Amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, this week got personal for thousands of Michiganders who were forced to continue working despite not getting paid. Now, they need to figure out how to make rent and afford food on top of this mess. 

And if you think you’re immune because you’re not a government worker, think again. Today, The ’Gander’s Kyle Kaminski brings us an update on how this ongoing shutdown affects all of us.

Plus: We clarify the differences between some frequently-repeated political buzzwords, and bring you details on this weekend’s “No Kings” protests.

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Big weekend rain headed for Michigan (MLive): After a long dry spell, Michigan is finally in for a soaking this weekend, with a storm expected to bring steady rain across much of the state from Saturday night into Monday. Forecast models now agree that most areas will see between 1 and 2 inches of rain. Despite all the precipitation, forecasters say severe storms aren’t expected.

Detroit’s Noel Night cancelled (Bridge Detroit): Noel Night, Detroit’s beloved holiday festival in Midtown, is hitting pause this year as organizers rethink how to make the event more sustainable for the future. Midtown Detroit Inc. says the break will give them time to strengthen logistics, secure funding, and refresh the program before bringing it back in 2026.

MI court hears arguments in chimp civil rights case (WKAR): An animal rights group is asking a Michigan appeals court to consider whether seven chimpanzees at an Upper Peninsula zoo are being unlawfully imprisoned. The Nonhuman Rights Project argues that the chimps should have limited legal rights similar to humans and be relocated to a wildlife sanctuary. Judges questioned how such a ruling could apply more broadly, but the group says it’s simply asking for the chance to make its case in a lower court.

The first two weeks are chaotic. Week 3 is when it gets personal.

In this edition of “So what, Michigan?” political correspondent Kyle Kaminski has what you need to know about the federal government shutdown—and what to watch for this week.

(The ’Gander TikTok)

As the Trump administration ratchets up military actions against US citizens, a lot of people are throwing around certain buzzwords online. Our mission has always been about ensuring more people here in Michigan get fact-based news and information, so let’s take a moment to review some of these words. (Some of these you may have learned in your last poli-sci class, but have become melded together in social media discourse since.) 

Authoritarianism (which we discussed last week) refers to a person or party taking full control of the government with no opposition or accountability. It comes in different forms, many of which overlap. There are autocracies with one person holding complete control—kings back in the day, dictators today—and then there are authoritarian governments, and even those operate on a spectrum.

While most folks living under authoritarianism are allowed to live their daily lives as long as they don’t pose a threat, totalitarianism takes things to another level, with the government exerting total control over citizens’ lives. 

Then there’s fascism, a form of authoritarianism defined by ultranationalism (America First!) and a longing for some real or imagined past that the government promises it can return its people to. 

That’s our vocab refresher! Check back next week for part two, and reply to this email if you have suggestions for other topics we should consider covering here. 

Amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, a second wave of “No Kings” protests is set to take place across Michigan this weekend. The protests, which are critical of President Donald Trump and his administration, follow June’s initial nationwide rallies that drew millions opposing deportation policies and federal funding cuts.

Organizers have scheduled around 100 events statewide—from the State Capitol in Lansing to cities across both peninsulas.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with a story from Kyle Kaminski. It was edited by Brook Bolen.

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