John Austin on ‘skunk works’ and resetting the agenda on technology in education

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Our guest today is John Austin, President of the Michigan Board of Education Today we talk about How the Michigan Board of Education found out about the skunk works program Why skunk works failed the ‘character’ test of how we deal with education The Superintendent may have “gotten ahead of himself” when taking on the [...]

Emily Dievendorf on the ‘top down’ battle for equality in Michigan

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Our guest today is Emily Dievendorf, Managing Director for Equality Michigan. Today we talk about: Employment Non-Discrimination Act and how it effects Michigan The ‘top down’ battle for equality in Michigan The Safe Schools Improvement Act The Student Non-Discrimination Act Bullying as a larger school climate issue The importance of enumeration in an anti-bullying law [...]

After the Boston bombings: Islamophobia and immigration reform

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Today we talk to Dawud Walid about the environment since the Boston bombings. Today we talk about: The impact of the Boston tragedy on immigration reform Bullying incident in Oakland County The importance of adults to be aware of their influences on young people The Muslim Students of America Marginalized groups such as Muslims, LGBTQ, [...]

Walt Sorg on the 2014 races

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Today we talk to our dear friend Walt Sorg. Walt & I speculate on who’s in and who’s out in 2014. The conversation started with Gary Peters v Debbie Dingell but that question was resolved over the weekend, so I cut that bit out. You may still find some references to that topic in the [...]

Lonnie Scott on the shameful US Senate and the power of the NRA

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Today we talk to our old pal Lonnie Scott about guns, guns, and more guns. Today we discuss: What was really in the gun bill The Senate defies the American people We need to continue to talk to legislators and let them know that we are watching The importance of grass roots organizing in defeating [...]

GOP ‘Skunk Works’ document calls for Michigan Education Card to be used at any public ‘Value School’

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This pdf is the Oxford Foundation “Skunk Words” Designed Value School Document. Oxford Skunkworks document (pdf) “The following is a concept outline to design and implement a prototype “Value School,” a public school that is designed to maximize the educational performance and value of a public school through technology and the implementation of new teaching [...]

Emily Dievendorf on lgbt equality and the Michigan “courage problem”

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Today we talk to Emily Dievendorf, Managing Director of Equality Michigan. Today we talk about: The purpose and function of Equality Michigan Some of Emily’s experience and why she loves her job The courage problem in Michigan Many who oppose equality publicly support it secretly Why the lgbt community in Michigan faces unique legal challenges [...]

Gilda Jacobs on the EITC and Michigan’s regressive tax structure

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Today we have Gilda Jacobs, President and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy. We talk about Michigan’s regressive tax structure What the MI Earned Income Tax Credit is How much $$ the average person would receive through the EITC and what he would do with it The EITC as an anti-poverty tool The [...]

Housekeeping, headlines, and activism

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Today I am hogging the mic. Headlines & things we talk about: Welcome Flint Talk Radio listeners Google Reader shutting down July 1 Snyder language – “fair” and “shared sacrifice“ Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) Wow. Rep. Mike Rogers just said opponents to CISPA are probably “14-year-old tweeters in the basement.” His handle [...]

Dawud Walid on Islamophobia in Michigan

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Today we talk to Dawud Walid from CAIR Michigan about Islamophobia, racism, and more. Dawud is the Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Michigan. Today we talk about: The non-partisan nature of CAIR Michigan The CAIR Michigan legislative scorecard Success in stopping the anti-Sharia law proposed by Dave Agema The role of [...]

Lonnie Scott on tax structures and chained CPI

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Our old pal Lonnie Scott is back to talk about how the federal and state tax structures overlay to bone the middle class and the poor. We also talk about chained CPI … what it is and why it hurts. There’s a special tribute to Dave Agema and Gary Glenn after the final stinger. Today [...]

Congressman Dan Kildee on his first 100 days in office

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Today marks 100 days that Dan Kildee has been in Congress. Today we talk to him about what he’s been working on during his first 100 days in office. Today we talk about What the Whip does in the House The struggle to pass the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) The Paycheck Fairness Act – [...]