Truscott Rossman

05/22/2026

Every year, Michigan's top leaders head to Mackinac Island for one of the most unique gatherings in the country — no cars, no easy exits, and real conversations across the aisle.

This year's conference carries extra weight. Michigan has fallen to its lowest economic ranking ever, and the next governor and legislature will need a clear agenda waiting for them when they take office in January 2027.

Senior Director of Public Affairs Chris Moyer shares his take on what the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference needs to deliver — and why it matters for Michigan's future.

👉 Read more: https://bit.ly/42PdK6K

Michigan has fallen to 40th in per capita income — its lowest ranking ever. Here's what the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference needs to accomplish to set the table for real action in 2027.

05/22/2026

The 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference is almost here. And this year, the conversation is bigger than the conference.

In the latest episode of Beyond Both Sides, Chris and Allie break down what Mackinac is really for, how to use your time there strategically, and whether Michigan's leaders can match urgency with action. Plus, Detroit community builder Diallo Smith of Life Remodeled joins to share what neighborhood revitalization actually looks like on the ground.

Smart. Civil. Real. Give it a listen before you get on the ferry: https://bit.ly/4v1Ggy2

Truscott Rossman · Episode

05/19/2026

The Senator Elissa Slotkin-Senator Bernie Moreno bill banning Chinese connected vehicles is the right policy. The story Michigan is telling around it is the wrong one.

Survival stories attract sympathy. They don't attract investment, talent, or the next generation of engineers. Michigan doesn't need sympathy — it needs a reason for ambitious people and capital to show up.

Chris Moyer, Senior Director of Public Affairs, on why the message matters as much as the policy:
https://bit.ly/43kEk7G

Banning Chinese connected vehicles makes sense. Treating it as survival doesn't. Michigan needs the abundance story behind the Slotkin-Moreno bill.

05/15/2026

A new bipartisan bill would ban Chinese connected vehicles from American roads. But is it the move of a region confident it can out-innovate — or one buying time?

This week on Beyond Both Sides, Chris Moyer and Allie Walker break down what's really going on with the Slotkin-Moreno bill, why protection alone isn't a story Michigan can run on for the next decade, and the question nobody else is asking.

Plus: a conversation with Devon O'Reilly, CEO of Fair Lane, Home of Clara and Henry Ford and newly elected City of Dearborn Government City Council member, on the decade-long restoration of Henry and Clara Ford's estate.

🎧 Listen here: https://bit.ly/4wBZI64

Truscott Rossman · Episode

05/12/2026

What's sitting in your social media archive from 10 years ago? You probably don't want to know. That's exactly the problem.

In a new piece, Senior Director of Public Affairs Chris Moyer makes the case that deleting old posts isn't protection anymore. It's an accelerant. Here's what to do instead.

Read: https://bit.ly/4tziNmp

The Mallory McMorrow deletion story shows why the old opposition research playbook is broken. Chris Moyer on owning your history instead of hiding it.

05/11/2026

Mallory McMorrow deleted 6,000 tweets — then went on CNN to talk about authenticity. Is there a version of that move that actually works?

This week on Beyond Both Sides, Chris Moyer and Allie Walker break down what the McMorrow story really tells us about social media in 2026, why she may have just taken her own best campaign tool off the table, and a smarter playbook for anyone sitting on a decade of old posts.

Plus: Chris and Allie talk with former White House climate advisor Kerry C. Duggan on why Detroit just had its first population increase in 50 years — and what Michigan needs to do to keep the momentum going.

🎧 Listen here: https://bit.ly/48VivyX

Truscott Rossman · Episode

05/05/2026

Why is it so hard to build in Michigan?

A Sheetz gets rejected. A $1B data center project gets pulled. Meanwhile, other states are moving faster and attracting more investment.

So what’s going on?

In our latest blog, we take a closer look at why projects keep stalling—and what it means for Michigan’s future.

👉 Read more: https://bit.ly/4uw7qg9

Do you think Michigan is making it too hard to grow?

Projects stall, companies leave, and Michigan falls behind. From Sheetz to data centers, here’s what’s holding growth back.

05/05/2026

Last week, the Grand Rapids Truscott Rossman team traded our desks for trash bags!

Our team was proud to join hundreds of volunteers for Grand Rapids' Community Clean Up Day — part of the city's celebration of America's 250th birthday. Organized with the Grand Rapids Chamber, the effort brought neighbors and businesses together to invest in the city we're proud to call home.

The City of Grand Rapids takes care of itself and each other. It was an honor to be part of that.

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05/04/2026

What happens when it’s hard to build—even something as simple as a convenience store?

In this week’s episode of Beyond Both Sides, recorded live from last week's Sheetz grand opening in Novi, we explore “The Cost of Saying No”—and what it means for Michigan’s future.

🎧 Listen here: https://apple.co/4n5Sjr4

Do you think Michigan makes it too hard to build?

Podcast Episode · Truscott Rossman · May 4 · 46m

04/24/2026

Why do so many politicians sound… rehearsed?

“Stop saying ‘food insecure.’ Say ‘hungry.’”

That advice from Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is getting a lot of attention—but it points to a bigger issue.

In our latest blog, we take a closer look at why messaging often falls flat—and why the real problem isn’t the words themselves, but how disconnected they feel from real experience.

People can tell the difference between someone who sounds coached and someone who sounds real.

👉 Read more: https://bit.ly/3QqmwFi

Do you think politicians overcomplicate how they talk—or is it something deeper?

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear visits Detroit and calls for Democrats to “talk like a human.” Here’s why authentic communication—not jargon—drives real voter connection.