Red Wings on losing season finale, 4-3(OT) at Maple Leafs
Detroit Red Wings Todd McLellan, Dylan Larkin, Marco Kasper & Alex DeBrincat, April 17, 2025 in Toronto.
Cover your mouth with a piece of duct tape. That’s what President Donald Trump will in essence be doing to millions of women, people of color and legal immigrants if the SAVE Act becomes law. (“Married women are concerned about the SAVE Act. Here’s why,” USA Today, April 25.)
The act requires American citizens registering to vote, or updating their registration information, to present a passport or birth certificate. Approximately 146 million Americans don’t have a valid passport. Some may not have birth certificates. And if your name changed when you got married, you could also lack proper documentation.
The SAVE Act doesn’t “save” anyone. It’s a voter suppression act to silence women, minorities and other marginalized people.
To ensure everyone’s right to vote, call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard (202-224-3121) and urge your senators to vote no on the SAVE Act. (The House already passed it.) It’s misogynistic. Racist. And far from Trump’s last effort to keep MAGA Republicans in office.
Nancy Wellinger
Pleasant Ridge
DeBrincat should be Red Wings captain
It’s a shame and a sad state of affairs that Dylan Larkin points the finger at Steve Yzerman for the Red Wings performance. Larkin only needs to take a look in the mirror to see the one who needs to be traded ― yesterday.
Alex DeBrincat brings the fire. He’s the one who needs to be the captain.
Dan Holden
Essexville, Michigan
Opposition research isn’t always about smearing
I get that most people do not understand what opposition research is or what a researcher does. I’ve been an opposition researcher for over thirty years, and I’m positive my parents could not explain what I do. But an investigative reporter should know better, which is why I was so disappointed in M. L. Elrick’s recent column (Democratic dirt-mining operation plays into Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s hands, Detroit Free Press, April 20).
Elrick’s April 20 column was a fine mixture of media hyperbole and political nonsense. He throws around terms like “dirt-mining” and “smear campaign” regarding Freedom of Information Act research requests made by the Democratic Governor’s Association made for public data from Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, an independent candidate for governor in 2026.
But the supposed nefarious enterprise was requestsfor public data. FOIAs are standard requests to get public information from government entities. Asking the city to be transparent with documents hardly seems like dirt-mining, but a column entitled “DGA Makes Typical Public Requests” doesn’t get the clicks, I guess.
Elrick also argues that Democrats would be far wiser to wait until Duggan leaves office in 2026 before making these requests. This is terrible advice on so many levels.
First, getting information from FOIAs can take a bit of time, as Elrick himself notes. If the city is slow in replying to FOIAs, does it make sense for the DGA to wait nine months making the ask?
Second, city officials are obligated to provide answers to FOIAs. If the next mayor is a Duggan ally, should the DGA just give up?
Lastly, public information can provide a very valuable check on power. Right now, DOGE is cutting agencies and jobs, often leaving the public in the dark. Is Elrick suggesting that Democrats wait until 2028 before sending in FOIA requests regarding DOGE?
Researchers sift through tons of data to find the strengths and weaknesses of their candidate and the opposition. That means reading documents, voting records, and yes, making Freedom of Information Act requests. It’s not about “smearing” an opponent, but thoroughly checking facts. Campaign folks know that what makes good research hardlymakes good copy. Hopefully Mr. Elrick now knows that too.
Brett C. Di Resta
The writer is an adjunct professor in George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management
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