Feb 11 2025 90 mins 32
An ambassador who wants to lead the Michigan Republican Party joins ML and Marc to talk about his plans for his party … as well as his visit to Bird Shit Island.
STRAIGHT DOPE: Joe Cella was a Donald Trump skeptic in 2015 who became such a convert that Trump named him ambassador to Fiji in 2016. ML asks him to explain how he came full circle on the president, and whether the race to become chairman of the Michigan Republican Party will come down to who is the “Trumpiest.”
Cella’s rivals for the MIGOP post are Meshawn Maddock and state Sen. Jim Runestad. ML invited both of them to come on the show and discuss their candidacies, but Meshawn did not respond and Runestad could not make time on his schedule because he expected to be in session.
ML asks Joe whether Joe Biden won the 2020 election. Listen to hear the ambassador’s answer and decide for yourself whether it was diplomatic … or a dodge.
Blackwater private security firm Erik Prince is a polarizing figure, but to Joe, he was just a classmate at Hillsdale College — but a classmate like no other. Joe tells why Prince, the brother of former U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, stood out on campus.
Asked to point out the shortcomings of his opponents, Joe instead offers a detailed explanation for why he is the best candidate to lead the state Republican Party. He says his qualifications include media skills, resourcefulness … and the ability to raise a lot of dough. Listen and find out where he plans to get the loot.
Marc ribs Joe about his appointment as ambassador to Fiji, which Marc points out may not be the most glamorous posting in the world. Joe responds with aplomb.
ML asks Joe how he’ll handle Mike Duggan and whether the independent gubernatorial candidate will draw votes from Republicans as well as Democrats. Hear Joe’s thoughtful response.
ML asks Joe about Nauru, known as Bird Shit Island, and Joe shares a tale about his visit and how his research into a downed Mitchell B-25 bomber led him back to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Shawn joins the crew to talk about the Lions, while ML shares his astonishment at the number of people who came out to see the Spartan women’s basketball team last weekend.
ML’s mentor Gerry Shields checks in via text from Philly with a hilarious story about a shooting during the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory. (Yeah, we know stories about shootings aren’t funny, but this one is the exception!)
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GEEK OF THE WEEK: A company paid $70,000 to do a background check on prospective Detroit police chiefs who failed to check their backgrounds thoroughly is this week’s geek.
ROOM 7609: Shawn finally comes up with a guest for Room 7609, booking Frankie Beverly’s “Happy Feeling” into the New Wave suite. You can also send us your favorite tune, a deep cut or a track from an obscure band – and a story about them or why they mean something to you – by writing to
