PODCAST · news
Ann Arbor AF
by Ann Arbor AF
Get informed. Get involved. It’s your city! A podcast for folks trying to figure out what’s going on in Ann Arbor politics. We discuss current events in local politics and policy, governance, and other civic good times.
Episodes
-
General Election 2026
Today, we get into our recommendations and our not-recommendations for the November 2026 general election. You’ve still got plenty of time to drop your absentee ballot in any of the City ballot dropboxes or vote in person at City Hall at your precinct’s polling place! Endorsements (and...
-
Primary Election 2026 #2: Stop Yelling At Clouds
Today is the second of two episodes about the August 2026 Partisan Primary. And although we’re in Ann Arbor and in some ways this goes without saying, I’ll just say out loud that for the sake of this podcast, we are only talking about the Democratic candidates. If you haven’t already, please…
more -
Primary Election 2026 #1: Show Your Work
Today is the first of two conversations preparing for the August 2026 primary election in the City of Ann Arbor; we help you do your homework for the ballot proposals and city races. We let you know how we’re voting and why, and invite you into conversation with fellow Ann Arbor AFers online....
-
Are We Really the City Who Won't Agree?
On this episode, we invited Sunil Rajaraman, founder of Hamlet and author of a recent article about Ann Arbor city council voting patterns titled “The City That Won’t Agree,” which prompted a lot of discussion and debate online. Sunil agreed to join us to discuss his work, his data, and the...
-
A2AF Live! Comprehensive Plan, Liberated Land Use, and Special Guest Yodit Mesfin Johnson
This episode is a special one for a lot of reasons: On March 10th, along with my cohost Jess Letaw, we did our first-ever live recording, and it was so much fun. We were joined by friend of the pod and Jess’s frequent collaborator, Yodit Mesfin Johnson, and we were hosted by the University of...
-
We're Baaaaack!
After a quiet fall and winter…we’re baaaaaack! Today, we’re giving you a heads up on what to look forward to from Ann Arbor AF in 2026 (land use planning, library stuff, and ‘lections, plus a lot of other chats). We also take a moment to flash back to when we started the podcast in 2020, what...
-
Library Lot 2: AADL Boogaloo (“the Squee episode”)
Today we are talking about Proposals A & B, on the ballot this August 5th, which would authorize the city of Ann Arbor to transfer the air rights of the parking lot known as the Library Lot to the Ann Arbor District Library. Links supportaadl.com: volunteer, donate, get a lawn sign Your Dream...
-
New Downtown Library: Getting Informed with Eli Neiburger
Today we are talking about proposals A and B on the August 5th ballot - yes, we have an August ballot! - and plans for a new downtown library. With us, we have Eli Neiburger, director of the Ann Arbor District Library, to answer our questions and talk all things factual about the ballot measures,...
-
[rerun] Civic Therapy: Library Lot with Dan Adams
Learn more and get involved at SupportAADL.com Original Episode Notes In a continuation of our new miniseries, Civic Therapy, we are talking with Dan Adams about WTF, Library Lot. Dan is a corporate attorney, local housing activist, and long-time bike person. He has lived in Ann Arbor since 2008...
-
Special General Election Episode
Jess and Molly come out of hiatus to share our recommendations for local non-partisan races and ballot initiatives. Move the Needle signup: Zoom or Insta. Get a sample ballot (scroll down) Our list of recommendations (Reminder: These are only the contested races): JUSTICE OF SUPREME COURT 8 Year...
-
HouseParty Interlude
Check out the week of events and updates at www.dogoodwork.org/houseparty Registration for Jess' panel: History to Present Day: Race and Housing in Ann Arbor Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on...
-
Civic Therapy: WTF Community Engagement with Yodit Mesfin Johnson
Today we talk to Yodit Mesfin Johnson about the problematic promises of community “engagement,” and what it could look like to pivot more towards community-driven planning. Yodit is presently co-leading (with Jess and developer partners Avalon Housing and the Ann Arbor Housing Commission) a...
-
Civic Therapy: WTF Schools with Liz Lin
We continue our Civic Therapy miniseries talking to Ann Arbor Public Schools parent Liz Lin about WTF Schools: amygdala parenting, Zoom kindergarten, why she almost ran for school board, and why she didn’t. Links we referenced: The Free Press article that broke the story of the lawsuit The…
more -
Civic Therapy: Transportation with Reverend Donnell Wyche
Our Civic Therapy miniseries continues with Reverend Donnell Wyche about WTF Transportation. We embrace our collective Big Feelings about kids being able to bike to school, e-bikes as a vector of radicalization, the just-proposed Driving Equality Ordinance, and the cost of not taking Vision Zero...
