Episode 1: Tariffs, Trump, and the Merit Shop Mission with Russell Johnson

In the premiere episode of Merit in Motion, ABC SoCal President & CEO Mike Mitchell sits down with Government Affairs Director Russell Johnson for a wide-ranging conversation on the policies, politics, and challenges impacting California’s merit shop contractors. Russell shares his personal journey into advocacy and breaks down the latest on tariffs, interest rates, and the legal battles surrounding Project Labor Agreements (PLAs). From the “Trump effect” on the National Labor Relations Board to hopeful shifts in state and federal policy, this episode is packed with insights every contractor and construction professional should hear.