Mayor Mary Sheffield dodged an appointment to meet Jason Colthorp on FlashPoint, raising questions about what she may be afraid of. Then former Detroit Police Chief James Craig calls for Todd Bettison’s job.

STRAIGHT DOPE
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Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield was supposed to get a ton of airtime on last week’s episode of the WDIV/Local 4 public affairs show FlashPoint — until host Jason Colthorp said he could not ignore the controversy created by photos of Sheffield and a former boyfriend that appeared on Facebook. That prompted Sheffield to cancel at the last minute, causing Colthorp to put together a panel to discuss her disappearing act. Watch it here.

Jason said he told viewers about Sheffield’s disappearing act because they deserve to know when an elected official refuses to answer questions. Instead of quieting the controversy, Madam Mayor’s move raised new questions, such as “Who is advising her?”

Jason says one of the people who responded to his decision to explain why Sheffield wasn’t on FlashPoint was Madam Mayor’s father. Listen and learn what the First Father said.

Get the bell ready! ML tells a story about how he learned nearly 25 years ago that Kwame Kilpatrick was getting good advice — he just wasn’t taking it.

ML says Jason isn’t the first reporter Sheffield ducked, revealing an episode that happened on the last Sunday of the 2025 mayor’s race. He also reads text messages Sheffield’s chief of staff sent suggesting that he is not, er, the most savvy adviser in city hall. That fellow is now Sheffield’s deputy mayor.

Do reporters hold grudges when people stand them up? Jason and ML say no, and explain why.

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison is in hot water after contacting Sheffield’s old boyfriend and another man who were under investigation by his officers. ML talked to former chiefs who say Bettison crossed the line. Read all about it here.

Marc gets former Detroit Police Chief James Craig riled up when he calls Bettison a nice guy. Then things get REALLY interesting!

Craig says he suspects Bettison and Sheffield may be lying when they claimed the mayor did not ask the chief to try and get photos of her and an old boyfriend removed from Facebook. He said questions about Bettison’s conduct is undermining confidence in his leadership.

In the first of two big news items, Craig says he believes Bettison has to go.

In the second of two big news items, Craig — live on the air — tells former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox he will need to call him back, then tells ML and Marc he plans to endorse Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd for Michigan AG.

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GEEK OF THE WEEK
Public officials who don’t think they have to answer questions are geeks — this week and EVERY week!

ROOM 7609
For obvious reasons, ML books Flock of Seagulls into the New Wave suite to perform “I Ran.” Please send us your suggestion for a song — along with a great story — to [email protected]

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FEEDBACK
Isabell praises ML and his colleagues Violet Ikonomova and Dave Boucher for their recent work, and urges Shawn and Marc to tell people to give Bryce Underwood a break. Bob makes some outrageous claims, then suggests the media are in cahoots with the mayor. We welcome all your questions, comments – and constructive criticism – at [email protected]

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