Friday Morning Podcast

10/30/20 State Rep. Matt Kolesazr talks about his district, education, free tuition for the kids of fallen police and fire fighters, and his rescue pets. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

10/22/20 Discussion with state Representative Tyrone Carter about COVID, education, policing, and education. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

10/16/20 Discussion with Katelyn Kivel about politics, education, LGBT issues, and Michigan blueberries too. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

10/9/20 The FMP interviews House Democratic candidate Samantha Steckoff, who is running in the 37th district, which includes the cities of Farmington and Farmington Hills. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

10/2/20 The FMP talks with Helena Scott about unions, one fair wage, education, her 7th House District, and more. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

9/22/20 Friday Morning Podcast has an exclusive interview with former Democratic state Senator Virgil Smith, where he talks about his time in the Senate and in prison, and also talks education and insurance policy. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

September 18 2020 The FMP interviews Kelly Connell, who is an elementary school special education para-educator, and leader with Macomb for Kids. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

9/11/2020 What do ESPs do in a school district and why are they so important? Interview with Roy Freeman, the Michigan Education Association ESP Caucus Executive Board President. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

9/4/20 Former goober candidate Shri Thanedar is most likely going to be the next state Representative from the 3rd House District. What are his goals and what does his future Detroit look like? Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

8/25/20 Interview with Ellen Cogen Lipton, running for State Board of Education. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

8/19/20 Interview with Dr. Jimmy Womack regarding what to watch for at the DNC Convention, what it was like to have a PGA tournament in his backyard, his experience helping in the prison community, and his Republican grandmother who was present when LBJ signed the Voting Rights Act. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

8/12/20 State Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, Chair of the Detroit Caucus, gives her thoughts on Kamala Harris as V.P., education, and a potential campaign for Detroit Mayor. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

8/7/20 Interview with Kim Eberhard, an amazing teacher in the East China school district. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

7/31/20 Mark Grebner, pundit, pollster, and list provider, predicts a general election disaster and also offers other political insight. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

7/24/20 Interview with Michigan State University (MSU) Board of Trustee member Brian Mosallam. He talks about MSU’s culture, his re-election prospects, and whether we will have college football this fall. Partners with www.deadlinedetroit.com.

Great interview with Casandra Ulbrich, President of the MI State Board of Education. Will schools reopen, why is AG Nessel suing the Trump administration, and how you and your dog can become a volunteer search and rescue team. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com. Sorry for the poor sound quality of the interview.

7/10/20-Interview with Jason Strayhorn, who is attempting to earn the Democratic nomination for the State Board of Education. Jason is a radio analyst for MSU football and gives his take on an upcoming college football season. Partners with www.deadlinedetroit.com.

7/1/20 Discussion with Mark Gaffney, a member of the Wayne State University (WSU) Board of Governors and former MI AFL-CIO Prez. Are labor unions helping Black Lives Matter? Are police unions necessary? What’s that latest at WSU? Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

6/25/20 How will the governor’s school task force announcement affect education this fall? How are suburban schools dealing with COVID-19? One school changed their Indian mascot to a bird mascot—how did that work out for them? Interview with Deanna Barash, Assistant Superintendent of West Bloomfield Public Schools. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

How will cuts to schools affect kids, teachers, and support staff? How are schools planning for the Fall? What are parents concerned about? Interview with Jeff Beal, Superintendent of Jackson County Public Schools. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

6/12/20 How are schools preparing for a fall opening and how do schools talk about Black Lives Matter? A discussion with Ingham County Intermediate School District Superintendent Jason Mellema. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

June 4, 2020 Dennis Denno interviews LaMar Lemmons, who is a former MI state Representative, former Chair of the Detroit Public School Board, and current Chief of Staff for State Senator Betty Jean Alexander. They have an open and honest conversation about race, education, and politics in America. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

May 28, 2020 What is the future of public education in Michigan? Should parents be comfortable to sending their kids to school in the fall? Will school sports be eliminated? Chris Wigent, the Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators (MASA), answers these questions and more. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

5/22/20 Will MI universities open this fall, and what should parents look for from colleges in a COVID-19 world? What is the status of college football? Interview with Jim Cotter, former ED of Admissions and Recruitment at MSU and currently a Director at MSU Athletics. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

5/15/20 Bill Ballenger gives his wrap-up of events in Michigan government, and Dennis Denno interviews experts in education and special needs children during the lockdown. Partner with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

5/8/20 Bill Ballenger gives an update on another week crammed with political news. Dennis Denno interviews Flint educator Ralph Arellano Jr. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

5/1/20 Bill Ballenger expounds on the governor's powers and what the next steps will be. Third grade teacher Andy Frankel talks about teaching during COVID19. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

4/24/20 Interview with Ellen Offen is a former teacher and Advisory Member of Protect Our Public Schools. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

The Friday Morning Podcast casts aside the clouds of Coronavirus for a retrospective on the spectacular long distance racing career of someone who just completed her 50th marathon in all 50 U.S. States. She was accompanied on almost all of them by her husband, Dennis, who actually got out and ran a few half-marathons, just so he wouldn't be totally embarrassed by his wife's achievement. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com. Reach us at podcast@theballengerreport.com.