-
Civic Therapy: Library Lot with Dan Adams
In a continuation of our new miniseries, Civic Therapy, we are talking with Dan Adams about WTF, Library Lot. Dan is a corporate attorney, local housing activist, and long-time bike person. He has lived in Ann Arbor since 2008 and grew up down the road in Dexter. In November 2022 he published a...
-
Civic Therapy: WTF, Planning?? – with Lisa Sauvé and Scott Trudeau
A proposed development with robust sustainability and affordability components, considered by many in our community to be a slam dunk for approval, hit a surprising road block this week. Join Jess and Molly for our first Civic Therapy session with Lisa Sauvé and Scott Trudeau: what happened to...
-
We’re Back!: ...the same but different
We’re back! Ann Arbor AF is…the same but different. Molly and Jess catch you up on the haps and where the pod will be going this summer. Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Twitter and Facebook. And...
-
Ben Connor Barrie on Damn Arbor
Today we are talking with Ben Connor Barrie about yet another blue-language civic engagement media project: Damn Arbor! We cover a lot of ground, including why it's important to say nice things about where you live. Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep...
-
Jerome Horne on Radically Abundant Transit
Today we are talking with Jerome Horne about radically abundant transit. We also took deep detours into being vulnerable, what our kid selves would think of us today, and navigating advocacy as and with humans. Links we mentioned: TransitCenter's website and podcast, High Frequency Jerome on...
-
Ryan Henyard and Paul Fleming on the Coalition for Reenvisioning Our Safety
Today we talk (and dream a little) with members of the Coalition for Reenvisioning Our Safety. Paul is an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and helps to organize the Michigan Chapter of Public Health Awakened. He spends his time thinking about, researching,...
-
Conversation with FIXER-UPPER author Jenny Schuetz
Today we are talking with Jenny Schuetz! In addition to being the author of the phenomenal book Fixer-Upper: How to Repair America's Broken Housing Systems, she is a Senior Fellow at Brookings Metro and is an expert in urban economics and housing policy. Before joining Brookings, Jenny worked at...
-
November 2022 General Election Ballot Explainer
We’ll be talking about the November 2022 general election up and down the Michigan, Washtenaw County, and Ann Arbor ballots, plus some general tips that will help you vote smart no matter where you live. Getting ready to vote (especially in Michigan): Preview your ballot Read answers to the…
more -
Conversation with Aaron Lubeck in Durham, N.C.
It’s a new season of Ann Arbor AF, and with the new season comes a new format! Today we are talking with Aaron Lubeck of Durham, N.C. about Jim Crow zoning, why some advocacy feels so taboo in community conversations, and how churches might be coming to save the day on housing. We also dropped a...
-
BONUS! August 2022: Election Elation
Molly and Jess do an impromptu reflection on the excellent election results. (Brought to you in part by a very good idea from #a2council Twitter, thanks #a2council Twitter; and also car-free streets, thanks car-free streets.) Support the show Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our...
-
A2 Climate Millage: Molly and Jess Have A Fight
Today, we are talking about the climate millage coming up on the November 2022 ballot. Last episode, we interviewed Office of Sustainability and Innovation director Dr. Missy Stults about what passing the millage would accomplish. This time, we get into some differences of opinion about the...
-
A2 Climate Millage: Getting Informed With Missy Stults
Today we are talking to the director of Ann Arbor’s Office of Sustainability and Innovation, Dr. Missy Stults, about A2Zero, the climate millage coming up on Ann Arbor’s November ballot, and a little big dreaming. This is the first of two episodes where we’ll talk about this millage; this one…
more -
August 2022 Primary Ballot Explainer
Today we are talking about this summer’s primary election, coming up in just a few weeks on Tuesday, August 2nd. Absentee voting is already open, so make your plan to vote! Links we mentioned: Preview your ballot Request an absentee ballot or find your polling place Learn about and support the...
-
[rerun] That D*mn Bridge
Today we are rerunning episode 47: That. Damn. Bridge. Support the show Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to help us with...
-
[rerun] Conversation with Alex Thomas
Today we are rerunning episode 35: our conversation with Alex Thomas. Support the show Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to...
-
[rerun] Deeper Dive: Healthy Streets
Today we are rerunning episode 15: our Deeper Dive on Healthy Streets. Support the show Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few dollars to...
-
[rerun] Deeper Dive: Boards + Commissions
Today we are rerunning episode 7: our Deeper Dive on Boards + Commissions. Support the show Come check out our episodes and transcripts at our website, annarboraf.com. Keep the conversation going with fellow Ann Arbor AFers on Blue Sky and Facebook. And hey, if you wanted to ko-fi us a few…
more -
City Council Meeting: 16 May 2022
Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, May 16th. We talk about the agenda, but the way we do it is that Molly has a rant, Jess has a rant, and then Molly has another rant. At the end of the episode, we’ll be looking ahead to the summer, and talking about some...
