Truscott Rossman

This week on  Beyond Both Sides , a global conflict is getting closer to home. As the war with Iran enters its third week, the headlines focus on missiles, oil markets, and military strategy. But beneath the surface, the effects are already moving through Michigan’s economy — shaping everything from gas prices and auto demand to defense contracts, agriculture, and even cyberattacks on Michigan-bas...

Michigan’s tax system was built for a manufacturing economy. But today’s economy looks very different. In Episode 19 of  Beyond Both Sides , Chris Moyer and Allie Walker break down one of the biggest policy debates unfolding in Lansing: Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall’s proposal to restructure the state’s tax system by reducing property-related taxes while expanding the sales tax to include more...

Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered the final State of the State address of her tenure — outlining unfinished priorities and framing the legacy she hopes to leave behind. This week on  Beyond Both Sides , Chris and Allie break down the biggest themes from Whitmer’s speech, including Michigan’s struggling literacy rankings, the push for housing reform, medical debt protections, and the growing deba...

Two new polls paint two very different pictures of Michigan’s 2026 governor’s race. One shows a tight three-way contest. Another shows a candidate pulling ahead. In a volatile electorate, perception can shift fast. But the bigger disconnect may not be in the horse race — it’s in how Michigan sees itself. Voters rank the state squarely in the middle nationally on income, education, and competitiven...

This week on  Beyond Both Sides , big ambitions collide with political reality. Michigan’s latest literacy scores show just how far the state has to go to get more students reading at grade level — even as Governor Gretchen Whitmer proposes a $625 million investment in early reading. At the same time, GOP gubernatorial candidate John James offers a sharply different approach centered on parental r...

A race that usually flies under the radar is suddenly front and center in Michigan politics. This week on  Beyond Both Sides , we unpack why Michigan’s Secretary of State race has become one of the most consequential contests of the 2026 cycle. Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist’s entry has dramatically raised the stakes, putting new attention on an office that oversees elections, voting access,...

Michigan’s political future is already taking shape as the 2026 election cycle begins to stir. While most voters remain tuned out, campaigns are ramping up early — testing messages around the economy, education, energy, and public trust. We also look at policy decisions landing closer to home, from proposed classroom cell phone limits to the growing tension between clean energy goals and the risin...

Big promises are easy. Delivering on them is harder. This week, Michigan finds itself caught between rising expectations and tightening constraints. State lawmakers are facing a billion-dollar revenue shortfall just as communities are asking for more investment, not less. Detroit is exploring new ways to fund essential services, only to run into constitutional limits and political reality. And lon...

Michigan takes center stage as power, politics, and industry collide. Chris Moyer and Allie Walker break down Lansing’s budget showdown, the Detroit Auto Show’s shift from spectacle to experience, and Microsoft’s controversial data center proposal. Plus, a deep dive into President Trump’s Detroit visit—and whether political theater helps or hurts Michigan’s economic story.

Chris Moyer, Allie Walker, and Ryan Gajewski share predictions on Michigan’s high-stakes 2026 elections, examining the open races for governor and U.S. Senate, the major candidates, and the policy questions that will shape the state’s future.  New episodes each week from the team at Truscott Rossman. 

Chris Moyer and Allie Walker look back at the Michigan stories that defined 2025. They revisit the Northern Michigan ice storm that became the state’s largest natural disaster of the year, the tariff shock that disrupted the auto industry, and the early and crowded start to the 2026 governor’s race. They break down Detroit’s historic election of Mary Sheffield as the city’s first woman mayor, the...

Chris Moyer and John Truscott break down the Michigan stories that may not dominate headlines but will shape the year ahead. They look at Detroit’s fast-moving mayoral transition, the Legislature’s end-of-year push in Lansing, and a new report on Michigan’s strengths — and vulnerabilities — in the auto and mobility sector.   Chris and John also share a history-and-politics holiday gift guide, high...

Chris Moyer and Allie Walker dig into three Michigan stories that all point to the same big question: who is steering the state’s future and who is paying for it. They look at the state’s fast-growing data center buildout and the local concerns around water, energy, and community impact. They break down the political heat on the MEDC as Quentin Messer Jr. defends Michigan’s strategy for attracting...

