve been in this young century. 

GUEST:
Shimri Zameret is an Israeli citizen, and a Lecturer and Researcher at the UM in the Program of International & Comparative Studies. 

It's Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish holiday marking the New Year. And this year, it falls at a time when Israel has just invaded Lebanon, and is approaching the one-year mark of Hamas' attack on Israel. Events of the past year have left many Jews, here in Michigan, in the US – and certainly in Israel - as uncertain of the future as they’ve been in this young century. 
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>Shimri Zameret is an Israeli citizen, and a Lecturer and Researcher at the UM in the Program of International &amp; Comparative Studies. </li>
</ul>

UM Peace Activist On "Horrible Year"

A new book, "The Black Utopians", is an intimate, historical look at the places of community, solace, and sustainability created by Black Americans over generations. That includes in Detroit, where The Church of the Black Madonna, became a hub for Black Christian Nationalism and Civil Rights.

GUEST: 
Aaron Robertson, author, "The Black Utopians: Searching for Paradise and the Promised Land in America"

A new book, "The Black Utopians", is an intimate, historical look at the places of community, solace, and sustainability created by Black Americans over generations. That includes in Detroit, where The Church of the Black Madonna, became a hub for Black Christian Nationalism and Civil Rights.
GUEST: 
<ul>
<li>Aaron Robertson, author, "The Black Utopians: Searching for Paradise and the Promised Land in America"</li>
</ul>

The Pursuit of "Black Utopia" in Michigan

During his term, former U.S. President Donald Trump focused on the issue of manufacturing, specifically within the auto industry. Now he's promising more tariffs on foreign made goods and raw materials if he becomes president once again.

One of the tariffs that he pursued back in 2018 was requested by a Michigan company, Whirlpool, the maker of various appliances. "Whirlpool had been petitioning the U.S. government for years that that their foreign competitors L.G. and Samsung had been unfairly dumping cheaper made and with cheaper labor, foreign labor, washing machines in the U.S. market and driving down prices to the point that Whirlpool was having a hard time competing anymore," said Chad Livengood, a politics editor for the Detroit News.

Livengood wrote an analysis recently about how trade and tariffs have affected Michigan and decodes what the candidates are saying about them this season. He said, while the tariffs helped Whirpool, and created about 1,800 jobs in the U.S., the benefits came at a cost, “The price of washing machines in this country across the board went up 12% in 2018. I mean, there was instant inflation caused by tariffs.”

GUEST:


Chad Livengood, politics editor at the Detroit News

---

Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.

If you like what you hear, consider supporting our work.

During his term, former U.S. President Donald Trump focused on the issue of manufacturing, specifically within the auto industry. Now he's promising more tariffs on foreign made goods and raw materials if he becomes president once again.
One of the tariffs that he pursued back in 2018 was requested by a Michigan company, Whirlpool, the maker of various appliances. "Whirlpool had been petitioning the U.S. government for years that that their foreign competitors L.G. and Samsung had been unfairly dumping cheaper made and with cheaper labor, foreign labor, washing machines in the U.S. market and driving down prices to the point that Whirlpool was having a hard time competing anymore," said Chad Livengood, a politics editor for the Detroit News.
<a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/columnists/chad-livengood/2024/09/20/donald-trump-tariff-china-trade-war-whirlpool-washing-machines-kamala-harris-sales-tax-jobs-economy/75150460007/">Livengood wrote an analysis recently</a> about how trade and tariffs have affected Michigan and decodes what the candidates are saying about them this season. He said, while the tariffs helped Whirpool, and created about 1,800 jobs in the U.S., the benefits came at a cost, “The price of washing machines in this country across the board went up 12% in 2018. I mean, there was instant inflation caused by tariffs.”
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>
Chad Livengood, politics editor at the Detroit News
</li>
</ul>
---
Looking for more conversations from Stateside? <a href="https://www.michiganradio.org/programs/stateside">Right this way</a>.
If you like what you hear, consider <a href="https://bit.ly/358m02D">supporting our work.</a>

Lebanese Michiganders Reel With Israeli Escalation

In 1 playlist(s)

Stateside

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips