Donald Trump

Governor Gretchen Whitmer says she will travel to Washington D.C. soon to lobby federal officials against proposed big cuts to the U.S. Department of Education and retaliatory tariffs against Canada and other trading partners. We have more from Rick Pluta.

The Trump administration is cancelling or defunding a number of initiatives that have been investing in environmental and energy justice. These are programs that, in some cases, have a direct impact on Washtenaw County. The Biden-era Justice40 program has been cancelled. WEMU's David Fair spoke with one of the architects of that program, Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome, who is the former White House Federal Chief Environmental Justice Officer and is founder and CEO of Empowering a Green Environment and Economy, LLC.

The Ontario government announced it’s charging an extra 25% on all electricity exports to the U.S. on Monday. Colin Jackson has more.

The Trump Administration has been slashing government in a variety of areas, including the Environmental Protection Agency. Region 5 of the EPA covers the Great Lakes area and includes Washtenaw County. The layoffs have the potential to impact the agency’s ability to steward the environment around the world’s largest body of fresh water. And the impact on public health could be significant. Loreen Targos is Executive Vice President of the American Federation of Government Employees-Local 704, which represents about 1,000 EPA workers. She spoke with WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak about employee cuts and the implications.

An overflow crowd packed a town hall meeting Thursday night hosted by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and the Washtenaw County’s legislative Democrats. As WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports, they gave their lawmakers an earful.

The Michigan Senate Oversight Committee held a hearing Wednesday on the impact recent federal grant funding interruptions have had on service organizations in the state. Colin Jackson has more.

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell says there are a lot of challenges facing the 6th U.S. House district and asks everyone to keep fighting to protect their rights and needs. Dingell was at the Gerald R. Ford Library on Friday to give her annual State of the District address. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer says divided government in Lansing should not stop Democrats and Republicans from finding ways to get things done. The governor delivered her seventh State of the State address Wednesday night. Rick Pluta reports.

The Trump administration has rolled back a Biden administration plan that would have set more stringent PFAS discharge limits into water sources. The Huron River is already contaminated with the forever chemicals. WEMU's David Fair checked in with Huron River Watershed Council executive director Rebecca Esselman, who gave an update on the current health of the Huron and what rollbacks in environmental protections may mean for the future health of the river.

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell says she’s busier than ever, with many local federal employees voicing concerns over recent budget cuts. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has more.