People aren't happy with the economy, but spending is still high. Here's why.

NASA's Artemis II mission has captured the imaginations of a new generation of space enthusiasts, young and old. Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are  due to splash down in the Pacific Ocean around 8 p.m. EST Friday, April 10 near San Diego.  When they do, they will step foot on Earth with an extraordinary credential: they’ve been further from Earth than any humans in history, traveling over 250,000 miles and back again. Ed Cackett is a professor of astronomy at Wayne State University and the Michigan Science Center’s astronomer in residence. He joined The Metro to discuss the gravity of the moment, and the benefits of space exploration.

Getting a college degree in Detroit has never been easy. More than half of all children in Detroit live below the poverty line. Many Detroit public school graduates do not enroll in college within a year of finishing high school. Right now, it could be getting more difficult. Student loan rules are changing in July. The programs that help low-income students get to college are on the chopping block in President Donald Trump’s latest budget.  How are students impacted by these changes? And, how do we close the college education gap between Detroit and suburban students. Cyekeia Lee is the executive director of the Detroit College Access Network. She spoke with The Metro's Robyn Vincent.

Nearly 1 in 3 voting-age Michiganders has a disability. The law guarantees them equal access to the polls, but a new Detroit Disability Power report finds that only 10% of metro Detroit polling places met basic accessibility standards in 2025 — and the number has dropped every year since the audits began. Detroit Disability Power advocacy director Eric Welsby and artist and auditor Bakpak Durden join host Robyn Vincent to talk about what they found on the ground, what it costs disabled voters when the system fails them, and what it would actually take to fix it.  

Recently, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that seeks to change how mail-in voting works, having it overseen by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Trump and Republicans are also trying to pass the SAVE Act, which would ensure voters provide documentary proof of citizenship at the time of registration, and a photo ID at the time of voting. All of this is happening as the president has called to “nationalize the elections”, and as MAGA influencer Steve Bannon has asked ICE officials to patrol polling locations in November. What should we make of all these things? How secure are our voting systems? And, is the president trying to make voting less secure for his advantage? Ottawa County Clerk Justin Roebuck spoke with The Metro's Robyn Vincent about this and more.  

Detroit is celebrating historic drops in violent crime. But former forensic technicians are raising alarms about conditions inside the unit that processes the evidence — and a state safety citation backs them up. Noah Kincade of Outlier Media's Detroit Documenters joins host Robyn Vincent to break down what's happening inside DPD's Crime Scene Services unit. 

Federal judges recently ruled that hundreds of people in Michigan were unconstitutionally detained as they never had a chance of being released on bond. For its part, the Trump administration says it's detaining the “worst of the worst.” But in many cases, non-citizens without a criminal record have been detained. So, what do ICE arrests and detentions look like in metro Detroit? What are the stories of those who’ve been detained? How are local police involved in the work? And, who’s fighting back?  Violet Ikonomova is an investigative reporter for the Detroit Free Press. She spoke with The Metro's Robyn Vincent.

About 1 in 31 children in the U.S. is now diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD. Behind every statistic is a family trying to figure it out in real time, searching for support, resources, and spaces where their children feel understood and included. One Detroit mother hustled harder for more.  After her eldest son was diagnosed with autism, Tiera Moultrie saw first-hand just how much was missing for families like hers. In 2020, she founded Autism In The D, with a mission to build community and create safe, inclusive spaces for children on the spectrum and their families. Since its founding, Tiera has had three children, with two living with ASD. The work she does is personal but it's about more than her family.  Autism In The D is hosting its 6th annual Weekend of Inclusivity, one of Detroit’s largest autism awareness walks. It’s not just about awareness, it’s about access to resources, connection, and making sure families don’t feel alone. This year will also welcome Detroit’s first autism-inclusive adaptive kids gym.

Since 2015, consumer confidence in the economy has plummeted, according to recent consumer survey data by the University of Michigan. But while confidence has declined, spending has remained strong. Why? And, how have rising gas prices factored into the economy? Professor Joanne Hsu is the Director of the monthly Surveys of Consumers at the University of Michigan. She spoke with The Metro’s Sam Corey.

As America’s strikes against Iran continue and access to the Strait of Hormuz remains in question, gas prices are rising, and more people are thinking about purchasing an electric vehicle. But despite interest, how much will EV sales actually increase for companies like Ford, GM and Stellantis — especially as car sales in general have plummeted over the past few decades? John McElroy is an automotive analyst with Autoline. He spoke with The Metro's Robyn Vincent.

The economy has undergone many drastic changes over the years. If you’re a millennial, change and chaos have been commonplace. Rising gas prices and supply chain disruptions are now among the challenges small businesses must navigate. It might be why over half of small businesses owners in Michigan say they’re making operational changes to prepare for a recession, according to a recent survey. Which small businesses are hit hardest by the war in Iran and its disruptions? And, what could make them more resilient in the face of chaos? Mark Lee is the President and CEO of The Lee Group, where he consults with small businesses across Southeast Michigan. He spoke with The Metro's Robyn Vincent.