In Episode 2 of Grassroots Strong, Russ Jennings joins the show for a blunt conversation about the self-inflicted wounds that keep Republicans from winning in Michigan. From post-primary disengagement to factional infighting, this episode confronts the hard reality that purity tests and ego-driven politics cost votes.

The discussion covers the tension between grassroots activism and party infrastructure, why unity after the primary is non-negotiable, how Trump Force 47 changed volunteer engagement, and why refusing to support the full Republican slate only guarantees Democrat victories. This episode is less about theory and more about the uncomfortable truths Republicans need to hear if 2026 is going to look different than 2022.

In the very first episode of Grassroots Strong, Chris Long sits down with Kent County GOP Chair and Finance Chair Rusty Richter—and special guest Lance Griffin of 10X Votes—to say the quiet part out loud: the grassroots vs. “establishment” civil war is bleeding the party dry, and Democrats are the only ones benefiting.

They break down what “grassroots” really means (volunteers, door knockers, lit-droppers, the heart and soul) versus what “establishment” really is (fundraising, infrastructure, data, and targeted strategy)—and why Michigan needs both if we’re serious about winning in 2026.

You’ll hear an unfiltered conversation about purist politics, the “I won’t help unless my candidate wins” mentality, why the day after the primary matters more than the primary itself, and why pushing the entire Republican slate is the only strategy that scales.

Then the episode pivots into a game-changing tactical tool: 10X Votes, a year-round get-out-the-vote program built to activate Michigan’s 1.7 million low-propensity Republican voters by leveraging the most powerful force in politics—personal relationships.

Bottom line: stop fighting each other, build a real farm team, and go win Michigan.

Grassroots Strong is THE Michigan GOP War Room Podcast — a no-nonsense, inside-the-fight look at Michigan politics from the ground up. Hosted by Chris Long and Rusty Richter, this podcast goes beyond talking points and press releases to examine how power actually works in Michigan, why Republicans win or lose, and what it will take to build a governing majority again.

From Michigan political history to today’s battles in Lansing, Grassroots Strong features candid interviews with candidates, legislators, grassroots leaders, and strategists who are doing the work, not just commenting from the sidelines. We talk strategy, messaging, organizing, coalition-building, and the hard lessons learned from past elections — without consultant spin or performative outrage.

This podcast is about discipline over drama, numbers over narratives, and winning over virtue signaling. It’s where grassroots energy meets real strategy, where uncomfortable truths are confronted, and where the focus stays on one thing: electing Republicans and taking back Michigan.

If you’re serious about Michigan politics and serious about winning, this is your war room.