Federal Government

President Joe Biden visited the Ford production facility in Dearborn this week, where a new, all-electric pickup truck was unveiled. While in Michigan, there was ongoing conflict and violence between Israel and Hamas. On Thursday night, a cease-fire was agreed upon and has, so far, held up. Michigan's 12th District Congressional Representative, Debbie Dingell, joined WEMU's David Fair to share her thoughts and the work she is doing on these issues and more. 

President Joe Biden, this week, marked 100 days in office with an address to a joint session of Congress.  There, he laid out his arguments for passage of the American Jobs Plan and George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.  12th District Representative Debbie Dingell attended and offered her thoughts to WEMU's David Fair from a Michigan-centered perspective.  

In the wake of the conviction of former Minneapolis, MN police officer Derek Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd, police reform is at the top of local and national discussions.  12th District Representative Debbie Dingell weighs in on the opportunity to make meaningful change on that and other issues in a conversation with WEMU's David Fair.

What do you get when you connect 13 Michigan members of Congress with 40 Michigan arts + creative industries advocates on Zoom?  Find out as Creative Washtenaw's Deb Polich and WEMU's David Fair discuss the state of the arts + creative industries on this edition of "creative:impact."

Longtime Congressman John Dingell was one of the architects of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.  His widow is the current 12th District Representative  from Michigan.  Debbie Dingell continues his mission to keep public broadcasting alive in this country.  She joined WEMU's David Fair and Molly Motherwell to discuss John Dingell's legacy and why WEMU is worth supporting on Public Radio Music Day.

President Joe Biden is preparing an extensive bill to improve infrastructure and create jobs.  12th District Representative Debbie Dingell advocates passage of the plan.  The Dearborn Democrat joined WEMU's David Fair and also discussed proposed gun control measures and the alarming surge in the number of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations. 

Over the past few weeks, there has been a lot of attention on Washtenaw County--most of it positive, but not all.  WEMU’s David Fair and 12th District Congressional Representative Debbie Dingell discuss increased investment in combatting coronavirus in the area and at Willow Run Airport.  The Dearborn Democrat also explains why she has asked the federal Department of Education to look at Title IX allegations leveled against Eastern Michigan University.

In President Biden's first 58 days in office, approximately 100 million coronavirus vaccines have been administered.  In the meantime, legislation towards better access to medicare and more electric vehicle production is in the works.  12th District Representative Debbie Dingell is in the middle of all of this and gives her perspective in a chat with WEMU's David Fair.  

President Joe Biden addressed the nation Thursday night shortly after signing a new, $1.9-trillion-dollar  COVID relief package into law.  12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell considers it among the most impactful pieces of legislation in U.S. history.  Dingell joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the package, the president's address, and what comes next. 

The weather is starting to look good, and the movie world is, too.  In this week's "Cinema Chat," WEMU's David Fair connects with Michigan Theater Foundation executive director, Russ Collins, to discuss the latest movie news and the new flicks now available at your favorite downtown Ann Arbor theater.

University of Michigan law professor and former US Attorney in the Eastern District of Michigan Barbara McQuade recently wrapped up her time as part of the Joe Biden presidential transition team.  She talks with WEMU's Lisa Barry about that, and the frequent NBC and MSNBC legal analyst also shares information about her new podcast and her reaction to recent events at the US Capitol.  

The latest COVID package is expected to pass the U.S. House, but with one omission.  The proposed increase to the federal minimum wage was removed from the package and will possibly be put forth as a separate bill.  12th District Representative Debbie Dingell discusses her support for an increase to $15 per hour.  Dingell also discusses U.S. House passage of the  "Equality Act" in her conversation with WEMU's David Fair.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer told a US Senate committee Wednesday that the country needs a national strategy to tackle failing infrastructure and climate change.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

President Joe Biden is visiting Portage, Michigan today to tour a Pfizer facility that produces coronavirus vaccines.  Meantime, 12th District Representative Debbie Dingell is in Washington working on passing the Biden Administration's  COVID-19 relief and stimulus package.  Dingell joined WEMU's David Fair today to update progress on that and other federal initiatives.  