3/20/20 Interview with state Rep. Jon Hoadley (D-Kalamazoo), Minority Vice Chair of the House Appropriations and House Fiscal Governing Committees who is a candidate for the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI 6). Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

3/10/20 Discussion about the Michigan Prez Primary and what happens next. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

3/6/20 Whiplash for political junkies trying to keep track of what MI Prez Primary will really be about. Despite all the drop-outs in the past 72 hours, will we actually be the state that decides whether it's Bernie or Joe? Judge strikes down "work requirement" for Medicaid recipients. MI House Speaker Chatfield (R-Levering) pulls plug on bill that would place a tax proposal to support mass transit in Wayne, Washtenaw and Oakland counties. Interview with Buzz Thomas about Prez Primary in Detroit and Wayne County. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

2/28/19 Gov. Whitmer pushed fed. judge to rule quickly that work requirement for Medicaid recipients is illegal. Pure MI may be rescued by Legislature. Sen. Ananich’s bill to allow betting on “Historic Horse Races” ekes way out of committee. Senate axes second Whitmer appointment to Natural Resources Commission. CNN-TV hires Abdul El-Sayed as commentator on MI prez primary. Governor, Legislature try to stop continuing chaos on Wayne State U. board. Sponsored by www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

2/21/20 Prez Debates and MI primary. Potential absentee ballot fiasco. House Dem Leader is accused of being racist and discussion of future House Dem leader. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

Feb 14, 2020 Huge surge in absentee voting could be a big factor in Michigan’s March 10 prez primary election. Most of state gov. shuts down on Wednesday because of cogeneration plant failure. Mike Bloomberg saturates MI with staff and millions of $$$ in TV ads. Interview with political reporter Beth LeBlanc of The Detroit News. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

2/7/20 Iowa Dem Party prez nomination caucuses a debacle. What will happen in New Hampshire Tuesday? Trump turns SOTU into a campaign rally, Speaker Pelosi tears up his speech, but Gov. Whitmer says: "When they go low, we go high," and restrains herself in her party's response to the prez. Gov. Whitmer presents her FY '21 budget to the MI Legislature. U.S. Senator Gary Peters warns Census Bureau that as many as 800,000 Michiganders fall in the "hard to count" category. Republicans are not up-to-speed in their efforts to unseat U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI 8). Interview with Census 2020 Executive Director Kerry Ebersole. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

1/29/20 We discussed Gov. Whitmer’s State of the State speech with Zoe Clark, Program Director at MI Radio. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

1/24/20 Anticipation about what Gov. Whitmer will say about 'Fix the Damn Roads' in her State of the State address. First-ever formal legislator-against-legislator sexual harassment complaint filed against Senator Lucido (R-Shelby Twp). Chaldean community up in arms about social media attacks by state senate staffer. Only one legislator who served under the 1908 MI Constitution survives. Interview with 2018 Dem. goober candidate Shri Thanedar, who is now running for House of Reps in Detroit. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

1/17/20 Green ooze on I-696 engulfs state and federal regulators. While crime rate and # of state prison inmates drop, local jailhouse population throughout MI reaches record high. State Senator Lucido makes inappropriate comments to female reporter. Iconoclastic former state Sen. Jack Faxon dies at age 83. Interview with Macomb Co. Public Works Commish Candice Miller. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

1/8/20 Breaking interview with future Democratic State Representative Cynthia Neeley. Will fix the damn roads be in the State of the State, and what’s going on with Rep. Larry Inman, followed by a discussion about the potential LGBTQ amendment. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

1/3/20 AG Nessel can't seem to decide whether or how to proceed with an investigation into MSU's handling of allegations against serial sexual predator Larry Nassar. Battle for all-important Dem nomination for a seat in the MI House of Reps to succeed the new Flint mayor, culminates this coming Tuesday, Jan. 7, with Neeley's wife Cynthia considered the leading contender. LSSU profs publish their annual list of words and phrases that should be banished for misuse, overuse, and general uselessness. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

12/2/19 Interview with Fred Molnar, vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation at the MEDC and executive director of the Michigan Life Science and Innovation Center (MLSIC). He talks about how the MEDC is working with industries to fight blindness and improve breast cancer detection. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

12/20/19 Donald Trump was in MI while he was also being impeached. The MI Supreme Court decides to punt on a ruling. More news out of the MI Civil Rights Commission. Interview with Mark Griffin is the Prez of the MI Petroleum Assoc. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

12/13/19 Finishing touches put on partial restoration of vetoed funding for FY 2020 and reversal of budget transfers. Leg. sends Whitmer 10-bills instituting online gambling and sports betting. Rep. Inman beats the rap on lying to the FBI, with charges against him on attempted extortion and bribery resulting in a hung jury and a mistrial. Whitmer steps into Wayne State U. Board fracas by appointing a member to her administration. Interview with Bob Sheehan, E.D. of the Community Mental Health Assoc. of MI. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

12/6/19 Is there a state budget agreement and if so, what are the consequences? MSU has a brand new shiny Trustee with a great resume. Rep. Inman is still in office, but might be holding on by his fingernails. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com

11/27/19 This week we interviewed Paul Brown, a Regent at UM. A few topics that were discussed were academics, university funding, and Jim Harbaugh! Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

11/22/19 A new group is suing over term limits. Interview with State Rep. Lynn Afendoulis, a candidate for Congress. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

11/15/19 Bill Ballenger and Dennis Denno interview new Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

11/6/19 Interview with MIRS newsletter editor Kyle Melinn, who sums up Tuesday, Nov. 5, election results across MI. What does it all mean going into 2020? Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

11/1/19 Tense mayoral contest in Flint. Online and sports betting legislation expanding gaming in MI passes state House, but Gov. Whitmer is not on board. John Conyers, longest-serving African-American in history of Congress, dies at age 90. Interview with Heidi Washington, director of the state Dept. of Corrections. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.

10/25/19 Reminiscences about former Gov. Milliken, who died last week. Denno Research survey yield some surprising results. MI legislators seem serious about getting a proposal to modify the state's term limits law on the ballot, but many hurdles stand in their way. Interview with CMU Professor Sterling Johnson on impeachment. Partners with www.DeadlineDetroit.com.