This week on  Beyond Both Sides , Allie Walker and guest co-host Ryan Gajewski (filling in for Chris Moyer) dig into three Michigan headlines that all circle the same question:  who has the power and who benefits?  They break down Detroit’s next move on the long-blighted Packard Plant, a Detroit Free Press column on lobbyist perks and political optics, and a new Democratic push to tie tax incentiv...

Chris Moyer and new co-host Allie Walker break down three major stories shaping Michigan’s future: an aging workforce that is slowing economic growth, a large share of young Detroiters who are thinking about leaving the city, and Michigan farmers facing collapsing exports linked to tariff fallout. Together, these trends show the growing gap between the state’s long-term goals and the daily pressur...

Chris kicks things off with the big Michigan stories of the week, from a major shift in voter sentiment to Ford’s $1.2B new HQ and a potential development boom in Grand Rapids. Then Ryan and Allie dive into the passing of former Vice President Dick Cheney — his complicated legacy, his influence on today’s GOP, and how leaders evolve in public. Plus: a surprising moment of political humility from R...

John Truscott and Chris Moyer unpack the deal ending the nation’s longest government shutdown, who won, who lost, and what it means for Michigan. They also dig into the state’s worst monthly job losses of the year and ask whether the Michigan Economic Development Corporation can be saved or if reform is the only path forward.  Then, a deep dive with Ryan Gajewski on how algorithms are shaping what...

Chris Moyer and guest host Ryan Gajewski, Chief Strategy Officer at Truscott Rossman, unpack OpenAI’s massive Michigan investment, the future of economic development in the state, and key local election results. Plus, a deep dive into what Mary Sheffield’s historic election as Detroit’s first female mayor means for the direction of the city.

In this episode, Allie Walker and Ryan Gajewski welcome Ryan back to his old stomping grounds (yes, the red couch lives on). At the time, he was serving as Community & Partnerships Manager at The Dispatch, where he managed community engagement and podcast production. Before The Dispatch, Ryan spent nearly two years at NBC’s Meet the Press , researching interviews, crafting panel segments, and...

In this episode of  Beyond Both Sides , hosts  John Truscott  and  Chris Moyer  unpack Michigan’s biggest political stories — from a Lansing court fight and new road-funding taxes to a sweeping legislative transparency package reshaping ethics in government. Then, they’re joined by  Allie Walker , President of  Truscott Rossman  and  Crain’s Grand Rapids 40 Under 40  honoree, for a candid conversa...

In this episode of My First Gig, host Ryan Gajewski and co-host Allie Walker sit down with Michelle, who at the time of recording served as Senior Vice President of Market Growth & Business Attraction at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Since then, Michelle has been promoted to the role of Chief Communications & Attraction Officer, overseeing business attraction and ma...

Beyond Both Sides   Smart. Civil. Real.   Hosted by John Truscott and Chris Moyer, two trusted political communicators known for their work in government and public affairs,  Beyond Both Sides  goes deeper than partisan headlines to explore why the issues shaping Michigan and the nation really matter. Each episode blends sharp analysis, thoughtful disagreement, and practical insight on politics, p...

Hosts Ryan Gajewski and Allie Walker sit down with leadership advisor and author Ken Bogard to dig into the power—and limits—of honesty at work. From managing a dine‑in Pizza Hut at 17 to turning around underperforming restaurants and guiding leadership teams today, Ken’s through‑line is simple: tell the truth, deliver it with love, and never lose who you are.

Before leading one of West Michigan’s premier leadership programs, Megan Rydecki got her start as assistant to the city manager in Wyoming, Michigan — a role that taught her how proximity, curiosity, and consistency can shape a career.  In our latest episode, Megan joins Allie Walker and Ryan Gajewski to talk about:  The value of “support” roles early in your career  Why mid-sized cities are perfe...

If you’ve spent any time around Grand Rapids’ food and beverage scene, you’ve probably felt the gravitational pull of City Built Brewing—part neighborhood hangout, part lab for creativity, and fully committed to community. In this episode of My 1st Gig , hosts Ryan Gajewski and Allie Walker sit down at City Built with owner Ed Collazo to trace the winding path that led him here—and the choices (an...