Democrats in the U.S. House have stripped a freshman Georgia Republican of her committee assignments.  Michigan's 12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell explains why she voted in favor of the disciplinary measure.  Meantime, final preparations for Former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial in the Senate are underway, and there's the COVID-19 relief package still to pass.  Representative Dingell joined WEMU's David Fair to offer her view from the House floor. 

There has already been a far more progressive position on climate change and the environment in the new Biden Administration.  Michigan Senator Gary Peters has a new leadership role and will be pushing initiatives that could have specific benefits to the environment in his home state.  Senator Peters joined Lisa Wozniak of Michigan League of Conservation Voters and WEMU's David Fair to share his perspective on the environmental agenda and the importance of getting COVID relief into the hands of the people. 

It's been a busy week in the federal goverment.  President Joe Biden has signed several executive orders.  The stock market has seen unusual gains, due to a group of online traders and Congressional hearings are on the way.  WEMU's David Fair caught up with 12th District Congressional Representative Debbie Dingell for her perspective on those issues and more. 

Earlier this week, former President Donald Trump left for Florida, while newly-inaugurated President Joe Biden got right to work.  WEMU's David Fair caught up with 12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, after a whirlwind week, to reflect on the last four years and look at immediate priorities now. 

Joe Biden will be sworn in today as the 46th President of the United States.  University of Michigan professor Richard Rood is one of many experts expecting the new administration will undo the damaging environmental policies of the Trump administration and advance the effort to combat the climate crisis.  Dr. Rood discussed his predictions with WEMU's David Fair in this week's "Issues of the Environment."

Michigan US Senator Debbie Stabenow says her experience inside the US Capitol building, which was stormed by protesters Wednesday, seemed like something out of a movie.  She says they weren’t really aware what was happening outside, until they were ushered off the Senate floor through a tunnel into a different building on the Capitol complex.  She talks about the experience and the need to heal the country moving forward with WEMU's Lisa Barry.

During the certification of last November's presidential election, the United States Capitol came under siege by extremist supporters of President Donald Trump.  12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell was in Washington at the time and shares her her experience and her reaction to the chaos with WEMU's David Fair.

Washtenaw County's COVID-19 vaccine program is underway.  While it is a major milestone in the fight against the coronavirus, it's just beginning, and it's hard to know what the new year will bring.  WEMU's David Fair discussed these developments with Washtenaw County Health Department spokesperson Susan Cerniglia.

We are now in the final weeks of 2020, and Congress is on the verge of passing another COVID-19 stimulus package.  12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell says she'll stay in Washington D.C. until the measure is passed.  The Dearborn Democrat joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the negotiations, President-elect Biden's cabinet nominations, and to reflect on 2020 and look ahead to 2021. 

Washtenaw County continues to request additional funding from government agencies, like the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for local COVID-19 response. 

A coronavirus vaccine is on the horizon.  President-elect Joe Biden is building his new adminstration.  And another COVID-19 stimulus package remains stagnant in Congress.  These are just some of topics discussed in a conversation between WEMU's David Fair and 12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer yesterday signed a $62.7 billion state budget as the new fiscal year begins today.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

The pandemic isn't slowing down and is expected to get worse in the fall and winter.  That increases need on a variety of fronts, but there is no sign a divided Congress will pass a relief and stimulus package anytime soon.  12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell says she is keeping the faith that a deal will get done.  She joined WEMU's David Fair with perspective on that and other issues of concern in the federal government. 

Nineteen years ago today, four commercial airliners were hijacked and then crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and an open field in Pennsylvania.  Today, we commemorate the anniversary of these attacks amidst the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic.  12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell reminisces about the attacks and discusses how the federal government is operating during the many challenges America faces today with WEMU's David Fair. 

School is resuming across the country, but financial concerns weigh heavily as the federal government has yet to vote on a new budget or coronavirus relief measure.  12th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell joined WEMU's David Fair to express her concerns and weigh in on a number of local and national environmental issues.  

Ann Arbor Zingerman's co-owner Ari Weinzweig is part of the recently formed "Independent Restaurant Coalition" working to get a bill approved to provide financial support for restaurants struggling due to the current pandemic.

He talks with WEMU's Lisa Barry about his hopes for keeping his doors open, especially with no home football games this year in Ann Arbor, and the approach of colder weather which will impact outdoor dining, which is helping to sustain many restaurants right now.