-
City Council Meeting: 5 May 2022
Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Thursday, May 5th. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including budget, tax collection, and spending…a.k.a.: money, money, and money. Links we referenced: this week’s City Council agenda; our annual survey is…
more -
City Council Meeting: 18 April 2022
Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, April 18th. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including road bonds, water and sewer rates, and something that may or may not be housing. Links we referenced: NACA resolution, where the whereases are...
-
City Council Meeting: 4 April 2022
We talk about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, April 4th. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including ARPA, ARPA, and more ARPA. Links we referenced: This week’s agenda. The ARPA funding resolution. Those infamous amendments. Derrick Miller’s letter on how Ann...
-
City Council Meeting: 21 March 2022
Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, March 21st. We touch on a few interesting agenda items, including parking, police contracts, and a permanent city administrator. Links from today’s episode: Vote for us as one of Washtenaw’s best podcasts! this week’s...
-
City Council Meeting: 7 March 2022
Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up on Monday March 7th at 7:00pm. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including American Rescue Plan Act funds, infrastructure, and a couple of important rezonings. Links we referenced: This week’s agenda The ARPA...
-
City Council Meeting: 22 February 2022
Today we talk about the next City Council meeting for about one hot second and spend the rest of the time on the one thrilling Top Ten list you didn’t know you needed. Municipal reports that made the Top Ten (but actually 3) (but really 6): Moving Together Towards Vision Zero, the city’s...
-
That D*** Bridge: ...what just happened?
Today we are recording a special episode, a breakdown (in more ways than one) on the East Medical Center Drive Bridge decision. We’ll be talking about how folks got informed and involved, and how it went sideways anyway. This may go without saying, but there are lots of swears. Discretion for...
-
City Council Meeting: 7 February 2022
Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, February 7th.. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including transit-oriented zoning, deer, and That *** Bridge. (There are a few swears in this episode, so heads up for sensitive listeners.) Things we...
-
City Council Meeting: 18 January 2022
Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Tuesday, January 18th. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including memos, memos, and more memos. Links we referenced (or think you might find useful): - this week's agenda; - A Brookings Institute article on...
-
City Council Meeting: 3 January 2022
Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, January 3rd. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including sidewalks, safety, water, and poetry. Linked in today's episode: - this week's agenda - Unarmed Responder response memo - Coalition for...
-
City Council Meeting: 20 December 2021
Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, December 20th. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items AND some non-agenda items. +10 Internet Points to the person who finds the "Plowy McPlowface" reference first and tweets it to #a2council. Links we...
-
City Council Meeting: 6 December 2021
Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up on Monday, December 6th. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including sidewalks, dollars for climate, and justice, and offer some ways for you to get involved. A quick process note: we record this a few days...
-
City Council Meeting: 15 November 2021
Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, November 15th. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including cars, churches, and the return to in person meetings. Links we referenced: - the A2 Humans Who Wonk thread on how to follow along with a...
-
City Council Meeting: 1 November 2021
Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, November 1st. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including staff changes, a potential sustainable energy utility, and the election that concludes this week, and offer some ways for you to get involved. A...
-
City Council Meeting: 18 October 2021
Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, October 18th. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including the "Moving Together" plan, menstruation, and Medical Center Drive. Links: - University of Michigan's environmental metrics and the PCCN...
-
City Council Meeting: 4 October 2021
Today we're talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, October 4th. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including council rules, sustainability, and a quick rant about fatphobia. Links: - to this week's Council agenda, - to the benchmarking ordinance, and - to...
-
November 2021 Election: Ballot Preview
Today we are talking about Ann Arbor's next election, with applications for absentee ballots going on now and then voting happening from early October through November 2nd. The ballot has been finalized; there are no candidates, only four proposals, all pertaining to amending Ann Arbor's city...
-
City Council Meeting: 20 September 2021
Today we are talking about the next City Council meeting, coming up Monday, September 20th. We’ll be touching on a few interesting agenda items, including drive thrus, zoning, and we saved the best for the end of the episode: a preview of the proposed renters commission. Links we promosed: -the…
more
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Ann Arbor AF have?
Ann Arbor AF currently has 86 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Ann Arbor AF about?
Get informed. Get involved. It’s your city! A podcast for folks trying to figure out what’s going on in Ann Arbor politics. We discuss current events in local politics and policy, governance, and other civic good times.
How often does Ann Arbor AF release new episodes?
Ann Arbor AF has 86 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Ann Arbor AF?
You can listen to Ann Arbor AF on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Ann Arbor AF?
Ann Arbor AF is created and hosted by Ann Arbor AF.
URL copied to clipboard!